Ask the Resident Disney Cast Member

[udsweetpea]

Since I work (and practically live) at Walt Disney World, I have quite a wealth of knowledge about the parks and resorts. Eventually, I want to start a Disney guide thread on here, but for now, if anyone has any questions regarding Disney World, please feel free to ask! I love to help!

[MrsWilson]

DH and I were just down there in April with his band (he is a band director at a local high school.) We had to do what all was planned, so we are hoping to go back again. What time of year is the best? And, he is a big Star Wars fan, so he'd love to come during the Star Wars Weekend thing. Good idea? I'd love any tips on where to stay. Oh, and one more thing. I've heard that if you rub Tigger's belly, you aren't rubbing his belly--you're a little lower. True?

[udsweetpea]

I have found the slow times to be the week right before Christmas, September, October, and January (but not New Year's). Those are also some of the cooler months as well.

I checked out the Star Wars Weekends this year for the first time, and I'd be disappointed with them if it I were a big fan and came there especially for that. They go on mostly during May, which is quite crowded and hot.

As far as recommendations on where to stay, I strongly suggest staying on Disney property instead of a hotel outside of the gates. My suggestions for each category...

Value- All-Star Sports (a little cheesy but good if you're on a budget)
Moderate- Port Orleans Riverside (very relaxed atmosphere with a river going through the property.. a boat can take you over to Downtown Disney, which is very relaxing.. not as many little kids)
Deluxe- Wilderness Lodge (if you love the Pacific Northwest feeling) or BoardWalk (1940s Atlantic City theme)

This goes for anyone... I can get a 40% discount for friends (and I consider you all friends) on any resort (as long as there is availability) if you're comfortable giving me your credit card number/expiration date. But I completely understand if you're not comfortable with that. Just thought I'd throw out the offer.

And the thing about Tigger, he's a real live tiger, not a person ;) so I believe his genitalia (or lack there of) is in the correct place ;)

[MrsWilson]

Thanks for the info! We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside in April and it was wonderful. I loved how relaxed it was and the river was so pretty!

Glad to know we are better off planning our trip when the crowd and weather are better than for the Star Wars Weekend. Our anniversary is in October so maybe one year we can plan for a trip!

Oh, and when we were down there, we chaperoned on GradNite. It was the best experience of the whole trip. Well, except all the kids that decided to get into fights. I loved not having strollers run me over! We never waited in line for any of the rides and the fireworks at midnight were wonderful! One of my favorite pictures was of just that!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d823b3127cce91a7a0f85b0a00000015108ActHDNi1YuI

Another question, how long are all the decorations going to be on Cinderella's castle? I heard they are temporary.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d823b3127cce91a7a04c5bbe00000016108ActHDNi1YuI

You got any more hints or helpful advice? I love Disney! DH thought I was a complete nutcase because I had to take a picture of every character I saw! I think it is a great Idea for you to have a thread!

[udsweetpea]

GradNite sounds awesome! The thought of no strollers excites me to no end!

I'd say the decorations on Cinderella's Castle will be up at least until next May. There's no way they're going to be permanent. I've found not a lot of people like these decorations. :confused:

Right now, I'm in the middle of eating dinner, but I'll post more tips and everything later :)

[bellaprincess]

Hi Andrea ,
Don't know if you remember me, but I posted in your WC journals a couple of times! Hope you're doing good!

So my question is, what is the best day to go the parks right now?

I know they are busy right now ( like everything else here in O-town!), but my BF and I would like to go on the least busy weekday.

Thanks! :)

[udsweetpea]

Right now, it seems like every day in the parks in a busy, crowded day. The only thing I can suggest is to not go on the weekend because that's when the locals come. But the weekdays are still really busy :( I can't wait for September and near empty parks!

Hope you're doing well yourself :D

[DisneyPrincess]

udsweetpea
I guess I will give it a try over here for awhile. We got back from our vacation yesterday. Had a great time, I miss my family already! I have to go back to work today so need to run for now. ;)

[Sha259]

Hi Andrea,

How cool to have our own resident WDW tour guide. I wanted to go to Disney this year but my schedule wouldn't allow it. But I would LOVE to go within the next two years. I have some questions that maybe you can help me out with.

1) When is the cheapest season to go?

2) Which of the Moderately priced Disney hotels is the best (location and/or room condition)?

3) I have never been to FL, so whats the best season to go down, weather wise?

Thanks in advance for all the answers!

As to your 40% off discount...MAN that is tempting :p

[mindy]

Hi,

Subscribing we are planning on a trip hopefully next year so need all the help I can get.

[udsweetpea]

udsweetpea
I guess I will give it a try over here for awhile. We got back from our vacation yesterday. Had a great time, I miss my family already! I have to go back to work today so need to run for now. ;)

Melissa, so glad to see you over here :) Can't wait to hear about your vacation!

[udsweetpea]

Hi Andrea,

How cool to have our own resident WDW tour guide. I wanted to go to Disney this year but my schedule wouldn't allow it. But I would LOVE to go within the next two years. I have some questions that maybe you can help me out with.

1) When is the cheapest season to go?

2) Which of the Moderately priced Disney hotels is the best (location and/or room condition)?

3) I have never been to FL, so whats the best season to go down, weather wise?

Thanks in advance for all the answers!

As to your 40% off discount...MAN that is tempting :p

Hi there! Here's the answers to your questions...

1) Value season is generally January 1- Feb 12, August 24-October 1, and November 2-December 19 (those were 2003 Value times, but they should be about the same)

2) My personal recommendation for a Moderate resort is Port Orleans Riverside. Room rates there during Value season are $133-148. I think its a beautiful resort. It has a river that goes over to Downtown Disney, so you can take a nice, relaxing boat ride over there. The rooms are all located around the main building, where the gift shop, restaurants, and food court are located. I've stayed there 4 times, and I love it!

3) Weather wise, I think the end of November is perfect... not so hot during the day, a little chilly at night. Plus, if you go right after Thanksgiving, the Christmas decorations are up but the parks are pretty slow.

If you have any other questions, let me know!

[udsweetpea]

Hi,

Subscribing we are planning on a trip hopefully next year so need all the help I can get.

Mindy, let me know if you ever have any questions. I'll be glad to help!

[1MegMeg]

Yay! I've never "known" a disney cast member before. :) I live (and grew up) 90 minutes away from WDW and have always had annual passes, so we've been literally 100s of times, but there are always more questions I have.

1. Do you know anything about the new Passholder Best Rate Program? It's the new program where annual passholders book their resort rooms online at least 120 days out (1 night room deposit is non-refundable). I am wondering how it is going to affect the current "call-in" annual passholder and florida resident rates. Are the regular call in discount rates going to be availabe still?

2. Of all the times we've been to WDW, we have't yet seen Wishes. I am hoping to remedy that when we go in September. Where's the best place to see it from both in the park and out of the park (I heard you can see it from the beach at the Polynsesian).

Thank you so much for starting this thread and taking the opportunity to answer our questions! :D

[udsweetpea]

1MegMeg Hi there! I looked on the Cast Portal to find info about the Passholder Best Rate program, and I couldn't find anything. I'll be on the look out for some information for you. I haven't even heard one thing about it.

The best place to see the fireworks inside the park, in my opinion, is right in front of Cinderella Castle. Good places to see the fireworks outside of the park are on the beach at Polynesian (like you mentioned) and California Grill (restaurant on top of the Contemporary). They pipe the music in so you feel like you're right there. I hope you get to see Wishes soon... they are fabulous and very magical ;)

[1MegMeg]

Andrea, thanks so much! And thank you so much for your offer to lend us your 40% rate for rooms. We already have our reservations for September and November, but I might just take you up on your offer for January. :)

I can't wait to see Wishes!!

[mindy]

Hi,

I am going to be taking my two daughters they will be 5 and 7 I was thinking of staying at the allstar movie resort do you think that would be okay? Also I am wondering where the best place for me to get the tickets would be and whats the best way to try to get the reservations to eat breafast with the princesses I think it's at cinderella's castle.

Thank

[cantwait]

Hi Andrea! Thanks for answeing all our questions re: Disney. I LOVE Disney and have been several times but this October, I'll be going down for my best friend's wedding (I'm the MOH). It's at the Wedding Pavilion and the reception (after a lot of hassle) is at the Grand Floridian. Believe me, I can tell you as much as you want to know about Disney Weddings! She has not had a very good experience with her planner (I can't believe, only 8 planners do 7,000 weddings a year!) but is very much looking forward to the big day (October 9).

Anyway, we are going for the first time with our son (he's going to be 16 mos) and I wanted to know your thoughts re: young kids and park hopping. What are some definite dos and don't dos that you've seen? Also, we will be staying on property for 2 nights (Sat & Sun) and I wanted to know about transportation - is it easy to get shuttle buses? We have the rehearsal dinner at the Polynesian Sat. night and the wedding Sunday at noon, and I need to travel separately from my DH and DS (who is the ringbearer). Is it worth the extra $250+ to stay at the Grand Floridian? We are really tight on funds since I am a SAHM.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Andrea (who also went to UD, coincidentally)

[udsweetpea]

Hi,

I am going to be taking my two daughters they will be 5 and 7 I was thinking of staying at the allstar movie resort do you think that would be okay? Also I am wondering where the best place for me to get the tickets would be and whats the best way to try to get the reservations to eat breafast with the princesses I think it's at cinderella's castle.

Thank

All Star Movies is great for kids that age! The pools are awesome, and the food court is so convenient! The best place to get tickets would be to get them at the front desk when you check in. If you want to get them beforehand, you can check out the Disney Store. I think they still sell the tickets there.

It's next to impossible to get a priority seating at Cinderella's Royal Table unless you call exactly 3 months in advance really early in the morning when the reservations office first opens. However, you can also eat breakfast with the princesses at Norway in EPCOT. Another option is 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian for dinner (where I work ;)). It's a dinner buffet with Cinderella, Prince Charming, Suzy, Perla, and the Fairy Godmother.

[mindy]

Thank you so much for the information I am definately going to try for the breakfast but I will definately go to where you work to have dinner with them do I need to make reservations?

Thanks

[camberne]

Awesome offer!! My husband has never been down to Disney and I have been wanting to take him at least to Epcot, because I think he'd enjoy that. (He's not a big amusement park guy, but a science oriented guy.) I've always wanted to stay in the park, but it never really sat well with my budget. If not this October, then I'm planning on next October... which is our anniversary month. Probably next year, though. You're not planning on changing jobs anytime soon, are you?

[MidwesternGal]

Well how crazy is THIS--I did the Disney College Program while I was in college!!!! Goodness gracious, this brings back memories. I hung out/worked at the wonderful Sunshine Season Food Fair in the Land Pavilion at Epcot.

Where in the parks do you work Andrea? Did you start out as a CP, or are you on the entertainment/management side of it?

Craziness!!

Nice to meet you! :D

Amy

[chefker]

This is soo cool! Glad to have someone with WDW knowledge on board here. :)

Well, here's my dilemma--I'm PG right now, and DH is ALREADY wanting to plan a trip for the WHOLE family to Magic Kingdom (Whole family as in the 3 of us AND all our parents....oy). Yes, I know, I gave him one of these ----> :rolleyes: Anyway, I really don't think we'll be taking our kid until they're at LEAST 3 or 4. Preferably 4 going on 5, really.

What's your experience with little kids at the parks? Do you think there's a certain age group that really 'gets it' and appreciates what they're seeing? My first trip there wasn't until I was 12, but I had a HUGE appreciation for everything--of course being tall enough to go on ALL the rides certainly helped! I guess my point is, I know the Mouse HUGELY caters to little kids, but I don't see where an infant would enjoy themselves.

[Rose]

Do you get any type of discounts at Disneyland?

[bijouparvin]

Hiya! Just wanted to check in and say that I worked at DL (CA) for a few years and DH currently works for Disney Theatrical (they do the B'Way shows) so if there are any west coast or B'way questions that come up, feel free to send them my way, too. I loved working for the company. They're very loyal and the perks are great!

[magrat]

I would definitely take you up on the discount if I hadn't already booked! Oh well, I'll have to be content with the free dining plan I got :) We're going at the end of September and staying at Port Orleans Riverside because of all the good reviews. I'm just gearing up to make all my advance reservations now, it was so fun picking out all the places to eat.

I found two great websites to do more research (and god knows all of us on here love doing that!)

http://www.allearsnet.com - they have reviews and menus and tons of info

http://www.disboards.com - msg board for people travelling to Disney World. I love the restaurant forum :) There's a thread with a sticky there which is all pictures of Disney food ::drool:: Sure looks a lot better than it did when I was a kid!

[udsweetpea]

Hey girls! I've been swamped with moving and working, but I promise I'll be back to answer all of your questions soon!

[LauraPerg]

Hi Udsweetpea, so glad to come across some Disney fanatics like me and my family.

I have been to WDW about every other summer since I was 2 (I'm not kidding, and we still can't get enough), but we decided to go during the first week of Dec. this year to see the Christmas decorations. We are all really looking forward to the cool weather, and hopefully not very crowded parks.

Anyways, my whole fam. is going (Mom, Dad, brother, SIL, two nieces (4 and 2 years old), me and DH. We have tix to the Verry Merry Christmas Party and I was looking for any tips you may have on seeing the parades, fireworks (are there fireworks included??) and when to ride the rides. I know you're busy, but I'll be looking forward to some advice on this new experience.

Thanks for sharing the knowledge!!

[Sha259]

udsweetpea Sorry to come back so late after you answered my questions, but THANKS!! You are a doll for giving all this info. I think we will plan our Disney Vacation for next Nov!! :)

[Kristibell]

I have a question about Disneyland in CA - Does anyone know when their holiday season starts? I'm trying to plan a trip down there while the holiday decorations are up and the festivites are going on, but I want to make sure we go while it's not busy, before the kids are out on winter break, etc.

Do they start the day after Thanksgiving or before, and how long does the holiday season run?

Thanks,
Kristine

[udsweetpea]

Thank you so much for the information I am definately going to try for the breakfast but I will definately go to where you work to have dinner with them do I need to make reservations?

Thanks

Awww... you don't have to come to Park Fare just for me ;) I would suggest reservations for the restaurant. Walk-ins are usually quoted about an hour wait time. Last night, we were quoting a 3 hour wait, and they still stayed :confused:

camberne Hi! :) I'm not planning on switching jobs anytime soon, so whenever you'd like to start making reservations, just let me know!

MidwesternGal Small world! I did the College Program too! I did it in the summer of 2003. I came back May 2004 as a part-time server, and I've been working at several restaurants on property ever since. Right now, I'm at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.

chefker Hi there! First off, congrats on being PG! As far as taking kids to Disney, they really start understanding and appreciaiting everything when they are 4 or 5. I'm not really sure if you'd enjoy yourself if you brought your infant. With diaper bags, strollers, and constant demand of your attention, I think you'd get exhausted, but that's for you to decide if that's right for you and your baby. My biggest advice on bringing kids is to follow the same routine they have at home. For example, if they normally take a nap at 3pm, then its best to go back to the resort for a nap and go back to the parks later. They get so exhausted if they don't follow the same routine.

Rose I'm not really sure if I get discounts at Disneyland or not. I can ask around for you.

bijouparvin Thank you for your help! I love working for the company too! I always dreamed of being a cast member!

magrat Those are great Disney resource websites! I've barely had a chance to check them out. I bet you're so excited to be planning your trip to Disney World. You made an excellent choice with PO Riverside. If you need any help or have any questions about which restaurants to go to, let me know!

LauraPerg Hi there! Unfortunately, I've never had the opportunity to check out Very Merry Christmas, so I can't really give you an accurate answer to your questions. I know you'll have a very magical time in Disney during the holidays. The Christmas decorations are beautiful, and you can't beat the cooler weather! So sorry I couldn't answer your questions.

Sha259 You are very welcome! If you need any help planning, let me know!

Kristibell I'm so sorry, but I'm not that knowledgeable about Disneyland's holiday season. Maybe one of our former DL cast members will be able to answer that for you.

Sorry I've taken so long to get back to all of you. I'm here if you have anymore questions.

[cantwait]

Andrea, did you see my post near the top of the page? I was really curious about your opinions...thanks in advance!

[udsweetpea]

Hi Andrea! Thanks for answeing all our questions re: Disney. I LOVE Disney and have been several times but this October, I'll be going down for my best friend's wedding (I'm the MOH). It's at the Wedding Pavilion and the reception (after a lot of hassle) is at the Grand Floridian. Believe me, I can tell you as much as you want to know about Disney Weddings! She has not had a very good experience with her planner (I can't believe, only 8 planners do 7,000 weddings a year!) but is very much looking forward to the big day (October 9).

Yay! When the time comes, I want to plan my own Disney wedding, so I'll definitely be hunting you down for all the info you have!! :D


Anyway, we are going for the first time with our son (he's going to be 16 mos) and I wanted to know your thoughts re: young kids and park hopping. What are some definite dos and don't dos that you've seen?

As far as dos and don't dos, as I've mentioned before, keep them on their regular schedule/routine. By the end of the day, they're exhausted (obviously) if they aren't on the same routine they are on at home. Since I don't have kids myself, I can't really offer much advice on what not to do and what to do. There are strollers there to rent, so you can leave your stroller back at the room if you wish.

Also, we will be staying on property for 2 nights (Sat & Sun) and I wanted to know about transportation - is it easy to get shuttle buses? We have the rehearsal dinner at the Polynesian Sat. night and the wedding Sunday at noon, and I need to travel separately from my DH and DS (who is the ringbearer). Is it worth the extra $250+ to stay at the Grand Floridian? We are really tight on funds since I am a SAHM.


Where are you staying on property? Honestly, I wouldn't spend the extra money to stay at the Grand. But if you're worried about transportation, the Grand is in walking distance of both the Wedding Pavilion and the Polynesian. What would work best is to take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then take the monorail to the Grand or Polynesian. But I don't know what kind of transportation the bride has already planned for. Sometimes they will rent Disney busses to transport the wedding party to and from their resorts.

So sorry I didn't see your post before. Hope this information helps! If there's anything else, please let me know!

ETA- You went to UD? As in University of Delaware?

[cantwait]

ETA- You went to UD? As in University of Delaware?

Yes, one and the same. It's funny to find someone else from DE on the boards, I live in Kentucky now and I'm usually the only person from Delaware that anyone has ever met! I went to St. Mark's HS in Wilmington and majored in Psych at UD - lived in Russell Hall freshman year and then moved to the Apts. at Pinebrook. I did research in Dr. Izard's lab. I was only there three years because I graduated early (98).

Thanks for all the help! I'd be more than happy to answer any Disney wedding questions, my BF has kept me in the loop. I will warn you though, she is VERY frustrated with the whole process right now! I know it will be an amazing day though. I can't wait.

BTW, I think we'll be staying at All-Star Movies...I haven't booked yet. Do you know if your discount is the same that wedding guests get? It's $100.57/night for that resort (includes tax). The Caribbean Beach is $141.61/night and the Grand is $260.91/night. I thought the ASM price was pretty good but I'd be more than happy to take you up on your discount if the offer is still available! We have to save money, what with traveling with the little munchkin of course.

Thanks again for your help and advice!

[udsweetpea]

I put in a random day in October because I don't know when you'll be here, but here are the rates I can get with my discount

All-Star Movies Standard Room Location- $52.22/night
All-Star Movies Preferred Room Location- $60.32/night
Caribbean Beach Standard View- $89.66/night
Caribbean Beach Water View- $99.68/night
Grand Floridian Garden View- $233.48

Let me know which days you're coming so I can more accurately give you some rates. And if you'd like to know the rates of any other Disney resorts, let me know!


Hope this helps!

[chefker]

Thanks for answering my many kid-related questions, Andrea! :) Yeah, the idea of lugging strollers/carriers around the park SO does not thrill me...I think 4 is the bare minimum age I could handle hauling a kid and all their paraphrenalia around WDW.

Of course, if this ends up being a WHOLE family vacation--complete with my parents and the in-laws--I'm already plotting to hit all the rides with FIL (a roller coaster/ride fanatic like me), and make motion-sick hubby watch the
kid(s). Hah!

Good advice on keeping the kids on their same schedule while on vacation, that they're on at home--I never thought of that!

[cantwait]

Thanks Andrea! I just sent you a PM.

[udsweetpea]

Thanks! I just sent you one back.

[bethnjim]

I love Disney World and I am pea green with envy that you get to work there! It is so magical and perfect. We went one year and it was raining a few days and we still had the best time!!

[MrsWilson]

What is your opinion on Animal Kingdom? I've heard it isn't as much fun as the other parks.

Do you have any pictures you've taken to share with us?

[1MegMeg]

Hi Andrea - How far in advance would I need to let you know if we wanted to use your cast member room discount? We are most likely going in January, which I know is value/slower season.... :) Thank you!

[angelraven]

Hi Andrea! I've seen you around the other site but I'm not sure we have ever talked. Thanks so much for starting this thread and answering all of our questions. It's really generous of you to offer us your discount as well!

DH and I went to Disney World last year for our HM. It was my first time there and we both had a blast! It was so fun to get to be a kid again. We stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter for two nights, Carribbean Beach for one night, and Old Key West for three nights. DH's uncle has one of the time share deals there so he gave us the three nights at OKW for our present, which was so nice. Then Port Orleans only had two nights available, hence the reason why we stayed in three places! LOL At least we got to check out multiple resorts at once! hehe Port Orleans was my favorite. We did walk up to Riverside and ride the boat on the river, which was quite relaxing. What are the differences in the rooms between French Quarter and Riverside?

We were wanting to go again this year for our anniversary, but I'm in school the week before and then the week after we have to help MIL move. Plus, I'm not working so money is a little tight right now. Therefore, we'll be waiting until September or so. Well, I want to go in September. DH is thinking of waiting until November or December. What are the temperatures like in Nov and Dec? Is it still warm enough to ride the water rides? We would be going early december to miss the holiday season so the rates would be cheaper.

We may be taking you up on your discount offer. It's too hard to pass up! What would be the difference in the rates in September vs. early December? Which do you think is the better time to go?

Have you ridden the new ride at Epcot? Soaring I think it's called? Was that any fun? Does MGM still have the Indiana Jones show? That was DH's favorite. Then we spent our whole last day shopping for an Indiana Jones had at Downtown Disney Marketplace. LOL We never found one, so if you know where we should go next time to get one, that would be great, too.

Again, thank you so much for your help!!!

[udsweetpea]

bethnjim Awww... I'm so glad you still had a good time, despite the rain!

MrsWilson Animal Kingdom isn't my personal favorite because I'm not much of an animal person, but my boyfriend loves it! It's fun as long as you make it fun. If you go, I definitely recommend the 3-D show in the tree (believe its called Bug Life 3-D or something like that.. can you tell I've only been once?), the Festival of the Lion King, the safari, and the Kali River Rapids. I have a lot of pictures to share with all of you. Maybe I'll start another thread for my pictures.

1MegMeg Hi! I don't really need any advance notice. They can take cast member reservations with 3 days notice, but the only disadvantage of waiting is that you might not get the resort or room type you'd like because they only reserve a certain amount of rooms for cast discounts. So, just let me know when you're ready.

angelraven Oh wow, I've always wanted to stay at OKW. How was it? There really aren't any differences in the rooms between PO Riverside and French Quarter... just a different theme. I believe the rooms are the same size. The temperatures in November and December can vary. During the day, the temperature could be anywhere from 40-70 degrees. I suggest sweatshirts ;) But it still can be warm enough to go on water rides. I checked out random days in September and December at PO French Quarter at the rate was the same... around $90/night. I think they're both great times to go. If you go in September, the parks can be practically empty, but its still hot. If you go in the first few weeks of December, the parks aren't crowded, the Christmas decorations are up, and the days are cooler. I have been on Soarin' in EPCOT, and I loved it! It's a lot of fun and definitely worth the hour I waited for it! Disney-MGM Studios still has the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular show. I've never seen an Indiana Jones hat, but I would assume they're somewhere near the show at a gift shop.

Well girls, I must start cleaning the apartment!

[1MegMeg]

Andrea - Thanks! What is the cancellation policy? Not that I plan on, at all, having to cancel, but sometimes life happens, you know? I know that I'll give you my cc# to make the reservation, if something happened and I had to cancel would you be able to cancel? Thanks so much! :)

[angelraven]

OKW was really nice. The service was great. We just stayed in a normal hotel-type room, and for the extra cost, I really don't think it was that much better than Port Orleans. I can see spending the extra money on one of the apartments if the whole family was there, but not for just a couple. However, they did find out it was our HM, so one day when we went back to our room to clean up before going to Pleaure Island, Mickey and Minnie left a signed photo of them in wedding attire along with a wedding figurine which was really cute and sweet. I was disappointed we were gone because I wonder if they had the characters bring it. I wanted my picture taken with them. LOL Plus, there is a golf course there as well, but DH didn't get to take advantage because there's just SO much stuff to do at the parks.

I'll talk to DH and see when he wants to go. I'd personally rather go when it's hot. I can't stand cold weather, and anything below 65 is cold to me. lol Though the Christmas decorations would be nice to see. Decisions, decisions!

Thanks for your help!

[Sabrina]

Hi Andrea,

As I think I have told you before, I love WDW! :) How often do you visit the parks strictly for pleasure?


Sabrina (Sept05_Bride on WC)

[mrsliby2004]

Subscribing!! I'm going ot talk to DH and see if we can make a trip soon!!

[gayle]

Hi Andrea!

You might not be able to answer this since it is a question about Disneyland, but figured I'd ask anyway.

We always get annual passes as we like to go several times a year. So, last time we went my DH was wonderng if there are any behind the scenes tours that we could go on.

Do you know if the parks offer anything like that?

[allison]

Gayle,
I know there's a Walk In Walt's Footsteps tour. It's about 3 hours long and comes with lunch.
"The Red Carpet Experience" tour. Is about 2 hours long.
And a "Discover the Magic" tour.

I've heard of the Walk In Walt's tour before but not the others. Here's where I found the info:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan/tours.htm

Hope that helps some!

*allison

[claribella]

I'm a big Disney fanatic. I have a Disneyland Annual Pass and go to Disneyland/California Adventure every week. I do the Disney Pin Trading and have almost 300 pins in my collection.

I don't have any questions for ya, not yet.

I was at D-land for May 5th and the Fireworks show is spectacular! Just had to say that :)

OH an the Aladdin show is wonderful too. I think I've seen it about 7 times now!

I would LOVE to go to DisneyWorld some day, and take my son. That and take Disney Cruise. I plan too someday.

[gayle]

Thanks Allison, I'll check out that link!

[tinkerbelljenny]

I love this thread. Thanks Andrea for all your advice! I love anything Disney. We went to WDW right before Thanksgiving, we had an amazing time. Can't wait to go back.

[BethElena]

Hello! Please let me know what you think about these resorts. I can trade my mom's time share week for any of these (if available):

Disney's Beach Club Villas
Disney's BoardWalk Villas
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

I REALLY hope somebody is willing to exchange one of these for us next year or year after....

[DallasLady]

Wow! How cool to find this thread!

I just became a part-time travel agent and I am completing the Disney College of Knowledge right now. How cool that you work at Disney (That's my dream). That 40% discount must be nice, I wish I could offer my clients that!

I have been to Disney many times myself, but I will definitely stop by to ask you questions. I can't wait to finish the College of Knowledge and get my graduate ears :D

[ManteoChik]

BethElena I just wanted to chime in and say that The Boardwalk is my favorite place to stay. We go a couple of times a year and try to stay somewhere new each time. The last time we were at the Boardwalk it was the week before Christmas and the decorations were amazing. They had a HUGE village made out of all kinds of chocolate in the lobby. The Boardwalk is my favorite. We always stay in one of the suites that has the kitchen and two bedrooms because there are usually about 6 of us and while it is more expensive you definatly save more money just by being able to do things like eat breakfast in the room every morning or cook dinner a couple nights and even do your laundry with the washer and dryer in the room. They do have suites that are only one bedroom with a pullout couch. I also like the way the Boardwalk is close to everything....not too much traveling involved. I also really love the pool there.

I also really like the Wilderness Lodge....I wasn't too sure about it when we booked it, but once we got there is was great. Again we were out in the Villas with a suite but it was so quiet out there. All the rooms are the same size at every resort, just decorated with a different theme. I thought it would be a pain to be farther away but it's really not that bad because you travel on the disney busses anyway. The wilderness Lodge is also great because you can do other activities like book a horseback riding trail ride or go boating.

If you're wanting to stick with one of the places you posted I would suggest the Boardwalk!

[lindybug]

udsweetpea ~ You are so sweet for offering up this thread! We just got back from 10 days at the Grand in May, but I'm already itching to get back down there!

BethElena ~ I'll chime in too... Of those you mentioned, I would suggest the Boardwalk or Beach Club. DH and I stayed at the BW for part of our honeymoon, and it is amazing. Great location and theme! We've never stayed at the Beach Club, but we have visited there many times. The Villas look great, and the pool there is amazing. One plus for the BC is that is has a better selection of restaurants there than the BW, in my opinion. But, you really can't go wrong with either. Have fun!

[angelcookie2002]

I thought I'd try to answer some of your questions, hope Andrea dosn't mind. My DH is a cast member and I used to be a cast member at DL. We just moved about 15mins from WDW, we used to live about 15mins from Disneyland (DL). As a cast members spouse I get inside info too, as well as the discounts.

Bethelena- Lets see the boardwalk and beach club are both within walking distance of epcot. They both have an old fashioned New England type theme. With the Beach Club, where DH works, having a beachy theme with a sand bottom pool and the boardwalk located right on the boardwalk where there are several shops and restaurants. Both old key west and saritoga are located near downtown disney, so transportation to the parks takes a little longer. Saritoga is still being completed so there is construction in some parts of the resort. I would suggest either the boardwalk or beach club because the location is better. However, I would advise you to check into the availability as soon as possible. The vacation club rooms tend to fill quickly so I would suggest planning as far ahead as possible especially if you are planning to stay during a peak season. Boardwalk and Beach Club tend to fill up first, leaving you with Old key West and Saritoga.

Gayle- I hear Walk in Walts Footsteps is amazing. I only wish I would have gone on it before we moved. There is also a new family tour if you are planning on taking children.

Someone asked awhile ago about the new AP holder reservation system. It looks like it will be all online now, no more phone calls. They are also implimenting this for cast members, unless it is for large parties or really long stays. And it also looks like the 120 days will be manditory, no last minute discounts. They might have special rates through december until the new system is up and running.

[DisneyPrincess]

angelcookie2002 -
Glad to see you made it over here. I got back from FL and the WC boards where a mess, I hated it. Glad we all made it over here. I like this much better. :D

[jeeplover]

I just saw this thread and thought I would stop by to say hello! I used to be a Disney cast member back in the day and I loved it! I miss it so much down there!

[BethElena]

Thank you ladies for the imput! i'm going to put my mom right on it to check into switching (my name won't go on timeshare deed until i'm married in August so that we don't have to go through the whole lawyer thing of changing names!!)

Is the Boardwalk the one that has the ferry's over to the transportation depot? I forget...I haven't been to the part since 1999.

[claribella]

FYI! I'm riding the newly opened Space Mountain at Disneyland tomorrow! yeah!

[PrincessTommi]

I can volunteer to answer questions/help plan as well!

I did the College Program Fall 2000. I worked Merchandise at the main entrance at Disney MGM Studios - places like Sid's, Oscar's, Crossroads, etc. I met DH that semester, he worked at the Emporium.

We went there on our honeymoon, of course - 4 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and a 3 night Disney Wonder cruise. It was an amazing trip! Last March (04), we did a week at Old Key West in a 2-bedroom villa with family. 6 adults, one 3 year old. I had never been to WDW before picking up and moving there, so the family trip was definitely a new experience.

Due to my very generous ILs, we are now owners of Disney Vacation Club at the Boardwalk Villas. We're planning our first trip *Home* in October for the Food and Wine Festival. I'm in full planning mode right now since it's almost time to start making ARs.

When DH graduates (next May!), I plan on sending him back down there to do an Advanced Internship. If we could swing it, I would love to do one as well, but we'll see. We both loved working for Disney, and will hopefully get back and live and work there. It feels like home to *us*, since that's where we met.

[claribella]

Space Mountain = AWESOME!!

IT WAS PHENOMENAL The music is better, the effects are better and BOY is it FASTER! I was very impressed.

Just had to throw that out :)

Oh and if we are talking about tours. I just took the VMK tour this past Saturday and it was really good. We got to ride Haunted Mansion, ThunderMountain Railroad and Jungle Cruise as part of the tour. They stopped the whole line just to let us 14 people in. That gave me such a VIP feeling :)

I know there are more tours. I'm talking about Disneyland BTW. Not WDW. I would LOVE to go to WDW some day.

Anyway, tours for Disneyland, here is a list of the Disneyland tours (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/listing?name=DisneylandParkToursListingPage) And I know that the Dark Side of Disney Tour is returning to Disneyland in November...that should be good!

[Darin's Girl]

I don't have any questions for you yet..... just wanted to say that I am SO jealous that you work at WDW!! DH and I went there on our HM in 9/2003 (his 1st visit, my 3rd) and I created a Disney Monster! LOL We plan on working there when we retire.

Before 9/11 (I got laid off) I was a travel agent specializing in Disney Vacations. DallasLady I got my ears! I still *sneek* into the agent site to check things out. :D

[jenn0911]

Hi! My DH and I just took our 2 DD's to Disneyland in May and now we can't wait to take them to WDW. We were look at the All Star (Pop Culture) . My oldest will be starting school this year and I am wondering if any of the school breaks times are better than others (Feb, April, June-Aug)?

[nordey]

Hi Andrea! I know another poster already asked and you said you didn't know but I was wondering if you've found out if your 40% discount applies to the California Disney properties?

We are planning a trip the first week in December to celebrate my mom's 50th b-day (as well as Disneyland's 50th). I'm hoping to get an annual passport discount at the Grand Californian but I've heard that with the 50th anniversary this year things get booked so far in advance they are sometimes not offering the AP discounts.

[laurenc]

oh wow, i am so excited to have found this thread! just yesterday DH and i decided we want to go to WDW for maybe 6-7 days sometime in the first half of september. my family used to go there almost every other summer, and the last time i was there was in the summer of 1994 when i was 15. i miss it! tom went twice but doesn't remember much. so we are both so psyched up to do our first disney trip together! plus, our trip will coincide with our 9-year "anniversary" (we met and started dating in early september of 1996), so i'm even happier to be able to celebrate that in a place like disney.

we've been thinking about staying at the yacht/beach club resorts as i stayed there in 91 and 94 with family and really loved it. loved the sand-bottomed pool, loved the ice cream parlor, loved the decor. and back then i actually liked stormalong bay better than typhoon lagoon!! i also *really* liked the proximity to epcot. i'm sort of a sucker for being a spitting distance away from the park ;) . our first batch of trips to disney were in the early and mid-80's, and we'd stay at the polynesian, right on the monorail, so i got spoiled. :)

udsweetpea i will PM you after we've settled more on our plans to ask a few questions -- your offer is *very* generous... also -- i saw somewhere that there is some christian rock concert on september 9 and 10 in WDW -- is that true? if so, do you expect the crowds to be crazy? i know september is generally a low-attendance time so maybe any crowds might just balance it out?

[lawyergirl25]

*bump*

[rene']

lawyergirl - Thanks so much for bumping this thread. I really appreciated it!

udsweetpea - We are planning a trip to WDW not this Thanksgiving, but next. It looks like we will be staying at Port Orleans - Riverside, due to your great recommendations. Is it pretty close to everything? I will go back and read through the thread. We are planning on a 7 day - 6 night trip or 5 day - 4 night, we aren't sure, with our two DD's who will be 8 & 11. Any recommendations would be great! We are thinking about NO rental car, do you think that makes sense as I see we can be taken to and from the airport via Disney for free. I hope you are still working there a year from now as I would love to take you up on your generous discount. That would be great!

Edited to add - Do you think it's a good idea to get the plus dining packages?

Edited to add - After doing a little more research, it looks like Thanksgiving isn't the best time to go! :( I will have to rethink that.

[Orange]

Does anyone know if the week of Thanksgiving is super-crowded? We're going to be visiting my parents that week and my mom got some free passes that she's willing to let us use. We're thinking of going on Monday or (more likely) Tuesday before the holiday. We have a 2 year old daughter so I don't want to go if we'll spend the whole day just waiting in line.

[rene']

Orange - That is what I had heard from someone before, that Thanksgiving is a good week to go. I can't remember who I heard it from, though. But, I looked on the WDW website and the week of Thanksgiving is considered regular season which is a little more expensive than value season. So, I don't know if that means more people are there then or what.

[Darlene&Scott]

My mom works at WDW in ticket sales and for those of you that want to get a deal - to the parkhopper passes for as many days as you plan to visit Disney. They recently made the discounts better and better the more parks and days you pay for, making it more expensive to buy a one day one park pass for lets say 4 days in a row.

One of my sisters and one of my aunts also work at WDW.

As for the off season my mom always says this to plan by:

If the kids are off of school for anything the parks will be busy.

If the kids are in school, the parks will not be busy

think of it. Summer vacation, Thanksgiving week, Christmas to New Years, Easter week, and spring break. That leaves - the second week of Jan to easter time (march/april whatever), then early may to the start of june-ish (summer vacation) then September to the last week of November (thanksgiving) the first week of December until christmas time.

There will be surges of some visitors if you get extra days off for let's say columbus day or something that makes a long weekend, but not nearly the numbers of say christmas break.

For the character dining things you can do priority seatings (which work like reservations but is really the next available table for your party size at that time) which is available 24/7 via phone. i don't know if that's available online yet. Every park has them, and many hotels have them too such as chef mickey's at the contemporary resort. There are many many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with a lot of characters.

All the hotels have either bus, monorail, or boat ways on property to get you from your disney hotel to a disney park. Just so you know, magic kingdom, epcot, and MGM are close but animal kingdom is out there quite a bit and that's where all the all star resorts are. So you'll get there but it'll be a little ride. You can drive to each park if you want - they have an all day parking pass for a flat fee so you can jump from park to park and not pay each time you park somewhere else.

Port Orleans is smack in the middle of WDW. The newer hotels are the ones that are farther out because well, where else would they build them?

In september they do have a christian rock concert night I think it's called nights of joy or something like that and it is bananas then! I mean we're in the bible belt so yeah - busy stuff :D


I know nothing about Disneyland though - sorry.

I'll subscribe here so that if udsweetpea is working and too exhausted to post ( I know I was when I worked at rainforest cafe at the marketplace) I can try to help with any questions.

I can't say for my relatives that work at WDW about the hotel discount because we have friends and family that visit a lot and we save those for them (sorry) but I can list specials and whatever else will save you some money where ever I can :)

[tinkerbelljenny]

Orange We went to WDW, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom the week before Thanksgiving last year and it was super busy and crowded.

[betsyboop]

I'm thinking of treating DH to a 4-day weekend in Disney World for his 30th birthday this Feb. It's seriously his favorite place ever and he'll just die when I tell him that it's his present- I'm so excited:) Anyway, I am trying to decide between Port Orleans and the Beach Club/Yacht Club. Is being walking distance to Epcot and the boardwalk area worth an extra $1000? I've always stayed off-property before, so I'm kind of digging the idea of walking to stuff, rather than the shuttle busses that we'd have to use if we stayed at Port Orleans, but that's a lot extra... Also, what is the difference between the Beach Club hotel rooms and the Beach Club Villas? The studio villa would be the exact same price as the standard hotel room. Is there an advantage to either or are thy actually the same room?

Does anyone have any advise to offer as far as the Disney golf courses go? DH is a huge golfer and I wanted to book him a tee time, but which course is best? I want to make sure it has bunkers shaped like Mickey's head, but other than that, I have no idea how to choose. He likes it when a course has a driving range so he can warm up first too.

undsweetpea, are you still offering your 40% doscount? If you are, I would love to take you up on your offer since this is a pretty extravagent (sp??) birthday gift! Hey, you only turn 30 once, right:D

[laurenc]

I'm thinking of treating DH to a 4-day weekend in Disney World for his 30th birthday this Feb. It's seriously his favorite place ever and he'll just die when I tell him that it's his present- I'm so excited:) Anyway, I am trying to decide between Port Orleans and the Beach Club/Yacht Club. Is being walking distance to Epcot and the boardwalk area worth an extra $1000? I've always stayed off-property before, so I'm kind of digging the idea of walking to stuff, rather than the shuttle busses that we'd have to use if we stayed at Port Orleans, but that's a lot extra...


i've never been to port orleans, but the beach club/yacht club has a fantastic pool! personally, i like walking to epcot -- plus, if you stay at beach club/yacht club, you are in walking distance to not only epcot and the boardwalk but the the swan hotel and the dolphin hotel, and you're a short boatride away from MGM -- TONS of restaurants right at your fingertips and you can minimize your time on the buses...

so that alone, to me, is worth the money... i commute to work via bus every day and try to avoid spending significant time on the bus while i'm on vacation.

[betsyboop]

Oh, thanks for the info- I didn't realize it was also so close to the Swan and Dolphin and MGM. It seems like my decision is getting easier the more I learn.

I found out which course has the Mickey shaped bunkers, so in case anyone else was wondering, it's The Magnolia Course. It's closed for the summer, but will be opened again in mid Sept.

[mrsface]

This is the greatest thread ever! I'm so glad I found it...

I need some advice. DH and I, and my mom, little brother and little sister are going to WDW at the begining of October. We have a hotel already (my in-laws gave us a week of time-share at a Marriot resort) but need to get tickets to the parks. Where is the best place to get them? I've been on the Disney site but I don't know if there's a better way or a way to get a discount.

Also, all 5 of us are going for the first time. What are the rides/sites/shows that we must see? Is it helpful to map out our days or should we just wing it? We've been planning this trip for a long time, but haven't really planned it, KWIM? It hit me yesterday that we've only got 1 1/2 months to figure it all out. Yikes!

I'd appreciate any and all advice! Thanks!

Andrea

[MandyMaloo]

Hi there! I also worked with the Disney Co. for many years, and also lived about 30 mins from WDW- so I know the place like the back of my hand!

I hope no one feels as if I am intruding, but I have some advice for mrsface.

but need to get tickets to the parks. Where is the best place to get them? I've been on the Disney site but I don't know if there's a better way or a way to get a discount.

Many times, if you have a AAA membership, you can get a discount through them. Otherwise, you can check out your local Disney Store (if you have one around you). They sell tickets there. They have everything on every price level so you can add what you want, and not pay for things you wont be using.

Also, all 5 of us are going for the first time. What are the rides/sites/shows that we must see? Is it helpful to map out our days or should we just wing it? We've been planning this trip for a long time, but haven't really planned it, KWIM? It hit me yesterday that we've only got 1 1/2 months to figure it all out. Yikes!

Congrats on your first time! Seriously, Disney is where my BEST childhood memories come from...you wont forget your vacation! Anyway, I would try to plan out as much as you can. I know it might sound like it takes away from the "fun", but trust me, there are people that go there with scheduals in hand!! I would say, start just a small list of things you want to do/see and go from there. Start at the BACK of the park (Liberty Square or there abouts) and work your way forward. Many people get distracted and head into Tomorrowland first.

Here are a few of my favorite rides/attractions..hope it helps!

** Haunted Mansion (My personal favorite- Liberty Square)
* Splash Mountain (Frontierland)
* Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Frontierland)
* Country Bear Jamboree (nice and air conditioned ;) )
* Space Mountain (Tomorrowland)
** Pirates of the Caribbean (CLASSIC!!- Adventureland)
* Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)
* Peter Pan (Fantasyland)
* Small World (You'll never need to ride it again- but since it's your first time..check it out. - Fantasy Land)
* The Enchanted Tiki Room Show (Adventureland)

Remember to use the FastPass--they're a life saver! Also, if you get the chance, eat at the Cinderella's Castle. It's located right there in the castle, and the enterance is on your right when you go through the castle- right before you get to the gift shop.

Have a great time! Disney really is the Happiest Place on Earth--have a great time!!

[mrsface]

MandyMaloo~ Thanks so much for your advice! It makes sense to start in the back of the parks- I hadn't thought of that but we'll definitely do it that way. There's a disney store in the mall 4 minutes from my office so I think I'll head over there to get tickets.

Another question for you all- Have you been to the Cirque du Soleil show? My aunt could not rave enough about it. We'll probably end up spending the $75 each (ouch!) to see it but if anyone knows of any discounts we'd be thrilled.

Thanks again! I'm sure I'll be around here often- at least for the next 46 days!!!!!

[ManteoChik]

If the kids are off of school for anything the parks will be busy.

If the kids are in school, the parks will not be busy

think of it. Summer vacation, Thanksgiving week, Christmas to New Years, Easter week, and spring break. That leaves - the second week of Jan to easter time (march/april whatever), then early may to the start of june-ish (summer vacation) then September to the last week of November (thanksgiving) the first week of December until christmas time.

I would have to disagree on this one. We go to WDW every year a couple times a year from NC. My senior year in high school we went literally the week before Christmas. I went with my boyfriends family and the adults and one little kid in the family went down early. I went to school that morning, took a final exam and then got in the car with my boyfriend and his cousin and the three of us drove to the airport and went to FL. Our flight put us home the day before Christmas Eve. It was wonderful, the parks were empty. We never had to wait more than 5 min. to get on a ride if that. It wasn't a huge deal because most people start to do their Christmas decorating fairly early....as long as you get your shopping done it really didn't add any additional holiday stress to anyone. In fact, it was better because usually you come home from WDW even more tired than when you went because you are fighting crowds.

I would suggest to anyone with kids to go to WDW the week before Christmas. Think about it, Christmas is the one holiday where most people only take a vacation to see family...not many people go to theme parks. Also when I was younger my family spent Thanksgiving at WDW with my Aunt, Uncle, and their two kids....again there was no crowd (however we were there over the Thanksgiving Holiday).

[rene']

Well, now I'm going back to wanting to go over Thanksgiving next year. That was my original thought, but then I heard that it would be busy. Decisions, decisions....

[laurenc]

I would suggest to anyone with kids to go to WDW the week before Christmas. Think about it, Christmas is the one holiday where most people only take a vacation to see family...not many people go to theme parks. Also when I was younger my family spent Thanksgiving at WDW with my Aunt, Uncle, and their two kids....again there was no crowd (however we were there over the Thanksgiving Holiday).

i don't know about christmas day exactly, i've only been to disney in the summertime, but i know of many families (esp families that don't celebrate christmas) who have gone to disney right after christmas day. they use disney as either a family reunion "home base" or they use disney as a giant family christmas/holiday present. it's easy to take advantage of the kids' school vacation, and florida has gotta be warmer than most places in the country at that time of the year. plus i can imagine that they do an amazing job decorating the parks for the holidays, and i would guess that they really do it up for new year's eve.

isn't there some huge christmas parade, though? or am i thinking thanksgiving???

[DisneyPrincess]

There is a BIG Christmas parade, they don't do one for Thanksgiving, but they do a Halloween one. Disney looks so beautiful at Christmas time!

[mrsface]

Another question for you...

We are not staying in a Disney hotel, so we don't have the convenient shuttles.. :( Of course, our hotel was free, so I'm not complaining too loudly. :p But, it does necessitate a rental car and parking. What is the parking situation like? How much is it? Will we have to buy a parking pass for each park we visit, each day? Is there a central parking lot? Do they sell week long passes?

As always, any advice is appreciated.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I would suggest to anyone with kids to go to WDW the week before Christmas. Think about it, Christmas is the one holiday where most people only take a vacation to see family...not many people go to theme parks. Also when I was younger my family spent Thanksgiving at WDW with my Aunt, Uncle, and their two kids....again there was no crowd (however we were there over the Thanksgiving Holiday).I was told that many people vacation there for Christmas, and it's literally packed the few days surrounding Christmas. Heck, I would want to escape the NE snow for fun in the sun in my bikini! However, the "value season" (i.e. when fewer people are there, and they have cheaper hotel rates) lasts through December 19. After that, it's "peak season" when more people are there. I hate crowds, but... I have been to Disney twice (spring break in high school and back when I was 10, both family vacations), included Universal in my trip, and I wanted something different. All the holiday decor, plus it's the 50th anniversary celebration.. it's my graduation gift (I graduate in May witbh my bachelors) that I originally planned for mid-January, but moved because I got this zany idea that I had to do a Disney Christmas before I die. Same with a Disney Easter, Disney birthday, Disney anniversary, Disney Thanksgiving... :D

Andrea, where would you suggest for Christmas Dinner? When I went in 1995, my dad loved King Stefano's Roundtable in Ms. Cindy's castle, but I've searched high and low, and apparently it no longer exists. We're looking for a really nice dinner, not insanely pricey (maybe around $50 per person, excluding drinks?), but I know nothing at a nicer restaurant in the park is going to be "inexpensive." Also, I know this is the end of August, but when is the earliest I can call for reservations? We're looking for a 4pm dinner. I heard 90 days before, and start calling at 6:55 am until you get through, because these places book quick for the holiday meal. I hope I haven't missed the opening day to get reservations. I've been to Disney before, last time in 2000. Done lots of stuff while there, but is there anything you'd suggest we just shouldn't miss this time around?

I hate to ask, but I notice you offered you friends and family hotel discount. Could you possibly use that to book for me over the Christmas holiday? I currently have reservations (room only) and I can cancel them without penalty. I'm booked in the Pop Century (okay, I'm cheap :D I have stayed in the Contemporary and the All-Star music--love the bigger bathroom, but it's not worth the pricetag). Would reservations still be available at this time for the Christmas season (it's December 19-27--19th is the last day of the value season, and I want to lock in that lower rate for the trip instead of going a day later and paying $40 more)? I had 3 rooms, as it's thought to be 7 or 8 people, but could be as low as 6. And is the cancellation policy the same (5 days before check-in)? I was able to get 15% off $77 using AAA, and my total hotel bill looks to be $1427 with taxes. So I guess anything better than that would be great. :)

Are you by any chance working over the Christmas holiday? :rolleyes: Would be nice to meet another CC member :)

ETA: What is the difference between a standard room and a preferred room?

[udsweetpea]

I was told that many people vacation there for Christmas, and it's literally packed the few days surrounding Christmas. Heck, I would want to escape the NE snow for fun in the sun in my bikini! However, the "value season" (i.e. when fewer people are there, and they have cheaper hotel rates) lasts through December 19. After that, it's "peak season" when more people are there. I hate crowds, but... I have been to Disney twice (spring break in high school and back when I was 10, both family vacations), included Universal in my trip, and I wanted something different. All the holiday decor, plus it's the 50th anniversary celebration.. it's my graduation gift (I graduate in May witbh my bachelors) that I originally planned for mid-January, but moved because I got this zany idea that I had to do a Disney Christmas before I die. Same with a Disney Easter, Disney birthday, Disney anniversary, Disney Thanksgiving... :D

Andrea, where would you suggest for Christmas Dinner? When I went in 1995, my dad loved King Stefano's Roundtable in Ms. Cindy's castle, but I've searched high and low, and apparently it no longer exists. We're looking for a really nice dinner, not insanely pricey (maybe around $50 per person, excluding drinks?), but I know nothing at a nicer restaurant in the park is going to be "inexpensive." Also, I know this is the end of August, but when is the earliest I can call for reservations? We're looking for a 4pm dinner. I heard 90 days before, and start calling at 6:55 am until you get through, because these places book quick for the holiday meal. I hope I haven't missed the opening day to get reservations. I've been to Disney before, last time in 2000. Done lots of stuff while there, but is there anything you'd suggest we just shouldn't miss this time around?

I hate to ask, but I notice you offered you friends and family hotel discount. Could you possibly use that to book for me over the Christmas holiday?

Are you by any chance working over the Christmas holiday? :rolleyes: Would be nice to meet another CC member :)

ETA: What is the difference between a standard room and a preferred room?

Wow, lots of questions ;) King Stephan's is now called Cinderella's Royal Table. I would definitely recommend what you've already heard- book 90 days in advance and do it at the crack of dawn to ensure booking a reservation for the day you want. If you don't get in there, let me know and I can give you some other recommendations for Christmas dinner. Are there any children travelling with you? That might help me try to think of some alternatives for you.

Unfortunately, all of the cast member discounted rooms are booked for the Christmas holiday. I'm really sorry I couldn't do anything for you. Some other time though definitely!!!

Would I suggest anything extra special this time around? Well, Disney World hasn't changed that much since 2000, except for a few new attractions. Magic Kingdom has changed their fireworks display and has named it "Wishes". Definitely don't miss that!

I will probably be working over the Christmas holiday, and if you'd like to stop in, I work at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort. I work dinners there Monday-Wednesday (but I might be changing my availability, so don't take my word on it). It's actually a GREAT place to go if you have younger girls travelling with you. Cinderella is there along with Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother, Suzy, and Perla.

The difference between a standard room and a preferred room location- standard means your view is the parking lot and preferred means some other view (could be the pool, landscaping, courtyard, etc).

mrsfaceAnother question for you...

We are not staying in a Disney hotel, so we don't have the convenient shuttles.. Of course, our hotel was free, so I'm not complaining too loudly. But, it does necessitate a rental car and parking. What is the parking situation like? How much is it? Will we have to buy a parking pass for each park we visit, each day? Is there a central parking lot? Do they sell week long passes?

As always, any advice is appreciated.

Each park has its own parking lot. Once you pay the $8 or $9 to park for the day, you can park hop and not have to pay each time you go to a new park. Unfortunately, I don't think they sell week long passes, and there isn't a central parking lot. Parking isn't too bad at the parks. It just means you have to pay the fee and take a tram up the park instead of being let off the busses right up front.

Oh, and you can leave your car at one park and use the Disney busses to park hop throughout the day and come back to your car later (just don't mention you're staying off property ;) ). I wouldn't do this at Animal Kingdom though because it closes so much earlier than the other parks and you won't be able to get back to your car.

[betsyboop]

udsweetpea- I guess you missed my post, but do you know if there are any of the cast member discounted rooms left for President's Day weekend? Feb 16-20?? I'd like a room at the Beach or Yacht Club or the Boardwalk. Or, if those are booked, Port Orleans. Let me know if you get a chance. Thanks!

[udsweetpea]

betsyboop I PMed you with the details about President's Day Weekend.

[betsyboop]

Oh, er... how do I check a PM?

[udsweetpea]

It's at the top right-hand corner of the screen. Private messages is underlined. Just click that.

[ManteoChik]

Originally Posted by ManteoChik
I would suggest to anyone with kids to go to WDW the week before Christmas. Think about it, Christmas is the one holiday where most people only take a vacation to see family...not many people go to theme parks. Also when I was younger my family spent Thanksgiving at WDW with my Aunt, Uncle, and their two kids....again there was no crowd (however we were there over the Thanksgiving Holiday).

For me this was my personal experience going to WDW the week before Christmas and I would continue to reccomend that time to anyone. I just know that we never once had to wait in a line for a ride. We stayed at the Boardwalk Inn and never had a problem with getting dinner reservations at any of our favorite restaurants either. I'm sure everyone has their own opinion of when a good time is to go, but I noticed that this was a *very* stress free time. I have a hard time going to WDW because I just can't stand the crowds and when people are hot and sticky their attitudes seem to be even worse. I just really liked the fact that we didn't have to deal with crowds.

I'm not saying there isn't anyone at WDW because there are always people there..but I found it to be a realativly good time to be there.

[DallasLady]

Christmas being a slow time at Disney is not entirely true. I am sure that Andrea will back this up when she returns. I am a Disney travel agent, and I know that Christmas itself is the BUSIEST time of year for Disneyworld. The weeks preceeding Christmas are light, but as soon as the kids get out for Christmas break there are wall-to-wall people. There have been times when the parks close because they are at capacity.

If you go early December, you are good (1-18th or so). If you go for Christmas or New Years, be prepared to be one of MANY.

[jeeplover]

I just wanted to chime in about Christmas at Disney, as I had worked there during Christmas for 2 years. The reason it is so crazy is that the park is opened late and offer many special events but like ManteoChik said the weeks prior to Christmas are fairly light. It was always like the calm before the storm for me and my coworkers! I do recommend at least going to Disney once during the Christmas season (which starts there right after Thanksgiving) to see all the beautiful decorations and such.

[LuluGirl]

I went to DW last year for Christmas, Dec 19-26th. It is true that it's crazy busy there, but I had my best time there ever. (I sound like a little kid!) It was really cold there last year and rainy, but that just added to whole Christmas feel. My boyfriend (at that time) and I ended up standing right outside of the castle on Christmas eve, watching the fireworks. And after the fireworks went off, the large majority of people in MK left and we had a good 3 hours just running around the park, walking onto all the major rides.

[Ericka_Jarett]

We got married down at WDW at the Wilderness Lodge almost 4 yrs ago. We went from the 13th - 20th of December and it was perfect. The weather was great, the parks were pretty empty (wait was never more than 5 mins) and got to see all the Christmas decorations and even the Christmas Party we got admitted to. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge as well on the 7th floor woods view was clear view to the Castle. Could see the fireworks from our balcony.

We are hoping to go again next year for our 5th anniversary with some friends but staying at Fort Wilderness most likely, since there will be kids with us.

Hubby wants to go this year for our anniversary now too :) UD we may be taking you up on your offer

[Aug2002Bride]

Do you get any discounts on the Disney Cruise?

[rene']

O.K., I am so excited! My mother-in-law just called to tell me that we can use one of their time shares to go to Florida next year! :D It costs $149 to transfer it and it goes from Sunday to Sunday, that calculates to $21.43 per day! I'm not sure if they have any resorts on Disneyworld's site, but I'm sure they have one close. We would just have to figure in a rental car, parking, etc.

The thing is, we have to get it transferred now to guarantee the week we want. But, I figure even if something happens and we can't go, we are only out $149.

Sorry, I just had to share...... :)

[rene']

Another question, it may have been asked already? What is the cost to park if you aren't staying in a Disneyworld Resort?

Thanks!

[jeeplover]

Another question, it may have been asked already? What is the cost to park if you aren't staying in a Disneyworld Resort?

Thanks!


Rene-that is great that you will be able to stay in a timeshare in Orlando. It is $5 to park and if you decide to go to another park just keep your parking pass and you won't have to pay at the other park. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

[mrsface]

We leave in less than 3 weeks! I'm so excited... We bought tickets for the Cirque du Soleil- a total splurge, but it should be fun.

A couple more questions for you ladies with all the knowledge.

We still haven't bought tickets to the parks yet. I suppose I keep putting it off hoping they'll be discounted or something. Please give me a kick in the pants to just order them online, unless there is a better way. I'm such a procrastinator!!!

The 10th, the day we fly home, is my 2nd anniversary. We'd like to go out for a nice dinner to celebrate one night. I need reccomendations. We like all kinds of food- Indian is about our favorite, but we're pretty adventurous. Where should we go? I'm trying to figure it out so I can make reservations, if necessary.

Weather. What is it like? Will we want jackets? Shorts? We honestly have no idea... Also, what do the hurricanes do in Orlando? My little sister told me she didn't want to go at all because of them... She's very nervous. So, what's it really like.


Thanks!
Andrea

[udsweetpea]

Rene-that is great that you will be able to stay in a timeshare in Orlando. It is $5 to park and if you decide to go to another park just keep your parking pass and you won't have to pay at the other park. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

To park at Disney? I think they raised it to $8 now.

[ManteoChik]

Weather. What is it like? Will we want jackets? Shorts? We honestly have no idea... Also, what do the hurricanes do in Orlando? My little sister told me she didn't want to go at all because of them... She's very nervous. So, what's it really like.

Are you staying on property? Everytime I go to WDW we stay at one of the resorts in a suite so we always have a washer/dryer.

I would take normal summer items and maybe 1 pair of jeans, 1 sweatshirt, and one long sleeve shirt per person. It hasn't been very chilly here at night yet but I have noticed that it isn't hot in the morning/at night like it has been. I would imagine in 3 more weeks it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least bring a pair of pants and sweatshirt. Having to buy them at the park would be very costly especially if you already have them.

[jeeplover]

udsweetpea-wow my SIL was just there and she said she paid $5-of course she could be confused or have simply forgetten!

[udsweetpea]

udsweetpea-wow my SIL was just there and she said she paid $5-of course she could be confused or have simply forgetten!

Nope, I don't think its been $5 since the 80's.

[jeeplover]

It was $5 when I worked there in '96 and '97 and was that way in 2002 when I went back! The only reason I know is that I worked at the toll booths at MGM and drove the tram there as well!

[udsweetpea]

It was $5 when I worked there in '96 and '97 and was that way in 2002 when I went back! The only reason I know is that I worked at the toll booths at MGM and drove the tram there as well!

The 80's thing was just a joke. I know its $8 now. I drive through the MK toll booths every day.

[jeeplover]

With the way the ticket price increases are going you would think it has been that long-LOL!

[1MegMeg]

We leave in less than 3 weeks! I'm so excited... We bought tickets for the Cirque du Soleil- a total splurge, but it should be fun.

A couple more questions for you ladies with all the knowledge.

We still haven't bought tickets to the parks yet. I suppose I keep putting it off hoping they'll be discounted or something. Please give me a kick in the pants to just order them online, unless there is a better way. I'm such a procrastinator!!!

The 10th, the day we fly home, is my 2nd anniversary. We'd like to go out for a nice dinner to celebrate one night. I need reccomendations. We like all kinds of food- Indian is about our favorite, but we're pretty adventurous. Where should we go? I'm trying to figure it out so I can make reservations, if necessary.

Weather. What is it like? Will we want jackets? Shorts? We honestly have no idea... Also, what do the hurricanes do in Orlando? My little sister told me she didn't want to go at all because of them... She's very nervous. So, what's it really like.


Thanks!
Andrea

Andrea, Yay! You are going to have such a great time. :) Cirque du Soleil is wonderful, my DH and I saw it in January.

Let's see, for a nice meal I highly recommend Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge, especially if you like Indian and are adventurous eaters. Their food has African Influences and it is fabulous. You can view a sample of their menu here (http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_jiko.htm). Another great place is the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort, depending on what time your reservation is, you can see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Here's (http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_cg.htm) a sample of their menu.

Regarding the tickets - nopers, no discount. Get on the stick and buy them. Heehee! :D

Where are you staying when you come down? You might have mentioned it before...sorry if I missed it!

[PrincessTommi]

We leave in less than 3 weeks! I'm so excited... We bought tickets for the Cirque du Soleil- a total splurge, but it should be fun.

A couple more questions for you ladies with all the knowledge.

We still haven't bought tickets to the parks yet. I suppose I keep putting it off hoping they'll be discounted or something. Please give me a kick in the pants to just order them online, unless there is a better way. I'm such a procrastinator!!!

The 10th, the day we fly home, is my 2nd anniversary. We'd like to go out for a nice dinner to celebrate one night. I need reccomendations. We like all kinds of food- Indian is about our favorite, but we're pretty adventurous. Where should we go? I'm trying to figure it out so I can make reservations, if necessary.

Weather. What is it like? Will we want jackets? Shorts? We honestly have no idea... Also, what do the hurricanes do in Orlando? My little sister told me she didn't want to go at all because of them... She's very nervous. So, what's it really like.


Thanks!
Andrea

My countdown is at 35 days, so I'm excited too!

Weather - October is nice. There may be some cool nights. I would take both shorts and pants, and a light jacket.

Hurricanes - Since Orlando is in the middle, hurricanes don't cause the type of damage you see at the coasts. Last year, the hurricanes made the Orlando area kind of messy, some downed trees, some flooding, but overall, not too bad I've heard. Think bad thunderstorms. Disney has held up very well. I have friends that still live and work there, and when we checked in with them after the storms last year, they said Disney property didn't even lose power when other places in Orlando did. Andrea should have more info on that though.

Food - Haven't been to Jiko, but at the Animal Kingdom Lodge there's also Boma, which is my favorite place in.the.world. It's a buffet, but DH and I had a lovely romantic dinner there the first night of our honeymoon. I love the www.allearsnet.com site, it has all the menus. My other favorite restaurant is Restaurant Marrakesh in Morroco in Epcot. I've heard great things about California Grill (Contemporary) and Narcoosee's(Grand Floridian). I'm quite excited about having dinner in the castle at MK on our upcoming trip as well. Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot is nice too. I've heard good things about Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club.

Tickets - Check out http://www.ticketmania.com/discounttickets.shtml. I've heard they are a good, reliable discount ticket broker. Maybe that will help a little. I would definitely order tickets ahead of time, it will save you a lot of time and some money. The lines at the ticket windows in the mornings are insane! You don't want to have to do that.

[julietchicago]

Yay! DH and I are leaving for Orlando 1 week from today - 9/24! We spent 7 days at Disney back in 2003, so this time we are going to Seaworld and Universal Studios. We will definetly stop at Downtown Disney, and there is a slight chance we could buy a 1 day ticket to Disney if we need something to do. I'm sooooo excited!! We try to go down every year. DH even wants to move down! LOL.

[mrsface]

Meg~
Thanks so much for the restaurant reccomendations- I'm really liking the menu at Jiko. We may very well end up celebrating there! We are staying at the Westgate Lakes Resort- we're using a week of Marriott timeshare. Hopefully it will be nice. It should be- 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, whirlpool tub etc...

Princesstommi~
Thanks so much for the link to allears.net- that's a great site! Also, I appreciate the weather tips and hurricane info. You've been most highly helpful.

Two weeks from today I will be frolicking joyfully in the Magic Kingdom. :D :D :D

[udsweetpea]

julietchicago and mrsface Sounds like you two have some great vacations planned! The parks are really slow right now, so its a great time to come! And we haven't gotten rain for about a week!!! :D

Just a reminder- I'm still offering my 40% discount to anyone who would like to stay at a Disney resort. Just PM me if you want more info.

[1MegMeg]

Mrsface - I think you'll really enjoy Jiko. :) DH and I celebrated our 1st anniversary there and we had a great time! Be sure and check out the food and wine festival at Epcot. If you enjoy food (and it sounds like you do Hehe, just like me! :)), you'll love it! What exact dates are you going to be down?

Andrea - As soon as SIL let's us know when her daughter's baptism is going to be I will be contacting you for a resort reservation. :) The baptism is most likely going to be sometime in January, which is when we want to go to WDW again...so we are waiting for her to firm up her plans before we book.

[Boopy]

:) jakedog - I don't have children, but I did some research for my sister when she recently went. You can bring your own stroller or rent. Renting is $10/day (no deposit) OR $8/day Length of Stay. There is a stroller parking lot outside of the lines to park them at and it is useful to tie something unique to yours so you can easily identify it and no one else with a similar style accidentially walks off with yours. Leashes are great too for when the little one wants to walk to keep them from wondering off! Hope this helps!

ETA - No, I don't believe they make you prove the age of the children.

[jeeplover]

jakedog-they don't require you to prove the age of your child! I recommend bringing your own stroller because alot of people rent strollers and you would be better off being able to identify your own over one that you rented. Just a sidenote but when I went to WDW with my SIL and her 3 children she didn't like the strollers they rented out, she just felt safer bringing her own and she felt that her daughter would be more comfortable in her own. Have a wonderful trip, I hope your son has fun!

[onomatopoeia]

What age do you think kids really enjoy DisneyWorld or Disneyland??

My son is about to be one and we're thinking of planning a trip to either park (not sure which one would be best). I think perhaps for his 2nd bday.... is that too young?
Are there things that he could enjoy down there?

any info would be great. I have been to both parks when I was 8 and 10, but don't remember much.

[udsweetpea]

What age do you think kids really enjoy DisneyWorld or Disneyland??

My son is about to be one and we're thinking of planning a trip to either park (not sure which one would be best). I think perhaps for his 2nd bday.... is that too young?
Are there things that he could enjoy down there?

any info would be great. I have been to both parks when I was 8 and 10, but don't remember much.

I honestly wouldn't take a child to the parks unless they're 5 and older. They get tired, hot, cranky, and so do you from lugging around a bunch of bags and a stroller.

[PrincessTommi]

What age do you think kids really enjoy DisneyWorld or Disneyland??

My son is about to be one and we're thinking of planning a trip to either park (not sure which one would be best). I think perhaps for his 2nd bday.... is that too young?
Are there things that he could enjoy down there?

any info would be great. I have been to both parks when I was 8 and 10, but don't remember much.
I don't really think there is a "too young", AS LONG AS parents realize that the trip is for them (to experience their child's experiences and reactions), but that the trip must be tailored to meet the needs of the child and be flexible in plans.

In March 2004, we took a family trip. It was me, DH, MIL, FIL, DH's aunt and uncle and 3yo cousin, P. Yes, P had a fantastic time. But we knew it was about us wanting to give P that fantastic time. She will most likely not have any memories of the trip, but we will. I had never seen WDW as a child, and I had so much fun seeing it with her like that. It was a wonderful family trip that will be a highlight of family memories forever. There is nothing like witnessing that kind of innocence experiencing those type of things. And there is nothing like sitting on "It's a Small World" 4 times in a row because that was her favorite attraction.

At the same time, everything we did and planned was about her. We spent a lot of time in Fantasyland. We planned meals and attractions around her schedule and when we would have to leave to get back for naps. We skipped a lot of things we would normally do on an adult trip, and we were fine with it.

I've seen so many families with young children. Some good, some bad. The worst were always parents who wanted to get their itinerary done, and insist their kids are along for the ride. Or the parents who have the mentality "we paid a lot of money for this, so you will have fun dammit!".

And yes, hauling stuff was kind of annoying. But we had it down to a science by the middle of the week. And as far as age appropriate stuff, there are things for all ages. We weren't sure what P's tolerances would be, so we took it slow. We didn't force anything on her, and we learned quickly what she liked and didn't like. We actually came upon Chip and Dale as we were randomly walking down a path in Disney's Animal Kingdom. She watched from afar, and then wanted to go up and touch. We weren't going to plop her in front of huge adult sized costumed characters if they were going to scare her. I've seen people do that and it's so sad. She liked music and shows, we sat near the entrance of the Festival of the Lion King show in case we had to leave, but she loved it. Like I said, Small World was her favorite. She wasn't too fond of the carousel but she tolerated it with her daddy, and she Hated loud noises - so we skipped all the fireworks shows. One of her favorite things was feeding the ducks outside our villa, so we spent extra time at the resort.

I think DH went for the first time when he was 6. He doesn't really remember too much about that trip, but his mom still talks about it to this day. We will do the same for P's first trip. I can see both sides of the "what is too young", but after experiencing it, I wouldn't change a thing.

Some people aren't comfortable spending so much time and money on a vacation without getting more out of it, so it's probably not worth it to go when kids are younger. We knew we would be back, so taking times to watch ducks wasn't a waste of money or time. That's when you get the families dragging exhausted cranky children everywhere in the hot sun.

It's a completely personal thing, I guess. Sorry if I've rambled and made no sense. :o

[PrincessTommi]

Quick question - we are leaving the day after tomorrow and you would think I had this figured out already :o But whats the deal with strollers? Do you bring yours to the park or get one there? Also do they allow them in line or should I bring a sling (or a leash LOl-no I'm serious!) to keep Jr in check? (he's 15 mo and runs like a bat out of hell)
Also are there any places that recommend which attractions are best for the VERY young kids?
Ok one more question- are we going to need to PROVE how old he is? I mean clearly he is a toddler but will they make us prove it??

Sorry one more- we have the old park hopper plus tickest and I was wondering which of the PLUS options you would recommend for two adults and a toddler (I mean obviously not pleasure island)

TIA!!

You've gotten good advice about the strollers. If you want to take one with you, you definitely can. And if you don't want to worry about hauling one, you can rent a stroller. You can't take any strollers in to lines, so the sling (or leash) may be a good idea. Those queues can get long and windy with lots of legs to dart through and around.

As far as attractions, it's mainly about what your son likes. You can pretty much take him on anything that doesn't have a height requirement. Here's a link to restrictions for attractions, and has some listed that may be too intense for small children: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/rr.htm. On our last trip, we learned that P loved Small World, but didn't like the moving parts of the carousel. Loved music and dancing, but not if it was too loud. Nothing in our plans were concrete, and they changed quite a few times as we learned new things about P's tolerances.

You won't have to prove anything about his age. Sometimes they will ask toddlers how old they are, if a kid looks more like 4-5 and is trying to be passed off as an under-3-don't-need-a-ticket child, or the 9-10 price break. But for the most part, it's up to the parents to be truthful with their childrens' ages.

Do you guys like water parks? Because other than the water parks, what can you use the Plusses for? DisneyQuest? DisneyQuest was fun, but I went with a group of friends, I don't know what would be there for a toddler. Here's an allearsnet.com page that has links to info on the water parks and DisneyQuest.

Hope that helps.

[onomatopoeia]

princesstommi, thanks for the info. the trip would be my mom and stepdad and DS and DH and me so I think with 4 adults hauling stuff around shouldn't be a big deal. My mom will be 60 so she's not the rollercoaster type of woman, and she said that she and stepdad would be happy to take DS around while Dh and I spend some time alone.

Even at 8 and 10, I can barely remember the parks. I think I've got a bad memory :) but I totally agree that it would so much fun to see DS's reactions to things - like a large size Mickey Mouse.

udsweetpea, I always thought we'd wait til DS was older, but my mom isn't in the best of health and she wants to do a family trip. I was thinking next year b/c after that I wanted to get try for #2 and I don't want to go down to the park either pregnant or with 2 littles ones.

Thanks for the advice!

[mamax2]

Thanks so much for the restaurant reccomendations- I'm really liking the menu at Jiko. We may very well end up celebrating there! We are staying at the Westgate Lakes Resort- we're using a week of Marriott timeshare. Hopefully it will be nice. It should be- 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, whirlpool tub etc...
O.k., this is weird, but MrsFace - me too! We're arriving at Westgate on Sunday 10/2 also staying in a 3 BR w/my SIL, BIL and their 2 kids (should be interesting, 4 adults and 3 kids ages 2 and under :eek: ) We're also going to Cirque du Soleil and currently looking for great adults-only dinner choices. We're trading childcare w/the ILS so each couple gets 1-2 nights on their own.

At this point, we're NOT planning on going to Disney simply b/c I'm 7 months pg and DD is 2, so what's the point? We're going to SeaWorld for 2 days, the Makahiki Luau and B'fast w/Shamu plus doing a character b'fast another day. We may change our minds on going to WDW itself once we're there, but we're planning to stagger childcare duties so SIL and I can hit the spa and the guys can golf a few times too. The kids will probably be most interested in playing at the resort pool :p We're trying to plan activities so we just do one thing a day so as not to overstimulate the kids and make them crazy.

I was going to come to this thread to ask for recommendations for a nice, adult dinner place, but looks like that's already been covered so I'm off to check out allearsnet.com! :D

eta: As for tickets, I've pre-purchased almost everything from ticketmania.com or orlandoinfo.com - depending upon who had the cheaper price.

[mrsface]

O.k., this is weird, but MrsFace - me too! We're arriving at Westgate on Sunday 10/2 also staying in a 3 BR w/my SIL, BIL and their 2 kids (should be interesting, 4 adults and 3 kids ages 2 and under :eek: ) We're also going to Cirque du Soleil and currently looking for great adults-only dinner choices. We're trading childcare w/the ILS so each couple gets 1-2 nights on their own.

At this point, we're NOT planning on going to Disney simply b/c I'm 7 months pg and DD is 2, so what's the point? We're going to SeaWorld for 2 days, the Makahiki Luau and B'fast w/Shamu plus doing a character b'fast another day. We may change our minds on going to WDW itself once we're there, but we're planning to stagger childcare duties so SIL and I can hit the spa and the guys can golf a few times too. The kids will probably be most interested in playing at the resort pool :p We're trying to plan activities so we just do one thing a day so as not to overstimulate the kids and make them crazy.

I was going to come to this thread to ask for recommendations for a nice, adult dinner place, but looks like that's already been covered so I'm off to check out allearsnet.com! :D

eta: As for tickets, I've pre-purchased almost everything from ticketmania.com or orlandoinfo.com - depending upon who had the cheaper price.

Wow. That is weird! Have you ever stayed there? We just picked it off a list, so we're hoping it's nice.

What night are you going to Cirque du Soleil? We are going on Tuesday, the early show...

Good plan on not planning too many activites. My brother is 8, so a lot older than your kids, but we're still planning on taking it easy for him. We got the Disney tickets that let us go in and out of the parks each day so if we want to go back and take naps we can...

Okay you fabulous ladies with all the knowledge- yet another question for you. As you know, we're not staying on Disney property. Will we be able to use the busses between parks? What kind of proof do they ask for? How does it work, exactly? Also, can you explain the 'Magic After Hours'? Do they kick everyone out and then let people back in? Again, what proof do they need? And, now the kicker- is there anything I can do to get some of the action? :p ;) :D

Thanks!

[udsweetpea]

Okay you fabulous ladies with all the knowledge- yet another question for you. As you know, we're not staying on Disney property. Will we be able to use the busses between parks? What kind of proof do they ask for? How does it work, exactly? Also, can you explain the 'Magic After Hours'? Do they kick everyone out and then let people back in? Again, what proof do they need? And, now the kicker- is there anything I can do to get some of the action? :p ;) :D

Thanks!

Technically, you're not allowed to use the Disney busses, but I've never seen them ask for proof. Extra Magic Hours are extra hours before and after the park opens and closes. You will need an arm bracelet to get on any ride or to even walk in a shop, so yes, that does require proof (Resort ID card).

[Sabrina]

Technically, you're not allowed to use the Disney busses, but I've never seen them ask for proof.

I spend a lot of time in Orlando and at WDW (my family has a vacation house in St Cloud :)), and I know you work at WDW, Andrea, but I have to respectfully contradict you on this one. Anyone holding a valid park pass is entitled to use Disney Transportation. If I have a Park Hopper pass, I am permitted to take the bus from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom, just as I am allowed to take the Monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot. Likewise, I am permitted to use the resort buses to travel around the property to dine at the resort restuarants. :cool:

[udsweetpea]

I spend a lot of time in Orlando and at WDW (my family has a vacation house in St Cloud :)), and I know you work at WDW, Andrea, but I have to respectfully contradict you on this one. Anyone holding a valid park pass is entitled to use Disney Transportation. If I have a Park Hopper pass, I am permitted to take the bus from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom, just as I am allowed to take the Monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot. Likewise, I am permitted to use the resort buses to travel around the property to dine at the resort restuarants. :cool:

I guess I never got that memo. Sorry, Sabrina. :cool:

[Sabrina]

Even at 8 and 10, I can barely remember the parks. I think I've got a bad memory :) but I totally agree that it would so much fun to see DS's reactions to things - like a large size Mickey Mouse.


My first WDW trip was when I was 7, and I remember it very well. :D

I have seen lots of people in the parks with little ones around 2 years old, and there is no doubt that the kids are having a blast. However, at that age, he won't remember the trip, so you will have to take lots of photos ;) . The downside to having little ones with you in the park, as udsweetpea pointed out, is that you have to cart a ton of stuff with you. Not to mention that chances are you will have to leave the parks in the middle of the day so that your son can take a nap (I hate to waste my park time, I am a commando tourist!). Oh, and people like DH and I who don't have kids will give you the evil eye if you hit us in the ankles with your stroller.... ;)

[udsweetpea]

Oh, and people like DH and I who don't have kids will give you the evil eye if you hit us in the ankles with your stroller.... ;)

The very reason I don't go to the parks unless its extremely slow. I hate the strollers hitting my ankles. I get so mad and end up saying "if your child needs a stroller, they're too young to come to Disney World" loud enough for them to hear. I don't really mean it, but it gets entirely too annoying.

[Sabrina]

"if your child needs a stroller, they're too young to come to Disney World"

LOL!! I often find myself thinking this same thing when I am in the parks. Then I remember that we are all kids at heart when we are at WDW ;)

[mamax2]

Wow. That is weird! Have you ever stayed there? We just picked it off a list, so we're hoping it's nice.

What night are you going to Cirque du Soleil? We are going on Tuesday, the early show...
We've never stayed there either - just picked it online (timeshare trade) mainly b/c they offered a 3 BR unit w/2 BRs having king beds and none of the other places did that. I have since read a LOT of horror stories though :( apparently they hit you hard w/the whole timeshare sales load so you have to really stick to your guns and shut 'em down fast! We have Cirque tix on Tuesday & Thursday nights - late show for both so we can take in dinner first. ILS will go one night and we'll go the other.

Character Breakfast/Dinner ~ My plans are bust - we waited too long to reserve :( We may have to suck it up and go to Disney so DD can see some characters.

Oh, and people like DH and I who don't have kids will give you the evil eye if you hit us in the ankles with your stroller....
Even people who have kids and use strollers don't like to be mowed down by them ;)

"if your child needs a stroller, they're too young to come to Disney World"
Geez, I hope we don't run into a lot of this when we're there. We specifically picked Orlando to vacation since we thought it would be a kid- friendly town, even if DD isn't really able to 'get' WDW, kwim? Where is a family w/kids supposed to vacation exactly? :rolleyes:

[mrsface]

Character Breakfast/Dinner ~ My plans are bust - we waited too long to reserve :( We may have to suck it up and go to Disney so DD can see some characters.



I ran into that same problem today! We just decided that it would be fun to go to a character breakfast, so I called and the lady I talked with said they didn't have ANYTHING the whole time we'll be there. When she was checking she told me how strange it was to be that booked for October... She wasn't sure what was going on, but it didn't sound good to me... I might try again when we're down there- we might even try just showing up. We'll just have to play it by ear.

Soooo, I leave in 2 1/2 days. Yikes. I've got so much to do! Any last minute advice on what to pack, where to go, what to see etc..? Oh, I remember someone talking about going to the beach but I don't remember what was said or where it was said. :o We'd like to go to the beach for a day- where should we go? What day would be best- are weekends totally crowded?

Ahhhh! So much to think about. Thank you all so much for your help.

[PrincessTommi]

I ran into that same problem today! We just decided that it would be fun to go to a character breakfast, so I called and the lady I talked with said they didn't have ANYTHING the whole time we'll be there. When she was checking she told me how strange it was to be that booked for October... She wasn't sure what was going on, but it didn't sound good to me... I might try again when we're down there- we might even try just showing up. We'll just have to play it by ear.

Soooo, I leave in 2 1/2 days. Yikes. I've got so much to do! Any last minute advice on what to pack, where to go, what to see etc..? Oh, I remember someone talking about going to the beach but I don't remember what was said or where it was said. :o We'd like to go to the beach for a day- where should we go? What day would be best- are weekends totally crowded?

Ahhhh! So much to think about. Thank you all so much for your help.

Sorry about the character breakfast. You can keep trying, swing by any guest relations office and have them check. Or you can check at the podium of the restaurant and see what the wait is if they are taking walkins.

October is quite busy this year. The "free dining" package, and the regular dining package, were a really great draw for Disney during the slow time (hurricane season) this year. Restaurants have been really full. And October has the Food and Wine Festival, and there are a number of big conferences in Orlando and at Disney this time of year. That's why we are going, FIL has a medical conference.

My favorite beach is on the Gulf Side in Clearwater. Cocoa Beach on the other side is neat, too. I haven't been too often, and I never drove, so I can't be of much help there.

My advice - Just relax and don't get too worked up trying to get everything in. I've seen that ruin vacations faster than anything else. Utilize the fastpass system. People watch. Have fun! Be a kid!

Have a great time! :D

[udsweetpea]

Geez, I hope we don't run into a lot of this when we're there. We specifically picked Orlando to vacation since we thought it would be a kid- friendly town, even if DD isn't really able to 'get' WDW, kwim? Where is a family w/kids supposed to vacation exactly? :rolleyes:

WDW is kid-friendly, not really baby-friendly. It doesn't lend well to parents with very young children, IMO.

[PG-rated]

Bumping 'cause we're talking about a mini-vacation to WDW in April. Question: Of the All-Star Movies Resort, Pop Century Resort, or All-Star Music Resort, which would you pick? Or is there something else in the same price