Tips, Secrets, and Tricks, oh my!

[BiggerTigger]

After having some friends over this past weekend to discuss a trip in September 2012, I thought I would send them tips, secrets, and tricks to get the most out of their vacations. So tell me, what are your best tips, secrets, and tricks to planning, paying, traveling, vacationing, staying, things to do, places to see, etc?

I will start.........

Even though you are spending time as a family, try to take sometime for yourselves, a romantic dinner, some shopping, or even some time at the spa. You'll find, time away from each other for a little bit can make you appreciate your family more.

Think about the amount of time you are going to spend together, traveling, eating, same hotel room, rides, and parks......the kids will appreciate the down time from parents, and the parents will appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with each other.

 

[zurgandfriend]

Plan the trip as a family;
Sit down and watch the vacation planning DVD together.
Discuss where to stay.
Discuss what park to visit and on what day.
What “special thing” can we do such as Cirque du Soleil, Hoop de Doo revue etc.
Everyone gets a choice as to meals. There are 3 of us in our family, and each gets to pick 2 restaurants for dinner, 1 for breakfast and 1 for lunch also.
Review the menus of everyone’s choices; make sure that is not something that will make anyone sick either through allergies or other reasons; negotiate and adjust if necessary.
Plan a budget, how much do we need to save if we want to stay a value/Moderate/deluxe resort for X many days, eat in restaurants, see special shows etc.
If the trip is in 2012 don’t talk about it constantly for the next 2 years. Either you’ll get sick of the whole idea of Disney and/or your expectations won’t be met.
A few days before the trip watch the DVD again, point out the attractions you’ll visit, the restaurants, you’ll dine in and if staying on property your resort.
When you get there remember you can’t do everything in a day. Pace yourself.
Take an afternoon break, go back to your resort and relax and swim, etc, then head back in the evening for more fun and fireworks.

 

[Mouse Man]

Plan the trip as a family;
Sit down and watch the vacation planning DVD together.
Discuss where to stay.
Discuss what park to visit and on what day.
What “special thing” can we do such as Cirque du Soleil, Hoop de Doo revue etc.
Everyone gets a choice as to meals. There are 3 of us in our family, and each gets to pick 2 restaurants for dinner, 1 for breakfast and 1 for lunch also.
Review the menus of everyone’s choices; make sure that is not something that will make anyone sick either through allergies or other reasons; negotiate and adjust if necessary.
Plan a budget, how much do we need to save if we want to stay a value/Moderate/deluxe resort for X many days, eat in restaurants, see special shows etc.
If the trip is in 2012 don’t talk about it constantly for the next 2 years. Either you’ll get sick of the whole idea of Disney and/or your expectations won’t be met.
A few days before the trip watch the DVD again, point out the attractions you’ll visit, the restaurants, you’ll dine in and if staying on property your resort.
When you get there remember you can’t do everything in a day. Pace yourself.
Take an afternoon break, go back to your resort and relax and swim, etc, then head back in the evening for more fun and fireworks.

Couldn't of said it better. The only thing I will add is that the week to two weeks before leaving I would drop little toys and gifts like shirts with Mickey or Disney characters on it and the kids would get all hyped up to go. Sort of like the waiting for Santa to come on Christmas. The kids were bursting with excitement the day we were leaving for our drive down to WDW.

 

[wdwmagic]

Have a look at http://www.wdwmagic.com/tips.htm

 

[foreverbelle]

Remember Disney has more to offer than the parks, the resorts themselves are incredible, and offer activiites, at little to no cost to you. From pool parties, to ceramics and jewelry making...The parks are great but everyone will need a break from it every so often.

 

[BiggerTigger]

If the trip is in 2012 don’t talk about it constantly for the next 2 years. Either you’ll get sick of the whole idea of Disney and/or your expectations won’t be met.

Thanks for the tips, I am old hat at Disney Vacations, this will be our first Grand Gathering with more than a few people. I'm not planning to over do it, we have 2 years, but I wanted to let those that are going to need the time to save money the opportunity to pay for their vacation.
I have given them all kinds of references and websites (especially this one) to find out information and plan for their family. The biggest thing will be a 50th Birthday Dinner (we are still deciding where) for the whole group. Hopefully I'll stumble across a tip I never thought of, so keep them coming.

 

[New2WDW]

Buy tickets now before they go up a few more times before your trip! :lol:
Just kidding kinda....I like to create a breakdown of prices for the trip and each pay period pay part of something by putting $ into savings. It could be the room fee for a night, a day of tickets (divided price for multiday), a meal for the day, etc. Just a fun way I have always saved for my trips.

 

[GeoDonJac34]

We have the Disney Visa card, with it you get Disney points. One point for every dollar you charge. we cash our points in before each trip. Last year at one store we gave it to DS 10 and he bought us Mickey and Minnie coffee mugs. And of course something for himself. He enjoyed it and we use the mugs all the time.

 

[mamamouse]

I could never not talk about disney for that long YIKES!!!!!!!lol

Plan the trip as a family;
Sit down and watch the vacation planning DVD together.
Discuss where to stay.
Discuss what park to visit and on what day.
What “special thing” can we do such as Cirque du Soleil, Hoop de Doo revue etc.
Everyone gets a choice as to meals. There are 3 of us in our family, and each gets to pick 2 restaurants for dinner, 1 for breakfast and 1 for lunch also.
Review the menus of everyone’s choices; make sure that is not something that will make anyone sick either through allergies or other reasons; negotiate and adjust if necessary.
Plan a budget, how much do we need to save if we want to stay a value/Moderate/deluxe resort for X many days, eat in restaurants, see special shows etc.
If the trip is in 2012 don’t talk about it constantly for the next 2 years. Either you’ll get sick of the whole idea of Disney and/or your expectations won’t be met.
A few days before the trip watch the DVD again, point out the attractions you’ll visit, the restaurants, you’ll dine in and if staying on property your resort.
When you get there remember you can’t do everything in a day. Pace yourself.
Take an afternoon break, go back to your resort and relax and swim, etc, then head back in the evening for more fun and fireworks.

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

Central Florida is HOT, and you'll do alot of walking. Get outside and exercise weeks before your trip.

 

[JillC LI]

Remember Disney has more to offer than the parks, the resorts themselves are incredible, and offer activiites, at little to no cost to you. From pool parties, to ceramics and jewelry making...The parks are great but everyone will need a break from it every so often.

Where is there ceramics and jewelry making?

 

[Korfar]

We have the Disney Visa card, with it you get Disney points. One point for every dollar you charge. we cash our points in before each trip. Last year at one store we gave it to DS 10 and he bought us Mickey and Minnie coffee mugs. And of course something for himself. He enjoyed it and we use the mugs all the time.

Slight correction to this. It is 1 point for every $100 you spend on the card. So basically 1% cash back to use for any Disney purchase.