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.

Thanks, I might go to sleep then! I did wonder but I keep reading people saying it was in our time! I should have gone to sleep early to be up early!

This Good luck!

We're August so will definitely be following your lead Bacon .

Well, I was able to book for the first 2 weeks (for some reason the third week hasn't opened yet). Very easy to do and opened at 4am here, which was midnight thege. You just need to know the 3 rides/attractions you want on what day. It initially then gives you 4 options of combinations of the times available. I accepted the closest to what I wanted and then was able to go in and modify them to almost exactly what I wanted. We have planned our day on touring plans so I knew exact times that I wanted! Ive just got to sort out the third week.

Well done this you must be getting very excited!

Don't forget when you're at the parks and you've used your first FastPass you can then book another, though there will obviously be limited availability but it's worth a try.

Don't forget when you're at the parks and you've used your first FastPass you can then book another

Not quite, I'm afraid - you have to use all 3 before you can book another one. But the good thing is that you can soon use the app to book 4th, 5th etc. FPs instead of having to go to a kiosk!

In my experience, you need to get up at 5am for any parades/fireworks, Anna & Elsa and Mine Train - all the rest you can fairly safely leave until you're awake, even for a few days...

Hi there lucas !

Ah, I didn't realise that and I actually didn't use this facility last year...not sure why as we did go in August so very busy.

Will remember for next time .......we're going back!!! August 2017 . I guess it was never going to be that once in a lifetime trip!

Oh, hi Bacon - I hadn't noticed it was you! Yay for another trip! yeah, it's never once in a lifetime, is it? :) We are going this August - really scared of the heat & crowds but we have 3 weeks this time so can spread thigns out a little more.

lucas regarding the heat I have 2 top tips:

1. Buy a cheap polystyrene cool box from e.g. Walmart, we got one for $10. The night before you set off for the parks put a few bottles of water in the freezer. In the morning, put the now frozen water bottles into the cool box then into the boot. After a long hot day you've got ice cold refreshments waiting.

1. Again from the likes of Walmart buy some water spray fans . They are fabulous and only about $7 I think. We first discovered them at Epcot and were so desperate to keep cool we paid $23 for one.....

3 weeks?? That sounds wonderful! Will you do anything differently to your last trip?

Hi - can I join? I am thinking about taking DC to Disney world next Oct (2017), DH isn't so convinced but I think they will love it. I'm a complete newbie to this - where do I start? I was planning a week away over half term. probably with villa and a few days across some of the parks. DT will be 8.

Do I book as a package or separate activities? How much am I looking at for flights etc? Is it worth buying a week pass to all parks if we only want to go to a couple? We are not a family for big rides, will be going more for the characters, smaller rides, shows and parade I think. Are the character lunches worth the money - I have boys so not so princessey, are there toy story type ones?

What do I need to know? Please help me start planning - when is the best time to book it all?

I've booked flights through Thomson (they go to Sanford which is a bit further than Orlando International), car through US car hire (they have an app), and hotel direct through Disney. I booked my passes through Disney and got 2 counter service meals a day included. I always plan to spend a lot of time in the parks so get one to cover the whole of the period I am there. Even if you don't spend a lot of hours there, you may want the ability to call in for a few hours eg for Epcot fireworks, for Holkywood Studios Fantasmic, as well as day time rides and shows. Although I booked my holiday separately, after I had booked it, co-op travel came back with a very good price all combined (flying with Virgin to Orlando International) so they might be worth looking at. Our flights were £2600 for 4 plus a younger child including baggage etc. We just costed it all out separately and also got prices from travel agents. If you don't want to drive over there, then staying on Disney property is best but otherwise you can just book a car from the airport. I usually go in October and the weather is lovely then-not too hot. Character breakfasts are expensive but I really like Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom (Winnie the Pooh and friends) and Garden Grill for lunch (Epcot) (Chio and Dale). They are pricey though so not crucial.

Great idea about the box in the car, Bacon! Thanks! As for doing anything different - no, we will still do the same things but we have new restaurants we want to try out, which I'm excited about! And there are the new rides that weren't open when we went - Frozen Ever After, Kong Skull Island and the new Soarin'. We won't be able to queue outside for long in the August heat so the plan is to get there for rope drop each day - I am already nervous about how DD will cope with this! She was hard enough work when we had to wake her up at 10am last time :)

Please help me start planning

Oooh, that phrase is music to my ears :) The first thing I'd say is that a week is VERY little time. It doesn't really cost that much more to go for 2 weeks - just the extra accomodation and food (villa might be another £500?). Flights (and probably tickets) will be the same price so I would REALLY do 2 weeks if you possibly can. We go for over 2 weeks and still feel like it's not enough time! You can spend 2 days just in the Magic Kingdom and still not have seen/done everything. Aside from the 4 main Disney parks there there are the water parks which almost all kids seem to love and then two Universal parks which really can't be missed! Also, I think you will do a lot more than you expect - the most common misconception about Orlando parks is that you have to like rollercoasters and/or Disney films, which isn't true in the slightest. Taking the main Disney park (Magic Kingdom) as an example, out of 41 attractions only 2 are big roller coasters!

Anyway, the place to start is to decide whether you want a villa or to stay onsite (there are pros & cons to both which I can go into if need be!) Then price up your accomodation & flights individually and you can then compare this to a package - booking things yourself individually is almost always cheaper though. Flights can really vary so it's hard to give you an estimate. Out of school holdiays you can get a direct return for £400-£500 each but in school holidays it's more like £800+ each. You can fly indirect for less though.
Re. tickets it's often cheaper to buy the one or 2-week passes than to buy individual days on the gate. 2-week tickets are often the same price as 1-week ones (they are at the moment). Have a look at this site for ticket prices.

We go in 8 weeks hav booked my ADRs and FP.

Thanks
We are tied to one week (or maybe a day or two extra) because of school holidays and my work schedule. October half term seems to be the only sensible time to go! I was thinking villa as we need separate rooms to sleep in but will we miss out by not staying in a hotel?

I love staying in Disney hotels for the atmosphere and convenience. You do however get more space in a villa, so it's a trade off. Last year we stayed in a villa because we had a young baby, as well as other children, so like you wanted separate rooms. I booked the villa through virgin who ask for a preferred location but guarantee nothing. It was ok but a bit dark and the pool area was too shaded and cool. With hindsight, I wished I'd booked it through someone like homeowners direct, where you see your exact villa. Probably cheaper too.

So , what shall I pack?
We are going on Monday and weather looks changeable. I can't get my head round what 28 degrees in Floridawillbe like
Will we be in shorts and t shirts? An extra layer for the evening?
And we have no passes booked at all so far as we have been to the Disney parks a few times before and will this year only be going to Epcot we think and then Universal. Should I buy a universal pass here on line before we leave?

Anyone on here a golfer? Should we take clubs or hire there? 2/3 people playing 2/3 times. I'd rather not waste luggage allowance on golf clubs but if it's mega bucks to hire a set then it makes sense to take our own.

TIA and happy holidays to anyone who is going this weekend.

Hi can I join in?? 54 days to go and all ADRs and FPs booked. This is our first trip to WDW and we are staying in the Disney bubble at Carribean Beach Resort.....just me, dd (7), ds (10) and the xh!!

We have got 47 days until we stay in the Caribbean beach, so will be there at the same time! Children are 5, 13 and 21. Should be interesting with the xh! I take it you are friends. We have also booked FPs but what are ADRs? How long are you going for? Have you got an itinerary?

Booked for mid July staying at port Orleans for two weeks! Can't wait. Booked all my ADRs - actually had no probs at all, even days after my 60 day window?! Managed to get breakfast lunch and dinner at BOG. Customized my magic bands, booked my seats si just FPs and car parking left to do.

For those looking at prices I found a package with Thomas cook worked out loads cheaper than independently sorting, esp with all the free extras I got.

Thisagain

ADRs are advanced dining reservations. They are not needed for fast food, buffet type outlets (quick service) but if you plan on eating a sit down meal (table service) then you must book before you go as you can't get walk ups when you are there. I've made an itinerary and booked an adr for every night of my holiday!

You secure with credit card but don't pay anything if you cancel the day before. I've no idea where we'll eat each night but booked one for every night anyway so we have the option. I'll just cancel what we don't use.

Are you on a dining plan? I only have quick service so don't need to book for these credits (as you can't book for quick service venues) but if you are on the full dining plan with table service, you need to book ADRs or you'll waste them as you won't actually get in anywhere to eat. I very much doubt I'll eat table service each night, but like most others its best to book some meals or you'll be left with fast food every day.

Hi thisagain
Luckily we managed to stay friends and now get along better than when we were together! We are going for 14 nights (arriving May 21st) and I have booked most of my ADRs leaving a couple of floating days to book what we like the look of from what's left the night before. We have the free dining plan but upgraded from quick service to the full dining plan to have one table service meal a day. Originally it was just me and dc going but then xh ended up coming too. We are mainly doing Disney with Memorial Day at Kennedy (to escape park crowds) and a day at Universal. How about you are you booking any ADRs?

I forgot to add if you are staying on the quick service dining plan the only reservation you will need to try to make if you chooses to do so is Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom.
This restaurant is a quick service at lunch and breakfast but table service at dinner. Reservations are needed though for any meal at Be Our Guest as its apparently very popular!

We are on quick service (included) and didn't upgrade. We are going for 21 days though, from the 14th May so probably go home the same day as you. We have however booked The Garden Grill in Epcot for lunch, Character breakfast Crystal Palace, Tony's Town Square Restaurant at MK and Mama Melrose HS (Before Fantasmic) and i think that's it. We discussed upgrading but firstly, you have to upgrade for the whole period so was quite a lot and also, we don't actually want a site down every meal for 3 weeks. Perhaps I ought to consider booking more with a view to cancelling them.

We're off tomorrow

Will my Star wars obsessed 5yo be ok with Star Tours, does anyone know? I have seen a couple of things suggesting it might be too intense for anyone under 8.

Penguins I haven't done star tours for about 10 years and I remember that the simulator threw you around quite a bit. This could of course have changed, having said that I rode it at 7 years old and loved it! Have a fab time

Star Tours is FAB! It won't be too intense in the way of scariness, just maybe in the motion side of things if he is especially sensitive to that sort of thing. I'm sure he'll be fine though - my DS went on it at 4 and loved it and he would never have gone on anything like Big Thunder Mountain. I think Star Tours is very tame indeed but ymmv!