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.

Our 180 days is the 18th February so a long time away but can I log on anytime from midnight UK time? Or do I need to wait until it's midnight in Florida?
Or does it work differently?

Thanks panda. Can I ask what time of year you normally go? Not being physically in the queue is a boon but it can be odd being in a theme park and not being able to DO anything. Very good to know about the splash area!

Double bag drop? we have used Gatwick special assistance short haul. They got us from the gate and security passport by a separate channel (ds' wheelchair was gatechecked but we didn't get it back until baggage reclaim) same at the other end of our flight. I have heard help you can ask for includes help pushing wheelchair or carrying hand luggage but I haven't met anyone who has actually made use of the service. I was wondering how the Disney magic coach and luggage transfer worked abd whether it was overly worthwhile. Under our circumstances I think it is hard to beat a private transfers from the airport to the hotel Despite the extra cost

We have been at Easter and in October. Bith school holiday times, and quite busy. Next year we are going in Feb half term.

We honestly did not find that we were hanging about all that much. we go with an expectation of doing 5-6 rides/character meets a day plus eating (usually a character meal of there is one, as it saves queuing to meet the characters). And if you do as I outlined above, and get a ride queuing on your DAS while going to do another ride/character meet then there isn't all that much time hanging about. Just getting from one ride to another takes a little while, the parks are huge! And then when you factor in drinks/loo stops etc it doesn't leave much time at all. There are always things like Mickeys Philharmagic to do at MK, or some of the Wolderness Explorer badges to track down and complete in AK. Epcot has a million and one things to do to fill in time - the kids missions in World Showcase are fabulous and we had a lot of fun with those last trip. I'm looking forward to ds being involved in them next year as he will love it. At HS there are eg the Indiana Jones show or Beauty and the Beast show to watch to fill in time. And that's without getting on to things like the sorcerers trading card game, or pin trading etc. really truly, there are so many things to do it will not feel like 'killing time'

I have previously (when dd1 was younger) had special assistance in the States (not MCO). We got a wheelchair - adult sized and not really practical for dd1 as she was 4, and wouldn't stay in it with no straps - and someone to help push/carry hand luggage. We put the bags on the wheelchair, and at least that left us with hands free to deal with dd1 amd dd2 (then 2)! We haven't bothered with booking it again for the other end as it isn't a service which works for us. We do ask any official we see if there is a channel for special needs access, or a lift we could use etc - anything for a quieter queue or area to wait in, as it al, helps. We do use it at the London end, and take the buggy (currently ds', but we are probably about to get a wheelchair/buggy for dd1 as she needs it as a safe space) through to the gate etc.

Re: double bag drop. Google MCO airport. Seriously. It's worht reading up on, as it is an odd layout. There are several walk throughs online, and it is good to familiarise yourself with where you will need to go to collect bags, collect hire car or check in for Magical Express etc. the airport is in two halves, connected by a monorail service.

We haven't used Magical Express before, as we always hire a car. This year we are thinking of private transfers, then collecting the car the next day, to save cursing over fitting unfamiliar car seats (ds still needs a harnessed seat) in an u familiar car without decent intstructions after a long haul flight...

Do NOT drop your bags again at MCO if at all possible! Keep them with you as soon as you pick them up the first time or you will spend heaps more time in the airport. As long as you can get them up an escalator/stairs by yourself then you'll be fine - if you need to do it in a few goes then you need 3 adults. If you can do this it is SO helpful. We never drop our bags a 2nd time now.

And yes, we saw Stitch at Ohana breakfast last year.

Have now googled mco and double drop

Agree, do NOT drop bags if at all possible. That's why we ask all and sundry for elevator access, as we cannot manage the escalators with dc plus bags (and we pack fairly light - 2 medium bags for the 5 of us, plus 3 hand luggage bags). This is where having special assistance, even if you don't use the wheelchair, is useful, as they take you straight to the elevators etc.

It's a long time before we are intending to go but it is hard to pack light with ds and I don't really anticipate that changing overmuch. I would book special assistance for ds. I'm guessing though it alters what luggage you use and what time of bag you use for hand luggage. I wonder how special assistance works with the double drop

As I said, we haven't specifically booked it at MCO as we don't want to b met off the aeroplane (dd1 finds it difficult and it really doesn't help) but dh is very good at flagging people down and asking, and last visit we got someone radioed to help us, and they caught up with us as we were making our way to passport check.

They helped us by finding the elevator, and we had a bt of help with bags - they advised as to where we could hire a porter, and also advised us not to do the bag drop (we were already up to speed on that!).

We manage well enough - it's not streamlined or pretty, but we get through it alive. Generally, I have hold of dd1 and ds (possibly in a sling, but he's getting a bit big for that now) and carry a rucksack and pull a wheeled cabin bag. Dd2 tags along as best she can (also has ASD, but is high functioning and reliably safe) and pulls a wheeled cabin bag. Dh then heaves all the bags about - we use wheeled bags as opposed to suitcases, and he can pull both if unemcumbered by children . There is no way we'd manage even the escalator though, and the lifts are not for common use - you need to be let in and have them activated. Possibly you need to be escorted. My memory is always a little hazy as I am pretty much concentrating on getting dd1 through it all.

After that it works ok, just a standard airport - busy but doable.

I didn't know there was a lift at MCO! I always wondered how people in wheelchairs coped!

Gosh it sounds like you have it nailed! This year was the first time I had attempted air travel at all with ds. I was just too nervous! For us its more working out where the pinch points are before you do it And when we run out of hands eg security And luggage in general.

I had wondered about holdalls instead of suitcases partly as they fold down smaller in the room. However I have a feeling I'm likely to bring lots a few souvenirs home and wonder how protected they would be . I had also wondered about luggage that can piggy back onto a trolley case

Yeah, any time I have to let go of dd1 it gets, umm interesting. So, security points, immigration, etc are a bit of a nightmare. But otherwise we have it down pat now. Dd1 is nearly 11, and we have travelled/flown with her at least twice a year every year. It took until she was 9 at least before I realised that actually, once we get through the on books flash points (security etc), it's actually ok. Food used to be a major issue for us (dd1 was gluten and dairy free) and drink more so - she would only drink one type of drink, out of one type of carton so we had to get exemption letters for the liquids rule so we could take fluids through security, but that is all much easier these days too.

We have brought all sorts of stuff home in our bags - they're kind of like wheeled sports bags, so semi structured. It's all arrived home just fine, usually well padddd by a whole raft of new soft toys that the dc insist they need!

marking place

I wish I'd kept it a surprise. DD asked at half 5 when we were going to see Minnie Mouse.

I'm not sure how to break it to our two, in the car on the way to the airport, on the plane? Dh wants to just not tell them and they can see when we get there but I think that will backfire quite badly and be a little bit underwhelming.

I'd quite like to just wake older dd up by whispering we're going to disney in her ear at 4.30 in the morning of the day we have to leave (leaving at 5).

We have surprised our children twice and decided never to do it again.
They enjoy the build up too much and we experienced two different reactions.
The first time we surprised our children they didn't react at all. They just asked "Really?" then carried on with what they were doing.
The second time we surprised them, they cried because they didn't feel ready and hadn't told friends they were leaving.

I've kept a DLP a secret. Oh man was it difficult! They guessed right on the airplane, but didn't know for sure until we arrived at the hotel.

You miss out of some of that anticipation. But it was huge amounts of fun!

We kept it a suprise once and would never do it again, like Baymax. They LOVE the excitement and the preparation - having FL to look forward to really keeps us all going.

I'm owuldn't keep it a surprise if I wanted to - dd1 needs to know what is happening, and I have to agree set dates by which I will tell her what upcoming travel plans may be - eg I told her she could know by 15 June what/where we would be going in the summer (I'd better get my skates on and get that sorted!) as she needs to know, and cannot bear the thought that it may not be decided yet.

Also agree that the planning is such a part of it - they love saying what they want to do/which character meals they want to go to, and then I come up with a plan/route that takes it all in. I'd miss out vitally important things (like having a Le Frou's brew, for eg - top of dd1's list of snacks, but wouldn't figure in mine again) without asking. And we are all there to have fun.

I don't know how people keep it a surprise. I find myself talking about it all the time. Just at half 5 this morning I did wish she didn't know.

Lucas,

re your comment:-
"I didn't know there was a lift at MCO"

There is indeed a lift in that cavernous space that is called MCO but its not completely obvious to spot once you disembark from the aircraft (its near an escalator and they've finally put up a small sign for it!). Its a small lift with only two buttons in it; 1 and 2. You need to press 2 to make the lift go up to the next level, it will not move otherwise (as some other people had already discovered). There is no indication either to state that you're already on floor 1.

How do you decide what to do on what days so far in advance?

Our ADR is about February 18th so no huge rush but just wondering how is best to go about it. The busy day guide only does about 6 months in advance so I've been having a look at what they recommend for this August and thinking it may be similar next year.

What I do is:

1. Decide how many days you want to be in each park. We are going for 9 days next Feb, and the most likely split will be: MK 2 days, DHS 1 day, AK 2 days and Epcot 3 days, as this is what suits our interests/preferences. That gives me an overall shape to the holiday, and leaves one day for mooching about -DTD, mini golf, swimming, etc. or, if it comes to it, a swap day to secure ADRs/FP essentials.

2. within that frame, work out which restaurants we might want ADRs for, as obviously it makes sense to make ADRs for the parks you are in/near. Also factor in any major plans, eg it is dd2's birthday when we are there, and so MK is set for that day (given what she wants to do).

When released, check out busy day guides - I shouldn't have to wait too long for the Feb 16 guides to arrive in the Dibb, as they already have up to Jan, or I might use touring plans/other sites historical info as a guideline. Work out a rough daily guide along with ADR wants.

The main thing, I have found, is that ADR availability rules (in our case - we defintiely want a lunch ADR each day, as it breaks up the day for us, and works in our situation) and so we phone up at appropriate point with our list of wants, but plans may have to shuffle at that point if no availability, especially if there is a must-do ADR, such as a character meal. I haven't found I have to switch my park days, normally, but may not get eg CRT for the first MK day in the holiday, but do get it for the second - more critical this time around due to dd2's birthday, but if we can't, then we can't. She has given me her wish list for what she wants to do in the day, but we'll have 6 months for her to get over the disappointment if we have to switch days around

It is defintiely more Art than Science, as there are so many variables. But it is possible to get it done. It feels more stressful than it should sometimes, and the main thing to remember is that it is a holiday! Pretty much all of it is good, and so if plans change then they do, if you can't get one particular ADR, the world isn't going to stop turning, there will be somewhere else you can try.

Similar to Panda, I decide how many days at each park and then use easywdw to decide on the best days for each park.
I book the harder to get ADRs as soon as the booking window opens and usually make more ADRs than we need until we firm up our plans.