Last trip was in 2000

[Disney Newby]

We are planning a trip for our family of 5 in July of 2010. The last time we went our DDs were only 2 & 4. This time we will be going as an entire family with me, DH, DD12, DD14 and DS9. This will be the first trip for DS. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. I have been reading these boards since we first decided to go and have found some great tips.

 

[Metro West]

 

[shaz105]

Hi

Welcome to the board I am organising my first trip with my family we are going in August 2010 one month after you.

The tips on this board are fanastic

 

[magicaldisney]

It will be a completely different experience this time with the kids being older. You will be able to accomplish so much more!!!

 

[Disney Newby]

The last time we went, we stayed for 3 days at the beginning of June. We stayed off site at the hotel that is now the Nickelodeon Hotel. We only went to MK and Universal. This time we are staying for 5 days, going to try to hit MK, Epcot and AK. Also have to return to Universal for DH. We are driving from the middle of Missouri and staying off site due to cost. We don't plan on doing any character dinners, kids think that would be too childish, but if anyone has any suggestions of places to eat they would love, please let me know. We are up for any suggestions.

 

[Disney Newby]

Hi

Welcome to the board I am organising my first trip with my family we are going in August 2010 one month after you.

The tips on this board are fanastic

Thanks and good luck for your planning. We are actually going the last week of July and returning home on August 1st. Has everyone been telling you it is going to be too hot then? We keep hearing "Oh you won't get to do anything because it is going to be miserable." We don't really have a choice, with the kids in school and then they want to do summer school, they get paid $100 for not missing any days of summer school. That's their spending money for the trip.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Grab a comprehensive guide book - the parks are SO much different now. (Before our trip in Apr '09, my last trip was '99 - I had to relearn the place!)

You've already got a base knowledge of the parks, but since the kids are older now, your touring plans (and expectations) are completely different.

Get a folder and keep print outs of things you've learned or consider doing on your trip. I kept all of my tips in a single word file, printed it out, and kept it in my Passporter for our trip. Next fall, the stakes are bigger as I'm meeting up with a friend PLUS my family will be going, we're doing the dining plan, coordinating flights, different hotels, etc... so my lone page is turning into a volume of information that I've collected from here and other places online.

I'm not a stringent planner, like I don't map out every minute of my day, BUT I do like to know as much as I can about wherever we are going in case I need a backup plan OR a change of pace.

I've asked for the Unofficial Guide for Christmas to accompany my Passporter.

Lurking around here is an extremely valuable resource as well. Trip reports and other people's questions/answers has been so informative.

HTH!

 

[Disney Newby]

Ordered a guide today. I got a countdown so it's official now! Can't wait.

 

[Disn3y]

Welcome to the DIS! Enjoy your upcoming trip!