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Disney World (Orlando, FL) Informative - An experience Disney Traveler (part 2) - Theme parks and Resorts
Theme parks and Resorts
ORLANDO, FLORIDA -- It looks like we have more questions that need to be answer for Disney newbie.
I am no DISNEY expert but have been to DISNEY many, many times.
How many?
Since 1999, I clock in 33 stays on Disney properties.
I stay from value to deluxe resorts. So far, this year, I was down in Orlando twice. I plan for 3rd trip around Christmas for their annual “Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party”.
I used their concierge services and attended 2 friends' wedding on Disney properties.
Here are the responds to the more Disney service complains.
1.The Disney World staff can only inform you about local schools (kids attendance) in Orange County (Orlando). The school starts on Monday, August 20.
* This is a bad indicator for kids’ attendance.
https://www.ocps.net/Pages/default.aspx
2.Disney World is visited by guests all over the country and world. You should have checked their WDWsite.
It shows the historic attendance level for the entire year (seasons and/or holidays).
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQOtherPage
Highest Attendance: Presidents' week in February
Mid-March through Late April ("Spring Break")
Memorial Day weekend
Mid-June through Labor Day *** HERE ***
Thanksgiving Day and weekend
Christmas week through New Year's Day
August trip is bad if you want to avoid huge crowds.
3.Not sure who you talked to, we were stuck in EPCOT one night because Magic Kingdom was getting out early and they routed all available buses to that park to pick up resorts guests. I call the WDW transportation and they dispatch a bus to our stop within 5 minutes. They usually have spare buses for special needs or emergency. They label these buses’ destination display with character names such as “ariel”. You normally see one or two parked in Disney Transportation Center and theme parks.
4.Premium packages do not mean premiums VIP services. If you really want to be treated above the average Disney resort guests, you need to stay with concierge service in Disney deluxe resorts. I stay at the Polynesian resorts with concierge service and got into all popular restaurants with little wait time and no reservations.
We were also allowed to take a VIP tour of the safari ride in Animal kingdom at dawn. This allows you see the predators (e.g. lions) up and moving around. The predators normally sleep during the day.
e.g. Le Cellier Steak house in EPCOT means 2 hours wait (some nights) if you do not have a reservation. We got a table in 20 min. with no reservation.
5.Another tip regarding the resort pool. If your resort's pool is too crowded for your taste, you are allow go to other Disney Resorts' pools. I have done this several times. You will need your resort pass, they will check to make sure you are a Disney resort guest. I have done this couple of times.
I am no DISNEY expert but have been to DISNEY many, many times.
How many?
Since 1999, I clock in 33 stays on Disney properties.
I stay from value to deluxe resorts. So far, this year, I was down in Orlando twice. I plan for 3rd trip around Christmas for their annual “Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party”.
I used their concierge services and attended 2 friends' wedding on Disney properties.
Here are the responds to the more Disney service complains.
1.The Disney World staff can only inform you about local schools (kids attendance) in Orange County (Orlando). The school starts on Monday, August 20.
* This is a bad indicator for kids’ attendance.
https://www.ocps.net/Pages/default.aspx
2.Disney World is visited by guests all over the country and world. You should have checked their WDWsite.
It shows the historic attendance level for the entire year (seasons and/or holidays).
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQOtherPage
Highest Attendance: Presidents' week in February
Mid-March through Late April ("Spring Break")
Memorial Day weekend
Mid-June through Labor Day *** HERE ***
Thanksgiving Day and weekend
Christmas week through New Year's Day
August trip is bad if you want to avoid huge crowds.
3.Not sure who you talked to, we were stuck in EPCOT one night because Magic Kingdom was getting out early and they routed all available buses to that park to pick up resorts guests. I call the WDW transportation and they dispatch a bus to our stop within 5 minutes. They usually have spare buses for special needs or emergency. They label these buses’ destination display with character names such as “ariel”. You normally see one or two parked in Disney Transportation Center and theme parks.
4.Premium packages do not mean premiums VIP services. If you really want to be treated above the average Disney resort guests, you need to stay with concierge service in Disney deluxe resorts. I stay at the Polynesian resorts with concierge service and got into all popular restaurants with little wait time and no reservations.
We were also allowed to take a VIP tour of the safari ride in Animal kingdom at dawn. This allows you see the predators (e.g. lions) up and moving around. The predators normally sleep during the day.
e.g. Le Cellier Steak house in EPCOT means 2 hours wait (some nights) if you do not have a reservation. We got a table in 20 min. with no reservation.
5.Another tip regarding the resort pool. If your resort's pool is too crowded for your taste, you are allow go to other Disney Resorts' pools. I have done this several times. You will need your resort pass, they will check to make sure you are a Disney resort guest. I have done this couple of times.
Comments:
Posted by MRM on 2007-08-21:
I will need to print this out, as well as, Part I of your great review, just in case I will ever go to Disney. HappyJoyBear, you are an exprerienced Disney World traveler!
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
thanks.
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
One quick tip for anyone who want least crowd and mild temperature (average low 70’s).
The first week of February.
The first week of December.
No large holiday crowds.
The value season rate still applies.
You get to see the holiday’s display (both).
Most popular rides are 10min. or less (Without using a disney fastpass).
The first week of February.
The first week of December.
No large holiday crowds.
The value season rate still applies.
You get to see the holiday’s display (both).
Most popular rides are 10min. or less (Without using a disney fastpass).
Posted by MRM on 2007-08-21:
I am also going to print this out also. Thanks again, for the tip!
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-08-21:
These are very good tips HappyJoyBear. I've never been to a Disney property. Sounds like there's some potential pitfalls for the unseasoned Disney traveler. If I ever do decided on a Disney trip I'll certainly keep your info in mind. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with the rest of us. Good Stuff!
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
Couples of money saving tips.
1. Disney takes AAA discount for room only. Better rate during value season (up to 20%).
It is nowhere listed on their site (that I can find). You need to book via their hotline.
2. WDW employees or large corporate sponsors (you see them on the rides) get special discount code for room and/or packages. Check out mousesavers.com for latest codes.
3. When you see a Disney employee walking around (taking surveys). Be sure to speak to them. They will add you to their system and sometime mail you discount codes. The survey takes 5 min. to complete.
4. The best value for tickets is base ticket. Especially if this is your first trip to Disney World.
We normally do not jump between parks (magic in morning, epcot in afternoon).
The water park option. They usually have very long lines. Moderate and Deluxe Disney resorts all have pools with slides.
Do not expire is a cool option, but not for the upgrade cost. Unless you plan on coming back in 10 years, not much saving there.
Save money on these options upgrade (if first timer). Disney World is so big; there is no way to see/do everything in one trip.
1. Disney takes AAA discount for room only. Better rate during value season (up to 20%).
It is nowhere listed on their site (that I can find). You need to book via their hotline.
2. WDW employees or large corporate sponsors (you see them on the rides) get special discount code for room and/or packages. Check out mousesavers.com for latest codes.
3. When you see a Disney employee walking around (taking surveys). Be sure to speak to them. They will add you to their system and sometime mail you discount codes. The survey takes 5 min. to complete.
4. The best value for tickets is base ticket. Especially if this is your first trip to Disney World.
We normally do not jump between parks (magic in morning, epcot in afternoon).
The water park option. They usually have very long lines. Moderate and Deluxe Disney resorts all have pools with slides.
Do not expire is a cool option, but not for the upgrade cost. Unless you plan on coming back in 10 years, not much saving there.
Save money on these options upgrade (if first timer). Disney World is so big; there is no way to see/do everything in one trip.
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
Stew – Thanks. Just like any vacation, proper planning and research is a must to get the most out of your vacation time and money.
There are WDW travel books that go into more details than I can provide.
What I offer is my research and experience here…
I hope it help the Disney newbies.
There are WDW travel books that go into more details than I can provide.
What I offer is my research and experience here…
I hope it help the Disney newbies.
Posted by kjpfromd on 2007-08-21:
Do you own stock in disney or what?? The original posting was about my experience at disney-hence the name my three cents-all of your insisting that things should have been done another way change nothing-who said i wanted to be treated better then anyone? I wanted to be treated like a human.you assume so many things that are just not true and you act like it was a complaint against you-I will state again this trip was booked 6 months in advance i spent hours and hours on the wdw site,travel sites,youtube,ect-this was like a job to me-all shows.meals,ect were reserved 6 months in advance all directly through disney again i am glad you always have a good time at disney but all your talk does nothing to change the experience we had. I thought this site was a forum to express complaints about a experience you have had with a company so that is what i have done nothing anyone says is going to change my mind about disney world i was there and it was my experience not yours and sorry if it sounds rude but i only care about my experience and not yours.
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
Do not own Disney stocks or ever work for Disney.
Poor planning, unrealistic expectations, bad timing and overspending were the downfall of this trip.
I had shown others not to make the same mistakes. You can spend fractions of 7K and have a better time and get better service. It is true that I was once a Disney newbie too. After years of going down to WDW, my tips posted in these two reviews and comments will save anyone time and money.
Poor planning, unrealistic expectations, bad timing and overspending were the downfall of this trip.
I had shown others not to make the same mistakes. You can spend fractions of 7K and have a better time and get better service. It is true that I was once a Disney newbie too. After years of going down to WDW, my tips posted in these two reviews and comments will save anyone time and money.
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
Do not give up on WDW and/or Orlando just yet because of one bad trip. WDW is so big that it normally takes a few more trips to enjoy all of the offering of Walt Disney’s legacy.
That’s my 3 cents…
That’s my 3 cents…
Posted by kjpfromd on 2007-08-23:
WILL NEVER GO BACK!
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-24:
Like they really need your money to stay in business…
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-24:
I think you are missing the point I am making here.
I am not here to help you but to advice others from making the same dump mistakes.
I am not here to help you but to advice others from making the same dump mistakes.
Posted by aimmelou on 2009-05-12:
There are things that can only be learned either the easy way (research) or the hard way (experience). I hate to hear that someone will never visit again or tell others never to go based on one visit. Like HappyJoyBear said, there are so many things to do at Disney that it can never be done in one trip.
Take the time to make several trips at different times of the year and do different activities. Gear yourself, and your family, up for some roadbumps and try to put a spin on the things that happen. Some of the things we laugh about when we return every year are the things I see people complaining about on here.
We laugh everytime we see the pictures of our family in the rediculous (and expensive) Disney ponchos that don't really work. Lesson learned, we always take our own...It always rains when we're there.
We have gone enough to come up with a game plan at each park. We know where to head first and what attractions to avoid when it's hot, rainy, or super busy.
Take the time to make several trips at different times of the year and do different activities. Gear yourself, and your family, up for some roadbumps and try to put a spin on the things that happen. Some of the things we laugh about when we return every year are the things I see people complaining about on here.
We laugh everytime we see the pictures of our family in the rediculous (and expensive) Disney ponchos that don't really work. Lesson learned, we always take our own...It always rains when we're there.
We have gone enough to come up with a game plan at each park. We know where to head first and what attractions to avoid when it's hot, rainy, or super busy.
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