DisneyWorld Florida

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Last night the wife and I started discussing our family holiday of a lifetime - Disney!!! Would love to hear any useful hints and tips. Not planning to go till next sept at earliest. My son will be 6 1/2 and daughter 4. Think we want Disney hotels as extra park time, transport and adds to the experience.
 
Get a package that includes all your tickets and park access as it'll save time and hassle once you get there.

The Yanks have got it sussed tho, the service you get over there is way beyond anything you'll get in restaurants, shops, transport here. I was very, very impressed when I went to Disnaey Florida, a few years back. Brilliant holiday. Was in International Drive for a week, then went down to the Gulf Coast for a week of kicking back. Wonderful.:thumbs::thumbs:
 
I went 11 years ago, the memories are still some of the best I have. Be prepared to walk, a lot. The parks are huge. The service is to make sure you have a fun time and it hits the mark everytime. There is lots of walking. Plan your park visits, you won't get everything in one day, each one is like a miniture world, there is lots of walking. The food is huge too, they cater for Yank size hungers. Try a few buffet places, all you can eat for a little cash.
There are lots of things to do outside the parks so take as much in as you can.

Did I mention the walking thing??

Have fun, you will love it!

Phil.
 
phil8139 said:
I went 11 years ago, the memories are still some of the best I have. Be prepared to walk, a lot. The parks are huge. The service is to make sure you have a fun time and it hits the mark everytime. There is lots of walking. Plan your park visits, you won't get everything in one day, each one is like a miniture world, there is lots of walking. The food is huge too, they cater for Yank size hungers. Try a few buffet places, all you can eat for a little cash.
There are lots of things to do outside the parks so take as much in as you can.

Did I mention the walking thing??

Have fun, you will love it!

Phil.
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Yer bloody right about the walkin:lol::lol: but you need to, to work off all the grub you eat as you rightly say, the portions are massive:D
 
We went at the end of March last year - had an utterly fantastic time. My first tip would be to buy a guide book. We were living in the US at the time so our local library had this

http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Gu...8&qid=1361272377&sr=8-3&keywords=disney+guide

We stayed at the Beach Club resort. It is combined with the Yacht Club so gives you access to extra facilities. Reasons for staying there if you have kids:

It has it's own mini-pool complex.
You are across from The Boardwalk area of restaurants.
You are a 2 min walk from your own entrance to Epcot.

My two were 10 and 5 at the time so we spent mornings in the other parks, back to the pool after lunch and then out for dinner in Epcot/Boardwalk.

Unsurpisingly, most of the day revolves around mealtimes and you'll need to spend some time planning this aspect if you take up one of the meal plans. Be aware that bookings open 180 days in advance and some of the more desirable meals, e.g. Princess dinners book up within hours of being available for booking.

Other than that, the other main tip is to make the most of the Fast Passes. Know what rides you want to go on before you arrive and life will be a lot simpler.

If it all sounds like a bit of a military operation, it is a little bit but it actually makes everything less stressful.:)
 
I've been twice with my kids. The first time we made the mistake of trying to do too much and had trips planned for every day....Disney, Busch Gardens, Sea World, Cape Canaveral etc. Result: we almost needed another holiday when we got back! As said above, the Disney parks are absolutely huge...you'll need two days in Epcot alone and even then you probably won't see everything. The only small-ish one is MGM studios.

The second time we left free days just to chill out and sit on the beach or go shopping (although there aren't the bargains there used to be 10 years back). We had a much better time.

You can buy Disney park passes in advance and these work out much cheaper, you still have to pay for parking if you take a car in though. We stayed in one of the Disney hotels the second time and they throw transport to the parks in with the deal.

Worth looking at Virgin if you want an all-in deal. They're fairly well priced, the flights are comfortable and the in-flight meals are actually edible.

Oh, and go back to the parks in the evening. The firework shows are amazing!!

Edit: forgot to say, as you're taking young children try to avoid June, July,and August as the temperatures are very hot and the humidity is intense and really tiring for littlies. We went at Easter, the temperature was in the low 70's and the humidity was fine.
 
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We went in 2010 with virgin and stayed at a non Disney hotel about 2 mins walk from downtown Disney, couldn't fault it. (Probably better than all the lower end Disney hotels too to be honest as they are very basic).

We're talking about going again next year and will probably do the same again.

Food wise tip, if you want a healthier meal, as most of the themed restaurants are glorified junk food then head to a place called the cross roads, 2 mins in a taxi or a 10-15 min walk from downtown Disney and look for a place called sweet tomato, great food and costs much much much less than all the disneyfied places.

And as others have said, pace yourself, loads of walking so do a park one day then a water park or day round the pool the next, if you do a park every day you'll seriously burn out.

And have fun, it's amazing!!!
 
If you can, definitely stay in one of the Disney Hotels...

Caribbean beach is excellent for a mid priced option, or if you want to spend a bit more, stay at the Yacht club!
Not a Disney hotel, but also worth considering is the swan or dolphin - at the end of the river to Epcot.

One of the benefits of staying at Disney hotel is that your keycard is also your park pass and anything you buy in the park can be delivered back to your room - a godsend when you're knackered!

We normally do the parks in chunks of 1 1/2 days, and the 2nd day afternoon is for rest & recovery & pool time, but then we go out in the evening to downtown disney - you MUST go to disneyquest (included in your room key if you get the 2 week option) and then repeat all over again!
The disney hotels all have a laundromat (normally next to the pool area) so don't pack too much clothing.
The Disney transportation system is excellent, but remember at the end of the day when the parks close, there WILL be a queue, but they normally move quite quickly.

you'll be sick of fried food (and the smell of it) by the time you get home, but...

you MUST book at least two dining experiences - the Crystal Palace for a winnie the pooh & friends experience (my favourite!) and it's a 'help yourself' style buffet, but really lovely fresh food. Cinderellas castle also has dining, a bit more formal as they serve you, but you may come away traumatised by meeting all the disney princes and princesses, especially cinderella who wears turquoise contact lenses!!!
Mickeys back yard barbecue is great fun, and the hoop-de-doo musical review is brilliant.
Book these well in advance - before you fly as they get booked up really quickly and queueing for them will destroy your holiday.

Dont forget there are other parks - seaworld is good, a mixture of rides, animal shows (shamu) and displays. Feeding the seals is fun, and the pirate show is brilliant (and a welcome chance to sit down for a bit!) Universal studios would probably be better for younger kids than Universal Islands of adventure.

Don't forget there are age/height restrictions - normally available on their websites, so check out beforehand to avoid disappointment.

Don't take a big camera, you'll be worn out with the heat, a compact is much easier to manage.

if you can, go to kennedy space centre, it's totally awesome but your kids might be a little bored as it's not as full on as the disney experience.

Hope you have a lovely time!
x
 
If you go to a disney hotel it will cost an utter fortune.
I presume you have little ones ?

Look in to a villa rental, much cheaper. The other advantage is you have some space of your own. Doing the rounds at the parks can be pretty busy, so many people will have rest days where they stay at the villa/hotel and use the pool - this is much nicer to do in a villa.
I've stayed at a development called "Glenbrook" which isn't far from disney, its just above the western end of I-92. There are plenty of restaurants etc within a couple of miles and they were much quieter than the ones on international drive (which is the main tourist trap).
Book flights, care hire, villa and off you go.

Far as Disney Magic Kingdom goes it wasn't really what I expected - I thought it'd be much more "disneyfied" than it was. Do stay for the fireworks etc one night though, the fireworks and lights etc at the castle are not to be missed.
The kids will love typhoon lagoon, animal kingdom is good too.

Keep in mind there are lots of other parks - Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios etc.

Go to Old Town in Kissimmee on Saturday night for the weekly car show.

We usually go in September, its not too hot and the US schools go back so its much quieter.

If you need to eat on a budget look at Golden Corral restaurants, they are cheap and the food is ok. Eating in parks is expensive.

Also if you have time consider visiting the gulf coast for a few days. Places like Clearwater or St Petes etc.

there is a website called "the dibb" which has lots of information, worth a read but they are all a bit bonkers from what I've seen.
There is a section on there for villas offered for rent and they use a feedback system so you can have some reassurance.
 
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Have been twice.

Have done the hotel and a villa.

Villa is MUCH better in all ways. If you do want to try the hotel experience just do it for a few days. You will find having a villa to be so much better. Private space, private pool. Actual rooms so when your kids go to bed you have a kitchen and a lounge and garden to relax in. Your kids are still young that they will be going to bed much earlier than you.

Having your own kitchen makes breakfasts so much better. Chilling out in your own space in the mornings.

And to top it all off you'll save an absolute fortune in cost for your villa.
 
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Have a look on THE DIBB, all the info you require and more :)
 
Cheers, some good advice... In an ideal world would like to do SeaWorld, Gatorland, Universal, maybe Kennedy, am sure there will be another place or 2 as well.

Still torn on where to stay. Am still in favour of Disney as it just adds to everything, but will take a look at a villa too.
 
pooley said:
Fantastic family holiday, we did it last year but to be honest taking a 4year old will be very very hard work. It's a brilliant place but waiting another year or 2 would strike a good age balance.

Mike
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That's one of the key considerations. If we went in Sept 2014 son would be six and a half, daughter would be 4 (a month later). Is there a perfect age? Maybe wait until she is six?
 
cambsno said:
That's one of the key considerations. If we went in Sept 2014 son would be six and a half, daughter would be 4 (a month later). Is there a perfect age? Maybe wait until she is six?
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depends on your kids though. Some are more hardy than others.

My kids can spend from 10am till 4pm at alton towers and not even moan once. They are 3 1/2 and 2 1/2

My kids have always walked loads though as we rarely take a pram with us anyway -in fact now we don't even have a pram
 
joescrivens said:
depends on your kids though. Some are more hardy than others.

My kids can spend from 10am till 4pm at alton towers and not even moan once. They are 3 1/2 and 2 1/2

My kids have always walked loads though as we rarely take a pram with us anyway -in fact now we don't even have a pram
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We are the same, they are used to walking loads, and since my daughter was born (James was two and a half) he has not had a pushchair!
 
if you think you can see everything on one visit forget it to do the parks you need atleast two trips there you could do the disney but then you would miss sea world , busch gardens and loads more

the mags from travel agent down give you a scale of things you generally can do 2 parks 1 days rest to be comfy

we have been about 8 or 9 times now and are going again next year too i love the place not been in 12 years alot has changed

you will walk alot and end up with blisters wear good shoes
october / novermber is the best times less que's and still red hot but a nice red hot something very comfortable

hotels are good and disney is good too dont knock villas either

you need a car it is that simple w spoke to people with out a car and they said it was ok but they missed out alot

for example old town done the 192 has something going on most nights

tues or thurs use to be bike night saturday night is car night well worth it

on the side of the road's normally at macdonalds and restaraunts , food places there is boxes outside with leaflet's get them they will save you a few $$ and tell you where and what is on and what there is to do

we have flown in a few times and not booked a hotel gone and got a brouchure with coupon's and saved a few $100 before

so muh to do and see
 
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wegotitugetit said:
you need a car it is that simple w spoke to people with out a car and they said it was ok but they missed out alot
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I wouldn't agree with that at all, we didn't have a car and saw every thing we planned to, shuttle buses zip around between all the Disney parks regularly and for further afield we jumped in a cab as they're that cheap. Local buses are even cheaper still and no hassle to find even with young ones, mine were 6 and 3 when we went.

Even with cab fares to sea world, aqualand, universal, islands of adventure, and a few other even further places it still worked out much cheaper than getting a car (which was incidentally offered free with Virgin but conditional that we had to have insurance).

As said earlier were planning on going again next year and won't be having a car again then either.. And that's from someone that hates public transport.
 
I have to agree with alex about the car. Its more about the freedom of not having to book or wait for cabs and shuttle buses, being able to leave stuff in the car as you go from place to place and just the general freedom to go by your own clock that makes it much better

plus car rental is dead cheap
 
Mark Anthony said:
I wouldn't agree with that at all, we didn't have a car and saw every thing we planned to, shuttle buses zip around between all the Disney parks regularly and for further afield we jumped in a cab as they're that cheap. Local buses are even cheaper still and no hassle to find even with young ones, mine were 6 and 3 when we went.

Even with cab fares to sea world, aqualand, universal, islands of adventure, and a few other even further places it still worked out much cheaper than getting a car (which was incidentally offered free with Virgin but conditional that we had to have insurance).

As said earlier were planning on going again next year and won't be having a car again then either.. And that's from someone that hates public transport.
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yeah but that is just parks what about all the little stuf like shopping malls , the little creeks along the side of the road you can access them unless you go by taxi tthere si so much to do

i understand what your saying but trust me there is alot more to the 192 and international drive then the theme parks half the stuff you wouldnt know was there unless you could drive there
 
cambsno said:
Last night the wife and I started discussing our family holiday of a lifetime - Disney!!! Would love to hear any useful hints and tips. Not planning to go till next sept at earliest. My son will be 6 1/2 and daughter 4. Think we want Disney hotels as extra park time, transport and adds to the experience.
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rent a car, dirt cheap and **** easy to drive in florida. easier then the UK by a country mile.

Rent a villa. again, works out a lot cheaper then a hotel plus u get your own private swimming pool and all self catering as well. i rented a villa for two weeks for around 600 all in

Buy tickets when you are there. get a 1 week pass which allows u to hop on to any of the parks as long and as much as u like for a whole week.

Take a drive down kennedy space centre and coco beach/daytona beach. very nice over there, just east of orlando.
 
A few years ago my wife organised a family trip to EuroDisney. My special treat was that I could stay at home!


Steve.
 
It's an amazing experience. If you are happy to drive while your out there, do! The public busses are rarely on time, and waiting at a bus stop with nowhere to shade for an hour is awful.
 
Bit of an update, have decided to go around March/April 2015. Son will be 7 and daughter 4 1/2 so hopefully a good age. Gonna cost a lot so need to get the planning right.

We will be staying at a Disney hotel - free car parking, plus we cant to capture the whole disney experience and it also give you extra hours and just easier. Will be getting a car too. Sometimes there are deals where the meal plan is included - anyone done this?

Plan to get a 14 day Disney ticket but intend to go around 7 days, with the remainder at Seaworld (1 or 2 days), Gatorland (1 day), Kennedy (1 day). I am unsure abut Universal - it looks slightly geared up for older kids, not sure if its worth the money. Son does love Avengers however.
 
Best holiday we've ever done! You and your kids will have a complete blast... I think my Daughter was almost 4 when we went, and still remembers every single part of it, including just her and her cousin dancing with Woody in one of the processions... :cool:

It's amazing for adults, so just imagine how mind blowing it must be for the kids :cool::cool:

I think someone else above posted about a forum called the DIBB. That's a very good resource to find out info. for your trip.

Enjoy!
 
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we have been to florida on 7 occaisons,staying in various hotels and villas and with Disney at the all star movies resort, out of all the places we have stayed the best for us was at the springhill suites on Vineland near the maingate,it is very close to Disney (about 5 minutes),it is on the end of International drive ,although about 20 minutes from the lively end of Idrive. Personally I don't think the extra cost of staying at disney was worth it,you get enough offers for meals ect out there to warrant not staying there and saving a small fortune to spend on other things at the same time. You have chosen the best time of year to go, the daytime temperature will be bearable but quite cool by night and the queues will be short.Be sure to go the 'Fantasmic' firework show at Hollywood studios, and 'illumiNations at the world showcase,EPCOT they are mind-blowing. If you decide not to stay at disney, buy all of your park passes (Disney/universal/kennedy) in the UK before going as you will get a better deal over here.If you d stay at Disney you can still get your other park passes over here.
 
We went 7 years ago over the christmas/new year break, it only cost us about £2k for 3 of us, including apartment in Kissimmee, flights, car and tickets, all booked seperately, bought 5 day tickets when we got there it was cheaper. Being there for 16 days and only 5 in disney gave us plenty of time to kick around doing other stuff, and overall it was quite relaxing.

The weather was brilliant, 20-25C every day, no rain (I heard it was unusual for that time of year though I guess we were lucky).

Spent christmas day on Cocoa Beach chatting to the locals and poking portugese men-o-war with sticks.

We went to Magic Kingdom twice (once on new years eve, that one day made the holiday on its own), and the other 4 parks once, it was enough, but they weren't too crowded and it was easy to get on rides.

I have to say driving takes a bit of getting used to. Normal roads are OK but the multi-lane ones can be scary. No-one takes any notice of the speed limits and all cars are locked on cruise-control, so they swerve around you from both directions instead of slowing down and doing a proper overtake.

The only downside was the relatively short days.
 
thought i'd revive this thread as we're planning on going next year also, is it booked now simon and what did you choose in the end, what did it cost?
 
My family have just started planning this for 2016. There are 7 adults and two kids, we are getting a huge villa just south of Orlando. Two mini vans, and we are staying for 2 weeks.

Park Tickets are around £650, flights around £700, villa is £250, vans are £250, fuel and food £200. My have mis-remembered a few things but that around the cost so far for two weeks. Time to start saving.
 
pompey306mark said:
My family have just started planning this for 2016. There are 7 adults and two kids, we are getting a huge villa just south of Orlando. Two mini vans, and we are staying for 2 weeks.

Park Tickets are around £650, flights around £700, villa is £250, vans are £250, fuel and food £200. My have mis-remembered a few things but that around the cost so far for two weeks. Time to start saving.
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blimey how have you got flight prices? I'm struggling to see any for 2015 let alone 2016
 
cambsno said:
Bit of an update, have decided to go around March/April 2015. Son will be 7 and daughter 4 1/2 so hopefully a good age. Gonna cost a lot so need to get the planning right.

We will be staying at a Disney hotel - free car parking, plus we cant to capture the whole disney experience and it also give you extra hours and just easier. Will be getting a car too. Sometimes there are deals where the meal plan is included - anyone done this?

Plan to get a 14 day Disney ticket but intend to go around 7 days, with the remainder at Seaworld (1 or 2 days), Gatorland (1 day), Kennedy (1 day). I am unsure abut Universal - it looks slightly geared up for older kids, not sure if its worth the money. Son does love Avengers however.
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Perfect time to go, we went march april this year, temp was around 26 degrees, all the advice given on here is great, if you get a chance book a day at discovery cove, it might seem a bit expensive but you get to swim with dolphins and snorkel in the reefs with the fish and rays, its all inclusive too, so as much food and drink as you want and its top class, places are limited so its never overcrowded and the groups that want to swim with the dolphins are small about 6 or 7 people.
Kenedy space centre is interesting and the new shuttle exhibition is amazing, take the tours around the launch sites too, you might not be able to to into the assembly building as they said when i was there that they are closing it due to refitting it for the new Orion rocket.
 
That's based on prices now in the time we want to go in 2016.

But it's a good estimate price I would think.
 
As has previously been advised, log on to http://www.thedibb.co.uk All the tips and advice you cold possibly need. You can spend days reading and making notes about all things WDW and more.
We are going this September, our 4th visit but first time staying in a villa. Everything is booked and sorted, flights, estas, insurance, car hire, park tickets etc etc. we have saved a pretty penny by checking info on Dibb.
 
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