Newbie planning for Aug 2011

[StaceyDuke]

I just wanted to say hello!

I grew up in Georgia, and Orlando was an easy trip (and not too expensive). I went every few years from the age of 2 till I was 18 - and I haven't been since. I've been dying to take my twin sons for years now, and I think I've finally convinced dh that it's time (our sons will be 7 next month). The prices are so much more than they used to be that it was hard for my husband to stomach! But we will already be in Florida in August (at Santa Rosa Beach), so it's just a few hours away.

Current plan is two days Magic Kingdom, one day Animal Kingdom, one day Universal Studios (my kids are crazy about Harry Potter). I plan to stay off-site, as my family always did when I was growing up. My kids don't know yet - I'm hoping to surprise them for their birthday.

Anyway, I'm very excited about going, and happy to find these boards, and wanted to say hello!

 

[Metro West]

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thank you so much!

(ps - I'm a proud redhead too! )

 

[Aliceacc]

HI and welcome!

One thing that's changed a LOT Over the past few years is dining. Take a look at the character meals, and think about making reservations (SOON) for one or two-- maybe Chef Mickeys?? We also LOVED lunch at Yak and Yetti in AK-- the air conditioning provided a great relief and the food was delicious!

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thank you so much, Alice! I've been so focused on pricing potential places to stay that I haven't given much thought yet to food. Thank you for the advice to go ahead and be thinking about making reservations!! I never did a character meal when I was a kid, so the whole concept is brand new to me. I will start looking into it and making plans.

Thank you!

 

[Aliceacc]

This should get you started:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/character_dining.cfm

And try for Yak and Yetti. It's not character dining, but one of our favorite meals.

And since there are only 4 of you, look into staying on site-- the Values are pretty cheap. Aside from the other perks, staying onsite gives you acess to EMH-- Extra Magic Hours open only to guests of the onsite resorts. (Yes, I realize that's a bazillion people, but it's still many fewer than those who DON'T have access. )In particular if your family is early risers-- you can get SO MUCh done during that morning EMH.

Let me-- or someone-- know if you need more of an explanation.

 

[StaceyDuke]

Great! Thank you so much, Alice! I've never been to Animal Kingdom (the last time I went to Disney, AK and DHS didn't even exist yet! ) so I am so glad to have tips about it. I looked up the Yak and Yeti and it looks great! We will definitely plan on it.

Thank you!

 

[dawgfan]

Chef Mickeys would be a great charecter meal to consider. Also check in Mousavers.com for menus to let you know what each restaurant offers, especially for kids menus.

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thank you so much for the tip! I will check it out.

What do y'all think of Epcot for 7 year-olds? I had originally thought we wouldn't go, based on my cousin's advice (she takes her sons, ages 13, 10, and 7, to DW every year). I went to Epcot when I was 14 (not long after it first opened) and when I was 17 and I just loved it, but would it be boring for younger kids? I'd love to go again myself, and I like the idea of adding one more day to our trip.

 

[BBG-BLT]

Humm Our twins started to really like it at 7. Innovations is cool and the Kim Possible thing also. They also started to eat adult food at this time so they liked the selections at Epcot.

What are they like? My kids are kind of geeky so they're into the science stuff etc.

If your kids are like that they may like it - if they are thrill seakers I might spend that additional MK day at DHS and not Epcot.

Give us a bit of what they're like...

 

[singastory]

What do y'all think of Epcot for 7 year-olds? I had originally thought we wouldn't go, based on my cousin's advice (she takes her sons, ages 13, 10, and 7, to DW every year). I went to Epcot when I was 14 (not long after it first opened) and when I was 17 and I just loved it, but would it be boring for younger kids? I'd love to go again myself, and I like the idea of adding one more day to our trip.

Epcot has always been my favorite park, even as a kid. Especially in August, with the heat and crowd level, it's nice to walk around and look at each of the different pavilions at a more leisurely pace and not have to deal with the craziness of the other parks. To be honest, I've never done any of the rides in future world because I've always been too interested in the world showcase! That's just my opinion though, I have very little experience with boys as I have two younger sisters...

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thanks, y'all! You are all so helpful!

My boys are both very much into science as well (they both claim to want to be inventor-scientists when they grow up). The more I have read about the Epcot attractions, the more I think they would really like it, or at least a large part of it. I always loved the pavilions, as well, and would really like to revisit them.

So I'm thinking 1 day AK, 1 day Epcot, 2 days MK, and 1 day Universal Islands of Adventure (they are big HP fans ).

Thanks for the input, y'all. I'm excited to add Epcot to the plan!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Thank you so much for the tip! I will check it out.

What do y'all think of Epcot for 7 year-olds? I had originally thought we wouldn't go, based on my cousin's advice (she takes her sons, ages 13, 10, and 7, to DW every year). I went to Epcot when I was 14 (not long after it first opened) and when I was 17 and I just loved it, but would it be boring for younger kids? I'd love to go again myself, and I like the idea of adding one more day to our trip.

Hello! I am joining in. My girls loved (and still do) EPCOT. They really like Sum of All Thrills..something else to look into. Check the height requirements to see if your boys are tall enough to do the inversions.

Debby

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thanks, Debby!

 

[bartleby1]

Welcome and congrats on planning your first family disney trip! Prior to taking my kids for the first time, I was pretty much in the same boat. I had been quite a few times as a kid, but AK and DHS weren't even built yet. When I finally took my own kids, I couldn't believe how LARGE it had gotten, LOL!

Keep in mind, that you can't see and do it all. Our trips are usually 12 nights and we still don't see it all each trip. Just have fun with what you do get to see. Also, it sounds like you are on a budget (who isn't these days!). I don't know how much time you have for your vacation, but disney tickets are very frontloaded as far as price. You pay big for the first 3/4 days but then it only costs around $5 per ticket per day to add on additional days. Of course, you still need to feed your family and will have extra hotel nights, but additional ticket days are cheap. Just something to think about if you feel you may need more time and have it to spend.

My kids love MK, of course, but Epcot runs a close second. Do yourself a favor and pick up a good disney guidebook so you can prioritize what you and your family would like to see. Epcot is huge and can easily be a 2-day park so you really would benefit by going in with some kind of plan of what you want to see and what you want to skip.

Have fun planning!

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thanks, bartleby. I've been using The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2011 to plan our trip and am definitely going to follow their Touring Plans. I know I can't see nearly everything in such a short period of time, so I'm going to go in having made decisions ahead of time about what is most important for us.

I considered additional days since the prices get lower and lower for more days, but we will be out of vacation time by the end of what I've got planned (we're going after a visit to our family and then to the beach) and need to get back to work!

Thanks for your great input. Everyone here is so helpful!

 

[poohbearwithme]

aboard...I like you, just went to WDW last year after not having been in 20 years. Let me say that you are in for a shock of the changes you will see...some you will like and some you will not. But all in all it's still a magical place. This site has lots of great ideas and is filled with helpful folks ready to help you with any and all additional questions you might have. Staying on-site is pretty cool and it keeps you in Disney magic 24/7...but there are some great off-site places too (and off-site is much cheaper) I would also check into Birnbaum's Walt Disney World guide. It will have alot of usefull tips. Planning a WDW vacation is almost as much fun as going on one.

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thanks, Lori! I will check out that book.

I think you are right about the planning - I have been having so much fun! We told our sons tonight about the trip and they are SO excited! It was like Christmas. Now we get to enjoy talking about it for three months!

I have made reservations at Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista with the great AllEars Rate of $69.99/night, and I feel good about that. The pricetag of all of it was really hard for dh to swallow, so I'm working to keep expenses down in every way I can!

 

[Aliceacc]

A few more suggestions:
- hit amazon and purchase this: http://www.amazon.com/Misty-Mate-Pe...9UM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305325807&sr=8-1

It's a Godsend in the August heat!

- Dollar store ponchos!!

 

[StaceyDuke]

Thank you, thank you, Alice!!