 JRW2R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, Max and Zen.Premium
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Re: Disney (Florida): Recommendations / Opinions / Conjecture OK, I'm a big Disney fan. I have been to the parks so many times I have stopped counting. Disneyland is different from Disneyworld.
Since you are going in October, you will have VERY nice weather, to cool weather, so heat is not an issue. Sun is always an issue, bring sunscreen.
Read up on the rides, and plan accordingly. Most of the rides are not scary for children, but that also depends on the child.
Epcot should be considered two parks in one and you should plan to visit it accordingly, or plan to spend a long day there. Depending on your children, it may be to your best interest to avoid the World Showcase. »disneyworld.disney.go.com/destin···s/epcot/
There is a multitude of things to do OUTSIDE the parks, like fishing on the lagoon, or taking a boat out, to the Richard Petty experience, where you can drive a race car. Like I said in another post, there is more for adults than there is for kids.
One of my favorite rides is the Haunted Mansion. If you are down there late enough in the month, I would recommend you buy the tickets to go to Mickey's Not so scary Halloween party at the magic kingdom, they close the park at night and set it up for Halloween, you and the kids can go trick or treating all over the park. I HIGHLY recommend it if you can. Bring your Halloween costume too.
»disneyworld.disney.go.com/events···n-party/
I would have gone with the added expense of the Dining plan, it works out much cheaper than buying food in the parks and you have a broad selection of places to eat. The Le Celler restaurant in Epcot has the BEST steaks. 
»disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining···akhouse/
I like the German pavilion for their lunch/dinner buffet. They serve Beer!!!
»disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining···taurant/
Now At the Disney Hollywood studios, which used to be called MGM, you have to do the Great Movie ride.
»disneyworld.disney.go.com/attrac···ie-ride/
Lots of fun things to do for both you and the children. If you are a star wars fan, you have to see the show they put on next to Star Tours with Darth Vader, they make Jedi Knights out of many of the kids and bring them up on stage.
»disneyworld.disney.go.com/entert···academy/
I could go on, but I'll let you absorb this and I can answer almost ALL your questions here on in IM...
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 Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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Key West, FL
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1 edit | reply to JRW2
said by JRW2:I've been to both several times and unless you have free tickets or plan to spend several days at Universal, it will be VERY expensive. I spent nearly $500 for three adults to enter the park for ONE day... 
Well maybe things have changed Universal was cheaper... though not vastly different...neither is by any means CHEAP.... but you are paying for all inclusive (but food and drink experiences )but Universal has far more adult interest while still keeping the kids entertained. For instance other than the restaurants in Epcot...Universal has beer bars dad can take a time out in while mom and kids do Cat in the Hat land. (Probably no accident there is a Tavern right there)
Or just single adult people having a day of fun... that is available at Universal in the parks not just the City Walk.... Disney again ONLY in the restaurants with a high priced meal at Epcot, again unless things have changed.
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 swintecPremium,VIP
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I went to Disney / Universal in 2009, 2010 and this past December 2012.
Are your dates flexible or set in stone?
The first two years we went the very next week after Thanksgiving. That is for sure the time to go. Ride wise, lines are more or less non-existent. The rides were stopping and we were allowed to stay on in some cases because there were so few waiting in line.
This past December we went 2 weeks after Thanksgiving and the lines and amount of people were unbelievable. I suppose we had been spoiled the previous years.
We got the meal plan for Seaworld this last time and it was great. If you will spend the entire day until closing you can really get a decent deal. We had great meals. Not sure how the Disney meal plans stack up. If it is similar to Seaworld we would probably do it next time.
We always stay in off site hotels but I think with kids you may want to stay close to the action since it doesnt sound like you have a rental car? The trams and buses will take care of you. Although all hotels pretty much have shuttles to so it isnt that big of a deal.
Have good walking shoes.
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 billh491
join:2001-08-09
Pomfret Center, CT | reply to psafux
I am leaving in two weeks and will be staying at Port Orleans French Quarters for the fourth year in a row. I have stayed at all of the value and moderate Disney resorts including the one you are staying at and French Quarters is the my favorite. It only has one small pool so I think families avoid it which is a plus for me.
I have stayed off site as well over the years and prefer to stay on site the service is better, you can use Disney buses to get around if you like, if you rent a car you do not pay to park if you take your car to the parks. One time I locked my keys in the rental with the engine running and the front desk sent security to get me in no charge!
I have gone in April 14 times but never in October always wanted to go then as I figured the crowds would be less as most kids are in school unlike when I am there for spring break. But I work for a school so I go when we have vacation.
I think you planing to many days just for Disney if the lines are short then you can do any of the parks in one day maybe two for magic kingdom if you have young kids that want to go back.
Other parks are fun as well I love both Universal parks and city walk. Sea world is not a big deal for my but my daughter loved it we did the swim with the dolphins a few times for her. Even drove to Tampa once for Bush Gardens.
One piece of advice I would give that you many not be able to follow if you have young kids but I have a rule if I can not fit it in my pockets I do not bring it. Meaning walking around all day with a back pack full of food and other junk will be no fun at the end of the day never mind where do you put it when you are on the rides. While I know it is costly to do to Disney I figure if I can not afford to eat and drink while there it not worth it to go if I have to pack in 40lb on my back.
Along the same lines I make it a rule if you buy a something then you carry it. Thus my family learned to buy things on the way out of the park. |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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2 edits | reply to swintec
said by swintec:I went to Disney / Universal in 2009, 2010 and this past December 2012.
The first two years we went the very next week after Thanksgiving. That is for sure the time to go. Ride wise, lines are more or less non-existent.
And that would probably prove true until the week before Christmas... I know it does tourist wise here.
Same thing post New Year until the Spring Beakers and and school kids arrive in Feb to April.
Yes for us Southerners chilly but pleasantly not hot for northerners.
Again not lines and as much as the parks cost even if you get into the priority electronic book ahead thing they all have now... not even need for that.
If kids school vacations aren't the determining factor that is the time to go. And if they ARE why such a PIA and why you get to see so little standing in lines.
The parks close much earlier then but you actually see more...
Never big on the movies but LOVED the Spider Man ride at Universal... again there that time of year... I have no idea what the cue line coral entertainment displayss were about just ran through them as fast as possible and went again (much of it even roped off as not necessary).... a little PO made it out wanted one more time and 1 min too late for one more round but from entrance too too late never stood in line....just how fast could I get through the BS cue.
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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Key West, FL
kudos:1 | reply to JRW2
said by JRW2:OK, I'm a big Disney fan. I have been to the parks so many times I have stopped counting. Disneyland is different from Disneyworld.
Since you are going in October, you will have VERY nice weather, to cool weather, so heat is not an issue. Sun is always an issue, bring sunscreen.
Actually in FL we a a good 1-2 mo behind what most think of as seasons... for northerners October can still be very hot and still not out of hurricane season... in fact all of the ones that have impacted KW in the 20 year I have been here full time have been late Oct... particularly Georges and Wilma... though were saw Katrina and Rita in their early stage same time frame... not that anyone has to worry about that visiting... but October is hardly getting into the cool (temp) time... very likely to still be well over 80.
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peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
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Peterborough, ON | reply to Hayward
said by Hayward: Same thing post New Year until the Spring Beakers and and school kids arrive in Feb to April.
Yes for us Southerners chilly but pleasantly not hot for northerners. I like to go in January as the lines at the parks are diminished.
Last January I was out swimming the first night I got there and it was around 32 degrees and the Canadians had all the pools to themselves.
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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Key West, FL
kudos:1 | said by peterboro:said by Hayward: Same thing post New Year until the Spring Beakers and and school kids arrive in Feb to April.
Yes for us Southerners chilly but pleasantly not hot for northerners. I like to go in January as the lines at the parks are diminished. Last January I was out swimming the first night I got there and it was around 32 degrees and the Canadians had all the pools to themselves. Well like I said not just diminished line virtually none and I am talking Spiderman Ride when still new and hot... just how fast unimpeded, maybe a few first timers reading all the cue BS with no boredom or reason too... not needed EXCUSE me... I want one more ride before closing.
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peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
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Peterborough, ON | Not the Harry Potter lines. Those people come from all over the world just for Potter and will wait 8 hours if need be.
Speaking of Potter does anyone know what replaced Jaws? I heard a Potter theme. |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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Key West, FL
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2 edits | said by peterboro:Not the Harry Potter lines. Those people come from all over the world just for Potter and will wait 8 hours if need be.
Speaking of Potter does anyone know what replaced Jaws? I heard a Potter theme.
Well early time of Spider Man same thing... but the off times no need of reading all the que line BS... and actually most probably know HP better than Spidey... again distraction not needed don't mind a a little chill and dnot dependent on school schedules.... As other person said pre and post T-Day then NOT pre XMas to NY... but then again bargain to Feb Spring break BS are the bargain times...
Yet oddly enough I guess because kid school schedule not an issue WHY ANYONE would visit the mass of asphalt they all are in BAKING... really BURNING August even us in the Keys sea breeze cooler than all of the east coast don;t have to not in mid day sun... let alone in an unshaded dumb ass line.... but NOT land locked breeziness Orlando are BAKING in, that is just plain nuts, one time I NEVER go there... yet oddly theirs busiest of times much of it... those crazy northerners.
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peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
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Peterborough, ON | I got through Spidey three times last January with 5 to 10 minute waits. Had a 7 day pass and hit it first thing each day. Potter doesn't matter when you get to it. They race from the gate when the park opens to get in line. |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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Key West, FL
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1 edit | said by peterboro:I got through Spidey three times last January with 5 to 10 minute waits. Had a 7 day pass and hit it first thing each day. Potter doesn't matter when you get to it. They race from the gate when the park opens to get in line.
Well I must admit not been there since then though it was the buzz in the works and I forget what gone to make space for it.... I don't think it was a new space.... again Universal evolves Disney stays pretty static.
And does Disney MGM Studios still exist? Haven't heard any one mention them here... sure the actual studio is still there but is it a park anymore? Seemed to disappear from all mention about the same time the wild park came into being.
And also the same time Disney pulled the plug on true human drawn animation.
And CGI since has done amazing things... problem is TOO REAL...the historic Disney and WB toon though were as human, but just not enough real but totally believable.... yet at the same time as a KID knew it was FICTION couldn't really do that but very funny.
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peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
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Peterborough, ON | They call it Disney's Hollywood Studios. I went last Jan. and March. |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
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1 edit | said by peterboro:They call it Disney's Hollywood Studios. I went last Jan. and March.
Is there a HUMAN drawn animation department there anymore? I'd bet NOT.
And again not that CGI can't do amazing things... but where is the humanity?
Great stories... like Toy Stories and Cars... but where is the VISUAL not scripted humanity??? Its NOT in the art.
Some may say old Bugs WB is primative... to them I would say watch them and modern CGI with the sound OFF... see which works better.
I'll say the classic WB particularly...then of course other than the Beep Beep Road Runner communicated so much (let alone the art work did so well too) And again so artistically even the dialog Bug and other WB classic tooons were just visually telling without sound NO CGI anim is any more.
Toy Story again without dialog would be garbage
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JRW2R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, Max and Zen.Premium
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said by Hayward:said by JRW2:OK, I'm a big Disney fan. I have been to the parks so many times I have stopped counting. Disneyland is different from Disneyworld.
Since you are going in October, you will have VERY nice weather, to cool weather, so heat is not an issue. Sun is always an issue, bring sunscreen.
Actually in FL we a a good 1-2 mo behind what most think of as seasons... for northerners October can still be very hot and still not out of hurricane season... in fact all of the ones that have impacted KW in the 20 year I have been here full time have been late Oct... particularly Georges and Wilma... though were saw Katrina and Rita in their early stage same time frame... not that anyone has to worry about that visiting... but October is hardly getting into the cool (temp) time... very likely to still be well over 80. I have a time share just outside of Disney, and it is for the third week of September, a great time to go to Disney as all the kids are in school and the lines are QUITE tolerable. I've found the weather to be quite nice and not too hot, but maybe that was me.
We went this past summer end of June to early July, and I nearly fainted do to the heat, compared to September, I rather go in September.
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 psafuxPremium,VIP
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I've read all the comments so far with interest. We appreciate the feedback. The dates are not set in stone yet, no. My daughter will be attending a school which has a 45 day on 15 day off schedule. Her long break falls in the first couple weeks of October. Her other break falls in the middle of June -- with the weather differences we decided on October. Nothing has been reserved or paid for. We want avoid the "major" vacation times.
We do not intend on renting a car at this time. I am not 100% hard set against it but it's an extra expense that doesn't appear necessary at this time.
My wife wants to see the Potter stuff - I can take it or leave it. If the lines are crazy she likely won't stick around to wait. My wife is a sunscreen nut, she lathers it on my daughter in the dead of winter -- there won't be a concern there.
We are aware of the risk of hurricanes. Traditionally early October tends to be pretty safe.
Please keep the feedback coming if anyone has anything to add! |
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peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
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Peterborough, ON | If you are a cheapskate like me go to a timeshare pitch and you can stay pretty cheap at a resort in Orlando or Kissimmee and they will throw in Disney or Universal tickets. You have to be able say no to a sales pitch. Summer Bay is nice if you have kids and Silver Lakes is ok if you spend your time at the parks. |
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3 edits | reply to psafux
My family and I just went down there during the spring break...for the 3rd time already... We all stayed at the Westgate resorts in Kissimmee which was a stone's throw away from several theme parks. We went the cheap route to get a place to stay. We knew that we had to listen to a timeshare pitch..in the end, we just said no. There are several resorts you can stay around that area like Hilton, Wyndham etc. which you would have to listen to their pitches. Tickets to theme parks are cheaper if you buy the multiple day pass. Check online prices too and look for discount codes. If you do end up buying multiple day passes, you can always sell the remaining time on those passes in one of those gas station / grocery stores selling passes granting you kept track how many days are left are on those passes. Those guys selling passes make a killing. Just don't buy from them....sell it to them.... We ate only breakfast at our place since we were out the whole day and didn't come back till late at night, where we had dinner somewhere already. Let's face it, you'll be too tired to prepare dinner after walking all day. Park hopper passes would come in handy if you do decide not to drive but the hassle of going back to your place would be something to think of. The convenience of having a car and park it somewhere and then come back for it when you're done is almost a no brainer. If you want to experience another kind of Disney without the hassle of thinking where to stay and where or what to eat, try out the Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral. We did it once and are now thinking of doing it again next year. Oh and if you decide to go to Universal Studios, go check out the Harry Potter ride in the Islands of Adventure. It's 1.5-2 hours average wait but the ride itself is well worth the wait. Not to mention the other Harry Potter stuff around that. Try the butter beer also! » harrypotterworldorlando.com/photos/»www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0OUKJF2···DFD87706»www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zp--LDIHTI |
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JRW2R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, Max and Zen.Premium
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said by psafux:We do not intend on renting a car at this time. I am not 100% hard set against it but it's an extra expense that doesn't appear necessary at this time.
If you are staying on Disney property, then there will be no need to rent a car for the entire stay, if you should choose to rent, there is an Alamo/National rental place just outside the Magic Kingdom, easiest place to rent from if you are staying on property, and you would only need to rent for the days you need the car. They have a shuttle that will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
I think the cost to rent for one day was about $70.
You should reconsider the dining plan, if you pester them enough, you might get it included in your stay for free.
Depending on the plan, it includes nearly all the places you can eat at on Disney property, and also includes "snacks" which are the ice-creams and drinks you will need during the day. It is done like a points system, with every item being a point, some of the highest cost meals are two points, TOPS!
You have two sets of points too, Snack points and Dining points, dining points are broken down to Quick serve and Table service.
As an example, Pizza Planet in Disney Studios is a big place to take the kids for lunch. Usually you will get a pizza and a drink, but on the dining plan, it is the pizza, a drink, a small salad and a desert for one quick serve point, more food than you would think....
»www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/d···t.id=142
The points are issued in bulk to your group, so anyone of you can use the points and if one of you doesn't eat or you are not hungry at that time, the points can be used at a later time. My nephew used most of our snack points as he wasn't big on Breakfast, so we used his dining points towards our meals in the mornings. We ate like pigs, and still had a few snack points left over.
As I mentioned before, Le Celier in Epcot has the best food, and is only two table service meal points for the BEST Filet Mignon.
»allears.net/menu/menu_lcd.htm
If you want to eat there, make your reservation NOW!!!!
If you have a little girl(s), or boy(s), I would HIGHLY recommend you book a meal at Cinderella's Royal Table in the magic kingdom.
»disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining···l-table/
It is an example of the "Disney Magic" you hear about.
Two table service dining points, but well worth it. You eat INSIDE the castle, are visited by several of the Disney princesses, and you get FREE pictures with Cinderella included in the cost. (Did I mention this is ONLY two dining points.)
»www.google.com/search?q=cinderel···&bih=898
I'll post more later...
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JRW2R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, Max and Zen.Premium
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I assume you are using the Disney Magical Express to get to your hotel....
Nice to not have to wait to pick up your luggage, they handle everything for you.
If one of you or your children are handicapped or in need of extra courtesy, Disney offers a courtesy pass that will aid you in your wait times on all the ride lines. You just need to speak to Guest Relations at any of the parks.
If you read up on some of the cast member interactions at the park, it could be an added level of fun for you and your children, I know first hand that the cast members in the Hollywood studios would LOVE to have you talk to them, and interact with them, it is part of their job.
Here's a new one I just learned about..
I know that in animal kingdom, they have a walking dinosaur that you can get up-close with as it walks around the Dino area of the park.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVzQNjtOfeg
As you can see, there is more to Disney than just rides.
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