Are you kidding! [Disney]

[geekette]

Bush gardens..smaller crowd. .free beer.. who could ask for more?

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WHAT? FREE BEER??!??! Dag, haven't made it to any of those (B Gardens), but was otherwise headed back to Cedar Point, THE roller coaster park. Thanks for prompting the rethink...

 

[Jason245]

WHAT? FREE BEER??!??! Dag, haven't made it to any of those (B Gardens), but was otherwise headed back to Cedar Point, THE roller coaster park. Thanks for prompting the rethink...

Technically I think you are supposed to only get 2 free beers.. but if you take your drinks..walk out and happen to wonder back into the beer area a half hour later..well..

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[Jason245]

Crap.. it looks like they stopped in 2009... grrrr no more free beer..but they do have sesame Street area for kids..

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[elaine]

once you spend an hour or two of planning, WDW with FREE fp+ is pretty awesome. We actually have a much better experience now at peak times than we did 10-15 years ago. We can always do at least 7+ rides in a day, as we can do 4 rides in the AM easily with little to no wait and then 3 FP rides midday and then another few in the pm, if we decide to stay. I would never stand in line for more than 30 or 40 minutes tops--that's not a vacation to me. At Univ., during peak times, we would have to pay $300 per day EXTRA for a front of the line pass for a family or 4, or stay onsite at $479 per night!
At WDW we mix it up with 1/2 days in the parks and do other stuff @ WDW, like archery, camp fire, kids crafts, riding bikes, even fishing. We aren't die hard mouse fans (sometimes we only go into the parks 1-2 days of a weeklong trip)--but we do really like WDW b/c of the overall good value (IMHO) for a family vacation that the WDW resort area provides.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Book your table service dining 180 days ahead. You'll need a credit card to make a reservation(ADR). Without an ADR, you might not be dining sitting down, but only doing counter service.

60 days out, you book your Fast Pass+ if you are staying on Disney property. 30 days out if you are staying offsite. But you have to have your tickets entered into My Disney Experience on their website to select FP+.

 

[Jim Bryan]

Deleted Message

 

[Ken555]

As a Native Floridian (about 45 minutes from Park) I tired of Disney years ago.

Are you suggesting we take our financial contribution to your State elsewhere?


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[Jason245]

Are you suggesting we take our financial contribution to your State elsewhere?


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Please come..Florida is great.. don't forget to max out your credit lines and spend your entire home equity line of credit on your way out. And remember, the six percent sales tax you pay saves floridians from paying a state income tax.. so the more you spend the more you help..

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[Ken555]

Please come..Florida is great.. don't forget to max out your credit lines and spend your entire home equity line of credit on your way out. And remember, the six percent sales tax you pay saves floridians from paying a state income tax.. so the more you spend the more you help..

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Naw...I'm tired of Disney, so I'll spend my money elsewhere after all. Thanks for the prompt to do so.


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[Luanne]

Naw...I'm tired of Disney, so I'll spend my money elsewhere after all. Thanks for the prompt to do so.


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If I go to Disney, I'm going to the original one in California, the one I grew up with.

 

[silentg]

As a Native Floridian (about 45 minutes from Park) I tired of Disney years ago.

We live close to Disney, have seasonal pass, tables in Wonderland, went on Thursday to see Osbourne Lights at Hollywood Studios. We brought our own food and water. Had fast pass for 3 rides parked at Boardwalk stopped in at ESPN paced ourselves, when you live nearby you learn to navigate and try to enjoy the special perks of being a Florida Resident. If we didn't live here, we would do a package deal that includes, tickets,hotel, meal plan or DVC. People complain about Disney, but the crowds keep coming no matter how much the price rises.Spent a fun time with DD and friends!
Silentg

 

[Vacationfuntips]

Also download the Mousewait app.

Yes, this is a BIG must have. I always am checking that app when I go to Disney.

We go to Disney often. I used to plan out every detail. Days for each theme park. What days were Extra magic Hours. What restaurants we would eat at using the Dining Plan. Which days we would go to water parks, Downtown Disney, etc... It took a lot of my time.

I really don't do that anymore. I only plan a few dining experiences and few are at a theme parks. This works out better for us now. The new Magic Bands are great. I add my theme park tickets and add the FP+ options for Must Do things. You can get more FP+ options once you have completed your 3 FP+ experiences. So schedule close together versus far apart and you can get more! Just go to the Kiosk or use the regular Walt Disney World App or website at www.waltdisneyworld.com. and go to MY Disney Experience.

Plan ahead which attractions interest you most to do.

We go to Disneyland in California too. I never planned a thing. We just went and had fun!

Another tip:

Request the FREE DVD Planning Guide From Disney
Here is a link to get one sent to you at No Charge:

https://www.disneyvacations.com/?

Have a fun time at Disney!

Cynthia T.

 

[dioxide45]

Bush gardens..smaller crowd. .free beer.. who could ask for more?

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WHAT? FREE BEER??!??! Dag, haven't made it to any of those (B Gardens), but was otherwise headed back to Cedar Point, THE roller coaster park. Thanks for prompting the rethink...

I thought that Busch Gardens ended the free beer back in 2009? The parks are also no longer owned by the same company that owns the beer company.

 

[dioxide45]

We haven't been to Disney World since 2009 and I have come to the realization that when we return again it will requirement a re-education. So much has changed in just the last six years, I can't imaging going back after more than 30 years. Back in 1982, there was only one park until Epcot opened later that year. I think it would be very naive to think nothing had changed since then.

 

[bnoble]

I thought that Busch Gardens ended the free beer back in 2009? The parks are also no longer owned by the same company that owns the beer company.

Correct. Sadly, the Beer Schools at the Busch/Sea World parks are long gone. It was great fun though!

 

[DeniseM]

A number of posts containing off-topic bickering have been removed. Let's stay on topic, folks.

 

[VegasBella]

Posted again because it was removed...

Get there early and enjoy the first hour or two. Arriving late will seriously limit many of your opportunities.

 

[DeniseM]

I missed a couple of off-topic posts, and will remove them as well.

A couple of reminders from the posting rules:

-Refrain from name calling and behavior lectures.

-In addition, do not enter complaints about moderation into BBS messages. Such posts will be considered off-topic and will be removed. Any such complaints or discussion should be communicated to the bbs staff directly via email or personal message.

 

[moonstone]

Correct. Sadly, the Beer Schools at the Busch/Sea World parks are long gone. It was great fun though!

Busch Gardens at Williamsburg VA also had free beer many years ago. An employee there showed DH the "back way in" (avoiding the brewery tour & go directly to the hospitality room via a 'special' parking lot). So guess where we had to stop in every time we drove by! We saw lots of people (mainly delivery guys) there every time we went.

Ahh the good old days!

~Diane

 

[shellmo1]

Whatever you do-- go in "off" season

So I've been asking questions on this board and exchanging board because my kids and their kids want to go to Disney world. Great I thought. I'll go on tug and get info about exchanges. No problem. As usual got info with no problem. So I took kids to Disneyworld in 82 so I don't need much info about that because after all I've already been there. You drive to Disney world, park (for free if I remember correctly) walk in the park, line up for a few minutes then ride. Walk into a restaurant, wait a couple minutes and then sit down. Too easy. So maybe I should read up a bit on the Disney board. Maybe things have changed slightly.
Are they kidding. You get a fast pass. Not for the day but by the ride. Seriously. You have to reserve all your sit down restaurants 60 days ahead. Please tell me I'm reading all this info wrong. How can anyone be that organized with 5 young kids not to mention 6 adults. How do people do it. I thought getting a hotel would be hard. Heck it's nothing compared to all the rest of it.

My take on Disney-- every family should go once. Twice? Only for the really hardy soul with a bottomless pocketbook. We took our girls when they were in elementary school and then our grand kids 2 years ago, they were preschoolers. We took our girls out of school for a week in May back in the day and it was wonderful! In between the Spring Break crowds and before the summer vacation crowds. Only vacation we ever took them out of school for but it was SO WORTH IT! That was before the days of fast pass. 2 years ago we went in Sept. Was able to get a gigantic 3 bedroom condo 1 mile from Magic Kingdom. We are II members so no Disney properties to trade into.. We let each kiddo pick a special meal. My granddaughter chose the Princess dinner at the castle and my grandson chose the character breakfast with Disney Jr. characters. They were pricey but we made the reservations many months in advance. We just ate when we were hungry the rest of the trip. Ate breakfast and some dinners at the condo to save $$$. I personally would never ever do Disney at peak times. Have a great trip and don't obsess too much...

 

[jparker10508]

Just a note on parking. Not free anymore -if you're not staying on the property it's just been raised to $20.00 per car, so with 5 kids and six adults plan on at least $40.00 a day if taking two vehicles.

 

[Talent312]

With that crew in tow, you're gonna be miserable, no matter how much you plan.
Plan on that. There's only one way you could enjoy it yourself...

Assign the kids to the other adults and tell 'em they're on their own. <ducking>

.

 

[FLDVCFamily]

This family with young kids doesn't do it. We live locally and we've really stopped going...no more passes after this year. We don't like all the planning ahead. Universal and Sea World are still as you described. That's where we go now.

 

[glmyers]

Different but still a great place to go.

So I've been asking questions on this board and exchanging board because my kids and their kids want to go to Disney world. Great I thought. I'll go on tug and get info about exchanges. No problem. As usual got info with no problem. So I took kids to Disneyworld in 82 so I don't need much info about that because after all I've already been there. You drive to Disney world, park (for free if I remember correctly) walk in the park, line up for a few minutes then ride. Walk into a restaurant, wait a couple minutes and then sit down. Too easy. So maybe I should read up a bit on the Disney board. Maybe things have changed slightly.
Are they kidding. You get a fast pass. Not for the day but by the ride. Seriously. You have to reserve all your sit down restaurants 60 days ahead. Please tell me I'm reading all this info wrong. How can anyone be that organized with 5 young kids not to mention 6 adults. How do people do it. I thought getting a hotel would be hard. Heck it's nothing compared to all the rest of it.

Yes, things have changed over the years, but it is not as bad as it may seem to you at first glance. Technology can greatly simplify the process. Step one is to download and utilize the Disney App to get updates on line times and manage fast pass reservations. Link your tickets with an account online so one or two of you can manage reservations for all. Link a credit card to your "magic band" so you can avoid carrying credit cards or cash in the parks (do utilize a safe at your resort for these.) Sometimes it is possible to get in a "sit down" restaurant without a reservation, but it is best to have one. The "Be Our Guest" restaurant was experimenting with a "fast pass" style reservation when I was there last year and I was able to get that on the same day we ate there.

I first visited the Disney World in 1976 and have visited each year for the past 20 years (several times a year when we lived in Florida.) My daughter is now 22 and made her annual visit this year without my wife and myself. Other amusement parks are fun and we certainly visited them all over the years, but Disney is the one that produced the memories my daughter cherishes most. Worth every penny and all the hassle from my perspective. (Note there are some tricks to avoid or reduce parking fees the easiest being stay at a resort that runs a free shuttle.)

 

[Paumavista]

Plan for a week long visit

If you're coming in from out of town...Plan your visit so that you can spend as many days as possible (it gets cheaper per day when you add days - so plan a 7-10 day visit if you can).....Also, you won't feel this pressing need to do as much as possible each day, you can just plan to come back to the park later in the week to re-visit your favorite ride/activity or hit those you missed. And you can even take days off and do other activities in the area if you plan to visit a park at night.

We only visited the park once each day and always got there when the "rope dropped" and returned to the resort by early afternoon. Our group did divide up each day and just met back at the resort to enjoy the remainder of the day and share stories/pictures. Little ones could nap and we all enjoyed the pool.

We did plan dinner together either with reservations or cooking at the resort. We spent LOTS of time each day enjoying each other because we didn't deal with any of the park hassle together.

I LOVE planning so it was a wonderful trip and we had a great experience.