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.

OMG Strawberry, you MUST go on Soarin' if you've never done it! One of the best rides in Florida, imo. Height limit is 102cm, apparently. Definitely child swap it if your 2yo is too short.

Kinky, Discovery Cove is one of the highlights of the holiday, for us. You also get entry to SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens so it's actually good value if you're planning on going to those parks anyway.

Got booked for April 2016 a couple of weeks back when BA loaded their holidays up too cheap, v excited! Never been before, boys will be 10 and 6 and we decided to stay offsite as I absolutely don't want to share a room with them for 2 weeks, not a holiday for any of us if we did!

I have no clue what your all talking about. What's a child swap ? Is my holiday going to be a disaster if we just rock up & wing it?? I'm so busy at work, I'm barely coping, so limited time for planning.

I found Orlando airport just fine, and I was alone with the dcs (17. 9, 4) it's easier than bloody Palma that's for sure

Agree you have to do soarin and test track, our fave rides at Epcot. You certainly won't need a FP for nemo.

If you buy an unofficial guide to Disney you can work out plans in advance. We didn't always stick to ours but they worked out pretty good

like childswap just means if you have a child that can't/doesn't want to go on a ride the person that queues gets a childswap ticket then passes it on to the other parent who has been waiting with the child. It saves the 2nd person waiting in line.

Thanks bloody. Looks like I have a lot to learn!

When you book the FP things do you book them as a group? DH was just asking if you have to do everyone individually?

You can do it as a group....or a couple...or individual, however you plan on riding the rides.

That's great. He was wondering if we'd get booked on something but not the DC etc

Likeaninjanow, you can go without any planning at all but you'll really make the most of it if you do a little bit of planning. I'd suggest having a rough plan of what parks you want to go to on what days, going by the Dibb's Busy Day Guide. It can mean the difference between queuing for hours on rides in a jam-packed park and having a far more relaxed day with less queuing. Then book some Fastpasses for your Disney park days so that you get on at least 3 rides with hardly any queueing. Other than that you really needn't do anything if you don't want to.

Can I join?

After many years of wanting to go, I booked to go 29th December for two weeks.

Before I had my children i went about twice a year to orlando, so couldn't wait to take my children.

So excited. Haven't seen any of the Harry potter stuff, that's all been built since I've been.

Thanks Lucas. I'll try and have a look at the dibbs site & go from there.

can I join you lovely people? We decided at the weekend we would go for Disney Florida next year with the girls (aged 5 and 6 now) . Not a clue where to start so any advice would be great!?

I recommend joining www.thedibb.co.uk there is so much information on there. Also you can use the planner to plan your holiday.

I'd also buy The Brit Guide to Orlando. It's really good and I've hardly put it down.

Also lots of the posters here have been before. So they can be very helpful with questions you have got.

Do you know where you want to stay yet?

Thanks McKays.
Ive just discovered the DIBB site and have been having a read.
No idea as to where to stay. Is on or off site best?
I'm guessing we will go for 2 weeks and do one in Disney and one in another park? Does that sound doable?
Also what's the best time to go?. Limited to school holidays.

We are going for the last 2 weeks of August 2016. The American schools seem to go back about the 15th so the end of August is quieter.

We haven't been before and have decided to stay on site. The free dining offer is what swayed us in the end and being able to go back to the hotel in the afternoon if we're tired and it's very hot.

Can I ask a couple of questions? I haven't booked yet but we would like to go next October.

I want to go to Disney for 4 days, but DH thinks 2 days is sufficient. We have two DSs, who will be 8 and 4. I've been before and I understand the physical scale and the magic of it all but DH says the boys will be bored with queuing for 4 days.

Can anyone shed light on a 2-day, 3-day or 4 day ticket? I can only see options for 2 weeks, which doesn't give us good value if we go for a short period of time.

We are toying with going to SeaWorld, and that will be it for theme parks.

Ok

If you haven't been before 2 days insn't enough really. There are four parks and two water parks.

You'll have to buy your tickets in Florida for a four day ticket, although it costs almost as much as a 7 day.
Google magic your way

The queues are part of the rides and very creative October can be very quiet. August is great, although busy, and hurricane season.

I've never stayed onsite before. I will be this time though.

pigley when do you want to go?

HRH- We haven't got any set dates/times in mind. As long as it fits in a school holiday. 2 weeks so im guessing it will be Easter or August? Ive heard that Easter can be really busy?

Hi all. Just checking in as we are going to Florida this summer. Have been three times before, so pretty seasoned, but just thought I would join and share in all the excitement .

peaz - tricky one, as I'm not sure what the ticket deals are these days? But you could get a four day ticket and do a different park each day? They might not get so overwhelmed by it all then. Animal kingdom and Epcot are Ok, but in my opinion, the Magic Kingdom (which will involve lots of queueing!) and Hollywood studios (not necessarily lots of queueing, as there are other things to do than just rides - a playground, water fountains, parades, fun restaurant with character lunch etc) are better.

Also - do the ticket deals allow you access to the water parks? Typhoon Lagoon is great. My DC loved it at that age.

Dont forget Universal Studios! Well worth a day.

Just to add, we have been for 'Spring Break' (sunny but not hot, incredibly busy), Easter (lovely weather but absolutely packed) and in August (busy and very hot, but not as packed as at Easter).

We have never seen a hurricane (eek!), but there were a few days in August when it rained heavily. Plenty to do indoors and out of the parks, though.

What are the best parks to go to? Obviously Disney! But what other places will be good for DD's aged 5/6 and 7/8 (depending when we go)? They love Animals and swimming.
Seaworld?

Pigley I've read that Easter can be very busy too. It's annoying to have to stick to school holidays!

What about Busch Gardens Pigley?