Anyone been to Disney World Florida?

Question

Is it any good? or is it overated?

We are going there May next year.

How much spending money do you think a family of 3 (2 adults and a baby 1 and a half years old) for 1 week.

Not accommodation or flights just spending money for food and sh*t.

Thanks.

Answer 1

It's great,but the food is expensive in the parks. One of the cheapest meals is a hot dog, chips and beverage at $7. A strategy I used was (with lodging outside Disney) eating breakfast before going into the park-buying lunch while we were there and then-eating a late supper after leaving the parks for the day. We bought souvenir drinks in plastic cups with lids the first morning and stored them in a stroller bag-refilling with water from coolers throughout the parks each day. I purchased a book called "The Unofficial Guide To Disney World" before going-but you can search tips on line for free. It's really hard to estimate how much money you will need-at least $50/day to cover basics like parking, a drink and simple lunch. I thought that Epcot would be the only place I would be interested in, but I totally fell in love with the Magic Kingdom. The cleanliness of the parks is unbelievable, and the over all experience was everything the ads promised.  

Answer 2

are you really going are you?  for definit?

Answer 3

May is perfect time to go, I was there this year. not too busy.

Answer 4

Yeah i have, its AMAZING. been there 3 times. best holiday ever! i mean it its great never wanna come home. x

Answer 5

We're annual passholders who have averaged monthly trips for the last 3 1/2 years.  I'd been several times before that, so you can figure out how much we've been.  We often answer questions for other guests in the parks when we hear cast members struggling.  We never step in unless a cast member doesn't know the answer.  We are Disney freaks!  

That being said, I've been there with an 18 mo. old, and it was so fun!  He enjoyed the characters as long as we held him so they didn't tower over him.  He could reach out and touch their faces (fur not face characters).  The face characters weren't intimidating, because they could talk.  We had a stroller that would lie back so he could nap when he was tired.  We also took breaks, leaving the parks around 11:30 and not returning until about 4:00.  

ADMISSION - I wouldn't do 1 day, 1 park tickets.  Get multi-day hoppers.  They cost much less per day and give you more flexibility.  There are 4 parks, and you need a few days to get through them, especially with a little one.  It's so much nicer taking a break mid-day when crowds are at their peak then returning for the evening.  Parents who've stayed in the parks all day are more likely to have cranky, tired kids and all the pleasantness that goes with them.  Parents, of course, would never be tired and cranky.  We've found the best prices at www.ticketmania.com and have purchased from them back before we were FL residents.  Perhaps you know of another source that is better, but our friends from England didn't find one.  (You are from the UK, correct?)  Admission covers all the rides and attractions and all the FastPasses you can use.  With the little one, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the art of the Baby Swap.  

An excellent resource is www.allearsnet.com.  They have it all!  If you prefer a book, my favorite is The Unofficial Guide to Disney World.  It includes touring plans to minimize your time in line.  They've studied the traffic patterns of each attraction and know what hours the lines are shortest.  I've used their system, and it works.  I've done the "Dumbo or Die in a Day", and I've done a plan geared toward doing everthing in all the parks.  It might sound too regimented, but unless you really enjoy spending your time standing in lines, you might want to consider having a plan and doing a bit of reading.  Otherwise you're going to get back, and people will ask you how you liked the (fill in the blank) and you're going to say, "The what?".  Then they are going to proceed to tell you about this utterly spectacular, not-to-be-missed attraction like Mickey's Philharmagic that you walked past about 150 times and thought was just another gift shop.  

Disney food is expensive, but if you are in the UK, then it's not.  The pound is stronger than the dollar and food here costs less.  You can find dining info and menus at http://allears.net/din/dining.htm.  

Disney has baby care centers and free first aid centers to make traveling easier.  If Jack should need a temp taken or need a dose of Tylenol, they are right there to take care of it, and you don't have to run straight out of the parks to buy a thermometer and a bottle of Tylenol.  I think that's a wonderful service.  I can't think of an easier place to travel with little ones than Disney, so no, it's not hard work at all.  

Answer 6

Both of us were 58 and we got five weeks exchange on time share.  We loved it.  Get tickets over there as we found them cheaper, not sure how much you wil need but ALL Disney hotels were expensive.  we ate in the towns and did quite well.

Free transport is there to get you to all the different Disney locations.

Overrated you ask, well so it might be but that depends on what you want.  We loved it form all angles and yes I would love to go back.  Being like a child again suited me.  I even got them to give me Bambis autograph as I love Bambi.  They took my autograph book away and drew one for me.

I did not go on all the rides as I am nervous but found easily the ones i could go on, at the office who advised me and was fine.

My honest advice is not to take anyone who is too young to enjoy it.  There is loads of walking and it is not fair.

Also plenty of Disney merchandise and that is expensive if the children want the garments etc.  Just steer them away

G

Answer 7

I'm 17 and I've been there over 10 times. It's definitely not overrated, but you need to have the "Disney" kind of family. Like, if you like resorts, theme parks, and shopping, it's definitely the place to go. If you're more adventurous and outdoorsy, maybe not so much.

My only suggestion is maybe wait until the kids are older. The first time I was there, I was 4 years old and my sister was only 2. That is one of the fondest memories I have, but my sister remembers none of it. And besides, they're definitely a little too young to understand the whole "character dress-up" thing and big crowds may overwhelm them.

Answer 8

1 yes disney world is AWESOME and not overated it really is just as amazing as everyone says.

2 i would take $200 per person for souveniers.

and disney's food can be expensive the cheapest thing is to eat at a fast food restaurant inside the parks it will run you about $10 per person per meal. or if you are staying off property you would only be spending about $6 per person per meal at a fast food restaurant.

if you are staying on disney property i'd suggest getting the dining plan.

and i assume that you will be bringing food for your  baby and not buying the baby food from restaurants so you just need to worry about you and your boyfriend. and just buy the baby baby food from the store or bring it from home.

so thats about $420 for the two of you for 3 meals a day for 1 week when i give you the budget of $10 per meal per person.

3 when you buy a ticket to get into the parks that includes all rides and shows. so no you don't need to pay per ride of anything. its not like a carrnival. and gosh if you're paying $75 per person for a 1 day base ticket i would hope that it wouldn't cost extra for the rides and it doesn't thank god or i'd never go there.

4and no having a baby will be a piece of cake! just be sure to bring everything the baby will need. like a stroller or you can rent one at the park. and a bag that has food, diapers, wipes, maybe a favorite toy. and be sure that he has a change of clothes incase he spills something all over him.

he can ride almost all of the rides. there are not too many that have a height requirement. on the ones that he can't go on you can do the child swap. just have one person wait in line and the other is allowed to wait at the exit with the baby then when the first person gets on and off the ride the other can hop right on. so you have to take turns but its a great thing if you really want to go on the rides he can't go on yet.

and as long as you have a stroller there is no need to leave for jack to take a nap. he can just sleep in the stroller. take a light blanket to the parks for if he does fall asleep so he wil feel more comforable and can cover up when he takes a nap.

i've been going since i was a baby and my parents never had a problem.

disney world is true the  happiest place on earth as they say. you will love it.  

Answer 9

my mind is there right now. i'll tell you how Disneyland is when my mind gets back next week.

Answer 10

Grimbo, you've gotten some really good answers.  Suggest you also check out http://yourfirstvisit.net which is a website for first time visitors to WDW.  

See in particular this page on how old and tall your kids should be...and its links to pages of suggestions om what to do if you are gonna go anyway!!  http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-...

Hope this helps and have a great trip!! Dave

Answer 11

I love Disney World as does my husband.  To some people it is probably over-rated, to others they can't get enough.  Everyone looks for and expects something different when going on vacation, even to WDW.  

We will be there in May '09 and May is a great time to go.  Lines are short, weather is nice enoug for shorts and a tank top, and warm enough for swimming.  We were there May '07 and for the 8 nights we were there is only rained 1 night, not at all during the day.

The rides, shows, fireworks etc are included in the cost of your admission ticket.  You will only need to bring money into the parks if you are planning to buy food in the parks or souveniers.

Your baby, though he won't remember the vacation, will still be thrilled with the sights and sounds of everything going on in the parks.  Your boyfriend and you can use the "baby-swap."   At the entrance to the attraction, you mention to the cast member that you would like to do a baby swap. You will all go into the attraction line and one parent will ride the attraction while the other stays with the child. When the first adult is finished, they will take the child and the second adult will then ride.

Now, spending money...  it is tough to say how much you need because only you know what and how much you want to spend on stuff and if you are a big souvenier buyer.  Everyone is different.  An average sized stuffed animal is around $15, a magnetic picture frame was $6.  You can find cheapy souveniers or you can spend a hundred on a single stuffed animal.

Answer 12

We've put together a current grid of Walt Disney World ticket prices which were increased in August 2008.  

http://planaroo.com/pages/walt_disney_wo...

The rides are included in the cost of the tickets, but parking is extra.

There is a special Disney web site for UK residents with some special ticket offers. (I'm guessing from your use of the word 'mum' that you may be from the UK!  Sorry if I'm wrong.).  

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdwi/en...

Answer 13

is ight and food ther is out regise theres this one restruatn cant member wat its called but they da cheapest u can get it by da race track thingy in magic kingdom

Answer 14

I LOVE it there I feel like its my second home even though I have only been there twice!!!!

Everything is just so fun and you can't help but feel happy there it is just happiness central really the only bad time is when you have to leave!!!!

It is a place you can visit again and again without it getting boring and plus each year has its own theme :)

Answer 15

I have been there about 10 times.It's a lot of fun! You will spend about 100.00 to get in for both adults and about 50.00 on food each. You need to bring 1,000. However, it will be hard to go with a child because you have to be 48' tall to go on anything, so you and your husband can't ride the rides at the same time, there is a lot to see, people watch, fireworks, concerts, but anything other then that cost additional money! Well have fun : )