Three things you learned on your last trip!

[BarleyJack]

1) never never NEVER underestimate the amt of walking you're told you will do....my tired dogs and 6 blisters can attest to this, even using dry socks and crocs (yes crocs with socks, go ahead and laugh; its a vacation not a fashion show ) Bring moleskin and take breaks!

2) You could spend a week at just Epcot alone. WS is amazing, just take your time! (thank goodness for park hoppers, we returned here over and over again).

3) Stich's Great Escape is NOT that horrible, even tho it may not be terribly popular. Let yourself get lost in the moment! Even if you're not a Stich fan surely you can admire the technology involved with this attraction! The animatronics are amazing!

 

[sassyat30]

That going alone with your spouse is *much* better than going with your kids.

That riding BTMRR during Wishes is the coolest thing ever.

Space Mountain is not a ride I enjoy. LOL

 

[RumblyInMyTumbly]

I have a bunch of different images in my head. Are you jumping up in the air like the High School Musical poster, or are you jumping off of something, or are you jumping on each other? Could you share a picture so I (we) understand better?

Usually, we'd just jump straight up in the air. DBF was a little more creative in his jumps. Mine just usually ended up looking like jumping jacks. Maybe this year, I'll try a High School Musical jump for a little variety... For his Japan pic, DBF jumped off a bench.. For some reason, I was too wussy to do it- I was afraid I'd forget how to land and bust my butt or something. The first jumps we did were at MGM in fake NYC (since we live in REAL NYC). In this first pic, I'm holding my Magical Moment Certificate!
* oh, and note the fanny packs-the perfect accessories for these action shots.

 

[FFerret]

Usually, we'd just jump straight up in the air. DBF was a little more creative in his jumps. Mine just usually ended up looking like jumping jacks. Maybe this year, I'll try a High School Musical jump for a little variety... For his Japan pic, DBF jumped off a bench.. For some reason, I was too wussy to do it- I was afraid I'd forget how to land and bust my butt or something. The first jumps we did were at MGM in fake NYC (since we live in REAL NYC). In this first pic, I'm holding my Magical Moment Certificate!
* oh, and note the fanny packs-the perfect accessories for these action shots.

Thanks so much for posting these! Now if I can only talk my fam into some jumping...

 

[wardfamily1]

Usually, we'd just jump straight up in the air. DBF was a little more creative in his jumps. Mine just usually ended up looking like jumping jacks. Maybe this year, I'll try a High School Musical jump for a little variety... For his Japan pic, DBF jumped off a bench.. For some reason, I was too wussy to do it- I was afraid I'd forget how to land and bust my butt or something. The first jumps we did were at MGM in fake NYC (since we live in REAL NYC). In this first pic, I'm holding my Magical Moment Certificate!
* oh, and note the fanny packs-the perfect accessories for these action shots.

Thanks for the visual. That would be fun to do, though if DH took a picture of me doing it, he'd have to turn it into the insurance company with the footnote "This is what she was doing right BEFORE she broke her hip."

 

[njbeachwx]

need to subscribe!!!

 

[TexasTodds]

ok...just got back...here are my thoughts!

1) Some people, no matter how many times a CM says it, think that "move to the end of the row" does not apply to them! This couple actually argues with me at Soarin' when they decided to plop down and buckled in the middle of the row, and there were not enough seats left for our party of 4. Finally a cast member told them they had to move down or leave.

2) Character meals are not relaxing! Sometimes I left them even wondering if I ate, between all of the jumping up and down for pictures. The characters were spaced so that you could maybe get in two bites before another one showed up. The best one was at Garden Grill. The kids sat on the outside of the booth, so we were able to stay seated and take the pictures from there.

3) The bus transportation to/from POR was no where near as bad as I imagined or had heard.

4) If you are doing the penny presses, don't plan to come back to them...just do it when you see it. There is never a better time!

I'm sure I have lots more!

 

[BamaTigger]

1) never never NEVER underestimate the amt of walking you're told you will do....my tired dogs and 6 blisters can attest to this, even using dry socks and crocs (yes crocs with socks, go ahead and laugh; its a vacation not a fashion show )

I SECOND THAT! I am a CROC wearing gal myself with bad feet and those "ugly" shoes sure make my achey park feet HAPPY!!!

THUMBS UP TO CROC LOVERS EVERYWHERE!!

 

[chip&dale]

1.The Earl of Samwich is one of the best CS meals- why did it takes us 3 trips to go there!


2.MNSSHP was a waste of money


3.My dh, dd and ds love the waterparks ,and I get the REST !

 

[annie1995]

Do stuff for our youngest one first, then hit the rides he can't do in the later part of the day when he's asleep in his stroller.

Having sick kids stinks in Disney

Can't miss the Mushroom Filet at LeCellier

 

[Kazzy1548]

1) I never want to go in August again... To Hot

2) The dining plan wasn't all that much as we expected

3) Thank God for mid-day breaks, They saved us this past summer.

 

[C U AT DISNEY]

The average person on a 5 day drip to disney walks 250,000 steps. In that 5 day time frame that person walks an average of 30 miles at Disney..


James

 

[HOGFAN]

much more fun without kids

bring clothes for ALL weather.

hit Pooh and Peter Pan right before Wishes starts, no lines.

 

[wahoostampingirl]

We just got back from our 3rd trip in 13 months and as usual, we learned new things...

1) Be prepared, but stay flexible. Both our kids got a stomach virus at different times during our stay, my dad fell at the TTC parking lot and had to go by ambulance to the Celebration Hospital, I got a horrible eye infection that required two trips to the Urgent Care and finally, my dh got the same virus that the kids had gotten. Despite this, we managed to see most of our favorites and discovered some new stuff. Oh and everyone is recovered now.

2) Hanging out with a sick kid is much more comfortable in an offsite condo than a cramped hotel room. 4 TVS and DVD players, a full size washer/dryer and full kitchen really came in handy. Although, I would probably stay onsite for a short trip (and have in the past), for our family, offsite is the way to go for a trip that lasts longer than 4 days.

3) When the DIS and UOG and TGM tell you to get to Fantasmic early, believe them. I thought that in late Jan. we would be fine getting to the theater about 30 minutes early. We ended up in the Standing Room Only section. My Dad and my DH had to hold our 6 year olds on their shoulders the entire time. My ds weighs 65 lbs. and is tall, so this was no small feat for my dh. Next time, we'll go early and eat dinner while we're waiting there. Still it was a good show and I'm glad we went.

Bonus #4) Don't worry about going at a "low crowd" time. MLK weekend felt more crowded to me than late June and it didn't really feel less crowded until near the end of the week. Plan for crowds and if you don't have any, then count yourself lucky.

 

[Marshay]

1) Once you stay in a 1 BR Disney Vacation Home, you'll never be satisfied in just a regular room again with kids -- separate BRs, full kitchen, dining table, sofa/chairs, W/D and tons of storage space!

2) A small spray bottle is a fun way to get your 2 yo to drink water throughout the day -- and can keep you cool, too!

3) Prepare for the photos -- wear complimentary colors, no 'slogan' t-shirts unless Disney(!) and for women, wear some makeup so you don't look washed out in the bright sun. (I am NOT a make-up person but was amazed at how much better my photos turned out with just a bit of eye shadow and lipstick.)

Besides, the matching/complementary colors will make it easier to find each other in the parks!

 

[disney cowboy]

I learned to not eat at coral reef good view bad food.

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

1) Not to travel with my mother
2) Not to travel with my mother
3) Not to travel with my mother

Lather, Rinse, Repeat, lol, yes it was that bad, I couldn't totally feel the magic, as she was complaining all the time, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

Jules

 

[SaysNuts]

1.The Earl of Samwich is one of the best CS meals- why did it takes us 3 trips to go there!


2.MNSSHP was a waste of money


3.My dh, dd and ds love the waterparks ,and I get the REST !

Pardon my ignorance and laziness...but what is MNSSHP?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I didn't learn anything new on my last few trips. But some of the best things I learned were...

They play Polynesian music UNDER THE WATER at the big pool at the Poly.

Club Level service (formerly known as "concierge") is so not worth the money.

If you aren't picky about where and when you eat, you don't have to go nuts making ADRs.

The worst thing I learned was that even if you have a pneumonia, the AKL will still charge you over $300 to stay in the room for an extra four hours after check-out time. And some guy will walk right on into the room and tell you that you don't belong there, even so.

Pardon my ignorance and laziness...but what is MNSSHP?

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

For future reference, MVMCP is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

 

[ARC]

Great thread!

#1-It was a great idea to take my DD right before she turned three so she was FREE!
#2-Planning for this magical trip is so much fun!
#3-Use the photo pass since it alows more time to take extra pics with your own camera