Anyone got a Disney World/Florida holiday planned? Part 3

[McKayz]

I thought I'd start a new thread as number 2 is nearly full.

Links to old threads:

thread 1

thread 2

We haven't got ours booked yet. But we are planning on going August 2016. DH and I both turn 30 in the next 11 months so it's like a big birthday holiday.

Well I'm back :( Had an amaaazing time and now avidly thinking about the next trip! Chesty, what a shame that it rained during your MNSSHP! Did they still do the parade? MNSSHP was the highlight of our holiday for me - it felt like we were famous, with everybody stopping to take our photo and talk about our costumes :)

Seabiscotti, Discovery Cove is wonderful! It's especially good if you are doing full-on park days as it feels like a lovely, restful, 'treat' day. Snorkelling in the Grand Reef is one of my favourite parts of the holiday. Might not be everyone''s cup of tea though.

TouchTheFrog, did you book? It's probably a bit late now but what sort of advice are you after?

Disnaematter, a 6-month old would probably get more enjoyment from a waterpark than anywhere else. There are separate areas just for toddlers, with very shallow water that they can sit and splash in. Again if it's not too late, re. your tix I'd use Attraction Tickets Direct or FloridaTix and get a 14-day Universal/Ioa park hopper. I know it seems like a waste to have 14 days when you're only giong for 2 (3 if the ticket incudes Wet & Wild?) but it's cheaper than buying 2 separate days on the gate. You MUST get a park hopper ticket if you want to do the Hogwarts express (I'm fairly certain the 14 day tix are hoppers but do check).

Glad you had a good time at MNSSHP, Lucas. Pictures of your costumes?
Thank you very much re the waterpark advice, I shall start looking forward to it now! The 5yo loves waterparks so maybe we will be there more than Universal/IoA. We have indeed bought our tix already.
Eight days til we go!

Oh wow, I didn't realise you were going so soon! I'll PM you a pic if I can.

LucasNorthsTwiglets it sounds like you had a lovely time. Halloween must be fab at Disney.

We decided to go for it and booked it for July next year...so excited. We upgraded to the Disney Dining Plan and are going to the Disney Carribean Hotel.

Any advice is welcome

Joining this thread as we have just booked for next Christmas. Keeping it a surprise from the children so I have to tell someone!

I am so excited I could burst!

So excited to be joining this - I'm off in feb with DC aged 7 and 9. Any know what weather may be like in February?
Also - in 10 days can we do all the Disney parks, universal and discovery cove?
How would you split the above with dc aged 7 and 9, both boys?

Which is the better water park out of blizzard beach and typhoon?
Anything else must do - eg places to eat? Other experiences ?
Thank you!

Hi flawed, how exciting for you! We went twice in February (albeint the last week so much closer to March) and it as perfect for us - still nice and warm, t-shirts & shorts most days but some days we wore a hoodie or jeans. Certainly not cold though! I think your boys will be the perfect age to enjoy everything! As for doing it all in 10 days, hmmmmm. I'm not sure. I know people do see everything in that time but I would find it hard. You'd probably need to be going full-pelt and getting there for park opening in the morning. If you are avoiding Presidents Week then it will at least be a quiet time of year so you can fit more rides in.

Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and water parks are 1 day each. Epcot could be done in 1 day if you really go for it. Magic Kingdom definitely needs more than 1 day to see and do everything. Universal and Islands can probably be done in one day each - but we love these parks so much that we do 3 or 4 days :) Have you booked accommodation yet? If not, consider booking the Royal Pacifc hotel at Universal for a night. You get free 'front of the line' passes for the day you check in AND the day you check out, meaning you won't have to queue very much for any rides except the Harry Potter ones. It's cheaper to book a hotel than to buy these passes! We stay in villas but we love the Universal hotel and the free passes so much that we book 1 or 2 nights there anyway.

Is there anyone going to disneyworld before Christmas that would do me the hugest favour?

DS and I went in October and he bought himself a special pencil from the Rock n Roller Coaster shop. One of his school friends has broken it and DS is devastated. Unfortunately he's now put a replacement on his Santa list :((

I'd anyone would be happy to help I would be so grateful!

Oyster, I'd mention it on the Dibb - someone there is bound to be going. Or email Disney and ask - they are great at providing 'pixie dust' !

Failing that, this person is brilliant and I'm sure she could do it for you. Not sure what she'd charge but it can't be very expensive to post a pencil...

Thanks Lucas, I'll try all of those!

Hi..Can anyone advise if we need the international driving permit for Florida..? Seems to suggest this online but am getting conflicting advice! Thanks

lisaom if you have a full UK licence that is all you will need to hire a car in the US, I have been at least once a year for the last 25 (not to Florida) and have never had one

Thanks x

I have 4 questions pleeeease:

• we are going in feb so don't think will be too busy, but should I still do dining reservations and fast passes?

Do these just apply to the Disney parks?
Am doing all main parks in Orlando.

• which rides would you really recommend for DC, 2 boys aged 7 and 9. Will be on my own with them, so something 3 of us can go on together. - nothing too fast for me!

• which are the best parades and fireworks? Any other must do s?

• and recommended restaurants?

Thank you very much!
Ps any recommended area of Animal lodge hotel to stay in?

Hello, I'm going to Fl in April, but not probably not doing Disney or Universal this time.

absolutelyflawed I can't answer many of your Qs but YES, BOOK ADRs AND FPs, incredible how they sell out - esp the ADRs for the good restaurants.

Remember it is Black Friday tomorrow. Sea World is doing buy one get one free and passes are valid for one year but you must preregister NOW on their website. Floridatix and Attraction Tickets Direct will also be doing something.

We are going in May and I have booked my ADRs. Will book my FP 60 days before

should I still do dining reservations and fast passes?

Definitely! As 4yoniD said, they still get very booked up! depending on when you are going, February can be a very busy time (around Presidents week is packed but the rest is low crowds). Certain FastPasses are all gone within minutes of the FP window opening up and if you're staying offsite you can forget getting FPs for Anna & Elsa, Mine Train and any parades/fireworks as you will never get one!

Do these just apply to the Disney parks?

Yes, no other parks have FastPasses. You can buy Express Pass for Unviersal but that's quite expensive.

which rides would you really recommend for DC, 2 boys aged 7 and 9.

Tbh, there are just too many, and such a huge variety, to list! Best bet is to have a look at the parks' websites too see what you fancy as that will give you a better idea.

which are the best parades and fireworks?

Main Street Electrical Parade, Celebrate The Magic and Wishes fireworks (all in the Magic Kingdom) are not to be missed. I don't think much of the other parks' fireworks/shows at all but other people love them.

and recommended restaurants?

Are you looking for onsite recommendations? What sort of food do you like? Again, there are so many that it's really hard to recommend without knowing more of what sort of thing you want.

Have you thought about a water park? It's many kids' favourite parks, they love them (and so unlike anything we have here).

Thank you very much - really helpful. Yep, going to blizzard beach - bit disappointed that typhoon lagoon will be close.

We are going next Christmas and having read a lot on The Dibb, I am nervous that I am going to have to be uber organised and militarily plan everything. I am also nervous that I will mess it up!

Foe those of you who have booked a Universal hotel for the night, who did you book through? We are staying at another hotel but would like to book universal for 1 night just to avid the queues.

I booked a one night stay at the Royal Pacific through BA.com - prices fluctuate so keep an eye on them and remember to use quidco/top cashback to get further savings.

Isabella, I booked through hotels.com the last time and direct with the hotel the time before that. Take cashback into account and shop around - the cheapest places the first time I booked weren't the cheapest the second time!

Hi we are planning on going October 2016

Few questions-

We have a teen a toddler and a primary aged DC that likes big rides. Dp thinks he'll be left holding the baby while I go on big rides with the other 2. Does anyone have experience of How to manage these age gaps on this holiday? Dp think we should go with dgps so we have more adults than dcs but that would mean a villa & extended family stress but will it be worth it?

-I'm a confident driver in the uk but I've never driven abroad and am a bit wary of driving around Orlando-will I be ok?

-we are trying to do this in as low a budget as possible-any recommendations for budget hotels around the international drive area? We don't even need a pool as intend to be in parks every day.

Hi Lightbulb, first thing - Baby Switch is your friend. Or it might be called Child Swap or Child Switch - something like that; if you ask a staff member they'll know exactly what it's called. Anyway, it means that everyone can go on rides without having to queue twice whilst someone looks after the little ones. it works like this:

1. Everyone queues up.
2. All of you get on the ride except small child and person looking after them - they wait somewhere else.
3. Everyone else gets off the ride and then the person who was looking after the small child goes straight on the ride without queing again (you can usually take someone else in your party with you so they get a 2nd ride.)

You have two ways of doing it - either everyone is patient and realises that they'll have to wait around a bit whilst the rest of the party do things that they're not interested in (eg. the teen has to wait whilst the youngsters do kiddie rides and vice versa) or you & DH split up sometimes, taking a different age group with you. We often say 'I'll take DD on X, you take DS on Y and we'll meet at Z".

Driving - it's very slow and sedate in the US so that part's pretty easy but I find driving on the other side of the road pretty difficult. If you're ok with that then you'll be ok, otherwise it's a bit nerve-wracking tbh.

I've never stayed in a hotel so can't help you there, I'm afraid - the Dibb know everything though if you wander over there.

Also, we just got back this October - it's a fabulous time of year to visit! Lovely and warm but not stifling hot. And you simply HAVE to do the Halloween party at Magic Kingdom! (although with a family of 5 it'd pretty $$$)