Post trip thoughts

[heathpack]

1. First week of December is an amazing time to visit. We had picture perfect weather and low crowds. Our longest wait time was the Jingle Cruise at 25 min. The Christmas decorations and music really are cheery.

2. Candlelight Processional was beautiful, I have no idea why I was previously underwhelmed. The dining package is well worth it.

3. Animal Kingdom Lodge is awesome. Love the animal viewing and overall ambience. I think visiting when days are shorter makes sense, because you can still head out after dark and do a little something else. In general, I’d say we’re Savannah View people but our resort view was nice and allowed us to leave the room more without FOMO. We liked Kidani because we could view the animals from a lower floor but didn’t love walking through the parking garage to get to the pool. Otherwise Jambo was better. The split stay Kidani SV-Jambo resort view was kind of optimal.

4. When planning a split stay, don’t change resorts on a EEH day- by the time we got into our villa late and bell services took 30 minutes to deliver our luggage and then we at least got semi-settled, it just felt like too much to hit up EEH at AK.

5. We enjoy the parks but are definitely cooling on them somewhat. We had a great afternoon + EEH experience at EPCOT (yeah baby, rode Frozen, Remi, Test Track, and Guardians, during EEH with no more than a 20 min wait!). And a great rope dropping experience at MK- rode Mine Train, Peter Pan, Small World, Tron (Mr H), Mine Train again (me), Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Country Bears, and Haunted Mansion + sat down and ate a snack + watched the Main Street Band, all by 11 am with minimal lines (somehow we were riding Mine Train at 7:24, 6 min before early entry starts!). On a 6 day trip, we only did two park days and were very content.

6. The Contemporary concourse is a depressing mish mash that cannot be remedied by the presence of a gingerbread castle. However the lobbies of Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and Jambo are awesome decked out for Christmas. In the future, I’m not sure I’d attempt a Christmas tour but instead try to stay at one of the three and dine at the other two.

7. Be sure to invite your cast member cousin. Cast members get various extra bonus perks at Christmas time. Forty percent off at Whispering Canyon!

8. Our dining reviews:
Biergarten. 7/10+ 1 for the addition of a few Christmas songs. The buffet food was (mostly) good to very good. Lots of variety but by the time you sampled that variety, it was too much food. I had a really nice German Riesling here, a pleasant surprise. This was a good choice for the CP dining package.

Whispering Canyon 7/10 +1 for the fun factor. Don’t get the “Heathy skillet” like I did. Just go for it and get the full freight skillet. Also- we learned in this visit: if you go we three people, and each person gets a different skillet, anyone at the table can eat off of any skillet, and order seconds of any skillet

Wine Bar George 10/10, now I want to buy a Saratoga Springs contract. Food was uniformly very good but the best thing was choosing a few wines and learning a bit about each from the somm. This is a must do now on every trip.

Wailulu Lounge 10/10, now I want to buy a Poly contract. Lovely setting, food was excellent (I’m not intimidated by unknown to me food but even I thought the menu looked challenging before we visited), service was great, and oh my! My mai tai was great. Throw in a picture perfect day and some Christmas garland was we were smitten. Another must-do.

Ragland Road 8/10 + 1 for the fun factor. Very crowd pleasing menu, although almost all items heavy/filling. A childhood friend just happened to be in town, we grew up “Irish”, she moved to Boston and married an Irishman. Perfect meetup for an “Irish” reunion. Good beer too!

Jiko. 9/10. Nice upscale vibe without being fussy, great service. I’d kind of like to go back and eat less (it was too much) but sample more wines. I had a really nice Chenin Blanc and would love to explore more of their white wines which seemed very interesting.

We ate in the room some (including thanksgiving leftovers twice!), some poolside nibbles from our cooler, some breakfasts.

9. Studio vs 1BR? Obviously the 1 BR is the minimum if inviting a friend or relative. The space is nice, as is the washer/dryer. However studios don’t crimp our style too much and will probably be our go-to room type, or maybe aiming for a 1BR-studio split stay.

10. The GF looks great. She’s no longer frumpy. Now just classy. Can’t wait to stay there!

Next trip is early Feb, gotta start planning!

 

[ljmiii]

1. First week of December is an amazing time to visit. We had picture perfect weather and low crowds. Our longest wait time was the Jingle Cruise at 25 min. The Christmas decorations and music really are cheery.

It has become our favorite time to visit WDW for the reasons you describe. It used to be late September/early October when you could literally walk off and back onto almost every ride in the parks but non-annual APs have taken away that magic.

Wailulu Lounge 10/10, now I want to buy a Poly contract. Lovely setting, food was excellent (I’m not intimidated by unknown to me food but even I thought the menu looked challenging before we visited), service was great, and oh my! My mai tai was great. Throw in a picture perfect day and some Christmas garland was we were smitten. Another must-do.

We were able to move a Thursday lunch reservation at the Kona Cafe to the Wailulu Lounge and were blown away by the food, drinks, and atmosphere (at least outside). Simply spectacular.

 

[elaine]

Now I’ve got some new places to try! Didn’t event know about WB George. Thanks!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Cast member cousin? What is that about? How can I get a cast member cousin?

Becky Varn and I talked about becoming cast members for fall season, just to get all of the perks year-round. She even applied as a cast member and was told because she had a degree in English, she would be better off working at one of the stores. She and I had that degree in common.

Becky was a Foxrun board member and shared her success in trading Foxrun for Disney on TUG, She was able to get two bedrooms at Disney. I bought my first Foxrun week from her when fees were $480, a very long time ago. We owned 8 weeks and sold them when II lost Disney to RCI.

Becky Varn died several years ago from cancer. Rest in Peace, Becky! I miss our talks. She was my age.

Biergarten, my favorite soup is the beer cheese. It's so good but it's not always there. Rick loves the meatballs.

 

[nomoretslt]

1. December (first couple of weeks) is a great time to visit. Lower points, less humidity, beautiful decorations, lower crowds. We’ve been alternating our winter trip, last year was December, so we’re slated end of January into February for Festival of the Arts (aka Farts …people actually have T-shirt’s made to say that).
2. I think the Candlelight Processional has evolved for the better over the years.
3. AKL is a great resort when not being park commandos. I prefer the 1 bedrooms at Kidani with the 2 baths as opposed to Jambos with one. But prefer the studios at Jambo, as I think they are larger. Kidani has a great community hall. And I love to sit on the viewing deck with my morning coffee. Such a nice experience (and save points with standard (resort) view.
4. Split stays are a challenge. I find it easier to do a studio first, then move on to a one bedroom. Although it does get tiring, and I think those days are behind us. I’m hoping DH will be able to make our January/February trip.
5. Epcot EEH is great. Did they change Remy yet to 2d? DH gets a bit of vertigo on it….I think it was an issue for some. Was wondering if it changed the experience at all. Single rider lane is the way to go on other days.
6. Nothing can save the Contempory from its harshness. The gingerbread castle last year was an improvement, but still kind of embarrassing. I do love the food court there and the way the monorail goes in and out of the building. Such amazing things you can see at WDW.
7. No cast members cousins or relatives. Glad she was able to share her perks.
8. Nice variety of restaurants. Saratoga Springs is relatively easy to book at 7 months. We are still morning park people and SSR is too far. A bus from Riviera or Boardwalk is our choice to visit Springs. Did you see the snow “storm” on the main walkway by the new DVC lounge at Disney Springs?
9. Studios are great point-savers. We can’t do it for more than 2 nights. I need my space, he likes keeping the tv on at night. Although when doing mother/daughter trips, a studio is fine. DD is a great Disney person.

Sounds like a great trip. New Years at Disney is pretty amazing too. Very pointy tho, but glad we did it a few years back…..and actually also when the kids were in high school.

In February the festival will still be going on, in the past, the food booths were really good. I’ll have to start checking the F&W app after the Holiday festival is over.

 

[heathpack]

Remi was 2D but it still seemed 3D. I don't know how they accomplished that.

Maybe it was too cool in the mornings but we found the animals did not get out of bed until around 9am. The common viewing areas were hit or miss. A couple of times I schlepped down from the room but no animals were about. Its just different from sitting on your own balcony.

We will be at Boulder Ridge Jan 31-Feb 7 on an II exchange. In time for FARTS!

 

[rickandcindy23]

We were there in November, the week before Thanksgiving. Crowds were so low, we couldn't believe it. I am hoping to go for a week next year at the same time. We will see if Rick is okay with it because we will have to renew our passes. He is sometimes a tough sell.

Remy was 2D in November, and it was great. Disney did an amazing job. I think little kids will have a better experience without the heat from the realistic fire as well. That scared our little ones, plus they wouldn't wear their 3D glasses. I loved the new Remy 2D.

Frozen is a ride I skip without the kids, same with Mexico. Been there, done that 100 times. Elsa greenface kind of freaked our granddaughter out. Now she is used to that weird green witchy look.

I don't ride roller coasters. Seven Dwarfs is as wild as it gets for me. I have to force myself to smile for the camera. The twins will be four and tall enough to ride it in January.

I sure miss the Osborne Christmas lights at Hollywood Studios. That was so fun. But I do love Rise of Resistance and Smuggler's Run is also fun for the little ones. Mickey/ Minnie train is fun, except when they sit two couples together that aren't really together. It was tight.

 

[AnnaS]

I just got back Saturday evening myself/OKW. The last time I visited during this time was 13 years ago. I am thinking of booking again same time next year rather than Oct/Nov.

Did you ride The Land? I was impressed. They did a great job with decorations. Loved it.

It was my first solo trip. I was brave and booked two table service restaurants. Sci-Fi and Olivia's. Getting there. Baby steps.

 

[heathpack]

I just got back Saturday evening myself/OKW. The last time I visited during this time was 13 years ago. I am thinking of booking again same time next year rather than Oct/Nov.

Did you ride The Land? I was impressed. They did a great job with decorations. Loved it.

It was my first solo trip. I was brave and booked two table service restaurants. Sci-Fi and Olivia's. Getting there. Baby steps.

We did not ride the Land, sorry we missed it.

And too bad we did not know you were there, we could’ve met up!

 

[AnnaS]

We did not ride the Land, sorry we missed it.

And too bad we did not know you were there, we could’ve met up!

Yes - that would have been awesome to meet!!

There is a video out there of the ride (probably more than one) - but to be there in person is always a different feeling.

After I posted here, pictures popped up on my phone, I did see Christmas decorations for our 11/3/2021 trip.

 

[nomoretslt]

@heathpack … I remember reading somewhere that the animals see the vet every morning. And they don’t “force” the animals into the area. They do however lure them with feed in the trees and logs. Savanna view rooms are nice….but pointy. There are some very nice Jambo studio standard view rooms that are actually good savanna views. I have the info somewhere in my folders about which room areas to request.
@AnnaS … we do The Land every day we are in Epcot. They do a nice job during Halloween too. We love that ride. Good for you on your solo trip. Bittersweet I’m sure. I’m trying not to dwell on it myself….DH is stubborn and looking at him you would think all is well.

 

[heathpack]

@heathpack …There are some very nice Jambo studio standard view rooms that are actually good savanna views. I have the info somewhere in my folders about which room areas to request.

Yeah… that’s what I requested. But I got a view dead-on of the pool!

 

[AnnaS]

@AnnaS … we do The Land every day we are in Epcot. They do a nice job during Halloween too. We love that ride. Good for you on your solo trip. Bittersweet I’m sure. I’m trying not to dwell on it myself….DH is stubborn and looking at him you would think all is well.

I shed tears a few times (as I always do) but it was bittersweet my first time back at OKW without my DH (have since been to SSR, BWV, & BCV w/family). OKW was his favorite resort/our first resort and so many more trips here. Evenings are always tough no matter the location but at Disney, much more distraction and I am not staring at the walls every night for a week.

I had to do it and having DVC almost forces me. Can't wait for family all the time or friends and we did some trips as couples. One place I feel comfortable being in the bubble after so many trips. I will keep adding a night each time I book to make the stay longer.

Yes, I saw The Land for Halloween in October (my cousin invited herself to come with me/it was originally my first solo trip). DH and I went Spring and Fall for many years. Always enjoy the ride .