Disney World advice

[nicholas421]

I'm taking my son to Orlando for a few days. I'd like to do 2 days of Disney. What are the must do's? Which parks should we skip? Keep in mind that my son is 4 years old.

2 day hopper tickets are selling for about $100 on ebay. Is this my best bet?

Thanks

 

[SoCalDude]

Get the Birnbaum's guide to Disneyworld. They usually have a list of must do's from 2 to 7 days. Helps maximize your time there.

 

[EIFFEL]

Disney world and Animal kingdom are good bet. Or skip the animal kingdom and go to typhoon legoon instead. It is SO hot down Orlando at this time of the year, you will have a hard time walking in the afternoon. So get their early and take a break from 1-4 p.m. Go back around 7 for the fireworks later at night. Bring sunblock and drink plenty of water. It is HOT, Enjoy your trip, Eiffel.

 

[whealy]

- The guide mentioned above is a great idea.

- I agree that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will be your best bets. They were with our kids at the ages of 6 & 8 and 3 & 5 (two trips)

- Make sure you know how FastPass works.

- You will most likely ride the Buzz Light Year ride at least twice each day you are in the Magic Kingdom - it is a fast pass ride

- If you rent a stroller - might help keep you son from getting too tired even if you don't use one at his current age - you can rent at one park and get another without paying using your receipt in the same day.

- Several characters are usually available for pictures in the morning at Magic Kingdom.

- Bring a water bottle - there are water fountains in almost all areas that make it easy to fill and keep you and your son hydrated.

- If you are thinking about staying on-site, try the Fort Wilderness cabins - least expensive on-site location with a kitchen. We spent the heat of the day inside resting using in park transportation to make it pretty simple. - They also rent golf carts for getting around at the campgrounds.

 

[NSX-Stalker]

- If you are thinking about staying on-site, try the Fort Wilderness cabins

We stayed there and had a great time. I've stayed at some of the resorts but enjoyed the cabins the best.

NSX-Stalker

 

[MiamieNeSeX]

Animal Kingdom is a waste of time during the summer months. Empty your beer keg and fill it with water as you will most likely melt standing in line. Magic Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon are your best bets, but go early in the day as we are having 90 degree plus days in all of Florida plus we get the afternoon rain shower. Or you can leave them at Disney with the wife and meet me a few hours south


Armando

 

[fannsx]

Magic Kingdom is a good start for a 4 year old.
Don't try to see and do everything at once. He is still younge, and 6 to 8 hours in the sun is probably the maximum he can tolerate. If you don't see or do it this time, than there is just more to see and do the next time you go. Disney will always be there.
Some Hopper tickets let you hop between parks. I never had the chance to hop around. The place is huge, and hoping waste a lot of time. Besides you will be in line most of the time. Sometime the hotel that you stay has discounted tickets. Package deals (flight,ticket and hotel)can also be a money saver.
I bought some hopper tickets 4-5 years ago that dont expire. I am still using them this year.Prices have gone up since then.

 

[DocL]

I usually go to Disney two or three times a year to escape reality down here in Boca and I've stayed at most of the different levels of accomodations at Disney. The best bang for the buck are the All-Star resorts. Sometimes they run a special around $59/night and they are very animated for the kids.

If you don't want to stay on the Disney campus, there is a Residence Inn about 10 minutes away that offers studio or 1 bedroom suites for about $120/day with a full kitchen. I would also suggest getting a AAA membership as there are many discounts available through them. If someone you know lives near Disney, or if one of us Florida residents is nice enough, maybe you can get a Florida resident park hopper pass. But, I don't know if they are transferrable anymore or if they check your drivers license.

As previously mentioned, it is going to be hotter than you've ever imagined so drink lots of fluids and try to stay in the shade as much as possible.

 

[THE4TH]

- The guide mentioned above is a great idea.

- I agree that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will be your best bets. They were with our kids at the ages of 6 & 8 and 3 & 5 (two trips)

- Make sure you know how FastPass works.

- You will most likely ride the Buzz Light Year ride at least twice each day you are in the Magic Kingdom - it is a fast pass ride

- If you rent a stroller - might help keep you son from getting too tired even if you don't use one at his current age - you can rent at one park and get another without paying using your receipt in the same day.

- Several characters are usually available for pictures in the morning at Magic Kingdom.

- Bring a water bottle - there are water fountains in almost all areas that make it easy to fill and keep you and your son hydrated.

- If you are thinking about staying on-site, try the Fort Wilderness cabins - least expensive on-site location with a kitchen. We spent the heat of the day inside resting using in park transportation to make it pretty simple. - They also rent golf carts for getting around at the campgrounds.

Fast pass and water... must have no matter what...

 

[druby]

Having gone to Disney for many years when my kids were younger my best advive is twofold. First stay in the park. You get in an hour early to the parks before they get busy and you can go back and forth to your hotel. Second, get an early start and go back to your hotel for lunch and a nap for your child and then go back around 5:00 and stay until closing. The park is cooler at night and the lines are shorter than the middle of the day and your child isn't cranky from being up all day in the heat.

As for the parks Magic Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon and Epcot for a child that age. Animal Kingdom could be good but Epcot has lots of indoors stuff (out of the heat) and more rides that young kids will like than anything except the Magic Kingdom.

I would also consider renting a stroller for your child. Even if they are a little old for a stroller carrying a 4 year old all day gets real old. If you have extra get the pass that allows you to go the front of the line. It's like $100 extra but worth every dollar.