New to DL, WDW expert

[DizMe]

You definitely got a promo rate. How many nights are you staying? Does your daughter get CM discounts at the hotels? When my brother was in the WDW college program, he got us huge discounts - but that was a quarter century ago and I hear they no longer do that.

I saw a club level floor at GCH go for $750 over a weekend in January, but it was very last minute.

Yes, in the past year I could get a 50% discount with my DD's CM rate but yesterday was her last day and it only works if she's employeed by Disney at the time of the hotel stay. She's moving to NYC so boo hoo! I loved having a CM in the family

I think the rate I got for this upcoming trip was a March promo but I'll have to go back and look.

Man, what a great deal on GCH club level in Jan!! I didn't see that but I did take my grandson for his 15th birthday mid-Jan and got the 50% off deal for our stay thanks to my DD. I hope they have the last minute club deal next year--I'd be happy to fly down for my 70th birthday in Jan!

 

[wabbott]

For first-time DL visitors, I heartily suggest having one sit-down meal at the Blue Bayou inside Pirates of the Caribbean.

This x 10! Also, think about Carthay Circle Restaurant, our favorite place in either Cali or Florida. Old Hollywood atmosphere just oozes out of the walls.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Yes, in the past year I could get a 50% discount with my DD's CM rate but yesterday was her last day and it only works if she's employeed by Disney at the time of the hotel stay. She's moving to NYC so boo hoo! I loved having a CM in the family

I think the rate I got for this upcoming trip was a March promo but I'll have to go back and look.

Man, what a great deal on GCH club level in Jan!! I didn't see that but I did take my grandson for his 15th birthday mid-Jan and got the 50% off deal for our stay thanks to my DD. I hope they have the last minute club deal next year--I'd be happy to fly down for my 70th birthday in Jan!

Wow, that’s amazing to hear! No doubt she’s going onto bigger and better things, although I’m sure the benefits will be missed!

You deserve something special for your 70th. Have you considered a Disney cruise? They sail out of Florida, Houston and Australia in January - California doesn’t begin until March when the ship comes back from Australia. The good news is that the Houston (Galveston) sailings in January are often at bargain prices (for Disney anyway, you have to wait until later in the year for the discount pricing). I highly recommend, you’d be hooked!

 

[DizMe]

Wow, that’s amazing to hear! No doubt she’s going onto bigger and better things, although I’m sure the benefits will be missed!

You deserve something special for your 70th. Have you considered a Disney cruise? They sail out of Florida, Houston and Australia in January - California doesn’t begin until March when the ship comes back from Australia. The good news is that the Houston (Galveston) sailings in January are often at bargain prices (for Disney anyway, you have to wait until later in the year for the discount pricing). I highly recommend, you’d be hooked!

Well, one can hope that there will be bigger and better things, but yes, the benefits were incredible. I think I appreciated them more than she did She did get signed to a great NY company (she's in musical theater) and has a job as a nanny for the kids of other theater people in between shows (this is arranged through the theater company), but she also just got a final call-back for a cruise line so I have stopped trying to figure out what she'll be doing when, LOL. Last year she was on a national tour that ended at the Pantages so it was fun to see that, but it's not a career for those looking for security and it wears me out just trying to keep up.

I LOVE the idea of a Disney cruise! I've never been on one. Thanks for the idea, and I may have some questions for you later!

 

[LAS2AMS]

Well, one can hope that there will be bigger and better things, but yes, the benefits were incredible. I think I appreciated them more than she did She did get signed to a great NY company (she's in musical theater) and has a job as a nanny for the kids of other theater people in between shows (this is arranged through the theater company), but she also just got a final call-back for a cruise line so I have stopped trying to figure out what she'll be doing when, LOL. Last year she was on a national tour that ended at the Pantages so it was fun to see that, but it's not a career for those looking for security and it wears me out just trying to keep up.

I LOVE the idea of a Disney cruise! I've never been on one. Thanks for the idea, and I may have some questions for you later!

Sounds like she enjoys adventure! Hopefully she’ll get the cruise ship gig - I always thought it’s be fun (if you’re an entertainer at least). Maybe you could celebrate your 70th on her ship! I’d still highly recommend a DCL cruise!

 

[DizMe]

Sounds like she enjoys adventure! Hopefully she’ll get the cruise ship gig - I always thought it’s be fun (if you’re an entertainer at least). Maybe you could celebrate your 70th on her ship! I’d still highly recommend a DCL cruise!

It's a tough business. I couldn't take the rejection, LOL! But yes, she loves adventure and so do her sisters. One graduates from Cal Poly SLO in June and is then off to Madagascar to work with lemurs and then to South Africa to work with tigers (I think). She did a year abroad last year in Australia and took the long way home so she could see places on the way back. Her twin graduates in May from SF State. She did a criminal forensics study in Scotland last summer and then went around Europe. I'm very proud of them, for sure, but *slightly* sad that I won't have Pluto in my family much longer LOL.

*edited to add that DD who went to Australia has a gigantic crush on Robert Irwin (son of Steve, the Crocodile Hunter) and went to the Australia National Zoo hoping to see him. Er, the animals. He was out of the country but to her delight, returned the day she got to the zoo and she got to see him do his animal presentation, which was in a stadium-type thing with bleachers. She was so overcome she stood up and yelled out, "I love you, Robert!!" and, I'm told, burst into tears. Apparently he had quite a grin at that reaction but no invitation to meet up later was tendered.

I will definitely take a birthday cruise on the ship if she gets that gig! I'd also love to do a Disney cruise.

(and I know it's weird that I have 3 kids in their 20s when I'm going to be 70 next year. I'll admit the first one of those was QUITE the surprise!)

But to keep this a teeny bit on topic, OP, I heartily agree that Blue Bayou is absolutely worth trying for as it's not something they have at WDW and it's very unique. It's also a lot of fun to go to Trader Sam's, but I know they have that in WDW. I don't know how different it is, but you might try for a reservation if it sounds fun to you. Then, if you can't get a reservation, you can always try walk-up or just eat outdoors at Tangaroa Terrace.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Dds (23 and 25) suggested going to DL next year instead of our normal WDW trip - we have gone every other year'ish since they were 4 and 6. It would be dds, older dd's boyfriend, dh, and I, going next March (2026) during younger dd's spring break.

A few questions:

1. We typically stay on site at WDW, is it necessary to DL? I see a lot of good neighbor hotels that seem as close as the DL resorts. Younger dd has medical condition and needs to go slower (she did qualify for DAS until they changed the rules), especially if it is hotter outside. Taking an afternoon break is key.
2. Is 3 days (with park hoppers) enough time?
3. Does it matter if you have a car or not?
4. Planning for WDW starts early - is the same extent of planning needed at DL? Are reservations still at 60 days? Does this matter if you are staying on-site?
5. Does DL follow the same timeline for releasing hotel reservations? Can only book (price) through the end of the year currently.
6. Does DL as good with food allergies as WDW?

1. You do not need to stay onsite. If you need a room with more beds and a kitchen or additional living space, I would recommend offsite. If you are going to use multiple hotel rooms that adjoin, my family did this years ago and stayed at the DLH. We greatly enjoyed the hotel. It is old school Disney. The rooms and stylings reminds me a lot of the Contemporary Resort before its Incredibles refurbishment.

2. 3-days would be sufficient time I would think. That's hard to know the length without knowing what all you want to do and accomplish. I highly recommend park hoppers. Park hopping is extremely easy to do at DLR.

3. We did not have a car but we stayed on site. I believe most off site hotels are within walking distance or have access to the local municipal transportation shuttle.

4. Not sure. My DW does most of the planning.

5. Not sure.

6. In our experience, yes. DLR was very good at the sit down restaurants with substitutions and allergy free options. The CMs were quite welcoming with questions or concerns.

 

[LAS2AMS]

It's a tough business. I couldn't take the rejection, LOL! But yes, she loves adventure and so do her sisters. One graduates from Cal Poly SLO in June and is then off to Madagascar to work with lemurs and then to South Africa to work with tigers (I think). She did a year abroad last year in Australia and took the long way home so she could see places on the way back. Her twin graduates in May from SF State. She did a criminal forensics study in Scotland last summer and then went around Europe. I'm very proud of them, for sure, but *slightly* sad that I won't have Pluto in my family much longer LOL.

*edited to add that DD who went to Australia has a gigantic crush on Robert Irwin (son of Steve, the Crocodile Hunter) and went to the Australia National Zoo hoping to see him. Er, the animals. He was out of the country but to her delight, returned the day she got to the zoo and she got to see him do his animal presentation, which was in a stadium-type thing with bleachers. She was so overcome she stood up and yelled out, "I love you, Robert!!" and, I'm told, burst into tears. Apparently he had quite a grin at that reaction but no invitation to meet up later was tendered.

I will definitely take a birthday cruise on the ship if she gets that gig! I'd also love to do a Disney cruise.

(and I know it's weird that I have 3 kids in their 20s when I'm going to be 70 next year. I'll admit the first one of those was QUITE the surprise!)

But to keep this a teeny bit on topic, OP, I heartily agree that Blue Bayou is absolutely worth trying for as it's not something they have at WDW and it's very unique. It's also a lot of fun to go to Trader Sam's, but I know they have that in WDW. I don't know how different it is, but you might try for a reservation if it sounds fun to you. Then, if you can't get a reservation, you can always try walk-up or just eat outdoors at Tangaroa Terrace.

Thats’s awesome! An African Safari would also make a good 70th! Definitely on my bucket list. I’d love to do an Adventures By Disney but unfortunately a small SUV is less expensive! I don’t find the ages weird at all - most people 40 and younger will be in a similar situation. So strange how that’s working out ! But it keeps us all young!

I like the suggestion of Tangaroa Terrace. I could’ve sworn they had Dole Whip but it seemingly disappeared. Or was I imagining things?