any tips/tricks for a family visiting disney/universal fl.?

Question

I am visitting Universal Studios and Disney in early December for the first time as an early Christmas present for my 3 kids. They are 10, 12 and 14. My husband and I haven never been either and we are really looking forward to it. I would love to hear any great tips or tricks to maximizing our vacation at either place. Money saving tips are encouraged and time management too! Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

you can get park hopper passes for multiple days at disney when you can come and go. mgm is BORING and can be skipped if you dont' want to ride the tower of terror and the aerosmith rollercoaster. animal kingdom is a nice leisurely stroll kind of place but i don't think kids like it much except for the bugs life show in the big tree.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/parkOverview?id=ParkOverviewPage

universal in my opinion is suffering from bad management. if you have never been it is worth the visit but not really return visits.

http://www.universalorlando.com/?__source=rgmn.gnav

don't forget seaworld -- they are doing a lot to get noticed as number 3 --

busch gardens in tampa is generally considered the locals favorite park -- the roller coasters are definitely the best. its in tampa -- about a 90 min drive.

Answer 2

At Disney, some rides offer a FastPass. You slide your admission ticket into a machine and a ticket will be printed that tells you what time to return to the ride. (it usually gives you an time that lasts 60 minutes- for example "Return between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm- which is great because you don't have to be there at a SPECIFIC time) This will allow you to either ride another ride closeby, grab a bite to eat, or simply find a place to sit and not have to stand in line.

Another trick our family uses, and this might be good for you since your kids are a bit older, is we go to the "Single Rider Line" Many times a ride lets a car go by that would hold 6 people, yet it only has 4 in it. Everyone wants to ride with their friends & family. Unless you plan on purchasing a photo (available at the end of some of the rides, but a bit pricy) go in the single rider line. It moves MUCH quicker. You all go in the same door, and you all come out the same door. Just make sure that you wait at the exit until everyone is together again. Most likely, you will all get to ride the ride and be on the next one long before you would even get on the first ride if you waited to ride "together".

One thing we do to save money is that we share meals. Many of the meals have ample portions. We might buy the "big buger" meal instead of 2 smaller or cheaper meals. We split it and it ends up costing much less than 2 "smaller, cheaper" meals, and we are not too full and often we can then enjoy a dessert. It sure beats either throwing food away because you can't finish or stuffing yourself until you can't move. (Many times you think, "Man, I paid a lot for this meal, I better eat it!" ) Last year we went and had the Disney Dining Plan. We ate in a lot of nice restaurants. At the last minute, my oldest niece joined us on vacation- (she is 40 , I am 44) and she didn't get the plan. We never had any problems asking for an extra plate, then we all "donated" food to her! She basically ate for free the whold trip!

Have a great time. I am going to be there Dec. 3 - 10, I can't wait!

Answer 3

Tip one. Pack a meal each day. Not a snack, a MEAL. Theme park food prices are out of this world. This will save you $50-$150 per day. If you really want to save, plan an doing some 'cooking' in your hotel room. An ice chest with cheese, fruit, yogurt, cold cuts, etc is a help. An electric kettle for boiling water (instant soups and cereals) is too.

Tip two. Start training your family right now to walk past, and even THROUGH gift shops without even looking at the merchandise. Many of the rides 'conveniently' exit into a gift shop or snack bar. You don't want to spend your vacation hearing "I want" every 5 minutes.

Tip three. Accept that there isn't enough time to 'do everything' ... or even enough to do enough to 'get your money's worth' .. Go early and take a few rides before the crowds get bad, then just go with the flo.

Tip four. At Disney, it is usually faster to drive from place to place than to rely on Disney transportation.

Tip Five. Spend a day at Typhoon Lagoon. You can let the kids go slide on their own while you relax in a lounger or the lazy river. Too much theme parking makes you toxic.

Tip six. Send the kids off on their own for a few hours each day. Too much togetherness makes for bad tempers.

Answer 4

Before you leave home, pull up the website of both Disney and Universal Studios. Then gather the family and find out what rides and attractions you would like to see. Stick to your plans and you will be able to maximize your time at the theme parks. Purchase your attraction tickets ahead of time and by pass the lines. Do not feel that you have to be at the theme parks at the moment they open. You can reduce the traffic by planning to arrive at the theme parks 1 hour after they open. Take advantage of the fast passes at the theme park. They will allow you shorter wait times for the popular theme park rides. If you are staying in the Kissimmee area, go east on HYW 192 (the main highway) towards the downtown area to purchase any food or souvenirs. These are the areas that the local shop and prices are much lower. Purchase your souvenir from the walmart or the gift shops on 192. They are a lot cheaper and are sometimes the same things you find at the theme parks.Take advantage of some of the dinner shows. You will find a full course meal and entertainment for the price of one.
Enjoy your trip

Answer 5

As you have been told before, WEAR COMFORTABLE shoes. When you enter the park take a few minutes and familiarize yourself with some of the attractions. You can split up and let the kids go one way and you and hubby can go the other way, but I would suggest sticking together then you can laugh at the kids and the kids can laugh at mom and dad. Most parks you can either go left or right when you enter, pick one way and follow it all the way around and with your maps see everything you can and if you like rides do them. You may want to pack a lunch and go back to the car and have lunch, food inside the parks can be a little pricey. You can bring a pair of shorts or wear them under your long pants and during the day if you get to warm you can at least cool off a bit wearing shorts. I'm sure you all will have a great time.

Answer 6

You should set-up a meeting place each day in the parks. Also have a certain time you are going to meet. If you let your kids go by themselves. It also works if you get lost from your kids. If everyone knows that at 1 p.m. you are meeting at the carousel. Then they know that at 1 p.m. someone will be there. Also get the same colored shirts to wear and buy the puffy paints and put your last name on the back, let it dry and then let the kids decorate them with pictures of things they might seen and do in Disney. You can buy a bag of Men's tee-shirts. If you let the kids decorate them it makes them feel like they are involved. This is a fun family activity. It helps if you go on the Internet and gets maps of the park. Then one night after dinner, sit down as a family and make a list of all the things you want to see and do. That way if 3 people want to go on one ride and 2 want to go on another, maybe you can do them at the same time. I heard the express passes are nice. Hope you have a great time.

Answer 7

We have been to Florida with our 3 kids and find renting a house is the best way to go. This way after 8+ hours at the parks everyone is tired of each other and when they get back to the house some can swim, watch TV or play in the games room. It saves on eating out at restaurants and saves on arguing.

Answer 8

Wear comfortable shoes like Crocs sandals or tennis shoes, check weather.com 1 week before you leave so you'll know how to pack, purchase rain ponchos, film & batteries before you leave for Florida, and make dining reservations now by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Also, visit my Disney Vacation Services Website, I'm All Ears at:

http://im-all-ears-disney-vacation-services.blogspot.com/

Free tips are listed at the bottom of the webpage!

Have a great time!

Answer 9

if you can get the dinning package it is so worth it!! you can eat with characters with it even in cinderella's castle .. the dinning package is a HUGE money saver.

Rides not to miss: peter pan ride in magic kingdom
test track in epcot
safari ride in animal kingdom
mickey's philhar magic in magic kingdom


places to eat: cinderella's castle (dinner) in magic kingdom
concourse steakhouse (disney's contempoary resort) amazing breakfasts 3course breakfast and really yummy cinnamin buns called stickey mickey's a must try!!
the crystal palace in magic kingdom (it's a winnie the pooh character dinning)
pizza planet in MGM studios

definetly wear comfortable shoes there is alot of walking

hopper passes are good too escpecially if your going to animal kingdom it closes early adn if you have hopper passes you can go to another park later on...

Answer 10

The Mouse Planet website has tons of message boards with every tip and trick humanly imaginable!

Have a great trip!