Help - My very first time :)

Thiago Acquaviva

Thiago Acquaviva

Active Member
Hello guys, I'm Thiago and I'm from São Paulo, Brazil!
Since I was a little kid, my BIGGEST dream is to go to Walt Disney World.
and I truly mean it, BIGGEST OF THEM ALL, ABOVE EVERYTHING!
I grown up hearing about it, and I have some cousins that ALWAYS go to WDW every single year, but unfortunately I could never :(
Here in Brazil, our money is not that much valued comparing to US dolar and that what's make it most difficult for us to be able to go.
But now I'm 26, college graduated, working in 2 jobs and finally I got a chance to go! :D

I'm planning my trip for early november, cuz I'm gonna be on vacations and I'm going with my best friend, plus I heard about not been crowded, which I loved! haha is it true?
I grown up searching and gettin' information about WDW, and also I'm a theme park LOVER crazy insane addicted since I was a kid, so, that's make this adventure of just gathering information, to be a huge fun activity for me to do during all those years :D
I can say pretty much I know almost every single attraction inside WDW theme parks even without been there lol

I'm here cuz I need some help and specially some tips. I have a lot of doubts and I want my first trip outside Brazil (I freak love USA culture and also is my dream to be in the USA lol) to WDW to be as perfect as I can! *-*

Well, first let me explain what I'm planning to do and then if you guys could help me, I would be veeeery grateful :D


It's a 13 days trip in Orlando (11 nights).
I'm planning to get a plane from São Paulo to Orlando in november 1st, arrive november 2 in the morning and go to have lunch and go shopping before go to the hotel to rest and sleep for the 3rd (and kinda first) day.
I'm planning to stay inside WDW cuz I want to experience Disney magic in full time! But my budget is not that good (main reason is that US dolar is very expensive for us here in Brazil (U$1 dolar = R$0.40 real) so I'm planning to stay at All Star Movies resort or Art Of Animation. cuz I won't use the hotel at all lol, just for bath and sleep so.. I don't care about luxury.
Btw, about renting a car, we both don't drive so.. that's not an option lol

well, after day 2 (my arrival in Orlando) then, I planned so far:

DAY 3 (sunday)
Magic Kingdom

DAY 4 (monday)
Epcot

DAY 5 (tuesday)
Animal Kingdom

DAY 6 (wednesday)
Hollywood Studios

DAY 7 (thursday)
Shopping in premium outlet

DAY 8 (friday)
Sea World

DAY 9 (saturday)
Universal Studios

DAY 10 (sunday)
Island of Adventure

DAY 11 (monday)
Busch Gardens

DAY 12 (tuesday)
get back to a WDW park

DAY 13 (wednesday)
free day + shopping + airport and get back to Brazil

is it a good plan, guys?


My doubts are:

1) Is it best for me to buy all ticket here before I go to Orlando?
I'm planning to get 5 days WDW parks ticket combo + Universal pack combo (Universal + Islando of Adventure) + Sea World + Busch Gardens combo

2) Can we trust in WDW free transportation? What about the other non disney parks how can I do to get there?
I know staying at a disney hotel I can get free transportation for all disney parks and hotels plus DTD, but as soon as we wont rent a car cuz we dont drive, how can we do to go to the other parks and the outlets outside WDW?

3) How much (in U$) I have to plan to spend with food & drinks during a whole day? (just considering fast food all day lol)

4) There's any walmart or target store near WDW that we can reach without a car or taxi just to save some money buying cheap snacks for the hotel/day?

5) How cheap (or expensive) is to buy souvenirs from WDW? I mean plush toys, pins, figures, hats, etc.

6) About the Disney Transportation again, is it fast? is it easy to use? just taking a bus to the parks and the hotel is enough?

7) What I have to bring to the parks besides my room card key and money?

well, I think that's it.
Any help and/or tips I reall really appreciate it.

Thank you so much guys for taking your time and for your attention to help me, and I'm very grateful I discovered that website and forum cuz it's been helping me a LOT with my first time trip planning :D
 
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Figgy1

Figgy1

Premium Member
That's a lot of questions!!!!!!! Hi and welcome! If you can get your hands on the book Unofficial Guide to Disney it will answer a lot of those questions!! Getting from Disney property to anywhere else cab is your only option. But while you are on property the busses, boats and monorail will take care of all your needs. I hate sending new people out with a reading assignmment but it will really help you. Good Luck and Happy Planning. The outlets are a bit out of the way without a car. Pins start around $8US each T-shirts 15 and up hope this helps
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
1. If you are getting some sort of package deal from a travel agency in Brazil then it might be advantageous to buy the tickets from there. Ticket prices for all of the attractions are available on line. Simply add up what it would cost to but them here vs in Brazil. go with the lower price.
2. Yes, you can trust Disney transportation. For getting to things outside of Disney World without renting a car your options will consist of shuttles such as Mears and taxi cabs. Mears will be less expensive, but the cab will be easier.
3. If you just do fast food plan on about $50-$75 per person per day on the high end. Add around $25 to that number for every table service meal you do.
4. No. They are not far off but you will need to take a cab. In all likely hood the price of the cab ride will offset any savings. There is a store at the HESS station across from Downtown Disney that you could conceivably get to by taking the bus to Downtown Disney and walking over. The prices for water, snacks, etc will be much better than what you will find at the resorts and parks.
5. Souvenirs can be anywhere from reasonable to brutally expensive. It all depends on what you want. T-Shirts go for about $25. Some of the items in Art of Disney go for thousands.
6. Disney transportation is not fast. It is adequate and very easy to use.
7. Nothing really. A camera and/or phone would be a nice addition. If you pick up drinks and snacks you can bring those with you as well to avoid buying them in the parks.
 
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rsoxguy

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
1) Is it best for me to buy all ticket here before I go to Orlando?
I'm planning to get 5 days WDW parks ticket combo + Universal pack combo (Universal + Islando of Adventure) + Sea World + Busch Gardens combo


I am not knowledgeable regarding the services available for ticket purchases in Brazil. If you can purchase tickets for all of the parks that you wish to visit, and you are certain of the parks that you will be attending, then it stands to reason that purchasing the tickets ahead of your trip will save you a decent amount of time during your vacation. I would say yes, pre-purchase the park tickets.

2) Can we trust in WDW free transportation? What about the other non disney parks how can I do to get there?
I know staying at a disney hotel I can get free transportation for all disney parks and hotels plus DTD, but as soon as we wont rent a car cuz we dont drive, how can we do to go to the other parks and the outlets outside WDW?


The Disney transportation is completely reliable when travelling within Disney property. They can be time consuming during busier periods, but they will always get you to where you want to go. As to the non-Disney properties, your lack of driving skills will leave you dependent upon a taxi service or a bus service. You will need to research these options on the internet in order to find the most cost-effective means of transportation.

3) How much (in U$) I have to plan to spend with food & drinks during a whole day? (just considering fast food all day lol)


If you truly plan on eating at counter service restaurants (fast food) every day, I would think that a budget of $15 per meal should suffice An extra $20 should be allotted for snacks. Three meals per day plus snacks, $65 total.

4) There's any walmart or target store near WDW that we can reach without a car or taxi just to save some money buying cheap snacks for the hotel/day?


Getting to a Walmart near WDW requires the use of a car. You will pay more in cab fare than the discount derived from shopping at Walmart.

5) How cheap (or expensive) is to buy souvenirs from WDW? I mean plush toys, pins, figures, hats, etc.


Souvenirs at all of the parks are expensive. It is something that must be expected at a place such as WDW. I would suggest that you plan a total or daily budget for souvenirs, and stick to the budget regardless of what you see in the stores.

6) About the Disney Transportation again, is it fast? is it easy to use? just taking a bus to the parks and the hotel is enough?


Again, the transportation at WDW is designed to transport you throughout the Disney property, and can be a bit slow at times, but generally efficient.

7) What I have to bring to the parks besides my room card key and money?


This depends on your personal desires and needs. A backpack with daily supplies? A pocket camera? An emergency signal flare? It’s really up to you.
 
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docdebbi

docdebbi

Well-Known Member
if you want to save money, consider sending some foods ahead of you. i obviously don't know what it costs to ship from brazil, but if it's not prohibitive, you can ship some breakfast foods and snacks to your resort and bell services will hold them for you until you arrive. possibly big savings on the food bill. because even fast food is not cheap there.
for dinners consider buffets, you can really fill up for the same price as a meal at a regular sit down restaurant. character buffets are great if you really want to meet the characters, but very expensive. if you are watching your budget, check out non character ones like hollywood and vine, and trails end.
i know there are shuttle services, including mears, who will take you to universal and sea world and back. it is cheap, like less than $20 round trip.
souvenirs are NOT cheap. the walmart actually sells disney merchandise including shirts, hats, plush, etc. but it is a bit of a ride. depends how many you want if it is worth finding a shuttle or taxi to there. if you need something for everyone back home, might be worth calling one of them and finding out. otherwise, be prepared to spend the bucks
 
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Mawg

Mawg

Well-Known Member
You can order groceries from Garden Grocers (.com). We do this every time. They are delivered to your resort free if you spend a certain amount otherwise there is a $20 Delivery fee (still cheaper than a taxi). You can order anything. We get breakfast items and since you can take food into the parks we get snacks and drinks. Never buy a bottle of coke or water for $4 in the parks when you can take them in. We get a couple cases of coke, juice and water. Freeze the water and it will stay cold all day. If you bring in a Soda and it gets hot, remeber you can always get a cup of ice free. Save your money for a few nice meals and really good snacks like Dole Whips.
http://www.gardengrocer.com/
 
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Thiago Acquaviva

Thiago Acquaviva

Active Member
Original Poster
Hey guys, I've just read all your messages, and all I can say is THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!
I really appreciate it!

Every single one of you helped me with some tips that I found to be very useful and I didn't had think about it before lol
thank you very much and sorry for my english, I know is not that good but I love the language and I'm trying to improve it :D

thanks once again!
Once I got my improved plan working I'll let you guys know, and feel free to came here to give me extra tips and help, I appreaciate!

thanls thanks thanks :D
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Thiago Acquaviva said:
Just another quick question, whats that "shuttle service" you guys mentioned? what about that "Mears"?

What about the stores and outlets, which one is the best place to shopping in Orlando?
Click to expand...
Mears is the name of a company in Orlando that offers shuttle services between the airport, attractions, etc.

http://www.mearstransportation.com/
 
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Thiago Acquaviva

Thiago Acquaviva

Active Member
Original Poster
Guys, I'm having some trouble to understand that shuttle mears thing :S
Can I book a bus to pick me at the hotel and take me to Universal parks for example?
The regular bus you guys mentioned can take me to universal, sea world, premium outlet, etc? or is better to take that shuttle thing? :S

figmentfan423 said:
Your English is fine!! Now if you book sit down meals that can be done 180 days in advance. Have fun planning!!
Click to expand...
huge thanks! ;)
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Thiago Acquaviva said:
Guys, I'm having some trouble to understand that shuttle mears thing :S
Can I book a bus to pick me at the hotel and take me to Universal parks for example?
The regular bus you guys mentioned can take me to universal, sea world, premium outlet, etc? or is better to take that shuttle thing? :S


huge thanks! ;)
Click to expand...
The Mears shuttle is a service (they can use anything from a van to a coach bus) that can take you from a number of resorts to various popular locations in Orlando and the surrounding area. For example they can pick you up at your Disney resort and take you to Universal or Seaworld and back again. I am not sure if Mears goes to the outlet malls, but I think they do. The Mears shuttle tends to be the least expensive option, but you are on their schedule.

With a taxi you can come and go as you please but the cost can be much higher.

The Disney buses will not take you anywhere outside of Disney World.

There is a public bus system called Lynx that can take you all over, but with the transfers and the amount of time it takes to get anywhere does not make it a good option.
 
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Thiago Acquaviva

Thiago Acquaviva

Active Member
Original Poster
Master Yoda said:
The Mears shuttle is a service (they can use anything from a van to a coach bus) that can take you from a number of resorts to various popular locations in Orlando and the surrounding area. For example they can pick you up at your Disney resort and take you to Universal or Seaworld and back again. I am not sure if Mears goes to the outlet malls, but I think they do. The Mears shuttle tends to be the least expensive option, but you are on their schedule.

With a taxi you can come and go as you please but the cost can be much higher.

The Disney buses will not take you anywhere outside of Disney World.

There is a public bus system called Lynx that can take you all over, but with the transfers and the amount of time it takes to get anywhere does not make it a good option.
Click to expand...

Ohhh, get it! this shuttle thing seems to be perfect then! How can I get their service? in the hotel? or I have to do a pre-schedule by phone or internet before I go to Orlando? Do you know how much it costs?
 
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l4dybu6

l4dybu6

Active Member
1) Is it best for me to buy all ticket here before I go to Orlando?
I'm planning to get 5 days WDW parks ticket combo + Universal pack combo (Universal + Islando of Adventure) + Sea World + Busch Gardens combo
Depends. If you get a special deal somehow beforehand, I would recommend that. Go with whatever is cheaper! (Disney has all their prices on their website)
2) Can we trust in WDW free transportation? What about the other non disney parks how can I do to get there?
I know staying at a disney hotel I can get free transportation for all disney parks and hotels plus DTD, but as soon as we wont rent a car cuz we dont drive, how can we do to go to the other parks and the outlets outside WDW?
I would recommend renting a car if you can. Taxis can get expensive!
3) How much (in U$) I have to plan to spend with food & drinks during a whole day? (just considering fast food all day lol)
At LEAST $50. Food at Disney can be quite be quite expensive..... Or you could get the dining plan and pay at the beginning.
4) There's any walmart or target store near WDW that we can reach without a car or taxi just to save some money buying cheap snacks for the hotel/day?
There are many around Orlando, but i'm not sure how close they are to WDW
5) How cheap (or expensive) is to buy souvenirs from WDW? I mean plush toys, pins, figures, hats, etc.
sHmmmm.... Depends on what you get. Stuff is usually anywhere from $8- $25 (sometimes more, though)
6) About the Disney Transportation again, is it fast? is it easy to use? just taking a bus to the parks and the hotel is enough?
The buses and monorails will get you everywhere you need to go :)
7) What I have to bring to the parks besides my room card key and money?
Your ticket. And it's also helpful to have a bag with bottled water, sunglasses, a poncho, and such.
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the site. It's great to hear your excitement and wonderful that you will finally be able to join us with experiencing the Disney magic. We've used Mears to travel off site many times, they have been very reliable, but be sure to reconfirm your reservations with them the day before you arranged to travel just to be sure its correct in the system. We had twice called to confirm and there had been slip ups on the reserved times.
As far as your plan, I would suggest not going to Busch Gardens or plan the entire day 7 shopping and give yourself another day or more at one or two Disney parks that you found was most appealing to you. Theres sooo much to see at the parks, and where the expense of going to Disney might cause you to not come back soon, I'd recommend you spend more of your valuable time exploring and enjoying Disney time.
 
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