One month, 1 days to go, Been Helped =] Ty! <3

[IadoreWDW]

Okay, Okay yes I am well aware I am going to the Happiest place on Earth, but I am T E R R I F I E D.

I was being brave but now I can't even get excited.

You see I have been to Disney 4 times
(1997 onsite, 1999 onsite, 2005 offsite, 2008 offsite) and this year will be my 5th time, I am an expert on the parks.

So what's the problem you ask?
Well this year it was my genius idea that for me and DBFs first holiday we should go to FLORIDAAA Yah! My sister and our BFF Ri are coming too, fantastico. First time to Florida with no mum and dad, no car. I guess that means I'm the reasponsible adult...

Here's the part that freaking me out, we are staying offsite, at a hotel we stayed at last time and loved, free shuttles to the Disney parks which is all good. Now I am thinking we should have stayed onsite at perhaps POP or ASMo. We could def afford it but another friend who was supposed to come refused to stay onsite, she has however now dropped out. I feel our holiday could have been so much better if we got to stay onsite
Don't get me wrong I love the hotel we are going to but I feel let down that we could have been onsite. Too late to change it now.

Another problem is the airport (sorry getting it off my chest) seeing as this is our first BIG holiday with out my parents I am a teensy bit nervous, what happens if we mess up and miss our flight? We also have to stop at Newark and get another plane, I have never ever had to do this before.
We also have to pick our tickets up at Will-Call? Never had to do that before either...

So disers, they whole point to this rant, I suppose, is that I need a little reassurance, I can't let my fellow travellers know who I feel as I'm supposed to be the one in charge, the one who is calm and collected. Ha!

Thanks in advance

Sarah

 

[leebee]

Hello, Sarah (with an "H", just like my DD)!!

You can do this!! I remember how scary it was two years ago, when a friend and I chaperoned my DD's dance company to France! We'd never flown internationally, and my last French class was in the VERY early 1970's. I didn't let anyone know, but I was pretty nervous!

IF I remember correctly, you have to check in for international flights AT LEAST two hours in advance and it might be longer. Figure out how far in advance you have to be at the airport, and add your travel time to that. Then add an hour at least, as a fudge-factor, and that's how many hours ahead of your flight you should plan to leave home. Don't forget to add a little time for parking at the airport, or waiting for a bus/train if you are using public transportation to get to the airport. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR PASSPORTS TO THE AIRPORT WITH YOU!! It sounds silly, but if you don't travel internationally regularly, forgetting them is an easy thing to do!

Changing planes in Newark is EASY, although you will probably have to go through customs. This is all very straightforward, and the flight attendant on your plane can explain it to you, as will the ground crew in Newark. I haven't done this in Newark so don't want to steer you wrong... but someone else on these boards will be able to help, rest assured!

Getting tickets at Will Call is easiest of all. You just go to the ticket booth at the first park you are visiting and look for the window that says "Will Call." Stand in line and when it's your turn, voila! IF I remember correctly, when I got MVMCP tickets at will call, I had to show my id and give them the confirmation number. I don't know if you have a confirmation number or not, but it'll go smoothly. Disney does this day in and day out with international guests; even if you don't know what to do, they will!!

Is it really too late to change your hotel? I am guessing maybe you bought a non-refundable package deal. IF not, check into canceling your current hotel and getting an on-site hotel. It sounds to me like you might feel a little more confident if you were staying AT Disney. However, as you are familiar with the hotel you are booked for, you know that you'll enjoy the accommodations and be able to handle the shuttle. If I may ask, you mentioned you won't have a car. How are you getting to the hotel from the airport?

RElax, Sarah! You can do this. Just don't miss your very first flight and it'll all work out fine. It's normal to feel nervous when you are the one in charge. Just make yourself lists of all the important stuff and you'll be fine! Have a wonderful vacation!!

 

[mjp12831]

If you're too scared I'd be happy to go in your place

 

[IadoreWDW]

Leebee a million thank yous!
You are a shining star!
I can't explain how happy you've made me with your reply!
I thought nobody was going to respond.

I visited my travel agents today and sadly she said it is too short notice to change hotels, but I guess we'll be okay! Free breakfast makes up for it

We have transfers arranged to pick us up at Orlando Int and again to take us back.
My dad is usually the driver but unfortunately he can't make it

We are staying at the Fairfield Inn, Marriott Village, Lake Buena Vista, the shuttles are provided to take us to WDW parks but not the water parks so we'll have to figure out how to get there ourselves.

Thank you thank you and thanks again!

Sarah

 

[leebee]

Hi Sarah!

When we are in WDW in August, Mears is shuttling us from our onsite hotel (POP Century) to Universal so we can go see Harry Potter. Perhaps they run shuttles from the offsite hotels to the water parks? I don't know... we usually have always had a car until the last trip (and this one) as we can use Magical Express and the resort busses and not have to rent a car. Maybe you should post on the Transportation Board: How do I get from offsite hotel to Waterparks? I bet someone can tell you!!

 

[IadoreWDW]

Leebee to the rescue again.
We are there in August as well
Good idea about posting on the Transportation board, I will do that in the morning, bit late here.

Mears supply the coaches for the transport to the WDW theme parks. Big yellow coaches

Thank you again

Sarah

 

[taylor91]

Hi Sarah

I know the apprehension you are feeling, I felt exactly the same when I went on my first holiday without the parents (June 29th-July 13th 2010) and stayed offsite with my DBF and I am only 19 (18 when we started the holiday) and he is 21.

We didn't have a car either, relied on the Lynx buses from international drive, so at least you are closer and have the free buses

To answer your water park question we did it a long way round but it worked. We went to Magic Kingdom and got the resort monorail to the Poly and got a bus to either BB or TL depending on where we wanted to go, then did it in reverse going back. The Disney buses were very frequent and found it quite easy. The buses also call into downtown disney on their route but the buses don't run there until later on in the day and we like to be there for opening so did the first route

Hope that helps and I hope you have an amazing time We did that's why we have booked to go back and offsite again too

Taylor

 

[IadoreWDW]

Thank you Taylor your answer was a great help.
we've passed the one month mark so the excitment is starting to build again!
We didn't think about using the Disney transport (Duh!) Thanks for the input

Typhoon Lagoon is my absolute favourite!

Thanks again!

Sarah