The Walt Disney World Resort Thread: Splashed for the Last Time

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by CF3234, Feb 26, 2020.

  1. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
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    Airport transportation - what is the best way to get to/from hotel since they stopped the magical express or whatever it was called?
     
  2. DirtBall

    DirtBall Who Cares?
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    Uber? My travel agent got us a black car service but I’m pretty sure we paid like $200 for it.
     
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  3. fucktx

    fucktx ruthkanda forever
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    uber for sure
     
  4. Sub-Zero

    Sub-Zero ALL THE TOSTITOS!!!
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    Flight of passage is awesome. Not sure what happened but we noticed the wait time went from 120 to 55. Actually wait was only like 45 for standby.
     
  5. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
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    I'll be at Hollywood Studios Friday and MK on Saturday. I've already planned out our days on that Disney tour site.

    Should I purchase Genie + for both parks? I've seen differing opinions on whether it's worth it for Hollywood Studios.

    I also have reservations at Be Our Guest for lunch and the Skipper Canteen for dinner. Are both of those worth eating at?
     
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  6. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    No need for Genie plus at Hollywood studios (see you there btw)

    If you aren't planning on going back to MK in the near future, you might as well get Genie+ so you can fit it all in.

    Both restaurants are fine/good, but that's a LOT of food and time to be sitting in a restaruant for one day when you also are trying to do a ton of rides.
    Imo pick one and snack/quick service for the other meal.
     
  7. Dr. Mantis Toboggan

    Dr. Mantis Toboggan Well-Known Member
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    I like skipper canteen a lot
     
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  8. MrOutlaw

    MrOutlaw Director corp medical
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    I hope this weekend is better than this past one... it was crazy busy.
     
  9. killrbee7

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    Skipper canteen was such a pleasant surprise when I went a couple of months ago. Don’t know why it isn’t talked about more.
     
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  10. (Z)

    (Z) Well-Known Member
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    Leaving Saturday to take my two girls. 6 nights at AK Lodge. We are doing 5 park days (everything once and MK x 2).

    Last time we went (and first since I was a kid) was during Covid. Anything new/opened back up that I don't need to miss out on/be aware of?
     
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  11. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Nothing new from the last year outside of the Guardians of the Galaxy Ride which is outstanding.
     
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  12. (Z)

    (Z) Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, Ratatouille hadn't opened yet either when we went. EPCOT should be a lot different for the kids. The world showcase was nearly non-existent.

    Will be a different trip for them. Doing a lot of character meals/bibbidi bobbidi and that stuff since they couldn't do it last time.
     
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  13. fucktx

    fucktx ruthkanda forever
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    it’ll only get worse the closer it gets to Christmas
     
  14. LuPoor

    LuPoor Cuddle with the homies watching Stand By Me
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    Just did 4 days in Anaheim. Avengers Campus is very underwhelming, although the Pym Test Kitchen is fun.

    I'm ashamed to admit I did spring for the paid Lightning Lane to get my 6 year old on Radiator Springs Racers.
     
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  15. Sub-Zero

    Sub-Zero ALL THE TOSTITOS!!!
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    Port Orleans was great. Really liked the water taxi to DS too. We weren’t there long so can’t speak to pools and whatnot but the beignets were lovely. Lounge areas in the hotel were good.

    also went to yachtsman and had a good time. Would recommend.

    and shoutout to Satuli canteen in pandora. Very solid in-park lunch spot.
     
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  16. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Satuli is elite level quick service. That’s also because most WDW quick service’s suck though.

    It’s crazy to me they won’t just replicate it for MK instead of shit ass Peco’s bills and Cosmic Ray’s
     
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  17. fucktx

    fucktx ruthkanda forever
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    Going to aulani in 2 weeks so that’s pretty sick

    anyone ever been?
     
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  18. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    It’s fucking awesome. How long you going for?
     
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  19. fucktx

    fucktx ruthkanda forever
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    8 nights can’t wait
     
  20. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Carve out 2 days for the hotel, spend 1 at Pearl Harbor, and the other 5 exploring the island.
     
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  21. FrankReynolds

    FrankReynolds Go Blue
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    The encanto live concert is so good. LMM really did crush the music
     
  22. bama1

    bama1 I like you
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    Planning a trip in June, first time going to DW. I normally pay for a beach trip every year for my family but thought about doing this. I’ve been in contact with vacationeer, anyone have any experience with them? They quoted me 3 rooms at the all star movie resort 6 nights with 4 days at the parks for ~7,500. Not sure how to go about this, never really looked into DW except for the last week or so.


    Edit: I read the document from the first post, got any posts/pages I can sift through? 54 pages is quite a lot.
     
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  23. killrbee7

    killrbee7 EMAGin' and Swaggin'
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    Send me a DM
     
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  24. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Under no circumstances should you stay at any of the all star resorts

    there’s no real Specific pages to read. It’s all relevant to the topic. But either way. You should be at one of the moderate resorts or staying off property if the moderate resorts are out of your budget
     
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  25. FrankReynolds

    FrankReynolds Go Blue
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    Pop Century is still on the affordable side, but grants you easy access to the Skyliner (Epcot, Animal Kingdom). We had a good stay there
     
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  26. bama1

    bama1 I like you
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    I’m paying for 3 rooms so obviously budget is main priority. Curious as to why you say no to the all star ones? Like I said, I have zero clues on anything DW related. I did read Coronado is a good place to stay?
     
  27. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    How many people are you? How close are you? Ex close family, group of friends, etc?

    because if you need three rooms you are almost certainly better off renting DVC points and getting a 2 or 3 bedroom villa at a deluxe resort. Gonna be a similar price to three rooms at all star. You’d just be sharing a common area and maybe a bathroom.

    all star is barely a step above a holiday inn.

    coronado is my favorite of the moderate resorts.
     
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  28. bama1

    bama1 I like you
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    I usually pay for 3/4 bedroom condos on the beach trips, it’s immediate family. No problem being close at all.

    haven’t looked at the deluxe villas, just assumed I’d be crossing the 10k mark with those.
     
  29. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Not if you rent DVC points. rulethirty can give you more info.
     
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  30. IrishLAX2

    IrishLAX2 So you’re telling me there’s a chance
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    Get the Saratoga Springs grand villa via DVC rental points. It’s the best, cheap option for a very large group.

    From a points perspective, it’s way less than most other grand villas.

     
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  31. Sub-Zero

    Sub-Zero ALL THE TOSTITOS!!!
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    Off property for a big group look at encore resort. Especially for a week-long stay. It’s rental houses. Not that cheap though but not sure how it compares to DVC points as I know nothing about those.

    but get a treehouse at Saratoga springs imo. Not that I’ve ever stayed in one but they look cool.
     
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  32. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    I have. They are great but not really meant for a large group of adults. It’s got 3 bedrooms but one of them has bunk beds that will fit two shorter adults in a pinch.
     
  33. stangd

    stangd I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch
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    We stayed at the new Universal Hotel this past weekend, the Surfside resort. Was not a fan, nice hotel but you can hear everything in your rooms. It like the damn walls are paper thin.....
     
  34. rulethirty

    rulethirty UCF and Alabama are basically peers.
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    Renting dvc points is the way to go if you want a 1br or bigger on property. There's a bunch of 'brokers' for it, here's one -- https://dvcrentalstore.com/

    DVC is done by points instead of weeks like a normal timeshare. You look up the dates you want to go and figure out how many points it would cost. You then pay a DVC owner to book it for you, and the whole thing is handled by an agent making it super easy (companies like dvc rental store)

    We're staying in a 1 bedroom savannah view room at AK for memorial day. Sleeps five and has a full kitchen and a baller balcony overlooking all the animals. Saturday and Sunday night. It's 68 points.

    So let's say points are $20 each right now through a broker (I made that up, no idea since we're owners, but a decent guess), that's $1360 for the weekend. $680 per night.
     
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  35. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    going off this, I picked a random week in June at All Star sports. A single room with 2 double beds is $230 a night. 4 rooms at 230 a night is about $915 per night.

    The 3 bedroom villa at saratoga from the same week is 76 points per night. Using the $20 per point, that's $1,531 a night for a 3 bedroom suite that has 1 king size bed, 4 queen size beds and a queen sleeper sofa. a master bathroom with shower and tub and 2 other standard size bathrooms. Add in the kitchen, dining room, laundry room, family room area with TV, and all that, IMO its worth the extra $600 a night.
     
    #2685 CF3234, Jan 4, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2023
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  36. rulethirty

    rulethirty UCF and Alabama are basically peers.
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    Saratoga was recently refreshed too, so its pretty nice now. We just stayed there in October.

    If you can get a preferred room (more points), it's right across the street from fast dining and a pretty great pool. Even non-preferred are near pools though, and some of them have views of Disney Springs (and quick walking access). Worth pricing out the Tree Houses at Saratoga too. 3br I think but usually pretty affordable as far as 3br's go. They have the same vibe as Fort Wilderness cabins but a lot nicer/bigger.

    It's a great resort. Old Key West is similar and usually same price, and is a boat ride to Disney Springs. It also has Olivia's, which has some bomb fried chicken.
     
  37. David Puddy

    David Puddy Yeah that's right
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    Anyone cruised on Disney Wish? The wife booked a cruise in March. This would be my first cruise in over a decade and the first with kids. Just curious on how the overall experience compares to Royal Caribbean/Carnival
     
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  38. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    the only issue with the tree house is that it's more of a 2 bedroom with a kids room. We took our son with both sets of grandparents last year and my wife and I ended up sleeping in the bunk beds. Not the end of the world because we are both short, but even with my short stature, I was bending my knees at night to fit in the bed.
     
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  39. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Went on it in September.

    What do you mean by overall experience, ex are you a gambler, are you worried about adult activities, shows, etc?

    How old are your kids?
     
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  40. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
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    Trip is back on for end of March. Getting 3 passes. Our daughter will only be 1, so it doesn't mean anything to us. I did say we MUST go to Hollywood so we can see the Star Wars stuff. Wanted Epcot so we could do Drinks Around the World; but I think that'll get nixed because SIL, her husband, and their 3 kids probably won't want to go to Epcot as one of the 3.
     
  41. Sub-Zero

    Sub-Zero ALL THE TOSTITOS!!!
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    CF3234 i know has. I have some other friends who have gone and loved it. I’ve also heard that some of the other newer ships (not wish) were more fun even if it wasn’t as new of a ship. But no wrong choices here.

    compared to RC, Disney will have more kid camp stuff and just the overall Disney experience from end to end. RC is great for families too and will have a casino and more nightlife stuff. But more general family fun and not to Disney level.

    carnival is for college kids so stay the hell away.
     
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  42. FrankReynolds

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    If you aren't going to Epcot, why bother going at all? Best park
     
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  43. David Puddy

    David Puddy Yeah that's right
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    Yeah I guess it’s all subjective, but I was just trying to get a sense if it is overwhelmingly designed with kids in mind, or if I will have plenty of options for a good time as well. Plus, just overall room quality, service, excursions, food quality, etc. compared to mid level royal Caribbean and carnival cruises. That’s my only real comparison point, and that was a decade ago

    FYI kids are 9 and 5.
     
  44. fucktx

    fucktx ruthkanda forever
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    EPCOT > DAK and HS imo

    especially with the new guardians ride there but you should definitely go to HS if you haven’t been to galaxy’s edge. Either way I think I’d rather go to Epcot before any of the other parks, but I understand going to MK if there are kids
     
  45. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Telling someone else to increase their nightly rate by 67% sure is something
     
  46. Sub-Zero

    Sub-Zero ALL THE TOSTITOS!!!
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    Disney 5k tomorrow :skinnydbl:
     
  47. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    that's not lost on me, but I'm really not a fan of the all star hotels. If the villa is too much, I'd rather be off property. Plenty of much better hotels out there for a similar cost as the All Star's
     
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  48. fucktx

    fucktx ruthkanda forever
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    Some of the moderate tier hotels are nice enough not to jump from all star to deluxe imo
     
  49. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
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    Other kids going are 3, 5, and 6; plus MIL and her husband. So they’ll all want to be at the parks together. Also paid for by MIL so don’t want to tick anybody off just so my wife and I can do things for us. Trip is for the kids lol.
     
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  50. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Those are definitely shit hotels, that’s just a steep increase to suggest