Originally Posted By trekkeruss For me, the theme parks have some quite good restaurants, but IMO the best are in the hotels. My favorite is the California Grill atop the Contemporary.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss As I've said many a time, sadly I haven't been to WDW in quite awhile... I haven't been to AKL at ALL. It wasn't built on my last trip down. I've read so many rave reviews of Jiko and even moreso the buffet at Boma... it's making me hungry just thinking about it!
Originally Posted By LuLu I'm concerned about time "wasted" getting from our resort to another - since we don't have a car. Still, we are sure to do one of AKL's restaurants, and DD is very interseted in the Supercali(etc) Breakfast at the GF also.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Going from resort to resort isn't easy... Disney's transportation plan is focused on moving guests from resorts to parks, and vice versa. It's even worse if you aren't staying at a monorail resort, as you're completely dependant on the bus system. Fortunately, it's rare when you have to go from resort to resort. I think most people go to a park first, and if they have plans for hotel dinner (for example), they leave the park and go directly to the hotel. The trip at night from that hotel to your hotel takes longer, yes, but you aren't so much worried about wasting time at that point as you are just wanting to get back to your own hotel to sleep! If your daughter is wanting to experience the character breakfast at the GF, that won't be a problem. You would just take the bus to the MK, and then take the dedicated boats that run between the MK and the GF.
Originally Posted By Labuda "I'm concerned about time "wasted" getting from our resort to another - since we don't have a car. Still, we are sure to do one of AKL's restaurants, and DD is very interseted in the Supercali(etc) Breakfast at the GF also." Dinner at Boma after a day at DAK - the bus ride from DAK to AKL is less than 5 minutes. Then just figure that's a night you'll hit DTD and bus there.
Originally Posted By LuLu I know you're the one to ask this - can you really spend a whole day at DAK? I know you have to get there pretty early (esp. in summer) to see animals... that's gonna be our 1 early day. It opens at 9, what's the latest we should get there to have a good "safari?"
Originally Posted By trekkeruss IMO, absolutely! I think I could spend almost all my time on the treks, just looking at the animals. The safari is worth riding at least a couple of times... you never really know where the animals will be on the 'savannah.'
Originally Posted By LuLu OK, don't tell Labuda then (I think she's the big DAK fan?) that I don't remember spending much time there last trip! Safari and nature walk were great, Kilimajaro, Dino ride and Tarzan Rocks, OK, lunch, blah. ;-)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip If you like the "zoological garden" components of the AK you can easily spend a whole day there. Some trips we spend two whole days there. If your only interest is "the rides", it is not a whole day park. But if you spend time at the Oasis, the Discovery Island trails, the Pangani and Maharajah Jungle Trek trails and take in a show or two, you will have a very full day. I know that people frequently say that you need to do the Safari early in the day to see the animals. I have not found that to be true. I've had great safaris at all times of the day, and not so great safaris at all times of the day. One of the best things about the Safari is that it is never the same. Doing the Safari early in the day helps you avoid long lines, but that is the only real advantage in my experience.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Regarding lunch, I have enjoyed the offerings at Tusker House, although the current menu doens't look nearly as interesting as when i have eaten there in the past. The outdoor seating is very relaxing though.
Originally Posted By jmishica LuLu- We too are heading to WDW from LA in a little over 3 weeks time and also staying at the pop century. Cool thing about the pop is thatis has it's own dedicated transportation, but all you really need to get to is EPCOT- rom there you can hop the monorail to MK or take a boat to MGM. The Monorail hits the Contempory, Poly and Coronado on it's circuit- everything else you can access resort to resort shuttles that run until 10pm. Or so I heard...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We spent 1.5 days at DAK and still felt like we didn't do it justice. But then again, we were disappointed we couldn't spend longer at the San Diego Zoo when we went. We like watching the animals.
Originally Posted By LuLu I'm sure there's more there than when we went, too. (Plus, I didn't even remember some of the names right!). We'll probably still try to do the safari fairly early. It'll be really hot in the afternoon, don't the animals like to sleep after lunch? If we go to DAK 2 days, maybe we'll try it at another time the 2nd visit. jm, I hope you guys have a great time! I've never heard of "resort to resort shuttles" tho.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I've never heard of "resort to resort shuttles" tho.>> As I mentioned in my first post, this option does not exist. There are NO direct routes. You can get from resort to resort, yes, but only through some sort of transfer. There is a primer on WDW transportation on Deb's site: <a href="http://allearsnet.com/pl/transp.htm" target="_blank">http://allearsnet.com/pl/trans p.htm</a>
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Okay, I am on drugs... I never mentioned about getting from resort to resort. I was thinking of another thread. Doesn't negate what I said though... there are no direct buses between resorts.
Originally Posted By Lake Nona >> I don't remember spending much time there last trip! Safari and nature walk were great, Kilimajaro, Dino ride and Tarzan Rocks, OK, lunch, blah.<< Remember, Tarazan Rocks will depart DAK in 2006. Tarzan Rocks will by on stage in 2006 also. Saw a ad in the New York Times a few Sunday's ago. Don't forget about FTB @ DAK. >>You can get from resort to resort<< Only in the Epcot resort area, YBC, Boardwalk, and the Swan/Dolphin without Disney Transportation. The friendships are the way to go to Epcot/MGM.
Originally Posted By jmishica To clarify- I guess you take a shuttle to a park and transfer there- or you can take a bus over to downtown and transfer over- I know this beacuse there was a blip about one of the pools over at POP not being in use...
Originally Posted By AuroraRose <<<DAK isn't open at night, as the animals like to sleep.The latest that park would close is 6:00pm, but usually it's 5:00pm.>>> this is one of the reasons i like the park hopper option. I always find myself going from one park to the next after closing, or trying to hop to a park to catcha parade or show when i'm somewhere else. The thought of only being able to go to one park each day frightens me LOLOL!!! seriously though, you may need a few hours to catch somethng in one park or finish seeing all the attractions, but not necessarily need to be in that park all day.
