Anyone got a Disney/Florida Holiday Planned Part 2

[Groovee]

Old Thread

chesty re footwear........I really have no blummin idea! Comfy, airy sandals seem the way to go but I would like a little bit of style involved too!

I do like the idea of wearing dresses though instead of shorts and tshirts.

I can't bear the look of Crocs but know that comfort and coolness (temperature wise!) will be key in Florida.

I think of little else too and every night after the DCs are in bed, I immerse myself in the Dibb and my guidebooks...........can I keep this up for 7 months?!

Re ADRs, I thought we'd do Crystal Palace character breakfast on Day 2. DD has her 7th birthday out there so,will save CRT for then!

Also fancy T-Rex, Sci-Fi Restaurant, Teppan Edo. Not sure about Bubba Gump, kids have no,idea who Forrest Gump is! If it was just me and DH we'd definitely go.

I think it's usually Blizzard Beach that will be closed then, MissBeehiving. I'm waiting until crowd data is out as well - are you all using the Dibb's Vacation Planner? It's really good.

Our only food must-do this time round is also Beaches & Cream for the Kitchen Sink! Never been before and can't wait to see DS's face :) Was thinking that Prime Time looked fun but the reviews of the food aren't that great. Might try and get a fastpass for lunch at Be Our Guest if they're still doing that. Miller's Ale House is our must-do for offsite restaurants. Cali Grill will have to wait until we are much richer :)

Lucas, my daughter dressed up as the 11th Doctor for MNSSHP last year

Oh that's amazing, so pleased that her costume got a good reaction! Did she wear an outfit like his, or the female version? DD wants one like this!
I'd love to have the figure for this one!

Ooohh what is Beaches and Cream?

And what is Miller's Ale House?

Sci-Fi restaurant is fun (we did it last year) but only worth it if you can get a 'car' table - there are several table tables and it's not worth going in for that. Besides, the best food in DHS is the grilled vegetable sandwich at Studio Catering Company. I am salivating just from typing the name.

I can't do Crocs in Florida because of the frequent rain/water rides - I just can't walk in them when they're wet.

I'm actually thinking of kidnapping a small girl so I can do CRT my boy are unconvinced

Yes beaches and cream for the kitchen sink is a must too.

It's a restaurant and does a huuuuuuuge ice cream in a kitchen sink

Bacon I've just seen a thread if yours in the Dibb

the kitchen sink

She wore shorts with shirt, braces, bow tie and a brown jacket, like the top half of the costume you linked to.
They sell a tardis dress in the UK shop in EPCOT, along with many other Doctor Who items.

Baymax, what a brilliant idea, hadn't thought of shorts! She has a pair of those already and can wear her school blouse so it will just be braces & a bow tie to buy and a fez They sell Dr Who dresses in Epcot?! Exciting!!!

Yes chesty I do have a bit of a presence on there at the moment......!

I'm bouncing between MN and the Dibb too.

Also trying to watch Breaking Bad......

I've got to get out more

Buy your fez from Amazon before you go, very cheap! DD wanted to get hers from Morocco in Epcot, but they were quite expensive so she didn't get one. About $30 I think, and as she only wanted it for one night she didn't want to spend that much.

Hi, I'm new here. We have just booked flights and villa (Windsor Hills Resort) for 12 nights flying out on 17th October . It's our first trip to Florida and the DC will be just turned 11 and nearly 9.

I haven't booked park tickets yet as the choice of packages is a bit confusing and overwhelming! However, these are the parks I think we want to do - Universal (both), Busch Gardens, Sea World, Discovery Cove, Magic Kingdom, Aquatica plus a day at the Space Centre. That's 8 in total - is that too much? We would like a couple of spare days to chill at our resort or maybe visit a beach.

Any thoughts/suggestions? Also any recommendations about where to get best ticket deals?

Thanks.

Another newbie here, never been to Florida before but we're going just before the Easter break. Lucas is kindly holding my hand and leading me through the maze that is Orlando! I have to say I've been shocked at the costs involved in doing a holiday like this and we're not even going at peak time!

OK I've just scrolled through the last couple of pages and am now scared. I have done literally no planning other than to book the holiday, car and passes. That's it. I don't know what most of the acronyms are for and Lucas I need a link I can click on for your comfy shoes as it doesn't seem to be working.

Ha ha slightly
This Easter holiday

Get yourself on The Dibb, excellent site.
Have you booked any ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) yet? Or fast passes?

We went Easter 2013 and didn't book any fast passes and missed out on some of the popular attractions because of queues. Outside of school holidays will be less busy.

canshop we booked Discovery cove direct and got sea world and aquatica in with the ticket.

We booked 14 day 2 park ticket from Orlando attractions, think was £118 and delivered real tickets within 14 days
We've also booked a 7 day park hopper magic your way ticket from them.
I like them as good customer service and real tickets.

We are going for 15 nights and have a park planned for everyday. Some days it may be relaxing by the pool in the day and say Epcot for illuminations on the night.
Going such a long way I try and cram as much in as I can, would hate to miss anything

Are you not wanting to do Animal Kingdom, Hollywood studios and Epcot?

No haven't booked either of those things. We're going the week before the Easter holidays cos it's cheaper so it's not as busy hopefully.

What is The Dibb?

I have bought some swim shorts and normal shorts for my boys though, does that count as planning??

The Dibb is a forum that can answer any Florida holiday question you have, it's fab but beware once you're in you'll never escape
Make a take deep breaths and have a look!

It may benefit you to at least look at the Busy Day Guide and to loosely plan which park which day at least.

If you're wanting to do any character meals I'd advise you book an ADR.

Where are you staying?

We're staying in The Vistana Resort at Lake Buena Vista please don't tell me it's crap. We're less keen on Disney and more interested in Universal as I have two DSs who love all things Universal.

Welcome to the dark side :) Re. meals - you aren't bothered about character meals and I think I'm right in saying that there won't be anywhere in particular that you desperately want to eat at? In which case you needn't book any meals at all. ADRs (advance dining reservations) are needed for certain places only - there will ALWAYS be somewhere that you can get food without a reservation. Re. booking rides - the Fastpasses (FPs) are only for Disney so that's only one day for you - Universal, water parks, Kennedy etc. don't have Fastpasses. So you only need FPs for your Magic Kingdom day and the thing I posted you today tells you what rides I think you need them for. If you get your tickets beforehand then I can book even them for you but if you buy your ticket on the day then get there as early as possible and there are people in the park who will do it for you - your choice of FPs goes down the later you get there, as they run out of some of the popular ones. Or sometimes you can only get a FP slot for nighttime, so the earlier you arrive the better. It will be FINE! You only need to plan if there are specific things that you really want to do or if you are trying to minimise your queuing time/avoid crowds. If you aren't too bothered about that then you can just go with the flow :) I am so anal about crowds/queueing that I research what parks to go to on what day and plan out FastPasses so that I can get the maximum done in one day and I actively enjoy the planning - but there's no need to do it (excpet FPs which are a must!). My family are more 'get up late, go out for breakfast, have a chilled-out wander around the parks' but DH and I are Orlando Obsessives who treat it more like an Army Operation than a holiday :) Come on, there's no time for a toilet stop, we have to be on Pirates in 12 minutes!!! I even laminate my schedule

These are my shoes (I paid about £35 for them though). They're called Teva Kayenta and they come in a variety of colours and are far nicer than they look.

Will reply about tickets later for canshopwillshop!

Crossed posts Lucas, yes you have it all spot on! We aren't planners really, more go with the flow but I don't want a rubbish holiday just because I haven't got my self organised. Thank you for posting that stuff (hugs).

Thanks for shoe link, don't think I will get them at that price though - I'm skint from paying for this holiday at such short notice!!

I can't wait to see the new Diagon Alley they'll love universal 'twas my favourite along with IOA, apart from Forbidden Journey ride! It made me feel so sick and dizzy. Am going armed with sea ands and motion sickness tablets this time.

I've only stayed in one hotel jack so no fear of crap review here.

My eldest has done the HP tour here for his birthday last year so hopefully will be blown away by the Universal one!

Yes, I am VERY excited about Diagon Alley! It opened about a month after we left last time so have bnever seen it :) You can buy interactive wands that you can do 'real' spells with! (make windows light up, make things move etc.)

I am stressing at the moment because my Universal hotel is fully booked for the dates I wanted!! [outs self on the Dibb] :)

I want a wand! I'll look ridiculous though won't i

Strawberry and peanut butter has my name aaaaall over it!

Eeeek now I'm going to panic about RPR booking!