Disney: overwhelmed!

[Anonymous]

We just booked for a week in Disney in the spring and I'm completely overwhelmed by the options, the million websites with more options, etc. I've searched the forum for tips because I'm sure they exist but I'm not coming up with anything - I'm sure it's user error. I'd appreciate any advice - best way to plan character meals, which are best, timing tips, getting around etc. my next assignment is to figure out how the fast pass operates. If relevant, we are staying at the Floridian (so on monorail line), and have 3 girls - age range 4-8, so princesses are a plus. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Anonymous]

I'd search Amazon for a good Disney guide book. You don't have to run around like a madwoman all the time while there. You can and should relax, like, by the pool for a good part of your time.

[Anonymous]

You should go to disboards.com in the Disney for Families boards. It's like DCUM for Disney and there are some real experts on Disney that can help you sort it all out.

Here's a link to make it easier to get started: http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-for-families.23/

[Anonymous]

Are you going during spring break or the week before or after Easter? Then you need to plan. Go to My Disney Experience and check for when the reservations open - I think it's 180 days out for meals. Make reservations for whatever princess events you want, like character meals. On other days, make a reservation for dinner. I presume you are getting Parkhopper passes, so eat dinner at Epcot but spend the days at other parks. About 60 days out, I think, you can get three fast passes a day. Each set of fast passes mist be at the same park. So Magic Kingdom one day, Hollywood Studios another day (you can't mix and match on the same day).

If you are going during low season (check a place like easywdw.com for crowd maps) don't really worry about fast passes too far in advance, and only make reservations for princess meals. We went the week befor Labor Day (very low season) and pretty much walked on to everything.

[Anonymous]

1. Go to the lcoal bookstore and buy a short guide. I liked frommers. You can buy the unofficial guide but that is long and big and has a lot of info you don't need as you already booked hotel and I assume passes.

2. Figure out from the guide book what restaurants you want and make reservations. We did breakfast in the room every day and then either did a big lunch/light diner or vice versa. Get online and make your reservations on the mydisneyexoerience website and make sure to download the app as well, which will list all of your reservations in one place. As a PP notes, food reservations open up 180'days in advance and if you want good times for the princess meals book well in advance.

3. Figure out from the guidebook what rides/attractions are must-sees for you and make a list. Book your fast passes 60 days in advance (i think it is 30 days if you are staying offsite?) If you are going spring break you should get online at 12:01 am or whatever time it opens up. We went in off-season spring and had no trouble making any reservations in the morning it opened except for the Frozen meet and greet was entirely booked. A fastpass tip is just select whatever group shows up when you first log in-- they are given in bunches of 3. If you don't like a time or an attraction you immediately can go back in and change them individually to a new time or attraction. But don't get worried at the start if your first assignment isn't perfect. You get to sign up for 3 a day and once you use all 3 you can add 1 more at a time at a kiosk at the park.

4. if you are not renting a car, one week before sign up for grocery delivery if you want. If you wait until the night before to put in your list, a lot of places fill up!

5. Don't forget external chargers for cell phones.

[Anonymous]

Disboards and passporter. That's all you need.

[Anonymous]

There no easy or one answer Op. Start reading those million websites, message boards, etc. We did our homework and reading a little bit each day until we got a feel for DW.

Also, you have to out things into context. The meal plan option wasn't for ys, we did the math and weighed out the time and felt it wasn't worth it.
That's just one example.

Same for the fast pass. Read on how to use it, get the app on your phone, get disney app to check wait times at any given moment, etc.

Princess meals -again, you have to figure out whether you want the one at Epcot (in which case you'll need to be sure to have park hopper pass, etc), whether you want breakfadt/lunch/dinner, etc

I'd start talking with ypur spouse about the options and decide what you want. Then report back to Dcum and we'll give the tips.

[Anonymous]

Do not stress yourself out. This is supposed to be the happiest place on earth! Enjoy walking everywhere, put a limit on souvenirs (you have to CARRY them around yuck) and if lounging at the pool will make you happier that day, do that.
We did the Cinderella castle as an early dinner (4:30p) made reservations 3 months in advance. Food was actually better than expected, and it was a nice air conditioned break in MK. Meant to go to dinner at the steamboat but ran out of steam after an afternoon at the hotel pool and did dinner in instead. Maybe you could check it out for me? Fulton's Crabhouse?
I brought princess headbands, costume dress, gloves, tights and sparkly shoes from Target in my daypack and changed the girls just before we went in. We went during spring break, did not do any fast passes or plan anything else, and still had a great time. This was pre-wristband. A nice family actually handed us passes they weren't using for the jungle ride. Helped that the girls did not want to do any of the big scarier rides. If your kids do not like scary, you might want to skip the Pirates of the Caribbean. Lots of skeletons, cobwebs, flashing lightning effects.

[Anonymous]

You're staying at the Grand Floridian? Awesome! We did that last spring. I think it spoiled me for staying at any other Disney hotel...

www.easywdw.com is the best Disney blog IMO. I think the DISboards are a bit overwhelming. Josh (author of easywdw) does a really nice crowd calendar, so you can easily plan which parks to do on which days.

Make your dining reservations as soon as possible. Everything else (fastpass+, what to pack, etc) can wait.

If I were you, I'd take full advantage of staying at the Grand Floridian, and try to do as many things there as possible. They have great character meals at 1900 Park Fare, right inside the main building. Eating at the resort is going to be so much better (less hectic, higher quality) than eating in the parks.

If I had to do things over again, I'd eat at Narcoosee's more than once during our stay. It's relaxing, has a great view, and is an easy stroll from your room at the Grand Floridian.

Hoop-Dee-Do would be so much fun with your girls. It's a dinner show over by Ft Wilderness. I tried it for the first time this year. I was a bit worried about it being too corny, but it was a really fun family experience.

have fun planning!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should go to disboards.com in the Disney for Families boards. It's like DCUM for Disney and there are some real experts on Disney that can help you sort it all out.

Here's a link to make it easier to get started: http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-for-families.23/

Disboard people are even crazier than DCUM people and they will fight over anything.

Get a good guide book. I liked the Unofficial Guide.

Accept that you can't do everything in one trip. WDW has gotten too big. Pick a few "must-do's" and get up early to do those. Pick the ones that are most interesting to your family. You'll have a better time if you match your family's interests to what is offered, than if you try to do what your aunt or neighbor says you have to do. Princess breakfasts at the castle aren't for everyone. Not everybody loves Turtle Talk with Crush. The Magic Kingdom isn't everyone's favorite park. Pick what will be best for your family.

If it's the off season, and crowds are low, let your kid lead the touring most of the time. Let them explore and do things over and over again if they want to. (I sat through Playhouse Disney Jr. 3 times in the same day one year.)

If it's the high season, consider doing a touring plan in the morning, taking a break and swimming in the afternoon, and going back to touring in the evening. The Unofficial Guide has good touring plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not stress yourself out. This is supposed to be the happiest place on earth! Enjoy walking everywhere, put a limit on souvenirs (you have to CARRY them around yuck) and if lounging at the pool will make you happier that day, do that.
We did the Cinderella castle as an early dinner (4:30p) made reservations 3 months in advance. Food was actually better than expected, and it was a nice air conditioned break in MK. Meant to go to dinner at the steamboat but ran out of steam after an afternoon at the hotel pool and did dinner in instead. Maybe you could check it out for me? Fulton's Crabhouse?
I brought princess headbands, costume dress, gloves, tights and sparkly shoes from Target in my daypack and changed the girls just before we went in. We went during spring break, did not do any fast passes or plan anything else, and still had a great time. This was pre-wristband. A nice family actually handed us passes they weren't using for the jungle ride. Helped that the girls did not want to do any of the big scarier rides. If your kids do not like scary, you might want to skip the Pirates of the Caribbean. Lots of skeletons, cobwebs, flashing lightning effects.

If you are on property, you don't have to carry them around. They will deliver them to your hotel and you can pick them up at your leisure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disboards and passporter. That's all you need.

Passporter is a decent guidebook.

[Anonymous]

1. 180 days before you checkin you can book meals. You need to book the character ones first since they fill up the fastest. There should be a number you can call for each restaurant at 8 or 9 am that morning to do it.

2. 60 days before you will be able to book Fast Passes (3 per day). You'll want to grab things that are the most popular, and aim for afternoon since you can get to the park at rope drop and hit a bunch of rides then.

3. https://www.undercovertourist.com/ Is a great resource. We used it for our upcoming trip, and my cousin (who goes every year) uses it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. 180 days before you checkin you can book meals. You need to book the character ones first since they fill up the fastest. There should be a number you can call for each restaurant at 8 or 9 am that morning to do it.

2. 60 days before you will be able to book Fast Passes (3 per day). You'll want to grab things that are the most popular, and aim for afternoon since you can get to the park at rope drop and hit a bunch of rides then.

3. https://www.undercovertourist.com/ Is a great resource. We used it for our upcoming trip, and my cousin (who goes every year) uses it all the time.

#1 and #2 are KEY! If you take the time and do a LOT of planning before hand it will be relaxing when you are there. The more planning means the less time trying to figure out where to eat and less time in lines.

Mousesavers has some good tips on it as does allears

Doing character breakfasts can be a good idea. That way once you get to the parks you don't have to stop for a long meal. Look for one that focuses on the characters your girls want to see so then you can skip waiting in long lines to see them. Breakfasts also tent to be a tad bit more economical than other meals. There actually may be an appropriate one for your girls based on your likes in your resort.

[Anonymous]

and this is why I am totally turned off from ever going near Disney. Who wants a "vacation" where you have to book meals 6 months in advance.