I want to share a few of my trip tips for wdw with you...
Here goes...so if they are not in sequence...I’m adding them as I go..this is a bit long...
----Buy the unlimited refillable mugs at the resort. I buy ours the first day. Unlimited drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and pop/soda).(see my blog post on refillable mugs)
----I cannot stress this one enough...PLAN which park you will visit on which day ahead of time. You’ll need to know this to plan your dining reservations. Park schedules come out about 3 months in advance, just in time for the 90 days ahead to book. I called the am of the 90th day and still can’t always get the times I want. This will also help you to know which park is open the longest which day. We live in Canada so when we go we want to be at the park that’s opened the longest to enjoy as much as we can. So I plan our days according to the parks opened the longest that day...You’ll need to consider the following; special events like Mickey’s very merry Christmas; do you really want to see wishes or spectromagic...you go all that way to find out it’s not showing the night you picked to go to MK but if you had of planned, just a bit ahead you’d have seen it.....
-----I make a weekly schedule and for each day put in the following—park hours—parade times—firework times—special event hours if attended( usually costs extra)—our dining reservation times(booked 90 days ahead of time )—etc... And then you can wander the park not worrying if you are missing anything as you have it all ready at your finger tips before you go...a great site I watch is www.intercot.com....
------Plan some sit down time, you’ll be more tired than you think at the end of the day, especially if you are not used to the hot Florida sun and the place is huge...we do outside rides then a cool air condition show then repeat....
-----Park hopper passes are worth it...if you are limited to one park and you get there and want to go to another you can...if it rains and you think one parks a better choice over another you can( rainy days ..don’t despair when people leave go to the character greets-- much less line up)
-----we schedule one sit down meal a day at a reservation required restaurant it gives the grownups relaxation and quiet time and a great meal( it’s not all about the kids, it’s your vacation to..Explain to the kids before you go you will be doing this one thing for you, not just everything they want and that no whining is allowed during this time)
-----The Disney dining plan is a huge deal if you book the sit down restaurants...some are pricey and are included in the plan and you save big time and eat like kings...see my blog notes on the dining plan..Photos of food included...
-----Pack all the medications you’ll need for the what if scenarios....gift shop Advil/Tylenol etc is like double the price 13-15 $ for a small bottle.
-----Ziploc bags...bring them ....for your liquids in your suit case(exploded shampoo or toothpaste all over your cloths-NOT fun) and wet socks after the water rides, for a face cloth to wipe kids up after a meal or messy ice cream, or to wet with cold water to put on your neck to cool down/ bandanas are great as well, also great to put camera memory cards locked in one place so they don’t fall out of the camera bag and get lost, kids picky eaters bring non perishable foods/left over’s along with you after eating at a restaurant for them to snack on later, great for kids just toilet trained but have an accident while waiting in line/underpants don’t need to be tossed out save them in the bag).
-----bring a plastic bag and put your shoes in it on wet water rides. Soggy sneakers aren’t fun to walk in (I bring water shoes in my bag to slip on for the water rides)
-----Do you have a bed wetter? Ask on arrival for an extra set of bedding so you don’t have to call someone at 3am...you can deal with it quickly go back and get precious sleep....
----If you are on a budget buy snacks and bring them to the parks, much cheaper .If you are on the Disney dining plan some snacks are included depending on which one you buy).
--- A word of WARNING: some counter service locals may offer both snacks and meals. Most snack items under $4 are eligible for the snack. Anything more may cost you a counter service credit. Be sure to Clarify that this is a snack item or you may find they’ve taken away a counter service credit and your short a meal credit.....
----An early lunch/brunch will help if you have the 2 meal plan...or use a snack option for banana bread or piece of fruit for breakfast or eat breakfast as a meal credit have a snack at lunch and eat an early dinner..Meals portions are huge at most spots...you won’t go hungry...My boys are big eaters and were fine...
-----With the swine flu fears antibacterial hand wipes/cleaners are a must....especially after the rides...wipe down the TV remote, door handles, towel bar and stroller/wheelchair handles( who knows who and how many people have touched these)...I advise getting the H1N1 flu vaccine(air planes/airports/rides/close to each other in lines)...
------Do you plan on shopping bring an empty suit case...lol...But watch the weight limits...we try to spread the weight evenly between all the bags we have...
-----In case of lost luggage we pack one full outfit for hot/cool days and underwear, tooth brush, comb, and medications (carry a list and copies of prescriptions...also eye glasses prescriptions in case broken...I can’t see without mine) in our carryon bags( just make sure no liquids as per airline policies)..Don’t pack anything you don’t want to lose in your main luggage...like camera/meds etc...
-----Take lots of photos and even if you don’t buy use the Disney photo pass photographers...browse there pics when you get home they may have gotten that pic with Cinderella that you got but someone’s blinked in yours...its free until you choose to buy...you’ll have 30 days to decide.(see my post on photo pass info)
Great spots for photos.....
---The castle from the railroad station balcony (see main street and castle...perfect spot to watch the fireworks and get photos and parade viewing spot..but go 1-2hrs before), from tomorrow land bridge, from the rose garden, from crystal palace bridge and a picture with the Walt and Mickey statue.there are very cute staues in from of the castle like dumbo,goofy(on pedastiles around walt)
----Picture sitting on the bench on Main Street with the goofy statue...also with the Minnie statue.
In fantasyland by the carrousel the sword and the stone...you trying to pull it out...
----Pictures in different Epcot countries...doorways and arches make great shots of Disney details...
----Gift shops...yes gift shops are great places to take pics of the full wall of stuffed Mickey’s or pics with you wear/trying on crazy hats (we do this each trip).
----A shot of you wearing your Mickey ears from front and from back.
---Mickey and Minnie's house in Toontown..By mail box or sitting on the furniture, opening the fridge etc...Look at the potted plants...funny names on each...
----Close ups like Mickey ballons, or colourful items in countries like morocco –huge silver plates
get Mickey to wave goodbye to take a picture for the last page of your scrapbook.
-----Always have your camera ready to catch that unexpected shot...like a character shows up you didn’t expect...
----Bring more memory or film than you ever dreamed you needed and lots of batteries/recharger for the camera..You’ll need them...
-----And remember shutterbug to put the camera down and have fun too....
------Plan a stay at resort relax day mid week...you’ll need it...go to the pool or stroll around the resorts checking them out, stroll downtown Disney...take it easy...recharge for the next full day...our first trip I was gung hoe to see it all in a week and wasn’t going to lose a day doing nothing ..Well...I wish I would have...our following trips we take a day mid week to recharge.
---see my blog note on photo pass for hints. Take pictures of all of you...the cast members are usually more than willing and often offer to take a pic of your group...Take them up on it...
-----Wanted to stay at animal kingdom lodge but it was out of the budget...well it has over 100 animals that you can see for free by dropping into the hotel and taking a stroll outside to the viewing areas and if you go around the hotel in the lobby on each floor are free viewing areas as well..I got some great animal shots from there zebra, giraffe etc...All free)...and the gift shop has a place set up for kids to play musical instruments from Africa.
------ There are full size statues of Disney characters that you can pose next too for memorable pictures in downtown Disney area (no admission fee). There is a wonderful Lego store there with plenty of life size Lego structures to check out and a Lego building play area.
---One of the biggest costs at Disney is the stroller rental. $15 + a day, but a double stroller is $30+ a day. That’s $100 or more for a week’s stay for a single stroller...check with the resort to see if anyone has left theirs behind...sometimes they lend them out...or bring a cheap umbrella stroller that you can leave behind if you don’t want to lug it back home...
-----Trip planning;
-Stay on Disney property or off? ----Disney hotels are broken down into 3 categories. Deluxe (Expensive), Moderate (pricey) and Value (very reasonable)... Room rates vary by season so watch for value season deals. So far we have stayed at all star movies (value resort), all star music (value resort) and Coronado springs (moderate rate resort)...value resorts have standard sized rooms ,are noisier because families looking for a deal stay here but if you will be gone all day to the park anyway they are a good deal..Our fav was the moderate resort (2 adults one teenage boy)...better mattress, fancier food court (on dining pal as well) quieter...nicer overall....
-----choose your dates. I highly recommend you go in the off season. This is going to save you a lot of money.
------choose your resort/hotel. We chose to stay on property for the benefits there are to staying on site. The perks of staying on site include Disney transportation directly to each park via bus, extended park hours for resort guests and ability to purchase the dining plan to save on your meal costs-choose your tickets. How many days do you want to spend in the parks? Do you want to hop from park to park? Do you want to visit water parks? (Closed at certain times of the year)
------choose your meal plan. Are dining experiences important to you? We wanted to dine with the characters, so the dining plan was cheaper / great deal.
----Travel insurance is an easy, affordable way of being prepared for anything as you set out to take that all important trip and it can make any bit of travel so much more enjoyable. Just imagine, not having to worry if the airline loses your luggage, or if you end up spraining your ankle... Everything is covered, which means you will have the all important peace of mind you should have when traveling. There are several reasons for buying travel insurance, possessions are lost or stolen, or baggage is lost en route also consider. The business goes bankrupt (cruiseline, airline, resort etc) it’s more common than you’d think. This is a rather more common occurrence then you might think; room accommodation trouble...you go to check in and they don’t have your reservation, no record of your payment, and they refuse to set you up with another room until it’s all sorted out. This takes time and money you may not have. Medical emergencies for you (if hospitalized you’ll desperately need insurance, what if you are there for weeks) or a loved one at home. Extreme weather, hurricane etc...Plan for evacuation...You are attacked God forbid, you’ll need insurance to help you out.
------Make sure you have all important papers with you and a copy at home and one in your carry on (medicare, drivers license, birth certificate, current photos, insurance cards, trip insurance papers, passport, copies of credit card info and #’s to call if lost/stolen, home phone #’s address in case of emergencies, notary paper for kids travelling without both parents, photograph luggage, description, list of contents in case lost..Etc…)
-----Passports-need to be good up to 6 months after you return from your trip...make sure they are up to date…
----Medications, like motion sickness patch/tabs, gravol, pepto bismol, immodium...home prescription meds, allergy meds, epipens...
-----A second pair of eye glasses and prescription in case lost or broken...
---Bring area maps….in case you get lost.
----Book car rentals before you leave to ensure you get type you want book shuttle buses to parks outside Disneyworld like SeaWorld or bush gardens...mears transportation are great and reasonably priced…take advantage of Disney’s free magical express to and from the airport...huge savings...
I hope my trip tips help you have a great trip…more to follow in future posts….
Me at bush gardens florida nov28th 09
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