Bigboy10182000
Footballguy
Made it to Savannah in 11 hours. Didn't hit a bit of traffic leaving at 7:00 AM. GPS took me around 95 in DC so I guess that's why. Stopped at Whileys for some BBQ and am getting a hotel now. Thanks for the help guys.
Good luck on the 2nd leg of your trip. Enjoy the vacation and keep us updated!!Made it to Savannah in 11 hours. Didn't hit a bit of traffic leaving at 7:00 AM. GPS took me around 95 in DC so I guess that's why. Stopped at Whileys for some BBQ and am getting a hotel now. Thanks for the help guys.
Yea. Rant away brother. It's amazing how glaring the lack of good attractions are at Epcot when they force you into tiers like that.Did my fast passes a few days ago. Just wanted to rant about how worthless 3 FP are in epcot since you can only choose one of frozen, test track and soarin per day. Otherwise, other than getting that elusive ohana reservation, we're all set.
IIRC, the reasoning behind Living With The Land as Tier 1 was they wanted something that wasn't an aggressive ride with height restrictions so families with just little kids or groups not interested in thrill-type rides wouldn't have a wasted spot. But yeah, all things being equal, I think of Living With The Land as "that thing you do when the line for Soarin is too long".Yea. Rant away brother. It's amazing how glaring the lack of good attractions are at Epcot when they force you into tiers like that.
and I want to meet the sap who picks "living with the land" as his tier 1 attraction there just so I can laugh at him.
Yep - nothing like a nap on Ellen's ride. Not sure what I'll do if they update the pavilion to something I want to see.IIRC, the reasoning behind Living With The Land as Tier 1 was they wanted something that wasn't an aggressive ride with height restrictions so families with just little kids or groups not interested in thrill-type rides wouldn't have a wasted spot. But yeah, all things being equal, I think of Living With The Land as "that thing you do when the line for Soarin is too long".
if you're creative enough, all Epcot rides have a purpose. I've converted Ellen's Energy Adventure into "38-minute air-conditioned nap area after big meal or F&W samplings". I emerge from that one a new man.
When that people mover gets moving, it's like getting rocked to sleep.Yep - nothing like a nap on Ellen's ride. Not sure what I'll do if they update the pavilion to something I want to see.
This would be a sick line up in 1989Details for Epcot Food & Wine 2016 are revealed this week. Here's the Eat To The Beat concert schedule. These shows are at the American Adventure Pavilion in World Showcase. If you've seen or walked by the Candlelight Processional, it's the same site as that.
- Wang Chung — NEW! – September 14-15
- Starship — September 16-18
- Air Supply – September 19-20
- The Bo Deans — September 21-23
- Fuel – September 24-25
- Sugar Ray — September 26-28
- Los Lobos – September 29-30
- David Cook — October 1-2
- Wilson Phillips — October 3-4
- Blues Traveler – October 5-6
- Plain White T’s — NEW! – October 7-9
- 38 Special — October 10-11
- Jeffrey Osbourne — October 12-13
- Tiffany — October 14-16
- Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx — October 17-19
- Christopher Cross – October 20-21
- Toad the Wet Sprocket — NEW! — October 22-23
- Chaka Chan — October 24-25
- Billy Ocean — October 26-27
- Living Colour -- NEW!! October 28-29
- Hanson — October 30-November 1
- Soul Asylum — NEW! — November 2-3
- Delta Rae — NEW! — November 4-6
- Boyz II Men — November 7-9
- Sister Hazel — November 10-11
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy — November 12-14
Absolutely. The satellite 1995 stage is loaded, too.This would be a sick line up in 1989
What are the dates? I don't see them? We may go down mid-October.Outstanding rundown of the 2016 Food And Wine Booths by Disney Food Blog.
I gotta stop reading it or I'm gonna book a flight to Orlando.
The official dates of the festival this year are September 14 to November 14.What are the dates? I don't see them? We may go down mid-October.
Think that $15 guide is worth it for the food festival?The official dates of the festival this year are September 14 to November 14.
Mid-October is a great time for WDW. Food & Wine in full swing in Epcot, Halloween decorations up and Mickey's Halloween Party at MK, summer heat is over, school is in session so crowds are below peak level.... and I gotta stop listing reasons why it's great or I'm gonna book a hotel and flight.
I'd pass. Instead I'd grab a Food & Wine Passport from the Marketplace. The Passport will have all the menus and booth locations. Last year they were free, but only available at the Marketplace building.Think that $15 guide is worth it for the food festival?
while we are going back that far, can we bring back Horizons to go with itThis would be a sick line up in 1989
Thanks!I'd pass. Instead I'd grab a Food & Wine Passport from the Marketplace. The Passport will have all the menus and booth locations. Last year they were free, but only available at the Marketplace building.
I recommend one of those wristband Food & Wine gift cards. They don't cost any extra to load or reload, transactions at the booths go much faster, any leftover money on them can be spent anywhere else where the parks take credit cards, and make a nice souvenir when you're done with it.
We weren't on the Disney Dining Plan when we went there for F&W, but the best DDP snack credits to be had by far are at the F&W booths.
I think I hear Captain EO's entrance music.while we are going back that far, can we bring back Horizons to go with it
Great post. The only thing I'll add is they will stamp your passport so you can see where all you've been. I keep my used one in my office at work and take it out from time to time to look through the offerings.Bruce Dickinson said:I'd pass. Instead I'd grab a Food & Wine Passport from the Marketplace. The Passport will have all the menus and booth locations. Last year they were free, but only available at the Marketplace building..
F&W is pretty awesome. It really makes EPCOT adult IMO.Great post. The only thing I'll add is they will stamp your passport so you can see where all you've been. I keep my used one in my office at work and take it out from time to time to look through the offerings.
I love F&W more than Jaysus loves pizza - mainly because F&W also has copious amounts of beer and other alcohol
Went to Animal Kingdom on day one and spent a total of 9.5 hours in the park. The shade in that park was a huge help for my little guys (7 & 6). We fast passed Dinosaur, Rapids and The Safari. The safari we fast passed started at like 4 and it was SOOO hot! As soon as we hoped in the truck it started to POUR and we loved it. The rain seemed to energize a lot of the animals as well which made for an even better experience. The thunder and lightening seemed to scare the elephants and they started to run away which was cool and somewhat scary at the same time lol. The dinosaur ride was pretty good as well. We were a little disappointed in the rapids though. We barely got wet and the ride seemed to be over pretty quickly. We also met Donald and my girls met Pocahontas. The shows we saw were Nemo the musical and The festival of the Lion King. These shows IMO are a must see, they were SO good and get you out of the heat for at least a half an hour.Good luck on the 2nd leg of your trip. Enjoy the vacation and keep us updated!!
And tell Ariel to clear her calendar for the 1st 2 weeks in August for when I get there.
I'm going to put that on my business cards. Esq., F&W O.G. The conversations will be awesome.Since we're talking Epcot Food & Wine, I feel the need to send out the @Yankee23Fan signal and see if he's around. He's our F&W OG.
I'm going to put that on my business cards. Esq., F&W O.G. The conversations will be awesome.
Good luck, have fun, and may the food be with you.
If you are staying on property, can you just use your regular wristband and charge back to your room?Payment Options
As mentioned in the thread the very best way to do this is to get the keychain credit card thing. It can be used elsewhere as a credit card but the main thing is payment within in the lines of Food and Wine. It's the easiest way. You would think cash is, but for some reason it isn't. Use the wristband credit card thing and then keep it as a souvenier when you go home. I might have a box full of them.
So far I didn't think any of the crowds were bad, however, I don't have anything to compare them to other than Busch Gardens or another park. I have found Disney to be so much easier to park in, get around and leave without any traffic at all. Even when the masses left after the final show at Epcot I didn't hit a single bit of traffic.@Bigboy10182000 glad to hear everyone is enjoying themselves. Rest up, you earned it and MK is a big park to tackle.
and yes...Lion King and Nemo are both great shows...a must do on each trip for us.
Question, how are you finding the crowds? Reports I see are surprisingly light for summertime. I'll be there in 3 weeks and hope the trend continues.
Yes.If you are staying on property, can you just use your regular wristband and charge back to your room?
Have never been on the ride when it rained but have heard this from park employees. The animals love the rain and it proves a more entertaining experience than just seeing them rest in the shade or graze (again...so I've heard).As soon as we hoped in the truck it started to POUR and we loved it. The rain seemed to energize a lot of the animals as well which made for an even better experience.
Epcot certainty isn't as nice as Animal Kingdom for shade but I think it's much better than Magic Kingdom. The reason is I have zero interest in the shops @ MG but love going into all the "towns" @ Epcot so am able to cool off.Day 2 we went to Epcot and unlike the above there is NO SHADE ANYWHERE! There is a lot of walking as well. We were there 9 hours. We all went on Test Track, Soren, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, Nemo and some little boat type of ride in Mexico. We didn't fast pace Frozen and the wait never dipped below 70 minutes so we just scratched the idea of going.
Speaking of Italy we stopped at a place called Via Napoli Ristorante E Pizzeria. We got their biggest pizza (I forget the name). We got a half of pepperoni and pancetta and the other half cheese (awesome) anyway, the entire pizza was $70 including gratuity and fed all 6 of us. Pretty damned good deal for eating in the park IMO. Also, Germany has this grapefruit beer that I won't attempt to spell and it was AMAZING.
What is this off day you speak of? My family is psycho in that they believe in zero out of park time. There are some days when I bail after dinner to go back to the hotel to relax because I've had my fill and they all think I'm nuts. Don't get me started on the "extra park hours." No thanks!Today is one of our off days before heading to Magic Kingdom tomorrow.
Always a joy reading an expert writing in his area of expertise with a high level of effort and enthusiasm. Loved how he gave both the thousand-foot view and zoomed in for details.
Seriously, good god are those people annoying. I think I put in one of my last updates when we were there but if I heard one more 20 something idiot manchild yelling he was getting his drink on to his bros I was going to lose it. There is an art to enjoying food and wine that is not college age drinking game level of enjoyment. There is a place for that but this isn't it. Or frankly, if it is at least have some class about it.Always a joy reading an expert writing in his area of expertise with a high level of effort and enthusiasm. Loved how he gave both the thousand-foot view and zoomed in for details.
Wanted to reiterate Y23fan's lack of patience for team drinkers at Epcot. Fortunately, they are usually easy to spot. With the speed and ease of making customized T-shirts these days, you can often spot a "Drink Around The World" team from a distance thanks to their uniforms, usually with checkboxes they try to get cast members to mark as they hit each country.
Agree. I was there last week and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I could get out of the park and onto a bus. We were at MG for the New Year fireworks and it was a complete zoo. About an 1 1/2 hour wait from end of fireworks to get on the bus. Will never do again. By comparison we went to the 4th of July fireworks at MG last week and was on the bus in 15 minutes. Now I understand New Years vs the 4th is kinda apples and oranges but 15 minutes is fantastic by any measure.So far I didn't think any of the crowds were bad, however, I don't have anything to compare them to other than Busch Gardens or another park.
I can't say how much I underestimated the heat and humidity down here. I have dealt with 95+ before but this is completely different level.Now the humidity...that's another story (brutal)!
Less busy. And cooler weather. The weekend will be crowded but not Spring Break crowded. You will notice the difference on the Thursday-Friday before and/or the Tuesday/Wednesday after.We are planning on going during President's Day week next year instead of Spring Break as we have done the last two times. It has to be a LITTLE less busy? Right?
Kids have never been to AK or Epcot and going to do those for the first time.
yep...its crazy hot and humid. Thats why I went 100% under armor/quick dri type shirts and shorts in place of cotton ones. Plus, doing early mornings and later nights makes it somewhat more bearable.I can't say how much I underestimated the heat and humidity down here. I have dealt with 95+ before but this is completely different level.
Beginning August 1, a select number of guests can experience Disney Early Morning Magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Beginning at 7:45 a.m., guests can enter the park and experience Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Toy Story Mania!, Pixar Place character greetings (with Woody and Buzz), and Mickey and Minnie on Commissary Lane and Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight. Guests can also partake in an all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast at ABC Commissary from 8-10 a.m.
Book your reservation today so you don’t miss out on this all-new special event. Disney Early Morning Magic—Disney’s Hollywood Studios is available for $69 per adult and $59 per child (ages 3 through 9) plus tax.
I've been down to Florida a lot & never experienced anything like that. It was on a whole different level.I can't say how much I underestimated the heat and humidity down here. I have dealt with 95+ before but this is completely different level.
Eat stuff in the room and then go to Golden Corral every other day - their breakfast is great for the money.Somehow my wife read our plan we bought wrong and breakfast is not included in our hotel stay. We always try to do that for convenience and finances. I believe we are staying at the Sheraton with in walking distance of Disneyland. Any breakfast suggestions that wont break the bank and take to much time? Right now I am thinking we may be bringing our own food but the kids would much prefer to eat out.
The house we're staying at is for sale and we considered it while drunk and I couldn't imagine with this heat. I wouldn't leave the house lolTry living here you weenies