Walt Disney World

[Brianfo]

My wife and I will be taking 2 small children to Walt Disney World in Florida in 2 weeks. I get to go as a bonus thru my work. We are staying at the Hilton. My question is what is the weather like down there in January? Any good ideas on what to see and do with twins that are 2 years old? I am kind of looking forward to it. A chance to get out of Iowa in January. Oh well, enought blabbing. Any responses are greatly appreciated.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

That was my issue and the reason I prefer Universal/IOA to anything Disney.

Universal/IoA have better rides than anything you'll find at Disney. But Epcot is still an amazing park, IMO. My least favorite disney park is Magic Kingdom.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Silock

Universal/IoA have better rides than anything you'll find at Disney. But Epcot is still an amazing park, IMO. My least favorite disney park is Magic Kingdom.

The most fun we had at Magic Kingdom with our kids was at night. Hollywood Studios was our least favorite. We didn't do Epcot.

My kids REALLY like roller coasters, so we're going to start doing roller coaster vacations. My oldest son has sensory issues as well as developmental delays, so we were able to get a doctor's Fast Pass which made the coasters at Disney doable (almost guiltily so in how quickly and how many times we could ride some of them). I'm going to have to check into which other amusement parks have medical fast pass systems similar to Disney, because standing in line for 45 minutes isn't really doable with him.

While we were there, Space Mountain broke down while we were in line once, and we had to wait about 30 minutes with him. It was a nightmare and we almost had to traipse all the way back out of line.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

The one thing I wish is that it was more cost effective for my family to stay on property. With 6 in the family & the oldest bringing a friend, it is too expensive to stay on property. We are driving it as well because flying all of us down is just to much.

You need to check out the All-Star Suites....it's not quite as pricey and sleeps more per room.

Or check out the Treehouse's at Saratoga Springs or the Cabins at Fort Wilderness.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Epcot is the dumbest ****ing park ever. **** that place. Why go there?

Wow...pure hate?

It's nowhere near the dumbest park ever.....just say you didn't like it and let it go at that.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Yeah, I remember when I went all the kids had these little devices (I thought they were phones) and they'd stop at certain areas in the park. It was obviously some weird ass hunt or whatever.

Then we get to Future World or whatever and the only thing I half enjoyed was Mission to Mars.

Highlight of my time there was seeing Mulan. Bitch was fine as hell, I had to wave and give her a cheesy ass smile. My girlfriend was like "You're such a flirt".... I loved that girl.

If you have kids you can make EPCOT interesting in so many ways. YOU just have to want to. There is the "things for kids to do" in each World Exhibit, there are the Kim Possible searches and a few other things that make it interesting.

But I could see where a couple with no kids, teens who hate anything Disney or people who only want to ride thrill-rides wouldn't like it.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Silock

I've loved Epcot since I was a little kid. Everything about it just appeals to me.

Kids will love:

Soarin' - Hang gliding simulator

Test Track - Come on, it's a fast ride

Mission: Space (Orange side) - Another awesome simulator

Under the Seas with Nemo - Nemo ride part appeals to little kids, and the rest of the aquarium is always filled with wide-eyed kids. Never seen a kid be bored at the Seas. I love aquariums, too, so I love it.

Sum of All Thrills - Design and ride your own roller coaster. Awesome.

Kids probably won't love: Spaceship Earth - Very history oriented, but cool for adults. They will like the end of the ride when they get to see themselves animated on screen, though.

Livin' with the Land - Boat ride about aquaponics and sustainable agriculture

Ellen's Energy Adventure - Long. Boring. But they'll probably fall asleep because it's 45 minutes. I like the animatronic dinosaurs, though.

In world showcase, there's the Maelstrom boat ride in Norway, 3 caballeros boat ride in Mexico, chinese acrobats, and the Agent P world showcase adventure. They'll probably also love eating at Biergarten, because there's a show that likes to involve kids.

Does Epcot need some love? Absolutely. But there's a TON to love about the park. You just have to go in realizing that it's not a park that is centered around rides. That makes it one of a kind. And hey, if you hate it, there's a tequila bar in the basement of Mexico.

This...especially the bolded part.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Guru

That is everything I wanted to say but was too lazy to type it all. Kudos!!!

Same here....

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Silock

It is still there. Little kids might like it, but it could also be scary for them. I can't imagine a kid approaching their teen years or older would find it anything but cheesy and dumb.

Little kids would also love Journey into Imagination, even though it's the worst ride in the world, especially for adults. Fun colors and all that. I wish they would bring the original ride back. It used to be awesome.

You mean Figment? My kids loved it....shame they got rid of it.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by NewChief

The most fun we had at Magic Kingdom with our kids was at night. Hollywood Studios was our least favorite. We didn't do Epcot.

My kids REALLY like roller coasters, so we're going to start doing roller coaster vacations. My oldest son has sensory issues as well as developmental delays, so we were able to get a doctor's Fast Pass which made the coasters at Disney doable (almost guiltily so in how quickly and how many times we could ride some of them). I'm going to have to check into which other amusement parks have medical fast pass systems similar to Disney, because standing in line for 45 minutes isn't really doable with him.

While we were there, Space Mountain broke down while we were in line once, and we had to wait about 30 minutes with him. It was a nightmare and we almost had to traipse all the way back out of line.

Well, you can thank the one lady who was selling those passes for the fact you won't have that luxury anymore. You have to be a little craftier to be able to use those passes now.

Earlier in this thread we were discussing it....

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

Well, you can thank the one lady who was selling those passes for the fact you won't have that luxury anymore. You have to be a little craftier to be able to use those passes now.

Earlier in this thread we were discussing it....

Oh really? They don't offer them at all any longer?

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

You need to check out the All-Star Suites....it's not quite as pricey and sleeps more per room.

Or check out the Treehouse's at Saratoga Springs or the Cabins at Fort Wilderness.

There are only 4 property hotels that can accommodate 7 people:

Animal Kingdom Lodge: $1,463 per night
Animal Kingdom Villas: $718 per night
Saratoga Springs Resort: $471 per night
Old Key West Resort: $471 per night

The cabins looked really cool - but still, I can stay off property for cheaper than $360 a night.

I really wouldn't mind cramming me & my family into a room on property, but adding in another teenager tips the scale the other way. Just too many people in a room.

I've used VRBO.com several times in the past for various vacations. Generally find an awesome place with a pool, etc for around $150/night.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Oh really? They don't offer them at all any longer?

You can still get them, but you don't get to have the same freedom that you used to. The ability to get off the ride and then get back on using the pass again won't be allowed.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

There are only 4 property hotels that can accommodate 7 people:

Animal Kingdom Lodge: $1,463 per night
Animal Kingdom Villas: $718 per night
Saratoga Springs Resort: $471 per night
Old Key West Resort: $471 per night

The cabins looked really cool - but still, I can stay off property for cheaper than $360 a night.

I really wouldn't mind cramming me & my family into a room on property, but adding in another teenager tips the scale the other way. Just too many people in a room.

I've used VRBO.com several times in the past for various vacations. Generally find an awesome place with a pool, etc for around $150/night.

I would never recommend 7 people in one room....not sure how you are getting a room for $150 a night anywhere and fitting 7 in them unless it is one of those resorts with only suites.

The fun thing we did with the cabins was do a cabin/campsite combo one year.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Finally getting my kids back to Disney this year. Planning on doing a day at Magic Kingdom, one at Animal Kingdom, and one at Universal Studios. One day likely isn't enough at Magic Kingdom, but I've never been to Universal and would like to get there.

I don't know how young your kids are but Disney redid Fantasyland and it looks awesome in the brochures I saw at the last hotel I was in for a trade show in Orlando. I wanna go again.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

You can still get them, but you don't get to have the same freedom that you used to. The ability to get off the ride and then get back on using the pass again won't be allowed.

Ahh, so it's not a single pass that waves you into the fast pass line every time? That's how ours worked before. We just had a slip of paper that we showed, and it would put us into the fast pass line. So we still had to stand in lines, it was just always the fast pass line. So basically it's just doing fast pass without having to schedule the fast pass every time.