Disney vacation next week - Please help !!
Dec 7th, 2004 | 05:49 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 104
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Disney vacation next week - Please help !!
I have to plan a at-the-last-moment Disney Orlando visit for 4 nights. it will be my husband, our 2 sons(1year & 3 years) and myself. I have no clue of the hotels/resorts there !!! Could you guys please give me any input/advice that you may have ? I was looking at some deals at Wyndham Orlando resort and they seemed pretty good. Is this resort close to WDW..Also how about Dolphin bcoz they have a deal of 129$ per night going on rite now..Any input will be greatly appreciated !!
Ash
Ash
Dec 7th, 2004 | 06:29 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 882
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Dolphin is a good hotel and location. Go to www.mousesavers.com for the current skinny on Disney deals.
Dec 7th, 2004 | 07:58 PM
#4
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 354
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The Dolphin is a great location. We stay there every time we go to Disney and get a $129 rate for teachers. Wherever you stay, I would definitely stay on Disney grounds for the convenience and transportation to and from parks. We used to go in the morning, come back and let our daughter nap a while, then go back later in the day. Her first visit was when she was 1. We went every summer for 14 years, but skipped the past two to go to Cayman. She can't wait to get back to Disney next year. It seems like it's going to be a lifelong tradition! Your children will love it!
Dec 7th, 2004 | 10:38 PM
#5
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 895
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Here's a WDW resorts web site: www.haysllc.com/Disneyworld/Resorts
Here is some advice that relates directly to the parks - not so much the resorts:
Two sites I cannot recommend highly enough to help with your planning:
www.wdwinfo.com & www.allearsnet.com ~ They have everything from height restrictions to restaurant menus to resort info.
Buy the current Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World or the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" (available at Barnes & Noble or other bookstore). Don't be overwelmed by the size - just cut out the park suggested itinerary in the back of the book and do what it says.
Or...you can go to www.tourguidemike.com and pay for the online service and just print out the suggested itinerary.
Hitting the right park on the right day and using some of these guides will save you hours and hours of time in line. That's really important with little ones.
Remember that Disney offers a wonderful option for parents of small children. On a ride with a height restriction, you wait in line and when you get to the attendant, you ask to "switch off". They will let you wait with the children and then, when your husband gets done, he can wait while you ride.
Use Fastpass. It's free. You run your ticket through the fast pass machine and it gives you an appointment time to come back and ride. Enter at the Fastpass line and hang onto your Fastpass tickets until an attendant takes it from you. One attendant might check it early in a line, while another might collect it closer to the ride.
Also: if your kids want to ride Dumbo...this is CRITICAL...get to Magic Kingdom before "rope drop" (opening) and walk directly straight ahead to the Dumbo ride first thing. This is one of the most popular but, unfortunately, slowest loading rides in the park. Going there first thing is essential. I suggest catching the bus to the park, from your hotel at least a 1/2 Hour before park opening.
You're actually going at a good time - the park is decorated beautifully but the crowds are low between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break.
Remember...if you rent a stroller in one park but are switching to another park later in the day, you don't have to pay twice. Let the attendant know when you turn the stroller in and they will tell you how to transfer the rental.
Also: you don't have to carry any purchases around at the parks. Ask to have them sent directly to your Disney resort. They'll arrive the next day at the resort gift shop. There will be a message on your room phone giving you instructions for pick up. You'll be issued a receipt so you don't have to worry about your purchase getting lost. On your last day, you can ask them to send any purchases to the front of the park...they'll tell you where the pick-up point is and, again, they'll issue a receipt. You can just pick up the items on your way out.
The Dolphin has boat transportation to MGM Studios & Epcot. Allow at least 20 minutes. It's a nice boat ride.
You'll do fine...have fun.
Here is some advice that relates directly to the parks - not so much the resorts:
Two sites I cannot recommend highly enough to help with your planning:
www.wdwinfo.com & www.allearsnet.com ~ They have everything from height restrictions to restaurant menus to resort info.
Buy the current Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World or the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" (available at Barnes & Noble or other bookstore). Don't be overwelmed by the size - just cut out the park suggested itinerary in the back of the book and do what it says.
Or...you can go to www.tourguidemike.com and pay for the online service and just print out the suggested itinerary.
Hitting the right park on the right day and using some of these guides will save you hours and hours of time in line. That's really important with little ones.
Remember that Disney offers a wonderful option for parents of small children. On a ride with a height restriction, you wait in line and when you get to the attendant, you ask to "switch off". They will let you wait with the children and then, when your husband gets done, he can wait while you ride.
Use Fastpass. It's free. You run your ticket through the fast pass machine and it gives you an appointment time to come back and ride. Enter at the Fastpass line and hang onto your Fastpass tickets until an attendant takes it from you. One attendant might check it early in a line, while another might collect it closer to the ride.
Also: if your kids want to ride Dumbo...this is CRITICAL...get to Magic Kingdom before "rope drop" (opening) and walk directly straight ahead to the Dumbo ride first thing. This is one of the most popular but, unfortunately, slowest loading rides in the park. Going there first thing is essential. I suggest catching the bus to the park, from your hotel at least a 1/2 Hour before park opening.
You're actually going at a good time - the park is decorated beautifully but the crowds are low between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break.
Remember...if you rent a stroller in one park but are switching to another park later in the day, you don't have to pay twice. Let the attendant know when you turn the stroller in and they will tell you how to transfer the rental.
Also: you don't have to carry any purchases around at the parks. Ask to have them sent directly to your Disney resort. They'll arrive the next day at the resort gift shop. There will be a message on your room phone giving you instructions for pick up. You'll be issued a receipt so you don't have to worry about your purchase getting lost. On your last day, you can ask them to send any purchases to the front of the park...they'll tell you where the pick-up point is and, again, they'll issue a receipt. You can just pick up the items on your way out.
The Dolphin has boat transportation to MGM Studios & Epcot. Allow at least 20 minutes. It's a nice boat ride.
You'll do fine...have fun.
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