Few questions on 50 year celebration. Many questions!

[Brumeiser]

I just saw that the Disneyland 50 year celebration begins May 5 of this year and it runs 18 months. Is this correct which would have it end November 5, 2006 right? Are there any celebrations down in Florida for this? We went in July 2004 and my son got the itch to go so does daddy!! I know we don't want to go in the summer so which month would be good to go September, October or Early November? I know with this board and all of the knowledgable people you can help me start with the plans. We would like to stay on property so how soon do you book your rooms? Do you book when it is a year in advance and then if promo codes come out you change your reservation? I think this will be a good start. Thanks

 

[bubba's mom]

First of all, the party starts 5/5/05 and lasts 15mths. WDW (Fla) is celebrating too!! September will still be warm & it's still hurricane season. October (MNSSHP) and early November are good times to go-lower crowds, not as hot. You can book your room as soon as you know when you want to go so you are sure to get the resort you want at the dates you want. You can always call back and ask for the adjustment for the code. Hope this helps you start planning your magic!!!

 

[Brumeiser]

This is what I found on the board:

All of the Disney theme parks world wide will be participating in this 17 month long celebration. From Paris to Tokyo and Hong Kong, from Florida to California, each park will unveil new attractions and entertainment to mark this occassion.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I just saw that the Disneyland 50 year celebration begins May 5 of this year and it runs 18 months. Is this correct which would have it end November 5, 2006 right?

Not certain on the duration, but it will begin on May 5 at all Disney parks worldwide,

Are there any celebrations down in Florida for this?

Yup! The Magic Kingdom is undergoing refurbishment at the hub to bring in Cinderellabration, a show from Tokyo. EPCOT will open Soarin' Over California. The disney Studios will open a car show - I can never get the name right, but it's a stunt show with a lot of special effects. And Animal Kingdom will get Lucky the Dinosaur, who is a free-standing, free-moving animatronic dinosaur.

We went in July 2004 and my son got the itch to go so does daddy!! I know we don't want to go in the summer so which month would be good to go September, October or Early November?

I'm very partial to September. The crowds are at one of their lowest points. As someone said, you do still have heat and humidity to contend with, however - it's much easier when crowds aren't as big. Before this pas September, Disney World closed itself ONCE since opening in 1971. It was shut down in preparation for Hurricane Flloyd (I think it was Flloyd). In any case, the hurricane never even hit Disney World. So this past September was a HUGE fluke. As you move later into the fall, the crowds begin to grow, however, in October, you have Epcot's food and wine festival, which while I've never been - sounds like a LOT of fun. There's also Mickey's Not-So Scary Halloween party.

Another great time to consider is January. Watch out for the marathon, and Martin Luther King weekend, but other than those times, crowds are again at an extreme low point. The weather can blow hot and cold, so you'd need to be prepared, but I've found it evens itself out at about 50-60 degrees, and can sometimes get into the 70s.

I know with this board and all of the knowledgable people you can help me start with the plans. We would like to stay on property so how soon do you book your rooms?

Rooms can be booked up to 10 years in advance I believe - if not longer. If rates are out for your period, they will tell you them, and you'll make your deposit as required. If rates are NOT out, they will reserve your room, and you will make a deposit as required based on current rates. You will then have to pay any difference if the rates go up.

Do you book when it is a year in advance and then if promo codes come out you change your reservation? I think this will be a good start. Thanks

Yes. You just call, and a Disney reservationist will apply a discount code to your existing reservation.

I know some of those things were answered, but I was bored! hehehe

Also, rather than deal with code-watching, and waiting on hold, I'd HIGHLY reccomend Dreams Unlimited Travel. THEY will make all of your reservations, and watch for the codes for you, and have them applied to your reservation. They will also do their best to get you hard-to-get reservations like Illuminations Cruises, Cinderella's Royal Table - and things of that nature. I used them for my honeymoon, and they were BEYOND unbelieveably helpful.

 

[bubba's mom]

This is what I found on the board:

.....each park will unveil new attractions and entertainment to mark this occassion.

The parks are "swapping rides/shows". For instance, Epcot will be introducing (building now) "Soarin'" (over CA). This is currently the number 1 attraction at DL-CA. MK will be having a nighttime show at the castle called "Cinderellabration" which is from Tokoyo I think. MGM is bringing the Lights! Camera! Action! stuntshow to Florida from Paris. AK is building Mt. Everest thrill roller coaster and introducing Lucky the Dinosaur that was tested in CA. So, even though these attractions are all over the world, they are introducing them at the other parks. I think CA is getting something Florida has, but can't remember what?? Hope this helps!!!

 

[bubba's mom]

And Animal Kingdom will get Lucky the Dinosaur, who is a free-standing, free-moving animatronic dinosaur.

He is a full-size, free-roaming dinosaur with a cute face. He will be able to: sneeze, cough, blink, blow kisses and sign autographs. He sounds cool, but I will be looking for the CM (working the remote) that follows him around

 

[angel's momma]

I'm very partial to September. The crowds are at one of their lowest points. As someone said, you do still have heat and humidity to contend with, however

SnackyStacky, how bad is the heat & humidity at the end of Sept?

I also read on another post that rain every day is likely - is that true?

 

[Regina]

Here's an overview of what to expect at WDW: Happiest Celebration On Earth

We'll be adding more details as they become available.

 

[SnackyStacky]

SnackyStacky, how bad is the heat & humidity at the end of Sept?

I also read on another post that rain every day is likely - is that true?

The closer to October you get, the humidity and heat will lessen.

The weather usually peaks at the end of August or beginning of September and gradually cools down. I don't personally find it that offensive, but that's just my own opinion. So at the end of September, I should imagine it'll still pretty hot. Probably low - mid 80's with humidity in the upper 80s to mid 90s percentage wise.

Well, typically, central Florida (I don't know if it's confined to central florida, or a phenomena for the ENTIRE state...) gets afternoon showers. They can last anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. It can happen every day, but sometimes they don't come. The showers also help cool it down a bit. You just throw a poncho on and keep going. It's REALLY not a big deal. Being at Disney World in the rain is a COMPLETELY different experience than being in the rain at home.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We usually go in Sept. or Oct. and it rains a lot. We just bring ponchos and umbrellas and keep having fun! It's really not that big of a deal, since a lot of the lines and attractions are covered. Also, as far as the heat and humidity, I'm from south Ga. so it doesn't usually bother me, but this last year we went during August, Sept. and Dec. and August was horribly hot. I will never do that again!

 

[angel's momma]

Thanks SnackyStacky and KIRSTIN'S MOMMY.

It's not unheard of for it to be in the 80's around here in Sept., so I think we'll survive.

Ocassional showers won't be a big deal, I was just afraid of continuous rain for days. We already have a bunch of cheap ponchos that we didn't have to use during our Dec. trip.

We've added days to our Oct. trip, so now it's a Sept trip.