Disney World

demonbox wrote:

My wife and I (plus 2 kinds) decided we're going for their Spring. Super stoked. Disney World is one of my favorite places. Also, as a plus- we use a Disney credit card so with the rewards we've earned half of the expenses are paid for.

Congrats! Mine is booked, October 19th! Can't wait to go What I did was book on my southwest credit card. Well, I got the card for the specific reason of going on the trip. 50,000 points for spending $2k in the first month. Booked the trip on that card (which will promptly been paid off as the APR is higher than I'd like). That, plus the trip, plus transferring some points from my Choice Privilege card means all the flights are taken care of with points (woohoo!)

After a ton of research looking at all resorts we decided to pick the Port Orleans Riverside resort. Why not a value resort you ask? Or maybe you didn't, but here's why. If luck has it then Disney will throw in the meal plan again this October like they have in previous years. If they do throw it in, value resorts get the quick service meal plan thrown in but the moderate gets the table service. Plus dining I think it's called? It's the one table service per day plan. The difference in booking value to moderate was about $540. Upgrading from the quick service to that table service meal plan was around $370. So if my plan works out the cost difference to upgrade won't be that terrible. If they don't throw in the meal plan then I spent a little more to get a little bit nicer resort. Either way I'M GOING TO DISNEY OMG OMG OMG OMG

I'll be going to Magic Kingdom some day next week! I can't wait!

Did my taxes last night and we have enough saved up to take our boys (5 & 7 years old) to Disney World this year!!! First real vacation in 7 years! We're planning on going in June once my work project is done and the kids are off school.

BUT... I'm a bit worried about something and hoping for some honest answers from you all. I'm a big guy, comfortable in size 44 jeans. I'm not morbidly obese but between a screwed up lower lumbar and a pretty intense desk job I'm over 300 lbs. I really don't want to be the guy that has to do the walk of shame. You know what I mean... Someone tries to get seated and the bar won't come down. Then they have to get out and head to the exit so the other passengers can enjoy the ride.

I'm already on a diet and down 14 lbs since the beginning of the year but my loss rate is already starting to normalize and I don't know if I'll be able to get below 275 by then. So... what are my prospects of me having to make that walk or stand on the sidelines and watch?

Thanks, and if your response is a little to personal, a PM would be appreciated!

LockAndLoad: As usual the fine folks at AllEars have that covered: http://allears.net/tp/ridsiz.htm

Just arrived at Boma at the animal Kingdom Lodge! So wonderful to be back!

groan wrote:

Just arrived at Boma at the animal Kingdom Lodge! So wonderful to be back!

Woo! Love AKL *so* much

groan wrote:

Just arrived at Boma at the animal Kingdom Lodge! So wonderful to be back!

That's awesome, are you staking at the AKL or just eating there?

Have a zebra dome for me. Or for yourself really :p

Hey LockandLoad, thanks for sharing. When I read your post, I thought more about just the sheer endurance test that it is Disney World rather than the ride question. That is, be aware that every day in the parks involves miles of walking. With back issues especially, I encourage you to go for long walks to train yourself for what you'll be doing. I hope that doesn't sound patronizing; I don't mean it to be. I'm thinking about the same issues as I get ready to go with my family in June. When I told my wife that the most important thing that she needed to do to get ready was to buy new tennis shoes she looked at me funny, but I was serious.

easy sunday wrote:

Hey LockandLoad, thanks for sharing. When I read your post, I thought more about just the sheer endurance test that it is Disney World rather than the ride question. That is, be aware that every day in the parks involves miles of walking. With back issues especially, I encourage you to go for long walks to train yourself for what you'll be doing. I hope that doesn't sound patronizing; I don't mean it to be. I'm thinking about the same issues as I get ready to go with my family in June. When I told my wife that the most important thing that she needed to do to get ready was to buy new tennis shoes she looked at me funny, but I was serious.

QFT.

We just got back from 2 weeks at WDW and then a 4-night Disney Bahamian cruise. Going back to work today was harsh.

Although we have done Disneyland twice this was our first trip to Walt Disney World. We had a fantastic time but the whole trip was a blur of activity.

MisterStatic wrote:
easy sunday wrote:

Hey LockandLoad, thanks for sharing. When I read your post, I thought more about just the sheer endurance test that it is Disney World rather than the ride question. That is, be aware that every day in the parks involves miles of walking. With back issues especially, I encourage you to go for long walks to train yourself for what you'll be doing. I hope that doesn't sound patronizing; I don't mean it to be. I'm thinking about the same issues as I get ready to go with my family in June. When I told my wife that the most important thing that she needed to do to get ready was to buy new tennis shoes she looked at me funny, but I was serious.

QFT.

No offense taken and I appreciate everyone's comments! I've been forcing myself at the Y a bit harder, trying to get my body in better shape for the trip. And I've been hitting the treadmills quite a bit for some cardio.

Looks like I'll be heading over to Disney this spring. My parents snagged some 1-day park hopper tickets at a local auction for quite a bit cheaper than face value. So whenever they come down to visit, we'll drive over to Orlando for a couple days I guess.

Trying to find out any information on adding an extra day to the passes, but all I can find is that you can do it, not any suggestion on how much it might cost.

I think we're mostly interested in Magic Kingdom and Epcot, so maybe we can hit both of those on a long day and not need more.

Stele wrote:

Trying to find out any information on adding an extra day to the passes, but all I can find is that you can do it, not any suggestion on how much it might cost.

I go to mouseplanet.com for all of my Disney trip planning questions. Here's a thread where they've been talking about adding days to park hoppers. Sounds like there's some confusion out there about whether you can still do it or not.

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/show...

Eh after speaking with my parents again they may be promotional tickets since they were donated to an auction that don't count towards an upgrade.

Guess we'll just maximize our 12 hours.

Dramatic Marlin wrote:

We just got back from 2 weeks at WDW and then a 4-night Disney Bahamian cruise. Going back to work today was harsh.

Although we have done Disneyland twice this was our first trip to Walt Disney World. We had a fantastic time but the whole trip was a blur of activity.

We must have gotten on the ship after you.
Just got back yesterday and yes we stayed at AKL again (3rd time).

The trip was great. I loved the cruise better than parks this time and we will be doing a 7 day cruise next time and skip the parks altogether. The food was spectacular and the crew was awesome e. I can't wait to go again!

The cruises are definitely great -- this was our second Disney Cruise and we've already booked another one for later this year. Our first was a 7 day from LA to Mexico and back. We've booked for a repositioning cruise from Vancouver to LA and plan on spending a few days in Disneyland afterwards.

DeThroned wrote:
demonbox wrote:

My wife and I (plus 2 kinds) decided we're going for their Spring. Super stoked. Disney World is one of my favorite places. Also, as a plus- we use a Disney credit card so with the rewards we've earned half of the expenses are paid for.

Congrats! Mine is booked, October 19th! Can't wait to go What I did was book on my southwest credit card. Well, I got the card for the specific reason of going on the trip. 50,000 points for spending $2k in the first month. Booked the trip on that card (which will promptly been paid off as the APR is higher than I'd like). That, plus the trip, plus transferring some points from my Choice Privilege card means all the flights are taken care of with points (woohoo!)

After a ton of research looking at all resorts we decided to pick the Port Orleans Riverside resort. Why not a value resort you ask? Or maybe you didn't, but here's why. If luck has it then Disney will throw in the meal plan again this October like they have in previous years. If they do throw it in, value resorts get the quick service meal plan thrown in but the moderate gets the table service. Plus dining I think it's called? It's the one table service per day plan. The difference in booking value to moderate was about $540. Upgrading from the quick service to that table service meal plan was around $370. So if my plan works out the cost difference to upgrade won't be that terrible. If they don't throw in the meal plan then I spent a little more to get a little bit nicer resort. Either way I'M GOING TO DISNEY OMG OMG OMG OMG

A great time to be had, and a good deal at that.

We finally told my daughter about the Disney trip. She was more excited than I thought she would be (Sweeeeet). Here's how we told her:

And her reaction! (Sorry about the focus, it wasn't working properly at all)

That was great, DeThroned. Thanks for sharing.

Ditto. That's supercool.

Thanks!

Boy, I'm itching to go back; we tent-camped at Ft. Wilderness for a week in February of 2011 and had an absolute blast, including getting on a terrific behind-the-scenes tour. I still can't believe we flew with all of our camping gear (including a screen room) and our Brompton folding bikes; seamless transfer from airport to fort.

Ft. Wilderness is great for relaxing; we ate some special meals out at the high-end restaurants (California Grill; Artist Point) but went back to camp for lunch just about every day. Oh, and Chip 'n' Dale at the campfire movie at the Fort was terrific fun.

Looking to go back to camp in 2014, when the new part of Fantasyland is completed and when the revamped "Downton Disney" (Soon to be Disney Springs) is underway

The in-laws are renting, next march, the following villa:

http://www.odver.com/solanadream/

10 minutes from Disney.

So freaking awesome!!

I love your in-laws.

That looks amazing.

I have 3 main goals:

1 - Do not get completely fanboyish over Mickey.
2 - Not be served with a restraining order on behalf of the Disney Princesses.
3 - Remember to forget my credit cards at the villa.

My son was given a pin by a nice old lady who had been collecting them since the 70s when the parks opened.
She said
"now take this to any of the cast members and trade for one that you like"

Snowball to the day we left the park/cruise...he now has over 25 pins. at $7-$15 each.

sigh.

But damn it was fun! I was totally sucked in with him. I didnt get any but I wanted to!

All that to say "Beware the old Pin Lady!"

Stele wrote:

Looks like I'll be heading over to Disney this spring. My parents snagged some 1-day park hopper tickets at a local auction for quite a bit cheaper than face value. So whenever they come down to visit, we'll drive over to Orlando for a couple days I guess. :cool:

So the parents are here. My wife heard from some people she works with that there were Florida resident discounts for hotels so I think she booked us at the All Stars Sports resort for next week. It's the day before my dad's birthday (since Fri would be way crowded), but my wife told them he was a birthday boy (haha, in his 50s). So he should get a button and hopefully some fun for his day.

I guess I should scan this thread for tips. I thought I remembered seeing that when a park has extra hours we should go to one of the others? Any other helpful hints?

Think we're mostly looking for Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Looks like we'll only have the one 12 hour day, so we'll see how far we can get.

My wife has never been so she's getting pretty excited about this. I haven't been since I was 7, so the memories are a bit fuzzy for me.

Best advice I've ever heard is to take a break in the middle of the day. That means leaving the park and going back to the hotel for a couple of hours to rest. That applies doubly if you're planning for one big day.

mudbunny wrote:

The in-laws are renting, next march, the following villa:

http://www.odver.com/solanadream/

10 minutes from Disney.

So freaking awesome!!

We rent similar places just south of 192 every time we go. They can be surprisingly cheap during the off season. So cheap that when split between friends and family, a week at one of those places costs about as much as a day at a Disney moderate.

Other than at the Magic Kingdom where Disney buses circumvent the monorail/ferry, having your own car is way faster than Disney transportation. The only drawback is parking ($14/day). If you have one person with an annual pass in each car, you can park for free. Depending on the length of your stay and number of park visits it might be worth the upgrade for someone - especially if it's a child ticket.

Stele wrote:
Stele wrote:

Looks like I'll be heading over to Disney this spring. My parents snagged some 1-day park hopper tickets at a local auction for quite a bit cheaper than face value. So whenever they come down to visit, we'll drive over to Orlando for a couple days I guess. :cool:

I guess I should scan this thread for tips. I thought I remembered seeing that when a park has extra hours we should go to one of the others? Any other helpful hints?

Think we're mostly looking for Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Looks like we'll only have the one 12 hour day, so we'll see how far we can get.

If it's one day, I'd spend some time planning. You can do some of the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT in a day. I definitely wouldn't try to do all as they're each easily multi day parks. Make reservations for any full service meals ASAP. They start booking 12 months in advance.

How I personally would spend a day? I'd pick two themed lands of the Magic Kingdom to concentrate my time in and maybe one or two other rides/attractions if it's a light day. (Mondays are the worst for Magic Kingdom, usually, followed by Fridays and Saturdays.) I'd then take the monorail to a resort for a lunch break away from the crowds, then take the monorail once more to the transportation and ticket center for a switchover to the EPCOT monorail.

The World Showcase at EPCOT opens at 11am, so after lunch everything will be open and Future World will be less crowded. I'd get a fastpass for Soarin and take in some other future world stuff during the wait. After Future World I'd head to World Showcase and tour some countries as the crowds will be well dispersed by then. Hit dinner at a country (so many great choices but be sure you have a reservation!) and then be ready to take in Illuminations - wouldn't want to miss it.

When I'm done at EPCOT, hitch a ride on the monorail back to the TTC and Magic Kingdom parking.

From my personal point of view, that's an awesome single day which still gives a breather around lunchtime.