We're going to Disney World!

[Rico_S]

I don’t have much to add other than I am jealous. We have been a couple of times and we loved it. Have fun!

-Rico

 

[dixieagle]

We’re going in early June. I love it that the Star Wars weekend will be going on. Hopefully it won’t be too crowded. We’re going with some friends of ours who also have two kids. The other dad and I will be going to Le Cellier while the others go to a dinner with Chip and Dale. I’m glad you mentioned that it was good.

We’ll be eating at 50’s Cafe, Wolfgang Puck’s Cafe, some princess dinner at the Garden Grill in the Floridian(the girls picked that out), Chef Mickey’s (the two youngest picked it), The Coral Reef, Hollywood & Vine Restaurant, and the Le Cellier.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I bought the book.

Excellent restaurant choices! (Just don’t tell the girls how fabulous Le Cellier was!!!)

We always get ourselves to the Ghirardelli store in Downtown Disney at least once per trip; talk about good ice cream sundaes!!! The 50’s Prime Time Diner is a fun place, if you don’t mind someone telling you to stop talking with your mouth full and clean your plate. (Servers are in character, reminiscent of a 50’s mother who is a bit of a busybody!) The food was tasty and fun.

You will love having a meal at the Grand Floridian; it is posh, elegant, beautiful, with wonderful piano music in the huge foyer and the restaurants have great reputations. The Garden Grill has, if I remember, good casual food. Do spend some time just exploring the resort, as it is well worth it, particularly after a recent renovation of some public areas.

I want to go back already!!!

 

[PaulinVA]

I worked there for 3 years.

Do book those dining reservations asap. That’s the most important thing I can tell you. Strategize your days around the Extra Magic Hours, which are only available to Disney Resort Guests and those staying in the Downtown Disney Hilton. That way, you maximize your options.

Yeah, I grew up about an hour from Orlando, on the coast (actually, off the Indian River).

I remember Saturday Night at the World; close down the park and only let in busloads of high school kids. KC and the Sunshine Band by the tram ride entrance, clouds of ‘smoke’ all around. You could get high just standing there!

We are all parked out by now, but when the kids were young they enjoyed the non-ride things as much as the rides. They always thought running around Tom Sawyers Island was fun.

 

[Lee_M]

I would count on 100% humidity here, unfortunately.
Where do you live?

I live in Kentucky. There is a saying. If you don’t like the weather in the Ohio Valley, just stay around for 5 minutes and it will change. That is about the truth. We range from 100 degree+ days in the summer to -0 degree in the winter. The average humidity is 82 yearly. But it gets pretty bad in the summer sometimes. Probably around 90.

 

[whatevergirl]

We love Disney…and went there for the light shows during the holidays…wow, is all I can say! I couldn’t believe it!

We also enjoy very much the Animal Kingdom, that place is just so fun, we didn’t want to leave. My kids, being 12 and 16…they don’t care for some of the rides in the Magic Kingdom anymore…so we have been trying out some new things at Disney.

It’s really fun…you might end up wanting to move to Florida, Lee! lol

Have a fun filled and safe trip with your family!

 

[Lee_M]

Excellent restaurant choices! (Just don’t tell the girls how fabulous Le Cellier was!!!)

We always get ourselves to the Ghirardelli store in Downtown Disney at least once per trip; talk about good ice cream sundaes!!! The 50’s Prime Time Diner is a fun place, if you don’t mind someone telling you to stop talking with your mouth full and clean your plate. (Servers are in character, reminiscent of a 50’s mother who is a bit of a busybody!) The food was tasty and fun.

You will love having a meal at the Grand Floridian; it is posh, elegant, beautiful, with wonderful piano music in the huge foyer and the restaurants have great reputations. The Garden Grill has, if I remember, good casual food. Do spend some time just exploring the resort, as it is well worth it, particularly after a recent renovation of some public areas.

I want to go back already!!!

I was wanting to go to Citrico’s because I have heard nice things about them, but it takes two table service meals. And now with the dining plan not covering gratuities, that would be about $40 just for the tip. I need to move down there and become a waiter.

 

[Lee_M]

We love Disney…and went there for the light shows during the holidays…wow, is all I can say! I couldn’t believe it!

We also enjoy very much the Animal Kingdom, that place is just so fun, we didn’t want to leave. My kids, being 12 and 16…they don’t care for some of the rides in the Magic Kingdom anymore…so we have been trying out some new things at Disney.

It’s really fun…you might end up wanting to move to Florida, Lee! lol

Have a fun filled and safe trip with your family!

Since you live in the area, do you know any good churches nearby for Sunday Mass and their Mass times? I’ll need somewhere to go.

 

[Lee_M]

We love Disney…and went there for the light shows during the holidays…wow, is all I can say! I couldn’t believe it!

We also enjoy very much the Animal Kingdom, that place is just so fun, we didn’t want to leave. My kids, being 12 and 16…they don’t care for some of the rides in the Magic Kingdom anymore…so we have been trying out some new things at Disney.

It’s really fun…you might end up wanting to move to Florida, Lee! lol

Have a fun filled and safe trip with your family!

I’m glad to hear that you like Animal Kingdom. I’ve talked to a couple of friends and they said they were disappointed with it. It looks nice to me on the Disney DVD.

 

[whatevergirl]

Since you live in the area, do you know any good churches nearby for Sunday Mass and their Mass times? I’ll need somewhere to go.

Hi Lee;

Here is a quick google search…and out of these, my fave is St Andrew’s…this is where my husband and I used to go when we lived in Orlando.

A. Good Shepherd Catholic Church - www.goodshepherd.org - (407) 277-3938 - More

B. St Charles Catholic Church - www.stcharlesorlando.org - (407) 293-9556 - More

C. Blessed Trinity Catholic Church - www.blessedtrinityorlando.org - (407) 277-1702 - 1 review

D. Sacred Heart Traditional Church - maps.google.com - (407) 841-5878 - More

E. St Andrews Catholic Church - www.standrewcatholicschool.org - (407) 295-4230 - 1 review

F. St James Catholic Cathedral - www.stjcc.net - (407) 422-2005 - More

G. St Nicholas Catholic Church - www.byzantines.net - (407) 351-0133 - More

H. St Jude Maronite Catholic Church - saintjudechurch.org - (407) 363-7405 - More

I. Holy Cross Catholic Church - holycrossorlfl.catholicweb.com - (407) 438-0990 - 1 review

J. Diocese of Orlando-Catholic - www.orlandodiocese.org - (407) 246-4800 - More

 

[whatevergirl]

I’m glad to hear that you like Animal Kingdom. I’ve talked to a couple of friends and they said they were disappointed with it. It looks nice to me on the Disney DVD.

You know, I have heard that too, which I was surprised to hear. I think the possible reason for that, is depending on the time of day, on the safari for example, animals might be hiding or sleeping, and you don’t get to see a whole lot. I loved the way Disney brought the look of Africa though, to the entire park–that is really worth seeing. You REALLY feel like you went to a faraway land for the day, but you’re at Disney!

My dh gets us in for free now, so we are not as picky, now haha.
I highly recommend ‘It’s a Bug’s Life,’ oh wow, that is so cute and fun! Disney did a great job with that.

There are other attractions…I think a roller coaster, or is that Hollywood Studios, can’t remember…but try Everest, it’s a really fast roller coaster, if you like those.

I think it’s a great park…it’s my personal favorite. I hope you enjoy yourselves…and that you end up with great weather!!!

 

[Lujack]

My family is a bunch of Disney nuts. We’ve managed to go once every two or three years since I was five, so these are some accumulated tips I picked from my parents:

1. Have a plan, but don’t be inflexible. It isn’t the sort of trip you can just wing, but you don’t have to be rigid, either. You can get all the park maps down at the lobby, and it would really help to have an idea of what you’re going to try to do the night before.
2. You’ll be very tired, because you’ll wind up getting up early to hit the parks and staying up late to stay till closing, probably. My family always hit the parks in the morning, went back to the hotel and either swam in the pool or napped, then came back for the late afternoon when everybody was starting to crash and hit more rides. Depending on how young your kids are, and how much you want to see the afternoon parades, those are also a good time to hit the rides, when everybody’s watching. Don’t skip the evening parade, though; its awesome.
3. If you’re staying for a long time, take a day off in the middle and spend the day at a water park. Its a good refresher day, and you’ll be glad to have it.
4. Use Fastpass. It makes things so much easier.
5. If you get the chance, go to the awesome dinner show known as the Hoop-de-doo Revue. Tis one of my favorites, and my family goes every time. It is clean and hilarious.

Hope it helps! Have fun!

 

[Lee_M]

You know, I have heard that too, which I was surprised to hear. I think the possible reason for that, is depending on the time of day, on the safari for example, animals might be hiding or sleeping, and you don’t get to see a whole lot. I loved the way Disney brought the look of Africa though, to the entire park–that is really worth seeing. You REALLY feel like you went to a faraway land for the day, but you’re at Disney!

My dh gets us in for free now, so we are not as picky, now haha.
I highly recommend ‘It’s a Bug’s Life,’ oh wow, that is so cute and fun! Disney did a great job with that.

There are other attractions…I think a roller coaster, or is that Hollywood Studios, can’t remember…but try Everest, it’s a really fast roller coaster, if you like those.

I think it’s a great park…it’s my personal favorite. I hope you enjoy yourselves…and that you end up with great weather!!!

It will be my luck, a hurricane comes through. I didn’t realize that hurricane season starts June 1st. I have heard that Orlando has been charmed by missing most tropical storms and hurricanes though.

 

[Lee_M]

My family is a bunch of Disney nuts. We’ve managed to go once every two or three years since I was five, so these are some accumulated tips I picked from my parents:

1. Have a plan, but don’t be inflexible. It isn’t the sort of trip you can just wing, but you don’t have to be rigid, either. You can get all the park maps down at the lobby, and it would really help to have an idea of what you’re going to try to do the night before.
2. You’ll be very tired, because you’ll wind up getting up early to hit the parks and staying up late to stay till closing, probably. My family always hit the parks in the morning, went back to the hotel and either swam in the pool or napped, then came back for the late afternoon when everybody was starting to crash and hit more rides. Depending on how young your kids are, and how much you want to see the afternoon parades, those are also a good time to hit the rides, when everybody’s watching. Don’t skip the evening parade, though; its awesome.
3. If you’re staying for a long time, take a day off in the middle and spend the day at a water park. Its a good refresher day, and you’ll be glad to have it.
4. Use Fastpass. It makes things so much easier.
5. If you get the chance, go to the awesome dinner show known as the Hoop-de-doo Revue. Tis one of my favorites, and my family goes every time. It is clean and hilarious.

Hope it helps! Have fun!

Did Fastpass used to be available to just people staying at the resort or has it always been availbable to everyone? My friend was telling me that it was only available to the resorts when he went. I was just curious because it looks like if everyone had Fastpass, it would be difficult to use.

 

[Lujack]

Did Fastpass used to be available to just people staying at the resort or has it always been availbable to everyone? My friend was telling me that it was only available to the resorts when he went. I was just curious because it looks like if everyone had Fastpass, it would be difficult to use.

Fastpass is available to everyone, I believe (we’ve never stayed off-property, so I’m not sure). It isn’t too difficult to use, because there’s a time window when you’re supposed to use it in, so they do their best to keep the wait steady at 15-20 minutes. Sometimes its difficult to use in the sense that you’ll get a Fastpass for 6:30 at night at 9:00 in the morning, but that’s on peak days when its all packed anyway.

The equivalent for Universal Studios, Universal Express, is only available to resort guests, though (I think).

 

[whatevergirl]

It will be my luck, a hurricane comes through. I didn’t realize that hurricane season starts June 1st. I have heard that Orlando has been charmed by missing most tropical storms and hurricanes though.

Many years ago…there was one that came through, think it was 1996 or something, when my dh and I lived there, and it caused some damage, but not like as if we were living on the beach. I think you’ll be fine. I’m sending good vibes your way for your trip! lol

 

[Lee_M]

Fastpass is available to everyone, I believe (we’ve never stayed off-property, so I’m not sure). It isn’t too difficult to use, because there’s a time window when you’re supposed to use it in, so they do their best to keep the wait steady at 15-20 minutes. Sometimes its difficult to use in the sense that you’ll get a Fastpass for 6:30 at night at 9:00 in the morning, but that’s on peak days when its all packed anyway.

The equivalent for Universal Studios, Universal Express, is only available to resort guests, though (I think).

Can’t wait to ride Tower of Terror, Test Track, Everest, Toy Story Mania, Soarin, Rock n Roller Coaster, Splash Mountain, you get the picture. I’m a kid in an adult’s body.

 

[Lee_M]

Many years ago…there was one that came through, think it was 1996 or something, when my dh and I lived there, and it caused some damage, but not like as if we were living on the beach. I think you’ll be fine. I’m sending good vibes your way for your trip! lol

Thanks for the good vibes. I’ll be praying to Saint Agricola of Avignon for some intercession as well.

 

[Lujack]

Can’t wait to ride Tower of Terror, Test Track, Everest, Toy Story Mania, Soarin, Rock n Roller Coaster, Splash Mountain, you get the picture. I’m a kid in an adult’s body.

All of them are absolutely awesome. Specific advice here-when you get to the park, Fastpass Soarin and Toy Story Mania right away. The lines get pretty long, but if hustle over there right away, you can get a Fastpass that isn’t too far off.

I love Disney. Just talking about it brings to my face.

 

[dixieagle]

My family is a bunch of Disney nuts. We’ve managed to go once every two or three years since I was five, so these are some accumulated tips I picked from my parents:

1. Have a plan, but don’t be inflexible. It isn’t the sort of trip you can just wing, but you don’t have to be rigid, either. You can get all the park maps down at the lobby, and it would really help to have an idea of what you’re going to try to do the night before.
2. You’ll be very tired, because you’ll wind up getting up early to hit the parks and staying up late to stay till closing, probably. My family always hit the parks in the morning, went back to the hotel and either swam in the pool or napped, then came back for the late afternoon when everybody was starting to crash and hit more rides. Depending on how young your kids are, and how much you want to see the afternoon parades, those are also a good time to hit the rides, when everybody’s watching. Don’t skip the evening parade, though; its awesome.
3. If you’re staying for a long time, take a day off in the middle and spend the day at a water park. Its a good refresher day, and you’ll be glad to have it.
4. Use Fastpass. It makes things so much easier.
5. If you get the chance, go to the awesome dinner show known as the Hoop-de-doo Revue. Tis one of my favorites, and my family goes every time. It is clean and hilarious.

Hope it helps! Have fun!

We love Hoop de Doo! Two of our friends often perform in it (a Diamond Jim-type character and a saloon girl.) In fact they met there and later married.

 

[dixieagle]

Can’t wait to ride Tower of Terror, Test Track, Everest, Toy Story Mania, Soarin, Rock n Roller Coaster, Splash Mountain, you get the picture. I’m a kid in an adult’s body.

Soarin’ is my all-time favorite “ride.” Our daughters love the rollercoasters, but I don’t do them.

Early June is well before the time that hurricanes usually get going. I think you’ll be fine.

BTW - we always go to the enormous “Mary Queen of the Universe” shrine, which is very close to Disney World. They have plenty of Masses.

maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/