Disney World

Missing B'dos · Post by **Missing B'dos** » July 28, 2008 10:45 am

Hi there -- 'just back' from Anguilla/St. Kitts/St. Martin/Antigua and checking the email.
Yes, we were once at DisneyWorld from December 26 to January 2, the exact dates you are going. It was a bit cool that year, but as at the time we lived in Wisconsin, it didn't bother us much. One thing you should know is that that whole week, they repeat the Christmas parade that is shown on TV Christmas morning every day, so you can see it live, but of course it hasn't got all the special added-for-TV effects.

Use the fast passes and late stays, do the midday 'leave the park' thing, schedule at least one Christmas season character meal (for that week, book this WAY ahead) and be aware that they do a special 'Small World' and Haunted Mansion at Chistmas time, so those get longer lines than usual... Mansion particularly bad, a 'go-early' if ever was one. Also, all the Disney characters you see will have on special holiday season wear.

Do your shopping as SOON as you arrive each day and get a locker early and store it.... at the end of the day in Christmas season, the stores get particularly mobbed. Another tip is that because it is so crowded then, on the EARLY OPENING days available to in-park guests, EVERYONE goes to that day's early opening park, so it isn't such a deal... you'd be better to have a nice breakfast, and go as early as allowed to another of the parks that ISN'T having Early Opening that day.

GET the Disney Book and memorize it and the maps... plan a rainy and a sunny strategy for each day, and decide ahead what you will do when you are off-park ie will you go to the hotel and eat, will you go to the Boardwalk, if you are buying Park Hoppers will you do half days at parks, switching off, etc., Lockers at each park are great because they allow you to leave coats, guidebooks, purchases, etc., and easily loop back to get them, but they get taken early, so get yours as soon as you arrive... the guidebook will tell you where they are located near each entry.

Some fantasy land rides allow you to parent-swap so the kids don't stand in line so long. Here is another thing about the parks too... in DW we noticed that the more East Coast clientele were much more nasty about one parent holding a place in line (sometimes even on lines where Disney had posted signs about parent-swap -- presumably these people didn't know it existed), while the other parent took the kids for a drink or bathroom, etc., whereas at the California parks, people were much more cool about it, not so hyper, more smiling. This may just have something to do with the personalities of the different coasts, but you should know it.

Another tip is for the family to all wear matching shirts each day... we saw this done quite often... it makes it easier to stay together and you appeal to the roaming Disney photographers! The kids will love the pins you can buy to wear on your shirt that make you look like a Disney employee. And don't forget ears for all... at Christmas there are special ear hats like Santa hats, too.

It is gorgeously decorated and flowered at Christmas, just overwhelming. You can have a really good time, but you just have to plan more than you might at a quieter time. We did love the chance to once go at Christmas!

finz42 · Post by **finz42** » July 28, 2008 1:32 pm

As of today, only 79 more days to go until Disney! For those of you who tire of countdowns, I apologize. We started this one at 239 days, so 79 feels like not long now!

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » July 28, 2008 2:41 pm

finz42 wrote:
SailQwest wrote:
MelliJellyBean wrote:We'll be going there again in October. I can't wait!
We're going to be there in October, too! We like going then because the crowds aren't too bad...
October is a great time to go to WDW. 109 days and counting until departure for the most magical place on earth.

I'll be there Sept. 28 through October 6. I'm starting to get very excited!

My mom just bought my sis and I tickets to see Cirque De Soleil at WDW!

I hear October is a great time weather-wise.

britparrothead · Post by **britparrothead** » July 29, 2008 11:17 am

We last went the Xmas week 1999. As we were leaving the park an announcement came on asking if anyone would like to stay back and be in the TV Xmas special!! Of course we stayed and had great fun. We even saw ourselves on TV

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » July 29, 2008 1:40 pm

britparrothead wrote: We last went the Xmas week 1999. As we were leaving the park an announcement came on asking if anyone would like to stay back and be in the TV Xmas special!! Of course we stayed and had great fun. We even saw ourselves on TV

that's cool! When I was in the WVU college marching band, I got to be in the Very Merry Christmas Parade. haha

That's a neat experience!!

Hoosier PH · Post by **Hoosier PH** » July 31, 2008 10:24 am

Heading to Orlando in October. Hear the weather is beautiful that time of year.

dnw · Post by **dnw** » July 31, 2008 11:01 am

Hoosier PH wrote:Heading to Orlando in October. Hear the weather is beautiful that time of year.

October is the perfect month to go to Disney. Enjoy.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » July 31, 2008 11:19 am

dnw wrote:
Hoosier PH wrote:Heading to Orlando in October. Hear the weather is beautiful that time of year.

October is the perfect month to go to Disney. Enjoy.

We didn't think so

Alot of Europe is on holiday during Oct so there were LOTS of tour groups there.
The parks were really crowded.
But the weather was great

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » July 31, 2008 11:55 am

springparrot wrote:
dnw wrote:
Hoosier PH wrote:Heading to Orlando in October. Hear the weather is beautiful that time of year.

October is the perfect month to go to Disney. Enjoy.
We didn't think so

Alot of Europe is on holiday during Oct so there were LOTS of tour groups there.
The parks were really crowded.
But the weather was great

what part of October did you go? I'm going the first week of October.

In other news, my mom bought my sister and I tickets to see Cirque de Soleil at Disney!!! SWEET!

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » July 31, 2008 1:24 pm

MelliJellyBean wrote:
springparrot wrote:
dnw wrote:
Hoosier PH wrote:Heading to Orlando in October. Hear the weather is beautiful that time of year.

October is the perfect month to go to Disney. Enjoy.
We didn't think so

Alot of Europe is on holiday during Oct so there were LOTS of tour groups there.
The parks were really crowded.
But the weather was great
what part of October did you go? I'm going the first week of October.

In other news, my mom bought my sister and I tickets to see Cirque de Soleil at Disney!!! SWEET!

I don't remember, but our travel agent said it was always crazy in Oct.
Don't the Europeans have their own Disney??

ContinentalDrifterIII · August 10, 2008 9:24 am

finz42 wrote:As of today, only 79 more days to go until Disney! For those of you who tire of countdowns, I apologize. We started this one at 239 days, so 79 feels like not long now!

Have a great time finz and keep your countdown going! My family and I do the same thing although we usually start at 100 days. Have a great time in how many more days?

ContinentalDrifterIII · August 10, 2008 9:27 am

MelliJellyBean wrote:
springparrot wrote:
dnw wrote:
Hoosier PH wrote:Heading to Orlando in October. Hear the weather is beautiful that time of year.

October is the perfect month to go to Disney. Enjoy.
We didn't think so

Alot of Europe is on holiday during Oct so there were LOTS of tour groups there.
The parks were really crowded.
But the weather was great
what part of October did you go? I'm going the first week of October.

In other news, my mom bought my sister and I tickets to see Cirque de Soleil at Disney!!! SWEET!

I went last year the first week in October and it was great. I did not find the parks crowded. The weather was beautiful and you will there during the EPCOT food and wine festival! This is one of my favorite things at Disney. Like my good pal Albert P Tonga always says - HAVE FUN!

finz42 · Post by **finz42** » August 11, 2008 12:34 pm

ContinentalDrifterIII wrote:
finz42 wrote:As of today, only 79 more days to go until Disney! For those of you who tire of countdowns, I apologize. We started this one at 239 days, so 79 feels like not long now!
Have a great time finz and keep your countdown going! My family and I do the same thing although we usually start at 100 days. Have a great time in how many more days?

Only 65 more days!!! 65 doesn't seem like too long now. Almost time to start packing.

We love going in October! Great weather usually and crowds seem to be okay, too. Looking forward to our first trip there in 7 years. Anticipation is fun!

ContinentalDrifterIII · August 17, 2008 1:18 am

2 months and you are there! How cool?! Have fun and have a drink for me in the world showcase

finz42 · Post by **finz42** » August 17, 2008 7:43 pm

59 days and counting until departure for Disney!!!

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » August 17, 2008 9:37 pm

42 days until my departure! woohoo

jeepndd · Post by **jeepndd** » September 3, 2008 1:20 pm

What a bum rap. Because Bostonians, NYCers, and Philies have a tendency among their denizens to be arrogant and rude all East coasters are lumped among these few? If I lumped Oakland, LA, and San Diego people in together and assumed all people from the West Coast were all the same you wouldn't be looking to good either.

I've heard of the child swap thing at Disney and used it a few times myself, no problem.

My experiences in October at Disney have been that the weather is nice and it isn't as crowded as it can be at Disney other times of the year. It's early for South American vacationers and late season for Europe vacationers. You will notice more foreign visitors because there are fewer Americans their in my experience. To me that generally isn't a problem.

As for tour groups from other countries only at one time did I ever encounter trouble with a tour group at Disney and it wasn't in October. We were at the Animal Kingdom and a group of Brazilians were there as well being led around by a pair of tour guides holding a sign with a Brazilian flag on it and I assume writing that indicated their group. We got to the park and went straight to the Safari as early morning is the best viewing time. The Brazilian tour group was well ahead of us in line. When we got on the truck for the tour we were amazed to see no animals except for a few spots where they can not hide. This had never in our experience happened before and we were baffled as it has always been prime viewing time. About an hour later we were at the Gorilla exhibit when in came the Brazilian tour group. They spotted the gorilla's lounging next to the glass in close and full view watching us and they immediately started screaming, all of them, very loudly. Well of course the gorilla's were not impressed with them and they all fled quickly to a hiding spot. This tour group realised the gorillas weren't coming out of hiding anytime soon and moved on, we decided that if we wanted to see anything else we were going to need to stay well ahead of this group. I have never seen another tour group act this way before or since. I've never seen another identifiable Brazilian tour group but I've known a few Brazilians and none of them were taken to randomly screaming at the top of thier lungs. I guess what I'm saying is your experience can vary but tour groups don't have to detract from your visit, you can easily avoid them if you feel it necessary as the parks are huge.

ContinentalDrifterIII · **JoNeS BeAcH 8/21/14**

jeepndd wrote:What a bum rap. Because Bostonians, NYCers, and Philies have a tendency among their denizens to be arrogant and rude all East coasters are lumped among these few? If I lumped Oakland, LA, and San Diego people in together and assumed all people from the West Coast were all the same you wouldn't be looking to good either.

I've heard of the child swap thing at Disney and used it a few times myself, no problem.

My experiences in October at Disney have been that the weather is nice and it isn't as crowded as it can be at Disney other times of the year. It's early for South American vacationers and late season for Europe vacationers. You will notice more foreign visitors because there are fewer Americans their in my experience. To me that generally isn't a problem.

As for tour groups from other countries only at one time did I ever encounter trouble with a tour group at Disney and it wasn't in October. We were at the Animal Kingdom and a group of Brazilians were there as well being led around by a pair of tour guides holding a sign with a Brazilian flag on it and I assume writing that indicated their group. We got to the park and went straight to the Safari as early morning is the best viewing time. The Brazilian tour group was well ahead of us in line. When we got on the truck for the tour we were amazed to see no animals except for a few spots where they can not hide. This had never in our experience happened before and we were baffled as it has always been prime viewing time. About an hour later we were at the Gorilla exhibit when in came the Brazilian tour group. They spotted the gorilla's lounging next to the glass in close and full view watching us and they immediately started screaming, all of them, very loudly. Well of course the gorilla's were not impressed with them and they all fled quickly to a hiding spot. This tour group realised the gorillas weren't coming out of hiding anytime soon and moved on, we decided that if we wanted to see anything else we were going to need to stay well ahead of this group. I have never seen another tour group act this way before or since. I've never seen another identifiable Brazilian tour group but I've known a few Brazilians and none of them were taken to randomly screaming at the top of thier lungs. I guess what I'm saying is your experience can vary but tour groups don't have to detract from your visit, you can easily avoid them if you feel it necessary as the parks are huge.

Who will stop these Brazilian tour groups? Obama or McCain? They must be stopped or the gorilla exihibit will never be the same!

jeepndd · Post by **jeepndd** » September 7, 2008 9:10 pm

Don't worry, Obama is going to take care of everything. When gas is $12 a gallon and the tax rate is %75 percent for the rich and %70 for everyone else then Disney will finally get rid of us pesky Americans and The Brazilians, Brits, or any foreigners for that matter will have free run of it without the worry of offending any Americans.

CTParrothead763 · Post by **CTParrothead763** » September 10, 2008 7:12 pm

Here's a tip for October, especially if you have kids.

On a few nights Disney has a Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. It's a seperate admission, requiring a special ticket. They sell several thousand tickets, but THERE ARE NO LINES AT THE RIDES. You can basically walk right on.

So don't buy a regular admission ticket for that day; rather just a nighttime party ticket. The ticket says the party starts at 7:00, but they start letting people with those tickets in at 4:00. At 7:00, they kick the regular patrons out (you need a special wristband).

Highly recommend. Consider buying the tickets in advance. Some nights do sell out.