Need help with trip to WDW

[Diolla]

We are going to drive down to Disney World in May, I suppose I could just call and ask but I thought any of you who had been there could perhaps answer my questions and give me any tips.

As said we are driving down, will arrive 9am+/- on Sunday. We are staying in one of the Value resorts on site Sunday night-Thursday night and leaving Friday. I have park hopper tickets for Sunday-Friday.

My biggest question is what do I do with my car while we are there? Can we spend the day at WDW on Sunday and then check in that night? I know we can't check in at 9am.

Will I receive my tickets etc in the mail or do I need to pick them up there? Reservations are made and paid for already.

Any tips on the best things to do or avoid hassles is majorly appreciated.

Thanks

[LuxLiving]

Sure, you'd leave your car in the parking lot of the parks while you are inside enjoying the place then come out to go check-in and then you can go back to the park again later in the evening if you wanted to.

Money wise if you've children going with you, I'd shop at the local thrift store in your own home town BEFORE leaving for the trip for possibly some Disney related t-shirts and toys. Take them home in secret and wash them up /bleach toys. Then you can bring them out of the suit-case as a surprise later during the trip. $$$'s saved!

Take some snacks & bottled water into the parks w/you.

This is not necessarily financial, but I mostly drive without the radio on. One year I was driving alone to Orlando w/my lil kiddos in the back seat and wondering about all the horrible rain and high winds. My Mom was already there and we were driving to meet them...she was worried sick watching the news, I was driving thru a hurricane and didn't realize it...so my advice is TURN ON the radio!! ...and keep it on!! duh!!! My part of the world doesn't get hurricanes so much so it never occured to me that THAT was what could be going on!

Lesson learned.

Disneysteve where are you?

[Diolla]

I forgot you wouldn't know it will be me and my 17yo son so there won't be any 'little kids' along just us two big ones.

[pearlieq]

You're in luck. There's quite a contingent of Disney-philes on these boards who will be more than happy to geek out (er, I mean help you) with any of your planning.

You can actually check in to your resort as soon as you arrive at WDW. You may not have access to your room until 3pm, but you can complete all of the paperwork, get your room keys, and collect your parking pass whenever you arrive, even at 9am.

The desk clerk will give you a little card with a phone number to call to get your room number. You just call anytime after 3pm and they will tell you which room you have. You can then go to your room anytime.

As far as your car goes, you have two options. You can either leave your car at the resort and use Disney's bus transportation to the parks or you can drive your own car and park at the theme park. You will receive a parking pass at check-in and will not be charged for parking at any of the theme parks.

[pearlieq]

As far as your tickets go, how did you purchase them?

If you purchased them as part of a room and tickets package from Disney the ticket information will be encoded on your room key at check in. You won't receive anything in the mail and don't have to go anywhere to pick them up. They will just put your ticket information "on" your room key at check in and then you would just use your key as your park ticket at the gates.

If you ordered your tickets separately, you would have been asked to choose a shipping option or will call.

[pearlieq]

Any tips on the best things to do or avoid hassles is majorly appreciated.

General planning tips:

1.) Get to the parks as close to opening time as you can. The first couple of hours are the least crowded and you can ride a lot before the mid-day crowds come in.

2.) Try to follow the general rule of "rides first, then shows". Lines build quickly for rides, but most shows can seat hundreds at a time and never really have much of a wait. Do the rides first while they're least crowded and then go back and see any shows you want when the crowds start building later in the day.

3.) Consider taking afternoon breaks. Even adults aren't too grown-up for a nap at WDW! Leave the parks in the early afternoon, head back to your resort and catch a swim and a nap before heading back out around dinner time. This gets you out of the worst afternoon heat and lets you relax and be refreshed for a fun night!

4.) If there are any sit-down restaurants you would like to eat at, make reservations before you leave home. Table service restaurants book up fast at WDW and it's often impossible to just walk up and get a table. Sometimes you might be able to get a seat if you go at an off time (like 4:30 or 9:00pm for dinner) but sometimes even that's not possible. If you have your heart set on something, book ahead.

I hope you have a wonderful time! I'd be happy to answer any questions you have!

[Diolla]

I ordered the room/tickets/dining as part of a package direct from WDW.

I don't want to drive my car once I get there I just want to park it and forget about it until it is time to come home. Can I just leave it at the hotel?

I have a list of places we would like to eat at and was thinking about calling next week to reserve them.

We are major park-a-holics and usually are still going strong when the parks close.

[nanamom]

One of th ehints I followed when I went with two kids many many years ago was to get there when it opens and immediately head for the rides further away, like the opposite end of the park. The lines aren't as long as they will be later in the day. Everyone goes to the ride right in front of them as they go in and then filters back. Beat the rush then when you go to the front most people will have already ridden it and you will have shorter lines. It actually worked for us.

[pearlieq]

I don't want to drive my car once I get there I just want to park it and forget about it until it is time to come home. Can I just leave it at the hotel?

You sure can!

The Disney buses will take your to all of the parks and to Downtown Disney. It can actually be quite convenient just to relax and let them do the driving. Also the bus stops are usually as close to the park entrances as you can get!

[Elgin526]

The best advice I can give is to go to The DIS Discussion Forums - Powered by vBulletin . It's a message board just like this one, only run by a bunch of Disney experts (or crazy people, you decide!) Seriously, they're all great over there, and there is NOTHING that they don't know about planning a Disney vacation. There are lots of money saving tips, too!

[Elgin526]

oops, dup post!

[Elgin526]

oops dup post! How'd I do that?

[Scanner]

Another Disney-freak here.

Yes, just go to your value hotel, park, and then take advantage of the Disney transportation system.

The only exception I could think of that is that if you have to go from hotel to hotel. For instance, if you are staying at All Star Movies and you have a dinner at Old Key West with priority seating one night - navigating the WDW transportation system could take pretty long chunk of your day.

You would have to connect in Downtown Disney or at the WDW Transportation center (or I suppose a park) and that could take an hour and a half at certain times.

Anyway, that might be one time you decide to just hop in your car. Some resorts are so close that you really don't need to do that.

For instance, chances are you may have a Character breakfast scheduled at the Contemporay Chef Mickey's, especially if you have a "package deal." (get ready to twirl your napkins). You could easily take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then hop a monorail to the Contemporary. Or even walk, about 10 minutes if it isn't oppressively hot.

Finally, the best advice for a frugal form and Disney is yes, to take snacks and water bottles. Food/drink in WDW is expensive and everytime your children get the munchies, you don't want to be dropping $8.00 for a coke and a hotdog. Just put your ice from the ice machine that morning and fill it up - take a backpack.

Skip bringing a stroller though. . .I think it's worth the rental fee to not have to haul that around.

See Disney's Soaring in EPCOT. And FantasMic at MGM.

Schedule your priority seating at least 3 months ahead of time.

Have fun.

[disneysteve]

Disneysteve where are you?

How the heck did I miss this thread.

You're in luck. There's quite a contingent of Disney-philes on these boards who will be more than happy to geek out (er, I mean help you) with any of your planning..

Hey, I resemble that remark.

The best advice I can give is to go to The DIS Discussion Forums - Powered by vBulletin . It's a message board just like this one, only run by a bunch of Disney experts (or crazy people, you decide!) Seriously, they're all great over there, and there is NOTHING that they don't know about planning a Disney vacation. There are lots of money saving tips, too!

Yes, you can find me there too. Same name.

[disneysteve]

Skip bringing a stroller though. . .I think it's worth the rental fee to not have to haul that around.

OP won't have any little kids, but for anyone else reading the thread, I disagree with this. If you depend on rental strollers, you are stroller-less everywhere but in the parks. That means no stroller to wander around your resort. No stroller if you go to Downtown Disney to shop or dine. No stroller if you visit any of the other hotels or if you go anywhere offsite. If you fly down, it means no stroller trekking through the airport.

Even in the parks, it means the added hassle of renting each morning and returning each evening.

So I always advise people to bring their own. Besides, they are much more comfortable and have more storage room for personal items and purchases.