NWR: Disney

Stacylynn702

Does anyone know the best place to go for park passes?  A coworker told me there's different places to go around here for discounted tickets and that they're more expensive online with Disney.  She wasn't much help though with where these places are.

We are planning a trip in May.  FI is speaking at an environmental convention down there (so proud of him) and I'm tagging along.  Obviously, we're planning a wedding and honeymoon so this was not budgeted for since it was a last minute thing with his work.  I want to go because chances are, we will not be going to Disney again until after we have kids.  FI has never been and I only went once in the 4th grade with my family.  I'm very excited and think it will be a great experience but we need to find the best deals.  Hopefully someone can lead us in the right direction.  TIA!

[Deleted User]

I don't know.  However people talk about WDW all the time on the travel board on the nest.  I would post there as well.  I googled and found a few sites, but I'm semi worried that they might be fake for some reason with Disney.  I'm not sure why though.  

I have only been there when Make a Wish sent my family when I was 15, so I don't know that much either.  I know Cand is going next week for her HM.  :-)

GL sounds like fun and good use of free hotels.  

SteveandKris

AAA can give you discounts on passes, but you (or something travelling with you) needs to be the AAA card holder.  You can't have aunt millie buy you the passes, you need the card when you use them.  You can also get discounts from AAA on Disney Hotels (we got a discount, plus a room upgrade).  Good luck and have fun!

LaRositaMonita

I agree that AAA (if you yourself are a member) is the best way to get discounted passes.  Many discount passes you'll find other places are counterfeit.  The unfortunate thing about Disney sometimes is that they tend to walways want full control of the cost of their vacations. For instance, the discounts you can get on other hotels from websites like Orbitz, Travelocity, etc.  are almost never available for Disney.  Travel agents cannot really discount Disney vacation packages.

If you are looking for good Disney deals, the website www.mousesavers.com is usually a good place to check out what current promotions or discounts Disney is offering. 

FYI, if you want recommendations for activities, hotels, restaurants, must-see attractions, etc. down here, I'd be happy to help.  I'm sort of hopelessly in love with the place - we spent three days in WDW for our honeymon last yearand then took a Disney Cruise.  (That was my sixth visit to the parks.) And yes, Cand will be there next week for her HM as well, so she's another great resource

Stacylynn702

NCV, I thought the same thing about fake tix.  I googled and tons of sites came up.  It made me nervous.

I do have a AAA but my mom's name is on it, not mine.  She is a second name on my car so I can use it if I ever need it drivingwise.  I've used it to book hotel rooms and never had a problem but I'm worried that if I use it for DIsney, they won't work once I get there if my name isn't on the card.

Heather,
We already have hotel booked through his work.  We just have to pay for my flight and park passes.  We've already booked the flight b/c his work handled all of that.  I might just get the passes through disney's site to be safe.
We definitely want to go to Universal and Magic Kingdom and Epcot.  I think we're just going to get a one day, two park pass to Universal and then a 2 day park hopper pass for disney.  We'll see how much money is left lol.  Any insight from you would be appreciated-I haven't been there in almost 20 years!
THanks ladies!

ooodsie

Stacy,

My parents have AAA and added me as a 2nd user, it was free to do.   Check and see if they can add you and if so then you get your own card and can book the trip.  We used AAA for our disney honeymoon too.

Stacylynn702

AWESOME!  Calling my mom now, Thanks!!

ooodsie

You may have to have them say you live at their house, in order for it to be free, I am not sure.. but either way, they won't double check the address they'll just ask for your card number.  And once you get to disney they dont check at all, I didnt even have my card with me actually come to think of it.. 

LaRositaMonita

Mousesavers is recommending Undercover Tourist as a god, legit site for buying discount tickets.  Their discount is not very much for your short stay, but it could be worth it.  Personally, I just buy my tickets from Disney and don't take any chances. 

How many days total will you be in Orlando for?  I would definitely recommend getting the park hopper option like you're thinking about.  DH and I had only three days in Disney (really 2 1/2, since we got in mid-afternoon) and managed to get to all the major attractions in all four parks in those two days!  We were not interested in seeing many shows or the parades, which saved us a lot of time and let us ride a few things more than once.  It's supposedly a subscription site, but if you want to take a look at the attractions you're interested in seeing and get an idea for how to maximize your time, www.touringplans.com is a cool site for that.

To give you an idea of how it worked for us, we started off our first morning in the Magic Kingdom.  We had no desire to do the rides in Fantasyland (Dumbo, Snow White, Peter Pan, etc.) but hit all the major attractions and had lunch by the time the parade started at 3.   We headed off to Hollywood Studios for the evening and did Tower of Terror, Rockin' Rollercoaster, the Muppet 3D show, the new Toy Story Mania ride, and Fantasmic before the end of the night.  On our second day, we hopped over to Animal Kingdowm early in the morning and rode the Safari, Expedition Everest, and Its Tough to Be a Bug.  We were done within an hour and then spent the rest of the day at Epcot.  We got in all the major attractions there - even the ride in Norway - ate dinner at San Angel Inn, took inthe fireworks, and headed home. 

Fastpass is a HUGE help in terms of maximizing your time. Do a little homework and learn how to use it ahead of time if you don't already know.  For example, when we got to nimal Kingdom, we grabbed a Fastpass for Everest before getting on line for the safari.  We finished the Safari, walked on to It's Tough to Be a Bug, and when that was done, we strolled back to Everest and got right on with the Fastpass.

If you want to go to Epcot, I would make sure you made an Advanced Dining Reservation for one of the restaurants there in World Showcase.  Pick the coutry you like the best and go from there.  I LOVE the San Angel Inn (in Mexico), but Chefs de France (which currently has a little animatronic Remy from Ratatouille coming around to tables during dinner) and the Biergarten in Germany are also awesome.  Le Cellier, the steakhouse in Canada, is also supposed to be out of this world. 

If you are looking for a romantic, grown-up dining experience, eating at the California Gril (on top of the Contemporary Resort)l later in the evening is amazing.  You can time your dinner to coincide with the Wishes fireworks in the Magic Kingdom.  There is a private balcony on top of the restaraunt that gives you an amazing view of the fireworks atop the castle.  Photos in my married bio!

Where are you staying?  On or off property?

SteveandKris

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-philadelphia_nwr-disney?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:105Discussion:a49bd6ad-2f45-4162-9619-51cce434e731Post:1acc0ebe-f938-4442-b2cc-040ee841ca01">Re: NWR: Disney</a>:
[QUOTE]You may have to have them say you live at their house, in order for it to be free, I am not sure.. but either way, they won't double check the address they'll just ask for your card number.  <strong>And once you get to disney they dont check at all, I didnt even have my card with me actually come to think of it.. 
</strong>Posted by ooodsie[/QUOTE]

I actually did need mine to check into the hotel - but it seems like you've already taken care of that part.  I also picked up my park passes from the front desk of the hotel though... 

Stacylynn702

Our hotel is walking distance to Sea World.  Don't know where that is exactly but I don't think it's too far from the parks.

Did anyone go to the boardwalk?  What's that like?  It's free to just go and I think that would be something I could do alone while FI is working.

ooodsie

The boardwalk is small but fun/cute - it's mostly just a few carnival type games and some stands with food.

LaRositaMonita

Agree that the Boardwalk is cute to peruse on your own for a little while.  If you want to spend time there and have a big sweet tooth, you must stop in at Beaches and Cream.  Their signature sundaw is the Kitchen Sink - 24 scoops of ice cream with the WORKS, literally served in a small sink! - but they have smaller, qually yummy and less overhwleming treats, too. 

Its also free to "just go" to Downtown Disney, which is the huge shopping/entertainment district outside the parks.  We spent our first afternoon there just browsing and shopping this summer.  The World of Disney store is the greatest place to get souvenirs - it's the largest Disney store you'll ever see.  They also have a lot of merchandise there that's not as overly Disney-esque; this summer I bought a Lilly Pulitzer/insired polo that was white with tiny pink Mickeys embroidered on it.  DH bought himself a tie to wear on the cruise - blue pinstipes with tiny Mickey ear outlines.  You'd never know either item was Disney unless you looked closely!  There are dozens of other fun stores and eateries to check out.  (Earl of Sandwich is a great lunch stop there...and you can head to the Ghirardelli parlor for dessert - they have free samples!)

Stacylynn702

I was hoping there would be some shops for me to browse through.   Since I'm going to be on my own during the day I'm looking for some things to do alone that won't empty my wallet.

LaRositaMonita

Definitely hit Downtown Disney one day   They have a store for every kind of Disney stuff you can think of.  Theres a sports-themed store, a store that sells all Christmas stuff year-round, a home decor/kitchenwares store...it just keeps going.  I could spend hours in the Once Upon a Toy store alone playing with the Mr. Potato Heads...

Stacylynn702

Thanks Heather, I'll definitely check it out.  I like to collect Christmas ornaments when I go on vacation so this sounds like its for me.  Sounds like I could hit Once Upon a Toy store to bring home something for my classroom!  You're getting me more excited for this trip :-)