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pinkey
LIF Toddler
Member since 3/10 397 total posts
Name:
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what are your best disney secrets?
please tell and anything to make the trip more econmoical would be greaT!
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Posted 8/19/12 9:02 PM  |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
It all depends on your family/situation. From all of your questions, it seems you could benefit a great deal working with a Disney specialist travel planner.
My best tip, which I swear by is to get to the parks for rope drop. You can get a lot more done in the first few hours the park is open than in the rest of the entire day.
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| Posted 8/19/12 9:17 PM |
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Dulcinea
Weekend Warrior
Member since 3/08 2530 total posts
Name:
Dulcinea
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
I got the 10 day no expire disney tickets with water park option... these tickets will last me at least 4 trips down to orlando because they really allow you to make 20 visits to disney parks...
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| Posted 8/20/12 12:11 AM |
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phoenix913
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3034 total posts
Name:
V
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Do you mean economical as in ways to save money?
If so, what we do is share a lot of meals when we do QS. We also bring snacks with like granola bars, nuts, etc. And when doing sitdown we'll have just apps and dessert.
Other than that try to use AAA or Undercover tourist for your tix if you are not getting a whole package.
Also, if you do want a package it can help to call a Disney specialist as pp mentioned b/c they can find you discounts on the whole package.
And I also agree with pp that rope drop is the best tip.
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| Posted 8/20/12 8:39 AM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Read the unofficial guide to Walt Disney world with kids
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| Posted 8/20/12 8:57 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Posted by MissEsq
Read the unofficial guide to Walt Disney world with kids
I like that book but greatly prefer the regular unofficial guide to WDW not the kids one. The regular book basically has all the same info plus a ton of things that we found were really helpful that the kids book didn't include. I wouldn't get both though since they are redundant.
Also like mousesavers.com - you will find any public code that is available on that site if you want to book yourself. She tells you how to get all the deals etc. Everything from car rentals, breaks down if it is worth doing a package or booking each separately, if the dining plan is a good deal for you etc. I found it very helpful. Her site has been recommend in the NYTs, wall street journal etc.
Also I like allearsnet.com - they have lists of what is down for rehab or closed so you don't get to disney and find your favorite attraction is closed. Also they have every menu from WDW (carts, CS and TS restaurants) on there so you can budget and help plan meals etc.
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| Posted 8/20/12 4:10 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
I agree that the Unofficial Guide full version is better than any of the offshoot versions, but especially for a first-timer, I think it can be WAY too much information and very overwhelming. It also caters to a certain type of traveler. I would still suggest the advice of an expert. It's an awesome book though. 
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| Posted 8/21/12 7:51 AM |
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saraH
happy birthday sweet kate!
Member since 5/05 16555 total posts
Name:
I know that God exsists, I held her in my arms...
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Best advice is don't try to do it all in one day.
We get up, get breakfast, then hit the parks, at our own pace. We've Never done a rope drop and I don't think we've missed anything, kwim?
I agree with pp, check out allears.net and mouse savers.com for info, but just that, info. It's not a bible to live and die by.
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| Posted 8/21/12 1:42 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
I swear by rope drop and think you're totally missing out if you skip it. My DH is NOT a morning person and I finally forced him to try RD "just once" and now he's the one pushing me out the door at 7am.
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| Posted 8/21/12 1:58 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Posted by JenniferEver
I swear by rope drop and think you're totally missing out if you skip it. My DH is NOT a morning person and I finally forced him to try RD "just once" and now he's the one pushing me out the door at 7am.
I have to agree with this. I personally disagree about not missing anything when you don't hit rope drop. I find that I get so much more done when we make rope drop. There are little to no lines and if I look at the parks even an hour after they open they are far more crowded than they are when the 1st open. DH hates getting up early on vacation and is often not on time and even he pushes to make rope drop because it saves us a lot of time later in the day. We get a lot done in that 1st hour the park is open. But I have friends who go and don't do rope drop but then they also don't mind waiting in longer lines - so it is all about what you personally prefer.
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| Posted 8/21/12 3:20 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Here's my philosophy- Why wait in line if you don't have to?
9am-11am - Ride 10 rides, then strolll around leisurely, have lunch, go back for a nap.
get to the park at 11 and it's 11-4. Ride 6 rides in the heat, get a fastpass for something for HOURS later, fight lunch crowds at 1pm. No way
And I mean it, 2 hours at rope drop are usuallymore valuable than 5 hours later in the day.
Plus MK has the phenomenal welcome show, and you can take pics on Main Street, the oasis, etc without large crowds.
I'm a rope drop believer. Everyone should try it once. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who tried it who said "oh yeah, I'd rather sleep in. it wasn't worth it".
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| Posted 8/21/12 3:33 PM |
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ReiRei13
Life is Good!!
Member since 1/08 6460 total posts
Name:
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
We are DEF NOT early risers, but I'm convinced we need to be their for rope drop now!! Thanks for the tip!!
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| Posted 8/21/12 4:00 PM |
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GottaHaveFaith
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 1443 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
I couldn't agree more about rope drop, especially for MK! The best part, it's usually still somewhat cooler, no big crazy lines, and amazing pics on Main Street with very few people in the background!
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| Posted 8/22/12 1:37 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
On second though..Disney is terrible in the morning. Sleep in! Sleep in!
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| Posted 8/23/12 12:37 PM |
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saraH
happy birthday sweet kate!
Member since 5/05 16555 total posts
Name:
I know that God exsists, I held her in my arms...
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Posted by JenniferEver
On second though..Disney is terrible in the morning. Sleep in! Sleep in!
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| Posted 8/23/12 1:31 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Go to MK on a rainy day  We went to MK twice, and both days it poured for hours on end. We got on every ride each day with no lines. Yes we had to run through rain and get wet, but we hit everything there was to see.
Bring an umbrella with you to Epcot-it's so hot and no shade.
Message edited 8/23/2012 2:25:14 PM.
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| Posted 8/23/12 2:24 PM |
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Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
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what are your best disney secrets?
We always make the earliest possible breakfast reservation for Crystal Palace so we can get in before the park opens.
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| Posted 8/28/12 4:24 PM |
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jlk51496
Mom of 3 - YIKES! =)
Member since 10/09 6758 total posts
Name:
Katie
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Re: what are your best disney secrets?
Join DISBoards.com
I learned sooooo much from them on there (including rope drop)
I had a spreadsheet of meals/parks/rides to run to at rope drop....etc that I followed to a tee and it was a wonderful resource!
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| Posted 8/30/12 10:26 PM |
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Mouse Tales Travel
LIFamilies Business
Member since 7/08 417 total posts
Name:
Melissa Salinas
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what are your best disney secrets?
If you want all the fun and none of the work (and it's free), let us do it all for you. ;)
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
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| Posted 9/1/12 9:32 AM |
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