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Cdub100

Taking the Family to Disney World

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I have never been to Disney so I've done a lot of research.

 

My other thread had the wrong title and now that I'm a week out I think I have my plan down. One thing to note. Even though I have a structured plan for pretty much every day. I am constantly reminding myself not to be a time nazi and that we don't have to do every single thing. The kids will have fun either way. So, with that being said here is my plan and please feel free to give me pointers.

 

In order to plan the trip I have been reading blogs.

 

https://www.mousesavers.com/

http://wdwprepschool.com/

http://guide2wdw.com/disney-world-tips/

 

Neighbors also loaned me the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World:

https://smile.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Walt-Disney-World/dp/1628090669/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502550235&sr=8-2&keywords=Unofficial+Guide+to+Walt+Disney+World

 

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DISUnplugged

https://www.youtube.com/user/PopSong1

https://www.youtube.com/user/ThemeParkWorldwide

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnpWedLQdHpZqhgTLdB9Yyg

 

 

Day 1 - Travel Day

We are flying down in the morning

Using this company to get to the hotel. Cheapest I found: https://www.sunstatelimo.com/reserve_shadesofgreen.php

Hotel - Shades of Green

That evening we will have dinner at Chef Mickeys

 

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom

When the gate drops we are going straight to the 7 dwarfs mine ride.

After head over to dumbo or some other rids.

Fastpass+ - Meet Rapunzel 11:10, Peter Pan Flight 12:50, Tales with Belle 1:50

***Depending on how the kids ar doing we will either go back to the hotel and come back around 6ish or power through

The rest of the day will be attempting to take advantage of FP+ and riding rides.

 

Day 3 - Hollywood Studios

(Experts say to avoid DHS because it's half a park with all the contribution going on) We are goingbecause my boy and I LOVE Star Wars

When the gate drops we are going straight to Jedi training academy to sign the boy up for jedi training

After that and depending on what time he goes on we have the following

Star Tours 10:30

Toy Story Mania 12:30

Voyage of the little Mermaid 1:50

Note: At some point I will try and ride Tower of Terror and Aerosmith rollercoaster (kids are still to young)

***DINNER***

I booked the Fantasmic package at hollywood & Vine. Meaning we get dinner and VIP passes to Pixar and friends show, and Fantasmic (which in order to get in normally you have to be there 60 minutes before the show starts)

If we can get out of Fantasmic in time than we will head over for the Star wars light show which I hear is fantastic.

 

Day 4 - Hotel day

Chill at the pool and rest.

Head over to Disney Springs for shopping and dinner

 

Day 5 - Epcot

When the gate drops we are going straight to Frozen ever after. Then get in line to see anna and Elsa

***If we get this done I will cancel my FP+ for Frozen in the evening and try and book Soar / test track

9:55 Seas with Nemo

11:30 Turtle

(Pending crowd size I may cancel both of these day of

I'd like to space ship earth & Mission Space.

****Back to the hotel for a break and then return in the late afternoon.****

While at the hotel the girl will do a princess makeover the hotel offers

Character Dinner at Akershus (where many of the Disney princess will attend)

Gran Fiesta tour starring the Three Caballeros

Frozen if I didn't cancel fast pass

End the evening with some show...

 

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom x2

Because I expect to spend most of our time on Day 2 in fantasy land and tomorrow land. We are going to the other side of the park

When the gate drops we are going straight to Jungle Cruise

Than Pirates of the Caribbean

After this the family will split up

The boy and I are doing the Haunted Mansion

The wife and girl are doing it's a small world

***Lunch***

Back together we will do Splash Mountian

FP Big Thunder Mountain only me

The rest of the family will go to mickey Philharmagic

The rest of the time will be casually doing whatever

 

Day 7 - Hotel Day

Chill in the pool

Dinner at the grand Floridian character dinner

 

Day 8 - Depart

Fly home

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That is the most structured schedule for a vacation that I ever saw.

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Chef Mickeys is great for breakfast...blah for dinner.

As for Epcot...Frozen is in Norway and,unless things have changed, they don't open til later...

 

Check on timing as Splash Mountain is closing sometime for refurb. My daughter is upset over this.

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Went in 2007 and boys were 8 and 5 and although they had a great time at 18 and 15 they barely remember the trip.

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That is the most structured schedule for a vacation that I ever saw.

Ahhh thanks?

 

I'm a go with the flow guy. I hate having plans when on vacation. I'd rather just float and see where the day takes me. But watching videos and talking to people makes me think Disney is a nightmare. If there is one thing I hate its is standing in line for a 2 minute ride.

 

With Disney fast pass and app it makes it easier to plan.

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Chef Mickeys is great for breakfast...blah for dinner.

As for Epcot...Frozen is in Norway and,unless things have changed, they don't open til later...

 

Check on timing as Splash Mountain is closing sometime for refurb. My daughter is upset over this.

I didn't book any breakfast meals because my kids are happy with cereal. Plus I want to get to the parts before rope drop so we can go straight to some of the big rides we want to do.

 

Your right world showcase opens later but I read frozen opens up early due to demand. I will have to double check.

 

And yeah I've noticed a lot of rides down for maintenance.

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Went in 2007 and boys were 8 and 5 and although they had a great time at 18 and 15 they barely remember the trip.

Mine are 4 and 7 and don't expect them to remember much later in life. Hell I would be totally cool with never going. I never went cause I was poor as fock growing up. Our vacation plans meant getting a ride to the mall so we could sit in air conditioning. The woman on the other hand did lots of family trips so she's been itching to go...

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Ahhh thanks?

 

I'm a go with the flow guy. I hate having plans when on vacation. I'd rather just float and see where the day takes me. But watching videos and talking to people makes me think Disney is a nightmare. If there is one thing I hate its is standing in line for a 2 minute ride.

 

With Disney fast pass and app it makes it easier to plan.

Was not a knock. You put a lot of time and effort into this and that's awesome. Seconded bolded part is me too

 

Enjoy it

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Don't do magic kingdoms on a weekend or a Friday. Also don't go if they have 30,000 cheerleaders from around the country.

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I didn't book any breakfast meals because my kids are happy with cereal. Plus I want to get to the parts before rope drop so we can go straight to some of the big rides we want to do.

 

Your right world showcase opens later but I read frozen opens up early due to demand. I will have to double check.

 

And yeah I've noticed a lot of rides down for maintenance.

I'll have to look at that on frozen. We are headed straight for test track and have FP for soarin.

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Went last January. Only thing we planned was with days we were going to which parks. That way we could make dinner reservation.

 

 

Staying in Disney property is expensive, but the Magicbands are nice. The FastPasses were great for skipping long lines.

 

Have fun

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Was not a knock. You put a lot of time and effort into this and that's awesome. Seconded bolded part is me too

 

Enjoy it

 

Thanks I didn't take it as a knock. It was a lot of work, fun but still work.

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This just sounds fuckin miserable.

 

:thumbsup: yup it's going to suck but I think my family will have a wonderful time.

 

While my plan is structured there is a lot of dead space in each day to do anything we want. I'm going to need a vacation from his "vacation"

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Went last January. Only thing we planned was with days we were going to which parks. That way we could make dinner reservation.

 

 

Staying in Disney property is expensive, but the Magicbands are nice. The FastPasses were great for skipping long lines.

 

Have fun

 

Exactly what I did. In fact in my early planning Epcot was going to be Day 3, but I wanted a rest day for everyone. So I had to cancel all my fastpass and dinner reservations and move them to Monday.

 

That was way easier said than done. It took me weeks to rebook Akershus for dinner at 5:30ish when I originally had it on Sunday. I wanted my little girl to do the princess make over and go straight to see the Disney princess at Akershus. The best I could do was a 12:15 lunch reservation that was until yesterday when an 5:15 dinner opened up.

 

 

That's one of the best tips I got, "If you don't get the meal reservation you want or the ride time you want keep checking!" People are constantly changing stuff around so it may open. If there is something you really want to do book it as soon as you can. E.G. I wanted to do Cinderella castle dinner. I have not seen a single time open up for that in the last 30 days when I could start booking fast pass.

 

You're right staying on Disney is super expensive which is why we are staying at Shades of Green. It's the government owned hotel on Disney property for military members and DOD civilians like me. It's compatible to a mid class Disney resort but half the price. We also qualify for magic hours which is a bonus.

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Oh, one other thing. Download the Disney app if you haven't already. I'm sure it was already mentioned. It's a great way to see how long the lines are.

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Oh, one other thing. Download the Disney app if you haven't already. I'm sure it was already mentioned. It's a great way to see how long the lines are.

 

That's where I do all my fastpass and meal reservations

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I have never been to Disney so I've done a lot of research.

 

My other thread had the wrong title and now that I'm a week out I think I have my plan down. One thing to note. Even though I have a structured plan for pretty much every day. I am constantly reminding myself not to be a time nazi and that we don't have to do every single thing. The kids will have fun either way. So, with that being said here is my plan and please feel free to give me pointers.

 

In order to plan the trip I have been reading blogs.

 

https://www.mousesavers.com/

http://wdwprepschool.com/

http://guide2wdw.com/disney-world-tips/

 

Neighbors also loaned me the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World:

https://smile.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Walt-Disney-World/dp/1628090669/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502550235&sr=8-2&keywords=Unofficial+Guide+to+Walt+Disney+World

 

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DISUnplugged

https://www.youtube.com/user/PopSong1

https://www.youtube.com/user/ThemeParkWorldwide

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnpWedLQdHpZqhgTLdB9Yyg

 

 

Day 1 - Travel Day

We are flying down in the morning

Using this company to get to the hotel. Cheapest I found: https://www.sunstatelimo.com/reserve_shadesofgreen.php

Hotel - Shades of Green

That evening we will have dinner at Chef Mickeys

 

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom

When the gate drops we are going straight to the 7 dwarfs mine ride.

After head over to dumbo or some other rids.

Fastpass+ - Meet Rapunzel 11:10, Peter Pan Flight 12:50, Tales with Belle 1:50

***Depending on how the kids ar doing we will either go back to the hotel and come back around 6ish or power through

The rest of the day will be attempting to take advantage of FP+ and riding rides.

 

Day 3 - Hollywood Studios

(Experts say to avoid DHS because it's half a park with all the contribution going on) We are goingbecause my boy and I LOVE Star Wars

When the gate drops we are going straight to Jedi training academy to sign the boy up for jedi training

 

After that and depending on what time he goes on we have the following

Star Tours 10:30

Toy Story Mania 12:30

Voyage of the little Mermaid 1:50

Note: At some point I will try and ride Tower of Terror and Aerosmith rollercoaster (kids are still to young)

***DINNER***

I booked the Fantasmic package at hollywood & Vine. Meaning we get dinner and VIP passes to Pixar and friends show, and Fantasmic (which in order to get in normally you have to be there 60 minutes before the show starts)

If we can get out of Fantasmic in time than we will head over for the Star wars light show which I hear is fantastic.

 

Day 4 - Hotel day

Chill at the pool and rest.

Head over to Disney Springs for shopping and dinner

 

Day 5 - Epcot

When the gate drops we are going straight to Frozen ever after. Then get in line to see anna and Elsa

***If we get this done I will cancel my FP+ for Frozen in the evening and try and book Soar / test track

9:55 Seas with Nemo

11:30 Turtle

(Pending crowd size I may cancel both of these day of

I'd like to space ship earth & Mission Space.

****Back to the hotel for a break and then return in the late afternoon.****

While at the hotel the girl will do a princess makeover the hotel offers

Character Dinner at Akershus (where many of the Disney princess will attend)

Gran Fiesta tour starring the Three Caballeros

Frozen if I didn't cancel fast pass

End the evening with some show...

 

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom x2

Because I expect to spend most of our time on Day 2 in fantasy land and tomorrow land. We are going to the other side of the park

When the gate drops we are going straight to Jungle Cruise

Than Pirates of the Caribbean

After this the family will split up

The boy and I are doing the Haunted Mansion

The wife and girl are doing it's a small world

***Lunch***

Back together we will do Splash Mountian

FP Big Thunder Mountain only me

The rest of the family will go to mickey Philharmagic

The rest of the time will be casually doing whatever

 

Day 7 - Hotel Day

Chill in the pool

Dinner at the grand Floridian character dinner

 

Day 8 - Depart

Fly home

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to have all family members synchronize their watches before you leave Jack.

 

Will you be taking Jinxy too?

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You are going to already be in the area. One of those days you need to get away from Disney and take the family to Wekiva Springs. It is about 30 minute drive from South Orlando. Go rent some canoes, bring some beers and have a good time. Plenty of stuff for your kids to do as well.

 

Also try to make it out to Texas de Brazil on I-drive.

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I sure wish someone would plan a trip like that for me. Sounds like you guys will have a lot of fun. You put in a lot of effort.

How much will this trip cost?

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Prepare to have pounding feet at the end of the day. You do so much walking on concrete, when you get back to the hotel and finally crawl into bed your feet throb with your heart beat. Haha....

 

I had such a great time watching the kids have a great time. They were soooo excited.

 

Also look into buying lanyards and a starter pin set NOW, before you get into the park. All the disney staff have a lanyard with cool Disney pins, and they have to trade you any pin they have on there if you ask them to see and trade pins. Even if you have a sh!tty little crap pin and theirs is a $20 ride pin. All rides have a gift shop you have to walk through on the way out with pins and sh!t.

 

Buy them online now.. rush order. You'll thank me. I had no clue and the kids wanted to be like all the other boojee kids with their sweet pins.

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Prepare to have pounding feet at the end of the day. You do so much walking on concrete, when you get back to the hotel and finally crawl into bed your feet throb with your heart beat. Haha....

 

I had such a great time watching the kids have a great time. They were soooo excited.

 

Also look into buying lanyards and a starter pin set NOW, before you get into the park. All the disney staff have a lanyard with cool Disney pins, and they have to trade you any pin they have on there if you ask them to see and trade pins. Even if you have a sh!tty little crap pin and theirs is a $20 ride pin. All rides have a gift shop you have to walk through on the way out with pins and sh!t.

 

Buy them online now.. rush order. You'll thank me. I had no clue and the kids wanted to be like all the other boojee kids with their sweet pins.

 

When I booked one of the restaurants over the phone They said to be sure to where your first timer pin. Is this what you're talking about?

 

And yeah I bought new shoes and started breaking them in last week.

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I sure wish someone would plan a trip like that for me. Sounds like you guys will have a lot of fun. You put in a lot of effort.

How much will this trip cost?

 

Many thousands of dollars.

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When I booked one of the restaurants over the phone They said to be sure to where your first timer pin. Is this what you're talking about?

 

And yeah I bought new shoes and started breaking them in last week.

Yup.. pins everywhere. Lanyard holds their "Disney Pass".

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwinklesAndTwirls?ref=s2-header-shopname

 

They have starter kits. Hell go to Walmart to find a bunch and use them to trade workers

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Prepare to have pounding feet at the end of the day. You do so much walking on concrete, when you get back to the hotel and finally crawl into bed your feet throb with your heart beat. Haha....

 

I had such a great time watching the kids have a great time. They were soooo excited.

 

Also look into buying lanyards and a starter pin set NOW, before you get into the park. All the disney staff have a lanyard with cool Disney pins, and they have to trade you any pin they have on there if you ask them to see and trade pins. Even if you have a sh!tty little crap pin and theirs is a $20 ride pin. All rides have a gift shop you have to walk through on the way out with pins and sh!t.

 

Buy them online now.. rush order. You'll thank me. I had no clue and the kids wanted to be like all the other boojee kids with their sweet pins.

WTF? Sounds like another lame way to gouge you.

 

I'll be looking at taking the kids to Disneyland in a year or two but stuff like this gives me pause. I ain't no sucker! :mad:

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Yup.. pins everywhere. Lanyard holds their "Disney Pass".

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwinklesAndTwirls?ref=s2-header-shopname

 

They have starter kits. Hell go to Walmart to find a bunch and use them to trade workers

 

We have magic bands. I bought some lanyards off amazon to take with us. I'll let you know how it goes.

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WTF? Sounds like another lame way to gouge you.

 

I'll be looking at taking the kids to Disneyland in a year or two but stuff like this gives me pause. I ain't no sucker! :mad:

Hooleee fock you my friend are focked. They have every way imanigable to gouge you there. All with a sweet sweet smile on their lips. Theres a reason they had the money to buy focking star wars bro. Haha...

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We have magic bands. I bought some lanyards off amazon to take with us. I'll let you know how it goes.

Get cheap Disney pins before you go... trust me. Actually it's a fun little thing.

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Get cheap Disney pins before you go... trust me. Actually it's a fun little thing.

 

I'm going to ask my neighbors. They go twice a year sometimes.

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Hooleee fock you my friend are focked. They have every way imanigable to gouge you there. All with a sweet sweet smile on their lips. Theres a reason they had the money to buy focking star wars bro. Haha...

 

Agreed! I know where I'm going to save money. Using miles for the flights. Staying at Shades of Green etc... Once there I expect to get bent over and to ask for seconds. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

 

The Mouse will get his cheddar.

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I'm going to ask my neighbors. They go twice a year sometimes.

Aww just do it you cheap basturd! It's part of the whole experience! Ya...ya, be prepared for talk like that. :lol:

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Aww just do it you cheap basturd! It's part of the whole experience! Ya...ya, be prepared for talk like that. :lol:

 

Why buy them when my neighbors might have a few they'll just give us.

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Why buy them when my neighbors might have a few they'll just give us.

Oh just busting your balls. I would absolutely take the friends pins. Do it for sure if they will let you. Kids get pretty propriatary with those stupid little things.

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well... you did your homework.

Disney, more than most vacations, needs a plan of attack.

But be flexible... enjoy all the little details in Dis without rushing by too much.

You will NOT see everything.

We've been many times. Here's one trip video:

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You and your wife should take a picture each morning of each kid in their outfit for the day. God forbid one gets lost you will have a clear description of what they are wearing.

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Oh just busting your balls. I would absolutely take the friends pins. Do it for sure if they will let you. Kids get pretty propriatary with those stupid little things.

 

They didn't offer any up. Do they have to be Disney pins or can I trade whatever the local store has?

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