For those that have been to Orlando....

zumbro clones

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2007
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Southern Minnesota
Animal Kingdom is a full day. MGM could be a full day if you see a lot of the shows. Epcot is a lot of fun, especially at night -- may not need a full day. Magic Kingdom can be seen in a half-day - hit the parade and a few rides and you're done.
 

SlyCy

Member
Apr 17, 2006
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North Liberty, Iowa
FYI--Best Disney tip we ever received was buying tickets to the Disney dinner. You don't have to wait in lines to visit the charecters and you get to meet them all in about two hours.
 

wesley_w

Well-Known Member
Oct 23, 2006
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Appreciate any ideas....Thanks!

Check ahead of time to see if there is any kind of launch while you are in Orlando. To me, it is definitely worth the drive over if there is one. And I think five years old is the perfect age to see her first rocket launch.
And Curt, it's not much of a drive up the coast to Daytona either. We were there a couple years ago and visited the speedway and that was fun even though there wasn't any races going on.
 

Wx4Cy

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2007
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West Des Moines
if you're going to DW, stay on property. We stayed at the Carribean Beach, very nice. A lot of value in staying on property. Baggage delivered from the airport to your room, luggage check at the hotel, buses to everywhere.
 

wesley_w

Well-Known Member
Oct 23, 2006
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OK, I just checked and the only launches are May 16 and then July 16 and July 20. But sometimes if they have a delay they will go a month later so check when you get closer to your trip. (if you are interested, that is).
 

cmoore_23

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2006
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Ankeny, IA
Islands of Adventure is a really cool amusement park.. they have all sorts of rides for all ages.. its right in that area of universal
Universal Studios Orlando: Attractions, Accommodations, Shopping, and more
heres a link to everything.. u can see all the amusement parks and i think it lets u see alot of rides...
(if u do go to islands of adventure and u ride the Poppey Water Ride.. bring a trash bad with a change of clothes and so u can put ur shoes on it b4 u go on it.. cuz that water stinks and it ruined my shoes)
 

clones26

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2006
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Urbandale
Animal kingdom is awesome, especially the safari ride.I The park is basically a zoo with some rides. I would hit up Pleasure Island...if you get one night to yourselves somehow.
 

intrepid27

Well-Known Member
Oct 9, 2006
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Marion, IA
GO to Barnes and Noble ( or any bookstore) and buy the "Unofficial Guide to DisneyWorld". It's revised every year and is FULL of great tips ranging from unbiased resturant ratings to methods to aviod long lines. Aside from being 100% accurate it is a great insight on how Disney will extract every dollar from you that they can. I normally do not research a vacation to this extent but a friend recommended it and it is worth every penny and minute that you invest in it. It breaks down every ride, and attraction and gives you the pros and cons. The maps alone are worth the cost. ( The maps Disney sells you suck and are designed to get you lost so you spend mmore time in the park. They are fro a 3/4 angle view and you cannot see which streets are through streets an dwhich ones are dead ends.) Trust me on this one.
 

2020cy

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2006
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Park Hopper passes are nice for flexibility, but more $. Water parks @ Disney are fun. Bring packable rain ponchos likely to rain almost every afternoon for a hour or two.
 

zumbro clones

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2007
1,771
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Southern Minnesota
2 other tips:
1) eat the food at EPCOT and watch the sidewalk shows (also great beer and wine there too). P.S. Riding Test Track is great fun for a 5 year old.

2) use the Fast Pass cards to bypass long lines. I doubt that summer lines are nearly as bad as high-season, but they'll save you long waits at times.
 

cmoore_23

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2006
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Ankeny, IA
2 other tips:
1) eat the food at EPCOT and watch the sidewalk shows (also great beer and wine there too). P.S. Riding Test Track is great fun for a 5 year old.

2) use the Fast Pass cards to bypass long lines. I doubt that summer lines are nearly as bad as high-season, but they'll save you long waits at times.

oh and with that.. do NOT... i repeat..do NOT go to Hardrock Cafe unless you want to pay $22 for a cheeseburger with a drink.... ya... that sucks... they have like 3 taxes on their food and hardrock is expensive enough...
 

Wx4Cy

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2007
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West Des Moines
2 other tips:
1) eat the food at EPCOT and watch the sidewalk shows (also great beer and wine there too). P.S. Riding Test Track is great fun for a 5 year old.

2) use the Fast Pass cards to bypass long lines. I doubt that summer lines are nearly as bad as high-season, but they'll save you long waits at times.

and make sure you buy th meal plan.
 

CHim

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Apr 20, 2006
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2 other tips:
1) eat the food at EPCOT and watch the sidewalk shows (also great beer and wine there too). P.S. Riding Test Track is great fun for a 5 year old.

2) use the Fast Pass cards to bypass long lines. I doubt that summer lines are nearly as bad as high-season, but they'll save you long waits at times.

When is high-season? I am going in February and have no idea what to expect. I don't think I am going to the amusement parks though.
 

zumbro clones

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2007
1,771
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Southern Minnesota
My travel agent said that high-season for Disney is October through January. I've been there in October, November, January and February. February was definitely the lightest of the 4 months. November was the busiest.

The trouble with February was the unpredictable weather: 60s when we got there and 30s when we left. Kind of like April in the Midwest.
 

cyclonenum1

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2006
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First of all, I have lived in Florida (Tampa, Jacksonville, and Ft. Lauderdale) before. Additionally, I have been to Disney around 10 times or so...once with my son when he was 5 years old.

I would encourage you to focus on Disney if this trip is about keeping your kid happy and occupied. Some of the other parks / attractions are nice but no one caters to the 5 year old demographic like Disney.

I would also highly recommend a book called The Unofficial Guide to Disney World...it will help you with every aspect of your trip. If you follow one of their plans (they have different ones to cater to different ages and desires), you will be, literally, one step ahead of the crowd at Disney the entire time you are there. This book kept us from having to wait in long lines with a cranky 5 year old...you should read this book and have complete trust in what it says.
 

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