Disney

I read about the castle suite, its part of the year of a million dreams promotion one family will will a night there, though you get locked in since the park is closed. I heard that if it does open to public reservations the room will be at least $12,000 per night!

New question, for thoes who used the dining plan did you use the basic one where you get one sit down mean one counter service meal and a snack and had to use 2 sit down credits to eat at a fancier/character/dinner show, or did you use the premium or platium package that gives you 3 meals and a snack anywhere you want including the most expensive restaurants?

The premium and platinum are obviously more expensive but I kind of feel like its our honeymoon and we are going to want to eat at the nicer restaurants so maybe it would be worh it.
Thoughts?

TIA!

I've been to Disney about 100 times (not literally) and my mom is a Disney Fanatic, so I know lots about staying there. Any of the All Star Resorts are very resonably priced, but, they are not geared to honeymooners. The are all family resorts. I didnt have a problem with it, but it depends on what you are looking for. I didnt find that the kids were everywhere driving me crazy.

We love stay in the Boardwalk. We are actually going to stay there again in March. It shares a lagoon with The Beach Club as well. The great thing about these resorts is that they are in walking distance to EPCOT. So you can go to Illuminations (the light /fireworks show) at night, and take a stroll back to your hotel. Its great cause you dont have to worry about trying to catch the bus before it gets too crowded. The other good thing about Boardwalk is that there is a lot to do at night because it is atcually a boardwalk like at Coney Island. There is a bar/club on one end, lots of places to eat, places to get ice cream and candy, people walking around doing shows, and you can rent 2 (or more) person bikes and take them all around the lagoon.

I would DEFINATELY stay in the resort. If you stay outside of Disney you'll end up paying more in parking and renting a car than anything else.

You DEFINATELY should get the park hoppers. We usually get the ultimate park hopper cause it gets you into Pleasure Island and Disney Guest (A giant video arcade which is a lot of fun to go to at night for a few nights..something different to do). Plus, with the ultimate, you can go do as many different parks in each day as you like with no penalty. Its worth the money.

I don't recommend the dinning plans. I have been to Disney with and without the dining plans. The problem that I found with them is that when you get them Disney chooses the places you can eat. You dont get to pick and chose the places you want to get food. We've been to Disney all different times of year, but if you are going when it is warm, you may not eat that much anyway. DH and I get so hot that we end up not eating a huge lunch. Usually we get a large breakfast, and a large dinner. Just some snacks or ice cream in between.


I have tons of more info if you need. Just send me an FM.

GOOD LUCK!!!

---

Posted by nifheim

Did you know the opened up the castle to have the Cinderalla Castle Suite? Its really sweet.

---

If you win the Castle Suite, you can only stay there for one night. You dont stay the entire lenght of your vacation.

Oh really? that stinks then again for that price i wouldn't be able to afford it. FH and I did disney four times together we enjoy it in the off season mostly because I hate HOT weather. Fainted twice when we did it in August. Prefer October when its comfortable.

We never did the dinning plan but did the park hoper. Get it so it doesn't expire because sometimes you plan to go everyday and it doesn't work out due to weather or something else.

I like the comments every left about staying near epcot. As adults you tend to do broad walk area and epcot mostly and then jump to universal studios and their broad walk area. Just for dinning and social events.

If you go to universal go to the irish pub/bar they have there near the blues brothers show. If its not that hot out its the BEST food to eat because it fills you up and with a pint to wash it down wow its the best. Margaritta ville for hamburgers on the city walk. Just good food in general and drinks!!!!

Tony's or Toni's in the mk is the best italian food. Great lunches and just a pretty restaurant. My friends mother works in there and she says most cast members take their families there to eat. Its right in the front court yard to the right side.

EPCOT - Germany by far is always my favorite, england, FH will probably love Canada for its steak. I didn't care for paying $$$$ for mexican food i rather eat it out of the park area for cheaper and still good.

As for staying we never did it in the parks, always outside in a best western as cheap as we could possibly make it. There is a great place to eat where we stay its called Tony Roma's AND WE LOVED the ribs and the LI ice teas. But the hotel was a dump and crowded with tourists and it was not a honeymoon spot.

Now you guys got me thinking of doing a disney honeymoon IoI

---

Posted by BrideInBlue

I read about the castle suite, its part of the year of a million dreams promotion one family will will a night there, though you get locked in since the park is closed. I heard that if it does open to public reservations the room will be at least $12,000 per night!

New question, for thoes who used the dining plan did you use the basic one where you get one sit down mean one counter service meal and a snack and had to use 2 sit down credits to eat at a fancier/character/dinner show, or did you use the premium or platium package that gives you 3 meals and a snack anywhere you want including the most expensive restaurants?

The premium and platinum are obviously more expensive but I kind of feel like its our honeymoon and we are going to want to eat at the nicer restaurants so maybe it would be worh it.
Thoughts?


TIA!

---

WE did the dining plan...the basic one...we used the 2 sit down credit for Narcossees 2x because we just loved that restauran...its in the Grand Floridian.

I didn't think the dining plan limited us...most places used it

lots of great info!

What about concierge level rooms? Worth it? I'm thinking its not necessary but id like to find out opinions/first hand experiences

---

Posted by BrideInBlue

lots of great info!

What about concierge level rooms? Worth it? I'm thinking its not necessary but id like to find out opinions/first hand experiences

---

We just had a regular room at the Grand Floridian...that was nice enough for us...you have to figure you are not in your room that often. A few nights we watched the fireworks at Cinderella's castle from our balcony because we overlooked that Lagoon...that was awesome!

Brideinblue:

FH and I go to Disney World every October.

I see that your wedding date is in October...will you be leaving straight after? If you are, here are some of the resons October is THE BEST time to visit WDW.

The Food and Wine Festival: If you're into food and wine (obviously) THIS IS GREAT. Epcot's World Showcase sets up about 25 mini-pavillions from all different countries that offer about 2-3 mini-dishes and 2-3 different wines all mostly for under $5 a piece. Usually we set aside several nights just to eat dinner 'around the world' (also we were engaged there....in Japan so it holds special significance...nothing like getting engaged and walking five feet to have a celebratory saki ;) )

anyway....moving on....

The Crowds: Are SUPER low. You never really wait any more then an hour to get on the most poular rides.

Weather: Though it can be a little wet in October there is also the possibility for a rain free vacation. In Oct 2005, out of 10 days, it rained maybe 4 and only in the afternoon. In Oct 06 we saw NO RAIN FOR 10 DAYS. And it's also not to hot, average high is like 75-80...not unbearable.

I read earlier that you were thinking of the Contemorary or the Animal Kingdom Lodge. DO NO believe what you hear about the Lodge. I've stayed there for the last two years and it is an experience like NO OTHER. The savannah room is well worth it and you can literally spend an entire day wandering around the hotel there are so many little romantic nooks. :) And one of the hot tubs is hidden among tropical foliage. The rooms are not dirty at all. I thought they were beautiful. I've got like 800 pictures if you'd like to see....I also have some pictures in my album :). Bottom line is Animal Kingom Lodge is the BEST hotel experience ever, you shouldn't miss it.

Another tip I have is if you can decide which resort you want to stay in.....stay in two, or THREE!! Disney moves your luggage from resort to resort for FREE. FH and I ALWAYS do a split stay. In Oct 06 we spent 5 nights a the Animal Kingdom Lodge and 4 nights at the Boardwalk. It was like we were on two different vacations since the theming is so different. Since you can walk to Epcot center from the Boardwalk (also Beach and Yacht Clubs) we did alot of the food and wine festival on the nights we stayed in that resort. It was FANTASTIC and the Boardwalk is really lovely at night.....like Coney Island in the 20's.

I've planned Disney vacations for family and friends for a long time and I know all the great little places you'd never think of going. So if you want my advice I'd LOVE to give it....beacause there is nothing I love to do more.

Here are some things you might want to check into: The Garden Suites at the Boardwalk. You get a fenced in garden and the bedroom is done loft style....if you're looking for a romantic suite this is the way to go if you've got the $. Another thing is Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian. FH, myself and another couple went to this not knowing what to expect and we were utterly blown away...I also have pictures of that. :) And of course I reccomend the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

As far as concergie level goes...yeah it's worth it. I've never stayed but my family has. It's prety much you get a prime view room and there is food and drinks set up 24 hours a day in the concierge lounge that only YOU and others on your floor have access to. Usually the entire floor is room card only access.

Anyway...I could go on and on and on literally forever...... :)

and No...I do not work for Disney....my family is just crazy and I am the product of that crazyness. :)

Good luck in planning.

Wow TGs Lady! Lots of great tips! I have actually been considering a split stay since we are so undecided between the 2 but I want sure how annoying it would be so its wonderful to hear that its a nice easy process.

Do you know when in october the food in wine festival is? we were going to go righter after but then i heard that november is better, id like to go in october though if its all the same.

---

Posted by BrideInBlue

Wow TGs Lady! Lots of great tips! I have actually been considering a split stay since we are so undecided between the 2 but I want sure how annoying it would be so its wonderful to hear that its a nice easy process.

Do you know when in october the food in wine festival is? we were going to go righter after but then i heard that november is better, id like to go in october though if its all the same.

---

The Festival usually runs from the end of September until mid-November (the '06 Festival was 9/30-11/13). The only thing that really changes during that time are the musical acts which I don't usually care for since they are usually people like, Taylor Dane, Kansas and some random cover bands and washed up rockers.....fortunetly, the food stays the same. :)

You can read about the Festival HERE. This site is also THE MOST comprehensive Disney site on the web, IMO. They have pictures of EVERY type of room on property with updated pricing, they also have updated menus for almost every restaurant on property. They have some great planning tips as well as some other fantastic information.

I never plan a trip without it!!

---

Posted by BrideInBlue

For anyone intrested Disney has just opened up their honeymoon registry program! You can even set it up for travel plans that are already booked.

---

Damn it...I wish they had this when we went last year