Walt Disney World

[Brianfo]

My wife and I will be taking 2 small children to Walt Disney World in Florida in 2 weeks. I get to go as a bonus thru my work. We are staying at the Hilton. My question is what is the weather like down there in January? Any good ideas on what to see and do with twins that are 2 years old? I am kind of looking forward to it. A chance to get out of Iowa in January. Oh well, enought blabbing. Any responses are greatly appreciated.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Another question..... is Animal Kingdom an all day type of park or more of a half day type of deal? The last time I was there, it seemed like it was more of a half day park.

Half day for me. Bug's life show, Safari ride (through the zoo area), Dinosaur ride and the Mt Everest roller coaster are the must do stuff. If you are a Get there when the gates open type, you should be fine.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Another question..... is Animal Kingdom an all day type of park or more of a half day type of deal? The last time I was there, it seemed like it was more of a half day park.

Animal Kingdom was our favorite park, by far. We really liked the different "villages" and would have liked to have eaten a lot more stuff there. We did it in a half day, and I wish we would have done a full day. The safari ride was just okay, but Expedition Everest was a great coaster. You can tell it's a new park because everything is really updated and well designed.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Another question..... is Animal Kingdom an all day type of park or more of a half day type of deal? The last time I was there, it seemed like it was more of a half day park.

It's kind of weird because the attractions are sort of half day (in my opinion) but the time it takes you to get around is full day. My wife likes it though because she likes the Lion King and Nemo shows better than rides.

It's kind of a grind to me. Seems somehow hotter, too.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Animal Kingdom was our favorite park, by far. We really liked the different "villages" and would have liked to have eaten a lot more stuff there. We did it in a half day, and I wish we would have done a full day. The safari ride was just okay, but Expedition Everest was a great coaster. You can tell it's a new park because everything is really updated and well designed.

That safari ride can differ in terms of fun depending on the person doing the narration.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Half day for me. Bug's life show, Safari ride (through the zoo area), Dinosaur ride and the Mt Everest roller coaster are the must do stuff. If you are a Get there when the gates open type, you should be fine.

The safari ride is meh. Lion King show is good.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by blaise

The service and the organization at WDW it makes me kind of not want to take a chance on another place. When I spend the money and time to go down there I feel like I want to make sure it's great.
Is Universal run like Disney?

Universal is still fun, just not as serviceable as Disney. The best way I could compare it is Disney being Princess Cruise Lines or Royal Caribbean whereas Universal is Carnival.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

If you do go get the dining plan, it makes things so much easier to prepay for your meals and the way its set up it will make you feel like your getting away with murder at some of the restaurants.

Go to Ohana in the Polynesian resort, it was my favorite restaurant of the whole trip hands down and the portions they give you are ridiculously generous. Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom is the same family style buffet as Ohana and its good American food that'll fill you up. Kouzzina (Cat Cora's Restaurant) on the Boardwalk as well as Jelly Rolls (Piano Bar) are amazing fun.

Biergarten is one of my faves for a place to eat at Disney. It's in Epcot and it's a huge buffet of German food with everything made from scratch and they also have entertainment on a stage while you are eating.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

The safari ride is meh. Lion King show is good.

Typically if you go in early in the morning the Safari ride is pretty cool and the animals are more active. Once it gets hot, the animals are looking for cover and they don't move much.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Biergarten is one of my faves for a place to eat at Disney. It's in Epcot and it's a huge buffet of German food with everything made from scratch and they also have entertainment on a stage while you are eating.

We took a ferry out to Fort Wilderness and ate at the Hoop-Dee-Doo one night. It was a TON of fun. They put a pitcher of beer in front of me and just kept filling it up. A silly, kitschy experience, but we had a great time.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Biergarten is one of my faves for a place to eat at Disney. It's in Epcot and it's a huge buffet of German food with everything made from scratch and they also have entertainment on a stage while you are eating.

Haven't been in forever, but we used to like the lunch buffet at Norway.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Haven't been in forever, but we used to like the lunch buffet at Norway.

Love that too. So much smoked fish.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

The safari ride is meh. Lion King show is good.

The ride needs to be updated....what you really want to do if you are at AK is take the Wild Animal Trek which lets you walk half of the Safari Ride. You get to walk a suspension bridge over the crocodiles and hippo's. After that you get to have a lunch in a picnic shelter right in the middle of the Savannah.

Disney needs to update a couple of the shows...keep the characters, but update the theme.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

If you like rides go to Islands of Adventure or both parks. If you've never been you'll enjoy it..it'll be something new. I haven't been to the Harry Potter area yet.

I hear the Harry Potter area is really damn fun. I'll be there in a couple of weeks.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by NewChief

We took a ferry out to Fort Wilderness and ate at the Hoop-Dee-Doo one night. It was a TON of fun. They put a pitcher of beer in front of me and just kept filling it up. A silly, kitschy experience, but we had a great time.

Another fun thing to do at Fort Wilderness is the Chip-N-Dale Campfire Sing-A-long. You can bring along your own hot dogs and marshmallows or buy them there.

They have an old fashion sing-along and then you get to watch 2 Disney movies back to back that are shown on a screen outside.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Haven't been in forever, but we used to like the lunch buffet at Norway.

Loved eating at the German, Italian and Norwegian exhibits. Especially love eating Dessert at the French Pavilion.

Honestly...all the places in the World Showcase have something that is special about them.