by Brian Bennett
10/12/01
Q.
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David writes:
Hi there Brian. This might sound trite, under the current circumstances,
but I am planning a trip to WDW around May next year, having
previously visited in the month of October.
Unless life returns as quickly as possible
to "normal", then those that acted to disrupt our
lives will have won.
My question is about Spring break.
Do you have any idea when that traditionally occurs during
May i.e. early or late? Your excellent guide mentions that
crowds during that time can be large, but not as in the summer
months. In your opinion, and for my comparison, would you
say that weather wise and crowd wise, it is similar to October?
Keep up the great work you are doing.
I have been a reader of your previous site and the current
location for a number of years and always enjoy reading the
trip reports and updates etc.
Be assured that the level of support
from the people of Australia, to our cousins across the pond
, is strong and caring and we all feel for your country at
this time.
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A.
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David,
First off, thanks you very for your very kind words for our
nation. We certainly need all of the support our friends around
the world are able to provide!
Regarding your question about Spring break here in the U.S.,
you'll actually find that it is more likely to occur from
late February through the end of March. Various U.S. colleges
and universities will break at different times, but that is
the right range to be thinking of. Spring break is nothing
to worry about in May.
I agree that May crowd levels are similar to October. The
weather is less wet and a bit more hot in May, though, than
October... but not so much that you should plan differently.
The bottom line, you may get a heat wave in October and you
might get a bunch of rain in May... you just have to roll
the dice and see what happens. :)
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Q.
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David (not
the same guy) asks: First of
all, thanks for your website, it has been very helpful. I have
searched it and found your discussion on different types of
tickets for park admission (Admission
Media from A to Z), but did not see anything about getting
a reduced price for late arrival. Is there such a thing? For
example, if you arrive at Epcot after 4:00, you pay a little
less. I bring this up because about two years ago, I think we
did this very thing. We had purchased a dinner/show package
for the Candlelight Processional. I told the lady taking the
reservation that are plane arrived at noon, and that we would
be at the park around 4:00. She mentioned this reduced ticket
price for late admission. However, I'm not sure if things have
changed, or that this is only available with a dinner/show package
like the one we had. Of course, it could also be that my memory
is faltering. |
A.
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David,
I've received some more information from a cast member at
WDW. The information that was sent to me is:
"Brian,
"There has never been a "day guest" evening
pass to Epcot. We do have conventions that are booked here,
and if they are holding their meetings on property and staying
here on property---we do sell convention only tickets-where
you have to prove that you are a member of the visiting
convention to purchase. There was an after 2pm ticket to
either MGM or Epcot----and there was also an after 4pm ticket
to Epcot only. These are still being sold, but as I said,
they are not advertised to day guests.
"I just spoke to a Guest relations cast member about
the shopping pass--that, per say, does not exist. If a guest
comes to guest relations with a story of something that
they just have to buy in the park-and that is the only reason
they are coming in---they will ask that the guest purchase
a full price 1 day park ticket--and if they return to guest
relations within an hour or so according to the time stamp
on the ticket--they will refund the purchase price of the
ticket-----If they go over that time limit--we keep the
revenue.
"I hope this answers your questions."
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Q.
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and in a
follow-up question, David asks:
Thank you for your information. The
CM's response was a little cryptic, but I read that yes, there
is an after 2pm ticket to MGM and Epcot, and an after 4pm
ticket to Epcot.
I have another question for you - hopefully
easier than the first. We arrive at Disney World midday, and
do not want to use up one of our days on our park hopper pass.
In the past, we have gone to Disney Marketplace to do a little
shopping and get in the Mickey-mood. However, we want to change
things up a bit. Someone at work suggested that we go to the
California Grille and watch the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom.
This sounds like a fantastic idea, except that this restaurant
is a bit too expensive and the kids (5, 4, and 2) won't appreciate
it. Can you suggest something similar that is a little less
expensive? Can you eat at the Poly and view the fireworks?
Maybe there is a beach where we can picnic and watch?
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A.
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David,
Keep in mind that the "after 2pm ticket to MGM and Epcot,
and an after 4pm ticket to Epcot" are available to conventioneers
only! They are not available to the "typical"
guest.
The Polynesian and the Grand Floridian would be options to
see the fireworks. The Contemporary would be, too. In fact,
you may want to reconsider the Contemporary. You could have
a slightly earlier dinner at any of the resort's restaurants
(including the Fiesta Fun Center which would be very inexpensive)
-- then go up to the 15th floor to see the fireworks from
the lounge area or the observation deck outside. The view
from there is spectacular!
One other comment... I don't think you'll be allowed to "picnic"
on the Polynesian Resort's beach. For one thing, the beach
at the resort is not readily accessible to non-resort guests.
Also, it's not set up with picnic tables and so on.
There's a page in MousePlanet's WDW Trip Planning Guide on
this very topic that you may want to check out.
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Q.
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Jolene
writes: Hi Brian - Love your site! Just wanted to let you
know of a change. I recently took the Inside Animation tour
at the Studios. It does require park admission. I noticed on
your recap of the behind the scenes tours - it states that park
admission is NOT required. Just took the tour in May of this
year and had to use a day of my hopper pass. Take care.
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A.
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Thanks Jolene! I've updated that
page!
If anyone else would like to check out the page in MousePlanet's
WDW Trip Planning Guide on WDW's
Behind the Scenes Guided Tours, feel free!
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Q.
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Mary writes:
Thanks for the wonderful info on your site...this will be our
5th trip to Disney world next month and have only stayed at
moderates. In the attempt to go on a budget, we are staying
at All Star Music this time. Wondered if you knew if they have
any coffee pots available for in-room service? Getting my husband
moving without the first cup will be difficult otherwise. Thanks. |
A.
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Mary,
To the best of my knowledge, the All Star Resorts do not
have coffee makers in the rooms.
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Q.
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Rodolfo
asks: A few days ago, I sent you an e-mail to ask about
priority seating reservations, since we are going to WDW in
November (from the 11th thru the 18th), and we want to go to
Cinderella's royal table on the 14th; so, yesterday was exactly
60 days prior to that date, and I started dialing WDW-dine at
about 6:55 a.m. (EDT), and there was a recording telling you
about their operating hours; at exactly 7 a.m. (EDT), there
was another recording, telling you that all the operators were
busy with other calls, but to stay on the line, which I did,
and about 3 minutes later a 'real voice' answered. to make the
story short, in less than five minutes they were all booked
for the 14th, and also for the 13th and the 12th. so my question
is: could we go to the Magic Kingdom, let's say on the 12th
(Monday), which is an early entry day, and without priority
seating, and with a little luck get to have breakfast with the
princesses? |
A.
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Rodolfo,
You did everything as correctly as you can. You can still
call back, and maybe you can pick up a cancellation...
Your walk-up idea can work, too, but of course a priority
seating is more of a "sure thing."
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Q.
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Katharine
writes: hello I have been to Disney World twice in the past
two years. I love Disney World ! I also love Tony's Town Square
Cafe in the Magic Kingdom. it is where I had the best meal of
each of my trips. the reason I am writing you is to ask you
if you know of the dessert menu that they have. I had a custard
dessert there that was to die for. the trouble is that I do
not know what it is called and do not know where to find out.
I was hoping that you might be able to help me. thank you. |
A.
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My best suggestion is to call WDW
at (407) 824-2222 and ask for Tony's. They can hook you up,
I'm sure, and you can ask your question at the restaurant itself! |
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Q.
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Marc writes:
Greetings from Switzerland! Do you know if Annual Passes are
still offered for Pleasure Island? I couldn't find any information
about the on the official WDW homepage.
Also I think I saw once a so called
PI Dual Annual Passport, where you could take one guest with
you to pleasure Island, any information about that?
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A.
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Marc,
I know that PI still has an annual pass, but I'm not aware
of the dual AP that you mentioned. Perhaps it was available
earlier, but I don't think it is any longer.
Prices for the PI passes and APs can be found on the Admission
Media from A to Z page:
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Q.
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Richard
asks: Hi. My wife & I are planning to stay at Ft. Wilderness
Campground the first week in Nov. Any tips on discounts, best
campsites, etc.? There is a phone number that ends in WDW-CAMP
but I forgot the area code. Any help on that? Thanks & keep
up the good work. |
A.
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Richard,
Everything I know about Fort Wilderness (including the phone
number and a link to a campground map) is on MousePlanet's
WDW Trip Planning Guide's Fort
Wilderness Campground Fast Facts page.
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Q.
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Bonita writes:
I would be interested in knowing how to contact the listing
of resorts directly through your site. There are no telephone
numbers or e-mails listed. I would appreciate any assistance
you could provide in this matter. |
A.
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Bonita,
Go to MousePlanet's WDW Trip Planning Guide's Accommodations
Index page. From there you'll find links to all
of the WDW resorts. On each individual resort page (in the
left-hand margin), you'll find the telephone numbers, fax
numbers, and addresses. There are no email addresses given
as I don't have any email addresses that are generic to any
resort.
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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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