Disney World family vacation

[Anonymous]

How can a trip to Disney cost as much as a trip to Europe? We're a family of six, and I imagine the air travel to Europe alone would rival the Disney air plus hotel (and possibly tickets).

[Anonymous]

That everyone already knows all the tricks and it is a crowded and exhausting vacation. Addicting at the same time, however. And EXPENSIVE. We stayed 8 days at a resort for the same price.

[Anonymous]

My kids just don't really that much about it and it isn't worth the $$ spent. I think it depends on how much your kids like rides and characters.

We have been to various parks at various ages -- we've never done more than 2 parks in one visit. The things they liked best were kid-play areas (like big rope climbing areas or slides -- things that have nothing to do with Disney, but are very kid-friendly).

There is nothing so vital to see that it's worth pushing the kids beyond their limits. It's valuable to be able to leave the park and go back for rest/recharging at a hotel, and still come back later (if the adults are so inclined). It was cold in early March. LOVE the bread at the Kona Cafe (Hawaiian hotel).

Having been to MK, AK, MGM, Epcot, etc. multiple times, I finally have to admit, I just don't get the attraction.

[Anonymous]

It's not for us. For my five year old, Disney was the best thing he'd ever done. So we went once to do it. I'm waiting for him to get a bit older (he's not particularly mature) so he would enjoy a trip to London or Paris, but for now, theme parks are awesome for him.

[Anonymous]

I'm pushing 40, and I'm not sure London or Paris are truly "vacations." Trips, sure. But not vacations. Touring cities and museums would be a drag for most kids (and many adults).

My biggest disney tip: plan ahead, but be flexible. There's no need to try to do everything. The game plan should be to entertain yourself, not kill yourself.

[Anonymous]

Disney can seduce you into staying too long and getting tired and cranky. Very hard to leave the park, but it saves energy for the evenings.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about things I wish I would have known before going, but I was glad someone told me I could get groceries delivered to the Disney hotel and the hotel would hold them in the fridge/freezer until I checked in.

[Anonymous]

If you do the meal plan or want to have sit down dining, you need to do reservations sooner than later. They open the reservations 6 mths in advance but everything fills up quickly.

[Anonymous]

I like disney. Clean and well run.

[Anonymous]

I've been warning friends off of Disney until the new FastPass system gets the kinks worked out. The transition is happening this week and early reports are not encouraging at all. Somewhat regretting that I have a trip planned a month from now, and it could be the last one for a long time if the present situation persists.

[Anonymous]

We just got back yesterday and the Magic Bands/FastPass+ system was great! Seriously, we did not have any issues at all.

[Anonymous]

Anyone traveled to Disney the first week of April? Is weather typically warm enough for the pools? Are crowds terrible?

[Anonymous]

We went to Disney 2 years ago in early April and it was fine, about 80 degrees in Orlando, warm enough for the hotel pool.
WDW: I made reservations for an early dinner at Cinderella Castle way in advance. If you have girls I would definitely recommend it as a splurge. We had friends who did the princess salon, but you can get an inexpensive dress up costume online, put some glittery flats and tights and a tiara in your daypack, and have great pictures. It was by far better food than most of the rest of the food places in the park, a nice air conditioned break from walking too.
The way to save money is 1) drive there 2) don't spend your whole vacation in Orlando! It's the park tickets that make it an expensive vacation. Do one or two theme parks and then save the rest for some other year. 3) Finish your vacation at the beach - Sanibel, Amelia Island, whatever 4) If you get a hotel with a great pool i.e. waterslides and play features, and activities on site like a kid's club, mini-golf and a playground, your kids won't even notice they didn't go to a theme park that day.

[Anonymous]

That it would've been worth it to stay on property. Wasted so much time just getting in the park.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster upthread that just got back on Saturday. These are the things that made our trip easier and/or more enjoyable...

Stay in one of the resorts. If your kids are young, stay as close to the Magic Kingdom as possible. We were at the Contemporary and it was so nice to be able to walk to the park in less than ten minutes.

Use a Disney travel agent. It is free to you and ours planned things in a way I never would have figured out by myself!

We were upgraded to a concierge floor after booking at the Contemporary and it was beyond perfect. Breakfast, afternoon snacks, drinks, wine at night, hot aps between 5 and 7, desserts after 8 AND the staff was so helpful. They helped up rearrange fastpasses and gave great advice.

Whatever you do, try to go with the flow...I realized a few days in that we were never going to be able to do everything and it made me so much more relaxed!