[PrincessJill]

Picture this: A family (mom, dad, son, daughter) who have been to Disney more times than they can count and are in love with the place. But they're looking for a new way to see it all, other than their standard plan of day at MK, day at Epcot, half-day at MGM and AK. And they're fresh out of creativity!!

Any hints for a new way to do Disney? I requested that we spend a little longer in AK, since it's so beautiful and there really is a lot more to see than what we just run through on our way to rides. Dad and brother like MGM, but me and mom, not so much. Are there any girly things mom and I could do there while the boys hit all the coasters? Basically we're just trying to see more of Disney, rather than hurrying from place to place and missing all the details. We've got season passes, so if we have to sacrifice some big things for little things this trip, we could always come back. Any suggestions? I know this is kind of a general and slightly odd question... but thanks in advance! :)

[lopo]

Princess Jill, my suggestion is to check out some of the other resorts around WDW. Have you ever just taken a ride on the monorail to visit the resorts that the monorail serves? We had a very good time doing that on our last trip. We hopped on and stopped at the Polynesian first. We walked around the lobby area, visited the art gallery there, etc. Then we hopped back on the monorail and got off at the Grand Floridian. Walked all around there, too. Shared a drink in the bar on the second level. There was a small band playing right outside. Sometimes you can sit and listen to the piano player . . . Window shopping is fun, too. Last stop was the Contemporary Concourse. Sometimes you'll find pin traders there. They have some nice shops, too.

[MissDisney]

PrincessJill... last year, we were in teh same boat... so we made a list of the things we had never done, and by golly, we did as many of them as we could! And it really changed the trip! Here's the stuff we added. Have a wonderful "new" vacation!
-Hall of Presidents (a WDW mainstay, but not our style)
-Backlot Tour (just reopened, pretty good)
-Boat rental at Marketplace (once we got away from teh dock, we let the kids drive)
-TEnnis at Boardwalk Villas
-Swiss FAmily Treehouse (please update to Tarzan theme!)
-Enchanted Tiki Birds (everyone must try it)
-Goofy's Barnstormer (not just for little kids)
-Beatles-style band at UK (wonderful!)
-surfing at TL (OK, we cancelled at the last minute because you have to be there before the sun comes up!)
-charcoal portraits in the GF lobby
-Cirque du Soleil

[disneyguy]

Honestly you could spend hours in AK. The scenery is absoloutly gorgeous. I wish we had more time to spend there.

At MK, what about taking a leasuirely stroll around Tom Sawyer Island, or taking a ride on the Liberty Square Boat? Or what about setting a goal of getting a signature from ever character appearing in MK that day?

At Epcot, there are soooo many things hidden in the World Showcase countries. Also, what about Innoventions or The Living Seas?

At MGM there is a lot less that you can do that eats away time. The Backlot Tour takes up quite a bit of time. Also, the Honey I Shrunk The Kids movie set.

Hope this helps..

[BDavis932]

We are doing this on our next trip, this May. We will be staying at a new hotel (for part of the trip) eating at SEVERAL new-to-us restaurants and I've also made a list of all the new rides that are coming out. WE will still do our favorite things like Fantasmic and some favorite rides. But this trip has so many "new" things for us that we are going to see and do, we can't wait!

Also, you may want to plan an extra day to go to Fort Wilderness and hang out, walk some trails or go horseback riding. Eat at Trails end buffet. Then go tour some resorts you've never seen.

And, in AK walk the trails...we've always skipped them until our last trip and we really enjoyed them. I can't believe we had never done them before! Maybe go look for Devine, and then go see some shows. Maybe you and your mom could go get a manicure or massage together at a spa (SSR) or just hang out and window shop at DTD.

Pick up a copy of Birnbaums and make a list of everything you haven't done, and work off that list to experience Disney as you never have before!

[Storm59]

Originally Posted by PrincessJill

Are there any girly things mom and I could do there while the boys hit all the coasters? Basically we're just trying to see more of Disney, rather than hurrying from place to place and missing all the details. We've got season passes, so if we have to sacrifice some big things for little things this trip, we could always come back. Any suggestions? I know this is kind of a general and slightly odd question... but thanks in advance! :)

What about Afternoon Tea in the Garden View Lounge in the Grand Floridian?? check out this link:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gft.htm

And you'd get to see the Grand Floridian as well!!

I want to try that with my DD one day soon!

Oh, and have you strolled the Boardwalk yet?

[PrincessJill]

Thanks so much, all of you! You have such great suggestions... I'm writing them all down to share with my parents, who are doing the majority of the planning. (My dad's one of those "must be in control at all times" kinda guys..)

Big surprise this morning - my mom told me she got us into Port Orleans Riverside for CHEAPER than Pop Century!! We've never stayed there.. I'm sooo excited! We'll definitely be doing some looking around the hotel. Any must-sees at POR?

Thanks again everyone, this is so exciting! I feel like we're going to Disney for the first time, lol! :)

[woohoo]

We are doing a spa morning for the girls- and someone that I know that goes all the time said to visit a different hotel resort each day and pool hop/ eat lunch. Each place has a different thing to see and do. The tours are another thing to do- also spend one day pretending you are a toddler- what things would you focus on and do? We find it different each time we go because the kids get older and then now we have the baby again so its back to the basics again.

[MissDisney]

Princess Jill!!! POR is our family favorite!!! We always request the Alligator Bayou section -- Buildings 14, 15 or 16 (in that order!) because they are close to parking, food, pool and boat. We always eat in the food court, because the fresh-baked cinnamon rolls are absolutely incredible for breakfast, and the made-to-order caesar salads are the perfect dinner! They also have everything else you could ever want. The refillable mugs are a good bargain here.
Don't miss taking a boat to Marketplace, and you can even boat over to POFQ to try that pool and see that resort! The bar behind the pool is so fun, if you are a drinking family. And the pool are is one of the best at WDW. The arcade is also one of the best we have ever been to. There is fishing off a little dock (but we have never in all our years seen anyone catch a fish). Adn there is a great playscape for kids by the pool! You have a wonderful resort waiting for you!
As far as doing a girlie thing, how about going to have a hair braid at Boardwalk? They also have face painting ---

[Storm59]

Originally Posted by PrincessJill

Big surprise this morning - my mom told me she got us into Port Orleans Riverside for CHEAPER than Pop Century!! We've never stayed there.. I'm sooo excited! We'll definitely be doing some looking around the hotel. Any must-sees at POR?

That resort looks gorgeous! I'm so pleased for you! Can I be nosy and ask how she did it???

[PrincessJill]

Originally Posted by Storm59

That resort looks gorgeous! I'm so pleased for you! Can I be nosy and ask how she did it???

Thank you!! I was quite pleased too... she emailed me the news and I screamed when I read it. My roommate was a little frightened... haha..

I don't know exactly how she did it. She said she was talking to the CM about getting discounts at PC and told him all the stuff she had - season passes, AAA, discount codes, blah blah blah. He went through PC but the discount codes didn't work, so all of a sudden he said, "Wait let me try a moderate..." And he got us POR cheaper than a value! Small Disney miracles... :)

[sandanv1]

We are frequent WDW nuts too. Once we found a list of hidden treasures (maybe here at DC?) little things you really had to look for, like pulling the rope at the Indiana Jones show, or reading the windows on Main street (you can hear the tap lessons down one alley). We spent a entire day just looking for all these hidden things.

Maybe some of the DC longtimers remember the list - maybe Dana, she knows everything.

[Storm59]

Originally Posted by PrincessJill

Thank you!! I was quite pleased too... she emailed me the news and I screamed when I read it. My roommate was a little frightened... haha..

I don't know exactly how she did it. She said she was talking to the CM about getting discounts at PC and told him all the stuff she had - season passes, AAA, discount codes, blah blah blah. He went through PC but the discount codes didn't work, so all of a sudden he said, "Wait let me try a moderate..." And he got us POR cheaper than a value! Small Disney miracles... :)

It must have been the Florida season pass, I'll bet. I have AAA, and I used that discount, but still paid $68/night (after tax) for PC.

[sandanv1]

this was a list of things at MGM from one of the Mickey Moniters

Next time you're in the Park, see if you can fid these 15 little showbiz treats assembled by Disney Imagineers and other experts. Happy hunting!

See what happens when you pull the rope beside the "Do not pull rope" sign outside Indian Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular.

Find the miniature farmhouse build by Walt Disney himself, in Walt Disney: One Man's Dream.

Look for mementos from the band in Studio C at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith.

Check out the TV props from classic episodes of The Twilight Zone® in the library at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™.

Look for the Mickey Avenue/Dopey Drive sign near the Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour entrance. It's a duplicate of the real one in Burbank.

Across from Tatooine Traders, there's a real live Speeder Bike, complete with Endor background. Take a seat for an authentic Star Wars™ photo op!

Ever notice the WWII Victory Garden across from Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage?

Stop by Radio Disney for a chance to see one of the national personalities who broadcast live from here.

See if you can spot Donald Duck's cameo in a film clip at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant.

Take a close look at the crates near Min and Bill's Dockside Diner for some fun classic movie references.

Snoop arond the living room at 50's Prime Time Cafe. Remember any of those cheesy knick-knacks from your past?

Play the role of "Complete Stranger" on the phone outside Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Play it!

Ask Sid to do one of his classic impressions at Sid Cahuenga's One-of-a-Kind collectibles.

Check out the detailed model of the Pigs in Space Swinetrek spaceship in Jim Henson's Muppet«Vision 3-D.

Take a photo with the biggest cartoon star from 100 years ago-Dinosaur Gertie.

[Huakai]

Originally Posted by sandanv1

Once we found a list of hidden treasures (maybe here at DC?) little things you really had to look for, like pulling the rope at the Indiana Jones show, or reading the windows on Main street (you can hear the tap lessons down one alley). We spent a entire day just looking for all these hidden things.

Maybe some of the DC longtimers remember the list

Try this:
things to look for