Off to Orlando in 2 days time, any last minute tips?

[ElizabethWakefield]

We have passes for all the parks and are hoping to fit in as much as possible. We have 5 kids in our group 10, 9, 9, 8 and 5yrs.

So, looking really for advice on must do things, best things, or things your family really enjoyed.

We want to do a day at the beach too, it looks as tho we are within an hour or 2 of a couple, so which is the best?

We also want to do a bit of shopping, hopefully getting a few bargains, so any advice on where would be best to go for that too would be great!

So excited!

OMG yes, how could I forget about Millennium Mall . The Cheesecake Factory is in there - fabulous. We bought loads and loads of stuff at this mall.

woo hoo! Just booked for breakfast on our first day at Cinderellas table. I know from experience we are always up at about 4am so tend to do a park the first day (DH says to get it over with)
Wanted an early one but they only had 10.15am or 2.05pm which presumably was lunch so booked the 10.15 breakfast as with lunch I've found its always a mad rush to get out to see the parade. Presumably the earlier slots were already booked.
Can't believe I've just spent $219 on breakfast. It had better be good!

So glad I saw this thread as otherwise I wouldn't have booked til nearer the time and probably wouldn't have got in. Thanks for the reminder about bibbity bobbity wotsit. We'd been meaning to do this but had planned on the one in downtown disney so that we don't 'waste' valuable park/rides time.

EW hope you have a fabulous time make sure you come back and let us know how it all was.

No - was too expensive for us - we took dd1 to the barber shop on main street and they gave her haircut, styled it and covered it with pixie dust for about 10 dollars and put her in her cheapy tesco aurora dress.. she's only 4 so she didn't know any different - might not get away with it next time - because there will be a next time

Boys might be interested in the pirate makeovers they do in adventureland - can't remember the name at the moment - but similar sort of thing but you can get skulls and things facepainted on...

I would highly recommend Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios.
The 2nd showing is ALOT quieter. We go at Easter when its mega busy but always manage to just walk in for the 2nd showing and have good seats.

Also, for some chill out time take the boat from Epcot to Boardwalk - have a chilled out stroll or lunch (you may see a Disney Wedding in progress here too) and then catch the boat onto Hollywood Studios.

If you want to save a few $$ then you can get some pretty decent Disney tat for alot less money at Walmart. We get the kids their autograph books,pens, lanyards (with our contact details in - incase they get lost) and a few other bits of Disney tat. We do buy some "proper Disney Tat at WDW as well but for niffnaff Walmart is cheap and good. You cn also stock up on a few bottle of water and snacks to take into the parks with you.

Dont bother with Wet and Wild even if its included in any tickets you have! Tis not worth wasting any of your holiday time there. There are alot better water parks.

Have a wonderful time!! AM very green with envy!

Mumoverseas - I know the feeling - we gulped quite a bit as well - ours wasn't so expensive as dd2 is under 3 so 'free'. It will be worth it - the look on my dds face when I told her we'd be having breakfast in the castle with cinderella was worth every penny and nothing beats actually going inside the castle

dear god, I have just spent 146 pounds on breakfast!
I can't wait to see the look on DDs face. She will have just turned 4 a few weeks before so a belated birthday treat. Thinking about it I should maybe not have booked for DC1 and 2 and given them $10 each to get something in the park but ho hum, its the last time they will come with us and I'm sure DS1 (aged 17) will flirt with the princesses

Oh yes fantasmic is great - although both dds found it a bit scary at times. They do a meal deal thing where you have lunch in one of 3 restaurants and you can get priority seating - so you don't have to queue Again you have to make a reservation (but not so advanced!) and pay a deposit at time of booking.
Definitely do Toy Story mania at Hollywood studios - great ride - also little ones will love the playhouse disney show..

Oh if its even vaguely near her birthday - tell them - they'll make a real fuss of her!! It doesn't have to be a her actual birthday - you can just be 'celebrating' it - its their theme for this year. We spent 3 weeks 'celebrating' our 10th wedding anniversary and got badges and certificates and congratualtions from everyone - makes you feel extra special - if thats possible in Disney

Who is it that is going in October? And are you there for Halloween?

That will be me Gay and yes,there for halloween.
We went a few years ago (actually, thinking about it it was more like 5 or 6 years ago) and were there for halloween but didn't do a Disney park that day as it was silly money to get in, additional on top of the price of our hopper passes. Think we went to Seaworld which was nice, lots of treat and treating for kids.

On the disney ticket subject, does anyone know if its possible to check how many days you have left on hopper passes before you get there? We are a little confused about how many days we have left and would rather know in advance before we turn up at the ticket turnstile on day 1 (before our somewhat expensive breakfast!)

You won't find any reference to Millenium Mall. It is actually named the "Mall at Millenia" (its located on Conway Road on I4).
Both the California Pizza Kitchen and Cheesecake factory there are fab.

Also another mall worth a visit is the Florida Mall.

Just checking the thread between ironing and packing (we leave tomorrow, hurrah!!!) Thank you for the mall tips, all sounds great.

And we will be sure and mention our youngest's birthday at every opportunity

In October, Magic Kingdom do the best Halloween party in the world. They do several nights of it, and yes, to go on actual Halloween is about twice as much. We went last year and can't wait to do it again this year. In fact they all do good Halloween stuff.

Counting down the days now

EW take a long a large 'birthday boy/girl' badge and make your DC wear it every day

scrappy whats the fantasmic thing?is that the fireworks at MGM or hollywood studios as it is now? Not been there for years, the last few visits we've concentrated on the other parks. So with the meal thing, if you book a table at certain restaurants you get priority seating for fireworks? I remember last time we went having to go and get seats about 2 hours before it started!

Gay, its not MK that ban dressing up is it (for halloween) was reading a while ago about reviews of halloween stuff out there and one park refuses entry to anyone wearing fancy dress. Sounds a bit daft to me. So are you there this oct too? We really need a MN secret sign

I will try to find a birthday badge right away! It will be the longest 5th birthday ever!!

Have finished packing, but am slightly concerned by the amount I have! Within limits of what we are allowed, but I wanted more room in the case for coming home, although I suppose it will be minus toiletries etc on the way back...

Don't take too much, think about your shopping!

If you are in a villa you will have a washing machine and tumbledryer so no need to take too much.

I always take just a few bits for the kids and then buy their next years wardrobe in the Oshkosh factory outlet shop (off 535 at Lake Buena Vista shopping outlet) - its about 2 mins from the 192.

Have a fab time x

Don't buy a birthday badge - go to guest services first thing and they will give you an official disney birthday badge for free!!They also have ones for first visit, anniversary, wedding, engaged etc etc

With regards to dressing up - on a normal day only children are allowed to dress up - I don't know what the cut off age is but they don't allow adults to dress up to avoid confusion with the official characters (I know but them the rules). For the Halloween party event I think everyone is allowed to dress up and some people really go to town but I would just double check when you book..

Fantasmic is a show with fireworks done in a special arena with water, light effects, music and everything - dd's didn't like it cos the 'baddies' were in it and she got scared - also fireworks were loud and intense. I loved it - it is amazing. The deal was if you made an adr (advanced dining reservation) for a lunch seating you got into special designated seating see http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/fantasmic-dinner-package/ here we turned up around 1/2hr before the performance and had no problems getting a seat whereas the rest of the arena was standing room only at the back.. so well worth it if you have impatient ones! There is also a finding nemo dining package in animal kingdom - buffet lunch at tusker house restaurant then priority seating at the last show of the day...

Also my tip for fantasmic would be to go and buy some cheap glowsticks and spinny things in walmart so you won't be fleeced on the evening because 'mummy EVERYONE else has one!!' same goes for all night parades and fireworks. We had loads and were able to share our glosticks with all the children around us which was a nice thing to do - sharing the magic!

Can't help about the hopper pass I'm afraid as we always but the ultimate pass here in the uk - try posting a query on the forum I posted a link to earlier - they maybe able to help there.

oh sorry link didn't work - here

Just popping into the thread to say 'have a fab time'. I'm off in 2 and half weeks and so excited! I love Florida.

Great tips here! I can't wait for December - I've also booked breakfast with Cinderella, but just for myself and DD; I'm packing DH and DS off to Universal that day to see the Marvel heroes (would have been wasted on DD so we get Cinderella instead as our girly treat ).

Am definitely copying some of these tips into my special Disney notebook (not laminated yet, though!!!) - we've been planning this trip for 3 years and I think I'm more excited then the DCs. To be fair, though, they don't really understand the scope of what's in store for them - I'm going to avoid tell them too much as I just want them to be blown away when we get there.

Anyone else going in December??

Very of you going in december - I've always wanted to do disney at Christmas - we have a disney tradition of buying a tree ornament there every time we go. It is the busiest time though so be prepared for crowds - and it actually might be worth planning a little more than you normally would just so you don't spend all day in queues and only do 3 rides.. so laminate away! Do check the disney website as they have list of all rides that are open and closed - like I said before they are doing a major refurb in fantasyland which involves moving dumbo, closing toontown and building princess castles...
I have a disney notebook as well that gets amended every so often...just in case I have to do an emergency trip
Are you going to mickeys very merry christmas party? The candlelight processional is also mant to be very good.

scrappy - we're going from the 6th to the 17th so hopefully not too crowded yet (staying at the Coronado Springs). Can't wait to see the decorations, though! We're not doing the Christmas party - budget will be tight as it is. And I don't think the DCs (will be 8 and 6 at the time) will be interested in the processional. It's our first time, I think they'll be overwhelmed as it is!!!

(I've been lurking on the DIS boards for aaaaages and hoarding all the good tips - Disney notebook explained!)

Ah - yes - I go on there as well - home of the true 'disney mom'. My dh wound me about planning and making adrs 6 mths ahead etc but did conceed that I really wan't that bad when I pointed out the 'mom' with the mickey filofax with lamainated maps and daily plans and a tick list of what they had 'achieved' that day (I kid you not). Although I absolutely refuse to have a 'fanny pack' on principle!

Pmsl at the mickey filofax!!!! I promise not to laminate any plans!

Oh I want to go at Christmas now as well!