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.

Yeah all signed up for that and have the app on my phone.

We have no dining plan so will eat wherever is nearby. Def want to do a character dining one but not sure which one yet. Thinking either Mickey or a princess one.

Hi all,

I'm after some advice if anyone can help me out? I'm planning my first Dusney family holiday for next year and am a bit confused about when US Spring break is. I thought we could go in March (thus avoiding Easter hols) but I get the impression that US Spring break can be at different times from end of Feb-April. Does that mean March will be very busy? Has anyone been during March? If so, could you please let me know about the weather as well as Disney crowds? I don't want it to be too cold to swim!

My other option is to go at the beginning of May when it will be warmer, but the prices are higher. Which would be the better option?

My DC will be 3 and 1 when we go, so we are only aiming for a couple of rides/shows/character experiences per day with lots of chill out time and swimming. Either going to stay at Art of Animation or Carribean Beach resort - just trying to decide if it's worth paying more for the nicer hotel and to get the dining plan, or if it's better to go for the cheaper option since the children are so young and won't be eating loads. Decisions, decisions...

Thanks Lucas and Tinkerbell for the advice! I'll check out the advice and also find out more about rider switch, although neither of us are really into the big rides anymore!

Can I join? I've booked Disneyworld for next October (2017) for myself, my fiancé (who will be my husband by then) and our son who will be two and a half when we go. I know it's still quite young for him but hey ho!

Hi all. After wanting to go for years we've finally booked for next year. Last week of September, first week of October Old Key West 1 bedroom villa. Free DDP. Going will be DH, me, DD,BIL and hopefully a 9 month old who we only discovered a day after we booked! Have had two miscarriages so it's very early days but fingers crossed!

Started looking at tickets today (July this year). Makes sense to buy the full 14 day for Disney (same price as 7 days) and the annual pass for Universal (costs the same as 2 day pass!!), for unlimited access and flexibility. Does this sound right?? There are cheaper combinations and websites but you don't get the waterparks on some and are limited to a certain number of visits. We want to do Sea World and Legoland too probably but there are not expensive add ons.

We are going to Orlando in 18 days with our 6 Year old twins I'm so excited! Staying 1 night on international drive then 2 nights at the Royal Pacific resort in universal and then 14 nights at the Caribbean beach resort in Disney.

On the Disney World Website where can I find the details of the different Character dining experiences? Im sure ive seen them on here before but just cant seem to find them again!?

Anyone recommend any?

We've just booked, we've just booked, we've ............ I'm a tad excited

We're going for 3 (yes, 3!!) weeks next August staying in a villa with probably a couple of nights at Royal Pacific Resort for the front of line passes.

So looking forward to all the military style planning

Yay, Bacon! That's almost exactly what we're doing this August - 3 weeks in a villa and 2 nights at Royal Pacfic. (MrsCee, have you been to RPR before? You will love it, if not!!) Congrats to everyone else who has booked too!

On the Disney World Website where can I find the details of the different Character dining experiences?

is here [[https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/#/character-dining/]] For future reference, you go to the dining section of the website and then there is an option to filter by 'Dining Experience' where you can select character meals. We did Ohana which was nice but not done any others - doing Crystal Palace this year but that's really for the early entrance rather than the characters.

Lyndie, re. your tickets, I agree about going for the 14 day Disney ones instead of the 7 day. I think all Disney ones include their waterparks. e. the Universal ones, are you likely to go again within a year? I'm not sure it's worth the annual pass otherwise... you don't really get any benefits of note for the cheapest pass and there are blackout dates that they can't be used on. The annuals without blockout dates and with better benefits are significantly dearer than a 14 day pass. Aer you considering Discovery Cove? If so, that givse you free entry to SeaWorld, Busch Gdns and Aquatica.

I have a horrible week this week and thinking of Florida is keeping me sane

Sorry, that was the worst link ever! Dining should be here

I can't seem to link directly to the character meals though so just look for the 'Filter By' toolbar and then click on Dining Experience to select character dining...

Thank you, Just managed to book Brunch with Mickey in Chef Mickey. :)

Am I really late to the party here? Just looking at booking Be our Guest resturant for when we go late August and everyday for our two weeks theres nothing available at all?! looked at TREX too and that seemed really booked up too.. is it really fully booked 3mths ahead? Sorry if this sound stupid but our first time at Disney.

Lucasnorths no we've never stayed at RPR can't wait. Only been to Disney and universal once before and we stayed off site it was years ago before we had kids.

Pigley, is it dinner you're looking for at Be Our Guest? If so, yes it sells out within seconds of the booking window opening at 180 days :( Lunch is slightly easier but still hard. You should be able to get breakfast though. If you're happy to have lunch there (though the beast won't be there) I can let you into my secret of how to get a table...

RPR is SO gorgeous - the poolside bar is fabulous, we always plan an evening there with cocktails for me and DH whilst the kids play in the pool - they play a poolside movie too which is great (though not sure that Jaws was the best choice last time, LOL!)

Be our guest and cinderellas table still had dinner reservations for this July school holidays a week after my 60 day window opened....(though if you are offsite they'll be gone by then) but certainly not as bad as I read on trip advisor. I booked breakfast at 60 days and then dinner a week later.

Sorry 180 days

Hello all, I know that this is a how long is a piece of string question but can I ask a question with regards to spending money as if what I think is right we may have to increase our budget for our summer Orlando holiday.

So here is the question: how much do you allocate spending money a day for the three meals, snacks and any additional spending? So accommodation and park tickets booked, just trying to get an idea what to expect I'd spend a day on meals out and I don't know, some snacks. This is for a family of 4.

If you could give me an idea how much you would expect to pay for lunch inside the parks and dinner outside the parks for 4 people.

Also does anybody know how much does it cost to park the car at the parks a day?

Hi all we're planning our first wdw trip in 2017. What's best weather v crowds - easter or Oct? No free dining available for either and would stay at aoa whichever since we have 3 dcs. Advice gratefully received!

Booked ours in January for next May (so far in advance because SO EXCITED), then just got Free Disney Dining Plan added (even more excited now). This is a whole new world for me so I am deep in the planning right now, waiting for November to make ADRs! We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside; DH and I have been lots of times but this will be the first trip with DS, who will be 4. It has been such a long wait for us as we had to hang on until he was at a somewhat suitable age. So despite feeling a bit expert before, with all the dining and a 4 year old it's like being brand new at it. Any tips on what young kids like to do best greatly received, before we could just wander around at leisure being coaster-heads!

Is it sad that I am enjoying the planning so very much? My body is in rainy UK but my head is stuck permanently in WDW right now...bliss.

MoonHare, from what I've heard it is very busy at Easter because US schools get a Spring Break around this time, as well as UK schools getting two weeks off.

Supposedly October is one of the best months to go crowds and weather-wise - hurricane season is over and it's mid 80s with minimal rain and crowds are at their lowest. (We usually always go early May and it is nice and quiet, but after next year will be swapping to October so I have recently been researching this exact thing ) .

moon free dining is available for october 2017.

moon you could also look at the 1 bedroom suites at Old Key West depending on thr ages of your DC. They would cost more but you'd get the full dining plan as opposed to just the free breakfast.

Fleurdelise. We aim to spend approximately £2000 for 2 adults, 2 DCs for 3 weeks next year. Last year we spent £3000 in 2 weeks but we did splash ALOT! Next year out eldest, who insists on choosing the most expensive food on the menu, has decided he's not coming so costs will go,down quite a bit.

Are u staying in a villa and r u willing to cook? We stay in a villa and I'm not willing to cook (so there!) so eating out all the time can be costly but sooooo worth it

Re the parking I think the parks charge $17 per day.

Thank you BaconAndAvocado! I am not willing to cook too much, we are staying in a villa but the plan is to cook lightly such as have some take away pizza and "cooking" a salad on the side, breakfast to be eaten at the villa before the parks, maybe some pasta 1-2 times which is fast and easy to make. I am allocating £2500 for two weeks, out of this though I want to buy the photo package at the Discovery cove also as I would like to enjoy the experience rather than running around taking pics of DCs. Sounds achievable then from what you have said. Shopping for bargains should go on credit card if we find stuff we really want such as clothes. Older DC has his own money for bargains which he has saved on purpose for this.

My other question is: what do you think it will happen with the exchange rate following the referendum? I am keeping an eye out and I can see it is currently $1.44 to the £ but I am wondering if I should buy the dollars now or wait after the referendum. What is everybody going this year doing?