From: Rich_Koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Unofficial Guide to WDW
Date: 26 Jul 92 23:03:55 GMT
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.

RE:  The Unofficial Guide to WDW
 
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.
 
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.
 
"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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?

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Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney