First timer going 12 july.

[duggie]

I have been reading this forum since we booked to go last may, i cant believe its almost here.
We are taking our two children age 11 and 14 have said we would take them one day.
We have booked to go for 3 weeks at Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa and have got 14 day tickets for disney and orlando.
We have booked car hire through this site.
I would be very greatful if people could suggest the best plan of action to take when planning what to do and when.
Also this will probably be a one off trip so any other must do activities will help.
We have £2500 to spend on food and extra trips ect

Thanks
Lee

[Clare R]

On a purely practical point make sure you have copies of all your tickets, driving licences, passports, credit/debit cards and the outside of your suitcases. If your cases don't arrive with you you will probably be shown a 'menu' of suitcases to choose from and frankly they all look alike.

Make sure you have a good look round your rental car before you drive off from the airport and if not happy go and get it marked, by the car rental employee, on the paperwork found in the car.

[Sandra M]

Eating off site works out cheaper than eating in any of the parks so maybe have a good breakfast and just take some fruit and cookies into the parks to keep you going and then eat in the evening.

I think parking is currently $14 a day at Disney so make sure you take that into account in your spending money.

The Disney Waterparks are fab and I would suggest you go there at least once ( you can take a picnic so that will save you money) find a nice place to base yourselves for the day and then go off and have fun ( put any valuables into a locker)

I'll be surprised if it's a one off visit - it has a way of making you want to go back [msnsmile2]

Have a really great holiday

Sandra

[Madabouttigger]

Find you nearest supermarket and go and get drinks, snacks etc, this will save you money in the parks, Walmart also do quite a big range in disney T Shirts that are much cheaper than the parks.

Have fun and enjoy [msnsmile2]

[kitch50]

One thing I would recommend is taking some rest days in between the parks ... we made the mistake on our first visit (thinking it would be the only time we went) of cramming as much in as we possibly could ....BIG MISTAKE ... by the end of the holiday we were so tired and irritable it took some of the enjoyment out of the whole reason why we went. Even a day at a water park is a rest from the hustle and bustle of the big parks and is quite relaxing.

We tend to eat a big breakfast and then take fruit and drinks with us to last through the day at the parks with the occasional ice cream or 3 once we are there and I find the food in the parks to be very pricey and the same with buying gifts and t shirts etc... we always buy them in Walmart or Target as they are so much cheaper.

We always try to get to the parks early, which will be easy on your first few days there as you will be awake very early .... get our fast passes for all the rides we want and make the most of being an early bird when the parks aren't so crowded.

We enjoy going on the Boggy Creek Airboat rides if we have a spare half day ... it is something different from the parks and is a thrill ride in itself. Also try venturing out of Orlando if you get the chance and see other parts of everyone's favourite state [msnsmile2]

[duggie]

Thanks for all your replies,

Clare- Do you mean photocopies/pictures of cases?

Yes everybody i have spoken to says that it will not be a one time visit eerbodyseems to love it!!

Wendy- we were thinking about doing an airboat ride do you recommend boogy creek airboats also do ineed to book before we go or can it be done when we get there?

can you fill up sports bottles at the theme parks with water or do you have to buy water?
how long do you spend in each park because we have 14 day tickets we can go back when we want?

I have a book on disney parks with very presciptive plans of which rides to do and what order to do them has anybody used them before( i have a feeling we will look like a fast show sketch casing round the park).

Thanks

Lee

[freddiehollie]

Hi Lee.

Read the books by all means, but do what you want to do, in the order you want to do it. You will go back[msnwink]

If everyone bought the same book and followed it's suggestions the parks would look really weird, with eveybody going in the same direction[msneek]

You will never do it all in the same/one visit, no matter what anyone says. (Unless you go for a number of months/years)

Great suggestions from Wendy. Yes you can fill sports bottles up in the parks.

You will find the days fly by, dont try to do to much. Do a list of "must do's" and revise it as the holiday goes on.

You may find long que's for rides, which will eat into your plans, so be "very" flexible.[msnsmile2] Remember "you will go back"[msnwink]

We were only going once we have now been over 30 times with next two trips booked and now looking at a third.

Have a great time. I'm sure you will[high5]

[Albert the Frog]

Boggy Creek airboat is good fun and good value-remember to keep your mouth closed whilst going round or you'll get a meat course you aren't expecting [msnwink]
Your kids at 11/14 will probably handle a full day at the park but bear in mind that a full day will probably be 8am to 11pm so don't shy away from doing half days but make sure you see the evening parades and the fireworks.
I agree with a big breakfast and eat out in the evening-ours were younger but we bought some school lunchpacks from Walmart and snacked on these during the day.
As its your first time don't be shy of using money off vouchers from the million booklets you'll pick up-they are far more readily used than over here-try not to overorder on the food -unless you're bottomless you'll struggle with a starter main course and a dessert.--we regularly order one main course between the kids-nobody bats an eyelid and getting a doggy bag is the norm-don't be embarrassed.
The distances are huge and you will walk and drive miles-my calf muscles are like rocks after a few days -Somebody will correct me but I am pretty certain that the Disney complex is the size of Greater Manchester ie from Wigan to South of the airport just to give you a feel for it--so don't rush-build in some very regular down days, pool, shopping,exploring etc-you will need them!
Most of all-enjoy every second-it is totally different from continental Europe

[alanm]

I'd have a look at the Disney & Universal websites, look at the attraction sections, pick the ones that you really want or have to do and do those early & often, after that all the other stuff is a bonus.
Get to the parks [u]early</u> as in before they open , use the Disney fastpass system to the max. Avoid the Disney parks on the mornings they have extra magic hours if you can.
Go to Cirque du Soleil
Take days off as already mentioned, you have three weeks so loads of time. Get, use and follow a busy park day guide (worked for us)
Sat nav if possible, makes things easier especially at night
Have a great time[msnsmile2]

[SDJ]

I think you can park your car free at Downtown Disney which is right by Buena Vista, and then you can catch the Disney Transportation to the Parks which saves you the parking fees. I may well be imagining I read that somewhere, but no doubt someone else will correct me if I am wrong.[msnwink]

Have a great time.

Sandra