tdmort

I will be arriving in Orlando 1/18 in the evening and leaving on 1/22 in the afternoon. So far, we have this planned:

Arrive at Port Orleans French Quarter Thursday evening. Check in, get settled, freshen up and go over to the Boardwalk for dinner. Thinking about the ESPN Club for something light and fun. Plus, I'm a huge sports nut! Will walk around after dinner, maybe shop a little, grab dessert maybe (any suggestions?) Maybe play a game of putt putt golf depending on weather.

Friday- We plan to spend the day at MGM Studios. I was thinking of a nice sit down breakfast (maybe Boatwrights?). Then we have dinner reservations at Mama Melrose at 4:00 with the package for Fantasmic at 7. Not sure what we will do after that. Should we try to catch another firework display?

Saturday - We are going to sleep in (after all, we are on vacation!!!) and then go to Downtown Disney. We want to spend part of the morning or afternoon at DisneyQuest. Had thought about lunch at either Bongos Cuban Cafe or Wolfgang Puck Cafe. Planning on a late dinner at either Kona Cafe or Ohana - help me choose which one? Will maybe try to catch the fireworks at MK - are they worth it?

Sunday - Hubby insists we go to Animal Kingdom. Not sure how much of the day this will take. We're going to do the Hoop Dee Doo dinner at 7:15. Any suggestions for lunch at or around Animal Kingdom?

Monday - Breakfast reservations at Boma. Last minute shopping. Pack and leave.

I know that 3 days isn't nearly enough time but that's all hubby could get off of work. I'm sure we will be back. Of the things parks listed, are there any must sees at those places? We really love to eat out while on vacation - any other dining suggestions?

Thanks! Deb

salgal

In my opinion, Animal KIngdom won't take a whole day. We had dinner at Boma-loved it. Not sure about the breakfast.
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Fodorite018

We were at WDW last month. We had dinner at the ESPN Club one night and enjoyed it. We stayed at the Boardwalk Inn, so it was very close to us. There is a lot to do along the boardwalk, so enjoy it. Rent the surrey bikes and go for a ride. There is an ice cream shop as well as a very good bakery both just a few doors from ESPN.

We went to Animal Kingdom and spent about 4 hours there and felt that it was the right amount of time. Go in the morning though when the animals are more active. Definitely go on the safari and the Expedition Everest...both were great! There are some cafeteria style restaurants in the park...we ate at Tuskers(think that was the name, not sure) as they had things that were not all fried. There is a Rainforest Cafe near the entrance to AK if you want a true restaurant.

tdmort

Thanks mms!! How would Expedition Everest be for someone who isn't a huge roller coaster fan? It is a ride or a roller coaster? I hear it's really cool - and I'm going on it no matter what - but DH isn't a big fan of coasters.

Fodorite018

Your husband will be fine. I am not a huge roller coaster fan at all, but I loved it! When we arrived, we went straight to EE and got our fast pass, then headed over to the safari. After the safari we went on the EE ride. The timing was perfect.

tdmort

Thanks, that sounds like a good game plan! Were there a lot of big drops? That's what gets him.

Fodorite018

Not many...but I don't want to spoil it. It is unique

bennnie

You asked about Kona Cafe vs. Ohana. I have not been to Kona however we did eat at Ohana twice. Its an all you can eat table service restaurant. They bring you a lazy susan full of appetizers and then bowls of side dishes. They bring skewers of meat and shrimp to the table as the entrees. Its all fairly good. There is a Hawaiian musician and the kids play with hulahoops. The atmosphere is very lively and loud. I highly recommend the rum drinks served in fresh pineapples. Makes you feel like you are in the South Pacific (sort of ..) Can't remember the cost but if you are light eaters it may not be worth it - focus is on quantity not quality as much (though it still is tasty).

If you do decide to eat there find out what time the fireworks at the MK are. Book a table for then. Ohanas will dim the lights and pipe in the accompanying music. The view of the fireworks is a little distant but they look very pretty over the lake.

ajcolorado

Boma is wonderful - one of my favorites at Disney.

Kona Cafe is nice but not really an experience. Ohanas is one of our family's favorites.

Wolfgang Puck cafe has been getting some poor reviews lately.

tdmort

Thanks aj. I had read mixed reviews on Ohana but good reviews on Kona Cafe so I couldn't decide between the two. Thanks for your input!

skipop

Just a few thougths. If you're doing the fantasmic dinner package, I would suggest Brown Derby over Mama Melrose. I think the food is better at the Derby. Second, as much as I love Fantasmic, for someone with only 3 days at Disney, your spending a lot of time sitting around at dinner and then waiting for the show. Instead, I'd consider leaving MGM before dinner and heading over to Epcot to eat, walk around and watch illuminations. Less down time.

On Saturday, unless you have kids, I would opt for Kona over Ohana. Ohana is a great family experience and the food is pretty good, but Kona's food is very good. No atmosphere, but great food. Whatever you do, don't watch the fireworks from the restaurant/inside the hotel. Instead, walk down to the beach at Polynesian and watch the fireworks (and the electric light parade if you're there long enough). If you have park hopper passes, forget the beach. Take the monorail into DW and watch the fireworks in the park.

Another Saturday dining option would be to eat at the California Grill and watch the fireworks from their observation deck.

Animal Kingdom can be done in half a day. Get there when it opens and follow the above advice (Get fastpass for Expedition and head to Safari). My wife is not a coaster nut at all, hates drops and loved the ride. The drop looks worse than it is when you're going through the line. So, while she was anxious going through the line, she loved it and was glad she rode it.

Lastly, before you finalize your plans, you may want to check and see which parks have "extra magic hours" on the days your there. That could change your schedule because it will give you more time at specific parks. Just go to the disney world website and search "extra magic hours".

tdmort

Thanks for the advice skipop. A few questions - first, is MGM a whole day or half day? I really do want to see Fantasmic. Should we do something else in the morning and then do MGM/Fantasmic in the evening? By the time I called, the only reservation time at MM was 4 pm. I don't think I could get into Brown Derby at all, if I'm remembering correctly. If I don't have the dinner package how long would I have to wait to see the show (in other words how early would I need to be there in line waiting for seats?.

We have no kids so it will just be the two of us. I do think we will go with Kona Cafe. We do have park hopper passes so we will take the monorail to WDW for the fireworks. What is the best place to see them and how early do you need to be there?

The Japanese and Mexican restaurants are both closed at Epcot while we're there. Those would be the top 2 dinner choices for us which is why I had ruled out eating there. Do you have any other suggestions?

angethereader

We ate in Morocco and everyone loved it, even the kids. It's kind of out of the way, and less busy because of that.

skipop

In Epcot, Morroco is a great choice, as is Le Cellier. If you like English Food, The Rose and Crown is great and, unless they have a private function going on that night, they may let you walk out on their patio to watch illuminations, which is a great spot to see it.

If you have not seen Fantasmic, it is worth the wait. Ask your server that night at Mama Melrose what the best time to head over is. It varies depending on the time of year. I would not waste time trying to get there too early to get a "primo" spot. Yes, the seats are better in the middle, but you can see fine from the sides as well.

If your semi-adventurous, it would be possible to eat in MGM, catch the 7:00 Fantasmic and make it to Epcot for Illuminations.

As for MGM, I would count on a whole day there. Despite the Coaster issue with the spouse, Rock and Roller Coaster is another coaster that is enjoyed by those who don't like coasters. There are no drops, just dark turns and a loop (which you won't know you went through until after it's over). One idea to consider is that if your MGM day is the same day that has early entry hours at Animal Kingdom, you could probably go to Animal Kingdom when it opens, leave around 11:30 and hit MGM for the afternoon. You won't have time to do everything in MGM, but you could hit the highlights. Again, however, this approach would be a bit of a stressful day. For some people, that woulds take away form the "vacation" aspects of the trip.

If you go to WDW for the fireworks on Kona Night (by the way, the medallions of Beef were excellent there), there are lots of great viewing spots. My personal favorite is on the bridge from Main Street to Tomorrowland. If Tinkerbell is flying that nights, she'll go right over you.

tdmort

Thanks for the suggestion on Rose and Crown. Neither of us have seen Fantasmic so we will probably keep things as they are on that day. Would you do Rose and Crown and illuminations or Kona and WDW fireworks?

Also, is Hoop Dee Doo something you only do with kids?

Bummer that the Rock and Roller coaster is closed when we are there

skipop

I would not recommend hoop de doo for a couple with no kids unless you're a screaming disneyphile. As for Kona-WDW versus Rose & Crown/Illuminations, you have to decide if you want better food or better fireworks. The food is better at Kona, but (in my opinion) the fireworks are better in Illuminations.

Of course, you could always eat at Kona, then walk from the Polynesian to the TTC Monorail station (a short 3-5 minute walk) and take the monorail into Epcot for Illuminations. Then come back on the monorail and pick up your car at Polynesian. If you do this Kona-Epcot thing, make sure you walk to the TTC monorail station to get the monorail instead of going out the second floor of the polynesian and picking up that monorail. If you take this monorail, you'll have to stop at two hotels and the Magic Kingdom before you get to the TTC station.

tdmort

Ok, I've cancelled Hoop De Doo. Maybe we will do Kona Cafe/WDW fireworks one night and something at Epcot and illuminations the other night. One more quick questions - there's a parade at WDW - Spectromagic, I think. It's at 7 and the fireworks are at 8. Are they in the same place? Can I get there for one and just stay where I'm at for the other? Thanks!

skipop

In general, yes. Spectromagic is great. Spectromagic follows the general parade route which takes it right in front of the castle and then down Main Street. You'll be able to see the fireworks from almost everywhere. I'd suggest trying to find the best spot you can for Spectromagic based on the crowds and then heading to the Bridge to Tomorrowland for the fireworks. However, you'll be able to see the fireworks from just about anywhere. So don't race to get over there or anything.

tdmort

Thanks so much for all of your help! I'll be sure to post a trip report!