I am planning a Walt Disney World vacation for 2016. I last visited in 2006 for my high school graduation. I will be returning with friends this time instead of family and even though it will have been ten years since my last visit, I am the brains of the operation. I have already decided that I will be visiting in May 2016, staying at a Value Resort, and utilizing the Park Hopper and Deluxe Dining Plan Option. What I would like to know is any and ALL tips that would be useful to a returning visitor like myself. My go-to itineraries are probably useless now, I vaguely understand the new FastPass system, and I am lightly up to speed on what's new and what has changed. I am open to any and all suggestions although I tend to stick with the four theme parks only. Downtown Disney is usually a final stop on the way out of the resort and recreational activities are off the table. It may be also worth noting that I'll have an all adult party with only one person being a total Disney noob. Okay guys, I think I have said enough now. Let the tips and advice begin!
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Disney Bound 2016
- Thread starter Wishmaker
- Start date
Mukta
Well-Known Member
Buy the Unofficial Guide and read it cover to cover. It will tell you everything you need to know about the attractions, restaurants and processes that have changed since your last trip.
http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Gu...ds=unofficial+guide+to+walt+disney+world+2015
http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Gu...ds=unofficial+guide+to+walt+disney+world+2015
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englanddg
One Little Spark...
Oh yes. A TON of food.
But, that could be part of the fun. If they have a group of 4 adults, that's 4 apps per table! But, when you think about it, that's actually pretty fun if everyone orders something different and then shares.
You get to try all sorts of neat stuff. I took a group of 4 (my kid, under 10, so kids menu) and 3 "adults" as far as the plan was concerned (the other kid was 10), and we had a blast at restaurants cause we really didn't have to "choose" an appetizer. We all got to try neat things as a result.
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JasonDeyoung
Well-Known Member
Depending on when you're going in May, assuming you're all over 21. Check out the booths at the Flower & Garden festival at Epcot. It's one of my favorite times to visit. It's like a scaled back version of the Food & Wine Festival. Some pretty good drinks around the World Showcase.
Actually edit that. It goes all of May regardless
Actually edit that. It goes all of May regardless
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englanddg
One Little Spark...
Make your FP+ reservations on day 60. Mark your calendar!
The rides to aim for are (my opinions of course, and you won't be able to get ALL of these, as the system is tiered to allow you only to pick a few headliners, and then a few other options, max 3 (though you may get a "fourth bonus" FP tossed in by the system as you make your reservations):
(and yes, I know these are obvious choices...just sayin)
MK
7 Dwarves Mine Train
Peter Pan
(pick a mountain)
EP
Sourin
Test Track
HS
Toy Story Midway Mania
Rockin Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror
AK
Expedition Everest
The rides to aim for are (my opinions of course, and you won't be able to get ALL of these, as the system is tiered to allow you only to pick a few headliners, and then a few other options, max 3 (though you may get a "fourth bonus" FP tossed in by the system as you make your reservations):
(and yes, I know these are obvious choices...just sayin)
MK
7 Dwarves Mine Train
Peter Pan
(pick a mountain)
EP
Sourin
Test Track
HS
Toy Story Midway Mania
Rockin Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror
AK
Expedition Everest
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JasonDeyoung
Well-Known Member
I would look up the FP+ options for each park and see what ones your friends and yourself want to do. Then pick the 3 most wanted and go from there. The FP+ are in tiers so make sure to familiarize those. As said once your initial 3 are used you can go to a kiosk at any park now and pick a 4th, 5th etc doesn't have to be in the same park once the first 3 are used.
OH! And make sure you have My Disney Experience account set up and down load the app. It's actually pretty awesome. You can control your FP+ and dinning reservations on it, check wait times and park hours and a lot more.
OH! And make sure you have My Disney Experience account set up and down load the app. It's actually pretty awesome. You can control your FP+ and dinning reservations on it, check wait times and park hours and a lot more.
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englanddg
One Little Spark...
I'm partial to this site, myself. At least for Dining Plan analysis.
http://www.distripplanner.com/
That said, if they are happy with DLX, I say run with it. I get it every trip for a variety of reasons, and breaking even or making out ahead isn't the primary consideration (though, I do try to use up all my credits...never have...but I try!)
This coming trip I should have less issues with that. I slapped in a few Signatures to eat up credits and keep the ticket value up (places I wanted to eat, not because I want to save money, they just happened to factor into the calculation). But, waste or not, it's a culinary feast if you get it! And, it's nice not to have to pay OOP during the trip aside from booze and tips. What I find is that if I didn't have it, I'd probably be more like I am in real life, where I actually do look at menu prices and use that as part of the meal choices. With the DDP/DLX, when I'm on vacation, I just don't care, and order whatever I want.
I do agree, though...it is expensive, and it's a lot of food. If staying at a value, dropping the DLX down to a DDP or even just getting Tables in Wonderland and going OOP could make up the difference between bumping up to a moderate resort or not. And, if the party is 4 people (that's a guess) in a single room (that's a guess) the extra size and space of a moderate may be worth more than being able to act like Pooh in a honey store the whole trip.
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englanddg
One Little Spark...
Actually, thinking about that...it is around $130 per person per night for the DLX plan for adults.
Iirc, DDP is something like 70 (I would have to go check that, but its something like that.)
So, 60 x 4 adults is $240 per night. That, added to the $120 or so I suspect the value resort room is running, could probably even get you bumped up to a deluxe non-monorail resort like Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Would need to crunch the numbers...but...
Iirc, DDP is something like 70 (I would have to go check that, but its something like that.)
So, 60 x 4 adults is $240 per night. That, added to the $120 or so I suspect the value resort room is running, could probably even get you bumped up to a deluxe non-monorail resort like Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Would need to crunch the numbers...but...
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englanddg
One Little Spark...
Even if they OOP at Landscape of Flavors every morning, they'd probably still come out ahead with DDP and a family suite. Really the only way to make the DLX plan pay off is at least two TS meals per day, sprinkled with some of the more expensive signatures and dinner shows.
If thats what they want to do (or they dont care about the financial side and just want the convenience and sheer gluttony and decadance), I say power to them!
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