HELP!!! Big Disney Trip I need tips!!!

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Ok so we are going to Disney World in a few months. We are going a week in Disney World and then getting on the Dream for like 4 days or something and then going back to Disney World for another week. I want to know what characters we should expect to see because I want to make autograph books and I don't want to leave a single character out. And thats another thing what do I make as autograph books we have alot of people coming and everyone wants an autograph book. Its for a sweet 16. We're not doing a party so we're going to pack up and do the great escape to Disney with 14 or maybe 15 people one still doesn't know if he can escape work for that long. There's 4 kids all over 12 but not yet 18, 8 adults, and 2 seniors. In case anyone was wondering. I need tips on what to make as an autograph book and who to put in it and basically everything else that comes with having so many people. I know on the cruise the kids can go off and we don't need to worry but I don't know what to do about the parks. I know we have plenty of time to see everything but I've never done a trip this long and this big. Oh and we are doing universal one day the birthday girl really wants to see Harry Potter any tips on that would be greatly appreciated. PLEASE tell me everything I need to know. Thanks so much.

 

[MPwifey]

I would say check out the creative community for tips, or the creative DISign thread for more help. I think I saw where someone even had a custom one done. Your vacation sounds like a dream to me, any girl would be lucky to have that for their sweet 16!!! Have fun planning.

 

[high meadows]

Remember, WDW sells autograph books. Also, teens may not want "little kid" books, but would probably like more sophisticated blank-age books with attractive covers; you can find these at Borders or Barnes and Noble or Target. Once the character signs the page, the teen can annotate the page with date and impressions of her own!

 

[Nadjalu]

I can offer this as well. You WILL NOT have enough time to see everything. So settle that in your mind or it will drive you crazy. Even the time you are going isn't enough to do or see everything. Sorry.

So go thru and pick the most important things to you to get done and seen.

Also it is hard to give all the characters you will run into. There are the normal, everyday ones (which I am sure you know) but occasionally there will be others or rare ones. That is hard to predict.

And as for the kids in the parks, I think depending on their age and how responsible they are will be how you handle them. If some are old enough to go off in 2s or 3s and meet the rest of the party at a predestined place is fine. The others, well they may need to stay with the group. Or split the group up and some go one way while a few others take the young ones and go the other way.

You know your family and friends best.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[ZoZo]

Welcome to the DIS! Here's my best advice: I've found that if you're brand-new to these boards, it's helpful to buy a really good guidebook (like the Unofficial Guide to WDW). It will provide you with lots of great, basic information that you need to know (like how to use fast pass, etc.).

Once you've read through the guidebook thoroughly, make a list of specific questions. Then post your questions in the correct forum on Disboards (go on the "Restaurants" board to ask questions about dining, on the "Resorts" board to ask questions about the different WDW hotels), etc.

To be perfectly honest, when using this chat board, I've found that if you ask really general questions on this board (like "Please tell me everything I need to know") that you get fewer answers than if you ask very specific questions (like "What's your favorite table-service restaurant at Magic Kingdom?"). As someone who has been posting for a couple of years, I find it sort of daunting and time-consuming to answer posts that contain really general questions. It's easier to jump on a post with a specific question and post a quick answer. I bet that's what happened with your original post - so far, most folks saw your question about autograph books, and answered that, but didn't take the time to answer your question about giving you other tips.

I'd also recommend that you start going through some of the main forums (like the "Theme Parks" forum) and start reading through some of the existing posts. There's lots of good information that's already out there! There is also a great "search" feature on this board for you to use.

Good luck with your trip!

 

[Disney-Chick]

When I first found out we were going to Disney I thought you just pack and go. Thank goodnes for my DF who was orangized with binders and maps of parks so we knew what day we were going to each park. You need to have a plan!!!!

I also found with the characters, it took to long in line and that took away from the rides. We were lucky the first year and were surprised when a bunch of characters came out of a building and my daughter was able to grab their autographs without the wait. Now unless we can take pics within a few minutes we do not wait. We would rather wait in line for the rides.

I agree with the PP (previous poster) that if some kids are old enough to go on their own then you are able to meet up later would be great. My daughter goes on rides by herself and then meets up with us at a certain location that we determine before hand which is alway close to the ride (we use to be smokers so that is where she could find us, non-smoker for 7 months now).

It's all about the planning, and that is what makes the trip fun. I also agree with the pp that you should buy the Unofficial Guide to WDW. There is so much information in that book.

Happy Planning!

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Don't get me wrong I mean the kids will probably will go off on their own I'm probably just paranoid and I do feel we can see everything in the parks cause the way I plan things I've done everything in those parks in 5 days. But I've never been with these people and never this big and we just decided to drive from new york because "it's easier to connect with everyone" NOT! but we also need to keep the kids busy in the car once we hit north carolina and get there cousins in the car they'll be fine the rest of the way but what do I do with them the rest of the time I can't give them coloring books anymore and trust me they won't read, watch a movie or read a book and if I hear "are we there yet" over over in the car I think I'll kill myself. And as for the autograph books they want the graphics and the works even even the adults any ideas where to find that on the internet. sorry I bothering you with all these questions. Any info is greatly appreciated

 

[Snappy in OK]

We made autograph books for our last trip. There are all kinds of ideas on the creative board. In the end, we found "pictures" of the characters with a decorative border that we printed on 5x7 inch index cards (unlined). We also made personalized covers for each album.

When we got the books together, we took them to Staples & had them bound with spiral binding. They also put on a soft plastic covers for the front & back. The front was mostly clear.

When making the character cards, we selected the characters that we thought we would most likely see in WDW. One thing I am keeping in mind for our next trip is on the organization. Last trip we sorted the cards alphabetically. Next trip, I plan on grouping the cards by story, or something similar. Just an example - it would have been easier to access Cinderella's stepsisters' cards if they were together instead of by alphabetically.

As for characters that we didn't make cards for - we brought extra 4x6 cards to have them sign. (I planned on removing the cards from the autograph books so I could make scrapbooks with the autographs & pictures we took for my kids.)

Oh, we made 5 books. 4 for the kids - and one for me! I'm a kid at heart.

Have fun!