Orlando answers:

Why do you think its too far to drive? I live in the buffalo/niagara falls ny area and we have driven down many times. You don’t live that much farther than i do.

If you want to stay on disney world property but don’t want to spend a fortune then i’d suggest a disney value resort. My favorite value resort is pop century. (it starts at $82+tax per night).

Since disney world and universal orlando are two completely different companies no they don’t sell a package with both disney and universal tickets.
If you are trying to be cost conscious then i suggest you get a 4 day base ticket to disney world and a one day one park ticket at universal. (i personally like universal studios better than islands of adventure)

your brother is 9 and has “outgrown” disney world?! Thats insane! Disney world is for all ages and if he doesn’t think so then show him all the awesome attractions on the disney world website.

Orlando answers:

If you’re arriving @ OIA/MCO (Orlando International Airport / FAA designation MCO), then…

You’ll be on Disney’s Magical Express Transportation. Let’s call it DMX for short. To be sure, call to verify…(407) WDW-MAGIC or (407) 939-6244.

Some things you should know:
> DMX is actually owned & operated by Mears Transportation Group, not by Disney. Very few people realize this. Mears is the official ground transportation provider for WDW. Their partnership goes back from the inception of WDW. Even the DCL (Disney Cruise Line) motor coaches are actually Mears’. The only Disney buses that are not Mears’ are those that provide transport w/in the resort complex.
> Once you step off the plane, go directly to the DMX Welcome Center (Main Terminal Building, B-side, Level-1).
> As long as you’re arriving from 5am-10pm, you’ll be skipping baggage claim (given that you follow the instructions that will be mailed out to you). Disney will handle this for you. Your bags will be taken directly to your room.
> You can also get your RETURN boarding passes & have your bags checked in right at the hotel, skipping the entire process @ OIA. Make sure you have proper ID & your rm key for this process.

Orlando answers:

SEA world is in san diego

so you would have to rent a car to get from LA to SD ( 2 hour trip) there and back!

Just something for thought!

Orlando answers:

Park-Disney MGM Studios ( I’ve heard they’re going to change the name soon)
Ride-Splash Mountain ( Have you ever seen “Song of the South” that the ride is based off of???)
Resort-The Swan (beautiful hotel and within walking distance of Epcot and boating to Disney MGM)
Dining-The Hollywood Brown Derby (perhaps the finest dining at Disney MGM… And it’s where to get a COBB salad)

If your favorite ride is “It’s a Small World”… Have you ever been to DisneyLand in California?? That is where the “original” It’s a Small World ride is that had been created for, I believe, the New York World’s Fair back in the early 60′s!! It is a much more spectacular looking ride at Disneyland… At least from the outside!!

Orlando answers:

The free dining plan is for people booking a room at a Disney Resort PLUS the tickets. If you have an annual pass you would not qualify. They actually give annual passholders 20% off dining now.

BTW the Cast members DO get pretty good discounts on dining, merchandise and lodging. I should know I am a cast member and have been for several years.

Orlando answers:

Everyone in your room will receive a Key to the World card upon check-in. This card is your room key, it has your park tickets loaded onto it, your dining plan credits (if you purchased a dining plan) and you also have the option of using it to charge purchases to a credit card tied to your room number (they will ask you if you want to do that at check-in). Since you are staying in a Disney World resort you can take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours at the parks, and you will have to show your Key to the World card at the attraction entrances to prove you are a resort guest.

Your Key to the World card has your information printed on it, like your name, and you can take it home as a little souvenir when your vacation is over (you don’t turn it in at check-out).

Orlando answers:

To join DVC (Disney Vacation Club), you have to purchase points – either through Disney or as a resale from another member. The new points purchased directly from Disney are currently $101 each. The minimum purchase for new members is 150 points. Disney WAS (not sure if they still are) offering a $13 per point incentive on purchases. Think of this as a credit toward your down payment.

Financing is available directly through Disney. If you have good credit, the typical down payment is 10% of the total purchase price (# of points x $101). If your credit is worse, they will require a larger down payment – up to 30%.

Check out allearsnet.com or dvcbyresale.com to review a points chart. That will tell you have many points are required for each room type during the various seasons. The points are listed per night.

We just purchased 180 points at Saratoga Springs. That will allow our family to stay in a 2 bedroom unit for 5 nights (Sun – Thur) during the 4th of July week every year.

Orlando answers:

I went to disney land in france when i was about 4 i think, but sadly i don’t remember any of it….whatsoever. I rely on videos about it really. DisneyWorld in Florida is a once in a lifetime oportunity, i was lucky enough to go last christmas when i was 13 and i will never forget it. It was THE best holiday i have ever been on in my life. If i were you, i would go somewhere else this year and go to Disney World when they are a bit older and will appreciate it more. Disney-Land in France would be better because that is more of a place that they will enjoy and depending on where you live now would be a lot cheaper. Disney in Orlando is a place to go when you can really get a feel for it and go on all of the big rides and do everything, it really would need a week or two there to get through all of the parks. In France you could go for a few days and go on the children’s rides (snow white, peter pan etc) and they will enjoy it then. Bu8t whatever happens, if you do decide to go to Orlando this year, it was amazing and i loved every single second of it, so worth everything!
Another thing is, don’t go at Christmas time because it is extra crowded and quite cold, however the christmas eve fireworks display was absolutely incredible!

Orlando answers:

Go directly to the World Disney website. There, you will be able to get all the information you will need to put together the best vacation you’ll ever go on. Disney is absolutely incredible.

Orlando answers:

I put it in google maps for you, i used phelps because i’ve been there before, i hope this helps. Http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=phelps,+ky+&daddr=Kissimmee,+FL&om=1

Orlando answers:

It would help to know exactly what you are referring to.
Are you talking about the all stars sport value resort? If so yes it is on disney world property.
Are you talking about the wide world of sports complex? If so then yes that is also on disney world property.
If you are talking about something else entirely then if you could give me some more details i could help you further.

**EDIT**
ok so now that i’ve seen your other question and i know that you are talking about the wide world of sports complex here is my updated answer:

the wide world of sports complex is located on disney world property.
Disney world is 47 square miles in size so there are many things on disney property.
If you want to go to one of the disney world theme parks (magic kingdom, epcot, hollywood studios, animal kingdom) then you would need to purchase park tickets for those places.

Just because you are on disney world property doesn’t mean that you can go on all the rides.
There are many areas in disney world some are free to walk around such as downtown disney but others you have to pay for like to enter a theme park located on disney world property.

Here is disney world’s website you should find it useful:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

and here is a direct link on the disney world website to the “wide world of sports complex”:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/wide-world-of-sports/

also here is a map of the walt disney world resort. It shows all of the major sections of disney world which include magic kingdom, epcot, hollywood studios, animal kingdom, tyhoon lagoon, blizzard beach, downtown disney, as well as 23 hotels, and of course wide world of sports complex.
**please note on this map there is a park called “disney’s mgm studios” this map is a bit out dated cuz that park was renamed “disney hollywood studios” in january of 2008. Also note that the numbers on the map coinside with the list of hotels at the bottom of the page:

http://www.bestfloridaresorts.com/maps/wdwmap.jpg

****EDIT AGAIN****
nothing is within walking distance of one another but yes everything is close enough with disney transportation. There are 3 main modes of transportation all of which are FREE. There is a bus system that links EVERY part of disney world. And there are boats and a monorail system but of course these modes are only available where there are water ways and the monorail track. It takes anywhere from 7-20 minutes to get to where ever you are wanting to go on disney world property. And the buses are easy to catch. In fromt of your hotel will be a row of bus stops. You just wait at the one that says where you are wanting to go and every 20 minutes the buses come by.
But like i said before just cuz you are already on disney world property that doesn’t mean you can go to the parks and ride the rides when ever you want. If you want to go to the parks you will need to purchase tickets.

Orlando answers:

Ask disney. Since you are writing a story, this is not a travel question.

Orlando answers:

Disney World Vacation:-
Spend some time in the world’s premiere vacation destination. Home not only to
the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios, Orlando turns even the most
ordinary things into a night of fun and entertainment. Deals from $89.

Http://www.reservevacations.com/orlando.html

Orlando answers:

Dont some hotels let you check in at 18? Maybe not the resorts on Disney, but there are hundreds of hotels in the area many very close to Disney for very reasonable prices that may let someone check in at 18. It depends on the hotel. Visit www.expedia.com and search hotels in Orlando and when the search comes up click view by price and it will list them in order of price from least expensive to most expensive.

But if you can get a resort on Disney, we have stayed at the Pop Cenutry twice and cant wait to go back.

Orlando answers:

First, I will highly recommend this excellent planning website to you: http://www.allearsnet.com
And I would highly suggest that you invest in a good guidebook or two, or get some from your local library. Birnbaum’s is a great starter one, and Passporter is another great choice.

Second, I’ll start trying to answer your questions. When you buy your admission ticket, everything in the park is included. You’ll pay for food and souvenirs only. If you choose to stay at a Disney hotel, you are eligible to purchase the dining plan option if you want, which basically pre-pays for your food. You are certainly allowed to go buy groceries and bring them in, and you can save a lot of money by doing that (more than the dining plan would save you). There are several grocery stores and a Wal-Mart within a reasonable drive.

Disney has free transportation all over property, so you can use their excellent system to get everywhere on-property. For Sea World, you would have to provide your own transportation there.

There are 4 Disney parks, so you would need to look at the different parks and choose the ones you want to go to. You should purchase multi-day tickets to save money, not purchase 1 ticket per day at the gate.

With that many kids in one room, your options are limited if you want a Disney hotel. The All-Star Music has family suites that sleep 6, you may want to try that. There is a queen bed (sleeps 2), full-size pullout sofa (sleeps 2), convertible ottoman and chair sleeper (sleeps 2). The kitchenette will have a microwave and small refrigerator (4.3 cubic feet) plus a coffeemaker. There are two full bathrooms. Otherwise, you are looking at the villas which get quite expensive.

Another option, which has always been cheaper for me when I have a big group, is to rent one of the many houses or villas nearby. They will definitely save you food money, because you can get a full-size kitchen. The disadvantage is that you are going for such a short trip, you won’t get the perks of a Disney hotel. The perks include extra hours in the parks (either early or late, depending on the day) and also obviously the closeness so therefore, shorter travel time. You would have to drive in every day and pay a little for parking. If your very little ones get burnt out and need to take a mid-day break, it’s much easier to do so at a Disney hotel than having to drive off-property and back. On the other hand, Disney transportation can get quite crowded and unpleasant, and you may have a hard time dealing with it with your smaller kids and prefer your own car, anyway.

Now all that being said, if it were me personally, I would skip Sea World and stay just at Disney, and I would try to get one of the family suites at All-Star Music. And since you are really just starting your planning and have several questions, I would find a Disney travel agent to work with. If you don’t have one locally, there are several who will work with you online. They can book your whole package, they can add discounts if they become available, and they can help you answer all your questions. And it’s free!

Orlando answers:

Oh, I’m so jealous!!! We are planning a vacation to Disney too, but its not until November. I don’t know how I’m going to wait.

First of all, have a GREAT time. Its such a fun place to go as a couple. My husband and I went a few years ago, right before we decided to start having children. It was our last “not-tied-down” vacation b/c we wanted to be able to experience it as adults and ride all the big rides. In November, we are going for the first time as parents with our 2 yr old son. It’ll be a whole different trip, but I’m so psyched.

Ok, I’ve got a bunch of suggestions, I’ll try to put them in categories:

Planning suggestions on the web:
Check out Disneyworld.com
1) Sign up for an account. This will register you for individualized trip suggestions and let you keep track of your vacation.
2)You can use their site to select “favorites” – whether its rides, restaurants, shows, etc. Then, you can build a customized map (free) with all of the places you need to get to highlighted. It takes a few weeks for the maps to get to you. But, you can just print them out at home if you don’t have enough time.
3)You can actually build an “itinerary” with what you want to do each day. Add in your dinner reservations, etc.
4) If you are staying on property, take advantage of Magical Express. You can sign up online or by calling Disney. Give them your flight info., and they will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel free of charge. They’ll also pickup your luggage at baggage claim and send it to your room!

Allearsnet.com
1) Check out this site for GREAT detailed descriptions of all things DisneyWorld. They have menus for the restaurants, tips, suggestions, packing lists, show times, etc.
2) This site lists “Magic Hours.” If you are staying on Disney property, you can enter one park early or stay later than the general public each day. These are priceless times to get on the rides faster. This site has a list of which park will be open early or late each day.

Disboards.com
I haven’t posted on this site yet, but I’ve lurked around the threads. Its a discussion board for all things Disney. There’s alot of other Disney “freaks,” as you put it, who share your enthusiasm. Many go to Disney regularly and have some good tips.
Also, check out the threads about “Fairy Godmailers.” I haven’t figured it all out yet, but the idea is that people who go to Disney send postcards “from the characters” while they are there to someone with kids who is going just after them. The kids see the postmark and really think that Mickey has said he is excited to see them soon! It sounds like so much fun, I’m planning on participating when we go.

Books to buy or check out:
1) Birnbaum’s Guide to Disney: A great guide. Lots of firsthand info. Make sure you get the latest addition, it updates every year or so.
2) Hidden Mickey’s: A really fun book to carry around the park. It helps you locate all the hidden 3 circled Mickey Ears incorporated all over the parks into the designs by the Imagineers.

Stuff to Buy or pack:
1) More than one pair of really good sneakers! You’ll do an enormous amount of walking. Halfway through our trip, we wound up shoe shopping b/c our sneaks were shot! It might pay to hit an outlet at home and buy an extra.
2) Some packable Disney paraphenalia. Remember how fun it is to act like kids again at Disney. My hubbie and I decided to go all out and get the characters autographs and pictures while we were there. We hit the Disney store before we left and picked up autograph books. It was a little cheaper than shopping at the resort and one less thing to do. And, the autograph signing is one of my best memories from our trip. It really brought out the kid in us.
3) If you are really jones-ing for some Disney/trip related fun, try going to a craft store and picking up scrapbooking stuff to use when you come home. I’m not a scrapper myself, but my Mom is, and they have SO much Disney stuff for scrapbooks. Its so neat. I may break down and do one from this trip. You could buy your book and prep some of your pages so that when you came home, you could just add in your pics and have a great record of your trip.

Also, from a non-Disney perspective, it would probably pay to check in with your airline and find the current restrictions and packing regulations for carry-ons, etc. It stinks to travel and find that some item you’ve put in your carry-on will have to be lost forever b/c it doesn’t meet the current rules. (I appreciate the restrictions… I’m all over anything that makes flying safer, but a few co-workers of mine have had tools or small items confiscated b/c they were unaware of restrictions, and unless you have time to get them shipped back home b4 your plane leaves, you pretty much stand to lose them.)

Mostly, enjoy the anticipation and have a wonderfully magical time!!!

Safe travels.

Orlando answers:

The campsites are in loops 100-2000.

The cabins are in loops 2100-2800. There are two cabins in loop 100, but they are for Disney usage, not guests.

Orlando answers:

Oh boy, July. Well, it will be VERY HOT and VERY HUMID and VERY CROWDED. So the number one tip to remember is just to know ahead of time that it is going to be that way, and be prepared. Realize that you are not going to be able to run from ride to ride all day long. There will be waits, there will be people, and there will be heat. You will need to stop and take breaks. You will have to keep hydrated. Being prepared is half the battle.

Getting to the parks when they open will help a lot. You might consider taking a mid-day break and then coming back in the evening to miss the worst heat and crowds of the day.

Characters spots will be marked all over the maps. Also, if you get to the parks when they open, they usually have all kinds of characters on the main “streets” into each park. If you are looking for one in particular, you can ask at Guest Relations and they can tell you if they are appearing and exactly when and where.

If you don’t know about Fastpass, read about it and use it as much as possible.

Orlando answers:

Contact Disney World immediately. (even go to the website) When a group of 8 or more get together at Disney World it is called a “Grand Gathering”. (your group definitely fits those requirements)

There are several “special events” that you can participate in, such as a special character meal, a special safari, a fireworks cruise, and more. (these things cost extra, but they make wonderful memories)

Definitely make reservations for your groups dining. While most of the restaurants take “reservations”, they don’t actually “hold” the table for you, you would get the first available. But with such a large group there must be exceptions. (We had a group of 8 that went last year, so we didn’t have too much trouble with seating)

I don’t know if there are room discounts, you would have to contact Disney. You can get discounts with a AAA membership.

One thing you might want to consider is to add the Disney Dining Plan onto your reservation. It allows you 2 meal and one snack for each night of your stay. It is a very flexible plan. It costs roughly $40.00 per person per day, but you can eat just about ANYWHERE and it includes tips!

You can have special shirts made up that signify the special event. (ex. Mary & John’s 25th Wedding Anniversary, or Smith family reunion) These are fun to wear as a group!

To squeeze a little more time into your day, consider using “Single Rider lines” on some of the rides. Say 3 of you want to go on Test Track, but there is a 40 minute wait- usually single rider lines move quickly, and all 3 of you will probably get to ride within 15 minutes! (you won’t ride together, but you go in the same door, go out the same door, and it isn’t like you have all kinds of conversations during a 60- 90 second ride!! This is something that has helped us to do and see so much more during the day!

Well, I hope that this has helped some.

Have a great trip!!

Orlando answers:

That is so wonderful! I’m not leaving for another 22 days, but as I just went in August, I can tell you that there is so much to see and experience when you are down there. The beautiful shots that are on Disneyworld.com do not do it any justice. I would check www.allears.net to see real photos from recent vacations and get information on all the different rides. Shops, restaurants, etc. Where are you staying? On-site or off-site? If you are staying on-site, take advantage of the guest provided Disney Transportation and the Extra Magic Hour. Some Disney Parks (on specific days) will open up an Hour Early and Some Parks will stay open up to three hours after closing.

My best advice would be to enter the parks and start from the back and work your way to the front. This idea works best for the Magic Kingdom due to it’s design. You can work your way around in a circle and visit each “land” making stops at the more popular attractions.

The greatest addition to the theme parks is the use of Fast Pass. The kiosks are set up at the more popular rides (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, etc.) and are designed to all guests to enjoy the park and still enjoy the more popular rides with little to no wait. You would go to a kiosk, enter your park ticket and you would receive your park ticket back along with a FastPass ticket that has a return time on it. Then you can go and visit other attractions, shops, restaurants and then when your time comes on, you go back and jump in on the Fast Pass Line. You cut your wait time in half (sometimes even more).

Some definite stops to make: If you have a child, visit Mickey’s Toontown Fair in the Magic Kingdom and the rides in FantasyLand. Epcot may not be as fun for a child, but there are some definite fun places like the Seas with Nemo and Friends and the Character Stop in Future World. Animal Kingdom and the Hollywood Studios both have rides & attractions/shows for both (Expedition Everest, Dinosaur in AK & Tower of Terror, Rock’n'roller Coaster in HS) adults and children.

Dining: If you are planning on eating at any restaurants besides quick/counter service ones, then you should check with Disney Dining and make Advance Dining Reservations. The restaurants fill up quick.

Overall: A vacation at Disney is really not a vacation, but more a stealth mission. You want to make sure you see everything in a short amount of time. Make sure to note that the weather can change in the blink of an eye and be prepared for anything. All theme parks require that you have your bags, pocketbooks, backpacks, etc checked before entering the park, so allow extra time for that. Bottled Water can be extremely expensive, so bring a refillable water bottle with you. Stroller prices recently went up, so if you will be using a stroller, it is worth it to bring an umbrella stroller with you.

If you need additional info, email me. Have a great time!

Orlando answers:

The Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a lot in the way of dining, but a Character Breakfast at the Tusker House is VERY popular and I’ve heard is one of the best character dining experiences on property. I always have to work, though, so I haven’t had the chance to check it out!

Ohana’s is great too – it’s at the Polynesian Resort so you can just take the Monorail there from the Magic Kingdom. It’s a family style buffet, meaning you sit at a big table with other people, and they bring a bunch of food to your table and you pick from that. You can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from there if you get reservations at the right time. Also, they have games that they get all the kids involved in like ‘Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes’ in Hawaiian and pushing coconuts through the restaurant with brooms..

The Prime Time Cafe is one of my favorites. It’s in Hollywood Studios and set up like an old 1950′s kitchen. The waiters are moms dads, uncles, etc. But you have to be sure not to put your elbows on the table, because you will get in trouble!

As far as Epcot goes, I like the Biergarten. They have a band that comes out and plays, and they have a little dance floor for the kids. It’s also a buffet, so if your son is a picky eater, he can just try something else! And of course, they have mac and cheese and chicken nuggets incase he’s anti German food.

I hope you have a magical vacation! Be sure to sign up for the “What Will You Celebrate” thing too, and get him a birthday pin at your resort (all totally free)!!!!

Orlando answers:

Disney recently opened a really nice pet care center right on Disney property. It’s right across from the Port Orleans resort. You can find more information here:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/09/luxury-pet-resort-opens-at-walt-disney-world/

Orlando answers:

You should go to on www.dizneyvacationworld.info/disney-package-vacation-world to find where you can get a disney world vacation package.

Orlando answers:

Disney World is great. However, some kids your age have a kind of attitude problem about it because they are at the stage where they are poo-pooing anything that they perceive to be childish. Later these people grow up and pretty much get over it.

So, Disney World can be great fun. But, like most things, it really depends on your attitude going in. If you are open to the fun and want to have a good time then you will. I have seen people have a lousy time at an amusement park, and I have seen people have a good time digging a ditch. (Not an exageration. We were digging footings for a picnic shelter with picks and shovels.)

So, relax and go with it. It will be a great time.

Orlando answers:

Magic Kingdom:
~Go either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
~Either do this early in the morning or in the evening. In the middle of the day there are millions of cranky kids, plus their cranky parents, and little shade to hide from the sun.
~For lunch try the Plaza Inn down at the end of Main Street to the right, if you’ve gone into Tomorrowland you have gone to far. They practically blast the AC in there (great place to hide from the heat), and have great food at decent prices. Plus, if you go at the right time the Mayor of Main Street and his wife will visit!
~Check hidden corners! Especially entering Adventure Land, we found Rafiki and no line!
~Ride the main rides first! Or else they will be ridiculously long lines later. Some of these include: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Peter Pan.

Epcot:
~Go either Sunday , Wednesday, or Saturday.
~This took us a good full day! Especially with the World Showcase, we wanted to spend more time there. There were so interesting. Fun fact: Everyone who works in a country is from there and speaks that language. Plan as much time as you can for this!
~The fruit pupils from Mexico are GREAT!
~For the evening show, you can practically sit anywhere. Just before you stake out a spot make sure there isn’t an island in front of you!
~Are you a Disney Visa card holder? If so, you can get a free picture with a character. You can find more info on all you perks here:http://disneyrewards.disney.go.com/credit/themeparkperks.html

Animal Kingdom:
~ Go either Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.
~This doesn’t take long. For us it took barely half a day. But if you have animal lovers then stay if you want.
~Also do this early in the morning. It’s cool so the animals are usually still out.
~Do the Kilimanjaro Safari first things too. Go get a fastpass for Expedition Everest then go ride this! Go back to Everest ride it, and then use your fast pass!
~Be sure to see Finding Nemo The Musical! Get there early to get good seats.

Hollywood Studios:
~Go either Thursday or Friday.
~If you like Stars Wars go on Firday! Trust me!
~Ride the Rockin Roller Coaster. It’s great. We waited 70 minutes to ride it. WORTH IT! If you are scared to ride it because it’s fast and upside down, don’t worry! I was and I didn’t have time to be scared!
~We didn’t get as much time here so I can’t really give anymore.

Downtown Disney:
~We did this the day we got there and the day we left.
~For food eat at Paradisco 37. They have great food!
~WORLD OF DISNEY! Plan to be there for hours, literally. I got lost in it. It’s HUGE! If you are staying on property they can deliver your purchases to your hotel, this goes for a lot of those places around the park.
~There is a giant tethered hot air balloon. You can ride in it for a small price! This is a must! You can see major icons from each park up there!

Character Meals:
~We always do one. I’m 17 and LOVE it, my dad even gets into it and takes pictures with some of them!
~Usually we save this for one of our last days in the parks.
~Yes, they are pricy, but they are really worth it. If you have a birthday or anniversary tell your server and they’ll come sing!
~I suggest Akershus in Epcot. It has classic Norwegian food that’s very good!
~Here is a website with more character meals and such: http://www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/character_dining.cfm
~YOU MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS OR YOU WON’T GET IN!! DISNEY WORLD DINING LINE: (407) WDW-DINE

Have fun! If you have any other questions feel free to contact me!

Orlando answers:

If you actually want to dine at some of the great restaurants around Walt Disney World, check out the Disney Dining Plan.

Http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/benefitDetail?id=BenefitDisneyDiningPlanDetailPage&bhcp=1

It’s a pretty cool opportunity to get to go to the really nice restaurants.

If you still don’t want to spend money like that, try taking your own snacks and foods. Disney allows you to take in your own food. You could take sandwiches and chips and drinks. The first couple of years my family went we were so poor that’s the only way we got to go is if we took all of our own food.

Also check out http://www.mousesavers.com/. They will have some great dining deals on there at times. They will also have ticket deals, and hotel deals. They are reliable.

Please let me know if you have any more questions jbwatkns@yahoo.com. I’ve been going for 15 years.

Orlando answers:

Hi there!
5 grand will definitely be enough for a Disney vacation! Good for you for being so prepared! The only thing you may want to consider is getting the dining plan because it does save money and it gives you the opportunity to get whatever you want and not worry about price. Also, do you plan on staying at a Disney hotel? Since you are getting a car and if you drive it to the parks the parking can add up. Parking is free if you stay at a Disney hotel or you could use their free transportation. If you want any free help in planning or to see if I can get it any cheaper feel free to email me misty@magicalvacationplanner.com I’m a Disney travel agent and love to help =) Hope to hear from you and if not, have an awesome time!

Orlando answers:

On average how much does one spend at disney world with souvenirs and what not?

It’s really hard to give a good answer on this. There is such a huge variety of available souvenirs, and preferences vary quite a bit. Our 3 kids “only” spent a total of about $350 on souvenirs on our last trip – and they each got quite a bit.

What should we pack for disney world?

Comfortable clothes and shoes. In the winter, you may encounter some cooler weather, especially in the mornings and evenings, so bringing a jacket would be good. Bring a backpack to take in the parks.

What is the checking in process like?

You will go to the check-in desk or building at your resort, depending on where you are staying. There, you give your name and they will find your reservation, assign you your room, give you your keys and usually a resort map and other information, and will then direct you to your room location.

What do we need to take for check in?

You will need photo ID for the person under whose name each room is reserved. They also will want a credit card for incidentals.

Do you have to pay for the monorail or admission for anything like that?

No – Disney trasnsportation is free to use. You have to pay for park admission of course, but the use of the monorail, buses, and boats is all free of charge.

Is it better to rent or bring your own stroller for home?

I find it far cheaper and generally easier to bring my own. The only downside of bringing my own is trying to handle it on the buses and monorail. But that still is not usually a big issue.

What are kid friendly rides?

Most rides are kid-friendly. At Magic Kingdom, I’d definitely recommend Dumbo, the teacups, It’s a Small World, Peter Pan, and the Flying Carpets. At EPCOT, do the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Younger kids often don’t love EPCOT though. At Hollywood Studios, Toy Story Mania is a must! At Animal Kingdom, be sure to see the Lion King and Nemo shows, and ride the Safari.

Must sees for disney world?

The parades are all great, although I wouldn’t waste park time staking out a seat really far in advance, which you see some people doing. The shows at the end of the night are all great as well. Fantasmic at HS is really great, and so is Illuminations at EPCOT. Be sure to get a picture in front of the castle at MK!

Any suggestions for souvenirs to bring back home (like bakes goods, etc.)?

I don’t know of any baked goods in particular. There is a great candy shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, where you could find some treats to take home. Kids like the mouse ears, and you can get them personalized at the hat shop on Main Street. There are tons of souvenir choices – just have to find something you like.

What exactly is the ‘photopass’?

Disney has photographers all over the parks – they have them at every character meet and greet, and also in front of the major attractions. When you first have a photo taken by one of those photographers, they will give you a Photopass card. Give that card to the rest of the photographers, and your pictures will all be stored in an online account for you. You can get online and look at them, and purchase prints or a CD. The prints and CD are not cheap, but they do usually get some great shots. There is no charge to have your photos taken, and you are not obligated to buy. You are also able to take your own photos in all of those locations.

How much should we pack?

Pack at least one set of clothes per day. You should probably include swimsuits, and I like to pack extra socks and underwear, just in case.

Memory card: I have a 4GB memory card in my camera and I have yet to fill it up. At one point it had over 1500 pictures on it. I don’t have my camera set to the highest resolution, so the files aren’t huge, but they are moderate in size.

For your dad: I think just being there with the family will make it special. You can get a 1st Time Visitor button from Guest Services (for him and for the rest of you), and Cast Members will comment on that, which can make you feel a little extra special. You might also consider a special meal – maybe a character meal or just a really nice dinner.

One thing to note – it looks like you’re going during President’s Day week, which is a busy time at Disney. The Jan and Feb crowds are usually pretty low, except during that week (rates are higher then as well). So prepare for crowds, and make use of things like the Fast Passes (allow you to skip lines at popular rides) and Extra Magic Hours (one park each day either opens early or closes late, but only for guests of Disney resorts). Get to the parks early as well.

Orlando answers:

All of the theme parks at Walt Disney World (and Disneyland, as well as the other world-wide Disney resorts) are open every day of the year.

You need to check the official Disney website:

http://www.disneyworld.com/

Orlando answers:

Mickey will be there! Seriously, if you are going on vacation to see famous people, then you should change your tickets and try Hollywood, CA. I have literally been to Disney World a million times (I was even there the year it opened.) and have never seen anyone famous except for an occassional concert. Since there are hundreds of thousands of people in Orlando at any one time, I would imagine it would be next to impossible to arrange for a meet and greet unless you are famous yourself. There are many opportunities to meet Disney Characters in every park- the park maps will list places to go. In Magic Kingdom, make sure you visit Toontown- inside the circus tent building they have lines to meet different characters. Next to that is Mickey’s house where you can meet the mouse himself.