Need some help

[suer211]

My husband and I are in our 50s. We have rented a camper, and reserved a site at Fort Wildness. Going April 4-10 2015. I didn't buy park tickets when I booked. I'm thinking we will only visit the Magic Kingdom for 1 day. On the day we do that, can I just buy tickets there? And does that rule out fast passes? My grand kids will be 1 and 4 , and are staying off property. I just mainly want to see them, see Disney. But would do a few rides. I also didn't buy a dining plan. Can we just go and eat some where if we want to and just pay with cash or credit? I've never been to Disney World before. This trip is as much for relaxation, getting out of Michigan into some warmer weather, and seeing the kids see Disney. Last question for now is, being I booked the campground, do I automatically get the magic bands sent to me. Thank you for the help.

 

[bama_ed]

My husband and I are in our 50s. We have rented a camper, and reserved a site at Fort Wildness. Going April 4-10 2015. I didn't buy park tickets when I booked. I'm thinking we will only visit the Magic Kingdom for 1 day. On the day we do that, can I just buy tickets there? And does that rule out fast passes? My grand kids will be 1 and 4 , and are staying off property. I just mainly want to see them, see Disney. But would do a few rides. I also didn't buy a dining plan. Can we just go and eat some where if we want to and just pay with cash or credit? I've never been to Disney World before. This trip is as much for relaxation, getting out of Michigan into some warmer weather, and seeing the kids see Disney. Last question for now is, being I booked the campground, do I automatically get the magic bands sent to me. Thank you for the help.

Hi suer.

You CAN buy tickets day of.

You CAN have Guest Services link your ticket to your Magic Band so that you can use your MB as you would your ticket (in/out, reentry, etc).

You CAN make FastPass reservations that day in the parks (there are kiosks set up around the park) using your MB.

You CAN ... but lots of folks will plan in advance using My Disney Experience.

You should sign in to "My Disney Experience" off the bottom of the main DW website. You go in there and create the members of your party (if this is the first time), make dinner reservations at Table Service restaurants, enter your Fort reservation number, any tickets you buy, everything gets "linked" or entered into MDE.

You can start entering your data at some ridiculous time like 90 or 180 days before arrival. In MDE you can select the color of your MB (gray is the default if you wait too long like maybe 30 days before arrival?). You can also make make FP ride reservations in advance (time/day specific) and are limited to 3 I think per day.

You can certainly walk up to restaurants to eat but spring is a popular time and lots of restaurants fill up with reservations with no room for walkups. That's at Table Service (TS) restaurants. Quick Service aka Counter Service (QS/CS) are more fast food like. I hate pre-planning but there are people who change plans and you might be able to get a TS reservation the night before you want to use it. There are two good CS restaurants at MK in my opinion (Columbia Harbor House near Haunted Mansion and Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland).

Having little kids in your group will be limiting because your schedule that day ends up being driven by how they are doing (tired/hungry/cranky/sleepy/fussy etc).

Magic Bands are the "all" thing now. If you linked your tickets, you hold your MB up to the gate scanner globe. If you made your FP reservations with it, there are gate globe scanners at the entrance to the ride to read your MB. You can even put a credit card in MDE so you don't have to pull it out when you buy a souvenir - just hold your MB up to the globe scanner at the register (this is dangerous).

At the minimum I would buy your tickets at least the day before you go to the MK and get them linked by the Cast Member at Guest Services or where you buy them. Call Disney Dining or use MDE to make/find food reservations if you want a TS meal (at least the night before). Use MDE to make FP once you know the day you will be in MK (there are LOTS) or do it first thing when you get into MK.

Spring is a busy time and you might feel overwhelmed. Just enjoy whatever works out for you.

Bama Ed

 

[4077]

Ya know....it's funny (or maybe not). You answered all of her questions completely and made all the options and possibilities known. I know all of the stuff you mentioned...yet, as I read it, it seems so overwhelming...and that is for someone who has done all that stuff! Oh for a simple system of do it when you get there (aka the good old days). lol.

 

[KristinU]

Ya know....it's funny (or maybe not). You answered all of her questions completely and made all the options and possibilities known. I know all of the stuff you mentioned...yet, as I read it, it seems so overwhelming...and that is for someone who has done all that stuff! Oh for a simple system of do it when you get there (aka the good old days). lol.

So very true!

 

[North of Mouse]

Ya know....it's funny (or maybe not). You answered all of her questions completely and made all the options and possibilities known. I know all of the stuff you mentioned...yet, as I read it, it seems so overwhelming...and that is for someone who has done all that stuff! Oh for a simple system of do it when you get there (aka the good old days). lol.

Wow, did you hit the nail on the head!! Dh & I have made too many trips to count (with, then without, children) and 'thought' we knew 'everything' there was to know about WDW! And, maybe we did -- until -- MB's & FP+

Haven't been since April '13, so 'most' things are new, and we like to relax, not plan, plan, plan!! Have our ressies at FW for early Nov. but are cancelling them indefinitely, and going elsewhere less stressful. Oh, the good 'ole days - what are you thinking Disney?????

Will step down from my soap box now and stop ranting!!!

 

[PEC]

You can go ahead and purchase one day tickets but yes you can buy them at the gate also.
With a 1 and 4 year old you can enjoy MK without FPs. Sure they may not get to do everything but at that age they cannot be pushed too hard anyway. Bottomline at the childrens age you are not going to be able to push too hard at the parks. Go slow and enjoy.
If your plan is a sit down Restaurant I would go ahead and book one on the day you know you are going to MK. Cinderellas Table for any meal and Be Our Guest for Supper are the only two booked at MK this far out. They will definitely take Credit Card or Cash.
You should be able to relax and still enjoy a day at MK without becoming a jedi knight planner.

 

[suer211]

Thanks every one for the help. Will there be any trouble getting dinner at the Fort with out booking in advance? Also if I buy the park ticket in advance, do I have to specify which day I'm going?

 

[Disneypeach]

Suer11
if your family likes fried chicken you can pick that up at Trails End takeout at the Fort...it's called the giddyup and go....GAG for short Get 10 pieces of really good fried chicken with a couple of sides and either biscuits or cornbread. I'm a southerner so I'm very particular about fried chicken and I can truthfully say this is some of the best I've tasted.
ETA: no reservation required for GAG and no date required for ticket.