Questions from a UK newbie planning trip to WDW

[Berry91]

Firstly my name's Becca- Hi (this is my first trip to WDW where my parent's aren't planning the entire thing... have planned a couple of solo trips to DLP but not the same as usually less planning goes in as smaller/less crowded)

Anyway the trip is all booked now it's just time for the little details... and this is where i hit things i am unsure about, and after reading through a few of the trip reports on the forum i thought this would be a good place to ask a couple of questions/for tips as you all seem to be in the know

Basic details of the trip;
me & my best friend (both 21 but will both be 22 when we go to WDW)
we are there from the 10th september 13 to 24th september 13.
staying at ASR (not sure which one as on the all in one package we booked we dont get told till nearer the time!)

my main worry is the ADR...with being in the UK the cost to ring would be quite expensive so looking to book as many as poss online (unless i really struggle then i will ring) , i know we can book up to 180+10 days in advance as staying at a WDW hotel , but since i didn't book through Disney i'm not sure how easy it's going to be... has anyone booked through a different travel agent that isn't disney found it hard or easy to book ADR online? i THINK i have to call my travel agent and get a different ref from the one i currently have that will link them to my hotel but i could be wrong on that...

Also struggling on what to do for the first day.... we land at 15:40pm at sandford...so will get to the hotel for about 6pmish (depending on immigration/coach transfer wait/check in time...) was thinking DTD? Because itll be about midnight/one am to our UK body clock so i'm thinking an early night to ease us in to life at WDW (although knowing me ill see the sign for Disney and be like parkkkkkkkk time - depending on opening hours ofc!) would any one suggest booking ADR for that night/can you book ADR for places in DTD?

We aren't on the DDP - would have cost us £500 each just for us to be in hotel that had the free QS plan...

opps nearly forgot - Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party - worth the extra money to book a ticket to go? neither of us have children but we are big kids at heart!

any tips or things that we shouldn't miss would be much appreciated

 

[Fantasmic]

Hi Becca, we're going the same time as you, not sure if we're gonna book Sept 3rd or 10th yet. It's a GREAT time to go!

Booking ADRs online are easy peasy, the 180 +10 thing is a bit weird as from the start date you only get 10 days... so on the 10th March you'll get to book up until the 20th Sept, then you get each day added on as you go. I hope I explained it right.

I can imagine on you first day you'll be tired... we have, in the past checked in, dumped bags (got changed) and gone straight to the Magic Kingdom just to ride Splash and Pirates then flopped into bed. It's best to go to bed as late as possible (imho) to kick start the body clock into going onto American Time. There are a few ADRs you can book in DTD. I can reccommend the Rainforest Cafe and Cap'n Jacks! Although Wolfgang Puck express does a fantastic Quick Service meal!

YES! MNSSHP is 100% worth the extra money!!

I bet you're excited, and hey, might even see you there

 

[Berry91]

everyone i know that's been Sept time has said its been a good time to go crowd wise! which is good because this time ill be tall enough and brave enough to do the bigger rides so don't want to spend all my time queuing!

That's okay then, i book most thing's online but i was just like i hope this easy i dont fancy a phone conversation across the ocean...

may just go to DTD then, grab something to eat then back to room and crash... i've read good things about wolfgang puck and that is on my list of places to check out!

awesome! i realllllly want to do it, but my mate a bit hmming and ahhinng over it, so just need to persuade them to go...although the insane amount of candy should work!

far TOO excited, it's been booked since October but i just can't wait to go - reading the trip reports hasnt helped the excitment but it has helped the planning!

you never know my work mates going at the exact same time with her family, i was like if we end up sat next to each other on the plane... haha!

 

[Fantasmic]

Where you flying from? We'll be going from Manchester when we go!
Really, the MNSSHP is awesome, the atmosphere, candy, and the PARADE. OMG the Parade, it's just the best!

 

[Berry91]

East midlands airport (which is literally 20 mins from my house which is fabulous!) we were going to go from birmingham/manchester but it was only £50 each more to go from EMA and we thought no parking to pay this way!

i've seen pictures of the parade and the floats do look good, and some people have commented on the catchy song!

 

[emma c]

my first trip this year as well in April when i booked the few adrs n bbb i phoned on a 0800 number and got all booked fine i didt have the disney ref but the lady on phone found the booking fine and done everything for me couldt have been nicer! I forget the number but think was on the disney website when i was trying to book online.

 

[Berry91]

Thankyou I'm sure it's easy enough to do would just prefer online so I can go through at my own pace rather then causing chaos for the CM on the end of the phone!

 

[emma c]

Yeah i could never get it to work online so just rang, hope it works for you.

 

[real mad hatter]

Believe it or not.( Scotland ) we had to phone last year in July as the ADR system was down.I spent exactly 5 mins 43 secs on the phone to Disney to book my ADRS and it cost me £3.52. Not bad.

 

[Berry91]

Believe it or not.( Scotland ) we had to phone last year in July as the ADR system was down.I spent exactly 5 mins 43 secs on the phone to Disney to book my ADRS and it cost me £3.52. Not bad.

That isn't bad actually! I thought it'd be more then that... I guess if I write everything down days/ideal times etc may not be a long phone call I just prefer my own pace to try and sort it/figure it out haha

 

[real mad hatter]

That isn't bad actually! I thought it'd be more then that... I guess if I write everything down days/ideal times etc may not be a long phone call I just prefer my own pace to try and sort it/figure it out haha

Just get your ADRS in order and the girl at Disney was awesome and gave us our reference numbers along with priority fireworks viewing.

 

[Berry91]

Just get your ADRS in order and the girl at Disney was awesome and gave us our reference numbers along with priority fireworks viewing.

I think ill ring them then... Got to wait till 10th march but all in the advance planning don't want to waste days of available time to book ADR!

Nice one on the priority viewing for the fireworks!

 

[dave&di]

Hi, welcome to the site! We will also be there the same time as you!!! Sept is a great time to go, crowds are at a low, generally a lot of restaurants aren't full unless you want a really popular one! You can book online without a res number if you just want to book one at a time, you don't have to be a resort guest to book one, if you really want to book lots in one go using the +10 days you WILL need your reservation number, get this from your TA.

My OH and I always attend Mnsshp and we love it! If you don't mind paying for extra tickets then go!!!

 

[Berry91]

Wahey

I was thinking more for like firework priority/at least one character meal and maybe a couple of breakfasts/evening meals - was just going to wing it with QS ones for lunch/snacks although BOG is a definite must try to book but more for a evening meal... Although how far can you book in advance online without an online reservation at a WDW hotel? I'm persumming it's still 180 days?

Sorry for the questions never done this in DLP it's never been that busy to need to make adr(I don't even know if DLP does them!)

It does look pretty awesome and the Halloween decs are good so I can imagine a parade/effects would make it alot better (if that makes sense :s)

 

[disney magic 06]

Hi
Hope you are finding, like the rest of us, that the planning is all part of the fun and adds so much to your holiday.

Re the firework priority viewing, we have never bothered to use it, if the park is not stupidly busy there are many good places to watch it from. Priority viewing vouchers always seem to come with our tickets, along with lots of other vouchers.

Thoughts about your first night - I wouldn't make any adrs, we find that after a long flight, sitting still and being force fed copious amounts of food and drink I never seem to have much appetite when we finally arrive. We tend to go to Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney if we are staying at that end of WDW, or Cosmic Rays at MK if we are doing a park/staying near MK.

We are flying from Manchester at the end of April, from Manchester. East Midlands would have been good for us too, we are from Derby!

 

[Berry91]

It does, my friend thinks I'm crazy but I was like we need to plan it right and especially ADR for popular places (especially BOG cause since a kid I've wanted to go in that ballroom and now I can and I will!!!haha)

Hmm I've read a few TR that have said the same thing but I wouldn't have a clue of goo spots to view any of the parades/fireworks from - I am hoping it won't be so crowded that most will be easy to he a good view/photos off!

I know sometimes ill eat alot after travelling or ill just want nothing so I may just leave that decision to on the day and either go DTD or even just the resort food court to grab at least something before bed!

I was thinking we'd have to fly from Manchester as we did last time we went WDW and was surprised to see that Thomson flew from EMA - glad they are though the half 11 flight means not so early a get up to check in etc which will help! (Although not sure ill sleep will more then likely bouncing of the walls like I'mofftodisneytomorrow)

Ah nice I live in Nottingham photo with sheriff of Nottingham is one of the things on my list to do!

 

[disney magic 06]

I suffer the same, the rest of my travelling companions (whoever I go with) think I'm crazy spending time on the forums etc but then they are grateful when we get there and everything fallls into place and we get maximum fun on our holiday!

If you do feel hungry on your first night, I suggest Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney Marketplace, it is a counter service and pretty cheap but good portions. The rotisserie chicken is good. We are staying at Old Key West for the first time this year so I think our first night will be Downtown Disney - although when we get there we may not be able to resist the call of the parks!

We would have liked the EMA option but the flights didn't fit in with work holidays, and we've always gone on Virgin so it's no hardship. We stay the night before at the airport to avoid the pre-dawn trek up the M6.

 

[Berry91]

I can see why some people would kind of think its crazy to start planning in advance but I may not get the chance to go back for another couple of years it's taken me a few years to save/persuade someone to come with me I want it to be as amazing and filled with as much disney as possible!

I think Wolfgang puck will be one to visit a some point in the trip everyone seems to love it, that and the sandwhich one which I can't remember the name of... I have wrote it down but I cannot ins my note book.

Sounds like a plan, not sure if ill be able to resist the parks calling me but the plan at the moment is to so I can enjoy them the next day all refreshed and rested after a sleep!

The flights have meant three weeks of for a two week vacation but I believe WDW will be worth it and a good idea to go the night before I think that's we'd have ended up doing saves alot of driving then a long flight breaks it all up!

 

[emma c]

i phoned 0800 to make adrs nice and free! We got fly from gatwick hopefully gettin the new thompson dreamliner when we fly home. cant wait to sart gettin days all sorted and arranged now we gettin nearer going.

 

[disney magic 06]

We manage to resist the parks about half of our trips! The last couple of years we've stayed at Wilderness Lodge and being so close we have gone to MK for a couple of hours. Even though I always feel tired I LOVE that first night. The warmth, the feeling of finally being at WDW, the prospect of a wonderful holiday ahead, what a fabulous feeling.

We can only have 2 weeks off work so as Thomson only fly once a week it's tricky for us, we go for 11/12 nights as Virgin fly daily. I could never go straight back to work the next day, I need a bit of time to recover.