Just been given the address of this site. WOW what a brilliant site, can't get over how much there is to read and the feedback is brilliant. There are 7 of us going in October including 2 young children, one 18 months the other 9 yrs old. Is it visable to use a day to day plan of some sort. Or should we go with the flow as my hubby puts it. The couple we are going with has a 14 yr old daughter and it is there first time we have been 3 times before but not with the little one so does anybody have any feedback ??? Plan or go with the flow ??????
What a Great Site !
- Thread starter drennan
- Start date
Astrid
<font color=9933CC>Shoot for the moon. Even if you
- Joined
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Hello!! Glad you like it here! 
Plan, plan and plan some more if you want my opinion! There is just so much to do in Orlando that if you go with the flow chances are you'll end up running out of time completely and not do some of the things you really fancied.
Obviously plans can change dependent on the weather and the crowds but I always make a plan like: Monday - MK, Tuesday - MGM, etc etc and then add in any bookings for restaurants around that. Once the timings are out for when you go then you can chop and change if necessary depending on the times of shows that you want to see.
With an 18 month old you obviously have to bear in mind that they will tire quickly so if necessary make some 'days or rest' and also perhaps have some days when you go back to your place of stay for a few hours in the afternoon to re-energise!
Where are you staying and when are you going?
Astrid x
Plan, plan and plan some more if you want my opinion! There is just so much to do in Orlando that if you go with the flow chances are you'll end up running out of time completely and not do some of the things you really fancied.
Obviously plans can change dependent on the weather and the crowds but I always make a plan like: Monday - MK, Tuesday - MGM, etc etc and then add in any bookings for restaurants around that. Once the timings are out for when you go then you can chop and change if necessary depending on the times of shows that you want to see.
With an 18 month old you obviously have to bear in mind that they will tire quickly so if necessary make some 'days or rest' and also perhaps have some days when you go back to your place of stay for a few hours in the afternoon to re-energise!
Where are you staying and when are you going?
Astrid x
thanks for your reply i really appreciate it, i better start planning though. We go 12th October for 3 whole weeks and we are staying in a 7 bedroom villa in Southern Dunes. Can't wait, but i am a bit worried about the little one and i hope its not going to be too much for him. He's a real live wire at the best of times so i think when he see's the whole WDW experience he will be bowled over !!!
thanks for your reply i really appreciate it, i better start planning though. We go 12th October for 3 whole weeks and we are staying in a 7 bedroom villa in Southern Dunes. Can't wait, but i am a bit worried about the little one and i hope its not going to be too much for him. He's a real live wire at the best of times so i think when he see's the whole WDW experience he will be bowled over !!!
Hi Sharon
Welcome to the DIS
I would make a plan but be flexible e.g. outline what you want to do each day, but have an alternative plan should the weather, how people are feeling etc. affect the plans.
Be prepared to split up if you don't all want to do the same thing and as Astrid says, the youngster will benefit from returning to the villa for a lunchtime sleep - this really helps if you want to spend an evening in the parks, unless there is someone in the party who would be happy to babysit.
With three weeks you will have plenty of time to explore the parks at your own pace!
For lots of info, do take a look at the fixed information section of the DIS - www.wdwinfo.com - and fire away with lots of questions, we're happy to help! You may want to post these on the UK Trip Planning board to get lots of replies
Welcome to the DIS
I would make a plan but be flexible e.g. outline what you want to do each day, but have an alternative plan should the weather, how people are feeling etc. affect the plans.
Be prepared to split up if you don't all want to do the same thing and as Astrid says, the youngster will benefit from returning to the villa for a lunchtime sleep - this really helps if you want to spend an evening in the parks, unless there is someone in the party who would be happy to babysit.
With three weeks you will have plenty of time to explore the parks at your own pace!
For lots of info, do take a look at the fixed information section of the DIS - www.wdwinfo.com - and fire away with lots of questions, we're happy to help! You may want to post these on the UK Trip Planning board to get lots of replies
Hilary
There's always something new to learn!
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2000
- Messages
- 6,483
Hello 
and welcome to the DIS boards!
I'm a firm believer in planning if you want to see and do as much as possible. On the other hand, if you need to be flexible because you don't know how well everyone will take to the pace of your planning, then at leats with three weeks you'll have plenty of time to do some relaxing as well. Sounds great!
and welcome to the DIS boards!
I'm a firm believer in planning if you want to see and do as much as possible. On the other hand, if you need to be flexible because you don't know how well everyone will take to the pace of your planning, then at leats with three weeks you'll have plenty of time to do some relaxing as well. Sounds great!
Hi Sharon, welcome to the DIS
Well, I'm personally not a big planner, but even so, I do have a very rough idea of what I'm going to be doing. I always makes sure I know the opening times, parades and fireworks for instance and whilst I may not figure things blow by blow, I do usually have some idea of what park I'll be in what day.
Be sure to stop by with any other questions you might have...we are always happy to help with info if we can
Penny
Well, I'm personally not a big planner, but even so, I do have a very rough idea of what I'm going to be doing. I always makes sure I know the opening times, parades and fireworks for instance and whilst I may not figure things blow by blow, I do usually have some idea of what park I'll be in what day.
Be sure to stop by with any other questions you might have...we are always happy to help with info if we can
Penny
UKDEB
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2000
- Messages
- 11,840
Hi Sharon! You'll be there exactly the same time as me! We arrive on 12 October for 3 weeks staying in a villa on Formosa Gardens.
Planning is half the fun for me, but we seldom stick to it. I agree with everything that's been said. Even if you don't have an itinerary, at least draw up a list of the things you want to do.
You'll be there exactly the same time as me! We arrive on 12 October for 3 weeks staying in a villa on Formosa Gardens.Planning is half the fun for me, but we seldom stick to it. I agree with everything that's been said. Even if you don't have an itinerary, at least draw up a list of the things you want to do.
Thanks to everyone who has taken time out to reply to my needs, I spent an least five hours yesterday printing off different things off and reading through which parks would be best for the kids to do first in the morning etc so they can have a rest in the afternoon. Its quite hard work, and because we have already bought tickets like a 10 day WDW pass, swimming with dolphins (which I cannot wait to do) universal and Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, I have plenty to get on with. SO A BIG THANX TO ALL OF YOU, and I can say I'm HOOKED on this site. 
Hi Sharon, welcome to the DIS
Southern Dunes is a very nice development, with a great golf course if there are any golfers among you. It is however 30 minutes or so from WDW, because of this it will make going home and returning that day quite a task. This does make planning a MUST as you will need to look for things to do that will allow the youngest a sleep. October is still pretty warm and I would look for a few indoor aircondition shows after lunch to hopefully get the 18 month old ready for a nap. Unless you already have a lightweight foldable stroller for them, I would suggest buying one IN FLORIDA. Walmart carries a lot of very reasonably priced ones and the fabric ( unlike here) in many are designed to be cool. Three weeks is a great amount of time to have and it allows you to have a LONG day at a park one day then a relaxing "round the pool/shopping" type day the next to recharge the batteries. If you plan to visit Busche Gardens or SeaWorld I would suggest thinking about buying you tickets now as the have extended their special. You can buy a ticket that gives you unlimited access until Dec 31st this year FOR BOTH PARKS for a total cost of $95 per adult, this is the same as getting a one day ticket to each park. With this type of ticket it will allow you to do a number of half day visits so the kids feel they have had an "exciting day" but it isn't too tiring and it's a cheap way of doing it. Getting a hopper ticket for Disney would allow you to visit more than one disney park in a day and enable you to make the most of each of those days, knowing you can relax the following day.
Southern Dunes is a very nice development, with a great golf course if there are any golfers among you. It is however 30 minutes or so from WDW, because of this it will make going home and returning that day quite a task. This does make planning a MUST as you will need to look for things to do that will allow the youngest a sleep. October is still pretty warm and I would look for a few indoor aircondition shows after lunch to hopefully get the 18 month old ready for a nap. Unless you already have a lightweight foldable stroller for them, I would suggest buying one IN FLORIDA. Walmart carries a lot of very reasonably priced ones and the fabric ( unlike here) in many are designed to be cool. Three weeks is a great amount of time to have and it allows you to have a LONG day at a park one day then a relaxing "round the pool/shopping" type day the next to recharge the batteries. If you plan to visit Busche Gardens or SeaWorld I would suggest thinking about buying you tickets now as the have extended their special. You can buy a ticket that gives you unlimited access until Dec 31st this year FOR BOTH PARKS for a total cost of $95 per adult, this is the same as getting a one day ticket to each park. With this type of ticket it will allow you to do a number of half day visits so the kids feel they have had an "exciting day" but it isn't too tiring and it's a cheap way of doing it. Getting a hopper ticket for Disney would allow you to visit more than one disney park in a day and enable you to make the most of each of those days, knowing you can relax the following day.
Thanx Vernon
I really appreciate your feedback, we will be taking a folddown pushchair with us for Jack which has more space and it can go back when he needs a sleep unlike the ones you get in the parks, but hes pretty good once we get him too sleep he sleeps for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours in his pushchair. As for the tickets we have already purchased some of them 10 day hopper pass which apparently is only available for UK residents, swimming with the dolphins which entitles us to a 7 day consecutive pass to seaworld and a 7 day universal pass which we got a good deal on I think it was $88 which you can use at islands of adventure as well which wasn't opened the last time we went in 1999. We have also purchased tickets for the Not So Scary Halloween Party which we will be going in fancy dress, there is seven of us and there was talk of going as the 7 dwarfs even though 5 of us is over 5' 5" but should be a laugh. The other couple who are going with us have an older daughter of 14 but we are having two cars so if Jack or Billy get tired we will make the journey back to the villa even if it means 2 or 3 hours away from a park I'm sure we will see the benefit of the little one having his rest and then we can go back for the parade or something to eat. Thanx again....
I really appreciate your feedback, we will be taking a folddown pushchair with us for Jack which has more space and it can go back when he needs a sleep unlike the ones you get in the parks, but hes pretty good once we get him too sleep he sleeps for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours in his pushchair. As for the tickets we have already purchased some of them 10 day hopper pass which apparently is only available for UK residents, swimming with the dolphins which entitles us to a 7 day consecutive pass to seaworld and a 7 day universal pass which we got a good deal on I think it was $88 which you can use at islands of adventure as well which wasn't opened the last time we went in 1999. We have also purchased tickets for the Not So Scary Halloween Party which we will be going in fancy dress, there is seven of us and there was talk of going as the 7 dwarfs even though 5 of us is over 5' 5" but should be a laugh. The other couple who are going with us have an older daughter of 14 but we are having two cars so if Jack or Billy get tired we will make the journey back to the villa even if it means 2 or 3 hours away from a park I'm sure we will see the benefit of the little one having his rest and then we can go back for the parade or something to eat. Thanx again....
Welcome to the DIS.
This is truly a great place for getting real opinions of real people. What a great friendly bunch they are here.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of information available a few months ago. I had a couple of guide books recommended to me. I bought both and found they complement each other, in my own opinion money well spent. I have included links to both on Amazon.co.uk. They might not be the cheapest place to buy them from, but their reviews are worth a read. If you want to buy online then use http://www.bookbrain.co.uk to track down the best on-line price.
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2002
ISBN: 0764564218
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...3322/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_19_1/026-4359471-1786835
A Brit's Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World: 2002
ISBN: 0572027443
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0572027443/ref=pd_sim_b_dp/026-4359471-1786835
As has already been said, any questions just ask.
This is truly a great place for getting real opinions of real people. What a great friendly bunch they are here.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of information available a few months ago. I had a couple of guide books recommended to me. I bought both and found they complement each other, in my own opinion money well spent. I have included links to both on Amazon.co.uk. They might not be the cheapest place to buy them from, but their reviews are worth a read. If you want to buy online then use http://www.bookbrain.co.uk to track down the best on-line price.
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2002
ISBN: 0764564218
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...3322/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_19_1/026-4359471-1786835
A Brit's Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World: 2002
ISBN: 0572027443
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0572027443/ref=pd_sim_b_dp/026-4359471-1786835
As has already been said, any questions just ask.
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