Who's visiting in 2024?

[MaryShelley1818]

So...who's booked to go this year and what's your plans?
I visited very regularly between 1989-2015 but now haven't been for 9yrs so lots of changes.
It will be me, DH, DS6 (loves Harry Potter, Star Wars and Marvel) DD3 (loves the princesses and Minnie Mouse). It will be DH and kids first trip but we have been to Disneyland Paris (DS 4x and DD 2x).
We're staying in Cabana Bay at Universal for 8nts and then Pop Century at Disney for 13nts.

We are off for our first visit in 3 weeks, flying out on 27th. I know it’s going to be mad with Spring Break but I couldn’t face the August heat!

We’re staying at Caribbean Beach for 11 nights so plenty of time to do the parks (just Disney) without breaking our necks.

We're flying to Orlando in July, myself, DH and DS 16.

We're doing 4 nights on International Drive. So far we've booked Discovery Cove and Seaworld. We got Black Friday deals so have queue jump and food and drink at Seaworld. We haven't booked anything else but I kinda fancy just hanging around and seeing parts of Orlando we haven't seen before.

We are then going on an 8 night cruise.

I am soooo excited.

I did read a post saying that July is the worst time to go, it's US school holidays, everything is super busy and it's far too hot and humid. Anyway, I don't care!!!

Me! We are going for 16 nights in May. It'll be first time for me and the kids, DH went several times as a child.

Staying in Buena vista, got tickets for Disney and universal but also planning some beach days and a bit of exploring. Really excited, can't believe we're finally going, got pushed back a couple of years by COVID, then illness.

Will be me, DH, DS 13 and DD 7. Flying with virgin and hiring a car. Did Disneyland Paris last year but this feels like it's going to be huge compared to that.

Me also not been for 10 years (last in Nov 2014) we go in October for 2 weeks, 1 week at Disney 1 at universal am so excited not been on holiday since pre Covid

We are religiously watching YouTube videos by Ear Scouts, Mammoth Club and Disney Food Blog in preparation!

We're going in April for 2 weeks.
Flying to Miami stay one night then driving to Orlando.

I've booked a lovely house with a pool, dh has booked the car and hotel, ordered our park passes this week, the 14 day combo.
Looking forward to it now.
Four adults going, we all like the rides.
We used to go regularly when our dcs were young but not been for 15 years.

What I'm struggling with is how organised we are going to have to be on this trip. Its way too complicated than it needs to be, we're on holiday ffs.

Back in the day we took walkie talkies to speak to each other in the parks, had paper maps 😂

We're going to Orlando this June for a week before going on a Disney cruise form Port Canaveral. Decided to skip Disney this time and will go to Universal instead with a package from Discovery Cove that includes 14 day access to SeaWorld and Aquatica.

We haven't decided on Kennedy Space Center yet and I'm also looking forward to a quick trip to Kelly Springs to flow down the river on tubes.

We now live in the US so shorter journey for us, should be fun.

We got back yesterday. It was amazing, but exhausting! more than happy to share tips and recommendations if anyone wants them.

@CaveMum yes please 😁 disney and universal. Not been in 15 years so watched the youtube but any new tips would be great.

Any ideas on where to eat in Kissimmee? We used to go to Pucini's and Bennigans but been told they've gone.

I'm currently packing, my disney ears and tshirts are in 😂 we fly on Tuesday.

@HouseInTheMiddle we only did Disney and stayed on site the whole time so I can’t comment on Universal or external places to eat!

The main things I can think of:

My tips for getting the Virtual Queue for Tron/Guardians:

Have your party confirmed in the app by 6.55am

Disconnect from the Disney WiFi and use mobile data

At 6.58 open the virtual queue and get ready.

At 6.59 start hitting that Refresh button like you life depends on it!

As soon as the Join Queue button appears, hit it!

This method never failed us (Tron x 3 and Guardians x 4). The principal is the same for the 1pm queue. Bottom line is if you wait until 7am on your phone clock you will be too late as the slots go in seconds!

Play around with the My Disney Experience app now. Get familiar with it so that you can navigate it easily once you are there.

When you go through security at the gates, take anything that might set the metal detectors off out of your bag and hold it in your hands with your arms stretched out in front of you as you pass through the gates - portable battery chargers, aerosol cans (suncream/bug spray), glasses cases and umbrellas are notorious culprits.

Thank you for the virtual queue tip, the apps are a new thing for me. I've looked at them but not really paid attention. More homework 😂

We're just back too. Didn't manage to get on Guardians - that's a great tip there!

Definitely get familiar with the apps. Very handy for planning your days

I walked 117km in 12 days so prepare your legs!! First week I had pains in feet and legs at bedtime (and I'm fairly fit). Was used to it by second week.

We didn't mange to visit Animal Kingdom or Volcano Bay which we had passes for. So much to fit in so plan, plan! We also didn't get up at crack of dawn as, well, it's a holiday too. Dread to think what our step count would have been if we had!!

Oh yes the walking! I have a step tracker and my highest step count on one day was 26,409 (think that was Animal Kingdom!) My lowest day was 17,543 which was the day we did Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Springs (then popped back to MK to have dinner and see the Fireworks), so that gives you an idea of activity levels.

I have heard of The Disney Rash, a friend suffered from it on her trip last year, but thankfully none of us got it. It's a combination of lots of walking and the heat apparently but it's harmless and fades once you are back and in a normal routine.

We are two parks in.
Absolutely loving it here. Weather is amazing.

The tip for the virtual queues works a treat, today we did Guardians (wow!) we got the front car which was a surprising treat and Tron yesterday (wow again!!). We got in with the 1pm chance. You can spot the people trying to get in the queue 😂

Tomorrow is a down day for us, there's rugby on back home so we will watch that then do some outlet shopping.

Its been 15 years since we last did this holiday and some things have changed but it still feels familiar in a funny way. Disney Springs has just exploded, so many garages which are new to us.

I've been there the past 5 days, staying in the four seasons hotel. Did one park a day, animal kingdom only took half a day so we went back to Magic Kingdom. Had a VIP tour guide, they drive you from the hotel and get you past the queues, expensive but worth it.

What are the queues like this week? The crowd levels show the parks are very quiete and only 20-30% capacity!

We're flying out on 30th July for 2 weeks - first time for all 3 of us (me, DH and DS11) and we can't wait! We're staying off site at the LBV resort village & spa and have a hire car. Disney & Universal tickets are sorted, and we're hoping to squeeze in a day at the space centre too.

@LadyR77 we are staying there too, setting off in 15 days! It's our first time as a family too, starting to get a bit nervous. But mostly excited.