wammers2003
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 29, 2019
June 19-June 26
5 families (10 adults, 11 kids ages 13mos-15)
DVC Copper Creek (5nts, Sun - Fri): two 2-bedroom villas, two 1-bedroom villas (all on DVC points)
Tickets: 4-day ParkHopper with Genie+
Parks: MK, HS, AK, E (in that order)
Marriott Lakeshore Villas (2nts, Fri - Sun): one 2-bedroom villa, three 1-bedroom villas
Disney Springs
Detailed itinerary attached
Some highlights of what we did and learned:
1. Genie+. Everything went seamless at 7:00a. Each family booked the ride we all agreed on for Lightening Lane and we were always in the same window. We then booked ILL, no issues.
2. 2:00p. It was hot, hot, hot so at 2:00p we went back to Copper Creek and hung at the pool until dinner or back to the parks around 6:00/7:00.
3. Yak&Yeti. We were able to call YY directly and get a reservation reservation for 21 for lunch.
4. Geyser Point. The staff was awesome and helped us get a nice corner couch table with an adjacent table within 45 minutes. We ate there 3 times. Geyser Point is a gem.
5. California Grille. I was able to connect directly with a reservationist to secure a dinner for 10 adults at 8:15p, wonderful time, celebrated a 45th b-day and a 49th anniversary while watching fireworks form the balcony.
6. Baby sitters. KidsNiteOut.com was awesome; 2 evenings.
7. Wheel chair. Scooterbug.com was seamless with delivery to Copper Creek and pickup.
8. Groceries. Garden Grocer and InstaCart delivery was seemless to front desk.
9. Annual Pass (non)-issue. 5 in our group had APs that were linked to the rest of the family that had ParkHopper/Genie+ tickets. One DISBoard forum suggested that the AP holders would not be able to add Genie+ using the app. That was not the case for our group; AP holders had no issues buying Genie+ on the app.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy. The most amazing experience, worth the $ILL, IMHO.
11. Bier Garten. Had two reservations for 10 guests each and they sat us together for lunch, really fun, incredible AC and the beers were ice cold.
12. Oga's Cantina. We had four reservations of 4-5 guests each that were not in sync. The reservationist worked with us when we showed up and we were all sat at the same time with only a 15 min wait, such nice people.
13. Savi's Light Saber Workshop. Long story but one group missed their original reservation b/c of travel woes and they accommodated us a day later with proof of reservation, awesome people.
14. Cast Members and Lightening Lane. Cast Members were incredibly helpful when our 2nd or 3rd lightening lane did not sync across all parties. Every time we had an issue, they regrouped us into the same boarding window.
14. Marriott Lakeshore Villas. We stayed here 2 nights to wrap up the trip, great way to wind down, great rooms with kitchens, beautiful property, great pool, really fun employees working the pool and the bar/restaurant.
15. Paradiso 37 at Disney Springs. Was able to make a reservation for 16 by directly calling the restaurant, great time at Disney Springs on our last night of the trip.
A lot of prep went into this trip. Only one family had done WDW in the last 30+ years so we took the approach that "you don't know what you don't know" and agreed there was no reason to crush it every day - keep it simple. This was also predicated on the fact that each family knew they would come back again to do what they missed as the kids get older.
The only thing we would have changed was to go in May, not June - it was hot but we figured it out - pool!
We had a blast, incredible family time together - the Magic is still there, IMHO.
5 families (10 adults, 11 kids ages 13mos-15)
DVC Copper Creek (5nts, Sun - Fri): two 2-bedroom villas, two 1-bedroom villas (all on DVC points)
Tickets: 4-day ParkHopper with Genie+
Parks: MK, HS, AK, E (in that order)
Marriott Lakeshore Villas (2nts, Fri - Sun): one 2-bedroom villa, three 1-bedroom villas
Disney Springs
Detailed itinerary attached
Some highlights of what we did and learned:
1. Genie+. Everything went seamless at 7:00a. Each family booked the ride we all agreed on for Lightening Lane and we were always in the same window. We then booked ILL, no issues.
2. 2:00p. It was hot, hot, hot so at 2:00p we went back to Copper Creek and hung at the pool until dinner or back to the parks around 6:00/7:00.
3. Yak&Yeti. We were able to call YY directly and get a reservation reservation for 21 for lunch.
4. Geyser Point. The staff was awesome and helped us get a nice corner couch table with an adjacent table within 45 minutes. We ate there 3 times. Geyser Point is a gem.
5. California Grille. I was able to connect directly with a reservationist to secure a dinner for 10 adults at 8:15p, wonderful time, celebrated a 45th b-day and a 49th anniversary while watching fireworks form the balcony.
6. Baby sitters. KidsNiteOut.com was awesome; 2 evenings.
7. Wheel chair. Scooterbug.com was seamless with delivery to Copper Creek and pickup.
8. Groceries. Garden Grocer and InstaCart delivery was seemless to front desk.
9. Annual Pass (non)-issue. 5 in our group had APs that were linked to the rest of the family that had ParkHopper/Genie+ tickets. One DISBoard forum suggested that the AP holders would not be able to add Genie+ using the app. That was not the case for our group; AP holders had no issues buying Genie+ on the app.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy. The most amazing experience, worth the $ILL, IMHO.
11. Bier Garten. Had two reservations for 10 guests each and they sat us together for lunch, really fun, incredible AC and the beers were ice cold.
12. Oga's Cantina. We had four reservations of 4-5 guests each that were not in sync. The reservationist worked with us when we showed up and we were all sat at the same time with only a 15 min wait, such nice people.
13. Savi's Light Saber Workshop. Long story but one group missed their original reservation b/c of travel woes and they accommodated us a day later with proof of reservation, awesome people.
14. Cast Members and Lightening Lane. Cast Members were incredibly helpful when our 2nd or 3rd lightening lane did not sync across all parties. Every time we had an issue, they regrouped us into the same boarding window.
14. Marriott Lakeshore Villas. We stayed here 2 nights to wrap up the trip, great way to wind down, great rooms with kitchens, beautiful property, great pool, really fun employees working the pool and the bar/restaurant.
15. Paradiso 37 at Disney Springs. Was able to make a reservation for 16 by directly calling the restaurant, great time at Disney Springs on our last night of the trip.
A lot of prep went into this trip. Only one family had done WDW in the last 30+ years so we took the approach that "you don't know what you don't know" and agreed there was no reason to crush it every day - keep it simple. This was also predicated on the fact that each family knew they would come back again to do what they missed as the kids get older.
The only thing we would have changed was to go in May, not June - it was hot but we figured it out - pool!
We had a blast, incredible family time together - the Magic is still there, IMHO.
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sounds like a great trip!
