Disney World tips please! - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

AngelRoseFyre · #1 06-27-2006, 01:13 AM

We are going to Disney World in Orlando for our Honeymoon. We are both born and bread Wyominingites and don't have much of a clue what we are doing. We have been working as much as possible with our travel agent, we have a room booked at Port Orleans, French Quarters, and will add a package deal later (meal plan and park/water hoppers), other than that we have virtually no clue what we are doing, or how we need to plan for this trip. We will be staying 8 nigts. Our 5 year old will be staying with his grandmothers and godmother, so that won't be an issue. if anyone has any travel tips or any advice at all please share. Thanks!!!

Robyn Lynn · #2 06-27-2006, 01:21 AM

It's been about 4 years since I've been there, but I'll try to help.

Get the park hopper so you can see everything. I've only been to Epcot and Magic Kingdom. My 2 must see recommends for Epcot --- Soarin' --They did not have it when i was there, but they have it at california Adventure in california where i went on it and it was awesome. #2, if you like soda, Ice Station Cool. It's a coca cola store and they have free soda from around the world inside!!! I love soda so that's why I recommend this.

Since you will be there for 8 days you will get to see a lot.

I will be going to Downtown Disney on my honeymoon so I'll let you know what's there that seems cool.

Whiddle, where are you???? She can better help.

Will you be renting a car or just talking a shuttle from the airport? You can pretty much get around the resort on monorail and shuttle busses.

Will you be going on honeymoon right after the wedding? It should be warm in May and gets even warmer in June. Make sure you bring shorts. Of course, bring a lightweight jacket in case it gets cool. Also, June starts the rainy season. I would recommend buying Mickey Mouse ponchos as they are about $10.00 and make a nice souvenir. You can buy them at most of the shops there.

Heather · #3 06-27-2006, 01:21 AM

You've already done the best thing by not going during summer months - it can be 98 in the shade. I highly recommend Epcot Center and ummm... what's the water place? I can't think of the name, but I had the best time there. Definitely do the Haunted House ride and if you can, and make sure Disney knows you're on your honeymoon. I think there are packages you can get where you won't have to wait in line for rides. I also love Busch Gardens much more than Disney, but that's a personal preference. As for where to stay, etc, I'm sure some of the Floridians will be able to help you with that.

(If you can swing it, take a two day trip to South Beach Miami. My girlfriends had to beat me up to get me in the car to even leave the place.)

Daniellenerik · #4 06-27-2006, 01:42 AM

I live in Orlando! Grew up going to Disney. Being a girl, and a kindergarten teacher, I love The Magic Kingdom. I love all the rides, you can make that trip very efficient if you plan out which rides you want to go on when you get there.

My husband is an engineer and loves technology so he loves EPCOT. They have a lot of cool things to see and do. They also usually have a cool fireworks display at the closing.

Usually there is one park each day that stays open the latest. Find out which days youll be going into the parks so you can check on that. Once you find out who will be open the latest, you can plan your day.
For istance...if EPCOT was open the latest, I would go to Magic kingdom, or MGM first and then end up at EPCOT. (see how it works)

While on Disney property you wont have to drive anywhere in your car. You can take disney transportation everywhere. You can take Monorails and buses and even boats!!

There are tons of nice places to eat on disney property. If you are interested in hotel hopping to see some of the hotels, The Wilderness Lodge has a fun restaurant, and a pretty classy bar. They make pretty good drinks and such. The Animal kingdom lodge was nice to visit and walk around. You can go to the hotels and walk around and enjoy their restaurants, its very nice.

Downtown disney is also another place you can go and do a lot of shopping and walking around. There is a planet hollywood restaurant, rainforest cafe, house of blues and much more. There is also a huge "club" called Pleasure Island there that is part of Disney, if you are into the club scene.

Disney also has a few water parks of their own that are a lot of fun. If it is still warm enough, which it might be! Typhoon lagoon is my favorite...

These are just some Ideas...If you wanna know anything else, feel free to ask

Danielle

Jennifer · #5 06-27-2006, 01:54 AM

Danielle gave you great advice. I was married in January and we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge from Saturday to Saturday. We got the park hopper or whatever its caled (I'm not familiar with the terms, the whole honeymoon was a surprise and I didn't find out until we got to the airport). We also got the meal plan which was a great idea! It was really nice not having to drive for a week or worry about paying for a taxi.

We would usually go to the park that was open the latest. So if Epcots's late day was Tuesday then we went to Epcot on Tuesday...a little different than what Danielle said but I like her idea even better b/c you have more options in a day.

Daniellenerik · #6 06-27-2006, 02:22 AM

Thats a great idea as well...going to one park a day. We split it up because it can be a hastle to stay in one park all day. And since your on property you could start early at one park and then go home for an afternoon nap then go back to the park that ws open late....just an idea to get the most out of the day!

Danielle

PlanetClaire · #7 06-27-2006, 02:41 AM

USE THE FASTPASS FEATURE IN THE PARKS.

That would be my absolute best tip to give you! It allows you to "prebook" your entrance time to certain rides. It is awesome for popular rides and you come back at your assigned time and you get right in! It means you have to plan your route and come back but in the long run it saves a TON of needless waiting in line time!

I know it's at Magic Kingdom..not sure about the rest of them....

Have a great time!!

wedbyjean · #8 06-27-2006, 03:33 AM

Pick up a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, 2006.

AngelRoseFyre · #9 06-27-2006, 03:46 AM

[quote=Robyn Lynn]Will you be renting a car or just talking a shuttle from the airport? You can pretty much get around the resort on monorail and shuttle busses.

Will you be going on honeymoon right after the wedding? It should be warm in May and gets even warmer in June. Make sure you bring shorts. Of course, bring a lightweight jacket in case it gets cool. Also, June starts the rainy season. I would recommend buying Mickey Mouse ponchos as they are about $10.00 and make a nice souvenir. You can buy them at most of the shops there.[quote]

We will be shuttling in from the airport. We will be going on our honeymoon two days after the wedding. We are getting married on May 26 and leaving for FL on the 28th. I really hope we miss the rainy season!!!

[quote=Daniellenerik]Usually there is one park each day that stays open the latest. Find out which days youll be going into the parks so you can check on that. Once you find out who will be open the latest, you can plan your day.
For istance...if EPCOT was open the latest, I would go to Magic kingdom, or MGM first and then end up at EPCOT. (see how it works)

There are tons of nice places to eat on disney property. If you are interested in hotel hopping to see some of the hotels, The Wilderness Lodge has a fun restaurant, and a pretty classy bar. They make pretty good drinks and such. The Animal kingdom lodge was nice to visit and walk around. You can go to the hotels and walk around and enjoy their restaurants, its very nice.

Downtown disney is also another place you can go and do a lot of shopping and walking around. There is a planet hollywood restaurant, rainforest cafe, house of blues and much more. There is also a huge "club" called Pleasure Island there that is part of Disney, if you are into the club scene.[quote]

I love these ieas, we will defiantly have to use them!!! Also we were planning on using one day to go to the water parks (weather permitting). I have heard typhoon lagoon is really good.

[quote=PlanetClaire]USE THE FASTPASS FEATURE IN THE PARKS.

That would be my absolute best tip to give you! It allows you to "prebook" your entrance time to certain rides. It is awesome for popular rides and you come back at your assigned time and you get right in! It means you have to plan your route and come back but in the long run it saves a TON of needless waiting in line time![quote]

How do you get a fastpass? Is it one that you have to book, like the park hopper options, or can you just call and request it and everyone has access to it?

Thanks for all the help everyone, Please keep it coming!!!

Complicated Woman · #10 06-27-2006, 04:43 AM

Ditto on the Fastpass.

Get a one of those crazy Disney books that tells you the best time of day for every ride and plan out your days as best you can. You'd be shocked at how accurate the suggestions are!

Absolute Disney DO NOT misses: Illuminations at Epcot, Kiliminjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom, Tower of Terror at MGM, Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom, and Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom.

The Illuminations display at Epcot is so completely amazing. With the park hopper pass, you could go there every night to eat dinner at one of the different countries and watch the beautiful show.

And I love the way the sky looks so real in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride! So cool!

I went for the first time at 18 as a nanny, and it was still totally magical, so I know you guys are going to have an amazing time! I'm very excited for you both!

SuzyBride · #11 06-27-2006, 04:50 AM

This thread makes me wanna go!!! I am so jealous! I hope you get great tips and have a wonderful time! I don't have any advice, I was 6 last time I was there!

555Ann555 · #12 06-27-2006, 11:15 AM

I'm jealous too! My mum has gone for the last 3 years in a row, and I wasn't jealous till I read this thread!

Emily · #13 06-27-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzyBride

This thread makes me wanna go!!! I am so jealous! I hope you get great tips and have a wonderful time! I don't have any advice, I was 6 last time I was there!

Ditto on both: The last time I went was when I was 14 - so I'm not much use either!

Complicated Woman · #14 06-27-2006, 02:09 PM

LOL, this absolutely makes me want to go back...but I don't think that's in the cards til we have kids and they're old enough to remember it.

Though maybe Tom would take me sooner if I pleaded and started wearing mouse ears around the house...

whiddle · #15 06-27-2006, 03:47 PM

I agree the fastpass is a must. Without it, you may end up standing in line for 2 hours for a 2-3 minute ride. It's not fun waiting especially when it's 95 degrees out and there are 10 million kids crying because their parents made them skip their nap. (Can you tell my last trip was a flop?) Make sure you bring plenty of summer clothes (shorts/tanktops) and your comfortable walking shoes. It's ALWAYS hot here. I'm not really a big fan of the Disney parks but I love Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney. Blizzard Beach is a water park- I'm not sure if it is in the park hopper. At Magic Kingdom, I love the Swiss Family TreeHouse and the area with the robotic trash cans. There are plenty of places to eat and shop. I might be going to Animal Kingdom next week.

AngelRoseFyre · #16 06-27-2006, 04:54 PM

Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are not included in the park hopper passes we got, but for a few dollars more we can add the water hopper pass. Since I am a HUGE waterpark fan (Water World in Denver CO is one of my faverate places), I already added that and told my FH we are going, he likes the idea of the swimming with the fishes attraction at Typhoon Lagoon. He is such a huge pirates of the Carribian Fan!

I'm still a little comfused about how the FastPass works. Is that another pass I need to include onto my package, or is it included if you stay at a Disney Resort?

This is driving me insane, I want to go now!!! I don't want to wait until next spring!!!

michaelsbride · #17 06-27-2006, 05:13 PM

the fast pass is really easy.... you carry your ticket that you use to enter the park with you somewhere safe... when you get to the ride you want to get a fast pass for, theres machines set up (very obvious so dont worry) and you put your ticket in the slot and you get a time for returning to that ride so you dont have to wait in a line. Until your time to go on the ride, you can go around the rest of the park and see other things. You can only have one fast pass at a time though so remember that... and the return time is a one hour interval usually an hour and a half or so after you get it (if that makes sense... if not i can clarify somehow).

Also at Animal Kingdom, ride everest...very cool...

DEFINITELY get a fast pass for soarin' at epcot (but you got to get it early in the day because they are usually out of them by like noon!). we waited in the line for like 90 minutes and although even waiting is worth it, theres so much else to see. another fun thing to do at epcot....drink your way around the world.... epcot has the countries (like 10 of em)... we go often and start at the first country (mexico from one side or england if you start on the other side) and have a beer or native drink from each country! good times! lol

Lizbet · #18 06-27-2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelsbride

another fun thing to do at epcot....drink your way around the world.... epcot has the countries (like 10 of em)... we go often and start at the first country (mexico from one side or england if you start on the other side) and have a beer or native drink from each country! good times! lol

I would black out half-way around the world and forget where I'd already been.

Complicated Woman · #19 06-27-2006, 05:21 PM

! Love the drink around the world idea!

Ohhh, and be sure to eat a little something in Morocco. So yummy and there's a belly dancer that comes around and it is way fun!

Clarity · #20 06-27-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzyBride

This thread makes me wanna go!!! I am so jealous! I hope you get great tips and have a wonderful time! I don't have any advice, I was 6 last time I was there!

I'm dittoing too!

My grandparents live in Lakeland and EVERY summer my dad would load us up and drive (without a/c in August) to vist them. I would get so tingling feeling when I would see the signs for Disney...but my wonderful father said it was a money trap and we NEVER went. 17 years we drove past the place and I never got to go

So get some mouse ears and wearing them for me, Please?!?!??!

michaelsbride · #21 06-27-2006, 06:43 PM

Speaking of mouse ears... maybe find the bride and groom mouseketeer ears before you go... Would be a big clue to everyone as you walk around that its your honeymoon.

I also recommend this cirque du solei at downtown disney.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw...leiLandingPage

My favorite disney restaurant... make reservations... maybe request a window table since its your honeymoon... California Grill at the Contemporary resort. If you go around 8 i think you can see the fireworks and they play the music that is playing in the park. They have a chocolate lava cake that is out of this world!!! Its prepared fresh though so you have to order it at the beginning of the meal. I always get the pork medallions... its their specialty.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw...rillDiningPage

At the polynesian resort, they have a luau show thats pretty cool too.

labeadel · #22 06-27-2006, 07:30 PM

I actually did the College Program at WDW back in 1995 (God, I can't believe it's been so long!) and I love WDW! You are going to have a great time. Like the others said, use the fast pass for the "big" rides. But, you will have about at least an hour and a half wait until you can go on it, so stay in the area and do another shorter line ride or eat something. The only reason I don't do the fast passes very much is b/c I like to go from one world to another and then onto the next, and in an hour and a half then you have to go back 2 worlds for the fast pass. So, we usually just skipped doing them.

I have also stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and we loved it! It is the BEST hotel, although it is pretty expensive. Great restaurant in there too.

I'll try to think of other advice. I haven't been there in so long, but I do go to Disneyland every once in awhile, and they share some of the same rides (WDW is so much cooler though!). I'm so jealous of you! You're going to have so much fun!

PlanetClaire · #23 06-27-2006, 07:43 PM

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw...rienceTipsPage

Doesn't explain it really any better than the above posts!! If my scanner worked I'd copy it for you out of my travel agent's guide!! Your pass is going to be a card- looks like an ATM card. You slide it into the Fastpass machine- they are really well indciated- and a ticket pops out confirming your time and the ride. You come back at the indicated time and go right on in! VIP service! It's kinda fun!!

When you get into the park ( or maybe even before at Guest Services at your hotel) there are free maps and it will indicate on it which rides have the Fastpass feature available.

Absolutely get the bride and grrom ears!! Do a character breakfast- the characters are not allowed to talk anywhere in the parks but it makes for some awesome pictures as they mingle about and pose for pics!

There is an amazing steakhouse at the Yacht Club- which is my fave of all the resorts on site! And the Brown Derby at the Disney-MGM studios park is awesome for lunch- especially if you like "old world" Hollywood.

I could go on and on and on about Disney! I love the darned place!!!

labeadel · #24 06-27-2006, 07:48 PM

Oh I agree! You MUST do a character breakfast! They are so much fun!!!

wembley · #25 06-27-2006, 08:41 PM

This thread is just making me sad. I want to go so badly. You better take lots and lots of pictures and share with us.