Help - planning Disney holiday of lifetime

[KinkyDorito]

Hi all

I have booked for us to go to Disney in Florida next August. There will be DH and I, and DD (14) and DS (4) - ages for next year.

I want to make this holiday as special as possible. I have been to Florida once, but I didn't organise it. I want to create something very magical. It was DDs request to go there; she has leukaemia and she is due to finish chemotherapy in April 2013. This holiday is to celebrate the end of it, and to give us all something to look forward to.

What I'm after are insider's tips - best places to go, things to see, ways to get best service. We will be staying in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Currently, I don't plan to drive, so we will be using local transport (I am a big wuss, and I want to enjoy myself and relax after what has been the most difficult time of all of our lives). We have park tickets for all the big ones - Universal, Seaworld and Disney. I think we will also book Discovery Cove.

Any tips would be very gratefully received. I'm working a year in advance so plenty of time.

If you are staying in the animal kingdom lodge I can guarantee you are going to have a once in a lifetime experience. The rooms themselves aren't that special, but the views are out of this world, the staff are amazing, and having an evening drink round the fire pit is fab.
Definately watch the magic kingdom light show parade and fireworks in the evening, disney studios is great, especially the car stunt show. sea world is superb, especially feeding the dolphins and rays, and book lunch/evening meal at the shark restaurant. book discovery cove now for the swimming with dolphins, it's magic.
Typhoon lagoon is the best of the water parks IMO, you can swim with sharks, although the sea world water park is also excellent.
Basically allow 2 days per park if you can, except sea world which is doable in a day and the water parks. Don't bother with wet and wild, it's a bit tired and not as good as the newer water parks

Thank you so much for this!

With your sea world pass, you should also get Equatica passes. This place is lovely, white sands, just magical.

I cant recommend Discovery cove enough, it is just lovely and a must.
A fabulous day, just fab!

Have days off too, to wander around downtown Dysney, or a mall. Explore the resort hotel grounds.

We are also going next April all being well, SO excited

Ooo yes, how could I forget the T Rex cafe at Downtown Disney, just fab.

We're going next April, am ridiculously excited!
DM is planning it to the letter

Especially looking forward to discovery cove and swimming with dolphins, just deciding whether to dine with Shamu, been reading about the incident with the trainer and it freaked me out a bit

Incident was about 3 years ago now and they no longer get in the water with the wales, butt he show is still as good.
Dont be freaked out, it cant happen again.

Get yourself on to the disboards. We're going in June but for the first time ever we're not staying in Disney.

Brits guide to orlando and the unofficial guide to Walt Disney world are good.

Have to second the T-Rex cafe - absolutely amazing, best lasagne I have EVER had and the volcano cake with the smoke pouring from the top - out of this world!

Also, don't miss the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios! have a great time.

the Dibb is a great website, have alook on there xx

We went the week before the trainer was killed at Seaworld - we have her on our holiday videos talking about the whales. Very sad but it can't happen again thankfully.

I'd recommend setting yourself up on www.thedibb.co.uk/

I found their info essential. Especially practical things such as dealing with the heat, days the parks are busiest etc.

I went into military planning mode, and it was worth it. Plan every other day and get some rest days, the heat is overwhelming there.

The water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard beach were the biggest surprises. Had such fun there, and a great way to cool off, bobbing along the lazy rivers!

Hope you all have a super time x

Cheesecake factory is supposed to be amazing and also heard good things about T Rex cafe.

Is everyone going to Harry Potter Too?

This is all you need. :o

Their touring plans are brilliant.

Hello Kinky - long time no see

Yes, Discovery Cove. The most expensive day trip ever, but absolutely marvellous, you pay for a day in and then within that day you can swim with dolphins, but there is so much more there too, swim with rays and fish etc.

Please take them there !!

Awww I wanna go to Harry Potter World :-( The kids are being boring and wanting to go somewhere different next year. So selfish of them.

Harry Potter is the reason we're going x

I'd recommend these books:

Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando with Kids - this will suit you having dc of different age groups because it gives age recommendations for rides/attractions.

The Unoffocial Guide - Walt Disney World 2011 (as mentioned above just noticed)

Agree that Typhoon Lagoon is just amazing. In fact all Dinsey parks are utterly awesome. If you're going last 2 wks in Aug, it will be less busy as schools have gone back, if earlier then make sure you get to parks at opening time and in Disney use fastpass as much as poss. At Seaworld have coins ready for lockers as no bags allowed on big rides.

Have a great time!

If you could go anytime of the year when would you go??

May or September, but Scotland don't have holidays then.

Would also recommend the Dibb. It gives a good idea on the good and bad times to visit the parks on each day.

We're counting down - 16 days to go

Kinky on the booking form you can tell disney that you are celebrating a special occasion and every time you do a table service meal they will make a big deal of it. Have you got free dining? If so you will book all your table service meals around 180 days out.

Go to easywdw to see which parks you should be in for what day, it makes an enormous difference to the queuing etc.

We went even further as it was once in a lifetime and used Help Around the Mouse to not only do the itineraries and book the restaurants but they also do a touring plan personalised to your party and the shows you want to see/rides you want to go on and we never queued at all! Five days came in under 100 dollars. I know other people will say its a waste of money but it made it so much easier.

Went on the Harry Potter rides at Universal 3 times

Loved the Spiderman 4d one too.

October is a great time to go that's when we went last year.

Weather was amazing. And so was Mickey's not so scary Halloween party.

Oh and kinky dd was 4 when we took her to universal and she really enjoyed it, there's lots for them to do, especially in August as you get wet on lots of the rides there. Make sure you take their cossies and a towel for the curious George play area.

We did what was suggested above and had 2nights in the middle of our Disney hols and stayed at the Hard Rock hotel for the front of the line passes. Well worth it. It was lovely to walk to the parks as well after gettin gin the buses at Disney, which were great btw you don't need to drive, you'll get the Magical Express from the airport anyway.

We have stayed in Animal Kingdom lodge and it is amazing :) you'll love it.

I'd also recommend thedibb.co.uk it's really helpful and you will always get any questions you have answered over there :)