47 Days And Counting!!

[DisneyVirgin2007]

Hello all you Disney Vets!!

Been reading some of your messages and wow - some of you guys are real experts!! I'll be part of the Disney gang when I get back from our first Disney holiday (first ever family holiday infact!) on the 10 May 2007.

Having wanted to go to Disney I finally bit the bullet, and had some money for it, and booked Orlando for 9 days at the end of April. Apparently this is the cheapest and queitest time to go but you still get good weather - is this right???

Anyway, staying in a Virgin Villa and have my 7 day premium pass for Disney. That's all we are going to do this holiday is just Disney. My kids are 7 and 5 and I don't want to be dragging them everywhere at that age. I think Disney will be enough in it's self!!

What I was hoping is that if any of you could answer some of the following from a UK perspective. I've got so many questions but these are some key ones that I really want to find out - so can I humbly ask for you expert knowledge of maybe the greatest place on earth!!! Thanks!!!

- For anyone that has stayed in a Virgin Villa - what are they like (3 bed) and does anyone know the address of the Virgin Welcome Center. Got no idea where to go when I get there!!

- Can you do Animal Kingdom and MGM in one day?

- What is Boardwalk and Downtowm like - worth a go?

- Do I HAVE to book meals in the parks - or will my time of travel allow me to book on the day. I'm not sure if I want to be tied to one park yet?

- When it says quieter crowds - how does that compare to say - Alton Towers at it's busiest (all I have to compare at the min )

- Is it worth paying half the price of my holiday again and upgrading to PE. I'm about 6'2in.

- What would be the most essential things to take into the park each day?

- My wife is vegetarian and also cannot eat anything to do with cows milk (cheese, yogurt, etc). Will she starve?

- Oh, and I'm planning to not tell my kids about this until we reach the airport. Do you think that is "wise"?



That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anymore I'll let you know. Thanks in advance!!

I can't wait!!!!

 

[Madjock]

Hello all you Disney Vets!!

Been reading some of your messages and wow - some of you guys are real experts!! I'll be part of the Disney gang when I get back from our first Disney holiday (first ever family holiday infact!) on the 10 May 2007.

Having wanted to go to Disney I finally bit the bullet, and had some money for it, and booked Orlando for 9 days at the end of April. Apparently this is the cheapest and queitest time to go but you still get good weather - is this right???

Anyway, staying in a Virgin Villa and have my 7 day premium pass for Disney. That's all we are going to do this holiday is just Disney. My kids are 7 and 5 and I don't want to be dragging them everywhere at that age. I think Disney will be enough in it's self!!

What I was hoping is that if any of you could answer some of the following from a UK perspective. I've got so many questions but these are some key ones that I really want to find out - so can I humbly ask for you expert knowledge of maybe the greatest place on earth!!! Thanks!!!

- For anyone that has stayed in a Virgin Villa - what are they like (3 bed) and does anyone know the address of the Virgin Welcome Center. Got no idea where to go when I get there!!

- Can you do Animal Kingdom and MGM in one day?

- What is Boardwalk and Downtowm like - worth a go?

- Do I HAVE to book meals in the parks - or will my time of travel allow me to book on the day. I'm not sure if I want to be tied to one park yet?

- When it says quieter crowds - how does that compare to say - Alton Towers at it's busiest (all I have to compare at the min )

- Is it worth paying half the price of my holiday again and upgrading to PE. I'm about 6'2in.

- What would be the most essential things to take into the park each day?

- My wife is vegetarian and also cannot eat anything to do with cows milk (cheese, yogurt, etc). Will she starve?

- Oh, and I'm planning to not tell my kids about this until we reach the airport. Do you think that is "wise"?



That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anymore I'll let you know. Thanks in advance!!

I can't wait!!!!

can't help with the villa as never stayed in one.

you could do AK and MGM in one day but with kids of your ages and for your first visit I would plan one day at each if you can fit it in. We find AK a very hot and tiring park for some reason.

Downtown is definitely worth visiting and is a nice way to spend the evening. The boardwalk is great but might be more 'boring' for your kids but certainly worth a visit.

Having never been at this time of year I can't say on crowd levels or whether you should book meals but I would definitely book places you really want to eat at that way you won't be disappointed.

If you can face coughing up the extra money I think PE is worth it. DH is also 6 2 and finds it far more comfortable, I'm only a shortie but I like having the extra space when the person in front reclines. If you do go for it try and get seats upstairs.

WDW caters for all sorts of food problems so I very much doubt she will starve.

The last one is difficult, it's a wonderful surprise but on the other hand including the children in some of the planning is so much fun and lovely to see them get so excited.

You'll find if you have questions about your trip you get lots of advice from the Trip Planning forum.

Have a lovely trip and don't forget to let us all know about it when you get.

 

[KayleeUK]

Welcome to the DIS

Just moving this over to Trip Planning where you will get some great advice

 

[DisneyVirgin2007]

Thanks guys!

Oh, I think I posted this twice inthe other forum. Sorry!!

Keep the tips a comin!!!

 

[Steve and Sarah]

Hi. Welcome to the DIS.

We only have 49 days to go until we travel back to 'The World' so know how excited you must be!

Can't answer all your questions however standard of villas in the local area to Disney tend to be of a very good quality, we always prefer the villa option for the space, amenities and private pool but haven't done a Virgin villa.

Downtown Disney is well worth a visit, some great shops and resturants to try out, can highly recommend Rainforest Cafe, the kids will love it.

We have been traveling to Orlando at the end of April for the last 3 years as the crowds are lovely and quiet at the parks and the weather is beautiful. In relation to Alton Towers, went about 2 years ago and all I can say is that you will find the Disney parks run a lot better, with less queueing (particulalry if you make use of the Fast Pass system for the more popular rides). Most essential things I can tell you to take to the parks are water and your camera!

I am sure you'll get many more replies from others who can fill in the blanks.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Sarah & Steve

 

[UKDEB]

Hi DisneyVirgin2007 and welcome to the DIS .

I haven't stayed in a Virgin villa, either, so I can't help you on that score. I'm sure someone here will have done.

I wouldn't recommend trying to do Animal Kingdom and MGM in one day, especially as it's your first visit - you'll miss so much at both. It's very tempting, even for those of us who have been a few times, to rush around from attraction to attraction, but that really isn't the best way to experience everything WDW has to offer. You'll get far more from it by taking the time to soak it all up.

I'm not sure that I'd say the end of April is the cheapest and quietest time to go (there are cheaper and quieter times), but you should certainly experience low crowds and good weather, so you've picked a great time to go. It's a long time since I've been to Alton Towers, but I'd say it will be nowhere near as crowded as that gets at its busiest. Provided you avoid the EMH (Early Magic Hours) parks, you should find most attractions are less than a 30 minute wait. Many will be much less than that. If you can get to the parks early, most will be a walk-on. It's certainly worth doing that for the first few days at least, when the jet-lag will have you awake early.

Downtown Disney is a must-do, especially as you've decided to stick with Disney. However, as you're only there for 9 days, I think I'd be tempted to play it by ear as far as the BoardWalk is concerned. If you're at a lose end, it's a pleasant diversion, but not worth bumping something from your itinerary for.

There are very few restaurants where you'd need to book in advance at that time of year. However, if there are places you're keen to try, it is worth booking at Guest Relations as you enter the park - that will give you a better chance of getting in than as a walk-up at meal times. Eating outside normal mealtimes helps, too (so, say, 11.30am or 2pm for lunch). Some places, particularly the character meals, are very popular.

The PE question is one which frequently gets raised here. It's certainly makes the flight infinitely more enjoyable, but whether it's worth it, only you can really answer. We do tend to fly PE, but I wouldn't do so if it was going to increase the cost of my entire trip by 50%.

We never take anything to the parks except a camera. That way, we avoid the bag search and don't have anything to lugg around all day. I guess it depends on the ages of your kids, though.

Which brings me on to your final question. If they're very young, not telling them mightn't be a bad idea. However, planning is a big part of the whole experience for us and I can't help thinking you might be robbing yourselves of half the fun. The holiday lasts for a very short time, but you can extend the pleasure enormously with the planning. Why not get the Disney planning DVD and share it with the family?

 

[natalielongstaff]

if you think your kids would enjoy a character meal then i would reccomend crystal palace (in the magic kingdom) its a buffet for breakfast lunch or dinner

have a great time

 

[DisneyVirgin2007]

Thanks everyone for your tips so far - excellent!!

Anyone know about these virgin villas yet though?

and I am desperate for what happens/where you go once you leave the airport to be allocated a villa!!

Thanks

 

[UKDEB]

If you don't get any responses about the villa on this thread, I'd suggest starting a new one just for that purpose. Not everyone looks at every thread, so there may well be some people who can help, but who won't spot the question here.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

For the last few years we have stayed in villas, however we always book them independantly.

As I understand most of the Virgin villa locations are situated on US highway 27, such as Florida Pines for example.

Unfortunatley until you arrive there is no real way of advising as to where exactly you will be staying.
I would however be surprised if the home was not nice and well maintained.

The only thing I can say is that a villa is a sound choice for off-site accomodation, you get that feel of extra freedom, much more room and just general flexibility to do as you please.

I would echo earlier comments about late April, providing you miss Easter it's one of the best times to go for a good combination of ideal weather and low crowds.