Q&A with Virgin Holidays - Ask your questions & share your tips on going to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida - 3x £100 vouchers to be won

[EllieMumsnet]

We're going to have the Virgin Holidays experts online on Monday 17th June from 1:30pm - 3:00pm to answer your questions on how to get the most out of a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, from the great value Disney Dining Plans to what to take with you into the Disney Parks, best attractions for different ages or how the Disney FastPass+ service works. This Q&A will work a little like our Live Webchats if any of you have taken part in one before - just ask a question below for the experts at Virgin Holidays to answer!

Not only would we love you to ask your questions below for Virgin Holidays to answer but we’d also like you to share any top tips or helpful advice you may have for other MNers thinking of going to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Here’s what Virgin Holidays have to say: “Planning a dream family holiday to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida can seem a little daunting. What was once ‘just’ the amazing Magic Kingdom Park, is now four entertainment-filled theme parks, plus two water parks, covering a total area the size of San Francisco. And that’s before you add in Disney Springs — packed with shopping, restaurants and attractions in its own right.

Don’t leave the holiday of a lifetime to chance. Here at Virgin Holiday’s we’ve got a whole team of Disney experts to help you with the planning now so you can enjoy the Disney magic even more.”

Post your question for Virgin Holidays and they will be online to answer them on Monday 17th June . Everyone who posts a question or shares a tip will be entered into a prize draw where 3 MNers will win a £100 voucher each of their choice (from a list).*

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply
Webchat guidelines - one question each (follow-ups allowed if there’s time)

*The Walt Disney Company Limited has no responsibility whatsoever with the running of this Prize Draw and shall not be liable for any losses, damages, or costs should a reader make any claim against the promoter as a result of the running of this Prize Draw.

Are the queues insane now? I went to Disneyland and WDW multiple times as a child but now it just all seems So. Much. Bigger.

I’m mentally comparing it to a trip to Legoland recently in the school holidays where we barely managed to go on anything because the queues were so long that it felt like every ride was Wimbledon. I don’t fancy factoring in loo trips and snacks and activities to stand still for half an hour for every different thing we do.

It is good to get the best out of fastpasses, but I would say to just go with the flow as much as you can - you see so many stressed parents and upset kids because there is this huge thing that it's the holiday of a lifetime, and they have to do a million things a day. My tip would be to get a couple of things a day that you really want, but then just wander about, see where the mood takes you, and don't force it.

Other tips would be -

Disney Dining saves a fortune if you can get it free on your booking

There are always off-menu items for dietary requirements and they are all up to speed on that side of things, never making it seem like an inconvenience

Accept you will be exhausted and remember you'll regret late mornings or early nights when you get home!

Go to Uniqlo in Disney Springs if you get there late the first night, stock up on cheap - and generally nicer - Disney t shirts, and be ready for the park first thing

Don't take anything posh to wear - it is more relaxed than you can imagine and you just need to concentrate on comfy shoes more than anything

Take a Primark/Poundland rain poncho for everyone

We've booked to go to Disney with Virgin at the end of June 2020, cannot WAIT!1

We've been before, but still a few questions...

Is the Star Wars section in Hollywood Studios open, and what is there to see there?

I read that you're going to have to give your social media account names to get an ESTA, is this true?

Any top tips for shopping in the Orlando area?

We went last year, our top tips were:-
Take a brita filter drink bottle as it makes their water taste nicer especially if using water fountains in the parks.
You can take food into the parks, this makes it much cheaper than buying it in the parks!
Walmart or Target for Disney themed gifts, again a lot cheaper than in the parks!
For Trials of the Temple at Hollywood studios you need to be there very early to sign your
child up as it fills up very quickly.
If staying off site fast passes open at 30 days out and you'll be lucky to get the Seven Dwarf Mine ride at that point at all, especially at busy times, keep checking during the day as passes can open up later in the day.
If on-site definitely use the extra magic hours and fast passes at 90 days to get on the rides you want to do.
The Disney app lets you book restaurants too, even if you are off-site. This includes the Rainforest cafe which is worth a visit just for the lava dessert.
The DiBB is a great resource, especially for planning when to do which park. They recommend rest days or days at the water parks to chill as it is a lot of walking and you don't want to burn out!
In the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon beware walking through the shallows as the waves receeding can pull a child over and the rough concrete grazes skin very easily.
Animal Kingdom is worth doing the safari early in the morning as the animals are more likely to be about. And you do get wet on Kali River rapids - take ponchos and don't leave them in the lockers by mistake!
Florida was our best holiday so far and we talk of going back now Star Wars land is open!

Also the Sorcerers of The Magic Kingdom card game is worth doing round Magic Kingdom if your children are in to that sort of thing, and it is all free to do as well - and they get cards to keep forever - free souvenirs!

WDW is amazing! My tip is - just go!

With my kids a little older now (13 & 10) what would you say were the best & relevant things for them to do now at 'Disney'? I worry that now they have outgrown the princess/character stage that it wouldn't give us the amazing holiday this should be. Honestly, are the alternative parks out there better for older children?

I would love to take my children, but it's always looked so expensive.

What's the best way to do things? Book early?
Buy everything in a package or separately?

Also, my husband isn't keen to drive in America, is it always necessary to drive, or is busing it also an option?

@SuzCG my first trip was as a 13 year old with older teenage brothers and we loved every minute. Every park has more thrilling rides, and the shows and shopping are great too. Universal has more for teens but everything is so well executed at Disney that you tend to get swept up in it.

@JudgeRulesNutterButter

It totally depends when you go. There are crowd calendars online which show the busiest times there (our holidays are irrelevant).

We've been last 2 weeks in August & been able to walk straight on small rides, never queued for more than 20 mins for small-ish rides & used fast passes & strict planning to limit queues on the headline rides.

Do you have anything to help people with autism to manage the parks, if so how do we put it in place and how does it help?

It's a dream trip with a friend but not sure one DC will cope and its a lot to spend if they can't cope and one of us is in the hotel while the other has all of the DC

If we were to book an Orlando villa as a Virgin holiday, could we find out the address of our allocated villa before we leave the UK, so as to arrange for delivery of a rental disability stroller?

When can you book you book your premium seats for September 2020 please.

How far in advance do you have for New Shows that is happening?

My children are huge Marvel fans, will any new Marvel events or rides be opening within in DisneyLand?

Which is the best hotel to stay in which is close to all the attractions for someone with a disability please?

Are there any provisions at the parks and accommodation for blue badge holders?

My tips would be:
All quick dining places will give a cup of free iced water which is perfect to keep hydrated and not spend $$$ on drinks. we take the Robinsons high concentred squash to encourage the kids to drink it

Take cooling towels, minnie ears and ponchos with you as these also cost a fortune in the parks

Book fast passes as soon as you can at 30 days before (if staying offsite), nothing worse that wasting 2 hours in a queue! and as soon as you've used your 3rd one for that day log on to the mydisney experience app and book another, you can carry on doing this all day. I usually do it while in the fast pass queue so we've got another lined up for when we finish

See as many of the shows as you can, they are amazing and a great rest stop in the air conditioning usually

comfortable shoes are a MUST, you will walk a lot :)

enjoy every minute, its amazing!

we want to stay in a house or villa with a private pool, can you get a package for that with flights or would we have to book all parts standalone?

When is the quietest time of the year to go (term time)? Thanks

Sorry should say not term time!

*American attractions had cheapest tickets for us, which included fast passes and the photo thing where the picture of you screaming on each rollercoaster can be added to your phone (no extra cost)
*Get the Lines app for WDW - it’s mad eby statisticians, has more accurate wait times that the actual Disney one and lets you beat the queues. Also has menus with prices for all the restaurants/quick snack places
*We bought electric rechargeable fans on Amazon for £10 each which were a godsend
*With older children, single rider gets you through queues a lot faster
*Don’t book up every second - heat and walking and jet lag are tiring!
*Part of the Magic kingdom closes for the fireworks, check out where that is and don’t leave the ride you want to go on in that area until last thing. However DO do other rides during fireworks (if you’ve seen them or aren’t keen) to beat the queues
*If you want to dine with characters but don’t care what you eat, see what’s cheapest - I think we did a buffet character brunch for $20 per head, which was enough food for breakfast and lunch
*Epcot has alcohol

My favourite time to go to WDW is for the Halloween celebrations. I'd avoid going in June again because the (amazing) thunderstorms mean the rides have to close regularly.

Which Disney hotel would you recommend to keep two boys (age 11 and 13) entertained and is there anywhere where I could access an example itinerary to make the most of our trip?

Do you have any idea how the Star Wars hotel is likely to work? I understand that it’s an immersive experience as well as a hotel and we are all very keen to find out more!

Currently saving for our trip after going to DLP recently. DP is watching vlogs daily about Galaxys Edge so that he can work out his spending money!

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