Anyone got a Disneyworld / Florida holiday planned - Part 4

[ChippyMinton]

Hope no-one minds if I start another thread as the old one is full?

Or are you all in Orlando now?

On a 57 day countdown now! Seems impossibly close when it started at over 400 days. I wasn't going to do any Fast Passes in advance but found myself doing a few at the 60 day mark just in case - Frozen Ride, Toy Story Ride, Snow White's Mine Train.

Does anyone have tips about others I should definitely get FP for? Especially the kids type rides as we don't usually do those and I'm not too clued up on what's popular.

What do you all do with your spending money? We don't have a credit card so would have cash but don't want to carry a lot all the time!

FP recommendations for Merricats

Epcot Soarin', Test Track

Hollywood Studios Toy Story Mania, Star Tours, Fantasmic

Animal Kingdom Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari,

I'm going to book FP's for Magic Kingdom - Space Mountain, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain & Its a small world!

The hotels I've been to have all had safes in the room Stiddle (and I've stayed in hotels up and down the scale) .If you stay in a villa I'm not so sure if they have them.

Thanks for the FP tips, glad to see Fantasmic is on there as I booked one for that. Is there actually preferential seating for FP does anyone know? Have googled around but can't find a consensus.

Oh crikey, now I've been reminded about the existence of It's A Small World! Is there anyway of getting a 4 year old to not want to go on it?! DH thinks it is hilarious and has to be done but it almost drove me mad last time. Need an escape plan quick...

MerricatsHouse, that's so funny, because in my house it's ME who is insisting on going on It's a Small World with DH & DS resisting!
I know it's twee and the song is very annoying but in my opinion no visit to the Magic Kingdom is complete without it!

Poptart I reckon there's a for and against contingent in every family about IASW ! I expect I will have to go on it this time just so DS can experience it and finally be the tiebreaker.

Our FP recommendations are:

Magic Kingdom - Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain (or Splash Mountain if you want to get wet)

Epcot - Test Track (or Soarin') - this has two tier FP system and you can only have one top tier ride.

Hollywood Studios - another two tier FP system - I'd go for Toy Story Mania or Rock n Roller.

Animal Kingdom - Everest, Safari and maybe the water rapids.

Merricat - re kid's ride at MK - Peter Pan always has a huge queue, so could use a FP for that.

Hulababy- do you know how fast passes work for Fantasmic please? Do you get reserved seating and do you still have to queue?
Also, can you fast pass parades/fireworks at the MK?

Fantastic - reserved seating for FP+ (and dining reservation packages) but not a guaranteed seat. Think there is a separate queue for FP which is shorter and you tend to be able to get there later on, compared to standby. But as you don't get a guaranteed seat when bus you still need to get there with plenty of time.

The way to get the better seats and to not have to queue as long is to go for a dining package with reserved seating.
Fantastic is a top tier FP option though - however, you can often get it for your 4th FP+ option (available on the day once you have used the first pre reserved three).

Parades/Fireworks - I've seen roped off areas for FP+ in the past but didn't notice them on this visit. Not sure they are still available in Magic Kingdom. The other alternative is to book the dessert party or another dining package, these offer VIP reserved areas.

We've never used FP+ for any of these though, I have to say.

In MK I find it beat to FP rides like Haunted Mansion, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Jungle Cruise etc. as we get there early and do the mountains before queues build up. Because most people FP the mountains or Dumbo/Peter Pan/Speedway the "average" rides tend to get bigger queues than they previously did.

We are tentatively planning our next trip for October 2018 as the baby will be just about to turn 3 (so free!) and the eldest will be 9 (child's tickets!) will probably stay at the Pop Century or Caribbean Beach depending on funds!

It will be my 8th and my husband's 3rd trip. First time with a toddler though so looking forward to a new perspective. We did DLRP with the eldest when she was 2.5 so not entirely new but obviously two weeks of theme parks is not going to be the same!

Thanks Hulababy, I might look into the dining package for Fantasmic.
Do you know if you can use table service credits or is it not included in the DLP?

I think you probably ca ut likely to be 2 table service credits per person; it will say on the My Disney Experience site.

Fantasmic package is one table service BUT not for evening meals now - just breakfast/lunch
We've got it booked for a 2:30pm lunch this time

Similar deal for new river light show at animal kingdom- we're going for breakfast at tuskers house

IamRonnieBiggs - have you booked your dining package for the rivers of light show at AK?
I've just spent ages searching on mydisneyexperience and it is not displaying any showtimes yet for the show and therefore won't let me book a dining package for it?

"We don't have a credit card"

I assume you aren't hiring a car? It would be very difficult if not impossible to hire one without a credit card. All hotel rooms have safes so you would be able to keep your money in there. I took cash and a credit card. I hired a car so they needed my credit card anyway, but it was good to have the safety net of one.

Poptart - yes we've already done it - but it's tuskers for breakfast (I think tiffin is included too)
But it's only breakfast/lunch availability

disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom/rivers-of-light-dining-package/

IamRonnieBiggs- thanks. I've just tried again using your link and it will let me book Tuskers or Tiffin for breakfast or lunch as a stand alone booking, but not as part of the Rivers of Light dining package. There are no dates in August at all to book those restaurants as part of the package?
Really odd. I might have to call Disney.

I've called for a few things and sometimes it's easier!

Hello all, we are looking into booking Orlando for next Easter (2018) as we have a friend who has a villa that we would book, just waiting on flights to become available (Thomas Cook are showing just over £3k for 2 adults 1 child who will be 6, a month away from 7). I'm a complete novice and would love some advice on whether we should be pre booking things, park tickets, etc. Thank you.

Mini - I would prebook tickets and theme park restaurants personally, especially at Easter which is a busy tie for the parks.

Oh you can book park restaurants?!? Is that as part of buying park tickets?

No it's separate. You do it through the WDW website or the MY Disney Experience app/site. You can book up to 180 days in advance.