What I learned today!

[chell]

Reminder the "tips" are not real tips they are simply a way to get the veterans to tell the rookies what we really need to know.

I think you are doing great with the tips.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

63 more

This tip refers to the little ones again. This is very near and dear to my heart since Sophie Age 3 1/2 currently stands 40 inches with her new tennis shoes on. And noah is 44 inches with his new tennis shoes on. They are sleeping on the rack right now.


The tip here is, I don't really have a tip.

As best I can tell I am in for a LOOONG week when it comes to the whole ride height thing. From all accounts the devices used to measure the children are "roughly" 40 and 44 inches respectively with any error on the side of taller than that. I am also under the impression that there is a double check in place that is roughly consistent. You can pass getting in the que only to be turned away later.

On another thread I read what I think is the definitive answer. If your kids hit the mark with room to spare without shoes you are good to go. If you are counting on shoes to put your kids over the line you are going to have trouble.

I am probably going to skip all the 44 inch rides. That way I am not making both my kids feel bad. And as far as the 40 inch ones are concerned we will probably just try test track and splash mountain and hope. I can't see spending valuable time in line only to be turned away at the end.

If someone has a different experience or idea let me know. I am thinking of getting sophie some insole inserts. That way even if she can't ride at least she'd be gellin'.

Reminder: my tips are veiled excuses to ilicit advice any here would be awesome.

Just found your thread, so I know this is an old quote. What I don't understand is why WDW doesn't give out color-coded wristbands for the kids, based on how they measured at any one of the rides. Busch Gardens does this, and my son gets a purple wristband, meaning he can ride any ride that has a height requirement between 42 and 47 3/4 inches. This would eliminate the surprises at the end of the line when your child doesn't quite measure up to that CM's stick. There could be multiple height-check stations throughout the parks so every child that enters WDW that day is not waiting in line at Guest Relations.

 

[Alesia]

Just found your thread, so I know this is an old quote. What I don't understand is why WDW doesn't give out color-coded wristbands for the kids, based on how they measured at any one of the rides. Busch Gardens does this, and my son gets a purple wristband, meaning he can ride any ride that has a height requirement between 42 and 47 3/4 inches. This would eliminate the surprises at the end of the line when your child doesn't quite measure up to that CM's stick. There could be multiple height-check stations throughout the parks so every child that enters WDW that day is not waiting in line at Guest Relations.

The main reason is that it's too easy to remove the wristband from one child and put it on another. I know it seems crazy for someone to put their kid at risk like that, but it does happen.

People have the "I spent $5000 on this vacation" mentality and they want their kid to go on every ride, even if it isn't safe for them to do so.

 

[jamieguffey]

I found this tip on the Disney Moms Board.

When you pack take extra time at home to coordinate outfits. For the little ones these outfits will fit in in a gallon size ziplock bag. Then once you get to the world there will not be any time required to pick out what you are going to wear. You just grab the ziplock marked Tuesday which of course is coordinated to the park you will be attending. Noah has a Safari Outfit all set aside for Wednesday at Animal Kingdom.

The extra few minutes you spend on your time table at home will make the morning much more peaceful under the pressure of getting out the door to be at the park at rope drop.

 

[nateryan]

If anyone plans on bringing their iTouch or iPhone into the parks with them...there is a WDW Dining application that gives you the menus and some info about every restaurant. You DO NOT need wi fi for this app so you can check out the menus in the parks.

 

[mrstomrice]

I found this tip on the Disney Moms Board.

When you pack take extra time at home to coordinate outfits. For the little ones these outfits will fit in in a gallon size ziplock bag. Then once you get to the world there will not be any time required to pick out what you are going to wear. You just grab the ziplock marked Tuesday which of course is coordinated to the park you will be attending. Noah has a Safari Outfit all set aside for Wednesday at Animal Kingdom.

The extra few minutes you spend on your time table at home will make the morning much more peaceful under the pressure of getting out the door to be at the park at rope drop.

I love this tip! It also makes the packing easier....once you squeeze the air out, you can fit a lot more in your bag. If I am obsessive, I will plan a certain shirt for a certain park, like Cars for DHS or Nemo for EPCOT. It helps in the morning since DH can help dress them without needing my help and knowing what I am thinking...one less argument

 

[sohappy]

I do the outfit in bags too. It is nice to throw an extra outfit in the stroller (in a bag) in case the kids get too messy in the parks.

We do several changes of clothes each day, and the bags keep everything nice, clean, and together.

 

[HerdOHuds]

I do this every time we travel with my 4. It does save time as I include hair bows and all the little bits and parts. But we look like the Beverly Hillbillies on their first outin' when we pull up to a hotel with about 12-15 large Ziplocs (the gallon and 2 gallon sizes won't hold it anymore). I even have packed several days into the XXL Ziplocs. That was handy when we drove in the winter cross country and had to pack a luggage bag on the roof of the van. It rained and the bag leaked but our things stayed dry in the ziplocs!

 

[jamieguffey]

I saw this tip on all ears.

As far as the weather at Disney is concerned...
If you go in the summer the storms are just like the storms at home. The are strong and usually short lived. They are also usually of the pop up variety meaning they are not part of a large rain system.

Walt Disney World encompasses 40+ square miles do not assume that just because it is sunny at your resort it will be sunny at the park...this goes both ways. Just because it is raining at your resort does not mean it will be at the park.

Make sure you prepare either way.

 

[mrstomrice]

Pack a poncho and go...the best crowds we ever had was on the first day of TS Faye last summer...we walked on everything before the rain hit...no one came to the park~

 

[jamieguffey]

Saw this one on WDWINFO.COM this a.m.

Apparently, there is a new "service" available that will help travelers like us. Our plane lands in Orlando at 10:10am that means we will probably get to the resort before noon. Check in time is not until 3pm so it is likely that we won't be able to get in our room when we get there.

When we check in we will give them our cell phone number and when they have our room ready they will send us a text message.

Sounds like a really good idea. We plan on going to MK as soon as we get there and then come back to the resort to get ready for dinner but for those of you that were going to do some exploring to waste time until the room is ready you will be able to know as soon as it is ready rather than maybe having to wait until after 3?

 

[Calway]

We flew to Disney, took the magical express. Left our luggage since we couldn't check in and took off for the parks. It started raining and our ponchos were in our luggage. We ended up buying Disney ponchos after all!

 

[DisneyLiz44]

So help me get this straight:

Our flight comes in at 11:30.
Take ME and get to POR by 12:30

Since I plan on checking in online, I go to the ONLINE check in line, which will hopefully shorten my check in time to about 20 minutes? At this point it is 1pm and I may or may not have a room ready for me. If not ready, ME will bring my luggage to my room when it is ready. If I leave my cell#, the front desk will text me when the room is ready.

So, I make sure we dress in "park attire" when we wake up. Take a small backpack with our park tickets etc. to the park and leave everything else with the front desk who will deliver to our room with our luggage?

Get a bus to MK by 1:30.
Get to our lunch ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern by 2:45.
Come back to hotel room whenever we feel like it.

Does this sound right??

What if I want to order some stuff from that Grocery deliver place? What time do I tell them??? Do I just tell them to deliver to front desk at POR and the front desk will deliver that stuff (with my carry on luggage and regular luggage) to my room when it is ready?

Also, regarding the Grocery delivery place, we are on the DDP do you really think it is worth it to buy water, soda & snacks? I guess we could by some dry breakfast items. I mean how big are the in romm fridges. Can't get milk because how will it stay cold (it could be sitting at front desk while our room is getting ready). Shouldn't we just use our counter service for breakfast, lunch a snack and dinner a TS meal? We will be in the parks alot.

 

[milmore104]

So help me get this straight:

Our flight comes in at 11:30.
Take ME and get to POR by 12:30

Since I plan on checking in online, I go to the ONLINE check in line, which will hopefully shorten my check in time to about 20 minutes? At this point it is 1pm and I may or may not have a room ready for me. If not ready, ME will bring my luggage to my room when it is ready. If I leave my cell#, the front desk will text me when the room is ready.

So, I make sure we dress in "park attire" when we wake up. Take a small backpack with our park tickets etc. to the park and leave everything else with the front desk who will deliver to our room with our luggage?

Get a bus to MK by 1:30.
Get to our lunch ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern by 2:45.
Come back to hotel room whenever we feel like it.

Does this sound right??

What if I want to order some stuff from that Grocery deliver place? What time do I tell them??? Do I just tell them to deliver to front desk at POR and the front desk will deliver that stuff (with my carry on luggage and regular luggage) to my room when it is ready?

Also, regarding the Grocery delivery place, we are on the DDP do you really think it is worth it to buy water, soda & snacks? I guess we could by some dry breakfast items. I mean how big are the in romm fridges. Can't get milk because how will it stay cold (it could be sitting at front desk while our room is getting ready). Shouldn't we just use our counter service for breakfast, lunch a snack and dinner a TS meal? We will be in the parks alot.

Make sure you leave enough time to get from the airport to your hotel. We normally arrive @ MCO by 11am and check in by 1pm. Sometimes your "waiting in line vacation" starts in the ME check in line at the airport. It once took me 45 mins to get through the check in line. Then we waited another 45 mins to get on a bus. I tedn to make our ADR's for 4 or later just to be on the safe side. [/I]

 

[Alesia]

Also, regarding the Grocery delivery place, we are on the DDP do you really think it is worth it to buy water, soda & snacks? I guess we could by some dry breakfast items. I mean how big are the in romm fridges. Can't get milk because how will it stay cold (it could be sitting at front desk while our room is getting ready). Shouldn't we just use our counter service for breakfast, lunch a snack and dinner a TS meal? We will be in the parks alot.

You can get milk if you want, the resort will keep it cold for you.

I don't think it's worth it to get groceries, though. We brought a bunch of snacks and never touched a single one.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Apparently, It rains just about everyday at some point in central florida. Every book, site, and forum I visit has a whole section on ponchos. The best advice I found was on the Disney Moms I think...Buy your ponchos before hand. Go to the dollar store or some sort of discount store. Get several disposable ones that are of a color not normally used.

Disposable for two reasons

1. Because who wants to deal with trying to maintain a wet garbage bag for a week straight. Although I am torn on this one. do I really just create trash for the sake of not having to hang up my poncho when I get back to the resort?
2. Space is a big issue and those things are like maps. Once you unfold them the first time they never go back the way they were and now you have to find a spot for it in your fanny pack?

Actually this isn't true - it doesn't rain just about every day. It does rain frequently in August - when you will be there, but it doesn't rain every day in March. I have never actually been in august, but I have been in September. I think a more accurate description would be to say that a chance of rain is in the forcast most days. The weathermen can't predict when a storm will pop up.

Another thing to keep in mind, is that Florida rain is often short lived. hang out under an overhang or pavillion for an extra 15 minutes, and the storm may be over. So you won't always need you poncho.

the other thign is that the cheap plastic ponchos are just that - you are basically covering yourself in saran wrap. It is not especially nice to wear. The WDW ponchos are made of a much heavier plastic, and much more tolerable. Some days, a real raincoat is best. At other times of year, your best bet is just to bring a sweatshirt.

And here's the other thing - whatevery you carry - you carry all day. That's why the plastic ponchos can be nice if ther's achance of rain - but the real jacket or a heavier Disney one cna be nice if it looks like the weather is going to be icky all day.

So my tip would be - watch th weaterhr esport each morning. It won't be 100% correct. Do not trust a weather resort that is more than 24hours old. use the weaterhr esport before you go as a guide to packing (like how many pairs of jeans to bring) but don't expect it to be correct.

OOH - one more big tip. Sneakers don't dry easily in FLA. If you KNOW your shoes are going to be getting wet - something like sandals might be better for the day.

Personally, I don't like to plan any ADR's for arrival time. That same weather that causes so many folks to put on their ponchos can also delay flights. You will probably make your ADR, but don't let it ruin your trip if you don't.

We've been to WDW with kids many times. You can't really predict how kids will react to rides ahead of time. I think if you try to plan too much in that direction - you'll drive yourself nuts. WE just always have gone with the shortest line method. I think it's best to give your kids GENERAL strategies for coping with a ride they don't like, but not telling them a specific ride might be scary (as you are getting on that ride) because then you are setting them up to find THAT particular ride scary. I think if there's anything that's good to do before you go, it's to have your kids be familiar with as many Disney movies as you can. So when they go on each attraction that can look forward to seeing their favorite characters, and know in advance who the 'bad' guy of each movie is going to be. I also think if mom and dada are scared/anxious, then kids can read that, and may well feed into it.

 

[jamieguffey]

Okay so maybe I am calling this a tip just because we are going to do it but it sounds really cool and I hoped to get reviews from the masses.

Every night there is a floating Spectromagic'ish parade called the Electrical Water Pageant. This parade visits the resorts that can accomodate floating barges.

I got this schedule on WDWRESOURCE.com
Here is the current viewing schedule for the Pageant: Polynesian 9pm; Grand Floridian 9:15pm; Wilderness Lodge 9:30pm; Fort Wilderness 9:45pm; Contemporary 10:05pm; and the Magic Kingdom 10:20pm when is open until 11pm.

So if you want a peaceful solution to the egress problem following wishes at MK you might try to Catch the Fireworks From the beach at the GF and then wait for the EWP to stroll by.

Help me out vets, is this a suitable evening plan?

 

[DisneyLiz44]

We were lucky enough to have an end room (facing the water) at the WL on our last trip. We watched the water parade from our room balcony each night (that we made it back by 9pm!). It was nice. Kids liked it. We could hear the music.
I do not feel the need to see again or make a special effort to see it.

Your plan of seeing Wishes & the water parade away from the crowds is a nice idea though.

Your tips are great! How about a tip on how to stay off the DIS boards!! I can't keep away. I am on them everynight on my laptop (and I am trying to keep a secret from my kids!)

I can't wait to go to Disney again. We go at the end of September. It is July 2nd and I feel like I am wishing my summer away!! Help.

 

[Alesia]

Okay so maybe I am calling this a tip just because we are going to do it but it sounds really cool and I hoped to get reviews from the masses.

Every night there is a floating Spectromagic'ish parade called the Electrical Water Pageant. This parade visits the resorts that can accomodate floating barges.

I got this schedule on WDWRESOURCE.com
Here is the current viewing schedule for the Pageant: Polynesian 9pm; Grand Floridian 9:15pm; Wilderness Lodge 9:30pm; Fort Wilderness 9:45pm; Contemporary 10:05pm; and the Magic Kingdom 10:20pm when is open until 11pm.

So if you want a peaceful solution to the egress problem following wishes at MK you might try to Catch the Fireworks From the beach at the GF and then wait for the EWP to stroll by.

Help me out vets, is this a suitable evening plan?

Well, it really isn't anything like SpectroMagic. More like giant Lite-Brites on boats. With a soundtrack performed on the Casio keyboard I had in second grade.

Which is not to say that it isn't worth seeing, just don't expect anything spectacular.

 

[bballbabe]

when hubby and i went in '93 we saw the water parade after the luau. it was the same one that they had when I went in '73 with my family. we missed it last year when we went with the family, but we are making sure we see it when we go in Oct with the family again. I think it will bring back memories for my parents and sister from when we originally saw it in '73