Disney World advice thread

I used to live in Orlando and I'm kind of an expert.

I've had trips where I have stayed on property for four days and went to a theme park one day.

I've also mapped a plan and did 3-4 top rides from all four parks in one day.

If you go for several days, I'd suggest a day at MagicKingsom and a day at Epcot or Animal Kingdom.

Then go to Cocoa Beach/Kennedy Spacr Center or Gatorland or just chill at the beach, take the boat tour of Winter Park or go to Rock Springs and enjoy the best of Natural Florida.

Your kids are at the right ages.

 

It still wouldn't get through to every idiot, but they should put up giant overhead signs at the airport and entrance to the Turnpike in about eight different languages:

"There are alligators in the fucking water! Stay the fuck out and for God's sake make sure your children stay the fuck out!"

 

We (my wife and I) had scheduled a trip to Walt Disney World in September before the hurricane interrupted it. Went to the American side of Niagara Falls instead (don't have a passport) and lucked out to not only get a nice (Doubletree) hotel for cheap ($100 a night) within walking distance of the falls, but it was also in the 70s and 80s all three days we were there.

We are scheduled to fly to Orlando two weeks from today. Staying five nights at Pop Century. Have a rental car, because we are thinking about going to the Kennedy Space Center.

Have two tickets, which we plan on using on that Friday at Magic Kingdom and that Sunday at Epcot. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday are pretty much unscheduled, save for a character meal or two.

I did shell $254 combined for "Disney After Hours" (aka Disney After Dark). You get from 8-11 p.m. at Magic Kingdom with no more than $3,000 people in the park. Included are grab-and-go bottled drinks (want three Cokes? Take 'em), ice cream bars (six types)and popcorn. The big draw is no lines ... even for the three mountains or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

This means we can enjoy the daytime part of Magic Kingdom and not have to rush. We can watch the parades, fireworks and shows and do character meals and not feel like we won't get rides in.

Watch the YouTube videos of Disney After Hours. It's a ghost town.

Wife has never been to Magic Kingdom. I haven't been since 2001 (and I was a chaperone for my younger brother's middle school trip, so didn't get to do a relaxed trip).

Using this as an early fifth anniversary trip. I'm excited.

 

Disney After Hours is pretty spectacular. It's a pretty penny but I find that the free coke and ice cream made up for the price. I believe I ate my weight in ice cream and popcorn.

My only gripe was that when we went (very early stages of this experiment), several rides were down. But I think they've changed that since and now everything is open, making the crowds even more spread out.

 

I have a mounting dread of my need to take kids to Disneyland and possibly Disney World.
It beckons and taunts me from afar, like the grave, and daily the distance closes.

 

No TV, no videos.

I know she'll eventually come to know the characters, and learn about Disney World, but for now, she's completely oblivious.

 

Disney is lame, but the wife likes it. The kids have some Disney-themed clothes, bed sheets and toys.
The two 2 year olds are now allowed about 60 minutes of watching video on Saturday and Sunday.
They want Thomas the Train about 90% and occassionally Sesame Street.

They have little interest in Disney, although they know Mickey and Minnie.
My guess is a I have about three years. It'll be two 5 year olds and a 4 year old, and the wife will want to go to Disneyland.
Hopefully, I'll fall into a coma before then.

 

Disney takes a lot of shit, and I was dreading our visit a couple of years ago, but the parks are spectacularly run. We had an all-time family day there. I'm tempted to try one of the cruises. Has anyone done one recently?

 

Woah.

What’s this now?

 

The Pirates of the Caribbean supply it. I believe they trade molasses and rum for it.

 

When my oldest was that age, he was obsessed with Thomas. Hearing that original theme song over and over again made me want to put the TV in a coma.

What used to drive me nuts was that they called the other engines his friends, but all they ever seemed to do was bicker.