Hello, Joe! Great trip report--well, pre-trip report. Your trip is coming up really fast. I do have a few comments that might help you. I'll comment in the same order that you described your plans. I hope that you're cool with another two cents......
--10 days is my ABSOLUTELY favorite amount of time to go. You should be able to keep a good pace with that.
--Magical Express is terrific. It's a great service.
--Pop Century. I love it. It's pretty big and can be busy at times. There's the closest section to the main building that's terrific for access to food, busses, etc, but it's potentially loud. The outer buildings are a 5-10 minute walk further out, but can be REALLY quiet. Especially if you're on the lake side.
I'm jumping ahead a bit here in your notes and tell you that the food court in the morning for breakfast is NUTS. Absolutely a mad house. It's great in the afternoon and evening, though. You might want to get some grab-n-go items the night before and then eat in your room. I did ok getting mug refills in the morning, but getting through the line was atrocious (this was in the off-season!). Food was sometimes cold by the time I paid. Hopefully, this was an isolated incident!!! Just wanted to mention it to you.
For the price, though, Pop Century is awesome. You won't be disappointed.
--Itinerary--I'm a planner like you. Just "pretend" that you're winging it so Mara doesn't notice. HA! She'll be appreciative when you utilize fastpasses well and have reservations for dinner....
--Coral Reef. Yeah, take what you can get. Lunch is fine. Just eat a lighter dinner. SInce you are on the dining plan, it will be balanced (heavy/lighter meals). When you get on-site, call the dining line from your room. I have had TERRIFIC luck in getting last minute, week-of ressies once I got there. I wasn't expecting to be able to, since we had a last-minute trip like yours last March. I was able to get LTT and Cape May easily. Good luck!
--Check-in/Monday. Even if you can't get in your room, they'll store your bags. 1:00 is a potentially safe time. We arrive on-site around the same time and we've been able to get into our room.
--Tuesday. You might want to plan on the break in the afternoon. Get to the park early. I know it might not happen on every day (it is vacation, after all), but it will be easier to tour. It's also quite hot by May and you may need a break. We ALWAYS utlitize the afternoon break, even if for only 2 hours or so. Keeps the momentum!
--Liberty Tree Tavern. EXCELLENT choice. You'll love it!
--Wednesday. Le Chefs. I tried it for the first time last October. It was fabulous. Our best meal of the trip. Very romantic for you two!! If you eat VERY slowly, you might time it right to see Illuminations. The trees somewhat obscure the view, depending on where you are in the restaurant. I think our ressies were for 7:30 and they let us stay and watch Illuminations.
--Thursday. Good to have an "off day." There's the lazy river if she's not game for the big stuff, and hey, what's wrong with laying in the sun with a book? Great idea to take the day in a non-park commando way. Sleep in a little; get there at 10, leave at 2 or 3. GREAT day!
Haven't eaten at Cap'n Jack's. Raglan Road is my personal fav and you can hop over there for some great live music on most nights. Might be a good choice since you said you were a musician!
--Friday. I liked the Lights! show. I had ignored it for the last trip or two and then put it on the schedule this last time. LOVED it.
--Now I know people are going to poo-poo Sci Fi, but we liked it! Good place for a burger and if it is super hot, it will be a perfect respite in the cool darkness! 50's prime time is fun too. Since they're both TS, don't worry about finishing both meals. It would be WAY too much food. We had 2 days where we ended up with 2 TS in the same day (intentionally--it was the way the day was scheduled). We just ate about 1/2 of whatever they brought us. Of course, a burger at Sci-Fi isn't exactly a 12 course meal! Both excellent dining choices. Really fun!!
--Saturday. Yes, it can be VERY hot at AK, especially as the day wears on. I think all of that foliage holds in every ounce of moisture. It's wicked hot and humid. (My DH is from Boston--he says "wicked" a lot!) If you don't have lunch plans, consider Flame Tree BBQ. EXCELLENT. A must-do for us on every trip now. There's a great Tea stand too, over by Yak & Yeti and EE. Terrific teas there if you're into tea.
--Evening. Haven't eaten at Teppanyaki.
--Sunday. No comment about BB. Haven't been, but everyone raves! Crystal Palace is a good buffet choice. It is a memory from childhood for me too!
--Monday @ Epcot. We spend more time here than any other park. Seriously. Keep your Coral Reef Ressies for lunch. It will difficult to score a dinner ADR, I'd think. You might traumatize her if she's afraid of fish, though! It's quite confining if one is scared of water or fish. Warn her--They do give a card to "find the fish" as they swim by. Perhaps that little game will make it easier for her. Haven't eaten at Marrakesh before...
--Tuesday @ MK. We did the same thing. Had a "flex day" that we figured would be at MK. It was. Evening was at Epcot, though, b/c we loved it so much. Hopping is your friend! You could always take the monorail and hop to the resorts to check them out. THat's a fun and relaxing afternoon away from the parks.
--Plaza Restaurant. If you don't get into the castle for some reason, this is a great alternative. Nothing like dining in the castle, mind you, but a really nice, lighter meal choice. We liked it very, very much.
--Wednesday. You'll be a zombie on Thursday and Friday at work, but hey, you're young. You can handle it!!
--Trip report. You'd better! It sounds like an absolutely wonderful trip. Hope my comments were helpful. Let us know if anything last-minute comes up!
Bookmarks