I just found out that my husband will have vacation in May, so I booked a four night stay at POR from May 20-24. We should get to the resort around 11:00am and our flight doesn't leave until almost 7:00pm on the 24th so.. hopefully we should have time to get everything in... Anyway.. this is my fourth trip to Disney, my husband's second... and our four year olds first!! We're keeping it a secret.. we don't plan on telling him where we're going until we get to the airport that morning :lol: We're SO excited.. anyway, a few things I wanted to ask.. first of all I've never been in May, can I expect decent weather, or don't even bother bringing your blow dryer humidity? Since it's been kinda last minute planned, should I make dinner reservations for some of the busier restaurants or just wing it? I registered my information on the magical express website today and it said you should recieve your booklet 42 days prior to your trip, lol, welllll.. I have 36 days until my trip :veryconfu do you think it will still get here in time? I guess worst case scenerio I call them if I don't have it in a few weeks. My son isn't really into characters much, but the rides will thrill him! I've been told to get up early and hit the theme parks, then do water parks in the afternoon.. I'm a little nervous, never planned a trip this fast but we're SO incredibly excited to share our favorite place on earth with him!! Oh yea, what's the deal with the fast pass or whatever it's called... how many can you get and where do you get them? Any other advice is appreciated, thanks so much!!
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Last Minute Trip...
- Thread starter Kaseys412
- Start date
lovepooh
Well-Known Member
We have been to disney about 3 times as a family in the past few years.
But as for your questions.....
I would reccomeend that you make dining reservations. The first time we went we didnt realize they were in important and we had a hard time finding places to eat at.
As for Disney's Magical Service- I had the same issue last time we went but the booklet arrived about 3 weeks before we were suppose to go. I called the service and they said if we didnt recived it 2 weeks before our trip they would have sent to us priorty. So I wouldnt worry yet.
As for fast passes. You can use them as much as you like but if you have a current Fast Pass from one location you can't get another till the time expires on the first one.
Your little one is going to have so much fun... enjoy!
But as for your questions.....
I would reccomeend that you make dining reservations. The first time we went we didnt realize they were in important and we had a hard time finding places to eat at.
As for Disney's Magical Service- I had the same issue last time we went but the booklet arrived about 3 weeks before we were suppose to go. I called the service and they said if we didnt recived it 2 weeks before our trip they would have sent to us priorty. So I wouldnt worry yet.
As for fast passes. You can use them as much as you like but if you have a current Fast Pass from one location you can't get another till the time expires on the first one.
Your little one is going to have so much fun... enjoy!
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DisneyChik17
Well-Known Member
We have been to disney about 3 times as a family in the past few years.
But as for your questions.....
I would reccomeend that you make dining reservations. The first time we went we didnt realize they were in important and we had a hard time finding places to eat at.
As for Disney's Magical Service- I had the same issue last time we went but the booklet arrived about 3 weeks before we were suppose to go. I called the service and they said if we didnt recived it 2 weeks before our trip they would have sent to us priorty. So I wouldnt worry yet.
As for fast passes. You can use them as much as you like but if you have a current Fast Pass from one location you can't get another till the time expires on the first one.
Your little one is going to have so much fun... enjoy!
Or two hours after the issue of the last Fastpass you are holding.
You can CERTAINLY make good use of that feature that most people don't really think about.
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smk
Well-Known Member
Read as much as you can the next few weeks.
I would plan busy mornings, naps and swims in the afternoon and long evening in the parks. Don't think you are going to get it all done becasue you won't, I have been countless times in the past few years and I have not even come close to seeing it all.
As for reservations I am going to split with the crowds here, don't worry if you don't get the ones you want. Try for some (you didn't say meal plan, right?) but we always wing it and never go to a sit down place or character meal. However, I realize those are important to some people so I respect their opinions, it is just as fine for us to eat a good breakfast at our resort, a counter service meal for lunch and counter service for dinner as well. It is only 4 days and if you eat a hamburger every meal for 4 days it is not going to kill you, right? If you are in MK there is always Liberty Tree Tavern for a decent meal and possibly not as long of a wait as say, Le Cellier in Epcot. We opt for Pecos Bill's or Casey in MK and Mexico counter service in Epcot. :shrug:
Weather should be great too, lower humidity and just warm enough to take away any remaining cold weather chills you are still dealing with up north.
Be happy in your planning and surprises! What fun it will be to surprise your little one with a big trip! Oh to be 4 again.....
I would plan busy mornings, naps and swims in the afternoon and long evening in the parks. Don't think you are going to get it all done becasue you won't, I have been countless times in the past few years and I have not even come close to seeing it all.
As for reservations I am going to split with the crowds here, don't worry if you don't get the ones you want. Try for some (you didn't say meal plan, right?) but we always wing it and never go to a sit down place or character meal. However, I realize those are important to some people so I respect their opinions, it is just as fine for us to eat a good breakfast at our resort, a counter service meal for lunch and counter service for dinner as well. It is only 4 days and if you eat a hamburger every meal for 4 days it is not going to kill you, right? If you are in MK there is always Liberty Tree Tavern for a decent meal and possibly not as long of a wait as say, Le Cellier in Epcot. We opt for Pecos Bill's or Casey in MK and Mexico counter service in Epcot. :shrug:
Weather should be great too, lower humidity and just warm enough to take away any remaining cold weather chills you are still dealing with up north.
Be happy in your planning and surprises! What fun it will be to surprise your little one with a big trip! Oh to be 4 again.....
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Susan Savia
Well-Known Member
WOW! Your so lucky, a spur of the moment trip to Disney World. Hope you all have a wonderful time. Only suggestions: Get to the parks at rope drop, use the fast pass system and read up as much as you can before you go. :wave:
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swimmom
Well-Known Member
Since you are already planning on starting your days early, you might want to check on getting an early ADR for the character breakfast at Crystal Palace. That can get you into the park before opening, you can have breakfast with characters and then you can be done just about the time the park opens.
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disneychic71
Member
On a short trip, I wouldn't bother with the water parks unless you are a huge fan of them. The pool at POFQ is really nice for a child that age, with lots to do and less effort that getting to the water parks. As for ADRs, I agree that one or two reservations for anything you really want would be enough. With little ones, a quick counter-service meal can be just what you need. When we first took our son (2 then; 15 now!) we stayed four nights/five days at CBR. We had a great package that they offered back then with a breakfast included every day, so we booked character breakfasts--it was a great way to start the day! I would recommend at least one featuring his favorites.
Another tip--we took a stroller even when the kids got a little older; they would nap comfortably in the stroller and we could enjoy a little grown-up time in the parks with a cold drink and snack. One of my fondest memories is sitting on Main Street having an ice cream cone with DH while my son slept away. It was lovely! It also saved travel time and allowed us a full day in the park.
Have fun--wish I could do it all over again!
Another tip--we took a stroller even when the kids got a little older; they would nap comfortably in the stroller and we could enjoy a little grown-up time in the parks with a cold drink and snack. One of my fondest memories is sitting on Main Street having an ice cream cone with DH while my son slept away. It was lovely! It also saved travel time and allowed us a full day in the park.
Have fun--wish I could do it all over again!
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Thanks so much for the advice!! I'm getting excited, now it feels like five weeks is forever to wait! My husband and I went last January and froze to death lol (I say froze to death.. it was in the 60's, but NOT what I want when I'm in Florida!) so this time I'm really hoping May brings some nice toasty weather.. and my husband has never been to the water parks but I absolutely love them.. our son is a fish.. I'm thinking we'll get up early and do a few rides in the parks until about 2ish and then probably spend every afternoon at the waterpark.. it's going to be hard to get him dressed and dried off for dinner lol! I'm a little bummed but we are planning to skip Epcot this trip.. not sure how interesting it would be to a four year old and our time is limited.
Yesterday we were outside swinging and Julian (little one) saw an airplane in the sky and said " I wish I could ride on a jet reeeeeally high!" My husband and I just looked at each other and kinda laughed.. I'm so excited to surprise him with this...
Yesterday we were outside swinging and Julian (little one) saw an airplane in the sky and said " I wish I could ride on a jet reeeeeally high!" My husband and I just looked at each other and kinda laughed.. I'm so excited to surprise him with this...
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pixiesteno
Well-Known Member
You might want to consider waiting to say where you are going until after the plane ride. You could always tell him you wanted to take him in a plane ride because he said he would like to do that. Then once the plane has landed and you are enroute or as you come under the sign let him know he's going to stay with Mickey and the gang. Just a thought. Oh, how I love to see the sign that spans over Oceola Parkway -- sigh. :lol:
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