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Original poster

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

998 replies

PaintingTheFlowersRed · 30/09/2012 19:03

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.

OP posts:
PickledMoomin · 07/08/2013 14:21

I know! Doesn't feel real.

TSSDNCOP · 07/08/2013 14:27

We are booked. October HT, including Discovery Cove!

12 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Credit card having a quiet lie down.

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 08/08/2013 20:58

We got home this morning.

Had a brilliant time, hot as hell but only one storm.

All new rides are brilliant queue for despicable me was over two hours most times as was transformers. We brought fast passes as they would have been impossible otherwise!

PickledMoomin · 08/08/2013 22:28

What were the queues like with fast passes?

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 08/08/2013 22:30

At universal we queued about 10-15 mins for despicable me with passes. The rest of the rides were more or less straight on with them.

Groovee · 09/08/2013 06:30

Shriek and despicable me were a good 15 minutes wait but everything else was practically walk on. Welcome home Hokey x

PickledMoomin · 09/08/2013 07:24

Phew. The fast passes and worth it then.

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 08:58

Re the FASTpasses, I'm a bit Confused the Disney site says they're "complimentary" are they free or do you have to pay. If so, how much?

Tiredemma · 09/08/2013 09:03

We love Discovery Cove- its such a peaceful day away from the mayhem of the parks.

Customer service is second to none also - we spent a day there and whilst standing in the queue waiting for lunch, a staff member asked if we was having a good day. DP said yes, but the only thing that ruins it is having to queue and hang around for the food (he was only really making small talk- we had NOTHING else to complain about).

A few minutes later once we had got our food and sat down to eat, one of the managers came over and said he was sorry that our day was 'ruined' by queuing and invited us back for FREE (all FOUR of us) the following week!!

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 09:09

Tired great feedback on DC.

DS informed me last night he would rather go to china as that is where Angry Birds toys are made.

So that's 4 grand we've spent going in the opposite direction Confused

AnneEyhtMeyer · 09/08/2013 09:24

TSS the Disney fast passes are free - you put your room key / park ticket in the machines and get a timed return ticket. You can only hold one at a time, but it works really well.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 09/08/2013 09:27

Oh, and I meant to say, we also used DD's KTTW card to get fast passes even when we knew she wasn't going to go on a ride due to height restrictions, so we could use it.

Also, Disney let you use partner swap and we have always been able to use these alongside the fast passes so getting double the use out of them.

Tiredemma · 09/08/2013 10:22

Im now watching this thread with massive interest-

We have been to WDW twice (first time in 2007, stayed on Disney - Port Orleans, most amazing holiday ever)
last year we went for two weeks over Halloween- did 10 nights in orlando and then 4 nights on Florida Keys and flew back from Miami- again- amazing holiday but realistically didn't ever think we would go back.

Found out in May that I was PG with a girl (have two boys aged 10 and 12)-
"We have to go again and take our sister!!"

Oh go on then,..,...

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 12:16

Anne you don't have to be staying in a Disney hotel do you? We're not but obvs we've bought park tickets.

Sorry to be a plank, I'm a novice to this and I'm trying to find all the "cheats" possible to reduce queuing. I even looked at a footfall website to see how busy the park is at the time we're going Grin

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 12:19

Tired what was Halloween like? That's when we're going! Is it worth paying extra for the "Micky Halloween" thing?

PickledMoomin · 09/08/2013 12:40

TSS- Yes you can have the Disney fastnesses just with your park ticket.

We were talking earlier about fast passes for universal. They are an extra cost.

So pleased to hear that DC is worth the extra money. It's the thing I'm most looking forward to.

Tiredemma · 09/08/2013 12:45

TSS- it was really good! boys loved it.
I felt it was worth the extra to do it.

Universal also have halloween themed events but I felt that they were much more geared towards older kids.

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 13:28

thanks all xx

Tired the Virgin lady told me kids under 11 (might have been 13) cannot go to Universal Halloween.

Tiredemma · 09/08/2013 13:59

TSS- I would imagine so. I only assumed it would be too old because of the advertising they had for it. much more 'gruesome' than the Disney parks (Disney had great displays of pumpkin scarecrows etc)

AnneEyhtMeyer · 09/08/2013 14:14

TSS - everyone can get Disney fast passes, they're not just for hotel guests. If you are staying on site you get Magic Hours (early opening / late closing) which makes getting on rides easier.

Disney's halloween parties are fabulous, definitely worth it. The parade is fantastic but my DD's favourite bit was dancing with Woody, Jessie and Bullseye at the Diamond Horseshoe. She had a ball!

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 14:20

Thank guys I am adding the Halloween party to the utterly ridiculous list of "must do" stuff.

I'm thinking 10 days won't be anywhere near enough Grin

AnneEyhtMeyer · 09/08/2013 14:28

Make sure you dress up for the party - a lot of people do and you do get treated very well by the cast members when you do .

We went as a group of pirates and DD was given things for free in the shops and every cast member we came across interacted with her. And my personal highlight was when Woody grabbed my hand and took me for a spin on the dancefloor. I was star-struck!! Blush

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 14:29
Grin
Ilovemyrabbits · 09/08/2013 14:40

We went last Easter. I studied the DIBB boards til I was boss eyed and it really paid off. Going at a peak time was scary. So many people said it was an awful time to be there and I honestly thought we'd have a terrible time, but we studied timetables, took on board all the advice we could and we had a fantastic two weeks. My DH, who was not keen on going at all, is dead keen to go back for my 50th, which is just 18 months away! I am counting the days til the travel agents will let me book. I hope you have a fabulous time.

TSSDNCOP · 09/08/2013 15:13

Ilove yes I'm glued to DIBB too. I saw from my total geek footfall comparison that Easter is top peak. Bet you're glad you did your prep.

October HT is, surprisingly only moderate footfall. DS is a potential ASD/ADHD diagnosis so anything I can do to Q dodge without pissing off other park goers is a bonus.