Disneyworld Florida

[Bozza]

A few other bits and pieces you might not know about...

Pirate Cruises - most mornings, from some of the Disney resorts, they run kids' pirate cruises for kids 4-12. They cost about $30 a child and generally run 9:30 - 11:30. It's kids only and they go off searching for treasure etc. and have lunch. They get really good reviews. Of course they also give kids some good kid time away from the adults and the adults some adult time. You could maybe take a nice long relaxing breakfast in one of the resorts (Grand Floridian Cafe for example).

Campfire singalong/movies - at Fort Wilderness, every evening, they have a campfire where the kids can toast marshmallows and the like. Chip 'n' Dale host a singalong and afterwards they show a Disney film on a big screen.

Disney has kids' clubs at most of the Deluxe resorts (such as the Contemporary, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian etc) from 5pm - midnight. The Neverland Club at The Polynesian is particularly well regarded. Again - good for the kids to get some kid time and the adults could, maybe, have a decent meal in one of the 'fine dining' restaurants.

Mini/Crazy golf - There are 2 crazy golf courses on site and they are very, very good. Something slightly different and relaxing to do of an evening.

Bike hire - a number of the resorts, and the Boardwalk itself, have bike hire including Surrey bikes (big 4 seater bikes). Quite good fun to hire fun and go for a family ride.

There are loads of other things you can do on Disney property which get little publicity relative to the major parks such as fishing trips, horse riding and boat hire (including little mini speedboats).

 

[Papa Lazarou]

A few other bits and pieces you might not know about...

Pirate Cruises - most mornings, from some of the Disney resorts, they run kids' pirate cruises for kids 4-12. They cost about $30 a child and generally run 9:30 - 11:30. It's kids only and they go off searching for treasure etc. and have lunch. They get really good reviews. Of course they also give kids some good kid time away from the adults and the adults some adult time. You could maybe take a nice long relaxing breakfast in one of the resorts (Grand Floridian Cafe for example).

Campfire singalong/movies - at Fort Wilderness, every evening, they have a campfire where the kids can toast marshmallows and the like. Chip 'n' Dale host a singalong and afterwards they show a Disney film on a big screen.

Disney has kids' clubs at most of the Deluxe resorts (such as the Contemporary, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian etc) from 5pm - midnight. The Neverland Club at The Polynesian is particularly well regarded. Again - good for the kids to get some kid time and the adults could, maybe, have a decent meal in one of the 'fine dining' restaurants.

Mini/Crazy golf - There are 2 crazy golf courses on site and they are very, very good. Something slightly different and relaxing to do of an evening.

Bike hire - a number of the resorts, and the Boardwalk itself, have bike hire including Surrey bikes (big 4 seater bikes). Quite good fun to hire fun and go for a family ride.

There are loads of other things you can do on Disney property which get little publicity relative to the major parks such as fishing trips, horse riding and boat hire (including little mini speedboats).

As I said before, I better start saving up... it sounds like the kids might be old enough already!

Thanks Bozza.

 

[Bozza]

As I said before, I better start saving up... it sounds like the kids might be old enough already!

Thanks Bozza.

It was more 'tips' for Mr Giraffe's upcoming trip. Although the point rings true for anyone - there is a lot of stuff available on Disney property beyond the big 4 theme parks and 2 water parks.

As for ages of kids - I'm not sure there is a right or wrong. We took Mads at 13 months and at 4 1/2. This Summer she'll be 5 1/2. The first trip was great, she'd just started walking and the video footage of her toddling around is fantastic. The characters scared the crap out of her though.

Last year she fully embraced, literally, the characters and loved that aspect. She also started to get into the smaller thrill rides and loved going around the smaller coasters with her arms upstretched. At 4 they are likely to be tall enough for almost everything in Disney, if they are brave enough!

 

[Beach Hut]

We are off in two weeks for three weeks but will do the Epcot Centre despite the poor review

 

[Gazwag]

Another tip for those going in summer - it will be hot - we went in late October and Epcot was absolutely roasting (fortunately it coincided with a big international food convention with free food samples at each "country").

The heat is something that families should consider when planning their days, its best to get up early and plan a mid afternnon siesta otherwise kids will just get extreamly overtired and we all know what that's like.

 

[Elder for England]

I'm off on Saturday!!

 

[Bozza]

Another tip for those going in summer - it will be hot - we went in late October and Epcot was absolutely roasting (fortunately it coincided with a big international food convention with free food samples at each "country").

The heat is something that families should consider when planning their days, its best to get up early and plan a mid afternnon siesta otherwise kids will just get extreamly overtired and we all know what that's like.

Yeah - I said that above - it really does pay to get in early, beat the queues, and then get out again. Return again later when the sun is down.

What you experienced is not a convention, as such, but EPCOT's annual Food & Wine Festival which runs from late September to early November each year. You were lucky if you got many freebies - the usual setup is for a lot of stalls that sell small samples of food/drink for a few dollars. It is good fun though. When it's on they also have 'Eat to the Beat' series of concerts - and you can see some quite big (although often from yester-year) musical acts for free. This year's line-up include 8 Grammy nominees.

Other regular events that are scheduled annually include:

- EPCOT flower and garden festival
- Sounds like Summer concert series (people going soon might catch the end of this - generally tribute acts)
- Hollywood Studios Stars Wars Weekends
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom) - where you'll experience 'snow' in Florida.
- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (Magic Kingdom)

 

[Bozza]

With the exchange rate going through the $2=£1 barrier today, it's a good time to be travelling.

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

I went to the main park, animal kingdom and universal parks last year with me dad and sis, and i'd highly recomend them all-especially universal, which is gr8 fun.

 

[Mr Blunt]

im going on saturday !!! so looking forward to it .. yeah all i can say is that as been many times before just plan your holiday as last time we went we rushed straight into a big park and we were nackered for a few days after as the jet lag hits home .

i can recommend the outback steakhouse on the international drive which is briliant , the size of the food you get is amazing and reasonable price's.

i would also say to go and play the crazy golf which is really fun for the family and is fun and challenging for all types of golfer as i play golf often and my mum is rubbish and she always seems to win dont ask me how .. very good it is.

have a nice holiday

 

[Mr Burns]

We are off in two weeks for three weeks but will do the Epcot Centre despite the poor review

The main advise I would give you is, do Epcot very early on, ie day one or two of your trip. It also advisable to get there very early in the day, so if like me and the other 50% who hate it, you can always go somewhere else for the rest of the day. The reason for doing it on day one or two, is if you leave it until later on your trip, and it turns out you have to choose between Epcot and something else, you may well be very disappointed that you didn't go somewhere else. Some like it, some hate it, but very few love it. WORST THEME PARK EVER!

 

[Springal]

Who did you all use to book it? And when are the best off peak times to do it? And any recommendations for off-park hotels?

 

[Perry Milkins]

Who did you all use to book it? And when are the best off peak times to do it? And any recommendations for off-park hotels?

I would always recommend that you rent a villa. Much cheaper and more space. Most properties are quite swish with a private pool and spa.

Best time to go is end march thru to end May. Lovely climate and less busy!!

 

[Springal]

i went 10 years ago and we got a villa actually! Good shout

 

[Bozza]

There's far more to it, IMHO, than cost when it comes to the villa v hotel debate.

Is a villa cheaper? Not always, no. A standard off-site hotel that sleep 4 can be had for around £20-£25 per night. Alternatively, a Grand Floridian Concierge room at peak season will cost £500 per night. There is, of course, loads in the middle.

A villa will almost certainly have it's own pool. But it will be a pretty small and featureless pool. Compare that, say, to the pool at the Hard Rock - massive free form effort with a great slide for the kids and at night they show 'swim through' movies on a big poolside screen. And your kids will have loads of other kids to play with.

In a villa you can have a beer, sure. But I'd rather be able to drink around EPCOT, on the Boardwalk or at Margaritaville at Citywalk and know that no-one has to miss out on that due to the need for someone to drive back to a villa.

There's pluses and minuses for both.

 

[Perry Milkins]

There's far more to it, IMHO, than cost when it comes to the villa v hotel debate.

Is a villa cheaper? Not always, no. A standard off-site hotel that sleep 4 can be had for around £20-£25 per night. Alternatively, a Grand Floridian Concierge room at peak season will cost £500 per night. There is, of course, loads in the middle.

A villa will almost certainly have it's own pool. But it will be a pretty small and featureless pool. Compare that, say, to the pool at the Hard Rock - massive free form effort with a great slide for the kids and at night they show 'swim through' movies on a big poolside screen. And your kids will have loads of other kids to play with.

In a villa you can have a beer, sure. But I'd rather be able to drink around EPCOT, on the Boardwalk or at Margaritaville at Citywalk and know that no-one has to miss out on that due to the need for someone to drive back to a villa.

There's pluses and minuses for both.

Sorry Bozza.

Many pools are featureless - many back onto a conservation area maybe a lake..

Many do not have 'loud' families ruining the calm and serenity of a laze by the pool. Many allow you to retreat the fridge throw in some crushed ice followed by fresh joos.

No competeion from where I sit. Not many minueses at all.

 

[Perry Milkins]

There's far more to it, IMHO, than cost when it comes to the villa v hotel debate.

Is a villa cheaper? Not always, no. A standard off-site hotel that sleep 4 can be had for around £20-£25 per night. Alternatively, a Grand Floridian Concierge room at peak season will cost £500 per night. There is, of course, loads in the middle.

A villa will almost certainly have it's own pool. But it will be a pretty small and featureless pool. Compare that, say, to the pool at the Hard Rock - massive free form effort with a great slide for the kids and at night they show 'swim through' movies on a big poolside screen. And your kids will have loads of other kids to play with.

In a villa you can have a beer, sure. But I'd rather be able to drink around EPCOT, on the Boardwalk or at Margaritaville at Citywalk and know that no-one has to miss out on that due to the need for someone to drive back to a villa.

There's pluses and minuses for both.

To me a FLA hols is not the same as one to Majorace with the wee ones making pals by the pool. Indeed the waterfun experience that you decsribe can be fulfilled at Typhoon Lagoon etc.

 

[Bozza]

Sorry Bozza.

Many pools are featureless - many back onto a conservation area maybe a lake..

But they'll be small, quite angular and lacking in things like slides.

Many do not have 'loud' families ruining the calm and serenity of a laze by the pool.

I'm not sure I've seen any of that in the hotels I stay at, but they tend to be decent hotels. And, if people don't like noise, family and kids - perhaps they'd be better off not going to Orlando.

Many allow you to retreat the fridge throw in some crushed ice followed by fresh joos.

I like the fine young ladies at the Hard Rock bringing me my beer in the pool. No need to even leave the water

No competeion from where I sit. Not many minueses at all.

It's a game of opinions but, after 11 visits, and with a 12th a few weeks away - I'm still a hotel man. It may cost me lots more for the Wilderness Lodge and Hard Rock but it's money well spent.

However, when my daughter (currently 5) is a bit older, a villa will become more attractive for me - allowing everyone some more space. Unless, of course, I've bought into the DVC by then. But that's a different story!

 

[Perry Milkins]

But they'll be small, quite angular and lacking in things like slides.



I'm not sure I've seen any of that in the hotels I stay at, but they tend to be decent hotels. And, if people don't like noise, family and kids - perhaps they'd be better off not going to Orlando.



I like the fine young ladies at the Hard Rock bringing me my beer in the pool. No need to even leave the water



It's a game of opinions but, after 11 visits, and with a 12th a few weeks away - I'm still a hotel man. It may cost me lots more for the Wilderness Lodge and Hard Rock but it's money well spent.

However, when my daughter (currently 5) is a bit older, a villa will become more attractive for me - allowing everyone some more space. Unless, of course, I've bought into the DVC by then. But that's a different story!

[But they'll be small, quite angular and lacking in things like slides.]

All that is needed is a 30ft pool to float lazily on a lilo! No little herbert splashing you unless it is one of your own. No 20stone yank doing the same!

[I'm not sure I've seen any of that in the hotels I stay at, but they tend to be decent hotels. And, if people don't like noise, family and kids - perhaps they'd be better off not going to Orlando] Agree but leave the noise at the parks...

[I like the fine young ladies at the Hard Rock bringing me my beer in the pool. No need to even leave the water ]

Mrs carwash supplies cold beers to me in the spa at 1.00 am in the morning!

[It's a game of opinions but, after 11 visits, and with a 12th a few weeks away - I'm still a hotel man. It may cost me lots more for the Wilderness Lodge and Hard Rock but it's money well spent.]

It is a game of opinions. Having tried both I am an Aston man. A 4/5 bed in Formosa gardens with extra large pool and spa over looking the lake cannot be beaten.


I can talk FLA for England..

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Fill up on a massive all you can eat breakfast at one of the many chain restaurants on I Drive etc before going to the parks, thus avoiding having to spend too much on Disney's overpriced junk food at the theme park concessions.