I'm planning a trip to Disney World (Florida) - Need Some Info Please

[#1]

I posted this over on The Soapbox, but someone there suggested that I try posting this over here.

I just found out that I have to go down to Florida at the end of August, so I am using my time wisely and going to Disney World while I'm there. I have a few questions that I'm hoping you guys can help me answer.

1. I am staying at one of the Disney Hotels, and getting a Disney Dining Plan. I know that there are a whole bunch of restaurants to choose from, but I can't seem to find out any info about the different restaurants. Is anyone familiar with the Disney Dining Plan? Do you know if there is a list of restaurants (preferably with menus) listed anywhere on the Internet? Does anyone have any recommendations? (I prefer buffet restaurants)

2. I have a very expensive digital camera that I use for my eBay pictures, but I can't afford to take a chance on losing (or breaking) it while I'm there. Does anyone have any suggestions for a relatively inexpensive digital camera?

3. I always see "rare", "limited edition" etc. Disney pins listed on eBay, but I don't know where to find them. Is there anywhere at Disney where I can find these limited edition pins? (Not for resale, just to add a few Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch), Thumper (from Bambi), and Chip and Dale pins to my collection.)


Plus any additional info would be appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

[#2]

As an Orlando resident and Disney Annual Passholder, I hope to answer your questions.
1. There's a great "unofficial" website that lists lots of WDW info, including menus from all theme park and hotel restaurants. There's also information here on entertainment at the parks, attractions, etc. The website is http://allearsnet.com/
2. If you don't want to use your digital camera, what about using your cell phone?. You can then email your photos to any address.
3. There's lots of info on Disney Pin collecting. Each theme park has a central location for selling pins, and there's an entire pin store at Downtown Disney called Pin Traders. For a website of pins that will be available during your visit, check out http://www.dizpins.com/ There's information on the schedules of pins to be released.
Hope this helps - have a great visit!

[#3]

Pick up a good used camera on ebay. One just a couple of years old will sell for a song. You can then turn around and resell it when you get back, maybe for as much as you paid.

A Canon A95, no slouch of a camera, would likely go for $100 or less.

CameraJim

My Guides to eBay Auction Photography

[#4]

The list of restaurants that participate in the dining plan is really hard to find. You have to be persistent at clicking links on the site. Here is a link.

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/07Dinin...

I don't know which of the restaurants offer buffets, but that info is available on the Disney World site. We usually use our table service meals on character dining (which are mostly buffets), rather than regular restaurants. I would recommend reservations for whatever you decide. You can make them 180 days in advance, so many restaurants fill up early.

Nan

[#5]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I have been reading so much about Disney over the past few days that I can use all of the help I can get.

To adams_collectibles, Thanks for the links. I looked at the All Ears site and it seems to be very helpful. There is so much info, and it has some info about the Dining Plan too.

Also Thanks for the link with the pins. I'm not sure how to get most of these pins, but at least I know what to look for while I'm there.


And to both Adams and camerajim, Thanks for the camera info. I don't think my cell phone takes pictures that are good enough for Disney, but I stopped at Best Buy today and looked at inexpensive cameras. I have to get some info about a few models, but it looks like I can get a decent inexpensive camera for about $150.


And a special Thanks to nanstevens because I think the link that you posted is the one that I was told to look for. I was told it was from the Disney site, and it was 6 pages. That matches the link you posted. It has all of the info that I was told would be in the link too.


Thanks again to everyone for all of your help.

[#6]

Hey There Hi There Ho There grab-bag-goodies! I purchased a Canon AE-1 on eBay for about $60.00 for Disneyland's 50th Birthday, I didn't want to travel with my expensive digital, either! Then, during a "goofy moment" (sometimes called a "senior moment") I left the camera in the room and found myself inside the park with the Parade of Dreams about to start and no camera! Let me tell you, the disposable cameras available now (I bought one with a zoom lens) work wonderfully and take excellent pictures...although the parks do tend to mark up the price condsiderably, it was still worth it to me for that close-up of Tinker Bell leading the Parade! But the absolutely coolest thing they have come up with is the new "Disney's Photo Pass" system. Look for Castmembers with big honkin' cameras...they take the pics and give you a Photo Pass card with a barcode. Each photographer will scan your card after your pictures are taken. Then, when you get home log on to the website on the card and there are ALL your pictures, you can order one or have all your pictures sent to you on a CD, and you can edit them online and add Disney frames and artwork to the pics! Have a magical time, and please say "Hi" to Mickey for me!
°o° tink °o°

[#7]

Thanks for the info about the Photo Pass. That sounds like it could be great. I wouldn't have to worry about my camera, and I'm sure that they can take better pictures than I can. (I'm a lousy photographer.)

By any chance, do you know how much they charge to edit, download, and/or order the pictures?

[#8]

I just got my Photo Pass CD in the mail yesterday (I returned from Disney World last week). It is currently $124.95. That is up from last year's price, but they have improved the CD. Last year, you could only get the raw pictures on the CD. This year, you can go online, edit the photos (crop, add Disney borders, etc.) and get copies of the edited pictures on the CD, in addition to the raw pictures. It is great. The photographers take extremely clear pictures. You will still need your own camera. The Photo Pass photographers are only at the traditional "picture spots," like all down Main Street, with the castle as a backdrop, in front of the Tree of Life in the Animal Kindgom, etc. They are also now at all the character meetings, like at Mickey's Toontown Fair. Since I knew I was going to buy the CD, I had my group stop at every photographer I saw. Each photographer will take three pictures of the group (sometimes more). They will also take more of smaller subgroups or of the kids. Not many people stop to have their pictures taken, so you don''t ususally have to wait. The price for the CD is a flat rate, so get as many pictures taken as you can. You can check out the site at www.disneyphotopass.com. If you want to order prints without buying the CD, the smallest size is 5" x 7". They are $12.95 each. For all the pictures, editing is free. They also have a lot of pictures in the "Photo Pass Gallery" that you can buy, but cannot include on your CD. Note: When you edit your pictures, make sure you use the "Save as a copy" button. That way, you can still have the raw picture. I also was unsure which border I wanted on some pictures, so I saved a copy with each different border. If you want to do that, you need to go back to the original picture before editing each time. Saving as a copy is only an option from the original picture. Any edited picture only has the choice of saving or deleting. I hope that helps. Let me know if you need any additional information.

Nan

[#9]

Thanks for the info about the Disney Photo Pass. (I'm sorry it took so long for me to answer, but I completely forgot that I posted to the Disney board.)

The Photo Pass sounds great in theory, but for the amount that they are charging for the CD, I can buy a digital camera. That would give me more flexibility to take pictures while I'm in Florida. (I'll be in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for a few days too.)

I've been looking at a few low-end digital cameras and I think I have it narrowed down. I'll probably just buy one around the $150 price range before I leave.

[#10]

Be sure to check out www.allears.net for tons of great Disney information...they even have all the restaurant menus! Have a great trip...we're going back next May, and I already can't wait!!!

[#11]

Hello, I believe all of the buffets are character buffets. My favotite is Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort. You can get there by monorail from the transportation center or the Magic Kingdom. The Grand Flo has the Mary Poppins buffet.(Same transportation) The Polynesian has a place called O'Hanna's. (Same transportation) It's all you can eat family style. Wonderful Food! I Fort Wilderness has the HoopDeeDoo review Dinner Show. n the Magic Kingdom, you'll find a buffet in Cinderella's Castle. I know that the rest of the parks have character dining, but I'm not sure what it is. I've been to WDW over 100 times, but I think I like Chef Mickey's best for a character buffet. Also, O'Hana's is incredible. Have a fantasttic time!

[#12]

Thanks to annabellasgiftshop for the Disney link to the menus. We have been reading the menus from top to bottom, and we have been narrowing down the list.


missjody, I think you are right about the buffets being character buffets. We have already made a reservation for Chef Mickey because it sounded the best.

My mom wants to go to O'Hanna, so we will be going there as well. (She also said something about a breakfast buffet with Lilo and Stitch, so that's probably at O'Hanna also.)

Thanks for the info. Based on your post, it sounds like we picked the right restaurants.

[#13]

The breakfast with Lilo and Stitch is indeed at 'Ohana. It is not a buffet, but a "family style" meal. They will bring a great big dish of all kinds of breakfast food to the table. If you need more, you can ask your waiter. They will bring you anything else you want. It is a very hearty meal, so don't plan on eating lunch if you do it.

[#14]

The breakfast with Lilo and Stitch is indeed at 'Ohana. It is not a buffet, but a "family style" meal. They will bring a great big dish of all kinds of breakfast food to the table.

Uh-oh. I'm not sure, but this could be a problem for me. Unfortunately, I'm a bit germaphobic, (kind of like "Monk"), and my sister's family is a bit too "hands on" with food (if you know what I mean).

Do you think it will be a problem if I have to ask for an additional plate of food because someone else licked their fingers and then touched the serving plate of food? Or if they used their personal fork or spoon to take more food from the serving plate? (Because that's what her family does all the time.)

I was very happy when my mother picked this restaurant because I love Stitch, and I was looking forward to having breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, but if this is going to be a problem, maybe it's not such a good idea.

(No, I'm not kidding.)

[#15]

If you have a large group, they will often bring two plates of food. They also have no problem bringing more whenever you want -- for example, if you just want more eggs, they will bring you a plate of eggs. I don't think it will be a problem. When you make a reservation, they will ask if there are any special needs in your group. You could tell them that you need a separate plate.

[#16]

Thanks for the info about Ohana's breakfast. That's good to know. I think my mother already made the reservations, but I'll check with her and find out.

It doesn't sound like it will be a problem because it's not a dietary problem. It's just a "special needs" problem.

Believe it or not, I'm 41 years old, and I'm looking forward to having breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. (Probably more than my 6 year old niece.)

[#17]

Pins...just collect the ones you Love!!

Camera....I used disposables....When they were full I dropped them off at the nearest shop of whatever park we were in and they made sure they got to our room at the resort

Resturants.....The SciFi at MGM is a winner!!!...Hollywood and Vines character breakfast is also really good! Prime Time at MGM is ok but they are kinda loud!

When we stayed at the Wilderness lodge, one Thanksgiving..there is a place called Whispering Canyon...a resturant...and it is definitely NOT what the name implies..Loads of fun and great food!!!!
..However, Artists Point there is quite nice...Good for a DateNight!!!!


Epcot...England...right on the lake..Fish and Chips...Yummy! OH and when in France...you MUST visit the sweet shop....the chocolate mousse is UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE!!!!!and im not exagerating! Morroco has these wraps that are so fresh...YUM

Sheesh...Im ready to go back and we dont go until February this time....

Have fun!!!! And dont go so fast...slow down and look behind every corner...so many folks miss so much because they are in sucha hurry....My girls got to visit Jasmine and Aladins "lair" just because we went all of the way bck into Morroco....it was amazing!!!!

OH and Cinderalles satge has a habit of stopping right behind the castle, almost in an alleyway, right before the MK closes each night....the fairy Godmother is there as well as the prince....ya just have to catch it just right though.....

have fun!!!!

[#18]

Thanks for all the info about the restaurants. We were thinking about trying the Sci-Fi restaurant, so we'll have to check it out.

I don't eat any seafood, so we'll probably pass on the England restaurant, (but my Mom and my sister like seafood, so they'll probably go there when we go to Chef Mickey).

My nieces will appreciate the info about Aladdin and Cinderella.

We looked into the prices of the disposable cameras including the batteries and the developing, and we figured that by the time we were done, it made more sense to just buy a digital camera instead. We went over to Best Buy and looked at the cameras, and we fell in love with the Canon 1000 camera, so we bought it. (It was more than we wanted to spend, but it will work well for some of my eBay items when we get back so it was worth it.)

This will probably be the last post for me for a couple of days because we will be on the Auto-Train tomorrow, and then DISNEY WORLD and UNIVERSAL STUDIOS! YEAH!!!

I'll try to check back once I'm there, but I'm not sure if I'll have time in Florida.


Thanks again to everyone for all of your help.

[#19]

Our family is traveling to Disney World for the first time, leaving September 15, to celebrate my son's 10th B-day. I would appreciate any advice, as well, especially regarding what to take to the parks with us. My children are 10, 7 & 3 and we're staying at a monorail property. The posts on this thread have been very helpful, so thank you.

[#20]

Age 3??? Oh you poor thing. LOL!
My advice (for what it's worth):
1. Pack as light as possible. The less you take, the less you have to carry around with you all day.
2. Spend at least 3 days there. You can't see it all in just one or two.
3. SUNBLOCK & a hat! It's pretty hot in Florida right now...and don't be surprised if it rains!
4. Be prepaired to stand and walk for 90% of the day.
5. Drink plenty of water! WATER!! Soda will dehydrate you so fast, and the last place you want to be is at the Medics on your vacation.
6. Be prepared to overpay for everything. Water, food...everything. That's part of any theme park.
7. The best advice I can give you...RELAX! If you get angry about something - long lines, prices, etc - Take a deep breath and remember...."It's a small world" ..and other guests there probably feel the same!
It can be stressful to go to Disneyworld! But, it can be the best time in your life! Even if your not a kid!

Have a safe trip & Give Mickey a big hug for me!:-D