Any Disney Geeks out there?

[jtm1631]

Well, we have already decided to hit Walt Disney World for our June 2005 family trip.

Just wondering if any of these esteemed forum members have any good Disney forums or websites to visit.

I am already familiar with sites like allearsnet.com, but would love to hear some additional thoughts.

Thanks.

[Avalon]

You absolutely need to visit mouseplanet dot com and hiddenmickeys dot com is strangely interesting. I hope Disneyworld faired well through all the weather. I've never been there. I'm a west coast girl so we go for the original...Disneyland! It still enchants me. I would like to make it out to Florida some day and see all the resorts and parks. Hope this helps!!

[Ginger]

Well, in three or four short weeks we'll be visiting the World ourselves for our second time. I love it there, however corny and commercial it is!

I sent you a PM with some info.

[jtm1631]

Thank you for the info Ladies. We went to DL in '01 and '03. I have been to WDW over my entire life about 20+ times.

I am the biggest Disney sucker there is. Planning a trip 9 months away and I can't wait. Looks like we will be splurging this trip and staying at the Polynesian.

Thanks again for the links and the PM.

[TAPPY]

The water parks are a blast if it gets to hot (it is hot in June) as well as DisneyQuest (Downtown Disney) the indoor Interactive Theme Park (we loved this)...Have fun, bring $$$ !!!

[Ginger]

oooo, the Polynesian, lucky you! We were only in the All Star Movies last time.

THis time we'll be at Westgate Vacation Villas in Nov, and Holiday Inn Nikki Bird, and the Howard Johnson. But two out of three are free with our air miles, so no complaints here.

Tappy, we didn't do DisneyQuest last time, is it worth it for the younger kids, or more for the teens?

[Avalon]

If I went to Disneyworld I think I'd want to do the African Safari themed hotel. It sounds so cool....and expensive. Now as soon as I win that lottery...

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by Ginger

Tappy, we didn't do DisneyQuest last time, is it worth it for the younger kids, or more for the teens?

There is something for kids of all ages...alot of "vitrual reality" type rides that you can do as a whole family....we did the white water raft ride several times....as well as Aladians Magic Carpet Ride .......it was a blast...

My daughter was 8 (and very ride timid) when she went and she loved it...she would not get on some of the rides (design your own roller coaster ride) ..

There is also alot of artistic things for them to do as well (make your own cartoon)....alot of techie things.....games etc....

A good way to spend a rainy day, or when it is just to hot to be out walking around....

[Silver Starfish]

Here is a very good website that I frequented during my 2/04 trip.

http://disboards.com/index.php?s=

I would strongly recommend getting the book, "Unofficial Guide to Disney" and using the strategic plans in the back. They really work!!! (even my skeptical husband was convinced!) We also liked the strategy of arriving at the parks as early as possible and then leaving around 3pm for a break and then going back to the parks at night for an evening event. In this order are my favorite evening events: Fantasmik, Wishes, Spectromagic, and then Illuminations. But I would see Fantasmik on the last evening because it was so awesome. Another must see for shows is The Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom. Don't miss any of those.

[TAPPY]

The Festival of the Lion King show was one of my favorites too !!!!!

[bbA2]

One tip for the water parks is bring aqua shoes, the sidewalks get VERY HOT at that time of year, they have misters to cool them but sometimes a head is broken (easy now this is disney) and the spots that are not covered get hot enough to fry and egg or some tootsies. Both mine and my wife's feet were that shiny scalded from walking around without the aqua shoes.

When we went it was before we had kids and we found Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids: The Official Guide for Fun-Loving Adults (Serial) by Pamela S. Weiers to be very helpful. But I think all the guide books say basically the same thing.

I would agree that getting in as early as possible and doing the "big" rides and attractions first is the way to go, also a siesta in the afternoon is a great idea to rejuvenate before returning in the evening. I noticed that around 5 or 6 many families were heading out with children who were in various stages of nuclear meltdown, really clearing out the place, along with assorted parents and grandparents who were wore out and needing to go back to the hotel. So if you have kids who want to see it all make this a part of your plan and talk about it before you go and then you can look at the others and say, "now aren't you glad you are not that tired".

We really enjoyed downtown Disney and Pleasure Island, it is three blocks of bars and theydo a sweep and kick out the underagers at 9:00 or 10:00pm I think, I have a hard time remembering everything about it...hmmm except there were drink carts on every corner in addition to the bars...hmmm

To thems from California or other west coast locales who have never been to DW, having been to both I can assuredly say DW blows DL away, it is just so much bigger and so many more attractions it is totally worth the trip.

One other thing, Park Hopper pass is the only way to go if you can afford it, I assume if you are staying on property that you can, it is so worth it. It allows you ultimate flexibility so if you hear about a special event at one specific park you can easily go and enjoy it. For example we went to animal kingdom in the morning when the animals were most active then went to the Magic Kingdom in the late morning and early afternoon and then went to see illuminations in the evening after a nap back at the hotel. made for a busy but wonderful day and that was just one of 6!

sorry if rambled too much but I love Disney and can't wait until my 7 month old is old enough to go and experience the Happiest Place on Earth!

bba2

[Avalon]

Originally Posted by bbA2

I love Disney and can't wait until my 7 month old is old enough to go and experience the Happiest Place on Earth!

bba2

We took Avalon for the first time at 2 months!

[Fernanda]

Originally Posted by Avalon

If I went to Disneyworld I think I'd want to do the African Safari themed hotel. It sounds so cool....and expensive. Now as soon as I win that lottery...

we went at the animal kingdom lodge (the african safari themed hotel) November last year and was a blast!!...very nice resort , super service. we had dinner one night at their african restaurant... and the food was excellent!!...in overall it worth to stay there for the price, and better if you get a room facing the areas , so you can wake up in the morning and step out on your balcony and see the animals right there!!! awesom expirience!!!.

[TAPPY]

We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Carribean Resort, both were very nice.....Also good for kids is one of those little fan/misters things you carry around....I got one for my daughter and we all used it !!!!

[jtm1631]

Originally Posted by bbA2

One tip for the water parks is bring aqua shoes, the sidewalks get VERY HOT at that time of year, they have misters to cool them but sometimes a head is broken (easy now this is disney) and the spots that are not covered get hot enough to fry and egg or some tootsies. Both mine and my wife's feet were that shiny scalded from walking around without the aqua shoes.

Great tip, this one will go right into the Disney file I have started.

Originally Posted by bbA2

I would agree that getting in as early as possible and doing the "big" rides and attractions first is the way to go, also a siesta in the afternoon is a great idea to rejuvenate before returning in the evening.

Our game plan is to hit MK early, rest in the afternoon and than head out to Epcot in the evening. I like the evening's at Epcot because of the choice of restaurants at the World Showcase and the added benefit of there being booze served in Epcot.

Originally Posted by bbA2

To thems from California or other west coast locales who have never been to DW, having been to both I can assuredly say DW blows DL away, it is just so much bigger and so many more attractions it is totally worth the trip.

I'm not sure I agree with this one. I love both DL & WDW for different reasons. The advantage of DL is it is more compact. With little kids the main attraction at WDW is alwyas going to be the Magic Kingdom with a few scattered rides at the other parks. When at DL all the rides are at two parks that are walking distance from each other. DL can be much easier to manage with the little ones. DL however does not have that all encompassing feel of being inside a Disney property like WDW.

Originally Posted by bbA2

sorry if rambled too much but I love Disney and can't wait until my 7 month old is old enough to go and experience the Happiest Place on Earth!

7 months already and you haven't been yet? It some ways I enjoyed trips more when the kids were that young. Still young enough to sleep in your arms and in the stroller. Disney gets very trickey when the kids are about 18 months - 2 or 3 years old. There is a transition period where they are too old to sleep anywhere and not old enough to have the stamina for even a three or four hours in a Disney park. That is my experience atleast with 3 daughters, YMMV.