Originally Posted By gusgoose Hey all, Trying to plan a family trip in summer of '08, now that everyone's an adult in the family. Due to a couple of us in the clan still in college, earliest we can go is May 17th-24th. Were planning on doing either that week, or maybe May 31st-June 7th to avoid the Memorial Day crowd. I'm guessing it's key to go before the middle of June when all the kids are out of school (plus when it's not quite blisteringly hot yet). But which of these weeks would be best? May 17th - May 24th (fly back day before Memorial Day) or May 31st - June 7th Thinking in terms of avoiding the crowds and avoiding the hot weather. Or does it not even matter at that point and we can just wait until later in the summer to go anyway?
Originally Posted By gusgoose Had a sub-question as well, and didn't want to start too many topics around here, seeing as I'm a newcomer and all... What's the alcohol policy at MGM and Animal Kingdom? I was just down in the area last summer, and got a chance to visit Magic Kingdom (alcohol free, or a "dry kingdom" as I chose to put it), EPCOT (we "drank our way around the world" thank you very much... or at least halfway around the world) and Universal Studios (beer everywhere! good times). But I haven't been to MGM studios or Animal Kingdom for several years, and was wondering if they serve alcohol in the parks, and if you have to be in a sit-down restaurant setting to get it, or do they have beer at refreshment stands?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I don't remember if AK serves any alchohol, but I don't think so. There are no sit-down places there (at this time) but there is a Rain Forest Cafe right outside the entrance and it might serve beer and wine. I'm pretty sure you can get drinks at some of the many sit-down restaurants at MGM (Brown Derby). I wouldn't wait until high summer. Florida can be pretty wilting. It'll be hot and muggy in May, but not as much as it will be July-Sept. If you were to wait until summer, go as late as you can manage so you'll hit the value season. Allearsnet.com has pricing charts for high, regular and value seasons for all the resorts. Laughing Place is one of the best sites for personal experience and opinion. For hard facts, such as pricing, photos and menues, All Ears is the place for great information.
Originally Posted By gusgoose Wow, that's a great website, thanks for that. I can't believe AK has no sit-down restaurants? I was hoping since it's more of an "adult" park then maybe they'd serve beer and wine. We'll see. It looks like that week in May is the way to go, even though Memorial Day weekend is crazy, I think we'd avoid the park that weekend anyway, our basic plan was as follows: Saturday - fly down Sunday - Universal Studios/IOA Monday - Animal Kingdom Tuesday - EPCOT Wednesday - water park/dinner at EPCOT Thursday - MGM Friday - Magic Kingdom Saturday - golf/shopping/dinner at EPCOT again/Pleasure Island Sunday - fly back
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 If you're a Star Wars fan, find out about Star Wars Weekends. We saw it a few years ago, very enjoyable. Planning on seeing it again next May/June when we'll be there.
Originally Posted By gusgoose I'm not a huge Star Wars fan, but I'm enough of one that I'd probably enjoy that. I'll have to check out those dates. Thanks.
Originally Posted By Labuda There's beer everywhere at WDW except the MK - that includes DAK and the Studios. Also, do the 17th-24th May - I've done that week before (plus a couple more days - arrived on the 15th IIRC), and it was great, but once Memorial Day gets near, the crwods increase.
Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, and the Rainforest Cafe has a full bar, not just beer & wine. Plus, the Yak & Yeti sit-down restaurant should be open in Asia at DAK by May of next year, I think.
Originally Posted By gusgoose Thanks for the info, that week in May is looking like the better option. If we can plan it out and all goes well, we'll be in the parks the Friday before Memorial Day, but not Saturday or Sunday. I'm surprised there's no sit-down restaurants in AK. The one time I was there, we had lunch at a pretty decent cafeteria-style place, though. I have no idea what it was called.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Tusker House? That use to be really good, choices were unique. Last year, so-so.
Originally Posted By gusgoose Tusker House sounds familiar. I remember getting some pretty good rotisserie chicken. I'm no Disney expert or anything, but what kind of business decision was it to build and maintain a park for years and years with no sit-down restaurant? I was having a hard-enough time trying to convince the rest of my party to stay there for an entire day...
