I somewhat agree with 16:03.

I hear so many people complain about the crowds/long lines/etc. at Disney...how they weren't able to eat at the restaurant they wanted (they expected to just walk up)

I'm with 1622. It's all in the attitude.

Anonymous wrote:

OP, you are the type that has a miserable time at Disney because you don't listen to good advice. You are going in the hottest, most crowded time of the year. I've been to Disney more than 100 times, and I'd never go in July.

To have a decent time, you need to:

---Go first thing in the morning. Be there when it opens. You will have about two hours before the crowds start.

--Go back to your hotel, nap, swim and eat in the afternoon.

--Go back to the park in the evening for nighttime parades, fireworks, and other rides.

--Stay long enough to enjoy it. As others have said, its the first few days that are expensive. After a certain point, adding days is only about 20 bucks.

Not the OP, but this PP sounds like a jerk.

Guess what, pp? We did none of the things you suggested, and we had a blast! We weren't waiting for rope drop. We let the kids nap in the stroller or found a quiet place to rest at the park. We didn't swim at all. We weren't on a mission to see and do everything. Instead, we picked a few things to do, hopped the parks, and filled our days with fun.

Anyone who has been to disney 100 times has issues IMHO...there's a great big world out there, so you might want to broaden your horizon.

PP, not the OP, but if you've been to Disney more than 100 times, you need to get a life.

Thanks PP, for making all kinds of assumptions about me. You would be wrong, but thanks for your comments. WHo says I'm not listening to advice?

We have to go in the summer for a variety of reasons. Not everyone can take off and pull kids out of school during the not-so-busy season. Secondly, I was raised in the South, I know all about heat and humidity and afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season.

We've been to Florida many times before, and always in the summer. The two times I've been to Disney before marriage have been in July and August. Had a great time and was not miserable in the least, and one of those times, was caught in a pretty horrendous thunderstorm with power outages within Disney.

Thanks to those who are offering substantive comments and advice.

OP, you are the type that has a miserable time at Disney because you don't listen to good advice. You are going in the hottest, most crowded time of the year. I've been to Disney more than 100 times, and I'd never go in July.

To have a decent time, you need to:

---Go first thing in the morning. Be there when it opens. You will have about two hours before the crowds start.

--Go back to your hotel, nap, swim and eat in the afternoon.

--Go back to the park in the evening for nighttime parades, fireworks, and other rides.

--Stay long enough to enjoy it. As others have said, its the first few days that are expensive. After a certain point, adding days is only about 20 bucks.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all so much. I don't DH would be able to stand five days in Disney, lol! This might be a really dumb question, but what is the best way to avoid lines (knowing that we'll end up standing in some of them?)

I didn't even know there was a Frozen ride opening up this summer, so thank you for that.

What is the best place to scan what all is going on within the different parks? Is the official Disney website the best place, or is there a blog or some other website that explains what's where, what's best for what ages? I know there are a million Disney-dedicated websites out there, so just trying to cut through some of the noise. Thanks!

Has he been before?

Anonymous wrote:PP, where did you stay? And how much did this trip cost?

Mine isn't great at staying up late and being functional the next day. For her, sleeping til 8 is sleeping in. I have a feeling she'll be so excited she will be up early each day. But we might be able to plan on an afternoon nap if she does that.

Yes, this is exactly what we are trying to tell you. Plan to go in the morning and at night for more days and then take naps in the afternoon. This is how you avoid crowds and make it fun. If you just plow through a day or two, you will have an absolutely miserable time.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think 5 days will cost too much. I mentioned 4 to DH this morning and he said: Really??!

I think 3-4 is much more likely, and I think Magic Kingdom for sure. I wasn't planning to do Epcot, but with this new Frozen ride, I think I'll have to. And I was thinking about Animal Kingdom but I'll have to price it all out.

Look at the pricing. 5 days isn't that much more than 2 or 3.

PP, where did you stay? And how much did this trip cost?

Mine isn't great at staying up late and being functional the next day. For her, sleeping til 8 is sleeping in. I have a feeling she'll be so excited she will be up early each day. But we might be able to plan on an afternoon nap if she does that.

We just went with my 6 year old and did:

arrive Monday, spent late afternoon/evening at MK.
Tuesday: all day at MK, rest at hotel, then the evening at Epcot.
Wednesday: all day at Animal Kingdom, back to Epcot for dinner.
Thursday: hung out at pool in the morning, finished up everything we wanted to see/do again at MK.
left Friday morning.

That was perfect for us but my kid was fine staying up late every night and then we would sleep in and not get to the park until 10:00 am or so. We skipped Hollywood Studios and figure we will got back in a few years when she has seen more movies.

If you look at the cost of tickets, after a few days there the price goes down, significantly. We went for 10 days, 2 for travel, we took one break day. Did four days at the parks and 4 days at the water parks (how our tickets were). July is horribly hot. I would go for at least 5, remembering travel days not included. 10 was a bit much, but 7 to me is good for next time.

Anonymous wrote:5 days - 1 park per day plus 1 day for pool/downtown Disney

I'd do 5 days, but 1 day per park + bonus day for the park you loved the best. In the summer, it's a good idea to take a mini siesta and hit the hotel pool. You can eat dinner at Downtown Disney.

After 4 days, I believe the ticket pricing begins to decrease considerably.

OP here. I think 5 days will cost too much. I mentioned 4 to DH this morning and he said: Really??!

I think 3-4 is much more likely, and I think Magic Kingdom for sure. I wasn't planning to do Epcot, but with this new Frozen ride, I think I'll have to. And I was thinking about Animal Kingdom but I'll have to price it all out.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all so much. I don't DH would be able to stand five days in Disney, lol! This might be a really dumb question, but what is the best way to avoid lines (knowing that we'll end up standing in some of them?)

I didn't even know there was a Frozen ride opening up this summer, so thank you for that.

What is the best place to scan what all is going on within the different parks? Is the official Disney website the best place, or is there a blog or some other website that explains what's where, what's best for what ages? I know there are a million Disney-dedicated websites out there, so just trying to cut through some of the noise. Thanks!

I just read that you are already going to be going to Florida and Disney is an add on. Maybe you should just do Magic Kingdom for a day or do 1 day Magic Kingdom and 1 day Epcot. We know people who do this. They visit family or other location in Florida and then do 1-2 days at Disney.

I'm the pp who recommended 5 days. That would be 5 days total in Florida. When we go to Disney, we only do Disney. We have done separate Florida vacations but don't add Disney to it.

Just came back from a 4 day trip to Orlando with my 4yo and 6yo boys. We spent 3 days at the parks and skipped Epcot this trip. I have boys though and they absolutely love Animal Kingdom. Hollywood Studios also has all the new Star Wars attractions. If your DD isn't so into animals or Star Wars, you could probably skip both AK and HS and do just MK or MK and EP.