Disney World???
 

I am planning on taking my family to Disney World sometime within the next 12 months, I have been there back in 1991 when I was 12. So I am sure that somethings have changed. Anyhow I am just looking to see if anyone has any tips for a guy planning to take his 3 children and wife...

Any suggestions are welcomed...

Re: Disney World???
 

just go to Knoebels! Free parking and free entry...

Re: Disney World???
 

There are endless tips. Check message boards...they are a treasure trove.

[url=http://www.disboards.com]The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com - Powered by vBulletin[/url]
[url=http://www.mouseplanet.com]Home Page of MousePlanet.com, your resource for all things Disney[/url]
[url=http://www.allears.net]Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Vacation Information Guide - WDW Planning Guide - Walt Disney World[/url]

That's just afew of the bigger ones.

Re: Disney World???
 

by the disney book. and have a plan

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=dmek25;707468]by the disney book. and have a plan[/quote]

Please tell me more about this Disney book, would I find it on amazon?

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=WaldSkins;707461]just go to Knoebels! Free parking and free entry...[/quote]

Haha...no man, Dutch Wonderland is where it's at.

Re: Disney World???
 

yes, you can find it on amazon. it covers every detail of the park. along with times, and suggestions on when to visit certain parts of the park. before going, set up a plan, along with times, on when you want to visit the different themes of the park. stick to your agenda, and you will accomplish a lot. how long are you going? there is just sooo much to do. if you don't have a plan, your screwed

Re: Disney World???
 

I haven't been since I was a child. I remember around Abcot center had the best food.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;707883]I haven't been since I was a child. I remember around Abcot center had the best food.[/quote]

I always thought Trample and First might be related...Abcot?!?!...that kills me.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=Redskins8588;707460]I am planning on taking my family to Disney World sometime within the next 12 months, I have been there back in 1991 when I was 12. So I am sure that somethings have changed. Anyhow I am just looking to see if anyone has any tips for a guy planning to take his 3 children and wife...

Any suggestions are welcomed...[/quote]

I went with my 3kids last year. The breakfast at the castle is an excellent event if you have a girl or 2 or 3 (i have one). All or nearly all the Disney princesses walk thru the castle and come to each table. They sign autograph books, and my girl got to see her favorite. She is basically over disney princesses but it still made her eyes light up. Also, be prepared for LONG days, especially if you aren't staying on property. The closing parade is an excellent show. We went on the 4th of July and the fireworks over the castle, also excellent.

Read the books, and get an understanding of FastPass, and if possible make a plan for the rides you really want to get to. My girl and I got to ride the water floom, which had a 90-100 minute wait, 3 times in an hour by creative fast pass and good fortune.

Finally, pick a ride for each kid, and go on it, just you and the child, in a good seat for pictures and get the ride photo. I have one of me with each of my kids and they have the same photo in the Disney frame for the ride. I hope it's a memory we will each share for a lifetime. (I know I will treasure each one, I hope they will!) My oldest son and I rode the Matterhorn, my daughter and I did the Briar Patch water floom, and my 2nd son and I did the lazy river.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=FRPLG;707884]I always thought Trample and First might be related...Abcot?!?!...that kills me.[/quote]

Like I said, I haven't been there in a long time. I was also too lazy to look it up. He knows what I mean. Epcot / Apple-cot ehh whatever! Just remember that they have the best food over there.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;707890][B]Like I said, I haven't been there in a long time.[/B] I was also too lazy to look it up. He knows what I mean. Epcot / Apple-cot ehh whatever! Just remember that they have the best food over there.[/quote]


So does that mean you spell sex "esx" because you have not done that either in a long time, LOL!

Re: Disney World???
 

I took my daughter around 15 yrs ago and we went between thanks given and Christmas and the place was not very crowded. The longest we ever waited in line was under 5 min. and there was several times we could just stay on a ride and ride it again. We went on Space Mountain 100 as thee was no line and we wanted to hit the 100 mark. I also recommend if this is a one time deal wait until all the children are tall enough to ride the rides.

Re: Disney World???
 

If you're going in the middle of the summer, be prepared for hot ass weather, crowds, and long lines. My wife grew up in Windermere, just 10 minutes or so from downtown Disney, so I'm very familiar. I'm sure it's a dream for a little kids, but that place is a total shitshow in the middle of the summer. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, just shooting you straight.

City Walk is a fun area for you guys to get a bite to eat. Grab a cocktail at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. The roller coasters at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure are sick. Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk were my favorites.

We always went in late winter/early spring when the heat wasn't brutal and the lines were very small, but I know that's not an option for people with kids in school.

Re: Disney World???
 

GM is correct. SUmmer is Way hot and rains daily if you are in the tropical months. Go November to April if possible. Guarantee of great weather. Long lines do doubt, but Disney does everything right. Check out the "Fast Pass" and naturally you will get a package deal of some kind with your adnission tickets included...better pricing. Stay ON Disney property. It's not the same if you have to commute daily to D-world. You'll have a blast!

Re: Disney World???
 

My tips:

- I personally don't like feeling like I need to keep a schedule on vacation, so the number one tip is stay on Disney property. The free bus transportation from park to park, resort to resort, etc. makes things REALLY easy, and you don't need as much of a plan. You gain a lot of flexibility since buses are constantly coming and going to your resort. This is key with three kids like you have, if one or two need to head back for a nap or a pool break, you or your wife could hop on a bus and take 'em back to the resort, and easily meet up with each other later. They've got resorts in lots of price ranges, Grand Floridian for the five star, or Pop Century for the three star, and everything in between. You can pick which of the parks you want to be near, and from there find something in your price range.

- Get the park/hopper pass and a meal plan. Their restaurants are first class, especially around Epcot. Some of the nicer restaurants that I'd consider must eats: Canadian Steakhouse in Epcot, the Brown Derby in MGM, and Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian. They'd get pricey if you weren't on the meal plan. I forget the cost of the meal plan, it ranges. But I liked it and thought it was worthwhile, because you can hit a lot of Disney's nice eats, and there are plenty.

- Some of my favorite to do's: the safari ride at Animal Kingdom, the Fantasmic show at MGM, Luminations show at Epcot (fireworks nightly), Royal Roundtable at Cinderella's castle in the Magic Kingdom (the princesses come around to your table), Mission Space at Epcot, the Indiana Jones show at MGM (pyrotechnics!), Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom (coaster in the dark), and the Tower of Terror at MGM (twilight zone-themed ride where a posessed elevator drops you into a freefall).

- Use the fast pass system. Go to a ride, acquire a "fast pass". It gives you a time to come back to the ride, and if you do so, you skip to the front of the whole line. You get so many more rides in this way.

- If you've got small kids, manage the potty breaks. Every time you pass a restroom, take advantage!

- I've stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (giraffes, flamingos and elephants walk right up to the fence lining the back of the property, pretty great), and the Wilderness Lodge. Both are four-star type places, and both were an amazing time.

- Go in November if you can. Good weather (low 80s), and there's a wine and beer tasting festival around Epcot.

We're taking the family in October or November of 2011 (we plan way ahead, lol). We can't wait.

Re: Disney World???
 

If you have to go durn the crowed time just put one of your kids in a wheel chair and you can skip having to wait. Heck with three kids they could take turns each day riding in the chair and a fake cast is a great added touch.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=Schneed10;707909]My tips:

- I personally don't like feeling like I need to keep a schedule on vacation, so the number one tip is stay on Disney property. The free bus transportation from park to park, resort to resort, etc. makes things REALLY easy, and you don't need as much of a plan. You gain a lot of flexibility since buses are constantly coming and going to your resort. This is key with three kids like you have, if one or two need to head back for a nap or a pool break, you or your wife could hop on a bus and take 'em back to the resort, and easily meet up with each other later. They've got resorts in lots of price ranges, Grand Floridian for the five star, or Pop Century for the three star, and everything in between. You can pick which of the parks you want to be near, and from there find something in your price range.

- Get the park/hopper pass and a meal plan. Their restaurants are first class, especially around Epcot. Some of the nicer restaurants that I'd consider must eats: Canadian Steakhouse in Epcot, the Brown Derby in MGM, and Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian. They'd get pricey if you weren't on the meal plan. I forget the cost of the meal plan, it ranges. But I liked it and thought it was worthwhile, because you can hit a lot of Disney's nice eats, and there are plenty.

- Some of my favorite to do's: the safari ride at Animal Kingdom, the Fantasmic show at MGM, Luminations show at Epcot (fireworks nightly), Royal Roundtable at Cinderella's castle in the Magic Kingdom (the princesses come around to your table), Mission Space at Epcot, the Indiana Jones show at MGM (pyrotechnics!), Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom (coaster in the dark), and the Tower of Terror at MGM (twilight zone-themed ride where a posessed elevator drops you into a freefall).

- Use the fast pass system. Go to a ride, acquire a "fast pass". It gives you a time to come back to the ride, and if you do so, you skip to the front of the whole line. You get so many more rides in this way.

- If you've got small kids, manage the potty breaks. Every time you pass a restroom, take advantage!

- I've stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (giraffes, flamingos and elephants walk right up to the fence lining the back of the property, pretty great), and the Wilderness Lodge. Both are four-star type places, and both were an amazing time.

- Go in November if you can. Good weather (low 80s), and there's a wine and beer tasting festival around Epcot.

We're taking the family in October or November of 2011 (we plan way ahead, lol). We can't wait.[/quote]

Good stuff! Thanks!

I never even knew there was a meal plan:
[url]http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw_nextgen/CoreCatalog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2010Dining.pdf[/url]

Re: Disney World???
 

Good advice from Schneed. I've never tackled Disney with small children, but Fast Pass/staying on Disney's campus definitely seems like the way to go.

I remember my parents taking me to Disney when I was 4 years, just about 4 months before my little brother was born. I had so much fun, and I know that because I still remember several parts of that vacation, and it was 27 years ago. I'm sure you and more importantly your kids will have a wonderful time.

We also saw a shuttle launch when we were down there. Despite only being 4, I remember it vividly. When I was little I loved trucks, cars, Star Wars, and all that stuff. Seeing a space shuttle take off at that age was just about the coolest thing in the entire world.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=GMScud;707918]Good advice from Schneed. I've never tackled Disney with small children, but Fast Pass/staying on Disney's campus definitely seems like the way to go.

I remember my parents taking me to Disney when I was 4 years, just about 4 months before my little brother was born. I had so much fun, and I know that because I still remember several parts of that vacation, and it was 27 years ago. I'm sure you and more importantly your kids will have a wonderful time.

We also saw a shuttle launch when we were down there. Despite only being 4, I remember it vividly. When I was little I loved trucks, cars, Star Wars, and all that stuff. Seeing a space shuttle take off at that age was just about the coolest thing in the entire world.[/quote]

That is good to know, we were thinking 4 for our son as well. He is 2 right now and next year we want to move so the following year he will be 4 and money won't be as tight also becasue we will have already moved.

Re: Disney World???
 

[quote=mredskins;707919]That is good to know, we were thinking 4 for our son as well. He is 2 right now and next year we want to move so the following year he will be 4 and money won't be as tight also becasue we will have already moved.[/quote]

I'd just make sure the child is tall enough to ride the rides.