From: Rich_Koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Re: EPCOT 1st Half Nov.
Date: 5 Sep 92 05:28:42 GMT
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.

This is to reply to message posted Fri, 28 Aug 1992 23:29:01 GMT,
heiby@chg.mcd.mot.com (Ron Heiby) regarding EPCOT in 1st Half
November:
 
RH>...we are interested in lodging near EPCOT.  We are interested in
RH>paying as little as possible, so we've been looking at staying at
RH>something like the Carribean, still on property but budget-minded.
RH>For these places, I understand that we will have to take a bus or
                                               ^^^^^^^
RH>tram to EPCOT.  We'd like to pick a place that is on a route with
RH>few other stops....We'll be driving to FL, so will have our own
RH>car.  One person in my office suggested that it would be more
RH>efficient for us to drive our own car and park in the EPCOT parking
RH>lot.
 
You don't "have to"...according to "The Unofficial Guide to WDW" by
Bob Sehlinger, it's faster and more efficient to take your own car.
Just get an early start, arrive 30-45 minutes before the official
opening time:  You'll be allowed into the park!  Resort guests don't
pay parking fees.  But since you're paying for the park transportation
system anyway it's nice to let the bus and monorail drivers do the
driving for you especially when you're tired at the end of the day.
On the other hand, the busses can become standing room only,
especially at park closing.  Using your own car might also be a good
strategy if your dad tires easily:  "The Unofficial Guide to WDW"
recommends that for families with youngsters, they go early-early,
tour until 11:30 or so, leave the park for your hotel and lunch, nap
and a swim, then return to the parks in mid-late afternoon to finish
sightseeing.  The rest break might be nice for your family situation.
 
If you really want to save money, try the Best Western Maingate:  They
offer a room *plus* breakfast buffet for each adult for $17.95 now
through Christmas, then it goes up to $29.95!  It's off-site, though,
and you have to pay for kids' breakfasts and pay for parking at WDW.
 
RH>Also, we figure that arriving at the "back entrance" near France
RH>would be a Plus.
 
Depends on how much the Swan, Dolphin and Yacht & Beach Club mind you
parking in their guests' lots in order to do this, although if you
solely rely on WDW transportation to get around its a moot point.  You
still have to walk a bunch after that too.
 
RH>Since my father is in his mid-seventies, and we're going to be
RH>doing a great deal of walking in the parks, we want to avoid long
RH>walks between where we want to go and the bus stop, as well as
RH>stair climbing at the hotel.
 
Request a first floor room close to the parking lot and explain why
when you make your reservations.  Ask at the same time if there's
anything like a wheelchair or one of these electric-motorized cart/
scooters available for rent at WDW for the elderly or handicapped.  If
not, look into renting one before you leave.  Your dad will have a
*lot* of mobility and independence, save his energy for having a good
time rather than walking/resting, be granted seating in handicapped
areas, the cart stores away in the trunk but you'll have to be aware
of the battery and its recharge requirements if you go for the cart.
Ask at medical supply rental places.  "The Unofficial Guide" even
recommends that you rent strollers for 5-6 year olds, on the theory
that you want to conserve the energy of your family's weakest link and
proceed with your touring until the mid-day hotel rest break in order
to realize the goal of having a fun vacation after spending so much
time and money to get there...whatever it takes to do that....not to
undermine your dad's dignity and not to imply that he's feeble, but to
ensure he gets around and has fun over the vast EPCOT park.
 
"The Unofficial Guide" offers several touring plans for EPCOT, MK and
Disney-MGM which require early arrival and *a lot of walking and
backtracking* to avoid crowds and lines and see all the attractions
efficiently whether the parks are open late or close early, hence the
idea about the electric cart.  It also recommends which attractions
appeal most to seniors and which are violent rides, and how to
"switch-off", so you and your wife can go on rides that your dad
can't/won't, but your party stays together.
 
RH>We've never gone for one of the "package" deals that include meals,
RH>admissions, etc. with the hotel rooms, figuring that (basically) we
RH>couldn't eat enough to make it cost effective.  One of the guys in
RH>the office thinks there's a package that includes just room and
RH>admissions and just a few meals.  Finally, tickets!  We're thinking
RH>of spending 4-5 days in the parks.  Having an extra day or two on a
RH>pass doesn't worry us, because we know we'll use it some day and
RH>ticket prices only go UP.  But, since we will probably *not* be
RH>going to Pleasure Island, Discovery Island, Typhoon Lagoon, etc.,
RH>we don't want to pay extra for a pass that includes admission to
RH>those attractions.  So, if I don't have a cost effective package
RH>option that includes admissions, what's my best option for
RH>tickets/passes?  BTW, I'm in the Magic Kingdom Club through my
RH>company recreation department.
 
Ask your company recreation department, pronto, to sign you up as a
card-carrying member of the Magic Kingdom Club.  You'll need to have
your card number to make reservations through the MKC Travel Center.
Takes a few weeks for the processing, though your mileage may vary.
 
In the meantime, ask your company recreation department for the
extensive 40-page Magic Kingdom Club Membership Guide Disney 92
booklet, or photocopy it if they have limited copies, or you could
probably call WDW and ask for a copy.  It outlines your benefits and
describes several package plans in detail, park tickets are valid for
duration of package plans:
 
For where you said you plan to stay, we found that the "Festival Fun"
package fit our needs prior to the start of the Disneyana Convention
this month:  For $354-$396 year-round per person double occupancy
you get four nights at Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans or Dixie
Landings; five days use of the transporation system; unlimited pass
for five days to MK, EPCOT, Disney-MGM, Discovery Island, River
Country, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon; one "Magic Morning
Breakfast" (a character breakfast *anywhere* that's offering one and
entry into a selected theme park one hour before opening to selected
attractions); a copy of Steve Birnbaum's "(current year) WDW Official
Guide"; one 20th Anniversary Surprise per party; and one bag tag.  The
price variation depends on the view your room will have (cheapest is
parking lot view, that's what we're getting).  You can also request a
free refrigerator in your room, normally used by people needing to
keep medications cold, can also be used by any guests if there's few
requiring it for medical needs.  (Since you'll have your own car, get
a map of Orlando, and drive into town away from the tourist areas and
get a few groceries, *not* at Goodings 'cause that might be expensive,
and you can lightly breakfast in your room and save money.)
Additional nights are available to add on to the package, ask MKC
Travel Co. for details.  This package compares very favorably to other
packages offered by WDW Travel Co. and Delta Airlines, and even
compares to some off-site places.  It is the only package involving
Dixie Landings, Port Orleans and/or Caribbean Beach.
 
Now, for about the same prices (actually $324-$539 per adult double
occupancy for off-season) you can stay at Fort Wilderness and add to
the same above package another breakfast and two dinners including
tips under the Vacation Kingdom Holiday package!  The trailers also
have a kitchenette.  I guess you'd take a boat launch to the TTC
and then take a monorail to EPCOT or MK, bus to Disney-MGM.  Or you
can stay at the Travelodge, Hotel Royal Plaza, Buena Vista Palace,
Guest Quarters Suite, Grosvenor or the Hilton at WDW Village at
off-season rates under the Village Holiday package for $382-840 per
adult, which includes 4 nights, 5 day all parks passport, 1 breakfast/
1 dinner with tips anywhere at WDW, and that coveted bag tag.  The
Village hotels are considered "on-site".  The Grosvenor's nice, has a
coffee-maker in the spacious room, elevators, can walk to the Village,
can watch MK, Disney-MGM and Pleasure Island fireworks from your room
if it faces the Buena Vista Palace, has been cheapest of the lot.  The
only stops are at the hotels in the Village resort complex, and for
last on/first off the busses you'll want the Buena Vista Palace if I
remember correctly from previous stays at the Grosvenor. The busses
are color coded:  One will only go back and forth from EPCOT to the
Village hotels, for example, ditto re: MK or Disney-MGM.  You can stay
Family Getaway package at the Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista, Holiday
Inn Main Gate East and Sharaton Lakeside Inn for $258-$278 and at the
Hyatt Orlando for $282 per adult at off-season rates:  You get that
bag tag, 4 nights, a 4-day passport and an admission to either
Pleasure Island or River Country.  These hotels likely have shuttles
directly to the parks and back, or use your car.  Ask.
 
The character breakfasts are charming, but it helps if you like
eating among excited children and adults scurrying with cameras and
camcorders.  Some breakfasts are set menu and feature a big eggs and
bacon type meal that might be too large/salty/fatty for an elderly
person to eat, or you can order from a menu at some places, or some
other places offer buffets, it depends on where you choose to go, so
you might ask about this as well.  The characters give hugs and high
fives to anyone wanting them, that's the best part!  It all comes
with some of the packages.
 
BTW, literature about the Magic Morning Breakfasts is now out of date.
When I made our reservations on the phone, the Disney person told me that
you are given a coupon for the character breakfast and that *all* Disney
resort guests are allowed in one hour before the public opening times, not
just people taking advantage of the Magic Morning Breakfasts.
 
If you are limited in what you're interested in seeing/doing at WDW,
you can order "a la carte", in fact "The Unofficial Guide to WDW"
recommends that getting only what you need/want rather than packages
can actually be cheaper in the long run.  You can certainly order the
tickets and resort accomodations separately.  The packages offering a
whole slew of resort activities and all your meals pre-paid are
luxurious but are not for everyone.  The 4-day and 5-day passes let
you in everywhere, but doesn't mean you have to go everywhere.  If
you're mainly interested in EPCOT with side trips to MK and Disney-MGM
and nothing else then just order the tickets and the resort rooms.
Sometimes buying tickets individually, rather than in multi-days,
works out to be more cost-effective.  The MKC Travel Co. can provide
price information: (407) 824-2600, can probably find out for you how
the busses run and stop between the Caribbean Beach and EPCOT so
you're not delayed too long, and might be able to answer questions
about elderly/handicapped transportation device rentals.
 
RH>In the past, early November has been anything but "prime time" at
RH>WDW, and I expect that there will be very few crowds....As I
RH>recall, the weekend after Thanksgiving seemed very light to me the
RH>2-3 times we went during that time of year.
 
Early November should put you at low-crowds, averaging 20,000 per day
per park.  After Thanksgiving it averages 15,000 per day per park.
You also have early closing times, but the lack of crowds means you'll
go right into seeing the major attractions, truly what a relaxed and
enjoyable vacation is all about.  Between Thanksgiving and just before
Christmas there's a special "Jolly Holidays" promotion, ask the MKC
Travel Center for details.  When you're officially enrolled in the MKC
you'll get a 2 year/8-issue subscription to Disney News Magazine,
which features a lot of fun articles and has ads about special
promotions like the "Jolly Holidays" package.  You get deeper
discounts if you buy even one share of Disney stock, now trading in
the mid-30's, but you have to own the stock before January and you
can't take advantage of stockholders' benefits until next year.
Someone on this conference regularly posts a list comparing the MKC
and stockholder's benefits.  One thing I would caution anyone in
MKC and budget conscious is the National car rental.  We found that
even with MKC discount it's still cheaper to rent a car through
another agency...the only National advantage is that when you park at
one of the theme park lots, a section closer to the entrance is set
aside for National rental cars.
 
There's a club called the "Magic Years Club" for people over 60 years
old, offering 10-30% discounts on certain Disney resorts at certain
times of year, ticket and airline discounts, Disney Store, a
newsletter, etc.  The fee of $35 is good for 5 years membership for
the applicant and one guest.  You can call (714) 490-3250 M-F 8 am-
5 pm Pacific Time, or (407) 352-3206 M-F 8 am-5 pm Eastern Time for
more information.
 
The "Official" and "Unofficial" WDW guide books are available in any
bookstore travel or U. S./domestic travel section.
 
Good luck on your trip!  Post to all of us how it all goes.  :-)
 

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