Anyone else got a Disney Florida trip planned? Want to get excited together and share plans?

[PaintingTheFlowersRed]

We are off to DisneyWorld next year and I am already really excited about it. Anyone else? I'd love to compare notes on what you are doing to prepare. I'm starting to think about how to do a big surprise for the DC when we tell them we are going.

Hi all, can I join in? We are going next Feb/March, so quite a way to go yet. But I like to get ahead :)

Following on from the discussion about ordering shopping online, what is the consensus about this? I read that garden grocer is very reliable but ridiculously expensive.

Welcome Twiglets. Do you have a car? If so then I'd go to winn dixie/walmart/target/publix. If not then online shopping with Garden Grocer is probably your best idea.

Yes, we have a car, Groovee. Well, I won't be driving it but other party members will :) I am paranoid about doing anything in FL that isn't going to a theme park but I suppose we have to have some downtime!

We're staying in a hotel but I'll look into the shopping delivery- esp because DS has a dairy allergy. 16 sleeps

Posting here for the first time having just come back from my first trip to florida with dh, dc aged 6 and 3, step child aged 16 plus other family members aged 16, 21, 30, 57 and 60. We spent 2 weeks based in a villa near haines city about 40 mins drive from Disney. we were there from July 12th - July 26th. Overall our trip was great. 6 year old was just tall enough at 48 inches to enjoy all the big rides (but hes tall for his age and as bit of a dare devil). had he of not have been 48 inches both he, and we would have been disapointed, and they are very strict on the height, many a time they had a credit card to try and slot in above his head! we had tickets to all of the disney parks plus univerisal and seaworld, busch Gardens, Aquaica etc. Personally the Disney parks were my least favorite. MK was my least favotite as it was so busy. The pardade was a bit of a let down as i thought my 3 year old woukd be able to dance with the princesses etc. However meeting Tinkerbell after a half an hour queue more than made up for it. It was just so busy you couldn't stop for photos etc or appeciate the detail but inbto stuff. My only advise would be to get there early ie - 8 am and fast pass your 'must dos'. Hollywood studios was much quiester but again you need to get here early. We got there for 9 andwalked onto tower of terror and rockin roller coaster. 20 mins laters the queues were anhour long! Animal kingdom was great, especailly the Everest rollercoaster and Afician sarfai, but again you have to get there early and use yout fast passes wisely.
The water parks were great, but bear in mind the slightest sign of thunder or lighting all the water parks plus the outside rides in othe parks will close down. This got rather annoying as it became the case most afternoons! ie you would queue for ages and then be told due to the weather the ride was closing!

cont .... I would however recommend all kids wearing a lifejacket in the water parks, epecailly in typoon lagoon! The fireworks in Epcot were great and the queues to meet minnie and mickey here were only 10 mins compared to an hour plus in magic kindgom. Universail was fab, lots to do for all ages and not as busy as disney, same applies for Islands of adventure. At 5-6 pm you could almost walk onto some rides without queueing. Most of all though i enjoyed Aquaitica which is a great water park suitable for all ages. Even my 3 year old could go down some pretty big slides which she loves, and the massive play park for kids was fab and kept the kids entertained for aged whilst we relaxed in the sun. Seaworld was also fantastic, not many queues and some great shows, don't miss the shanmo one. Bushe Gardens was also great, quite quiet, a great water play area for kids and some excellent big rides for the biggeer kids. Points to bare in mind are that sandwiches are not allowed in seaworld / aquatica but fruit / water is. fill up water bottles from home as the foundation stuff doesn't taste to good. Get up early, if you get to the parks by 8.30 you get half a chance of getting on a good / new ride, any later forget it unless your kids enjoy a 2 hour plus queue. take swimming costumes / towels for the kids every day as every park i think had some water play area where a change of clothes was needed. Expect to queue, a lot, Apples were my kids saviour! Eating out isn't that cheap, bring your own food where possible. Get a bit of background knowledge about driving in Amercia first, eg you can undertake / jump red lights! We ate out in the Rainforest Cafe which was great but noisy! 6 year old ds loved the lego shop in downtown disney as well. My 3 year old never uses a buggy at home but used it all the time in Florida, I would advise using one even for a 5 year old. Buy as much food as you can from Walmart, its much cheaper. All in all it was a great holiday. My 3 year old dd had breakfast with the princesses in Epcot (book well in advance if you want to do this in mk) and loved it and also really enjoyed meeting tinkerbell. My 6 year old loved all the rides and the waterparks. It was an exhausting holiday but well worth it. Despite going in July it rained almost every day, and I mean heavy rain with thunder / lightening which had a huge impact on the rides / outdoor shows. Despite this it was hot thoughout, but i would recommend buying decent footewear and waterproofs. my kids sandels soon gave them blisters when they got wet, so bring spares.

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have btw.

You arrived as I came home Fairy x

Wow loads done

Was thinking what change do I need for luggage trolley when we land . We have assistance booked as both me and ds3 in wheelchairs

Where are you flying in to Human?

Into MCO we do have assistance booked but it hit me other day no clue what luggage trolleys take

MCO is strange in that you collect your bags and then either drop them off again pretty much straight away to pick them up on the other side of the airport, or haul them up an escalator and take them on the monorail yourself.

If you have assistance booked I can only imagine they will sort the luggage out for you, but it is the most awkward airport I have ever been in for luggage. I think the first time we flew in we used a trolley when we collected the cases from the carousel and I'm pretty sure it was free. I think this is because you can only use them for about 50 yards!

Until someone more knowledgable comes along then I can only suggest you collect some quarters, because these seem to be the coin needed for any coin-operated thing in the USA!

I was a bit shocked at Sanford when we were checking back in that it was $5 for a trolley. But I didn't see any in arrivals when we arrived. I kept getting landed with the flaming minion bag as we called it as it's bright yellow which was the only one with no wheels on it.

Hmm trouble is cant get any quaters lowest I have is $1

Am thinking since we have medical stuff in we're going plan take with us on Me

Other thing is do I need yo book as such have no conformation about being booked on it ( we booked direct with Disney

Yes, it is a pain! I know it is absolutely no use to you now, but each time I go I always make sure I come home with a few single dollar bills and a pile of quarters.

If it ends up being as expensive as Groovee says then I'm sure you will be able to pay by card.

You can book ME online on the Disney website, although when I booked direct with Disney they automatically booked me on it.

Incidentally, if you do take the ME then you definitely do not want to put your luggage on the first carousel if you want to take it with you, as then it ends up on the opposite side of the terminal to the ME and you would have to collect it then cross the terminal which involves lifts and a fair bit of walking! Although if you are doing ME you can always get ME to sort your luggage so I expect that would be the best option for you.

Ty

I want keep least one of the cases since will need if ASAP as get into room . Can see on going need beg help from assistance on how best to handle it all and to the ME

Not so worried once get there as Disney already said there help from coach and deliver to room

Think I may call week before and remind them I need the adapted coach as I can't do stairs at all

Once you are at the ME desk they will take great care of you - Disney are fabulous with customer care and will do anything and everything to make your holiday stress-free.

Definitely think you need to keep your meds on you, as if you get ME to deliver luggage separately it can take a few hours after you get to the hotel.

We've got assistance at the airports, but no idea what this actually entails as travel agent didn't explain! We're also doing ME, but will need to keep cases as DS will probably be shattered by the time we get to the hotel and I'm guessing an early-ish night (depending on how long we can try and keep him awake to adapt to change in time).

3 days. Nail biting!

Kinky

You all packed ready ?

I'm going to phone and state again exactly what I need when land . I know going they meeting at check in and I have transfer to one their chairs as mine not fold .

Then there help us through security etc . Deposit us somewhere on other side by cafe then come back for us take to gate and then to plane

Other side I'm hoping meet at plane then through immigration/security and my ah bliss to Me

I'm just going to have to see what happens when we get to the airport. Thompsons were very good as I only decided we would definitely need chair after DD was in hospital last week. Originally planned to hire them as we needed to, but don't think she's going to manage a huge amount.

Not packed... Have random piles of clothes everywhere and have got the cases off my DM. (We hardly ever go on holiday so don't have luggage.) Just need to start making decisive decisions about what is going where and what we need to take.

Feeling a bit sick about it all at the moment! Oh, to be DH and swan about the place letting me sort it all out.