BillP and Cindi's
WDW Vacation
Reviews and Tips
Disclaimer
The following comments are from a first time Disney World visitor.
We had no real budget and were kid free. It's no Birnbaum Disney Guide. It's just meant to provide a
recollection of our good and bad experiences. Speaking of guides, my first tip is to get your hands
on Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Expert advice from the Inside Source The Office Guide. It's well
worth the $14($9 at our AAA Travel office).
Where to Stay
Ok, I'm being bias to say you have to
stay at the Polynesian. Most of the huts didn't have the same lagoon view as
we enjoyed nor did everyone have concierge services. The real plus was actually the location.
I do recommend if you can, choose one of the hotels directly on the Monorail. It saved
so much time and allowed us to change plans in midstream.
Off Season
We were able to go at a time when all the kids
are in school and everyone else up north is looking for guaranteed warm weather. We found there was
absolutely no way to predict the weather in advance. Some days even the morning forecast couldn't
get the afternoon weather correct. Luckily we didn't have rain but it might have been worth it
just so we didn't have to deal with crowded conditions. We were able to walk on to most rides, and
arranged for dinner shows on the same day.
Rides
First let me say, Disney has a hit with FASTPASS. No doubt we'll be seeing FASTPASS type machines
at parks around the world. Find out which rides have FASTPASS available and when you arrive at the park
give all your tickets to who ever has the most energy. They can go around and collect fastpasses for
your each ride for your entire group.
Loved the Rock n Roller Coaster. It used the newest technology
and I love when coasters add heavy themes. It amazes me when parks spend millions to build a ride
and just stick it out in the middle with boring line queues.
Splash Mountain was a joy. I was very impressed how the engineers have cushioned the bottom
of the drop. Most rides of this nature have a big thump so they can spray spectators.
My favorite was Test Track at Epcot. The theme was cute and the ride was thrilling. The best
feature of Test Track is they have a "singles" line which isn't marked. Instead of using Fast Pass
ask where the singles line is. You won't necessarily ride with your companions but you won't wait in
line either.
Shows
I'm sorry to say I can only report on Festival of the Lion King found at Animal Kingdom.
We missed getting to Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame or the Tarzan show.
Don't make the same mistake. If the other shows are comparable be sure to schedule your
time to sit down and enjoy the shows. If possible schedule them for after dark because the
lighting adds an additional element of entertainment.
Special Events
No matter what season you go, be sure to stake out a spot early for the Main Street Electrical
Parade and other shows. Crowd control even during the off-season was unbearable.
Don't miss Fantastic at MGM. Go early to get a good seat and enjoy the pre-show comedy
act and/or bring a meal to eat there while you wait. The nice part is you'll have stadium
seating which is more comfortable than a Main Street curb but I still might bring a
padded cushion next time.
Fireworks each night at the Magic Kingdom is a tradition. It's still a must even though it
only lasts for 7 minutes. It's viewable from so many places don't feel you need to watch it
from Main Street.
Every night starting at 9 the Electrical Water Parade makes its way to all the hotels around
the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. It's not worth missing Illuminations for but it's cute and
is another reason to book a hotel on the Monorail route around the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Dinner Shows
We took in both the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review and the Polynesian Luau. If you've never been to
a Luau it's a nice experience with authentic dancers. Except for the food, it wasn't any
different from Luau shows I've seen in Hawaii. The Hoop-Dee-Doo is a nice slapstick
show with very talented entertainers. The food was delicious and all you could eat.
It's not really a dinner show but make Priority Seating arrangements ahead of time so you can
eat at the 50's Prime Time Diner while at MGM. Bring your childhood sense of humor and appetite
and you won't be disappointed.
Transportation
Having the Monorail at our disposal I don't have a lot of transportation tips. Just one.
When leaving Magic Kingdom, there are two Monorail entrances. One says it's for the
Transportation Center and the other is direct for the Monorail hotels. Psssst... the
hotel line also stops at the Transportation Center too and may have a shorter line.
Return to Celebrating the Future
Special Thanks to:
Dave Gallup who was at our houses at 5 AM with his snow plow after 10 inches of snow had fallen
blocking our path to the airport.
Laura Richute at AAA Northway in Schenectady who suggested the Polynesian Resort even after I spent weeks online researching
where I thought I wanted to stay.
Kingdom Vacations for including a VIP pass to Rainforest Cafe which allowed us
immediate entry instead of an hour wait
Deborah Wills who maintains an excellent online resource called
Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide.
If you want real tips, go visit Deb.
Bill Ellis with Florida TownCar Service who understood we had to stop at the market to pick up some Pepsi
before getting to WDW where they only sold Coke products.
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2003
Copyright © 2000-2002 BillP Studios
All Rights Reserved.