Karla's WDW Questions.

[Hakuna Makarla]

oh ok, well that place looks so fun!! I can not wait to try to make my own virtual roller coaster ride !

[Jerren]

Originally Posted by Hakuna Makarla

question of down town disney....
do the buses take us there and can we stay until closing and a bus will take us back to our motel? we want to go here to, but do not want to be stranded in case the buses stop for the night.
They have a roller coaster ride ( virtual ) that you can make your self and I am dying to try it!

No worries the Downtown Disney area includes West Side (Where Disney Quest Resides) Marketplace, And Pleasure Island. The Clubs at PI stay open well past the closing times of the other attractions most nights and the buses run till the wee hours in the morning. Worse case you might have to just go to a different bus stop (PI Bus Stop) than you used when you entered the area.

CyberSpace mountain is a lot of fun, you can even buy a DVD of the experience that includes the rider's faces with the track view you created in between. I think the videos are almost more fun to watch as it is to actually ride the attraction.

The Buzz Light year ride you are in a big roll cage bumper car that scoops up balls that you can shoot at other players that cause their car to spin out of control. The height restriction is for the safety harnesses, which you will need it can bang you around a bit if the other players gang up on you....

I would strongly recommend if your going in the evening/early evening to try the explorer's club at PI. It's a lot of fun and the early shows are of the PG variety, my 8yr old daughter loved it.

[Hakuna Makarla]

Thanks Jerren!!
WOW down town disney sounds huge!! I am trying to find books now to give me detailed info. thank you, I would love to get the cd of the ride I created!! I just called my travel agent, he is like "what" you want to chage your trip from disneyland to WDW ?? I will loose 200.00 but hey, I gain a lot of experience in seeing WDW !!

[SummerInFL]

Originally Posted by Hakuna Makarla

Thanks Jerren!!
WOW down town disney sounds huge!! I am trying to find books now to give me detailed info. thank you, I would love to get the cd of the ride I created!! I just called my travel agent, he is like "what" you want to chage your trip from disneyland to WDW ?? I will loose 200.00 but hey, I gain a lot of experience in seeing WDW !!

Karla, as the planner you are, I highly recommend getting a Passporter. It's a planning guide/scrapbooking/memory containing binder all in one.

Also, the Unofficial Guides are good and if you buy the book, you can have access to the crowd calendar on their website, I LOVE that for planning purposes.

[mamabot]

The main sites I used, besides MiceChat, when it came to planning my WDW trip were as follows:

AllEars - Excellent, extremely detailed information on all aspects of WDW. You can get info on everything from dining options (with menus) to resort info, planning, etc. The Rate & Review and Tips were my favorite sections.

Disboards - Loads of information about WDW.

Mousesavers - They have a ton of information on how to get the most vacation while getting the best deal.

I love doing research. I have a 3 inch binder from my last trip to WDW that is filled with tons of information I gathered from different locations. After two trips there without doing any research, I felt that having more knowledge would be better. I felt that doing the research on my own helped me get even more excited for my trip.

[Hakuna Makarla]

Originally Posted by SummerInFL

Karla, as the planner you are, I highly recommend getting a Passporter. It's a planning guide/scrapbooking/memory containing binder all in one.

Also, the Unofficial Guides are good and if you buy the book, you can have access to the crowd calendar on their website, I LOVE that for planning purposes.

Thank you Summer ! I did order the passporter last night , and I have 3 different books coming from the library. I am a planner, but my memory is not so that I remember a lot so I am now writing it down. I do hope you all do not get tired of me asking, but you see you all been there and its awsome to know that you guys can give me straight answers.

Originally Posted by mamabot

The main sites I used, besides MiceChat, when it came to planning my WDW trip were as follows:

AllEars - Excellent, extremely detailed information on all aspects of WDW. You can get info on everything from dining options (with menus) to resort info, planning, etc. The Rate & Review and Tips were my favorite sections.

Disboards - Loads of information about WDW.

Mousesavers - They have a ton of information on how to get the most vacation while getting the best deal.

I love doing research. I have a 3 inch binder from my last trip to WDW that is filled with tons of information I gathered from different locations. After two trips there without doing any research, I felt that having more knowledge would be better. I felt that doing the research on my own helped me get even more excited for my trip.

Thank you hon ,I have been doing all three sites, but again did not write things down so lost a lot of info my brain seems to have a hard time containing I am now writing things down.
Today I am booked!! I am sooooo excited. though I lost $159.00 for a rebooking I am ok with that as I really want to experience WDW
Now I am going to go get on that treamill, I have to be able to walk 9 miles a day oye I have my work cut out for me, but I can do it!!

[Jerren]

Originally Posted by Hakuna Makarla

Thanks Jerren!!
WOW down town disney sounds huge!! I am trying to find books now to give me detailed info.

Your quite welcome, and no its not that huge but there are some great places to check out while your there. Shopping for park merchandise at the World of Disney store with your Disney visa (as well as most other stores there) will give you a 10% discount, have it shipped home (as opposed to the resort) will save you the cost of the sales tax and perhaps a new suitcase to hold it all as well. There are several table service and quick service restaurants there as well as a lot of fun things to see and do. Little kids particularly like to play in the dancing fountains that are built into the sidewalk in the Marketplace. (located right off the bus stop as you come in)

I'm currently working on a planning tool for WDW but its probably not going to be ready in time for your trip, sadly but I would recommend "the unofficial guide to Walt Disney World" it's the best out there I've seen and it seems to be updated a lot more frequently than the passporter and others are.

Originally Posted by Hakuna Makarla

thank you, I would love to get the cd of the ride I created!! I just called my travel agent, he is like "what" you want to chage your trip from disneyland to WDW ?? I will loose 200.00 but hey, I gain a lot of experience in seeing WDW !!

If you don't mind me asking, why are you loosing $200?

[mamabot]

Originally Posted by Hakuna Makarla

Thank you hon ,I have been doing all three sites, but again did not write things down so lost a lot of info my brain seems to have a hard time containing I am now writing things down.
Today I am booked!! I am sooooo excited. though I lost $159.00 for a rebooking I am ok with that as I really want to experience WDW
Now I am going to go get on that treamill, I have to be able to walk 9 miles a day oye I have my work cut out for me, but I can do it!!

That's great! I printed out a ton of stuff. Other info was organized in an Excel spreadsheet. There are some good spreadsheets available on Disboards, if you know where to find them.

Over the course of 6 days, my husband and I walked over 55 miles. My biggest thing was making sure that we had rest time and only did efficient walking. No back tracking across the parks, especially Animal Kingdom.

[halltd]

Originally Posted by Jerren

If you don't mind me asking, why are you loosing $200?

She booked with a travel agent. So, I'm assuming that travel agent is charging her for "canceling" a trip that was already booked.

[Hakuna Makarla]

Originally Posted by Jerren

Your quite welcome, and no its not that huge but there are some great places to check out while your there. Shopping for park merchandise at the World of Disney store with your Disney visa (as well as most other stores there) will give you a 10% discount, have it shipped home (as opposed to the resort) will save you the cost of the sales tax and perhaps a new suitcase to hold it all as well. There are several table service and quick service restaurants there as well as a lot of fun things to see and do. Little kids particularly like to play in the dancing fountains that are built into the sidewalk in the Marketplace. (located right off the bus stop as you come in)

I'm currently working on a planning tool for WDW but its probably not going to be ready in time for your trip, sadly but I would recommend "the unofficial guide to Walt Disney World" it's the best out there I've seen and it seems to be updated a lot more frequently than the passporter and others are.




If you don't mind me asking, why are you loosing $200?

I just ordered the unofficial guide 10 minutes ago on amazon.com I lost the money because of changing my plans. but hey, I am ok with it, I get to see WDW so its all good.

[Hakuna Makarla]

Originally Posted by mamabot

That's great! I printed out a ton of stuff. Other info was organized in an Excel spreadsheet. There are some good spreadsheets available on Disboards, if you know where to find them.

Over the course of 6 days, my husband and I walked over 55 miles. My biggest thing was making sure that we had rest time and only did efficient walking. No back tracking across the parks, especially Animal Kingdom.

I just picked up a pedometer I want to see what I do. I will not be doing multi parks each day, 1 park a day.
I think 7 days in the parks will give us a lot to see. going home on the 8th .I wish it was longer but I am happy with this. when we arrive the first night at 5 something I will just go to down town disney and play.

[Jerren]

Originally Posted by halltd

She booked with a travel agent. So, I'm assuming that travel agent is charging her for "canceling" a trip that was already booked.

That's what I figured as well but seemed a bit much, I've never been charged for changing travel plans as long as I rebooked at the time of the change and it was far enough in advance is why I asked...

[Jerren]

Karla,

Here's a DTD area map in case you haven't found one yet... http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/photos/maps07/dtd.gif


Have fun!

[Hakuna Makarla]

Thanks Jerren I did find it, but your help has been wonderful!! I can not believe how big the magic kindom looks I watched a video http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/kart-kam.htm of guy riding a EVC scooter and videoing the park, wow it looks masive.

[Hakuna Makarla]

osborn lights, please tell me they will be there when I am !! ( 6th thru the 13th) I hope so what an amazing thing to see.