WDW Tips

Here is what I have come up with for my upcoming trip

Wednesday September 26
My friends fly into Sanford Airport and arrive in Orlando at approx 8pm.
Staying offsite with a friend for the night

Thursday Sept 27
I fly into MCO and arrive approx 11am
Meet at All Star Sports around 1pm
Tour Boardwalk, Contemepary, Poly, and Grand Floridian
Dinner at Downtown Disney
Pleasure Island after dinner

Friday September 28
Start at Animal Kingdom
Early Evening Magic Kingdom-Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Saturday September 29
Epcot morning
Dinner LeCellier 7pm

Sunday September 30
Morning Magic Kingdom
Evening Disney Studios-Extra Magic Hours

Monday October 1
Check out of hotel
Me-head to Epcot for Rededication Ceremony
Everyone else-sleep in check out of hotel
Meet at Beaches and Cream for lunch
Everyone else-shuttle/taxi to airport
Me leave at 5pm for airport

Trip over! BOO!

So that’s the plan. Pretty quick trip just to get my “fix” Hopefully next year there will be several trips now that we are living close to a major airport.

While this has been speculated on for years, Disney finally made it official. I don’t really know how I feel about this change. I sorta expected it to be the Disney-Pixar Studios, but I guess the Hollywood name fits where they are going with the direction of this park. Here is the press release:

On With the (Even Bigger) Show! New Name, More Magic to Transform Disney Theme Park New Attractions, Experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 9, 2007) — In the Walt Disney World theme park famous for all things Hollywood, it’s curtain up on the launch of new attractions, new looks, new breakthrough experiences…

…and a brand-new name.

Disney-MGM Studios will be renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios, effective January 2008, announced Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort.

“The new name reflects how the park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today’s Hollywood has to offer — in music, television, movies and theater,” she said.

Framed by the park’s supporting cast of classic Hollywood architecture are shows and attractions straight from contemporary Hollywood, such as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” and many more. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also the place to meet favorite character stars of today including Lightning McQueen and Mater from Disney-Pixar’s “Cars,” Power Rangers and Little Einsteins.

With exciting coming attractions and experiences, the best and brightest of Hollywood is about to emerge for park guests, Crofton said.

“As Disney continues to grow and invest in our family entertainment business, we constantly explore new ways to deliver high-quality, immersive experiences for our guests,” she added. “As a park all about entertainment, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will deliver like never before. Now we can say that Hollywood is literally our middle name.”
New Attractions, Experiences

* Toy Story Mania! Guests get sporty in a new, interactive “Toy Story” competition inspired by Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story” films and hosted by characters like they’ve never before experienced. Past a queuing area featuring a giant Mr. Potato Head, guests grab 3-D glasses, board fanciful ride vehicles and zip into a world of exciting midway-style games hosted by many of their favorite “Toy Story” characters including Woody, Hamm and Rex. Once inside “Andy’s Toy Box,” the competition heats up. Who can rack up the most points? Using spring-action shooters, guests launch darts at balloons, rings at aliens, eggs at whimsical barnyard targets. Toy Story Mania! takes the interactive ride-game experience to infinity — and beyond. (summer 2008)

* “Block Party Bash.” Play, party and dance as the Disney-Pixar Film Pals present “Block Party Bash,” the wildest, most interactive parade in Disney history. New to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Block Party Bash” will invite guests to rock to retro tunes, be dazzled by high-flying acrobatics and join in the fun as more than 20 partying Disney-Pixar Film Pals fill the theme park streets. This immersive rolling spectacle will feature favorite characters from “The Incredibles,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “A Bug’s Life.” (spring 2008, replaces “Disney Stars and Motor Cars” parade)

* “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” A whole new cast of friends from Playhouse Disney fills the popular Playhouse Disney stage. Children will be on their feet singing, clapping and dancing to performing stars from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Little Einsteins,” “Handy Manny” and more. (”Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” will be dark most of January 2008, reopens February 2008)

* “Disney High School Musical 2: School’s Out!” With new songs and a rollicking new spirit, the Disney Channel Original Movie “High School Musical 2″ comes to life on the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is interactive fun as high-energy performers on a traveling stage invite all ages to catch Wildcat fever by singing and dancing. (fall 2007, replaces “High School Musical Pep Rally”)

* Meet and Greet Adds Handy Manny. And what would a Disney theme park be without characters? Disney’s Hollywood Studios is center stage for character meet and greets. Disney Channel stars JoJo and Goliath and the Little Einsteins welcome guests in the Animation Courtyard next to “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” and will be joined for the first time by Handy Manny later this year. (November 2007)

Part of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios magic includes events for which the park is famous. To a stellar lineup including ABC Super Soap Weekend, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, ESPN the Weekend and Star Wars Weekends, the park reprises the Playhouse Disney in Concert series with dynamic concerts and special entertainment for little ones.

Headliners include favorite children’s acts The Doodlebops, Imagination Movers, Dan Zanes and Friends, and Johnny and the Sprites. The fun happens on select dates Aug. 30-Oct. 28, 2007, during Little Ones Travel Time in a 10,000 square foot, air-conditioned performance venue. For the complete show schedule: disneyworld.com/pdic.

In addition, holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a special sparkle this year as the park hosts the Harlem Gospel Choir Nov. 30-Dec. 25, 2007.

“This is easily one of the most ambitious attractions rollouts in the 18-year history of the park,” Crofton said. “With so many great coming attractions, we are thrilled to be launching a Studios year unlike any other. Wrapped in a brand-new name…Disney’s Hollywood Studios.”

via The Disney Blog

I found this web site via The Disney Blog Its pretty neat…I knew there were corporate rooms at the Land Pavilion but had no idea of the options for different locations. I seriously doubt I will ever need use of one of this for a party, but it’s nice to know they are there. Link

I have stayed at just about every level of Disney accomodations. When I was younger we always brought my grandparents camper trailer down to Orlando and stayed at Ft. Wilderness. I don’t specifically remember much from those trips, but I do have a fond memory type of thing. Those trips are the reason I love the “world” now.
My return trips to Disney started in 1992 when my high school band participated in the Magic Music Days. We stayed at Carribean Beach Resort. At that time Disney had just begun to go into the more “value” market of hotels. I enjoyed my trip but hey… what do you really know about hotels at 17?

For my first trip as an adult, Jim and I stayed at the All Star Sports. To tell you the truth we loved the hotel at the time. However our first trip consisted of non-stop park hopping. We were barely at the room for anything. Also at that time there was no way we could afford anything other than counter service meals, so the All Stars fit us perfectly. I can remember that somehow we ended up at the Beach Club (I was trying to get us from EPCOT to the Studios without having to go back to the front entrance of EPCOT) and we made a comment about how #1 we would probably never be able to afford to stay there and #2 why would ANYONE spend that much money on a hotel when you were never there?

For our trip in 1999 we again stayed at the All Stars. Jim was attending classes and we only spent 2 days onsite.

In 2000 we moved up a level and stayed at Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans-Riverside). We were amazed at what a difference 1 level made. We no longer had to wait in HUGE lines at the end of the night to get on the bus. They actually had bell services that were at the front entrance to assist you. There were not as many children as well. We stayed on the Mansion side and realized that for just a few more $$$ each night we got a much more enjoyable time.

In 2001, we began our venture in bringing people with us to Disney. This year we took Jim’s paternal grandmother (the one who lives with us) and his mom. We had 1 room booked at Carribean Beach. We arrived later in the evening and were surprised to see a wait to check in. When I finally got to the counter they explained that they were overbooked and we were being upgraded to a Deluxe hotel. Ironically I choose the Beach Club. I can tell you it was love at first sight when we arrived there. They have fresh flowers in the lobby, the entrance to the rooms are indoors, and we discovered the ease of walking to Epcot. The pool at the Beach Club is amazing and it just felt so nice to be staying there. In retrospect I don’t think we would have done very well with 4 adults in 1 room at Carribean Beach; it was crowded in the room at the Beach Club.

We took a spur of the moment trip in July 2002 and stayed at the All Stars. We were only there for 2 nights and for the quickness of the planning (We deceided 1 week before the go) and the time (4th of July weekend) we were lucky to get at room at all. This has turned out to be the last time we have stayed at a value.

In 2002 we made our largest group trip to date. We traveled with my parents, my paternal grandparents, and my great aunt. Jim and I arrived a day before everyone else and I surprised him with a room at the Contemperary. We had a Tower room with a Magic Kingdom view. It was increadible. Although we only were there for 1 night we really enjoyed the convenience of catching the monorail to get either to the MK or the TTC. Since we had connecting reservations, Disney moved our luggage to our next accomodations. We had a 2 bedroom villa at Old Key West. The accomodations were perfect for the size of our party. Jim and I had the Master bedroom which had a king bed, my grandparents and aunt shared the other bedroom which had 2 double beds, and my parents slept on the fold out bed. We had a washer and dryer, full size stove, fridge, and microwave. My grandfather had difficulty climbing stairs so we had requested a bottom level room. We had a patio which was on the lake and had ducks which visited us every morning. Since we were at Disney on the 1 year anniversary of 9/11 and tourism was still struggling we got an incredible deal on the rate. It was perfect room for the size of our group.

In 2003 Jim and I made several trips with our annual passes. We stayed at Carribean Beach and Port Orleans-Riverside (former Dixie Landings). I don’t know if it was because our previous two trips we had stayed at Deluxe accomodations, but we were underwhelmed by both hotels. Although we were not ready to commit to paying for a Deluxe every trip, I just don’t know if the moderates were holding the same luster as they once had.

In 2004 Jim and I celebrated out 10th anniversary a little late. We bit the bullet and reserved a room at the Boardwalk Inn. Ever since staying at the Beach Club we had wanted to stay at an EPCOT resort again. At check in we were once again surprised with an upgrade. We were given our gold room keys which gave us the most incredible concierge room. We were right on the Boardwalk above the Bakery overlooking the water. The room, the view and the amminties were unforgetable. It doesn’t matter how many times I have been back to Disney or what hotel I have stayed in, we consider that our hotel and our room. It almost made me think that concierge is worth the extra money (well, I am convinced, but I don’t think Jim is)

The only trip I was supposed to have taken in 2005 was an October trip with my sister in law. The agreement was for us to stay at a value hotel. I ended up making the reservations after Katrina and just could not bring myself to book a value. We ended up staying at Carribean Beach. I also make a trip by myself in which I stayed at Coronado Springs. It is a very nice hotel, but due to the large convention center it had more of a business feel that any other Disney resort I have stayed at.

In 2006 both trips I have stayed at Carribean Beach. My biggest complaint with CBR is the fact that the Custom House (check in/out) is located in a different location that the food/shopping. It is a very nice resort however. As far as moderates go it is about the only one I want to stay at. Since I pretty much refuse to stay at a value hotel now and can’t afford a deluxe every trip then, CBR will pretty much be my home when I am at the world.

Jim and I also agree that we really enjoy the Epcot hotels more than any other location. It is just so nice not having to wait for a bus to get to Epcot or the Studios. We spend probably 5 out of 8 nights at Epcot for dinner so being so close to Epcot is really convient for us.

A few places which are still on our list to try:
The Grand Floridian-the luxury of this hotel just seems so appealing. If and when I do stay here, it will probably be a split trip (half moderate/half deluxe) due to the cost

The Animal Kingdom Lodge-again don’t know if I will stay here for the entire time, but I have heard wonderful things about this hotel from other Disney fans

The Polynisian- I know this is also one of the original hotels, but I have heard great things about this one as well.

Disney has started a new program for young childrens (ages 2-6) which is primarily centered around the Magic Kingdom and the Studios.  We participated several things that both parks had to offer

At the Magic Kingdom they open the parks 1 hour early on a couple of days each week for the Magical Beginings. This is very similar to the extra magic hours that is offered on select days except only the attractions in Fantasyland are open.   They also have several characters out in Fantasyland, we saw Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Wendy just to name a few.  However these characters are not out for pictures or autographs.  They are playing ball or duck duck goose, etc.  Caden was able to play ball with Mickey.  It was pretty cool.  They characters also will ride the attractions with the kids.  We arrived at the Magic Kingdom at approx 8:30am and by 10:30 am we had eaten a quick breakfast and ridden everything including Dumbo.

At the Studios we ate at the new character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. I had characters from the Little Einsteins and JoJo’s Circus.  We also saw the “special” guest show of Jason and the Sprites?  I had never heard of this show, but Ariane said she had seen it on TV before.  To be quite honest, it was not very good…even Caden was a little bored during the show.  That being said the Wiggles were there 2 days before we arrived, so they do have headliner type shows.

I highly recommend the magical beginings for anyone with a small child.  I especially enjoyed the Magic Kingdom part.  I know that this program is fairly new and I am sure Disney will be adding additional features to this program.