by Brian Bennett
9/10/01
Q.
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Brent asks: I live
in south Florida and been to Walt Disney World for countless
trips. This year was my first as an annual pass holder and I
found it to be very beneficial. I was unaware about the extra
hotel discounts and such that came with the AP. We are planning
a trip during Thanksgiving week and I have a question for you
and (or) your readers. What restaurants on property serve a
Thanksgiving dinner? I don't care if it's in a park or a resort.
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A.
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Originally, I responded...
Brent,
The best advice I can give is to call (407) WDW-DINE and
ask which restaurants will have special meals on Thanksgiving.
I bounced your message around the MousePlanet crew, too, and
that was the best suggestion any of us had.
But I didn't like the answer I gave Brent, so I asked a CM
that I know at WDW, and she provided the following information:
Thanksgiving - Thursday, November
22, 2001
- A credit card guarantee is required
- 48 hour cancellation policy
- $10 per person fee if canceling
within 48 hours
- The following locations will have
special menu offerings for Thanksgiving:
Epcot
- Akershus
- Alfredo's
- Biergarten
- Coral Reef
- Garden Grill
- Le Cellier
- Rose & Crown Pub & Dining
Room
Magic Kingdom Park
Disney-MGM Studios
- Hollywood Brown Derby
- Hollywood & Vine Cafeteria
of the Stars
- Mama Melrose's
- 50's Prime Time Cafe
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World Resorts
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney's Contemporary Resort
- California Grill
- Chef Mickey's
- Concourse Steakhouse
- Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
& Spa
- Disney's Old Key West Resort
- Disney's Polynesian Resort
- Disney's Port Orleans Resort
- Disney's Wilderness Lodge and
the Villas at Wilderness Lodge
- Disney's Yacht and Beach Club
Resorts
- Cape May Cafe
- Convention Center
- Yacht Club Galley
- Yachtsman Steakhouse
More details will be released as the
information becomes available. Complete menus, hours,
and pricing will be available approximately 30 days prior
at Holiday Dining (intranet) site, or call WDW-DINE for
details. Please keep in mind all information is subject
to change.
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Q.
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Janice writes: Was
wondering if the Port Orleans has iron, ironing board and hairdryers
available in a standard room. Thanks a lot....love this site!!
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A.
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Janice,
I wasn't able to find out the answer for sure. I'd suggest
you call the resort at (407) 934-5000 and ask them.
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Q.
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Jen asks: This is
a great great site -- I feel lucky to have found a link!!
This is what I'm looking for information-wise,
perhaps you can use it to add some updates.
I'm looking for a general best tips
for young children. Best Resort / Hotel, best places to eat,
when its best to just pack PB&J, best transportation considering
impatient young children. I'd like information about which
airlines offer the best service / routes (i.e., who flies
direct from certain regions.) And finally, tips for the parents.
Is it okay to use the club programs? How should you work it
with rides -- what could mom do w/ the 3 yr old while dad
is on a ride with the older one? These are probably painfully
obvious to those who are experienced, but we've never been
to WDW before, we'd like some advice.
Thanks for the great site!
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A.
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Jen,
MousePlanet's WDW Trip Planning Guide does have a bunch of
stuff on visiting WDW with kids. Click
here, and you'll find much of what you're looking for.
However, you did raise some issues that I haven't addressed
there. Specifically, the issues about direct air flights,
etc. I would suggest, though, that you check with a travel
agent on that. Delta is currently WDW's official airline,
and it offers direct flights from many Eastern US cities,
but there are other airlines that do the same. Because of
the dynamic nature of flight schedules, though, a travel agent
would be best able to provide you with that information for
the dates you want to travel.
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Q.
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Pam writes: I am
planning a trip in May 2002. We already have a resort by virtue
of my parents timeshare but there are a couple of things that
I have questions about. Does WDW have electronic wheelchairs
to rent and how much are they? Do you know of any place
that discounted tickets can be purchased? The price that I keep
seeing is $200 for the 4 day park hopper pass. I also would
like to know if you know about children. The WDW website says
child 3-9, so are children under 3 free? |
A.
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Pam,
WDW does have electric vehicles available for rent. The price
is $6.00 for a regular wheel chair (with a $1.00 deposit that
is refunded when you return the chair) and $30.00 for an electric
scooter (with a $10.00 deposit.)
They are available at all of the major parks, but the number
of scooters is limited, so you'll want to make sure you get
one when you first enter the park. Later in the day, they
may all be rented out!
Beth Floro, who has authored a couple of trip reports on
MousePlanet, has a wheelchair/ECV
frequently asked questions list at Deb Will's WDW Information
Guide website.
You may want to check it out, as Beth has a wealth of information
to share there.
You can click
here to read all I know about discounts on admission media.
The $200 price you're seeing for a four-day park hopper is
just about right. I just paid a little less than that with
my Disney Club membership, but it was only down by a few dollars.
Children under the age of three years old are, indeed, given
free admission to the parks.
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Q.
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Belinda asks: We
were in Magic Kingdom and had our daughters pictures taken with
Mickey in Toontown claim number is 878588 at Magic Kingdom exposition
hall, we never got a chance to pick these up and was wondering
if we can still purchase please let me know. Thanks. |
A.
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Belinda,
My first thought when I read your email was no. The photo
folks generally do not keep photos available for a long period
of time. In fact, I'm quite certain that the photos available
at the attractions (Splash Mountain, for example) are available
only for a few hours.
As I continued thinking, though, I don't see any reason why
you shouldn't ask the question of someone that really may
know...
I'd suggest you call guest relations (just call (407) 824-2222
and ask for guest relations and they'll hook you up), and
ask them to track it down for you.
I suppose it's possible...
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Q.
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Beth writes: Hi,
Brian! I am SO glad that I discovered your website - it has
been crucial in helping us plan our upcoming September trip.
I am staying with a friend at the Caribbean Beach Resort (CBR)
and we were thinking of bringing a case of beer in with us,
but then we thought maybe that wasn't allowed. Do you know if
it is acceptable for guests to bring alcohol purchased outside
the park into the rooms with them? Should I call the hotel and
ask? What do you think?
Thanks for all of the great Disney
information you work so hard to make available to us!
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A.
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Beth,
It's perfectly ok for you to bring any groceries into your
room.
On the side, you may way to contact the resort (now, in fact)
about renting a refrigerator if you want to keep your brew
cold.
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Q.
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Kelly asks: Sorry
to bother you but I have a two questions that I did not find
the answers to. First, historically, what hours are the
parks open during the month of May? Second, if we were
to buy a package such as Discovery Magic for the convenience,
could the unlimited park hopper pass be upgraded to an annual
pass or premium annual pass?
Thank You for your time and reply when
you get a moment.
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A.
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Kelly,
The hours of operation in the parks varies depending on crowd
levels. In May, that generally means average crowds, so typical
park hours would be for the MK to be open from 9:00am to 6:00pm,
Epcot from 9:00am to 9:00pm, the Studios from 9:00am to 7:00pm,
and Animal Kingdom from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
Of course, if the 100 Years of Magic celebration really brings
in crowds, those hours likely would be extended.
The Unlimited Park Hopper pass can be upgraded at it's current
value to an AP or PAP. That is, if you upgrade at the beginning
of your trip, you'll get the full value of the Unlimited Park
Hopper in the upgrade. If you wait until the last day of your
trip, you'll get zero value (as the cash value of the Unlimited
Park Hopper will be down to nothing). The catch, though, is
that as part of a package deal, Disney may decide that the
value of your Unlimited Park Hopper is less than it would
be if you were buying your admission media ala carte. You
really need to check with guest services at the resort or
one of the parks before you use any of the time on your Unlimited
Park Hopper to get a real assessment as to the value you'll
get towards the upgrade.
Also, be aware that the AP or PAP will be dated from the
first use of you Unlimited Park Hopper... not from the date
of the upgrade!
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Q.
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Lorraine asks: I
have a request from my 4 year granddaughter that lives in Cohoes,
New York. Her and her parents can not come down to Florida at
this time, but her request is that I have Mickey Mouse send
her a post card, just to say hello, she just loves Mickey Mouse
and thinks he lives next door to me. This little girl has been
thru a lot in the last 2 years, she has a blood problem, but
now with the medicine she takes it is under control, so I would
like to know how or who do i get in touch with to have this
post card sent to her from Mickey Mouse.
From a very grateful Grandma, Thank
you.
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A.
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Lorraine,
Two things come to mind for me...
1. You could contact guest relations at one of the parks
(just call (407) 824-2222 and ask for guest relations and
they'll hook you up) and ask them to help you with the card.
2. You could drive over from Tarpon Springs yourself (it's
about a two hour drive, right?) and drop a card into the Main
Street mailbox. :)
I won't personally be going to WDW until late this month,
so I'm afraid I can't help you out myself...
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Q.
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Catherine wrote to MousePlanet's
Adrienne Krock (who writes MousePlanet's, "Parenting
in the Parks") and asked: I caught your review
of the story-telling activities that appear to be done with
some of the characters. You mentioned Belle, Cinderella and
Snow White, but from what I could tell the locations were all
those of Disneyland. Do you know of the locations, if there
are any, in (Walt) Disney World that host these wonderful opportunities
for my little ones as well? We leave in less then two weeks....and
counting! |
A.
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Adrienne responded:
Hi, Catherine,
I don't know if there are any storytellings at WDW like
the ones we have at Disneyland. I'm copying Brian Bennett
who knows far more about WDW than I do. Brian, do you have
a better answer for Catherine than I do?
and my two cents worth...
Catherine (and Adrienne),
The only story telling location that I know of is at Storybook
Grove in the Magic Kingdom. The Grove is located to the far
right of the Castle.
Belle tells her own story, with lots of help from folks in
the audience.
Times vary, but it usually is done several times each day
(11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3:45pm, and 4:45pm were the scheduled
times last Spring).
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Q.
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Barry writes: As
a Christian (Lutheran) and someone who enjoys Disney theme parks,
I'd like to thank you for posting your article on MousePlanet
(about the Disney
boycotts). It was well written and thought out and provides
a solid witness. I've often wondered if the Baptist leaders
who came up with this boycott are also boycotting every other
movie and theme park company, since while Disney has fallen
short of the mark, its still more wholesome then just about
anything else out in the secular field. |
A.
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Thanks for the kind words, Barry.
I think the key, in any case, is for each of us to search
the scriptures ourselves and come to a conclusion that we're
comfortable with. The answer that I've come to for me and
my family might not be the right answer for someone else.
Also, as I stated in the piece, if Disney's decline gets to
the point that visiting Disneyland or WDW actually causes
me to do wrong, then I'll have to stop going there too.
Fortunately, I don't see that happening... at least for now.
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Q.
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Scott asks: Hello,
I am trying to find out how long the rehab is going to take
at mannequins at Pleasure Island. One person told me the club
will be closed till October 6, and another october18. Could
you please get to the bottom of this? |
A.
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Scott,
My sources tell me that both dates are correct. :)
Officially, the club isn't supposed to open until the 18th.
However, I've gotten word that a special event has been scheduled
for a few days prior to that, so the earlier date of the 6th
may, indeed, be correct.
If you're planning a trip, I'd suggest you assume that Mannequins
won't be open until the 18th so you'll be safe... then, perhaps
you can check after the 6th and hopefully be pleasantly surprised!
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Well, I hope you enjoyed the reader feedback
for the WDW Trip Planning Guide! Feed free to send more questions
or comments to brian@mouseplanet.com!
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Brian Bennett's Disney Trip Planner
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Click here to see
some awesome WDW pieces that have run on MousePlanet recently!
Click
here to check out the rest of Brian's Archive, including all of the previously
published "Notes From the World" pieces!
I've
always gotten email about the WDW Trip Planning Guide, but since we added
the feedback
form to the site several months ago, the number of questions has increased
dramatically! I do my best to answer each and every question personally,
but I've noticed that a lot of the questions are asked again and again.
The question that one person asks might very well be the question that
someone else is wondering about. Thus this page!
So...I'll post
reader email and feedback every once in a while, because the question
someone else asks might be the same one you're thinking about yourself!
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