Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Mar 17, 2011 13:38:41 GMT -5
I found out yesterday that I have enough points on my credit card for two free round-trip domestic flights (about time, I've had that card for almost three years ). DBF and I usually stay local for our vacations, but with free flights we figured we might as well splurge. We were thinking DW (neither of us has ever been - he's never even been to Disneyland!). Quick search online seems to indicate that a sweet hotel / park pass package will run us somewhere in the $2k range, which is fine. But I'd like to hear direct feedback from anyone who's actually been there - I'd be especially interested if you went recently and without children. What else should we plan to spend money on? Any parks we absolutely *can't* miss? How much should we budget for "extras"? Oh, this trip would be in mid-October and probably last 5-6 days. Optimal weather, limited crowds, plenty of time to save up = WIN ;D
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Mar 17, 2011 13:47:55 GMT -5
My Dd is going in a couple of weeks. She may bust out of her skin before then. DH and I actually went before we had kids. We did enjoy oursleves. We as adults liked Epcot the best and the Magic Kindom the least. Hollywood studios, now MGM was the 3rd park back then. Animal Kindom wasn't built when we last went. I think the most expensive part for us was the park tickets. Hotels you can pick a price range that suits your budget. I would eat at the park at least once. some of the restaurants are really good. But I wouldn't want to be locked into a dinner reservation for everyday. Just my 2 cents. If you like big rides Universal studios is the place.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2011 13:53:08 GMT -5
DH and I went for our honeymoon. October is in the middle of hurricane season, so I might re-think that time if I were you. But the weather will otherwise be nice and warm. We went in January - it's not too hot (60s-70s typically), although last year (we went again) it was in the 40s and 50s!!! But going in January means that prices are low and there will be MUCH smaller crowds. We once walked a small stretch of park completely alone! ;D If you're staying on Disney property (which I recommend), GET A MEAL PLAN!!! The most basic one covers a large sit-down meal, one fast-food type meal, and one snack. They feed you so much that you will probably have unused snacks when your trip is over, but it's worth it. You just show your room card at the restaurant and they do the rest. It actually saves you money and the hassle of having to "pay" at every meal. We don't buy many souvenirs, so we didn't really bring any spending money and that worked out fine. Oh, and if you get the meal plan, plan your dinners/sit-down meals ASAP! Seating tends to fill up quickly. I'd suggest going on the mouse savers website for tips. Also google WDW restaurants and eateries for reviews and ratings. Overall, the food there is pretty good. You don't need a car since WDW has a good transportation system. We even signed up for the Magic Express service that took us from the Orlando airport to our hotel (and back). Granted they made other stops to drop other people off, but we didn't have to worry about picking up or dropping off a rental car - or taking a cab! Magic Express even allows you to pre-check your back when you leave your hotel to make it easier when you get to the airport. All in all, a nice all-inclusive vacation - especially without kids! But expect to hear kids everywhere you go.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Mar 17, 2011 13:54:57 GMT -5
DH and I went in Sept. 2001, no kids. We stayed on the grounds. Food/meals were expensive. We didn't get to Animal Kingdom but found Epcot boring. I liked the Magic Kingdom, DH didn't. I don't remember if we did MGM or not.
I think the longest line we had was Space Mountain, at 5 minutes or so. There were a lot of military couples there and lots of couples with kids in strollers and very few people with school aged kids. The exception was a family there for a wedding nearby or something. And it drizzled/rained every afternoon.
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reader79
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Post by reader79 on Mar 17, 2011 13:55:41 GMT -5
I went twice as a teenager - we had to wait for all of the little ones to grow up so that they would get the 'full experience.' I had fun at Magic Kingdom, more than at the movie one for sure.
If you need a nap, go on the It's a Small World ride. I had fun with the Toy Story ride with the blaster guns... and I didn't get to, but I would love to check out Downtown Disney.
My next trip to Florida is to check out Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But I am going to wait until the crowds die down, so maybe Spring 2012.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Mar 17, 2011 14:00:04 GMT -5
Interesting. Seems there are mixed opinions on how to approach the meals. I'll have to think about that (we're definitely staying at a Disney hotel, but I didn't even know about the meal plans).
Thanks for the feedback, everyone - keep it coming! ;D
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rileyoday
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Post by rileyoday on Mar 17, 2011 14:09:41 GMT -5
I recommend Universal Studios Orlando over Disney. I lived there and found Universal had a better park, attractions, parking, and even prices a little less.
I also would stay in the park for ease of access. They also had head of the line with your room key. I believe that park is less crowded than Disney.
Most local friends preferred universal. Hope you have a good time.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Mar 17, 2011 14:15:27 GMT -5
We didn't know about a meal plan or maybe they didn't offer it then. I don't know. I know we bought a cheap cooler and used that to store some food in while we were there.
We're talking about going in Fall 2012, with the kids and possibly both sets of grandparents. We're planning on staying on the grounds again and having a kitchenette this time.
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reader79
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Post by reader79 on Mar 17, 2011 14:17:01 GMT -5
Oh, and sign up on their website for their emails. I get one every few weeks with a package deal for room/tickets/meals.
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qofcc
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Post by qofcc on Mar 17, 2011 14:18:55 GMT -5
I haven't been to Disney in about 10 years and I went with kids, but I've been to Orlando on business several times in the last few years.
Both times we stayed in nearby condos rather than at Disney hotels. I loved that for the same price or less, we could have a kitchen and washer dryer. I think it saves money to be able to fix breakfast & snacks in the room. There wasn't anything wrong with the Disney hotels, but people said the rooms weren't any different than you would expect at any other moderately priced family hotel. When we go on vacation we also usually volunteer to take a timeshare tour in exchange for usually around $100 in restaurant certificates or cash.
If you're a planner, I would suggest getting the park guides and making a list of your must-do rides ahead of time.
Have fun and don't forget to check out some of the other grownup attractions in Orlando such as Universal Studios.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 17, 2011 14:26:33 GMT -5
We went May 2004 as a delayed honeymoon. We stayed in a timeshare (free) with a kitchen, so we went to a grocery store and ate at least one (and often two) meals in our unit each day. That definitely saved money. We bought a multi-park 4 day pass from Disney and a single day pass at SeaWorld. I bought them online for a discounted rate. They did not have any date restrictions. That meant we had one day where we couldn't go to a park, but as DH often needs a rest day, that's how we always plan things.
Best advice I can give- good walking shoes. And have a plan. We went to the park in the morning, came home in the middle of the day, and then returned in the evening. It gave us a mid-day break and kept us out of the worst of the kid crowds.
The other thing is to take advantage of the fast pass, or whatever they're calling it. Instead of waiting in line, you get a ticket for the ride you want in 1/2 an hour. You go look at the little souvenier stands, maybe do a ride that has a short line, and then come back and skip the line altogether, going to the front and getting right on.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 17, 2011 14:48:52 GMT -5
TD and I went when my research meeting was in Orlando in 2006. The meeting itself was at The Dolphin, which is where we stayed. The one advantage was that through the meeting, I was able to take advantage of some perks that they provided, that were not generally available that did help ameloriate some of the cost. However, they do tend to nickel and dime you to death.
Meals are not inexpensive either at the hotels or in the parks. We wound up eating at the breakfast buffet and then eating dinner, bypassing lunch. Even then, we were probably spending about $100+/day for food.
The one advantage of staying in a Disney property is that the park is open in off hours for hotel guests. It's not every park, every day, but they schedule different parks, different days, different hours and you can check this out in advance.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Mar 17, 2011 15:00:38 GMT -5
...spend twice as long at Epcot... ;D
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 17, 2011 15:05:54 GMT -5
Firebird, I've been to DisneyWorld a bunch of times - I went with girlfriends as a twenty something and a thirty something, I took my Mom to Disney World in between going with friends - she'd never been there!, and then I went again near 40 with my brothers and their families (the kids were tweens and teens). It's been about 7 seven years since I've been there. I think some of the general rules of thumb still apply - if you stay on Disney property and plan to only visit Disney stuff you may be able to get away without a car - you just wait for Disney transportation to get you were you want to go. It's not a big hassle. Disney has a bunch of levels of hotels on their property - since you guys DON"T have kids - I'd recommend looking at the properties aimed more at adults (older kids). I stayed with mom in a mid-range Disney affiliated property (Disney transportation stopped there but it wasn't officially on Disney property) that was really nice and seemed reasonably priced at the time (I did get a Senior Discount because of Mom... actually we got a TON of really nice upgrades and services and conveniences because my Mom was a cute Little Old Lady - well, I don't think the 'cute' part had much to do with it:) ). Mom and I actually spent a quiet day at Disney on their 'faux beach' and 'faux nature reserve'. It was a nice quiet, easy paced change from the parks - Mom wasn't really into riding the rollercoasters... I stayed at the economy level Disney property with my Sibs and their family - it was OK and very convenient - if I had kids I'd stay there again. I wouldn't stay there if I was going with only Adults - too many kids and kid oriented things (pools, food, etc) When I went with the girls - we stayed off property and rented a car - we spent 3 or 4 days at Disney and then did some other Florida things - drove to the Gulf of Mexico for a bit of beach and ocean (the first time in an ocean for me!),another time we drove to Cape Caneveral to see the NASA stuff. When Universal Studios opened we went there. I also dragged a friend to GatorLand (I love kitsch!!) I think we also went to an Outlet Mall or some sort of shopping thing - I was kinda hung over and don't really like shopping so that parts alittle fuzzy. I'd think about what you want from your vacation and then work around that. there's more in Florida than DisneyWorld and even DisneyWorld has more than just the rides/water parks. Don't forget to Talk to the people who work at Disney - they are from all over the world and they know all sorts of info about Disney and have all sorts of stories about their home towns. Also, remember to not forget your belongings on the ride/bus/tram and to take children by the hand when exiting the ride! Also when the Disney tour guide Saids "Hi! I'm Sally How are you folks all doing?!" be sure to holler back "Hi Sally!! We're doing GREAT!" It's makes them laugh and makes for a better experience!
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 17, 2011 15:09:37 GMT -5
Some things to think about: meals at Disney have always seemed pretty pricey - but I felt the food was better (no $5.00 generic hotdogs on a stale bun), Don't forget you might want to spend extra on booze or a nice meal at Epcot or maybe a lunch/dinner in Cinderella's Castle? Staying for the fireworks and parades at night is fun. Going off Disney property for other attractions may require a car. Try to do alittle homework - when I went with my sibs and their families - everyone was exhausted by day 3 so we had a down day (mainly hung around the hotel and pool) The Parents wanted a "nice dinner out" so I volunteered to take the kids to the movies in the evening - I knew there was a movie theater showing current movies just a bus ride away... I had a blast with my gaggle of tweens and teens and after the movie we jumped back on the bus and back into a park to get on a couple of rides and have icecream... the kids thought we were being naughty as moms and dads supposedly didn't know we were doing that - but I called them to let them know what we were doing and when we'd be back.
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Agatha
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Post by Agatha on Mar 17, 2011 15:42:36 GMT -5
My last real "vacation" was going to DW with a friend in 2009. I had been at least three times and she had never been. While I always enjoyed the castle Fantasyland is really not my cup of tea unless I can completely suspend my adult frontal lobe. Epcot is my favorite park and we were there during October when they were having their wine and food festival at the World Showcase. Wonderful! Staying on the property is a definite yes. Transportation is excellent. I've never done a meal plan but food is expensive on the property. Do make reservations for meals early. Treat yourself to a couple of "memorable" meals. We did Germany and France while there. I loved them both but Germany was far more informal and hearty. The Japanese steakhouse I would also recommend. Other than the dinosaur section I really wasn't all that impressed with the "wildlife" park (I can't recall the name). The "safari" drive was nice but far too fast. I missed lots of what could of been great pictures. DW can be a great place for adults as well as kids. Just take your time and tune in to the surroundings. Kids miss a lot of details. And let your inner child come out and play. Isn't that why one takes a vacation anyway?
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Mar 17, 2011 16:20:09 GMT -5
One other thing. The Disney meal plans sometimes are added "free" when you book at certain times of the year. Read the off peak times they are trying to fill up. Personally I would get it if they were adding it free. But with the full dining meal a day it just is too much for us. I always ate a big breakfast and then had a late lunch at maybe 2-3 pm. By the time we got back to the hotel We were just too tired or not hungry enough to shlep back out for a big dinner. But if we had the dining plan I kind of felt like I "had"to or it was a waste. Stupid I know but it is weird I felt tied to those reservations more than I wanted to be. There is a plan though that only includes 2 counter service meals, read casual, and two snacks a day. That works more for us. We get to eat while we are there but only make one or two dinner reservations for a trip like yours. We loved dinner at the Marrakesh in Epcot., LOVE that place!!! The rest of the time we just had a snack or leftovers from lunch. Trust me no one was ever hungry!
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oreo
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Post by oreo on Mar 17, 2011 17:38:34 GMT -5
We have been to WDW every year in the October/November time frame 5 of the last 6 years. That is a good time to go I think. It might still be hot-ish but not as hot as summer and you'll miss the love bugs. They nearly ALWAYS offer free dining plan during that time so you should consider holding off buying anything until they offer that. It is usually offered in the June/July time frame. We always stay in a budget resort. We like both the Pop Century and the All Star Sports (haven't stayed at the Music or Movies resort but I'm sure they are fine too). If you get the meal plan and stay at one of the budget resorts (they have a different name but I can't remember what it is) I recommend you upgrade to the dining package where you can eat in restaurants 1 meal/day rather than just at counter service places. If you don't and are there any length of time, you will be SICK of the counter service places I think (we usually go for 2 weeks). Book your dining reservations ASAP after you book your stay. I think they allow booking up to like 6 months in advance. If you want some place like Le Cellier (Epcot) you'll need to book it way in advance because it fills up fast. We buy the park hopper pass with the water parks. We really like the water parks. One of them is usually closed all of October so you should check the schedules if you are interested in going to both of them.
Something I did last year for the first time is I got in on a group Photopass. They have employees who take pictures throughout the park and charge a fortune (like $100) to get them all on a cd. If you get in with a group, you can each have your own Photopass card then combine them all into 1 Photopass cd/dvd and the person who coordinates it all sends it to you. I think I paid like $15 last year because we had several in our group. I'd totally do it again although it annoyed my husband to have to pose for all of those pictures!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2011 18:11:53 GMT -5
My exBF and I went with his sister and her husband. None of us had kids with us. We stayed at the All-Star Movie resort, which is budget level. But you really mostly sleep there. We did get the meal plan for free, but you have to book the nicer sit-down places wayyy in advance. Six months is good. By the way, the gratuity is included in the meal plan so don't tip twice unless you just want to.
I was pretty bored, to be honest. But I was glad to be able to say I went.
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on Mar 17, 2011 18:29:47 GMT -5
I've been a bunch of times. DOM lives nearby and her DBF works there so we go for free. Honestly, I don't really care if I ever go again. It is absolutely beautiful at Christmas time, probably the only time I'd care to go again just to see the decorations. There are NEVER "limited" crowds there. Be prepared to wait in long lines often, for everything. I would definitely stay on property, as you can take the free shuttle to all of the parks and back to the hotel. Parking is something like $14 per car per day to get into the parks. I've also heard wonderful things about the Disney Dining options, but, have never used it personally. I'd probably try to go with at least a moderate priced hotel. The budget ones are pretty basic, bare bones hotel rooms with tons of families and small kids. I love Sea World and Discovery Cove, way more than Disney. If you are going 5-6 days, you probably will only have time (and energy-days are long and exhausting) to do the 4 Disney parks. There is also "Downtown Disney" as well as 2 water parks. I've been to Universal once. It was ok...guess it depends if you are "ride" people or not what parks you'd like better. There are some really great places to eat at Epcot (Canada, Germany and Mexico are all awesome). Many of the nicer hotels also have very good meals, but be prepared to pay $$$ to eat on property, hence why so many people love the dining plan.
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Clifford
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Post by Clifford on Mar 18, 2011 11:15:01 GMT -5
Been to the parks over 40 times... - Try to hit the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT in Oct/Nov - Eat at Le Cellier, Marakesh, O'Hana - Use Magical Express - Stay on property - Use a moderate like Port Orleans to have fewer kids/families around - Go early, take a break/nap at the hotel, stay late - The meal plan is based on the number of nights spent at a Disney property. I know you said 6 days, and the ticket costs should be reasonable, but past day 7 or so the daily ticket costs go down, down, down. If you could stay at a Disney property for 8-10 days, and get the ticket/room/meal plan deal, for about $10/day you could eat at some great restaurants. You don't have to go to the parks - see Universal/SeaWorld/NASA, etc. - but you can eat breakfast or dinner at a terrific place for $10!
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 18, 2011 11:24:05 GMT -5
I just got back from 8 days at Disney, traveled with DH, 3 yo DD, 4 yo DS, and gramma. I've been 4 times before.
Stay on the grounds, don't bother with an extensive meal plan because sit down meals require reservations which just don't work with little kids. Counter service works best with kids.
Have a general itinerary and get Fast Passes so you can get on the best rides.
Get a refillable water bottle and save yourself a fortune.
We stayed at the cabins at Fort Wilderness. Lots of room to run around, lots of playgrounds, and you can get stuff for breakfast at the cabin. Rent a golf cart so you don't spend your life waiting for the bus.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Mar 18, 2011 12:09:44 GMT -5
Went to DW for a week in Jan 2001 and had a blast. Weather was perfect. Only mistake we made was going MLK weekend so we spent Monday at Sea World, then the rest of the week at Disney. Visited a different park each day and each evening went to EPCOT for dinner at a different country. We stayed at a hotel off the park grounds and I don't remember the cost.
Someday we'll go back, in January, and a different weekend. We'll stay at the park and take advantage of the Disney shuttle from the airport.
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tractor
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Post by tractor on Mar 18, 2011 15:24:35 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite topics! I have been there three times in ths past year and hope to get back sometime in May/June. I even got crazy this year and bought an annual pass for my wife and I so we can come and go as much as we want for the next year, even though it's a three hour flight for us to get there. I love the place and everything about it (I know, I need a life, but you go with what makes you happy).
I didn't see what the age of your kid(s) is (are) so that will make a difference in where you will want to stay, and what you will want to do. As other have said, if you are only planning of going to DW, don't bother with a rental car, the Magic Express is free to/from the airport when you ar staying at a Disney resort (I stayed at the Dolphin in January, so I was required to rent a car).
I would get the park hopper pass so you have the flexibility of going from one park to the other on the same day. Usually one park either opens early, or stays open late each day (you can see what the schedule is on the Disney website). The one with the extra hours usually get the most traffic on any given day. I tend to avoid that park during the day, but hit it at night when most of the families with small kids have gone home. I also try to go to EPCOT every night when I'm there, and usually eat my dinner in the park. Almost everything there is good, but if you want a unique experience, go to the Morocan pavilion and eat there, the food is good, and it's quite alot of fun. Then you can catch the fireworks and either head in for the night, or head to one of the other parks.
I don't know exactly what kind of info you are looking for, but if you have any specific questions just ask, if it's there, I've done it (may have even conceived one of my sons in an undisclosed location in the park).
FWIW, I now have two early-pre teen kids and they hate it there, so my wife and I have made it a habit of going without (in spite of) them. I have also been to Universal Stuidos several times. Remember, EPCOT serves booze, so if you can ditch the kids, drinking around the world makes for a fun night out.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Mar 18, 2011 15:46:47 GMT -5
I didn't read all the threads here but wanted to pop in and say... SPEND ONE DAY AT UNIVERSAL AND SEE HARRY POTTER LAND!!! We just got back from a week in FL (4 days in Universal, 3 in WDW). It is a blast. You will have lots of fun.
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Pants
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Post by Pants on Mar 18, 2011 15:56:47 GMT -5
Firebird: Check out slate.com--they just republished an article series by Seth Stevenson about visiting Disney as an adult without kids. Searching "Disney" will probably get you there...
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t-dog
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Post by t-dog on Mar 18, 2011 16:14:48 GMT -5
Was just there week of 1/17/11 with my 8-year old - Loved Disney World. Didn't make it any of the other Disney parks. Food was not outrageous in the park - $40 for 4 adult and 1 kid lunch. We will be back to DisneyWorld I am confident. Went to Universal - after the near heartattack at the entry price ($104 for kid and $112 for adult) had fun. Most of the Universal rides are 3D Imax type things - I get horribly dizzy on those (though not on a traditional roller coaster) so I did not enjoy it as much as Disney. Universal is riding Harry Potter into the ground! The village of Hogsmeade was fun, but its small and not worth the entry price for the 3 coasters in that area (one of them, Flight of the Hippogryph is less than 45 seconds!). Universal had very long lines!!!!! Overall I felt nickeled and dimed to death at Universal and I shall NEVER return.
I would recommend the hour drive to Cape Canaveral - super interesting and not outrageously priced.
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sapphire12
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Post by sapphire12 on Mar 19, 2011 14:50:51 GMT -5
I"ve been To DW numerous times, both as a child and adult. Since you've never been there, I would say spend some time at Magic Kingdom. My favorite is Epcot. Downtown Disney is nice to walk around. The fireworks at night are cool. At this stage of my life, I would go back to Epcot and Downtown Disney. I would also rent a car to drive to Cape Canerval to see NASA and Cocoa Beach. If you stay off property, but close by, most hotels provide free shuttle service to the park. I have no clue about the meal plans. Have fun.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Mar 19, 2011 17:18:25 GMT -5
It costs $14 a day to park so use shuttles if you can. I live close to the parks so if you want to email me I can tell you more. Hurricane season isn't really an issue as there is plenty of warning and it rarely happens anyway. I try not to go in the summer because of the heat but there are ways around that as well.
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Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Mar 20, 2011 9:04:21 GMT -5
We used to be Disney Vacation Club members, but sold our two memberships (different resorts) this last year because we don't plan to travel to WDW as much. I would suggest buying a good up-to-date guidebook to WDW, and then reading it. It will give you lots of good ideas on conquering each park. Also, if you plan on staying in a "budget" resort, Port Orleans is wonderful. I think it's much nicer than the other budget-level resorts. The grounds are beautiful.
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