New Mouse, Lost and Confused!

[kimber6337]

Google is a wonderful thing...because I found this board!

I *thought* i knew what I was doing by planning my families 1st Disney Trip after Gay week in June - but Oh BOY was I wrong.

Maybe someone will be my Fairy Disney Planner and help me, the ball is approaching and I don't have anything planned, scheduled or paid yet.

• We are in Houston, driving to FL.
• Want to be in Park June 3-11.
• DH and I, taking my 8yo DD and one of her friends (leaving my then to be 21mo at home).
• Planning on staying at the Swan or Dolphin using govt discount. (Most likely Swan, but I want the Dolphin - or I think I do LOL)

From there I'm lost. I've spent HOURS reading this board.

• My first questions are? Pre-paid? I have to pre-pay? So am I getting this right that the hotel and park tickets have to be pre-paid 72 hours before we go?
  
• We are quasi going with a friend and her family that has been 3 or 4 times. They sorta plan where they want to go, but all that I read about making reservations for dinner a year in advance and reservations for this and that - she's not mentioned any of that.
  
• With my friend we will have a party of 10, she mentioned the other day that there are things you can do in a party of 8 or more that you can't normally do - what would those things be?

Oh I'm so lost. I feel like I'm taking a one time trip to the other side of the world and if I don't get it right the first time I'll never get to go back and worst of all I won't get the glass slipper for my DD and her friend.

Help!
Cinderella in Training
(kimber)

 

[Indianadisneyfan]

If you book through Disney web site it has to be paid 45 days before you go. As far as planning my day at the parks I don't. I just show up early and go to the rides that will be the busiest ( E.E. T.T. Soarin) . I ride it if the line isn't very long, and if it is then I just use Fass Pass. From then on I just walk around and ride the rides and have FUN. I know alot of people on here plan out their whole day at the parks. So go and have fun and let us know about the whole trip when you get back.

 

[kimber6337]

Thanks for the response!

Another thing I remembered after I posted was whats this with the lime green hats and bags?

Does anyone use the Disney vacation club? (I think that's its name) I'm thinking its like a Disney Timeshare?

DH and I were talking this morning and are thinking about looking into Disney Weddings while we are there and getting remarried there for our 15th anniversary.

Kimber
Houston

 

[r3ngels]

Okay, I will try to be of some help... we went the same week a year and half ago.


I don't plan my day by each ride but I do know what days we are going to which park before we leave for our trip... I have it on the computer with some highlighted things we want to do such as parades, attractions, rides. You may want to go over this with DD and her friend what do they want to do at each park... the WDW website is good for that because they will show you each ride and attraction. That way I know when I am at MK I now what we want to see and do and we don't waste time.

I would have some meal priority seating done ahead of time so you don't have to do counter service for every meal. You can always cancel but at least you have them to get out of the crowds and heat.

You don't need to buy park passes ahead of time but you do save money and time when you get to the parks.

I have never stayed a Swan or Dolphin so I can't help with that but we have stayed at Boardwalk next to it... definately take some time to spend on the boardwalk.

If you register as a magical gathering party you can do some things with the group but I have never done that, even when we travel with a big group it was never something we wanted to do.

Good Luck and let us know if you need any more help.

 

[S.Poppins]

I hope you have a great time planning - it is half the fun! Spend a couple of weeks here and you will be a pro. I believe if you stay at the Swan or Dolphin you cannot do the Dining Plan. So I assume you will be paying out-of-pocket for your meals. When I planned our 2 trips, the first thing I did was figure out where we wanted to eat. I did this by looking at which parks we would be in on which day (based on evening EMH). Although for this trip, we are eating at some resorts - so I really focused more on where I wanted to eat and planned around it. You are going during a fairly busy time of year, so you will want to make reservations soon - especially with such a large group. I have researched the restaurants thoroughly. These are the ones I picked based on menus and reviews on this board. When I called to make the reservations, the CM said I picked great places. I hope so!

All of my reservations are dinner, with the exception of one lunch and one breakfast:
O'hana - Polynesian
Boma - Animal Kingdom Lodge
Kona Cafe - Polynesian
50's Primetime Cafe - MGM
Liberty Tree Tavern - Magic Kingdom (this is a lunch reservation because I liked the menu better.)
Le Cellier - Epcot, Canada (this is a favorite - hard to get ressie)
Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom (breakfast)

http://www.allears.net Has all the menus.

Last year we ate at Sci Fi in MGM and it was pretty good. It has cool theming that kids like. We also enjoyed Tony's in Magic Kingdom. We ate on the porch and watched Spectromagic. Chef Mickey's is a great character meal. I noticed you are taking girls. So you may want a princess meal. Cinderella' Castle is very expensive and difficult to reserve. But you can try if you really want it - it gets mixed reviews here. There is the Storybook Princess meals in Norway - this gets pretty good reviews, but check the menus for your family. Many people like 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian, suppose to have a good buffet and good character interaction.

Have fun planning!

 

[r3ngels]

Kimber, we posted at the same time...

My Parents have DVC at boardwalk so my family will go with them every other year... Love it... would love to own my own contract someday.

Lime green is just color of this website, so if you have lime green they could be one of us

 

[Tracie]

I have stayed at the Swan And Dolphin both. I liked the Swan much better. It could of been because we got a much better room at the Swan with a much better view. Most all of our trips are in June. If I can be of help just ask.

 

[Indy's Girl]

Have you made a reservation at the Swan or Dolphin yet? If not, this is the first thing you will need to do. If you book a package- which just means room and tickets - you must pay for it completely 45 days before your trip. I believe that if you make a room only reservation the cancellation policy/pre pay policy is more lenient, as in 72 hrs before your vacation you need to prepay. I could be wrong, especially because I ma not sure of any special rules with the Swan or Dolphin.

After getting a room reserved make ADR's- these are dining reservations for the Table Service (TS) sit down restaurants. Decide how many of these you want to eat, where and then call walt disney world dining to make reservations. This will be essential with a party of 10 if you want to eat at a sit down restaurant and not just counter service.

The advantage of purchasing tickets beforehand is that you can get them more cheaply, either through a discount vendor or even an advanced purchase discount from WDW if you purchase directly through them.

Don't panic! If your trip isn't until June you have time to learn more about WDW, ask questions etc. Just make sure to get a room reserved and ADR's asap.

 

[byoung]

Can you stay at Shades of Green, you may be able to get great rates?

 

[vanillarum]

I Agree That These Boards Are A Great Place To Help Plan Your Trip. You May Also Want To Pick Up The 2007 Unofficial Guide To Wdw. It's Also A Great Help. Good Luck !

 

[Scraper]

Groups of 8 or more can to magical gatherings. They cost about 35 for person include a meal and either special safari trip or special firework seating. However being you are gouing for the first time there will be plenty to do without the magical gatherings. Ask the CM the best place to view the fireworks. Get to the parks early. Use your fast pass. We always take a break in the middle of the day. We alway park hop. One park in the morning anouther at night. I think the best place to view wishes is in front of the castle on main street. If there are two parades the seacond is less crowded. Don't miss fantasmic at MGM. Illuminations at Epcot, and wishes at the Magic Kingdom. If there are two fantasmics the seacond is less crowded. You can walk to epcot from the Swan and Dolphin.Have a Great time and enjoy thr magic.

 

[WDWRULZ]

For sure check out www.allearsnet.com for pictures, etc. I use disboard and allearsnet exclusively and my family travels to Disney 2-3 weeks per year.

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Definitely make some reservations. It will make things a lot easier.

If you do end up staying at the Swan/Dolphin, make sure to get the refillable mugs from Picabu in the Dolphin. You can only use them there, but Picabu is the only place we know of in WDW that refills those mugs with Starbucks coffee! And it's open 24 hours a day. Most everywhere else in WDW serves NesCafe.