Florida Disney - some advice please!

[teddymummy]

We are off to Disney in 2 weeks time with 3DC ages 4,4 and 7. Can i ask for some advice please!
Do we need to bring the pushchair- the DTs don't use it hardly at all anymore but a friend suggested it would be useful for waiting/ tired legs. Will it be useful or will it just get in the way?
Should be complete the online ESTA forms or can we just fill them out on the plane?
Any other ideas or advice all gratefully received. Thanks

All the parks have strollers so I would travel without and hire one if you need it.

If you have a lightweight buggy, I would take it. If nothing else, it'll be handy for carrying drinks etc and I bet even your seven year old will finish up in it at some point.

really?

we travelled with DD when she was five. she did six full days in the parks and was still going strong..

having to endless park the buggy is a pain in the ass. Dh had a small backpack. Five of us managed.

i would take one just in case , u need it .

just returned from there one thing i would take is warm clothing ... we got it so wrong apparently 20 degrees below what it should have been ... we took light fleeces t. shirts and we were freezing ....

have you been before ?

Have you a plan of what you want to see ?

You can hire fab strollers at most Disney parks (and the other parks around) - the strollers have shades and places for drinks etc.

We went last yr with 8,7,6 & 3 yr olds (not all mine) and had a fabulous time!!!

I would rent one rather than have to travel with it but if it's a light one and you reckon you can manage with three dcs, all your luggage and it, take it with you.

I am so jealous btw

Have a great time.

We took a lightweight pushchair to Disneyland Paris when DS2 was 4 and he really did need it - he didn't normally nap in the afternoon by then but did have a short nap in there on several occasions.

You need to do ESTA's before you travel - at least 72 hours in advance. You'll also need to fill in the visa waiver forms on the plane so make sure you have the address of where you're staying handy.

We'll be there over Easter - our first visit to Florida and we're very excited! Let's hope the weather has improved a bit by then, I could really do with some sun!

yes should be better by then , it was amazing , how old r u DC mine are 7 & 9 loved it got pics and autographs with Mickey , Buzz etc was great , if get time go to Bush Gardens well worth the drive . and if u like cooked break'y now and then i can recommend the Waffle House ...yummy

My boys are 8 and 6. We've been to Paris a few times and loved it, but it looks like Florida is on a whole other level!

Waffle house sounds good...I think I'm looking forward to all the eating as much as anything else! No cooking for a whole two weeks!

Thanks - did the ESTA forms this afternoon.
Have decided we will take the pushchair- even if just to carry the jumpers, drinks etc. Thanks for the tips about the weather- we are watching the bbc world weather all the time! Have got the unofficial guide to disney today but not read it yet and have only a few rough plans about what we want to see. I am just as excited as the children and cannot wait to see their faces when they see it all.

sounds a good plan .. we ate out a bit,is all a lot of fast food and after a while did long for some greens ...we ate at waffle house most mornings to set us up for the day ...hash browns , crispy bacon oh and the waffles .....
its just a different world out there .... we loved it ...

Magic kingdom is amazing .... there faces .. they will love it , mine were blown away when they saw the kingdom ...
im excited for you ...( how sad.. lol )

After a while you do long for less grease and cheese (they put cheese on everything ). If you do nothing else go on the Simpsons ride at Universal...

Hi!

You'll have an amazing time!! So excited for you, I love Orlando and the theme parks!!
Check out www.thedibb.com for all the great things that you wouldn't find and has all the park info and everything.

If you've got a cheap pram I'd take it as if you need great if you don't then you can just leave it where you are staying. The big shows such as Fantasmic (Hollywood Studios - AMAZING) don't start till 9pm ish and you need to be there about 90mins before to get seats together and after when you've got loads of people leaving at the same time after 10pm then walking miles accross a huge car park - as the trams they have can mean you wait till midnight before you've left the car park! The big Magic Kingdom fireworks start at 8pm and Epcot starts at 9pm. Full show and parade times are on the The Dibb website.
They do stroller hire but its $10 per day plus despoist. The Dibb has all that info.

I couldn't find it when I was there last but as there is 5 of you and I've heard good reviews about an ice cream sundae called the Kitchen Sick it costs about $23 but is huge and contains every flavour ice cream and topping they do.
Its from a restaurant with an american diner theme called Beaches and Cream which is located on the Disney Beach club hotel complex. You can get disney transport there.
www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=155053

You must complete the ESTA otherwise you won't be allowed to board the flight!!
esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html

When you are there pick up all the coupons books etc as you may find that you use quite a few if you aren't just dining at Disney.
(Also you get alot of kids eat free coupons)
I recommend Downtown Disney's Rainforest Cafe, go off peak we had a late lunch at 3pm and we had great service, great food and kids love the atmosphere of being in the rainforest. (Well I do!) www.rainforestcafe.com/

Pondarosa is great for breakfast very cheap all you can eat breakfast buffet which has most things for an american breakfast, (best to avoid on sundays as all the americans seem to go out and you'll have to queue and wait) jello in about 30 colours, popcorn chicken, salad, pancakes, sausages, eggs, waffles, biscuits (like scones), ice cream and much more.
www.ponderosaorlando.com/pages/Menu-06.html

My one must go to restaurant is Bahama Breeze, it was the best meal of the holiday for my group! Check out the website www.bahamabreeze.com/menus/

Have fun

Blimey Nataliejayne, do you work for the Florida Tourist Board?

My top tip - when you get to whatever Disney park you are going to that day get a day guide and work out what parade(s) you want to see and what time they are. Then go to desired rides and if necessary get a fast pass for a later time taking into account the parade times. You need to take your place for the parade around 30 mins before to get a good spot - use that time for ice lollies / drinks / loo break (obviously leaving someone to save your space!)

We bought a cheap stroller ina wallmart for about $15. Much cheaper than hiring one in the parks!!

Thanks you are a great help. My 'Unofficial Guide to Disney World' arrived today from Amazon. OMG it is a full time job making sense of all the things there are to do! We are going to try their daily tour guides though as they seem to offer a sensible route around the different attractions.
We will def take your advice on the parades.
I think I will just take my fairly old and battered nipper instead of renting their strollers- I will save some money there for the ice creams! We are staying on I-Drive so we can use it for going out in the evenings too as many restaurants and shops are within walking distance of our hotel. I know it will be a pain on the buses but we are very slick at prams/buses/planes having been expat for two years when the children were younger. That pram has done some air miles!

When DD was 4y we took her lightweight pushchair. She never used it at home at all However int he parcs it was useful. We did 14 very long, hot busy days in the various parks and it gave DD a few minutes sit down time. Also useful for bags, and for sitting in during parade times. DD sometimes fell asleep at night in it ont he way home too.

You will need to leave it unsupervised near rides, but we were fine with this. Saved us money on hiring strollers. We didn't use it every day, but did for very long days.

It is easier without if you can manage but really not a problem to have one either really.

A year later and DD wpuld definitely not have needed one - went to DLP for a few days that year and was fine without.

You must complete the ESTA forms online before you go. You fill in other forms including the visa waiver on the flight in addition.

We went for my DS's 4th birthday in January and the pushchair was a Godsend. Even when DS didnt use it Nana used it as a zimmer frame and it was great to pile up cardi's etc (it can be cold at night. We also found it easier to mostly walk back to the car at night,as the parks not being that full we were parked close to the entrance