does anybody have any advice on vacationing at disney in florida?

Answer 1

Pace yourself. Allow 2 days for Epcot, 1 day each for the other parks. If you have the time and interest, take a day off from Disney, and head out to Cape Canaveral.

Most multi-day tickets come with bonus admissions to things like the water parks or the adult area (Paradise Island?) We were pleasantly surprised by the water park Typhoon Lagoon. They have "magic" Disney sand (it doesn't get too hot to walk on barefoot), and the wave pool and rides are a lot of fun.

Have a good time!

Answer 2

Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort. If you're staying for a while, more than just a couple days, buy a package, like the Premium or Platiunum. I find it very convenient that EVERYTHING is included. I'm only 19 and not too experienced with traveling without parents, yet, so I like that I only have to worry about money for souvenirs and gifts. If you're arriving at Orlando International Airport, take advantage of Disney's Magical Express Service! I loved it. Explore all the different Resorts. They all have their own special theme and offer great selections of dining, entertainment, and recreation.

There's so much more I could say! I am a Disney expert!

Use this site... http://www.allearsnet.com

Answer 3

Don't get frustrated trying to see everything. If there is a MUST-DO on your list, do it first, then relax and enjoy yourself.

If you want to save some cash, try the Disney Dining plan if you are staying on site. Or you could try meal sharing. I know my son and I went and found the meals were large and we were both throwing half away, so we decided to share just one.

If you are a souvenir person, be picky, the first couple of times I went I thought I was going to buy everything I saw! (I probably would have if I had enough money)

Each park (with the exception of Animal Kingdom) has a fantastic fireworks display. My favorite is at Epcot!

Don't forget sunscreen! And if it rains, don't rush out of the park, many rides and attractions are indoors and when it rains a lot of people leave, cutting down on the crowds.

Have a Magical Time!

Answer 4

Disney hotels are great at catering to guests, but there are some non Disney hotels in the area which have buses that run into the parks so you don't have to drive yourself, so it you aren't interested in being 100% Disney-fied it can be an option. Also look at your local library for Insider Tips Books.
The All Star Sports/Moive/Music and Pop Culture hotels are great for a family, especially on a budget.
I've always gotten a locker at the park as soon as I got there, where I stashed a backpack with a sweatshirt (for at night for fireworks), hat, sunscreen, etc. AND snacks like granola bars. It can save some money and give you something healthier than a turkey leg.

Answer 5

Bring pain medication - ha ha. We did a package thru Disney with hotel & park-hopper tickets last summer - 5 of us - 3 kids 13 & under - stayed at Port Orleans - kids loved it. Stayed for 5 days and it was around $2,000 (no airfare or food included). Go on their website - they offer food packages also. We actually flew into West Palm & visited my parents; drove to the rental car place in Orland & dropped off car - took free bus to Orlando airport & took Disney's shuttle to our hotel - much less than the Mear's transportation (it actually is Mear's, but Disney pay them, not you). My kids aren't big breakfast eaters, so we'd go to the hotel cafeteria, get bagels or some breakfast, go on our way, eat in the park, and either eat dinner in the park we were in or later on (like 9ish) in cafeteria again before the kids would go swimming. A nice place for dinner when they have the characters is the Liberty Rest. in Magic Kingdom - dinner is "family-style" - kids loved it when they were younger (Chip & Dale decked out in colonial attire) first time there like 5 years ago & not majorly expensive. Fast -passes a must - each park handles handicaps differently. My husband has vitiligo - can't be in sun & type I diabetes - most parks were very nice - let us in most rides right away, but Animal Kingdom was a little "rude" let's say. Have dad go to the major rides asap & get all the Fast-passes you need & then do the smaller rides that lines aren't as long in between waiting times.

Answer 6

I recommend staying at Disney, they are a lot of different hotels/resorts to choose from for every budget. You receive perks that make staying at Disney worth it like free transportation to the parks and other areas on site, extra magic hours (you can visit a certain park either 1 hour early or up to 3 hours late), and so much more. You can purchase your package (lodging, tickets, dinning) right through Disney which makes it convenient.

I recommend purchasing your tickets with a park hopper option so that way you can explore more than one park a day (in case one park is really busy you can check out another one). There is also a water park fun and more option to add to your tickets which gives you admission to the two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), Pleasure Island (clubs and bars for 18 and older), and Disney's Wide World of Sports. If you're planning on going to at least 3 of these places the option is worth it.

There's also the dinning option that you can add if you're staying at a Disney resort, it's worth it if you do not plan on eating anywhere else but at Disney.

I recommend about 5 day minimum when going to Disney because there's so much to do. You can easily spend 1 whole day in each park and a day at a water park or at Downtown Disney (my recommendation for your souvenir shopping). There's also DisneyQuest which is an indoor interactive amusement park with virtual reality rides.

Before you go make sure to do your research and also book your dinning for at least dinning and a character breakfast or two if you're interested. I look at fan site like I listed below and also buy some travel books like the Passporter or the unofficial guide to Walt Disney World.

But bottom line, just have fun!!!

Answer 7

Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort because there are a lot of benefits of staying on property, such as the Extra Magic Hours and Shuttle to the parks. If you're flying and you arrive at the Orlando International Airport use Disney's Magical Express service because it takes you to your hotel and you don't have to worry about your luggage. You don't have to go to baggage claim or anything. They pick up your luggage and bring it to your Disney hotel room later in the day. Stay a full week, if not possible then at least 5 or 6 full days. Get fastpasses for rides so you won't have to wait in line. See every parade and show and fireworks display that you can because they're all worth it. The best show out of all of Disney World I think is Fantasmic! at MGM studios. A lot of people know it too, so if you want a good seat get there like and hour or so early. Go to a Disney Waterpark because they are extremely fun, almost as fun as a theme park, but a bit more cool and relaxing. I prefer Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon. Wear lots of sunscreen. Use the Disney Photopass service because they'll take awesome pics of you and put it on this little card and then when you get home you type in the code on your card into the computer and you can see your pics and even add special effects to them and order them. Have your camera ready at all times! You never know what or who you will see in a Disney park. At EPCOT get a fastpass to Soarin' or Test Track first thing because those are the best rides there and there will be no more fastpasses like an hour after the park opens. Ride rides during parades or other gatherings that you don't really care to see because lines are smaller for the fact of everyone's at the parade. Eat your meals early or late because if you eat during the typical lunch or dinner time then lines at restaurants will be hellish and think about it like this: if everyone is eating during the typical time that leaves smaller lines for rides doesn't it? I reccomend doing at least one character meal on your trip because its good all you can eat food and its great photo opportunities without having to stand in line to wait to meet a character. Don't miss downtown disney, they have the best shops and restaurants! I prefer to go there during the night because everything's a glow and lit up. Ride Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom because its new and one of the best rides at Disney World. Don't get stressed out if you don't get to do everything because in all honesty it would probably take someone 2 weeks to get everything done that they wanted to. Hang out at Disney's boardwalk for a while because its very pretty and relaxing and the boardwalk bakery has some of the best dessert foods ever and "Beaches and Cream" has great ice cream! No matter what you do you'll have a great time at Disney World!
Have a Magical Trip!

Answer 8

Unless you are rolling in $$$, don't plan on eating all your meals at theme parks, or even at the hotel restaurants and snack bars. Go into Kissimmee at the start of your stay and get an inexpensive ice chest stocked with yogurt, cold-cuts, cheese, etc. Get a supply of crackers, bread, bagels, fruits, cucumbers, peppers, cold cereals, etc. too. Buy or bring a small electric kettle for instant soup, instant oatmeal, etc. If you can get a room with a fridge and microwave, so much the better, but you may still want the ice chest for drinks; it only take a little food to totally fill some of those teeny tiny hotel fridges.

If you have a car, go back to your room for a "home made" meal and a nap in the crowded, hot middle of the day. Or go "off campus" to Kissimee. The money you save by NOT eating at the theme park will MORE than pay for parking a second time.

If you MUST buy WDW food, your best value is the 'convenience' store off the lobby of any WDW hotel for prepared sandwiches and salads, quarts of iced tea, etc. If you are a WDW guest, feel free to take a table by the pool or under a tree at ANY WDW hotel.

Train your children (and yourself) to walk through gift shops without looking left or right, without slowing down. Gift shops are "conveniently located" so that you have to walk through them to enter and exit rides. Shop ONLY when you have made a deliberate decision to shop.

Go ahead and splurge and have dinner in Epcot; not doing so is kind of like going to the prom without a date. The meal plan is great choice for your day in Epcot.

A day at Typhoon Lagoon is a nice relaxing change of pace from the theme parks.

Be prepared for frequent short but heavy rain. Wear rain friendly shoes. Bring a poncho. Everyone should have a sweater; it can be frigid once you get indoors. Stay in the shade, even if you have to walk the long way around, and wear a hat in the sun. Bring an igloo jug of ice water in the car. It is SO nice after a long hot day in the park.

Don't bother with Park Hopper unless you really really really need to visit two different parks in a single day. A single park is big enough to keep you busy from dawn to dusk.

Don't bother with character breakfast unless you are really stoked on having photos with the characters. It is simply a serve yourself buffet (no omelet station, just scrambles in a chafing dish) with a 30 second per table visit from a character posing for photos. And there is a series of scheduled seating, so you have to concentrate on eating -- no lingering over your coffee.

You can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks wonderfully from the beach by The Polynesian hotel. Bring something to sit on. Drive -- the monorail will be jammed after the fireworks.

Answer 9

Yes. I have lots of advice.

Summer tips
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Pack MANY t-shirts and shorts, but, bring 1 cold weather outfit just in case. The average July temperature is 101 degrees.
A sunscreen with a 50 spf will do. Also, bring jumbo SPACE BAGS. they are a great space saver. If you are traveling with a family, buy some glow sticks (target, walmart, $1.50 each) so you wont get easily sepreated.
If you are staying off disney property, a good tip to remember where you park is to take a picture of a nearby sign, or just the car and lot # and symbol. (trust me, disney parking is confusing)
Buy a mist n' cool fan from customer service in any of the 4 parks. They are very handy!!
The crowds may be horrendous, so take advantage of disney's fastpass system. This is a kiosk at the etrance of the ride where you slide your park ticket in, and you get a small sheet of paper with a time to come back and enter a 0-5 min. line, just for fastpass users. These kiosks are not on every ride, just most of the bigger ones. Also pack extra room for souveniers.
Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort because there are a lot of benefits of staying on property, such as the Extra Magic Hours and Shuttle to the parks. If you're flying and you arrive at the Orlando International Airport use Disney's Magical Express service because it takes you to your hotel and you don't have to worry about your luggage. You don't have to go to baggage claim or anything. They pick up your luggage and bring it to your Disney hotel room later in the day. Stay a full week, if not possible then at least 5 or 6 full days. Get fastpasses for rides so you won't have to wait in line. See every parade and show and fireworks display that you can because they're all worth it. The best show out of all of Disney World I think is Fantasmic! at MGM studios. A lot of people know it too, so if you want a good seat get there like and hour or so early. Go to a Disney Waterpark because they are extremely fun, almost as fun as a theme park, but a bit more cool and relaxing. I prefer Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon. Wear lots of sunscreen. Use the Disney Photopass service because they'll take awesome pics of you and put it on this little card and then when you get home you type in the code on your card into the computer and you can see your pics and even add special effects to them and order them. Have your camera ready at all times! You never know what or who you will see in a Disney park. At EPCOT get a fastpass to Soarin' or Test Track first thing because those are the best rides there and there will be no more fastpasses like an hour after the park opens. Ride rides during parades or other gatherings that you don't really care to see because lines are smaller for the fact of everyone's at the parade. Eat your meals early or late because if you eat during the typical lunch or dinner time then lines at restaurants will be hellish and think about it like this: if everyone is eating during the typical time that leaves smaller lines for rides doesn't it? I reccomend doing at least one character meal on your trip because its good all you can eat food and its great photo opportunities without having to stand in line to wait to meet a character. Don't miss downtown disney, they have the best shops and restaurants! I prefer to go there during the night because everything's a glow and lit up. Ride Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom because its new and one of the best rides at Disney World. Don't get stressed out if you don't get to do everything because in all honesty it would probably take someone 2 weeks to get everything done
"Beaches and Cream" has great ice cream!
No matter what you do you'll have a great time at Disney World!
Have a Magical Trip!

Answer 10

Make sure you check out Downtown Disney! IMAX theatre, House of Blues, Planet Hollywood. A sure fix for anyone over 21. Leave at least a week for the rest of the park. Dont forget to have fun!