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Disney Help!
Disney Help!
I am heading to Disneyworld for the first time in my life with my husband and 2 kids - almost 6 and 14 months. I am NOT a disney kind of girl, and our daughter (the older of the two) is less on the side of princesses and more on the side of science, animals and pirates. I am not 100% sure what I was thinking when I booked this trip, other than I always wanted to go when I was a kid and thought she was at the perfect age to enjoy it.
So I welcome any tips, tricks, advice to save my sanity while I and the rest of the known world with early Spring break take our kids to Disney.
I don't have any specific questions, so I understand if I don't get a lot of response to this non-question!
We are definitely doing Magic Kingdom one day, probably Animal Kingdom and I am torn between Epcot and MGM. We'll be there for a week.
So I welcome any tips, tricks, advice to save my sanity while I and the rest of the known world with early Spring break take our kids to Disney.
I don't have any specific questions, so I understand if I don't get a lot of response to this non-question!
We are definitely doing Magic Kingdom one day, probably Animal Kingdom and I am torn between Epcot and MGM. We'll be there for a week.
I'm sure that as you get closer you'll think of many more questions.
Feel free to PM me - we live a little more than an hour's drive from there, and when my boys were young, it seemed like we lived over there - we even used to be members of the Disney Vacation Club (timeshare of on-property resorts).
We did learn a few tips to make life easier and save some time.
Where are you staying, and have you bought passes yet?
Feel free to PM me - we live a little more than an hour's drive from there, and when my boys were young, it seemed like we lived over there - we even used to be members of the Disney Vacation Club (timeshare of on-property resorts).
We did learn a few tips to make life easier and save some time.
Where are you staying, and have you bought passes yet?
Come see us!
Buy the Unofficial Guide to Disney book. Good stuff in there.
http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide- ... 116&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide- ... 116&sr=8-1
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
We are staying off disney at a Marriott timeshare. We have not bought passes. I am incapable of making a decision!
I thought about buying the 6 day no expiration pass. We will probably only use 3 days this trip, but will most likely be back in a few years for the little ones turn. I thought how nice it would be to just buy his ticket next time. THE DAMN TIcKETS ARE MORE THAN OUR FLIGHT! Unreal. It better be worth it
I guess I am looking for the tidbits like don't go to Magic Kingdom on X day because its crazy. I'll look into that unofficial guide.
I thought about buying the 6 day no expiration pass. We will probably only use 3 days this trip, but will most likely be back in a few years for the little ones turn. I thought how nice it would be to just buy his ticket next time. THE DAMN TIcKETS ARE MORE THAN OUR FLIGHT! Unreal. It better be worth it
I guess I am looking for the tidbits like don't go to Magic Kingdom on X day because its crazy. I'll look into that unofficial guide.
flip-flop,
I don't have kids, but I've been to Orlando parks at least have a dozen times in the past five years (my sister and her family live sort of near there). I love Disney, and I'm willing to bet your daughter will love it.
Personally, I'd pick Epcot over MGM. I thought MGM was small and had mostly adult rides (tower of terror and the Aerosmith coaster). Epcot has an incredible ride called Soarin' that I think all little kids (and kid-like adults) will love. Plus, there are sooo many things for kids to see and experience there. Epcot is actually my favorite Disney park. My niece and nephew love it as well.
There are lots of inside tips. One of the biggest is to get "Fast Passes" as soon as you arrive for the "must do" rides. These are passes that entitle you to move to a quick line, and only allow a certain number of people per timeslot. However, there are "rules" about how many fast passes one can have, etc.
I think the biggest thing is to have a plan of attack. Know which rides are a "must" at each place and then make those a priority.
Oh - and do know that if there's a ride you and your husband both really want to go on but isn't appropriate for kids, Disney now has a great plan for "single riders" that provide waiting rooms for the other parent and kids while one parent rides. You can then switch off. So if you're a roller coaster person, you don't have to give it up entirely!
Have fun - Disney around Spring Break is brave!
I don't have kids, but I've been to Orlando parks at least have a dozen times in the past five years (my sister and her family live sort of near there). I love Disney, and I'm willing to bet your daughter will love it.
Personally, I'd pick Epcot over MGM. I thought MGM was small and had mostly adult rides (tower of terror and the Aerosmith coaster). Epcot has an incredible ride called Soarin' that I think all little kids (and kid-like adults) will love. Plus, there are sooo many things for kids to see and experience there. Epcot is actually my favorite Disney park. My niece and nephew love it as well.
There are lots of inside tips. One of the biggest is to get "Fast Passes" as soon as you arrive for the "must do" rides. These are passes that entitle you to move to a quick line, and only allow a certain number of people per timeslot. However, there are "rules" about how many fast passes one can have, etc.
I think the biggest thing is to have a plan of attack. Know which rides are a "must" at each place and then make those a priority.
Oh - and do know that if there's a ride you and your husband both really want to go on but isn't appropriate for kids, Disney now has a great plan for "single riders" that provide waiting rooms for the other parent and kids while one parent rides. You can then switch off. So if you're a roller coaster person, you don't have to give it up entirely!
Have fun - Disney around Spring Break is brave!
Thanks Maryanne, I have found a forum or two and find them completely overwhelming as most people on them feel about disney as I feel about STJ and I am just not on that level.Maryanne wrote:When we used to go to Disney World, I would frequent a forum much like this one where people posted all day long about everything you could ever want to know/have answered. I'm sure it's still out there, just a google away..
I was hoping for insight from some of the old faithfuls here.
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Kentuckygirl
- Posts: 1903
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Kentucky
Hi Flip Flop! I agree that you should buy that book. It helped us a lot on our first trip. We have gone to Disney World quite a bit throughout the years. Our kids are pretty spread out (age wise) and I wanted them each to experience it at various ages. That said, it is not my favorite vacation, but I felt like it was a trip that the kids would love and we should do. These days we usually stop for a couple of days there, before heading to a beach in Florida.
Please pm me if you have any specific questions!
Please pm me if you have any specific questions!
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I take my niece and nephew to Disney every year, so I might be able to help you a little.
Another good book to buy while planning is the Passporter.
http://www.amazon.com/PassPorters-Walt- ... 532&sr=8-1
It is interesting because all of the rides and places to eat are reviewed by a family consisting of the adults, a teen, and a younger kid. It has planning guides you can fill out and there are stickers and stuff to mark things you want to do, which might interest your oldest.
My biggest advice since this is your first trip, is to take the time to do some advance planning. Decide in advance what parks you want to go to on what days, what you want to see when you are there, etc. Use the FastPass option--so many people think it costs extra, but it does not. Rent a stroller for your kids at Epcot--it's huge, and cranky kids makes for a crummy day. I get one at night too, both because the kids are tired and because it's easier to keep track of them--it also gives them a comfy seat for the evening parades/fireworks. You can buy a multi-day stroller pass at the start of your stay and save time waiting in line for the rest of the trip. The strollers are big enough to fit kids up to about 10 or so, and they push like a breeze--you can move them with your fingertips.
Bring in snacks and water if you want, it's allowed, and having immediate access to food/drink makes for happy kids.
It sounds really weird to plot out going to a theme park in advance, doesn't it? But honestly, if you do, you will be SOOO much happier. I can't tell you how many people I see in the parks totally stressed out, kids crying, parents frustrated, waiting in hour-long lines, while we stroll along happily, bypassing those lines with our fastpasses, and not arguing over where to go/what to do next.
When are you going?
Another good book to buy while planning is the Passporter.
http://www.amazon.com/PassPorters-Walt- ... 532&sr=8-1
It is interesting because all of the rides and places to eat are reviewed by a family consisting of the adults, a teen, and a younger kid. It has planning guides you can fill out and there are stickers and stuff to mark things you want to do, which might interest your oldest.
My biggest advice since this is your first trip, is to take the time to do some advance planning. Decide in advance what parks you want to go to on what days, what you want to see when you are there, etc. Use the FastPass option--so many people think it costs extra, but it does not. Rent a stroller for your kids at Epcot--it's huge, and cranky kids makes for a crummy day. I get one at night too, both because the kids are tired and because it's easier to keep track of them--it also gives them a comfy seat for the evening parades/fireworks. You can buy a multi-day stroller pass at the start of your stay and save time waiting in line for the rest of the trip. The strollers are big enough to fit kids up to about 10 or so, and they push like a breeze--you can move them with your fingertips.
Bring in snacks and water if you want, it's allowed, and having immediate access to food/drink makes for happy kids.
It sounds really weird to plot out going to a theme park in advance, doesn't it? But honestly, if you do, you will be SOOO much happier. I can't tell you how many people I see in the parks totally stressed out, kids crying, parents frustrated, waiting in hour-long lines, while we stroll along happily, bypassing those lines with our fastpasses, and not arguing over where to go/what to do next.
When are you going?
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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Kentuckygirl
- Posts: 1903
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Kentucky
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martini girl
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:29 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Thanks Becky. We are going March 15-22. I think we've decided on the parks - Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot.
We are thinking of only hitting a park a day, no park hopping. With the littlest one in tow, I just don't think that is feasible. Most likely we'll try to get there early and not stay all day, we all need naps And there is a GREAT pool at the hotel.
Really we are not so ride obsessed, and are more of the mindset to just take it easy and see what there is to see. No set agenda really.
We are thinking of only hitting a park a day, no park hopping. With the littlest one in tow, I just don't think that is feasible. Most likely we'll try to get there early and not stay all day, we all need naps
And there is a GREAT pool at the hotel. Really we are not so ride obsessed, and are more of the mindset to just take it easy and see what there is to see. No set agenda really.
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martini girl
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:29 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
We're headed there in August, it's been a few years for us as our 9-yr old had been terrified of characters/mascots and would practically hyperventilate at the mention of Disney. Not sure what the no-expiration passes entail, but if this applies, then great---I'm not spending the money up front for the park hopper option as I'm not sure we'll use it, but, I understand you can go to any ticket booth at the park entrance at any time and upgrade to a park-hopper option for the same price.