Florida & Disney
Discussion
ecsrobin said:
The tip we were given and applied for KSC was to jump on the coaches first and tick off the Saturn V, that way its not only quiet but there was no line for the buses there or back. Then continue with the rest of the attractions. Worked well for us at Easter.
Good advice, no doubt. However, the traffic queue to get into the parking lot was miles long (due to the forthcoming launch(es), so by the time we'd got in, the Saturn V gig was all over, bar the screaming and hand-shaking.Another pointer - and one I find quite baffling, the payment plaza to get into the parking lot ($10.00) was, I think, 8 lanes wide - which was then crushed down to a single lane, in the space of about 100 yards, creating absolute f
king chaos - no merging, no eye-contact and plenty of "You're not fking getting in in front of me", type of consideration.
Matt Harper said:
ecsrobin said:
The tip we were given and applied for KSC was to jump on the coaches first and tick off the Saturn V, that way its not only quiet but there was no line for the buses there or back. Then continue with the rest of the attractions. Worked well for us at Easter.
Good advice, no doubt. However, the traffic queue to get into the parking lot was miles long (due to the forthcoming launch(es), so by the time we'd got in, the Saturn V gig was all over, bar the screaming and hand-shaking.Another pointer - and one I find quite baffling, the payment plaza to get into the parking lot ($10.00) was, I think, 8 lanes wide - which was then crushed down to a single lane, in the space of about 100 yards, creating absolute f
king chaos - no merging, no eye-contact and plenty of "You're not fking getting in in front of me", type of consideration.Trustmeimadoctor said:
Word of advice if you can get DAS at Disney do it, makes everything a lot easier!
My eldest (9) has diagnosed ADHD and Autism and we got the DAS pass. He isn't at the extreme end of the spectrum, but generally speaking queueing is incredibly stressful and well beyond kids of the same age. Getting a DAS pass is not complicated and quite frankly I suspect the system is heavily abused. Universal do make it slightly more complex (And rightly so). Disney don't ask for any doco (We could have produced a lever arches worth), but Universal do (I think)
However.....It was a god send. We rode Avatar FoP three times and at one point the normal queue broke a record for the park at 370 minutes.
We flew out on Christmas Day 2023 and had 12 days out there. I'm pretty sure I have posted on this thread at some point.
It was an exhausting holiday and whilst you think you have solved the queueing problem, they still have to walk between rides and between restaurants and the boys were a nightmare especially the eldest. It was exhausting and I'm not sure I will go back in a hurry.
Saying that, what Disney can do in the ride tech and experience space makes UK Theme parks look dated, tired and dirty. I loved Galaxies Edge and so did my boys too and they are asking to go back! The attention to detail is unbelievable and Rise Of The Resistance is simply fantastic. Even Star Tours at 35 years old still hits pretty hard.
Merlin are bringing new roller coasters to their top UK theme parks this year, but in reality they look very old tech when you compare it to Flight Of Passage in Animal Kingdom. Lego Land does have a similar thing now though.
iHOP was also a surprise hit for the kids. Yes, its like a grubby McDonalds from the early 90s, but the staff were great and my kids love a pancake and thats where my eldest asked to go for breakfast on his Birthday. We tried Longhorns and Millers and I didn't rate either, but I really did like iHOP.
Backlot Express at Hollywood Studios. That was quite bad.
Magic Kingdom on Boxing Day with the Festive Parade was also amazing and it was 25C too.
Where the cracks are showing are the water parks. We went to Blizzard Beach. Yes, it was too cold, but my god that place is looking a little tires in places and the pool and lazy river floor surface is like 80 grit sandpaper. Didn't seem to be just us with that opinion either. Shame really as my kids are of an age where they love a water park.
Gingerbread House in the Grand Floridian was great too. We were there 10 minutes before they shut and I bought a roof tile.
Should head to Trip Adviser and write a few reviews really. We stayed at Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa. The Spa is really stretching it, but it was fine for what we needed.
Trustmeimadoctor said:
Word of advice if you can get DAS at Disney do it, makes everything a lot easier!
I'd second the DAS pass comment. My son has Down Syndrome and standing in line makes no sense to him, so that pass made the trip for us. As others have said it was easy to get, you just go to guest services on arrival and they set it all up for you in less than 5 min. Universal was the same. I guess they may ask some people for a doctors note so as to avoid abuse, but in our case they didn't ask for anything perhaps because DS is visually recognizable. Sheepshanks said:
They were talking about stopping DAS as it's being wildly abused.
I believe they have tighten up what they will now give it out for. But like most things with disney will depend what cast member you speak to.It was being massively abused by large groups and paid for tour guides.
J210 said:
I believe they have tighten up what they will now give it out for. But like most things with disney will depend what cast member you speak to.
It was being massively abused by large groups and paid for tour guides.
...and people who go on very high demand rides three times.....It was being massively abused by large groups and paid for tour guides.
Sheepshanks said:
J210 said:
I believe they have tighten up what they will now give it out for. But like most things with disney will depend what cast member you speak to.
It was being massively abused by large groups and paid for tour guides.
...and people who go on very high demand rides three times.....It was being massively abused by large groups and paid for tour guides.
Sheepshanks said:
...and people who go on very high demand rides three times.....
They were talking about stopping DAS as it's being wildly abused.
Do you have a problem with that or shall I just read between the dot or lines? They were talking about stopping DAS as it's being wildly abused.
A well know fake Disney news site spread that a few months ago. I do think it needs to be tightened up a bit though. Our diagnosis took nearly two years and that was with someone who knows the system. Its well known to take twice that.
Pablo_Picasso said:
Hello guys
Looking at booking 2 weeks at Disney world for next Easter (2025). I’ve got 210,000 Avios, companion voucher etc Any thoughts on the best way to book this? I’ve done hours of research and I’m still confused….!
Cheers
Pablo.
Flights get released around now and will be in very high demand for Avios seats, best advice is good luck. Looking at booking 2 weeks at Disney world for next Easter (2025). I’ve got 210,000 Avios, companion voucher etc Any thoughts on the best way to book this? I’ve done hours of research and I’m still confused….!
Cheers
Pablo.
Well we returned to the UK at the weekend. Flew VA Premium Economy from Manchester and as we were a large group we stayed in a villa.
All went really well although Easter is very busy. We did all the main parks - Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We managed to get on all the rides we wanted without using lightening lane passes etc. Some of our party did Volcano Bay but said it was far too busy to enjoy fully.
It's 10 years or so since we were last there and the cost increases were noticeable. Parking at the parks was $30 per day (this went up to $32 per day at Universal last week). The food in Disney parks was OK and not too much of a rip off. however I thought the food in Universal was not so good. We only had snacks in the parks and had a meal afterwards.
The tip re the toll road pass was great. thanks! This saved a lot of time by not having to go to the booths and was a little cheaper too.
Regarding the DAS system, I can only agree that anyone who abuses this should be ashamed. People were queuing for up to two hours for some of the popular rides and to use this system to snag multiple rides is not on.
All went really well although Easter is very busy. We did all the main parks - Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We managed to get on all the rides we wanted without using lightening lane passes etc. Some of our party did Volcano Bay but said it was far too busy to enjoy fully.
It's 10 years or so since we were last there and the cost increases were noticeable. Parking at the parks was $30 per day (this went up to $32 per day at Universal last week). The food in Disney parks was OK and not too much of a rip off. however I thought the food in Universal was not so good. We only had snacks in the parks and had a meal afterwards.
The tip re the toll road pass was great. thanks! This saved a lot of time by not having to go to the booths and was a little cheaper too.
Regarding the DAS system, I can only agree that anyone who abuses this should be ashamed. People were queuing for up to two hours for some of the popular rides and to use this system to snag multiple rides is not on.
Disney announced the other day that "free" dining is coming back next year so I'm coming under a bit of pressure to take the family - again.
We've already done two "once in a lifetime" WDW trips with our kids and grandchildren already, not sure I'm up for another one.
The free dining offer doesn't look too bad but each iteration of it has, of course, been less generous than the previous one. The first time they did it, it even included the tip.
We've already done two "once in a lifetime" WDW trips with our kids and grandchildren already, not sure I'm up for another one.
The free dining offer doesn't look too bad but each iteration of it has, of course, been less generous than the previous one. The first time they did it, it even included the tip.
We have decided yet again we are off back next year but only for a week but first time staying onsite at Disney combining with other things as I'd never go just for a week to Florida
Anyone ever stayed at Riverside or french quarter?
As with dining they come out cheaper than off site
Anyone ever stayed at Riverside or french quarter?
As with dining they come out cheaper than off site
Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Monday 8th April 12:27
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