1st timers - with what are probably silly questions! HELP

[ppow]

As you may have gatherered we are going for first time and are Sooooo excited. But as first timers we know nothing and seem to have so many questions even though we arent going until next Oct

We have a copy of Brits Guide 2007

* Many of the water rides say you get VERY wet or some rides say you cant take on any loose items - will have a bag with us - so what do we do with it and how do we stop everything getting wet?
* We have prebooked car hire through Virgin and tken out their platinum insurance (basically Fully Paid In the Country) They use Dollar but have still heard of many people being asked for a credot card imprint on arrival. Why? Virgin assure us this is prepaid in full so why are Dollar still asking?
*How do you prebook seating with Virgin (we booked through a travel agents who are appearing to be useless)
* Travel agents have quoted some ridiculous amount for park tickets so where would you all advise... want actual tickets not vouchers.

Thanks everyone we are so glad we found this board as you are all proving to be so helpful and full of such useful advice.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Hi ppow

Here are my suggestions/answers to your questions

1. Hire a locker, put everything in it & go on all the water rides
2. I think the credit card is a back up guarantee - in case anything happens & to make sure you bring it back!!
3. I booked through TA & rang Virgin on tel no. in brochure to book seating - the person gave me my locator number so I could look at in online as well. We also checked in on-line.
4. Just bought & received 14 day park tickets fron UK attractions direct. They price matched at £153 (adults) so ring up once you have found cheapest tickets. They delivered within a week

hope this helps

 

[MorningGlory]

As you may have gatherered we are going for first time and are Sooooo excited. But as first timers we know nothing and seem to have so many questions even though we arent going until next Oct

We have a copy of Brits Guide 2007

* Many of the water rides say you get VERY wet or some rides say you cant take on any loose items - will have a bag with us - so what do we do with it and how do we stop everything getting wet?
* We have prebooked car hire through Virgin and tken out their platinum insurance (basically Fully Paid In the Country) They use Dollar but have still heard of many people being asked for a credot card imprint on arrival. Why? Virgin assure us this is prepaid in full so why are Dollar still asking?
*How do you prebook seating with Virgin (we booked through a travel agents who are appearing to be useless)
* Travel agents have quoted some ridiculous amount for park tickets so where would you all advise... want actual tickets not vouchers.

Thanks everyone we are so glad we found this board as you are all proving to be so helpful and full of such useful advice.

Im going for my first time in 2 weeks, so I know how you feel with all the planning and stuff

I hope I can help with some of the things (although obviously its just stuff I have read).

1. I think rides where you will get wet usually have lockers available to store your stuff. Someone else could probably give you more info on this though.

2. I think every car hire company requires a credit card imprint. It is just basically an extra surety in case you do a runner with the car, I suppose. Or possibly any damages, etc would be added to the card? This particular fact is causing me a problem as well, and im hoping they will take a deposit instead.

3. You can prebook the seats on the airline's website (www.virgin-atlantic.com). I have found that sometimes my Virgin Holidays reference works on the VA website (6 numbers followed by the time code (mine is S07 for Summer 2007)) and other times it doesn't. If you phone VA and give them your details, they will be able to give you the VA reference number for your flights, then you just go to the 'manage your flights' section on the VA website.

4. This is the hard one, and the one you will receive most suggestions about probably. What kind of tickets do you want to buy? There are special tickets directed at the UK market, 7 and 14 day passes. These can only be bought from Disney, or UK ticket sellers. Alternatively, you can buy 'Magic Your Way' tickets, which last for as many days as you purchase (3 days to 10 days) and expire 14 days after the first day is used. This is the tickets I purchased, as I found they worked out cheaper as they dont include the park-hopper option. I will struggle as it is to see everything I want to see in a park in a whole day, never mind hopping between different parks. If you decide on the 'Magic your way' tickets, I can safely say after alot of research, that www.dwtickets.com is the cheapest place on the net to buy them. You can pick up the actual tickets from their offices just outside Disney, or have them delivered to your hotel for a small fee.

For tickets to the other parks (Universal, Seaworld, etc) the prices are pretty much standard across all websites. You will pay around £65 for a 3 park/5 day ticket for Universal, and I think the Seaworld tickets around $60per person for a 1 day ticket that automatically gives you an a free 2nd day.

Hope that helps

 

[angel659]

Congrats on your upcoming trip, you will love it.

1) You can hire a locker if you go on wet rides. I am too lazy and just take my small bag with me and put it under my top. Saying that fast rides are different. You cant take a bag on. I would put these in a locker.

2) We have prepaid before when it comes to car hire. Problem is you still need a credit card. One incase you drive off with the car and any damage. I think you have to claim for damages. I have never needed to claim. I think its 10% off your car hire they need for deposit for credit cards or $1,500 if paid with cash. I think they can take the Amex travellers cheque card as deposit. I have used my Amex card before. I always get a better exchange rate shopping with my Visa. I would phone Dollar or email them and clarify this.

3) Phone VH directly and they will give you your VA reference number, you can also pre-book your seats on the phone.

4) I think it depends on how long you intend to visit WDW. If you have a car you can pick them up from mapleleaf or get them delivered. I have also seen another company called undercovertourist that delivers them for free anywhere. With the exchange rate you may save some money.

 

[carolfoy]

the only rides where you may get wet in WDW are splash mountain in magic kingdom, kali river rapids in animal kingdom, the viking ride in Epcot, (I think thats about it)
splash mountain, its hit and miss, you don't usually get more than a heavy sprinkling, your bag will be ok under your feet or in the pocket in frone, personally I'd take a carrier and just wrap it in that too, kali is the one where you may get a splash or you may get absolutely drenched, again if you wrap it ina carrier then place it in the pocket in the middle of the seats its usually ok, the viking ride is never more than a wee splash if that so that ones safe.
oh, actually pirates and jungle cruise are prone to a wee splash too, but not dangerously wet at all

 

[ely3857]

As you may have gatherered we are going for first time and are Sooooo excited. But as first timers we know nothing and seem to have so many questions even though we arent going until next Oct

We have a copy of Brits Guide 2007

* Many of the water rides say you get VERY wet or some rides say you cant take on any loose items - will have a bag with us - so what do we do with it and how do we stop everything getting wet?
* We have prebooked car hire through Virgin and tken out their platinum insurance (basically Fully Paid In the Country) They use Dollar but have still heard of many people being asked for a credot card imprint on arrival. Why? Virgin assure us this is prepaid in full so why are Dollar still asking?
*How do you prebook seating with Virgin (we booked through a travel agents who are appearing to be useless)
* Travel agents have quoted some ridiculous amount for park tickets so where would you all advise... want actual tickets not vouchers.

Thanks everyone we are so glad we found this board as you are all proving to be so helpful and full of such useful advice.

1 - You can hire a locker but a lot of rides have storage area's in the seat, with a net bag attached to the back of the seat in front or somethig similar.

2 - Have never been asked for a CC to take the car and I am sure you could refuse providing you ahve paid in full for car & insurance

3 - No idea, I havn't flown with Virgin

4 - There are many websites for tickets but sometime you will get vouchers and although I always prefer tickets it isnt a massive problem and they are easily exchanged so I wouldn't pay any extra for an actual ticket over a voucher.

Have fun planning



Jodie

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Agree with what everyone has said, but as far as the water rides at the parks go it depends whether we are talking Disney or ALL the parks.
The one guaranteed to get you absolutely soaked (and in my opinion the best water ride of all) is Popeye's Barges at Universal IOA.

Also we always take a beach towel to the parks with us, and usually a change of clothes for Joshua - especially as it's common for him to drag me on water rides again and again

 

[ppow]

See I told DH I would get lots of advice and reassurance from this site.

You have all responded so quickly. Thanks

Great advice about taking a change of clothes for my DS and a towel.

 

[brightspark]

* Many of the water rides say you get VERY wet or some rides say you cant take on any loose items - will have a bag with us - so what do we do with it and how do we stop everything getting wet?

In WDW we take bags on every ride! Dh takes a rucksac with him into the parks and has even taken it onto Everest. Some of the rides come with pockets to put bags / water bottles etc in... his bag won't fit in them, he just wedges it between his fee and hey presto...you're off!

As far as wet is concerned... none of the WDW rides are an issue if it's hot. If it's cool, watch out for the kali river rapids as I have seen people get drenched on there. This ride has a bag holder in the middle of the 'boat' with a plastic lid. We were there in January and we were chickens and wore poncho's on this ride... well we had been wearing hats and scarves some days to keep warm!

If you go to Universal / Islands of adventure, they have lockers by all the big rides that you will get wet on, or that are unsuitable for carrying bags. You must use these. But beware that they are for short term use only and you will face a big bill if you leave stuff in there for an hour of so. You will get drenched on atlantis at Sea world too.

* Travel agents have quoted some ridiculous amount for park tickets so where would you all advise... want actual tickets not vouchers.

We always buy our tickets through Disney... and therefore we don't get them cheap - sorry

Please ask any more questions... they aren't daft, and we all love the chance to talk about what we know (or think we know)