Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

jeanniebeanie_2

I think when people say it's expensive, they mean the trip as a whole.

We find £2k plenty for two if not including park tickets. We eat out in a mixture of chains such as Chillis and more expensive restaurants. We buy ourselves some things from the malls, but not park souvenirs because we have been so many times. Of course if you want to buy loads of the designer stuff then you can spend endlessly, but you certainly won't have to be careful with your budget of
£4k especially if exchange rates are still in the high $1.50s.

betsie

Hi R Mac
we always stay at a disney resort - normally All Stars but this year we are going to Port Orleans. My husband drives around all day for work so he wants a break on holiday.
The transport at the Disney hotels is fab. You can come and go as you please and there are lots of buses. Can be busy at times but we have never had a major wait. Also the Disney resorts are much more "disney" we stayed in a Lake B hotel once and although 5 mins walk from Down Town Disney it wasnt the same. Also with a little one you do not have the hassle of parking a car getting a bus from the carpark to the park entrance etc then having to find the car again when you want to go home. The disney transort pulls up right outside and if your 2 1/2 year old is tired you can go back to the hotel quickly and easily for a nap then hop back on the bus later to go back and see the evening fireworks for example.
I have taken both my children at this age and they loved the water parks as both have a toddler section with sprayers and fountains. They love MK and you can always split it over 2 days and go late afternoon one day to see the fireworks. The studios have some great shows, a parade, climbing area and playhouse disney which is a must for this age group. AK also has a good show and parade, the animal safari ride is great but do not go into BUGS LIFE it terrified both of mine as was very very dark. Epcot is also good as they have a few climbing areas, Nemo ride and water spray areas ( i would take a small towel and spare clothes to each park as they love to get wet - I have some lovely pics of mine in the sprayers on a hot day) Epcot is also a lovely walk round all the lands. I think you could easily go to a disney park every day with this age child. I would take a small fold up pushchair - much cheaper than hiring one at disney every day - but make sure you take a parasol so if they crash out you can shade them if you are still walking around.
The rides also have parent swap so you can go on whilst your OH waits with your child, they can then go straight on when you get off without having to queue again.
My other recommendation is the Disney Backyard Barbeque held at Fort Wilderness 2 nights a week (at approx 6pm). All the characters are there and the children get to dance with them. My daughter had a permanent hold on Minnie or Mickey and danced for ages with them both she had a fabulous time and it was worth every penny (the food is good to and there is a wildwest show and barn dance).
If you have a little girly girl I would recommend the bibity bobity boutique in cinderellas castle. They get there hair and make up (just lipgloss and fairy dust) done my the fairy godmothers and have a tiara and sash and sit in cinderelas throne. My daughter thought she was a princess and my OH was in tears when he saw her - he spent most of the day with a tear in his eye because she was so pleased with herself and looked so cute.
Have a fab time - it is lovely at this age as they believe it is all real.

samandmillie

Hi Betsie, hope you don't mind me asking but what do you think of the All Star hotel? We are hoping to go next year and starting to look at all hotels etc before choosing. Thanks

betsie

Hi samandmillie
They are fine. You are hardly i the hotel at Disney, so you get all the perks without the big price. They have a self service style restaurant which is fine for picking up breakfast and the occasional lunch and dinner. They also have the refillable mugs which save you are fortune in drinks at the hotel (free refills of fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and hot choc all holiday). The rooms are fine - 2 queen beds - sink and loo and bath with showe over it. They are not huge but fine and as I said you will not be in it much. We went with some friends once who are very "smart casual" they hated it and said it was like Butlins and then went to the Grand Floridian the year after.
I like Music best ( have been 2 all 3) - pool is nice and last time we went they had pool games in the afternoon for the kids which mine loved and movies up on an outdoor screen in the evening. They also have a launderet next to the main pool to wash your clothes half way through the hols.
They have loads of buses to the parks and we hardly waited any time at all for them. There is also a Disney shop.
We would go back again - chose the Port Orleans this time as when we booked you got a free Disney dinning plan so it worked out a good deal.

r.mac_2

Thanks for all those tips betsie. I've got a couple of other questions if no-one minds...
Refillable cups - what a fab idea! Is that something in the dining plans or is it separate?
Also does your dining plan have to be used in your hotel? E.g could we use it in the Parks too?

I've been thinking about the Animal Kingdom resort and at the contemporary resort. Any thoughts on those? We like the idea of the monorail transport but pictures look very contemporary and I wonder if it retains the disney charm? Breakfast with mickey also looks good! Proximity to MK also alluring. But Animal kingdom looks fabulous! It was only being built last time I was in Orlando so things have changed.

Thanks for recommending the Dibb....I'm off to have a read.

PROUDMUMMYTOTHREE

hi betsie we were planning to go to idrive next year as thats were we stayed in 2005 but the all stars in coming up quite cheap which would you say
would be the best for 2 girls age 3 and 4 movies music or sports thanks

vivatifosi

PMT3, don't rule out out Pop Century. It should come in at the same price as All Stars but is a bit more central (next door to Caribbean Beach). If you are looking at value resorts it is worth considering all of them.

Here are some images for All Stars:
http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1120&bih=431&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=All+stars+resort&aq=f&aqi=g-m1&aql=&oq=

And here's Pop Century:
http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1120&bih=431&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Pop+Century&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=

I've stayed at Pop Century, All Star Music and All Star Sports (never at Movies). For me, Pop Century just shades it as the rooms feel a bit lighter (though there's very little difference) and the location is a bit easier to get to. Food court, stores etc are much of a muchness.

elantan

hi all ... a few questions if you dont mind (i'm sure i will have loads more soon lol)

i have noticed the parking is up to $12 a day now for the theme parks (last time i was there it was less than half of this .... it's been a while he he) is there a kinda buy in advance/ get a reduction package for parking?

ive also just spotted were going during Easter (i know i know silly mistake to make) any recomendations about visiting parks at this time of year?

i plan on using the fast pass system where possible .... last time i was there you had to be very early into the park to get these ... is it still the same?

thanks in advance

elantan

oh and while i am on a roll .... how is the U.S for vegetarian food /healthy food now? last time i was there it wasnt so good

and .... i'm taking £600 worth of dollars for three weeks for cash and am also taking my halifax clarity card .... will that be enough do you think?

thanks

jeanniebeanie_2

It WILL be very busy but you can make things easier by joining one of these:

http://touringplans.com/ or

http://www.tourguidemike.com/

For a small fee they come up with personalised plans to help beat the crowds which do work, I tried them one year at a busy time, although it isn't my favourite way to holiday.

Don't forget that the parks are open longer hours with extra parades and fireworks too. If you can pace your day, with a rest at your hotel when the parks are at their busiest in the afternoon, the later parades etc are much quieter.

No way round the parking fee I'm afraid unless you have an annual pass.

Apart from the fast food places, most restaurants are very obliging if you ask about a veggie meal. When we took a veggie we were a bit concerned, but had no problems at all, although we did get a few puzzled looks!

You don't say if you will be dining in the parks, but if not Cracker Barrel, Chillis, Perkins, Olive Garden and Carrabbas all had a few choices and of course the buffet restaurants have fruit, salads and Mac n Cheese etc as well as the greasy, meaty stuff, but steak houses were out!:rotfl:

There are fruit wagons in the parks too.