Going in July....Many ?'s

[vicceja]

Hi All!

I can't wait to go to DisneyWorld -- I've been planning our trip (DH,DS1,DS2,DS3) trip for the past 2 months and can't wait to go.
Even though I've been planning for a while now I still feel horribly overwhelmed and really don't know if I'm getting anything done.

1st - We are travelling the last week of July for 9 days. I've heard this is a very busy time - should I try to change dates?

2nd - Because we have a family of 5 we booked our stay at POR - We booked through Disney's website our 8night 9day stay at POR - Tickets included which is costing me $3k - can I find anything less expensive than that?

3rd - My DS2 will be turning 7 while we are at Disney - I have planned to send them all on the Pirate Cruise (which will leave DH and I alone for 2 hours ) and I have already planned to get those B-day buttons from all parks and am ready to call on the resort before we go for extra excitement - is there anything else I can do to make this time more memorable (if that is possible) for not only the B-day boy but for all 3 boys?

4th - Because i'm surrounded by Testosterone is there anything I can plan to do at the Sports Complex while i'm there?

5th - Is it possible to try to get as much done as I want in 9 days - or should I add a day or two?

6th - Pal Mickey - Yes or No?

7th - I want to have a breakfast, lunch or dinner character breakfast at the Castle - would it be too horrible for my boys to sit through?

8th - Fantasmic Dinner Package - is this worth it? I heard the reserved seats are not the greatest.

Hey, I found round trip Tix from NY to Florida for all 5 of us for only $677!

Any ideas, comments, suggestions, opinions etc will be most appreciated.

Regards,
Ely

POR - July 2005
AS - July 2003

 

[MeredithJ]

Ely--congrats on planning your first trip! I have been to Disney many times, but I am planning our longest trip this year, so it seems a little overwhelming (yet exciting!) for me too. So you are not alone I will try to answer some of your questions:

1. Yes, July is busy, and very hot. We are going the first week in August, also very busy and hot. My suggestion is to get to the parks before they open and go to the popular rides first. Then make your way around the rest of the park. Then take a break around lunchtime and go back to the resort for a nap and/or a swim. This is the hottest part of the day, so the best time to break. You can go back to the parks later if you want to.

2. If you are a member of AAA, you can book through a AAA travel agency, and you will can save around 15% off your room rate. If you decide to buy the tickets separately, ticketmania.com has the best prices. It might be cheaper to do it separately rather than a package.

3. Sounds like you are doing everything you can to make it special the kids might like a day at the waterparks though, just a thought.

4. I think the Pirate Cruise leaves from GF, so you could maybe use their spa while you are waiting for the kids to come back??? I'm not sure if you can use their spa if you aren't staying there, but you could ask.....

5. I think you can have a great vacation in 9 days

6. In my opinion, no on Pal Mickey.

7. I might be mistaken, but I think the characters are only at the castle for breakfast. The boys might like Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary too.

8. If there is a second showing of Fantasmic on the night you are there, I don't think the dinner package is necessary. However, if not, the wait is horrible, we are talking hours. So the idea of the package is so you don't have to wait in that horrible line, not to get the best seats. But I have heard that the seats really aren't that bad, and actually more accessible to the exit, which means you can beat the crowds on the way out too.

Great price on the airfare!

Have fun planning your trip!

Meredith

 

[ChrislovesMinnie]

Get the PAL MICKEY.

 

[LMC]

I've never been in summer peak season so I don't have any advice on those issues.

If you just want to eat at the castle just to "see it" then I think you can do lunch and there are no characters which means you can probably get a priority seating (ps) easier.

Fantasmic: We went a month ago and we got great seats but we had to get there an hour and a half before the show. If you get there that early you will be seated in the center section right smack in front of everything. Pick an aisle that already has alot of people seated because eventually everyone will "slide all the way to your left" so you will end up in the center of the rows and not to one end. You will get a little wet (we sat about 20 rows back and got damp) so front row seating may not be the best choice. There are two other seating areas toward the sides that they fill up last. This is where the "reserved" dinner seating is located. Picture an arena with seating at 6 o'clock position and the 4 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions; 6 o'clock being the best. If you do go early just make sure the kids have toys to play with (put those souvie's to work!) and they have a snack bar and restrooms very close by so someone in your party can get up but someone has to stay and save your seat. My DH did alot of running around with our 4yo while the other 2 kids and I kept our seating.

 

[Mickmouse1]

Hi All!

I can't wait to go to DisneyWorld -- I've been planning our trip (DH,DS1,DS2,DS3) trip for the past 2 months and can't wait to go.
Even though I've been planning for a while now I still feel horribly overwhelmed and really don't know if I'm getting anything done.

1st - We are travelling the last week of July for 9 days. I've heard this is a very busy time - should I try to change dates?

2nd - Because we have a family of 5 we booked our stay at POR - We booked through Disney's website our 8night 9day stay at POR - Tickets included which is costing me $3k - can I find anything less expensive than that?

3rd - My DS2 will be turning 7 while we are at Disney - I have planned to send them all on the Pirate Cruise (which will leave DH and I alone for 2 hours ) and I have already planned to get those B-day buttons from all parks and am ready to call on the resort before we go for extra excitement - is there anything else I can do to make this time more memorable (if that is possible) for not only the B-day boy but for all 3 boys?

4th - Because i'm surrounded by Testosterone is there anything I can plan to do at the Sports Complex while i'm there?

5th - Is it possible to try to get as much done as I want in 9 days - or should I add a day or two?

6th - Pal Mickey - Yes or No?

7th - I want to have a breakfast, lunch or dinner character breakfast at the Castle - would it be too horrible for my boys to sit through?

8th - Fantasmic Dinner Package - is this worth it? I heard the reserved seats are not the greatest.

Hey, I found round trip Tix from NY to Florida for all 5 of us for only $677!

Any ideas, comments, suggestions, opinions etc will be most appreciated.

Regards,
Ely

POR - July 2005
AS - July 2003

My husband and I got married in Disney July 01 and it was hot and very crowded. Since then we have gone at different times. We are teachers and have summers off. We have found that early June is much less crowded. We are headed back this summer and have chosen June 1-7 when the park is half as crowded. Good luck with your vacation!

 

[vicceja]

Hi All!

Just wanted to send a quick thank you for all those great ideas. My DS2's b-day is July 1st - we've started this tradition 2 years ago that we will at least celebrate his b-day at Disney World...I'm sure it will be crowded but we'll be at Mickey's House!!!

Thanks!
Ely

POR - June/July 2005
AS - June/July 2003