New to site - recently booked WDW holiday

[raterfly]

Hi,

I am new to this site and have already found a wealth of information on here. Hi everyone!!

So, we booked last month to go to WDW August 12th 2007 (for 14 nights). Staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge with a Savanna room. Booked with Thomas Cook Signatures and got free DDP. Have also booked 14 day ultmate disney pass and 5 park universal flexiticket. I am going with my son (who will be 8) my sister and my mum. I am the only one who likes the big rides unless my son gets brave before next year. However, saying that he has watched the free holiday planning DVD we sent for and definately wants to go on the MGM tower of terror ride! Hooray says me. Now to get him onto all the roller coasters.. hee hee ( he is a very tall 7 so is tall enough jsut not brave enough).

Anyway, I am rambling. Any advice on my trip would be much appreciated. eg things to aviod, not to miss, recommendations etc. I have been to WDW before but it wasabout 14 years ago!

Claire

 

[Madjock]

Hi Claire and welcome

You will find a whole wealth of advice, hints and tips on this board. Two pieces of advice from me would be to make good use of fastpass, especially if you're doing the big rides on your own and think about booking at least one character meal, Chef Mickey's is great fun as is Crystal Palace.

Enjoy the planning now you've found the DIS but be careful, it can take over your life

 

[gbrchill]

Enjoy the planning now you've found the DIS but be careful, it can take over your life

Can? I'd say does!

Chris

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Welcome to the Dis, its a great place.

Can't offer much advice, haven't been ourselves yet!!! Only to say do your homework on here especially about the dining plan and making ADR's and booking the other things early, then you can sit back and plan the other things at a more leisurely pace.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Claire,

The best advice for anyone going in August is not to try and do too much around the parks.
The weather will be very so getting to the parks early, having a break for lunch and returning in the evening is a popular way of doing things.

Plan a few rest days in-between and you will find it much more enjoyable, character meals are a good option especially for your son.

As you have Universal and Sea World tickets too you will realise it's not just about WDW - there are lots of other things out there too!

 

[raterfly]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I think I need to get to grips with all the abbreviations on here. I guess ADR are advance dining reservations?? is there a thread with the maening of the frequently used abbreviations or shall I just work it out as I go?

I think I would like to plan an iternary before we go as there is so much to fit in. How do people go about doing this? is there a site which can help you?

Claire

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Here is a list:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

ADR does stand for Advanced Dining Reservation, strangely not on the list though.

Everybody is different about planning, and having an itinerary is not a bad thing , personally we tend to just plan the first couple of days and then just see how we feel each day.

 

[natalielongstaff]

welcome to the disboards, good luck with your planning

 

[Funniebunny]

Hi and welcome to he boards.

I planned a trip for a couple taking their grandchildren but they were only going for a week. I think the idea of rest days is great as it can be a hectic holiday.
I would suggest a Disney Park one day and then maybe Seaworld the next and then Universal. At Seaworld there are lots of shows so it is a slightly more relaxing park as you can sit down. I would then have a day of rest, maybe a little shopping before hitting the parks again.
August will definately be hot so don't forget the sunscreen and hats and drink plenty of water.
Character dining is great fun and are the character meet and greets.
You will have a lovely time and I hope you enjoy the planning too.

 

[Goofyish]

Welcome to the UK DIS Claire

 

[CustardTart]

Hi Claire and welcome! My advice would be to get a couple of books - I use The Unofficial Guide to WDW by Bob Sehlinger (the 2007 edition is out now) and The Brit's Guide to Orlando and WDW by Simon Veness - the 2007 edition should be out soon.

IMO character meals are a must - we personally love Ohana's breakfast at the Polynesian resort. If your son's not mad keen on the idea of rollercoasters, Magic Kingdom is a great place to wean him onto them as the themed rides there are more fun than scary. If he loves the idea of ToT tho' he's moving in the right direction! If you plan to go on the more extreme rides alone, watch out for the single rider line as that'll get you on quicker.

We usually go for those weeks in August and I have to say watch out for the sudden downpours. It can be quite stormy at that time of year but get yourself a few rain ponchos and you'll be fine! Enjoy!

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Claire and welcome to DIS

You'll also find a wealth of info at wdwinfo. Just click home at the top of the page

 

[Minniespal]

Welcome to the Dis

 

[carolfoy]

Hello and welcome to the Dis
I'll second Johnnys advice on not trying to go flat out in all that heat - will make for a miserable time and a lot of meltdowns.
Also will second charcter meals although my Donalds breakfastosaurus one was rubbish, Chef Mickeys last year was fab.
will add:, if you're staying at the Animal kingdom lodge (how fantastic!) make sure you check out all the fun things to do around the resort, they have many extras including naturalist talks and walks on the animals and lectures on native African food/art etc, being Disney these will be FUn not boring lectures.
Also make the most of the extra magic hours (EMH) as these will get you into parks early and to stay late, ideal ride times during the heat.

If your son can do tower of terror (Tot)he won't have a problem with Expedition Everest (Ee) and its only just 'next door'. Make sure he realises the 'pre-show' films always make the ride out to be a lot more dangerous/daring than it is in reality (we were almost put off Test Track by the pre show but its actually pretty mild)

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hello and welcome to the Dis
I'll second Johnnys advice on not trying to go flat out in all that heat - will make for a miserable time and a lot of meltdowns.
Also will second charcter meals although my Donalds breakfastosaurus one was rubbish, Chef Mickeys last year was fab.
will add:, if you're staying at the Animal kingdom lodge (how fantastic!) make sure you check out all the fun things to do around the resort, they have many extras including naturalist talks and walks on the animals and lectures on native African food/art etc, being Disney these will be FUn not boring lectures.
Also make the most of the extra magic hours (EMH) as these will get you into parks early and to stay late, ideal ride times during the heat.

If your son can do tower of terror (Tot)he won't have a problem with Expedition Everest (Ee) and its only just 'next door'. Make sure he realises the 'pre-show' films always make the ride out to be a lot more dangerous/daring than it is in reality (we were almost put off Test Track by the pre show but its actually pretty mild)

Great advice as always

 

[carolfoy]

Great advice as always

You ole sweet talker you!

 

[ely3857]

Welcome to the DIS

I go down the daily itinery route, some do some don't - Depends on how much of an advance planner you are. I do amend my plans once there as theory doesnt always work out!

Am jealous yur staying at AK Lodge!

I went on ToT last week for only the 2nd time, 1st time was 4 year ago and like Carol said, the pre-show had my knee's trembling but it wasnt anywhere as intense as they made out

Have fun planning



Jodie

 

[raterfly]

Thanks for the advice. Carolfoy - I would like my son to try Ee (he has said he will come on ones that dont go upside down so hopefully he will try it). He is really looking forward to Test Track - he is car mad! I think we will be going on that multiple times!

I will make sure we take advantage of all the thing on offer at AKL - when we looked through the brochure it stood out by miles and we just HAD to go there. I know it is a bit out of the way but hey it will be like a safari and WDW holiday rolled into one! bargain in my book.

I only joined this board yesterday and I am addicted already - so much information! Great site!

Claire

 

[edinburghlass]

I used this thread as my bible on our first trip, printed it all out and tried to read about the park we were visiting the night before so some of it sunk in

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=729664

I loved looking for all the daft things like talking "trash cans" and finding the umbrella on the lamp post at MGM was definately a triumph!

 

[diddldonna]

My advice is get a couple of disneyworld info books, i got several ones on amazon, make sure they are 2005 + versions. Also read as many messages on here as possible, check out other sites too which most members normally add on this board.

I have been twice and next trip is 2007 Nov, so any questions your welcome to pm me anytime.

Donna