Can you help a first timer???

[PAULA1]

welcome to the boards, i would advise booking meals in advance....don't under-estimate the importance of the disney dining experiance

chef mickeys should probably appeal to your boys

Thanks Natalie,

Can you tell me the best way to book for Chef Mickeys???

Thanx

 

[PAULA1]

Since you say you're only going to be in Orlando for 5 days, i would skip universal (and as another poster said, i think your kids are too young for it anyway).

My kids have always loved Epcot.
Even when they were little.
As another poster said, they enjoy the Future World part of Epcot (not world showcase).
They enjoy all of future world - the big attractions as well as innoventions, which probably many parents would be willing to skip. There's even stuff in innoventions for little kids to do. Bit it's a very slow paced sort of place, so if you're a type A personality who has to do do do as much as possible in the shortest time possible, then it won't be for you....
Also, the living seas (or whatever it's called now since the renovation) is great for little kids.

As someone said, get a park hopper and then you can pop in for as much or as little time as you want.

Thanks, I have booked our tickets now for Universal and we will be in Orlando for 9 full days in total, the rest of the holiday will be in Tampa with my Aunty, going to Busch Gardens and Dinosaur Land. I have managed to do myself a little itenery on where to go what days, but as I'm sure you know with children I can only guesstimate what we will be doing I am definatly sure it will change when we get there!

I am going to make sure we make the most of the EMH and I have now got my hands on the Brits Guide, which by the way is fantastic and full of great information. I am going to list all the attractions in each place we wish to see and also which way round to go to make sure we get to the best rides first!! Again - I'm sure this may change!

I enjoy the planning but I really don't want to make such a big deal of it as I am the type to start flapping if it didn't all fall into place and I don't want that on my first trip there. I think I may also go with the motto - "If we've missed we'll just have to come back next year" !!

 

[richard_andmel]

I would totally skip Universal with kids your age. I would plan my days as follows.

MK 3 days
Epcot 2 days
MGM 1 days
AK 1 days
Your resort pool 1

1 Free day at the end to revisit your favorite.

I would get to a park at opening and leave somewhere between 12-1ish to go back to your resort for a swin and nap. Even if your kids don't nap anymore I would still do this. I would suggest even adults can benefit from quiet time. Then make your dinner reservations at 5ish and after you can enjoy the park a bit more.

I would avoid the early entry park each day except for the MK magical beginnings if you are at WDW this fall.

We have 2 nieces who are 3 & 6 who I plan trips for. And this works well for them.

We always rent a car. We use WDW transport too, but sometimes it's useful to drive to the other resorts we are eating at for one thing.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.

Mel

 

[Dizneemad]

For what it will cost you to hire a car for the 9 days, you will probally see it parked it the car park most of the trip. Book taxis for the odd days out you will be quids in this way. You can save more money by using the Lynx buses but it is a bit of a hassle to get them.
Definatly do Epcot so much to see and do and some goods attractions in there now for kids. Also do the Disney water parks although Beach club has the best pool theming of the disney hotels.