Questions from a 1st-timer

[Anna06804]

DH, DD (3.5 yr old) and I are headed to WDW for a week in the beginning of November and are staying off-site in Kissimmee. I am very fortunate to have wonderful in-laws who are springing for accommodations for my husband's ENTIRE family. There will be 20 of us going!!

I've picked up the Unofficial Guide to WDW and have read it many times and even highlighted some stuff! But I still have questions. I'm hoping that some of you seasoned travelers could give me some tips.

**When you call to make a reservation for Cinderella's b'fast do you have to pick a time or do they just fit you in where there are spots available? Do I really need to call 90 days in advance?

**Do you recommend a stroller for a 3.5 yr old? Are the rental's ok or should we bring our own?

**Should we rent a car during our stay or rely on public transportation/cabs?

**If DH, DD and I are alone at a park and want to go on a ride that is not appropriate for DD is there some kind of thing where one of us can ride while the other waits & vice versa?

**Is 1 day enough time at AK and Universal? We are allowing 2-3 days for MK.

I'm sure there are a million more questions I can think of but these are sticking in my mind right now. I'm just soooooo excited to go and I want it to go smoothly and not have 20 of us standing around staring at eachother wondering what to do next!

Any advice/tips are appreciated!!

~Anna

 

[R4racing]

Cinderella's breakfast is one of the hardest to get PS's, so, yes, you do need to call on the 90 day mark. Most likely you will need to take whatever is open, the slots fill up quickly.

Yes, to a stroller for the 3yr old. Rental or one from home is a personal choice. If you are going to need it other than in the parks, bring your own.

Staying off-site, I would rent a car. So much nicer than trying to set up cabs or pairing up with the relatives. But, again, personal choice.

For rides the little one cannot go on there is a child swap option. It should be talked about in the guide books. Sometimes Fast Pass or single rider line (on Test Track) are can be just as good of an option as the swap wait.

As far as AK, this too is personal. Depends on how into the animals and the shows you are. One day is usually plenty for our group, but can depend on how long the lines are, etc.

 

[LMC]

One suggestion for your Cinderella PS is to overbook. If you know that you will be in MK several mornings but haven't decided which morning you want to go to the castle, then at THE 90 DAY mark for your 1st day planned at the park, start calling when their phone line opens. From what I understand, the ressies all go exactly on that 90-day mark and anything you get after that is from cancellations. If you end up with 3-days of PS's then you can look at your itenerary and cancel the ones you don't want. At least this way, you have a better chance getting what you want. Oh, get their cancellation policy so you don't end up having to pay for the ones you don't want to use.

 

[lentesta]

Hi Anna,

Thanks for reading the Unofficial Guide. Let me know if you have any questions about the book.

Regarding your questions:

*You can pick a time for PS at CRT. Something around 8 am on any day except Thursday or Sunday would be fantastic.

*I'd say yes to a stroller. If you have a lightweight umbrella-type (ours is a Maclaren Volo), I'd use that before renting. If yours is too unwieldy to bring via plane, renting is fine.

*For 20 people, renting a van might be a good idea. Mousesavers.com usually has good codes for discount rentals.

*Yes. I believe the Guide describes the child swap in detail.

*Yes, one day is enough at the Animal Kingdom. It's also sufficient for Universal. I wouldn't try to combine both of them into a single day, however.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[bigbabyblues]

Another note on the CRT, the phone lines open at 7 am EST, and they are usually gone by 7:15 or so!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

For CRT, you need to call the very second that they begin taking PS times. It may take you a few days to even get through to a CM.

Use a stroller. We prefer our own.

Rent a car.

The baby swap is great. I think it's in the Unofficial Guide somewhere.

One day may be more than enough for AK.

Have a great trip!!!