Disney post 11/24

[water*drop]

I just want to AW: I just got our BOG lunch FPs, and our magic bands shipped yesterday!!! 

Who else has trips or trip-planning important milestones coming up soon?

[krystee]

Our mini-Disney trip is a week from today! Epcot one day and hotel, Downtown Disney, and Very Merry Christmas party the next!

[cinco]

Less than 2 weeks for us! I got my magic bands last week. I need to get through this week and then I will worry about logistics and packing. 14 hour car ride. Oh my.

[katie829]

Not sure if my question should go here but we are booking this week to go in May. We want to stay at either the carribean beach or the port Orleans (either one). We will have our almost 3 year old with us. Does anyone have any suggestions.

[ssmjlm]

In a holding pattern at the moment. Need to discuss memory maker with the parents and have my mom get the magic express info from our airline tix to the DVC place (I realized we can't do it through my disney online).

[mpc]

I actually have something to contribute today. We were bored yesterday so we decided to go spend the afternoon at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We walked around the lodge, DS played on the playground, and we went to the different savannah overlooks to see the animals. It was so nice. DS loved the giraffes. The pools looked like a lot of fun. We're talking about going for a long weekend next summer just to hang out at the resort.

On the drive over I was able to get a late lunch reservation at Sanaa. We got a fabulous table right by the windows and could see all the animals walking around outside. The food was really good. The table next to us got the bread sampler with all the sauces and it looked amazing. We will definitely get that if we go back again.

[katie829]

Nov 24, 2014 8:21:14 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Port orleans FQ is a small resort which might be nice with a 3 yo.

We are doing PO
riverside in May! When in May are you going?

We are going memorial day weekend.

[kittycatlove]

Nov 24, 2014 8:19:24 GMT -5 katie829 said:

Not sure if my question should go here but we are booking this week to go in May. We want to stay at either the carribean beach or the port Orleans (either one). We will have our almost 3 year old with us. Does anyone have any suggestions.

We were there in September and stayed at Caribbean Beach with DS who is 3.5. It's a big resort and depending on where you stay you could be far from the main pool. Also depending on which building you're in will determine the bus pickup. We stayed in the pirate rooms which put us pretty much last for almost all busses.  On some days they had to send for another which made us waiting up to 45 min for a bus.

Also to get back to the room for naps took a bit of time.

I will say we were there during free dining so I'm not sure what the crowds would be during May.  Overall not a bad resort, but it just depends on what your needs will be.

Never stayed at Port Orleans, but I know my IL's always stay there and love it.  

[londoncalling]

Nov 24, 2014 8:19:24 GMT -5 katie829 said:

Not sure if my question should go here but we are booking this week to go in May. We want to stay at either the carribean beach or the port Orleans (either one). We will have our almost 3 year old with us. Does anyone have any suggestions.

We liked POR, but did walk over to POFQ for some of "Tiana's" beignets and we liked the more compact size.  We chose POR blindly because my brother is a cast member there.  We were happy with our room in Alligator Bayou and really close to a quiet pool, which was nice with young kids since the small pool wasn't crowded.

We requested a room close to the main bus stop, and they were able to give us a room in building 16.  For a little bit more you can pay for a preferred room and guarantee yourself a room close to the food court and bus stop.  At FQ this isn't nearly as important since it's half the size of Riverside.

We also requested the first floor since we had the stroller and figured it would be easier in and out if we didn't have to carry it/use an elevator.

Here's a fan wesbite that has lots of information on both Port Orleans resorts
www.portorleans.org/

[stephm0188]

We leave next week! I'm excited. We're surprising the kid with tickets to MVMCP. I'm expecting it to be a total cluster but he'll be thrilled.

I need to start cancelling some of my reservations.

[stephm0188]

Nov 24, 2014 8:19:24 GMT -5 katie829 said:

Not sure if my question should go here but we are booking this week to go in May. We want to stay at either the carribean beach or the port Orleans (either one). We will have our almost 3 year old with us. Does anyone have any suggestions.

I'd look at French Quarter. It's smaller than Riverside.

We stayed at Riverside in a river view Royal room. The theme of the resort is lovely. The location of our room was great. It was right across the bridge from the food court and pool, and we had easy access to the quiet pool and laundry room. Our room was nicely done, it was kept clean, and things were pretty quiet.

I wouldn't stay there again though, unless I had a rental car. The buses sucked. It's a large resort and the buses were always packed. We started walking to FQ to take their buses because my kiddo couldn't handle standing on the bus. 

[katie829]

Thanks for the advice.