I'm goin' to Disneyworld!

[audie]

would ya'll believe that i was at disneyworld the year it opened ???haven't been back since. me, mom, and her friend who also happened to be my kindergarten teacher all went the summer before first grade. we stopped at rock city on the way down. i still remember this trip. a lot of the rides weren't even open yet, like the pirates of the caribbean ride. i do remember riding the teacups tho. and a japanese man had this huge camera with 4 or 5 different lenses around his neck,and he fell off a curb and shattered all of it. my mom loves cameras and she cried in sympathy for him...

 

[DD]

DD,
you gotta go to the Land Pavillion in Epcot (especially the hydroponics exhibit). And the countries in Epcot are all interesting. We had season passes once or twice when we lived in Gainesville and we sorta burned out on Disney but you'll find interesting things to do. We enjoyed Epcot more than Magic Kingdom but there's plenty to see both places.

If it's crowded when you go early in the morn, head to the countries first (at the back) and then work your way back towards the entrance.

Have funn!!

.

Got it...head to the back, work my way forward. You know me too well, Rita. I will love the hydroponics!

would ya'll believe that i was at disneyworld the year it opened ???haven't been back since. me, mom, and her friend who also happened to be my kindergarten teacher all went the summer before first grade. we stopped at rock city on the way down. i still remember this trip. a lot of the rides weren't even open yet, like the pirates of the caribbean ride. i do remember riding the teacups tho. and a japanese man had this huge camera with 4 or 5 different lenses around his neck,and he fell off a curb and shattered all of it. my mom loves cameras and she cried in sympathy for him...

What a great memory this is for you, audie. bless that poor man, though.

 

[Rita]

would ya'll believe that i was at disneyworld the year it opened ???haven't been back since. me, mom, and her friend who also happened to be my kindergarten teacher all went the summer before first grade. we stopped at rock city on the way down. i still remember this trip. a lot of the rides weren't even open yet, like the pirates of the caribbean ride. i do remember riding the teacups tho. and a japanese man had this huge camera with 4 or 5 different lenses around his neck,and he fell off a curb and shattered all of it. my mom loves cameras and she cried in sympathy for him...

OMG, Audie - I've never known anyone who actually Saw Rock City!
We used to drive by all the many signs in travels back & forth between FL and IL, but never stopped. I saw a Rock City birdhouse in the yard of a house in Seagrove. Pretty neat!

.

 

[audie]

yep - i actually saw rock city !

 

[bsmart]

It is well worth it to stay at the Tier 1 resorts within the park (Polynesian Resort, Animal Kingdom Resort, Wilderness Resort, Swan and Dolphin all come to mind, and the Wilderness resort is in my opinion awesome) as opposed to the other economic friendly stays. With the latter you have to ride the monorail and other forms of transportation, and the distance is literally like traveling from one town to the next. Time is crucial when you are on a vacation.

 

[DD]

It is well worth it to stay at the Tier 1 resorts within the park (Polynesian Resort, Animal Kingdom Resort, Wilderness Resort, Swan and Dolphin all come to mind, and the Wilderness resort is in my opinion awesome) as opposed to the other economic friendly stays. With the latter you have to ride the monorail and other forms of transportation, and the distance is literally like traveling from one town to the next. Time is crucial when you are on a vacation.

thanks, bs. we are staying at the coronado springs because that's where mr. dd's trade show is. we are renting a car though. don't know how much we'll need it, but at least i won't be totally stranded. since i've never been, it's all new and very confusing to me...i hope some of my sowal friends show up to help me out!!

 

[Jdarg]

thanks, bs. we are staying at the coronado springs because that's where mr. dd's trade show is. we are renting a car though. don't know how much we'll need it, but at least i won't be totally stranded. since i've never been, it's all new and very confusing to me...i hope some of my sowal friends show up to help me out!!

The Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian are on the Monorail system. Buy any Epcot/Magic Kingdom tix you need at your hotel, hop in the rental car, and park at one of the above. If a parking attendant asks you anyting, say you are there for a character breakfast or to check out the resort (but we have never been asked). Cruise through the lobby, hop on the monorail to a park, and voila! You have avoided having to take a bus (and be subject to a bus schedule), missed the awful and congested Ticket and Transportation Center, with the huge parking lot (good luck finding your car), and lines to get in the park like a cattle drive.

To get to Epcot, you will change monorails at T&T, but it is easy. And if you stay until park closing, or you and your husband go back in the evening, it is much easier to get on a monorail and go to one of the hotels than it is to get on the monorail to the T&T Center- THAT is really awful at the end of the day!

I am all about fingding the least stressful way to get around Disney. I hate crowds, and I hate being rushed. We always park at the Polynesian and base out of there- they have a nice coffee shop, great concierge people, and you feel like you are really 'on vacation" there- it is fun "luau kitsch". It would be a great place for you and Cork to hook up before hitting the parks for the day!

 

[DD]

The Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian are on the Monorail system. Buy any Epcot/Magic Kingdom tix you need at your hotel, hop in the rental car, and park at one of the above. If a parking attendant asks you anyting, say you are there for a character breakfast or to check out the resort (but we have never been asked). Cruise through the lobby, hop on the monorail to a park, and voila! You have avoided having to take a bus (and be subject to a bus schedule), missed the awful and congested Ticket and Transportation Center, with the huge parking lot (good luck finding your car), and lines to get in the park like a cattle drive.

To get to Epcot, you will change monorails at T&T, but it is easy. And if you stay until park closing, or you and your husband go back in the evening, it is much easier to get on a monorail and go to one of the hotels than it is to get on the monorail to the T&T Center- THAT is really awful at the end of the day!

I am all about fingding the least stressful way to get around Disney. I hate crowds, and I hate being rushed. We always park at the Polynesian and base out of there- they have a nice coffee shop, great concierge people, and you feel like you are really 'on vacation" there- it is fun "luau kitsch". It would be a great place for you and Cork to hook up before hitting the parks for the day!

Great advice!! I'm printing!! Thanks, jd!!!

 

[iwishiwasthere]

OMG, Audie - I've never known anyone who actually Saw Rock City!
We used to drive by all the many signs in travels back & forth between FL and IL, but never stopped. I saw a Rock City birdhouse in the yard of a house in Seagrove. Pretty neat!

.

I have been as well with my children...just one of those things you need to do once...and only once. I always worry about Fat Man's Squeeze!

 

[DD]

I've gone back through this whole thread and printed all the tidbits of advice. mr. dd is studying as we speak. We're just trying to figure out which tickets we need to buy...2 day with "park hopper" looks like the best deal. Universal and Emerils looks like a done deal. Gypsea, I may do Celebration the morning before we leave while he goes to the National Fence Convention :shock: . If y'all think of more stuff, please post. I'm not leavin' til Monday mid morning. Thanks for all the advice so far!!