Lots of questions regarding upcoming trip..

[jodim]

I have tons of questions, so I figured I would just ask them all in one post. Thanks so much if you take the time to read and respond!

Do I need tickets for Fantasmic?
I know they have dinner tickets, but do we need tickets if we just want to go to the show?

What is MSNSHP?

Are there lockers through the parks?

Which camera should I take?
I have a Nikon D90, and dd has a Canon SD1200.

Which should I bring with to the parks?

I am tempted to bring both, but not sure how I would lug the D90 around all day, since I want to go on rides.

How should I do spending money for the kids?
Cash or Gift Card

This is the kids 1st trip, should I be doing anything now to get them ready for the trip?
(Kids are ages 17, 14, 12, 7 & 5)

What about me, are there any site, books, etc. that I should be using to get ready for our upcoming trip?
What is the TourGuide Mike site? Is it just for planning the route you want to take once inside?

What do you pack when staying offsite?
(Besides clothing)

Have you used the KidsClubs at WDW? Which did you use, and did you like it?

Dh and I are wanting to go to 1 nice meal by ourselves at WDW... what do you recommend?

Do you think that it would be ok to let a 14yo & 12yo roam the park we're in eating dinner (they both carry cell phones)? Or leave them alone at the rental home in Windsor Hills Resort? Or not safe?
We have left them home alone here, but we live near 3 firemen, the police commissioner and a nurse (within a 2block radius)

Again, thanks so much for your time. I am so overwhelmed by all the decisions we need to make, and dh is absolutely no help. We would just be staying home if it was up to him. LOL

 

[verlee]

This does not answer your question......but do you like your sd1200? I am thinking of getting one and am wondering about the quality of the pictures.

 

[jodim]

It's actually my daughters, but it takes pretty good pictures.
She loves using my camera so when we got her one for Christmas, we really looked at the options. She is horrible about loosing things, so we didn't want to spend a fortune on it, but it was a must to have good pictures.

She has taken probably 200 "keepers" so far and they are all good quality. My SIL liked dd's so much she had me order her one.

We got DD's on sale at Staples for 149.00, I bought a coupon on Ebay for 30 off 150.00 (cost me right at 3) so we ended up getting it for about $130 out the door. Great price.

I actually have a 25 coupon for Staples if you want it, I would be more than happy to email it to you. (Just PM with your email info)

 

[clanmcculloch]

As the family pack mule, I was more than happy with my SD1200 at WDW. I ended up downloading 1300 pictures from my camera. LOL I even got some really nice night shots with it which surprised me since we had just gotten it a couple weeks before heading down, our previous camera didn't do night shots and the review I had read weren't the greatest for night. The night shots definitely weren't professional quality but I was shocked that it could do such clear night shots without the flash (with the flash only did well for close shots). I am so glad I ended up choosing this camera.

We also took advantage of the photopass photographers for the nice family pictures. We ended up with 110 pictures on our card when we got home.

If you have a day that's more of a soaking up the atmosphere day then I can see it being worth lugging around a bigger camera for some spectacular shots, but for a day where you want to do rides, I can't see why the bigger camera would be necessary.

 

[elle bell]

I would think it would be fine to let your twelve and fourteen year olds to wander around parks by themselves while you and your DH have a nice dinner together.

I grew up near Disneyland and when I was 12 and 13 (while in Jr High) our school took a trip to DL every year. We would arrive around 5pm and run around DL with my friends until the wee hours of the night. I would think it would be safer and less chance of them getting into mischief while at the parks than staying at the rental house. They will have plenty to keep them busy at the parks!

 

[tricia]

I have tons of questions, so I figured I would just ask them all in one post. Thanks so much if you take the time to read and respond!

Do I need tickets for Fantasmic?
I know they have dinner tickets, but do we need tickets if we just want to go to the show?


NO

What is MSNSHP?


Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween party.

Are there lockers through the parks?

As far as I know, the lockers are just by the entrance in each park.

Which camera should I take?
I have a Nikon D90, and dd has a Canon SD1200.

Which should I bring with to the parks?

I am tempted to bring both, but not sure how I would lug the D90 around all day, since I want to go on rides.

I would bring both to Florida, and then decide on a day to day basis. AK might warrant the D90, for the animals, but on days when you don't feel like carrying a lot, just put the PnS in a cargo pocket and go.

How should I do spending money for the kids?
Cash or Gift Card



This is the kids 1st trip, should I be doing anything now to get them ready for the trip?
(Kids are ages 17, 14, 12, 7 & 5)

Youtube has videos of all the rides, if you think the young ones need to be prepped for anything. There is also a book called Disney for Kids, by Kids, or something like that.

What about me, are there any site, books, etc. that I should be using to get ready for our upcoming trip?

This site has most of what you will need. Also allears.net for menus etc.

What is the TourGuide Mike site? Is it just for planning the route you want to take once inside?

What do you pack when staying offsite?
(Besides clothing)

Have you used the KidsClubs at WDW? Which did you use, and did you like it?


Haven't used them.

Dh and I are wanting to go to 1 nice meal by ourselves at WDW... what do you recommend?

Artist Point, Jiko

Do you think that it would be ok to let a 14yo & 12yo roam the park we're in eating dinner (they both carry cell phones)? Or leave them alone at the rental home in Windsor Hills Resort? Or not safe?
We have left them home alone here, but we live near 3 firemen, the police commissioner and a nurse (within a 2block radius)

Only if I was in the same park.

Again, thanks so much for your time. I am so overwhelmed by all the decisions we need to make, and dh is absolutely no help. We would just be staying home if it was up to him. LOL

 

[disneymotherof3]

I have tons of questions, so I figured I would just ask them all in one post. Thanks so much if you take the time to read and respond!

Do I need tickets for Fantasmic?
I know they have dinner tickets, but do we need tickets if we just want to go to the show?

No you don't. But get there early to get a good seat.

What is MSNSHP?

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. It's lots of fun!


Are there lockers through the parks?

As far as I know, the lockers are located in the front of the parks.

Which camera should I take?
I have a Nikon D90, and dd has a Canon SD1200.

Which should I bring with to the parks?

I am tempted to bring both, but not sure how I would lug the D90 around all day, since I want to go on rides.

I don't know what to tell you about that.

How should I do spending money for the kids?
Cash or Gift Card

Personally, I would go the gift card route.


This is the kids 1st trip, should I be doing anything now to get them ready for the trip?
(Kids are ages 17, 14, 12, 7 & 5)

That's completely up to you as the parent. Maybe you could order the planning DVD and watch that. Or go online to the Disney website and look over the maps and have the kids pick out the rides or attractions they might want to do.

What about me, are there any site, books, etc. that I should be using to get ready for our upcoming trip?
What is the TourGuide Mike site? Is it just for planning the route you want to take once inside?


DISBoards is a great place to get TONS of info!!

What do you pack when staying offsite?
(Besides clothing)

Never stayed offsite.

Have you used the KidsClubs at WDW? Which did you use, and did you like it?
[/B]
Never used it.

Dh and I are wanting to go to 1 nice meal by ourselves at WDW... what do you recommend?

Are you on the Dining Plan? If not, then it really depends on what you want to spend? Do you want it to be in one of the parks or at a resort?

Do you think that it would be ok to let a 14yo & 12yo roam the park we're in eating dinner (they both carry cell phones)? Or leave them alone at the rental home in Windsor Hills Resort? Or not safe?
We have left them home alone here, but we live near 3 firemen, the police commissioner and a nurse (within a 2block radius)

I think it would be OK to let them "roam the park" as long as they keep in touch with you.

Again, thanks so much for your time. I am so overwhelmed by all the decisions we need to make, and dh is absolutely no help. We would just be staying home if it was up to him. LOL

Responses are in Blue.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know your dates, but spring break can be pretty crowded. If you want to eat at table services restaurants, make your ADR's now - many book 180 days out. I loved my Unofficial Guide - helped me SO much! I would have no problem letting a 12 and 14 year old wander without me. I never used the kids clubs, but people seem to like them. I thought they were only for on-site guests, however, I could be wrong. During busy times, I believe people start to line up for Fantasmic about an hour in advance.

My biggest advice is to get to the parks at rope drop, utilize fast passes to the best of your ability (and they don't expire until the next day - feel free to ignore the time it states they have to be used by), have somewhat of a plan before getting to the parks (be aware of the popular attractions, and ask your kids what rides are must-do's), and even feel free to split up if your kids have different interests (we had my parents with us, so we'd take the big kids on Everist, while the little ones went to the Dinosaur Dig, for example). Take breaks!

 

[jodim]

I don't know your dates, but spring break can be pretty crowded.

We are going April 30-May 8

 

[jodim]

Are you on the Dining Plan? If not, then it really depends on what you want to spend? Do you want it to be in one of the parks or at a resort?

No, we're not on the Dining Plan.

I would prefer it to be in one of the parks, that way the older 2 (or 3 if he decides to) can hang at the park if the choose to.

 

[verlee]

It's actually my daughters, but it takes pretty good pictures.
She loves using my camera so when we got her one for Christmas, we really looked at the options. She is horrible about loosing things, so we didn't want to spend a fortune on it, but it was a must to have good pictures.

She has taken probably 200 "keepers" so far and they are all good quality. My SIL liked dd's so much she had me order her one.

We got DD's on sale at Staples for 149.00, I bought a coupon on Ebay for 30 off 150.00 (cost me right at 3) so we ended up getting it for about $130 out the door. Great price.

I actually have a 25 coupon for Staples if you want it, I would be more than happy to email it to you. (Just PM with your email info)

Thanks for the info and that is so nice of you to offer your coupon!! I have been looking around and I can get it at a pretty good price at Target right now.

One thing you might want to do with your kids is to have them look through a book or the wesite allears. Have them pick one or two things they really want to do. Be careful not to promise to much. Time really flies when you are in the parks. You will not be able to do everything. There is just too much. Have you ordered your free disney dvd and personalized maps? You can order them on the WDW website. They are fun and really get you in the mood.

We also did a count down paper chain with our kids and they loved it. We made it together and then everyday they took a link off the chain. It was very exciting when they took off the last link!!

Have fun!!!

 

[buzznina]

In case you did not know, you do need to but tickets to MNSSHP. The cost last year was $52 or $59 per adult and $46 or $53 per Child. It is fun but also a big cost.

 

[tzolkin]

One thing you might want to do with your kids is to have them look through a book or the wesite allears. Have them pick one or two things they really want to do. Be careful not to promise to much. Time really flies when you are in the parks. You will not be able to do everything. There is just too much. Have you ordered your free disney dvd and personalized maps? You can order them on the WDW website. They are fun and really get you in the mood.

I was also going to suggest this. We have watched those planning DVDs more times than I can count. Before our first trip, I let each kid pick two "must see" attractions in each park (and these were the ones I marked as favorites on the free customized maps). We looked over the maps before heading out to the parks or the night before. This is really helpful especially with kids of various ages because it will be "fair" and no one can say you're only doing the attractions "Susie" wants.


My number one tip would be to get to a park at rope drop. It may be hard to get everyone up, dressed, and fed, but it's worth it. (We always bathe/shower and set out our clothes/bags at night, so we can get ready quickly in the morning and just take something to eat with us.) We are able to do most of the attractions we really want to see before the crowds/lines really start to build up (around 11:00). Then we are able to go at a more relaxing pace for the afternoon and just do the less popular attractions (and use FPs).

We've never used the lockers. I carry a small bag for the camera and tickets and DH carries his wallet on all the rides. We leave a backpack with our "non-valuables" in the strollers. It seems like a hassle to walk to the lockers to get something you may need when you're on the other side of the park.