Newbie has questions...Poll!

[dcsend]

I'm really psyched to go to WDW in April, but I have some questions. I've read that we shouldn't miss the Hoop-De-Doo-ReVue show. Is this show "worth it"?

Poll #2 - A 5 day MYW pass or 5 day Hopper? As our one & only trip to WDW, we're staying for 6.5 days off site. My thought was one park each day with an extra ticket to go to the best liked park (Kids are 12, 9, 7, 5). OR do we go for the 5 day hopper??? It's a $200 difference!

#3 - Is Disney Quest worth the extra $$$? Do you have to pay to play the games once you get in, or does the purchase of your ticket allow you to do most of the stuff DQ offers?

#4. - What do you all carry into the park? I'm don't want to be the "bag lady". Everyone says bring water, snacks, ponchos, etc. I'd think a backpack and soft cooler would be heavy and a pain. A rolling backpack - is that awkward to manuvere? Do you make each of the kids carry their own backpacks??? Or am I over thinking?

THANKS for your responses

 

[bicker]

Rather than posting your message in three separate forums, you can post each question you have in the appropriate forum for that question.

I personally wouldn't waste time or money on HDD on a first visit. There are so many great things to see and do, that I'd leave specials like HDD for future visits, when you're wondering what "new" things you could do.

 

[Ginamarie]

1. We love the HDD dinner show. It's something we try to do about once every other year (we go 1-2 times a year at this point). Is it worth the price of admission, we think so. I would plan an itinerary for your trip and see if you have enough time for it. 5 days isn't a lot of time to see all of WDW.


2. You probably could get away with spending a day in each park, especially since you have 5 days. For our next vacation, I had everyone get the 7 day park hoppers (the $35 fee spread out over that whole time wasn't too bad) and we wanted the flexability to be able to go to one park in the morning and someplace else at night. We're going at a very uncrowded season though, so I'm figuring we can (for instance) go to Animal Kingdom for the day, and then to Epcot for dinner/Illuminations.

3. I haven't personally been to DQ, so I have to abstain.

4. I don't like to carry a lot of things, but normally we'll take a moderately sized bag for about every two people, and I'll carry my purse, stocked with tissues, granola bars, etc. We usually take along our ponchos, especially if the weather looks iffy. I always carry a water bottle or two. Usually you don't need more water bottles, because you can always refill them along the way, and we just share them.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I've read that we shouldn't miss the Hoop-De-Doo-ReVue show. Is this show "worth it"?

I agree with Bicker that for the first trip it is not really worth it. It will take up too much time one day.

Poll #2 - A 5 day MYW pass or 5 day Hopper? As our one & only trip to WDW, we're staying for 6.5 days off site. My thought was one park each day with an extra ticket to go to the best liked park (Kids are 12, 9, 7, 5). OR do we go for the 5 day hopper??? It's a $200 difference!

First I would say call this your first trip; you may decide to come again. I would say spend the money on the hopper. For example, if AK closes at 5:00 (which is very possible) you can still go over to Epcot until 9:00. Also I would suggest buying six day instead of five; The extra day may come in useful. Note buying six day hoppers instead of five day non-hoppers will be much less than buying tickets to HDDR.

#3 - Is Disney Quest worth the extra $$$? Do you have to pay to play the games once you get in, or does the purchase of your ticket allow you to do most of the stuff DQ offers?

Again going to DQ will probably not be worth it from a time standpoint. However, if you do go in your ticket does include all the activities.

#4. - What do you all carry into the park? I'm don't want to be the "bag lady". Everyone says bring water, snacks, ponchos, etc. I'd think a backpack and soft cooler would be heavy and a pain. A rolling backpack - is that awkward to manuvere? Do you make each of the kids carry their own backpacks??? Or am I over thinking?

I personally do not have any problem with the water fountains. You might consider each person having a belt bag to which a water bottle can be attached (and refill at a fountain from time to time). Most rain that time of year is light sprinkles and I wouldn't worry about ponchos. If you are going to carry snacks, have items which are concentrated and not fluffy; they take up muchy less space.

 

[snowy76]

1) HDD must be done once in your lifetime. Not necessarily the first trip though.

2) We always hop it. You never know which park suddenly becomes the one people want to go back to, and which becomes the "I'm sick of this" park.

3) DQ is NOT worth it. This year was out third year in a row at WDW and the first time at DQ. We won't do it again. A waste of time unless you have been to WDW many, many times and would like something different to do.

4) Being your first trip, you will want to enjoy the goodies WDW has to offer. Don't worry about snacks as your kids will probably seek out the snacks they REALLY want anyway. We carry ponchos (the really cheap $1 ones from Walmart or Target. DH and DS put them in the outside pockets of their pants or shorts. We bring empty water bottles with filters, which we fill at fountains, and belt clips so we don't have to hold them... one fanny pack for camera, film, cell phone. DH and I bring minimal personal items on vacation (one cc each, cash, photo ID, insurance card, park tix and room keys) and split these between his wallet and the fanny pack in case one is lost or stolen.