Orlando - Please help me plan a trip to DisneyWorld

This is the FIRST time I have ever palnned a trip to a theme park and have absolutley no idea what I am doing.

It will be me, my wife and our 5 yr old.

5yr old has seen Sea World so that is not that important, but I would love to see the Animal Kingdom.

We will fly to Orlando and rent a a car. Need help with:

1) Where do I stay?
2) What do I plan for?
3) How many theme parks can I do per day?
4) Best coupons/passes avalable -- line jumping would be nice.
5) Nice hotel to stay at


Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

So many questions :)

A little more information would help...

How much do you want to spend for a hotel?
Do you want to go to Universal or Disney or both?
What time of year?
How long do you plan on staying?

Keep in mind that Disney hotels are 4-5 star prices with 3 star services :) But you get access.

So many questions :)

A little more information would help...

How much do you want to spend for a hotel?
Do you want to go to Universal or Disney or both?
What time of year?
How long do you plan on staying?

Keep in mind that Disney hotels are 4-5 star prices with 3 star services :) But you get access.

Hotel cost is not that important as my flights are free from WN. I would rather go for a better hotel with amenities than go bare bones.

Would Universal appeal to a 5 yr old? I really don't know if it would. Princesses do appeal, though !!

Plan on going end June/early July 2011 -- can stay 5-10 days depending on the activites that I need to do.

I wouldn't do more than one park per day due to the amount of walking involved.

Animal kingdom actually has a nice hotel but can be pricey. Good deals can be had at the Marriott vacation club properties, which can be booked right from the Marriott web site. We've stayed at several of these and have always had a good experience.

Comfortable, spacious accommodations with a full kitchen to at least stock up on snacks and drinks. Locations convenient to theme parks. You can't go wrong with these.

Universal is fun, the Harry potter ride and roller coasters at the islands if adventure are a must see.

All the Disney parks are good too.

BEWARE ticket prices for three add up in a hurry. Price it out in advance.

We did all the Disney parks one year and then universal the next. We also did some side attractions on the universal trip such as the indoor sky diving and gator land. Both were fantastic family vacations that we all enjoyed.

If you look at my previous post to someone else with a 5 year old - I strongly recommended the Contemporary resort for ease of access to the Magic Kingdom. It's one of their deluxe hotels, and will run you in the $300-$400 per night range. You will want to check out www.mousesavers.com for the most recent news on discounts.

As for princessess - get on the phone or internet NOW and start trying to get reservations to any of the princess meals. They are really hard tickets to get, but you may get lucky with a cancellation.

I would start looking to book a hotel and soon. You're actually running late, as it starts getting really busy as soon as schools let out in the south. Once they're out in the NE, then you're sunk :) Go earlier in June rather than into July. The crowds will be massive for the 4th.

I'm not sure about Universal - you might want to plan a day there.

Why don't you browse www.allears.net to get an idea of what's available to you for your 5-10 days. You can then decide what you want to do and we can go from there. There is so much to do on property that you may want to plan a day or two doing other things.

With a 5-year old and princesses, you are looking at the Magic Kingdom. If you can afford the cost, the three hotels on their own monorail loop stopping at Magic Kingdom mean that you are a maximum of 5 minutes from the park and can go early / stay late on various days. They are: Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Polynesian and I would stay at them in descending order. As a step up with a 5-year old, the Concierge floor may be worth the extra cost because it includes breakfast and snacks through the day. Character dining with princesses is available at the Grand Floridian and at a variety of Magic Kingdom venues such as Cinderella's Castle. There is also a buffet with Mickey Mouse characters at the Contemporary. All require reservations and are often booked 180+ days in advance. Check out possible deals which include room, meal plan and park admission as those can be brutally expensive.

There are many cheaper alternatives, but those require either a drive, parking and then Disney transport to the park or a bus ride. That time can be fun for a 5-year old but cuts into your day.

In the Animal Kingdom, are the hotels actually around animals? That would be the best !!

Character dining sounds like a cool option for ONE meal.

I would rather stay near the park so I can do the park for the first few days
and then maybe do so other stuff around the Orlando area.

You can easily spend 6 or more days just doing Disney parks. There are also two water parkes in addition to the 4 Disney theme parks. Don't forget pool time at the hotel.

If you look on the Disney website they have 30-40% off hotels April through June 14 and some other specials going on. Look at their packages. Sometimes they have a free dining plan when you book a package (room and tickets).

In the Animal Kingdom, are the hotels actually around animals? That would be the best !!

Character dining sounds like a cool option for ONE meal.

I would rather stay near the park so I can do the park for the first few days
and then maybe do so other stuff around the Orlando area.
Yes, they are. Your best bet would be to book a Savannah view room and you can see the animals from there. If you spring for concierge, they have a special sunrise tour of the area.

BUT - and this is a very big but... The Animal Kingdom is the farthest hotel from just about everywhere you're going to want to be. With a 5 year old, I really wouldn't recommend you stay there for your whole trip. You might want to try it for a night or two.

I still say the Contemporary is your best bet for on-site. You can walk into the Magic Kingdom. At that time of year, you will be very happy you don't have to deal with the crowds on the monorail, or even the special boat launches to the hotels around the Magic Kingdom.

Once you have your dates set start trying to get the character dining - it's going to be tough, but not undoable if you check every single day :)

I am confident that you'll get excellent advice here, but I would also invest a few minutes in a visit to Amazon or your local bookstore and pick up any one of the many books on planning a trip to Disney World. It's been decades since I went, but I remember that whatever book we had was a terrific bible for our visit. I think you'll find one of these books to be a great help in planning the logistics, figuring out which hotel best suits your needs, and recommending the proper itinerary for the number of days in your stay and the for the mix of your family (i.e., how much walking is involved, where your best food options will be, where to see the characters, etc.)

I doubt there are any "insider secrets" anymore, but I remember that the book gave a lot of sound strategy for tackling everything Disney. And you really do have to look at it as a logistical mission. Make the wrong choices and you're apt to find yourself spending a lot of extra time in lines or over-paying (if it's possible to avoid this) for things.

We went to see Harry Potter at Christmas time and it was AMAZING. However, there are limited things of interest at the Universal parks for a 5 year old. They have a Dr. Zeuss world which is pretty cute but just about everything else falls under the coaster heading. It might be worth skipping this trip. Although, if you are huge HP fans then it would be doable.

You can do both parks in one day pretty easily. But the park hopper ticket is over $100 per adult per day. We were really unimpressed with the small size of the parks and the high price we paid to get in. In the end we were really paying to see HP and thought it was worth it. But I'd have been really upset to pay that price if I wasn't an HP fan.

If I had a little kid I'd just focus on the Disney parks as there are many, many more child friendly rides.

You might try looking at the Unofficial Guide to Disney World which is available at most bookstores. I've not read it but I've heard it's got really good park strategies to help you maximize your time and experience in park.

I am leaning towards the Cosmpolitan or Polynesian. The monorail in the hotel might just secure the deal.

I will purcahse the book today and it looks like our plans will be moved up to early May which might be too close to get a dining reservation with a princess but I head that the Cosmopolitan does that also. So, we might just settle for that.

I am leaning towards the Cosmpolitan or Polynesian. The monorail in the hotel might just secure the deal.

I will purcahse the book today and it looks like our plans will be moved up to early May which might be too close to get a dining reservation with a princess but I head that the Cosmopolitan does that also. So, we might just settle for that.

I think you mean the Contemporary?

I am leaning towards the Cosmpolitan or Polynesian. The monorail in the hotel might just secure the deal.

I will purcahse the book today and it looks like our plans will be moved up to early May which might be too close to get a dining reservation with a princess but I head that the Cosmopolitan does that also. So, we might just settle for that.
It's the Contemporary :)

The Polynesian is fabulous, and I only recommended the contemporary because you can walk into the park versus taking a boat launch or the monorail.

However, early May will be less crowded.

As for the princess meals, they are in the Castle and in the Norway Castle in Epcot. That's it.

The contemporary has Chef Mickey's, which has Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy. Not a princess to be seen anywhere. You can get Mary Poppins at the Grand Floridian. allears.net has a list of all the meals and which characters are there.

You will have trouble getting reservations at almost any character meal and I would start working on it as soon as you settle in on dates. Your best luck for a meal with a Princess will be in the Norway restaurant, but that one still will be tough.

Chef Mickey's is the second toughest character meal to get.

Oh - and none of these meals are cheap. You pay dearly for that individual character interaction :)

It's the Contemporary :)

True, though it's neither contemporary nor cosmopolitan! ;)

Oh - and none of these meals are cheap. You pay dearly for that individual character interaction :)

I should also add that, in the words of my brother (who has a four year-old son), the food at these character breakfasts is "suspect". Not that it's bad for you, but that the quality isn't really that great. If you're there for the memorable character interactions and for your kids to have a great time, then it's a great experience. Though the food at Disney tends to be pretty good, I'm told that the food for the character breakfasts, expensively priced as it may be, is not anything to write home about.

However you go to Walt Disney World, take your time and enjoy the trip! I go twice a year since my family is in the Disney Vacation Club (timeshare program), so I've done a lot of what the World has to offer, but I always try to find time to try something different.

With a 5 year old, I wouldnt bother with the park hopper pass. You could probably spend 2 days at Magic Kindgom and 1 at each of the other parks. The contemporary is the closest...If you have a rental car, I would skip the buses to the other parks and just drive there (free parking if you're staying on site). A suggest website with a wealth of practical information is http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/home.aspx

For some great advice go to www.disboards.com. Lots of advice there.

I've been to Disney more than 30 times. I can only strongly suggest you stay onsite in one of Disney's hotels. You can get a free shuttle to/from Orlando International if you don't want to rent a car. A 5-year old will love Magic Kingdom, but there is lots for kids of all ages at all the parks.

If you book a Disney Magic-Your-Way package you will have the option of purchasing one of their Dining Plans. You can purchase tickets for the minimum amount of days that you think you will need. If you want to add days or add the park-hopper option you can do that while you're there. Disney's tickets are front-loaded on pricing. You will pay more for the first 3 days then the per-day cost is greatly discounted.

So much Disney knowledge on the tip of my tongue I know I'm going to leave half of it out. First off kudos on bringing your daughter now. Five is probably just old enough for her to have a ton off fun and actually get to remember it. Also, great decision on changing to May. Dining reservations will be tough this close but capacity goes down after Easter until schools let out so hopefully crowds won't be too bad.

I guess I'll start with where to stay. I would definitely suggest staying at Disney for the entirety of your trip. While there is plenty of fun for a five year old at the Universal parks and all around Orlando, there is just so much to do on Disney property that on your first trip you should just take it all in and enjoy it. Then on future trips try to explore what the rest of Orlando has to offer. For a five year old Disney has everyone beat.

Now if you do decide to spend the entire trip at Disney I would highly recommend getting a package deal for your tickets as well as getting the dining plan. Which ones is up to you because of the amount of options available, you'll need to go through what is right for you and your budget. Another benefit to staying on property is the transportation options and I would use them if I were you. Disney's Magical Express will bring you from the airport to your hotel and you don't have to go to baggage claim for the luggage, it'll be in your room waiting for you. Once on property Disney Transport is really great, albeit not perfect. While sometimes you will have to wait up to 20 minutes during off peak times, there are some occasions that people have waited longer, their network of buses, boats, and monorails take a lot of the stress out of getting around on property. The bus picks you up outside the front of the hotel and drops you at the front gate of the park. If you drive place to place you have to get the car, then navigate roads unfamiliar to you, then park and wait for a tram to bring to the gate. If you don't stay at one of the MK resorts you would have to park at TTC and then take a monorail or ferry boat anyway. So even if you do rent a car I highly recommend the complimentary transit.

Disney has a lot to offer with hotels but I think the advice already given is good. Not only is the Contemporary walking distance to the Magic Kingdom, it's the first stop on the monorail when you leave the park at night. So walk there when you're energized in the morning, then short ride back at the end of a fun exhausting day. If you do decide on the Contemporary shoot for a room in the new DVC building called Bay Lake Tower. It's part of Disney's time share program but anyone can book a room there. It is very very nice but being in the original building allows more convenience to shops, restaurants, and the monorail.

The all important character dining experience. A staple for any five year old at Disney. Royal Table, Crystal Palace, Norway, and Chef Mickey's are all great and they all fill up fast. A restaurant that has become popular with my family is 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. They offer breakfast with the characters from Alice in Wonderland and dinner with Cinderella. They are both great but I really have to give it up to dinner experience. It is amazing and the little one will love it. Not to be left out, you and your wife will love the step sisters, they're hilarious, and the food has always been great when we've been.

Like I said I could spout this stuff all day but I hope that this is good to get you going. If you don't spend the whole trip at Disney that's fine as there are tons of great things in this town for all ages. If you have any more questions about Disney or Orlando in general don't hesitate to ask or even send me a PM. I hope you guys have a blast

WOW !!

Thanks for all the great advice.

So far, the plan is working out as such:

1) Probably between May 1-15 so as to avoid the schoool rush and heat and humidity of Florida.

2) Character dining -- if possible we will do it. If not, no biggie. I am sure we will be going back again.

3) Spend a few days at the Comtemporary since it is the easiest to get to the parks -- Check in day, 1 day at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day the a water park (if it is open).

4) Then jump over to the Animal Kingdom lodge and stay at a Savannah room view to just relax for a few days and check out the park as a whole.

Is it possible to call Disney and book everything for us? I would like to book the hotel, the pick up from the airport and drop off, the the Dining plan and all the passes so that it becomes an all inclusive plan.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

HOLD THE PRESSES...... :D :D :D
Disney currently has discounts available but you must book them TODAY..

See http://www.mousesavers.com/ for details and then call 1.407.WDISNEY (no toll free number).

Get something today, you can always revise if you want to do something else.. Forget about meal plan & transfers - just get the room for now :)

Will respond to the rest in a few minutes :)

So far, the plan is working out as such:

1) Probably between May 1-15 so as to avoid the schoool rush and heat and humidity of Florida.
Excellent. The weather will be near perfect.

2) Character dining -- if possible we will do it. If not, no biggie. I am sure we will be going back again.Try. It is a biggie to your daughter if she can have a meal with the princesses. It won't be easy, and you'll have to check every day, but I think you'll eventually get something, particularly if you do it during the week. I would recommend:

1. Cinderella's Royal Table -breakfast or lunch (in the castle)
2. Whatever the princess meal is called in the Norway pavilion in Epcot - any of the 3 meals
3. Chef Mickey's - breakfast or dinner. While there are no princesses - well, all the main characters are there and it's a lot of fun. More fun than the princess meals :)

You can easily check on the website for dining reservations and filter by character meals. Do it first thing in the morning, every morning until you get what you want.

3) Spend a few days at the Comtemporary since it is the easiest to get to the parks -- Check in day, 1 day at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day the a water park (if it is open).I don't think you've set aside enough time at the Magic Kingdom. You will want a couple of days there, at least. The hotel pool has been recently redone, and has slides and other activities, you may be able to skip the water park - or do it in addition to the theme parks.

4) Then jump over to the Animal Kingdom lodge and stay at a Savannah room view to just relax for a few days and check out the park as a whole.
Excellent idea - but keep in mind you can do that park in a day, easily.

Is it possible to call Disney and book everything for us? I would like to book the hotel, the pick up from the airport and drop off, the the Dining plan and all the passes so that it becomes an all inclusive plan.
Yes, but you will pay through the nose if you're not careful and/or don't know what you're doing.

I posted the info re: the hotel discounts above. When you call, they WILL try to sell you a package. Tell them that for now you're interested in a room-only reservation at the discount. You can always call back and convert it. Also, you will have 2 reservations - one for each hotel. They don't combine them.

They will also quote you the most expensive room available, ask them to check for something less expensive, unless that's what you want. At the Contemporary, the Theme Park view Tower rooms are the priciest. But the upside is that you can see right into the Magic Kingdom from your room. Be ready to pay through the nose for that.

You're probably better off renting a car. Disney does have a transfer service, but it could take you a few hours to get to your hotel. Plus, you're then a captive at Disney. FWIW - there is an on-site Alamo with hotel pick up and drop off. You can book a car as you feel you need it.

RE: Dining plan. I'm not a great fan. It's not cheap, and not what it used to be. The regular plan will include a quick breakfast and sit down dinner (& a snack). That dinner includes an entree, dessert, and a drink per person. They claim you will save 25%, and you have to work it to do so. It no longer includes an appetizer or the tips. If you up it to the deluxe dining plan, you will spend a good chunk of your time going to /from restaurants and eating.

I would just rather pay and eat what I want, when I want. It's not as great a deal as it used to be.

As well, most newbies don't realize that they have to make dining reservations in advance and end up being frustrated (& short changed) if they don't and then can't. They end up in the less popular and convenient restaurants and spend even more time eating :)

I'll bet that most of the better restaurants are already booked for the more desirable times. You would still have to make reservations in advance, but if you can't get something, the counter service food in the parks and hotels is actually quite decent. It's not your typical amusement park crap :)

Also, if you're on the regular dining plan, some restaurants require 2 credits (the character meals and signature). Well, the signature are the better restaurants. I'll bet you can get a reservation at one of those, because no one wants to spend 2 credits per person to eat there. :) My favorite is Citricos in the Grand Floridian, followed by Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the California Grill at the Contemporary.

FWIW - all Disney restaurants except one, are kid-friendly.

As for tickets - you'll pay rack rate for them from Disney too. You may as well try your local AAA for a small discount or go to www.undercovertourist.com to get a slightly larger discount.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.Work on the above and then come back for more. You're hands are now quite full :)

Have you considered doing a Disney cruise during this vacation? They leave out of Port Canaveral (about an hours drive from Orlando) and they have 3 and 4 night cruises to the Bahamas. I have been on 2 of the boats and they are absolutely fantastic I am the 2nd oldest of 8 cousins and we have done Disney parks and cruises numerous times. I think there is some "Land and sea" deal where you can book both of them together but I'm not sure about the savings.

For the 4 night I think it will run you about 5k unless you have a military/ FL resident discount.

Just a tip, if your 5 year old has a mid day meltdown and you're in the magic kingdom go over to tomorrow land and take a ride on the people mover. Its basically this slow moving chair ride which offers a nice break from the walking and heat and gives you a good view of the park.

I love the Caribbean Beach resort, the beach club resort, the Polynesian, and the wilderness lodge.

Excellent. The weather will be near perfect.

Try. It is a biggie to your daughter if she can have a meal with the princesses. It won't be easy, and you'll have to check every day, but I think you'll eventually get something, particularly if you do it during the week. I would recommend:

1. Cinderella's Royal Table -breakfast or lunch (in the castle)
2. Whatever the princess meal is called in the Norway pavilion in Epcot - any of the 3 meals
3. Chef Mickey's - breakfast or dinner. While there are no princesses - well, all the main characters are there and it's a lot of fun. More fun than the princess meals :)

You can easily check on the website for dining reservations and filter by character meals. Do it first thing in the morning, every morning until you get what you want.

I don't think you've set aside enough time at the Magic Kingdom. You will want a couple of days there, at least. The hotel pool has been recently redone, and has slides and other activities, you may be able to skip the water park - or do it in addition to the theme parks.


Excellent idea - but keep in mind you can do that park in a day, easily.


Yes, but you will pay through the nose if you're not careful and/or don't know what you're doing.

I posted the info re: the hotel discounts above. When you call, they WILL try to sell you a package. Tell them that for now you're interested in a room-only reservation at the discount. You can always call back and convert it. Also, you will have 2 reservations - one for each hotel. They don't combine them.

They will also quote you the most expensive room available, ask them to check for something less expensive, unless that's what you want. At the Contemporary, the Theme Park view Tower rooms are the priciest. But the upside is that you can see right into the Magic Kingdom from your room. Be ready to pay through the nose for that.

You're probably better off renting a car. Disney does have a transfer service, but it could take you a few hours to get to your hotel. Plus, you're then a captive at Disney. FWIW - there is an on-site Alamo with hotel pick up and drop off. You can book a car as you feel you need it.

RE: Dining plan. I'm not a great fan. It's not cheap, and not what it used to be. The regular plan will include a quick breakfast and sit down dinner (& a snack). That dinner includes an entree, dessert, and a drink per person. They claim you will save 25%, and you have to work it to do so. It no longer includes an appetizer or the tips. If you up it to the deluxe dining plan, you will spend a good chunk of your time going to /from restaurants and eating.

I would just rather pay and eat what I want, when I want. It's not as great a deal as it used to be.

As well, most newbies don't realize that they have to make dining reservations in advance and end up being frustrated (& short changed) if they don't and then can't. They end up in the less popular and convenient restaurants and spend even more time eating :)

I'll bet that most of the better restaurants are already booked for the more desirable times. You would still have to make reservations in advance, but if you can't get something, the counter service food in the parks and hotels is actually quite decent. It's not your typical amusement park crap :)

Also, if you're on the regular dining plan, some restaurants require 2 credits (the character meals and signature). Well, the signature are the better restaurants. I'll bet you can get a reservation at one of those, because no one wants to spend 2 credits per person to eat there. :) My favorite is Citricos in the Grand Floridian, followed by Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the California Grill at the Contemporary.

FWIW - all Disney restaurants except one, are kid-friendly.

As for tickets - you'll pay rack rate for them from Disney too. You may as well try your local AAA for a small discount or go to www.undercovertourist.com to get a slightly larger discount.

Work on the above and then come back for more. You're hands are now quite full :)

Your are right -- My hands are very full.

We are still in the planning stage of the vacation as I might go early May or late June depending on work related matters.

I will thin more about the dining plan and maybe just do it by myself.

thanks for all the help.

We have decided to travel May 19th - 26th. I did not get in on the discount so .. oh well. Arrival will be on 19th. Rent a car at the airport and rive to the resort. We might want to eatsomewhere outside a few nights as we like lots of different foods.

May 19th -23rd will be at the Contemporary in the Standard View Club Room
May 23rd - 26th will be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Savannah View Club room.

We will save 2 days for Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot and 1 day at Disney Downtown while we are at Contemporary.

By the way, what is the Disney Boardwalk? Similar to Disney Downtown??

The we move to Animal Kingdom Lodge and just relax at the hotel, the pool, and the park for a 2 days.

We leave on the 26th. We will just dine around the hotels and park as we wish with no dining plan. Since we are staying in the CLUB rooms, we get breakfast and snacks thru the day.

What do you think so far?

We have decided to travel May 19th - 26th. I did not get in on the discount so .. oh well. Arrival will be on 19th. Rent a car at the airport and rive to the resort. We might want to eatsomewhere outside a few nights as we like lots of different foods.Keep checking, as they will probably announce a new one soon :)

The Wave at the Contemporary is a pretty nice restaurant and you might want to consider dinner there your first night. You can then go to Downtown Disney after dinner (see below), which is what a lot of people do on their first night when they don't want to waste an admission.

May 19th -23rd will be at the Contemporary in the Standard View Club Room
May 23rd - 26th will be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Savannah View Club room.Very good plan!
We will save 2 days for Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot and 1 day at Disney Downtown while we are at Contemporary.Downtown disney is mostly a shopping center with restaurants. There's no need to spend a day there. Maybe a few hours in the evening, but not someplace you'd go out of your way to go to for a whole day. Perhaps you have it confused with something else?
By the way, what is the Disney Boardwalk? Similar to Disney Downtown??It's a hotel and timeshare with the boardwalk feel. There are mostly restaurants and shops. Again, not anything to take your time up for a day.
The we move to Animal Kingdom Lodge and just relax at the hotel, the pool, and the park for a 2 days.Perfect. Remember to sign up for the sunrise tour that's only available to club guest. You may want to call the hotel and ask for the club to make the reservation.

We leave on the 26th. We will just dine around the hotels and park as we wish with no dining plan. Since we are staying in the CLUB rooms, we get breakfast and snacks thru the day.We may just miss each other :)

Keep in mind that you may have difficulty getting into a sit down restaurant during prime hours if you don't make reservations in advance. You might want to consider Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for your last evening.


What do you think so far?You did good ^^

I'll keep you posted if I hear of any discounts. You may also want to check mousesavers daily in the afternoon to see if they catch it before I do :)

Mary2e -- when will you be there?

The reason I am saving a day for Downtown Disney is so that we can hang out at the pool and then do that later in the evening.

I am probably going to get a 5 day pass for 2 adults and 1 child, no park hopper, no water parks and nothing extra.

In the Animal park, we really want to take our time and check out the animals. My family loves animals as much as much as my daughter loves princesses.

I am sure that I am allowed to take a bagpack into the park with a stroller, right?

Mary2e -- when will you be there?

The reason I am saving a day for Downtown Disney is so that we can hang out at the pool and then do that later in the evening.

I am probably going to get a 5 day pass for 2 adults and 1 child, no park hopper, no water parks and nothing extra.

In the Animal park, we really want to take our time and check out the animals. My family loves animals as much as much as my daughter loves princesses.

I am sure that I am allowed to take a bagpack into the park with a stroller, right?

It sounds like you have a great itinerary planned. Congratulations!

Yes, you can take a backpack / stroller. Please note that Disney Security searches all bags (even shopping bags) brought into the Theme Parks. You can bring in snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, which may be useful with a small child when you just want to give them something to eat without waiting in line.

What's great about Disney's Animal Kingdom (DAK) is that you can really lose yourself in the theming of the place. It's almost as if you don't really need to go on rides (though they are quite good, particularly Kilimanjaro Safaris), but you can see animals and enjoy the theming everywhere.

Mary2e -- when will you be there?Believe it or not, we haven't set dates or decided for sure if we're going. We can easily wing it last minute, but if we do it, it will be either around memorial or independence days.

The reason I am saving a day for Downtown Disney is so that we can hang out at the pool and then do that later in the evening. Got it.

I am probably going to get a 5 day pass for 2 adults and 1 child, no park hopper, no water parks and nothing extra. Good plan with such a young child.
In the Animal park, we really want to take our time and check out the animals. My family loves animals as much as much as my daughter loves princesses.I don't know just how much time you can spend looking at the animals. We've found that they're often asleep during the day. Your best chance to see them is early or late. The safari ride lets you see animals (because they feed them in the middle of the day to get them out), but you won't be able to stop to look. Still, I like watching the tigers sleep :) This is why I suggested you get on that early morning tour.

Also, try to get a character meal and if you can manage to snag the princess meal at the castle, plan it as your day to be there. You can also try for Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary, which is a lot of fun, even though there are no princesses. And you won't need to enter a park to eat there.

I am sure that I am allowed to take a bagpack into the park with a stroller, right?Yes, you are. It will be searched. People even bring small coolers with them.

Disney's Boardwalk is pretty fun! You can walk around and there are shops and little boat rentals but all through the boardwalk there are little "shows" the kids love them. They do a really great job, its interactive, sometimes its a magic show, other times its a hula hoop contest and other stuff that I can't seem to remember. But its fun. If you can manage it try to get a reservation at the flying fish cafe its a nicer restaurant located on the Disney boardwalk and the inside is decorated beautiful and the food is wonderful! But as all things go with Disney you'll pay for it. Its best to head to the boardwalk in the evenings.

So much misinformation, where do I start :confused:

RE: Dining plan. I'm not a great fan. It's not cheap, and not what it used to be. The regular plan will include a quick breakfast and sit down dinner (& a snack). That dinner includes an entree, dessert, and a drink per person. They claim you will save 25%, and you have to work it to do so. It no longer includes an appetizer or the tips. If you up it to the deluxe dining plan, you will spend a good chunk of your time going to /from restaurants and eating.



You don't have to use the Dining Plan this way. You can use your credits however you want. You can do a sit-down character breakfast and a quick service dinner, or you can do sit-downs in one day and use 2 quick services in a day. Some of us like to do a light breakfast in our room, think cereal, muffins, etc. and use the Quick Service for dinner and perhaps save a Table Service Credit to double up the next night for a signature meal.

Also, if you're on the regular dining plan, some restaurants require 2 credits (the character meals and signature).

The only character meal that requires 2 credits is Cinderella's Royal Table. All others are 1 credit.

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I thank you for that clarification. The last time I was on a plan, it was the platinum pkg that included everything no matter where we wanted to go.

I haven't been in a regular dining plan in years and they keep changing it,

My opinion of it doesn't change though. It's not what it used to be and to get anywhere near the 25% off they claim you can get, you really have to work it.

wow.
lots changed since I was there 36 years ago lol

I will need to read this whole thread. We may actually have a chance to swing down to Disney like in 10 days!
wooo hooo
could be in for something nutty with the 3 and 5 year old!

Rented a car from the airport and just keep it with us throughout the stay. We will buy some food for the room at a grocery store and then eat breakfast in the CLUB when offered.

Lunch will be at the park or restaurants around us. Dinner will be outside around the Orlando area as I would like to get away from the hotel crowd and eat different type of food if possible.

Other than that, I thank everyone for all the wornderful advice and lets keep this thread open for info for other first timers.

Rented a car from the airport and just keep it with us throughout the stay. We will buy some food for the room at a grocery store and then eat breakfast in the CLUB when offered.

Lunch will be at the park or restaurants around us. Dinner will be outside around the Orlando area as I would like to get away from the hotel crowd and eat different type of food if possible.

Other than that, I thank everyone for all the wornderful advice and lets keep this thread open for info for other first timers.If you have club access at both hotels, you will be able to get drinks/snacks all day long. No need to buy any food.

Have a great time!

If you have club access at both hotels, you will be able to get drinks/snacks all day long. No need to buy any food.

Have a great time!

I've stayed twice Club Level at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and even their evening snacks filled us up so much it was dinner! They are appetizers from Jiko (at least they were) and Boma - and they have beer and wine all day - when it's not out you can just ask for it and they'll bring it to you. And their espresso machine is great!!

I saw a previous post that indicated that the AKL is in the Animal Kingdom - please be aware this is NOT the case at all! The savannah there is a separate one - it is a bus drive to the theme park, not in the theme park.

I also wouldn't waste evening time leaving the Disney area - I'd enjoy the ambiance and dine in Disney. That is part of the whole experience IMHO. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy - my kids love having a hot dog at the Boardwalk and watching the entertainers. Or grabbing a snack at Epcot and walking around.

We also always add park-hopping. And - I always brought our own stroller. Trust me on this one. You'll want it. It wasn't too big a deal to fold it up for the bus rides.

If you want a good book/planner to read about trips the Passporter is a great one. I use it when Im planning an on-site stay at Disney. Also for kids the Birnbaum Walt Disney World for Kids is pretty good as well. My oldest loves me reading to hear from it before trips.

I highly suggest that if you plan on eating at any of the sit down restruants at WDW that you make the reservations as soon as possible. They tend to book up for the times you want to eat (and sometimes they book up all together). Especially character meals. I know you said it was no big deal but if your daughter has her heart set on seeing princesses (especially a certain one) then the princess meals are the best way of seeing them. In the parks they tend to be a little quick hurried interaction. I did Cinderellas Royal Table with my then 3 and 1 1/2 year olds and the princesses were great about spending time with every child there. It was totally worth the time/money to go.

Other than Magic Kingdom the other place to see princesses is at Epcot. They are around the World Showcases in the countries the stories are suppose to be in (for example, Belle is outside of France.. sometimes the Beast is with her). I found the lines at Epcot a lot better than the ones at Magic Kingdom. Last time we were there we were in line for over an hour to see the princesses since my oldest had her heart set on seeing them. Another thing you can do if you are looking for a specific one is talk to the customer service at one of the parks and they will be able to tell you where and when you will be able to see them. Also at Epcot is the Character Spot where they have Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald and sometimes Daisey or Pluto. Its a good spot to hit up all of the characters at one time.

Animal Kingdom is probably my favorite park. I love seeing all the animals. It is a lot of walking though and hard on little ones. My husband's niece was 6 when we took her and she was exhausted by noon so we ended up spending the money to rent a stroller the next day so she could actually enjoy the time. If you aren't planning on it yet I would suggest maybe bringing a stroller even for an older child, WDW is a LOT of walking.

If anyone at your house is a fan of Star Wars, Star Wars weekends will be going on at Hollywood Studios during the time of your stay as well.

Rented a car from the airport and just keep it with us throughout the stay. We will buy some food for the room at a grocery store and then eat breakfast in the CLUB when offered.

Lunch will be at the park or restaurants around us. Dinner will be outside around the Orlando area as I would like to get away from the hotel crowd and eat different type of food if possible.

Other than that, I thank everyone for all the wornderful advice and lets keep this thread open for info for other first timers.

Smart move on the car with a 5 year old. Although another poster suggested using the Disney buses to get around, they are far slower than driving, parking, and tramming to the entrance of the parks, and especially slower if you do downtown Disney. 5 yr olds have a way of crashing and burning in a hurry at Disney, and an hour commute by crowded bus at the end of the day can be painful.

For your grocery shopping, skip Goodings and go a mile farther down the road to Winn Dixie.

I've stayed twice Club Level at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and even their evening snacks filled us up so much it was dinner! They are appetizers from Jiko (at least they were) and Boma - and they have beer and wine all day - when it's not out you can just ask for it and they'll bring it to you. And their espresso machine is great!!


I also wouldn't waste evening time leaving the Disney area - I'd enjoy the ambiance and dine in Disney. That is part of the whole experience IMHO. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy - my kids love having a hot dog at the Boardwalk and watching the entertainers. Or grabbing a snack at Epcot and walking around.

We also always add park-hopping. And - I always brought our own stroller. Trust me on this one. You'll want it. It wasn't too big a deal to fold it up for the bus rides.

I agree with the comment on not leaving the property for dinner. Orlando proper is a solid 30-45 mins away, twice that during rush hour. All of the closer Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista off property restaurants are chains, giving you the same food quality, crowds, and noise as the onsite ones.

If you want something more sedate for dinner, some of the hotel restaurants, while often still bustling, will be your best bet. Some suggestions would include the Yachtman's Steak House, Citrico's, Narcoosee's, and that 1st floor resto at the Contemporary (I forget the name -- it will always be the Fiesta Fun Center to me). You'll save time that can be spent wandering around, getting ice cream, checking out shops, and the like as opposed to sitting in traffic. And I can't overemphasize the ability to beat a hasty retreat back to home base once the kid is exhausted.

April 3. called and booked Coronado resort--in Disney. Was about $1,200 for 5 days. But wife got a nice discount from work making this about $875!
Had our plans changed they only wanted $50 to change the ability of coming another time.

April 9 booked RT tickets on DL using 47,500 miles pp for family of 4
connections, yes, but the last minute ability of this made it worth it!

April 14 - 19 stayed in Disney and did 2 days at Magic Kingdom and 2 days at our pool and hopping to other Disney properties. We have a 3 and 5 year old so this worked nicely.

Had the cards they give you that are good to swipe everywhere. Used them exclusively.

Home: noted that I can and will transfer all points from our 3 new cap one cards into one and pay off the entire trip with cap one points that were matched from other airlines, which were brought to their high balances via coins and promos and sign on deals with CCs.

total cost of trip:
~$100 out of pocket if that. everything else is a travel related expense.
~$2,200 on Cap on Visa. Will need to burn up 220,000 points. No probs!

Benes:

-the ability to NOT plan hardly at all and just book, jump on a plane and go.

-All carry on luggage means less hassle all around! What do you need down there cept shorts and a bathing suit and some t shirts anyway!

-Brought tons of own snacks (saves you TONS of money) and brought those Starbucks instant VIA coffees because most any vendor or shop in Disney will gladly give you a free hot cup of water. Saves you tons of money on coffee. Brought empty water bottles in as well and filled at nice cold and convenient water fountains.

-Got fast passes for rides we needed to do.

-Got to park way early, which you can do when staying within the confines of their property.

-Got to Town Square Theater in Main Street square on right and got exclusive photoshoots with some princesses and Mickey/Minnie. This is a new and little know attraction and we actually did this at 9:30pm during the 9pm parade so no one else was in there!


:)MM

With a 5 year old, I wouldnt bother with the park hopper pass. You could probably spend 2 days at Magic Kindgom and 1 at each of the other parks. The contemporary is the closest...If you have a rental car, I would skip the buses to the other parks and just drive there (free parking if you're staying on site). A suggest website with a wealth of practical information is http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/home.aspx

We have a 5 year old as well, and a now 1 year old.. our Christmas Break Vacation was indeed unbelievable.. but the delays between hopping parks with kids was valuable time wasted if our vacation time was shorter.

We spent 20 days at the parks over Christmas Break.. recommendation, if you can book a couple extra parks, it will definitely be worthwhile.

10 day ticket with no hopper is the best value.. so if you can max that out, after 4 or 5 days, its only $3 or $4 extra per day.

Probably mentioned, but I would book ahead for your daughter to experience Cinderella's castle, or Princess Akershus in Norway Pavilion at Epcot.. These are princess experience meals with a free photo shoot (generally $30 if you go to 1900 Park fare for your Princess package). We were there at the Cinderella's Castle on Christmas Eve Lunch (celebrating my one year's old December 24th birthday) and Christmas Day supper (celebrating Jesus's birthday of course). Picture packages are worth a lifetime of memories.. so we've got quite a few on the shelf. We did get a Princess Akershus package during our August 09 trip.. and I've got two boys. :)

April 3. called and booked Coronado resort--in Disney. Was about $1,200 for 5 days. But wife got a nice discount from work making this about $875!


One thing I'd point out if you can't get a discount like this is that if you are a WDW annual passholder, you can sometimes get as much as 45% off your Disney room. Look at mousesavers.com for info on this; the offers change and availability might be limited. You don't have to be a passholder when you reserve, only when you check in. You can get the annual pass at your hotel or I usually use Downtown Disney.

The discount might more than pay for your annual pass. Then you can return in 11 months "for free" and get all kinds of restaurant and shopping discounts to boot during your stay.

You only need one annual pass for this hotel savings, and I think a passholder can reserve up to 2 rooms.