From: pyron@skndiv.dseg.ti.com (Dillon Pyron)
Subject: Re: Unofficial Guide to WDW
Reply-To: pyron@skndiv.dseg.ti.com
Organization: TI/DSEG VAX Support
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 14:28:02 GMT


In article <Rich_Koster.0kax@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US>, Rich_Koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Rich Koster) writes:
>We'll be going to WDW for the Disneyana Convention in late September, and
>plan to use "The Unofficial Guide to WDW" to tour the parks.  We've been
>to WDW several times before reading any guide book's advice, mostly in the
>fall and early December. My brother and his family swear by this book and
>its
>recommendations and touring plans, with some reservations, after their
>first
>trip to WDW the last week of May.  It's certainly interesting reading, and
>the tour plans offered sound as if they save you a lot of time in line for
>the sake of an afternoon nap/swim/attitude adjustment at your hotel, paid
>for by a *lot* of walking and very early rising.  Has anyone else found the
>advice in this book to be worthwhile?  Of special note:  The book has
>touring plans including the opening of Splash Mountain, to help avoid
>standing in really long lines.  Because of the early rising, lots of
>walking
>and opening mad dash to Splash Mountain/Space Mountain/Body Wars/Star Tours
>the book advises, the ideal WDW visitor would be in tip top physical
>condition, sprint in record time and carry lotsa cash.
> 

We've used the book on our last two trips, and will continue to do so.  You do
need to be moving early and quickly, but it wasn't too bad.  Two warnings, we
have no kids (DINKs) and we always go off season (October and early May).  So
the lines are less and we have more freedom.

A little story to tell you how much time you can save.  Last year, we were able
to ride Space Moutain twice within 10 minutes of the park opening, and still
stay on track.  And at MGM-Disney Studios (you'd think the name was a giveaway)
we rode Star Tours 3 times with no wait!  After the first ride (take note) we
were moving briskly for the exit when my wife saw a cast member standing by an
open door leading back to the boarding area.  We stopped, he smiled and said
"Gonna ride again?" and through we went!

>Some practical reaction to actually living these tour recommendations from
>my brother:  If you make dinner show reservations, in this case Hoop-De-Doo
>Revue at Fort Wilderness, reconfirm the reservations and the show starting
>time when you arrive on site, and ask for the most efficient transportation
>and directions to the dining hall from wherever you'll be departing, and
>leave in more than plenty of time.  From the Polynesian Resort, their
>hotel,
>to the dining hall took 45-minutes, including waiting in the Fort
>Wilderness
>parking lot for a tram to take them to the hall.  Once they got there, they
>discovered the 7:30 PM show they booked months before had been changed to
>7:15 PM without their knowledge.  Reservations are only held for 15-minutes
>before being given to stand-bys, so they just barely lucked out.  And once
>they got in, the 8-year old daughter and 5-year old son were bored by the
>show, and they all say the ribs were overcooked, the fried chicken was dry,
>and the strawberry shortcake consisted of cake, frozen strawberries and
>Cool
>Whip-type topping.  I think he relied too strictly on the advice that a
>rental car gets you to and from your hotel and the parks quicker than WDW
>transporation does.  Had he merely taken the boat from the Polynesian to
>Fort Wilderness some of the delays and hassle (maybe?) would have been
>alleviated.

In our four trips to WDW over (gasp) 13 years, we have had a car only once,
didn't take it to the park and have never stayed on the premisis.  So, it can
be done.

We went to the Diamond for lunch and found ourselves with plenty of time.  Most
of our dinning was right on schedule, unless we did something to ourselves.


> 
>"The Unofficial Guide to WDW" recommends early in the day touring, but
>doesn't address the fact that church attendance times compete with those
>hours.  This eliminated attending Sunday Mass at the Polynesian Resort
>where
>they were staying.  My brother's solution was to attend Vigil Mass (evening
>before) at Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine during the afternoon nap/swim/
>attitude adjustment at your hotel time of day.  However, the Mass they
>attended lasted from 6-7:15 PM, longer than they thought, and they missed a
>dinner reservation at the Sci Fi Dine In Restaurant at Disney-MGM as a
>result.  If attending religious services is important to you and your
>family
>while you're travelling, be sure to allow plenty of time to get to the
>service and back and allow plenty of time if you book a reservation of some
>type preceding or following the service.

When I was a pain to my parents, church was always a leisurely thing.  Why
change the routine for vacation?

> 
>The food recommendations in the book were "on target" they told us, but the
>cafeteria Le Cellier in Canada could have offered hotter food, though it
>was
>good food and a good value.  They really loved the Minnie's Menehune
>Character Breakfast at the Polynesian, the huggy characters and the quality
>and quantity of food.  They also enjoyed the food at the 50's Prime Time
>Cafe (thought it was over-priced, though, and didn't care for the acting
>the
>wait staff was doing as part of the ambiance), Tony's in Magic Kingdom, the
>beer garden in Germany, the Portobello Yacht Club in Pleasure Island and
>Pebbles in the Crossroads Shopping Center at the opposite end of Walt
>Disney
>Village.  At the Adventurer's Club in Pleasure Island, a private banquet
>delayed their entry and then heavy cigarette smoke inside ruined their fun
>later when they were able to go in.

Our best eating at WDW was in Moroco.  But then, we also eat sushi :-)
> 
>Using "The Unofficial Guide to WDW" they were able to see almost the entire
>complex of Disney parks except for River Country and Discovery Island. 
>They
>complained a little about the crowds, but their trip coincided with the
>1/2-rate airline ticket wars, so WDW may have been more crowded than normal
>for that time of year because of the airline promotions.  Being from
>suburban NYC they complained about the heat, humidity and afternoon/early
>evening showers which are typical Gulf weather for most of the warm months.
>The only thing that can prepare you for the warm weather in Orlando is a
>Nordic Trak inside a sauna.  Otherwise, take it easy, drink water and fruit
>juice, avoid high fat foods, eat light balanced meals, and seek shade and
>air conditioning if you really feel bad, dress lightly.  When it stops
>being
>fun for everyone, take the guide book up on the afternoon nap/swim/attitude
>adjustment at your hotel advice and return to the parks later.

Take a few minutes in some of the low attendance, in-door attractions.  Like
the Eastern, oops Delta ride (name slips the mind).  A/C and sitting down.
> 
>On another topic:  We've been to the WDW complex so many times before that
>this trip, other than Disneyana, we plan on seeing and doing some of the
>resort activities for a change in addition to revisiting favorite theme
>park attractions and seeing whatever's new since July 1991.  We plan to
>stay
>at the Contemporary Resort for Disneyana and Dixie Landings preceding it,
>but so far only have Contemporary Resort reservations set.  We don't golf
>or play tennis.  We thought we might toodle around to all the resorts to
>see what they look like.  But does anyone have fun recommendations for us
>as to other resort activities?  Are the campfires at Fort Wilderness
>worthwhile or offered in September?
>
>-- Via DLG Pro v0.992
>
>
One trick I tried this last time was to copy the condensed tour section at
reduced size (62%) and trim the pages and type them together, top to bottom. 
Then I built a small scroller and used that.

We kept bumping into two couples until one day, at lunch, they pulled out their
books and I pulled my scroller.  We had a good laugh and I became our
unofficial unofficial tour guide.  I did notice more people using it, if
everybody does, I'll try some other scheme.
--
Dillon Pyron                      | The opinions expressed are those of the
TI/DSEG Lewisville VAX Support    | sender unless otherwise stated.
(214)462-3556 (when I'm here)     |
(214)492-4656 (when I'm home)     | Lawyers are like nuclear warheads, every-
pyron@skndiv.dseg.ti.com          | body has some, and when you use them, they 
                                    f*ck everything up.
                                                  Danny DeVito, _OPM_