First trip to Disney...Trip planning advice please....

[tecboy]

Ok..did a search on Amazon for the UnOfficial Guide...there was more than one book with Unofficial Guide to Disney in the title..any one book better than the other? I saw one that was The Unofficial Guide to Disney 2004 that looked pretty good..

 

[CALaurieA]

We just returned yesterday from Orlando and, while it definately wasn't the busy season, I can hopefully share a few things.
We originally thought we could do everything - WDW, Universal, and KSC. We decided not to burn everyone out and just did WDW and KSC. We'll save Universal for our next trip. We stayed offsite at the Sheraton Vistana Resort and LOVED IT. The first and last night of our stay we atayed in hotel units - first at the Clarion Airport (we couldn't check in to our resort till the next day and airfare was much cheaper on the holiday) and the last day we checked out early and stayed at the Hyatt Regency in the airport.
We could not stay for a week in a hotel unit again. We are spoiled. The boys had their own room and each had a double bed. Everyone could watch something different on the three TV's in the room. I didn't have to pack as much because there was a washer/dryer in the unit.
The Kennedy Space Center was wonderful. My dh and ds14 did the Astronaut Experience day - they loved it! My younger ds10 and I did the things to see at the Visitor Center. I was so moved looking at the Astronaut Memorial and meeting Astronaut Sam Gemar. I wouldn't have missed that for anything.
Read everyone's advice - it's awesome and very helpful - and then decide what will work best for your family. Enjoy.
Another note: we didn't enjoy Downtown Disney and Disney Quest as much as I thought we would. Could have skipped that.

 

[FloridaCat]

We have stayed on and off site for many years and there are pluses and minus for both. So I don’t se any problem with your off site plan.
What I recommend is you go to the Disney web site. Type MAPS in the search box and print the park maps. Plan out an ifamily itinerary as this maximizes your time in the park, versus wandering around wondering what to see or do.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index

Here is a link to Disney songs, words and music the girls can enjoy as you prepare to come down and see us.
Enjoy the magic.
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/7840/select.htm

 

[shortbun]

Hi!
This Christmas we stayed offsite for the first time. I've been to
WDW over a dozen. We stayed at Hawthorn Suites LBV - had
a one bedroom suite with living room and kitchen. Loved it-thought I'd hate being off site but other than driving in, which
wasn't even a hassle over Christmas as long as we went b4
rope drop. It took us about
1/2 hour from close of our suite door to walking through the
turnstiles-MK was the exception as we had to go through the
T&T center. I KNOW the parks, shortcuts, bathrooms that are never crowded etc. with this being said , I'd have to recommend you plan at least 4 days for park visits because it's your first time and you'll spend lots of time wandering. I'd be sure to make PS(almost a reservation) for restaurants in EPCOT, MGM,MK and perhaps a character meal somewhere like Chef Mickey's so I had the meals covered and an air conditioned place to sit down, relax and eat in the first busy/hot week of June. Turkey legs eaten while standing in 95 degrees are only fun once!
Tour books. Birnbaum has a "Disney for Kids By Kids" that
your children would probably like to read in advance, mine does.
It rates the rides in many ways, noise, roughness, darkness,
fun and wildness. The unofficial
guide is by Schneider, I think-someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I often sit down in a Barnes and Noble and read with latte for
a few lunches b4 I decide which book has the most for me.
Have fun planning.