Originally Posted by blaise (Post 10579774)

When I was a kid I loved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I thought it was awesome. But I guess that's Pooh or something now.


That new Goofy roller coaster in Magic Kingdom is kind of a waste. Whole thing takes like 20 seconds.

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 10578602)

I feel the same about the park hopper pass as well.

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 10579695)

My kids absolutely LOVED Epcot.

Originally Posted by blaise (Post 10579774)

When I was a kid I loved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I thought it was awesome. But I guess that's Pooh or something now.


That new Goofy roller coaster in Magic Kingdom is kind of a waste. Whole thing takes like 20 seconds.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10579708)

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.

Originally Posted by ThaVirus (Post 10579910)

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

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10579932)

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.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 10578468)

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.

Originally Posted by ThaVirus (Post 10579674)

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

Originally Posted by ThaVirus (Post 10579700)

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.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10579708)

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.

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 10579711)

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

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10579764)

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.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 10579963)

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.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10580007)

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....

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10579980)

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.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 10580010)

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

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 10580061)

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.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 10577961)

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.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10580062)

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.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 10580084)

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.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10580070)

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.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 10580170)

VRBO.com - they do vacation rentals. Just as an example, this place is $140 (plus tax) a night: Rental Property

For us, I wouldn't mind cramming 6 of us into a room. It wouldn't be ideal, but 3 of the 6 are under 10 years old, so they don't mind sleeping on the floor, couch, etc. But, bringing in another 15 year old would be way too much.

The other option is paying for 2 rooms on property - which defeats the purpose of not getting one of the larger rooms that fits everyone. It would end up costing around the same amount either way.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10580182)

With your situation, you are probably doing it the right way.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 10580084)

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.

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990 (Post 10580237)

The way I understand it is, this new Fastpass+ Let's you basically plan out your entire trip. Like a mini itinerary.

If you are a schedule oriented person, it's for you. If you just like to freelance, you might not like it as much.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10580398)

You're talking about a FastPass....he is talking about a Guest Assistance Card that is available to anyone with a child who has medical/physical/mental disabilities. It gave you the opportunity to not have to wait in line for any ride. If the ride had a FastPass line, you just went up to it and they took you thru the line without having to get a FastPass.

If there was no FastPass line, then they would take you into the ride thru the Exit line and work you in amongst the "next in line" queue.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 10580061)

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.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 10580084)

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.

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow (Post 10580061)

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.

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990 (Post 10580570)

Yea, its expensive no doubt. Personally, im not sure id want to stay at the Animal Kingdom lodge and a few other ones that are farther out. Ive heard varying opinions on the wait for bus service. Id rather stay at the contemporary or the Polynesian and ride the monorail. But thats just me.

One of the reasons i liked California better was that it wasnt nearly as spread out as Florida. Everything was within walking distance. oh, and the SoCal weather was alot better than Florida in June.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10580532)

You can also do a campsite at Fort Wilderness, which will sleep up to ten. But you have to bring a tent and actually camp. They also have RV hookups.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian (Post 10580686)

AKL is for people who want to be at a resort that is not close to a park....and you'd be surprised the number of people who want to get away from the park after a long day there.

The wait for bus service is something you have at most of the resorts. If I wanted to stay close to the Parks but not too close, I would choose the Wilderness Lodge.

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990 (Post 10580570)

Yea, its expensive no doubt. Personally, im not sure id want to stay at the Animal Kingdom lodge and a few other ones that are farther out. Ive heard varying opinions on the wait for bus service. Id rather stay at the contemporary or the Polynesian and ride the monorail. But thats just me.

One of the reasons i liked California better was that it wasnt nearly as spread out as Florida. Everything was within walking distance. oh, and the SoCal weather was alot better than Florida in June.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10580704)

AKL is so awesome. I especially love Sanaa. Here's some pics of the views at AKL that I took last month.

Sanaa at sunset:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/...881b826d_k.jpgSanaa Savannah Feeding Time by silock99, on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/...213566ae_h.jpgSanaa Savannah Too by silock99, on Flickr

Random animals outside the Kidani village rooms:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/...57f3bc97_h.jpgKidani Village Crane by silock99, on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/...5be2ffbb_h.jpgBaby Zebra Kidani Village by silock99, on Flickr

I have some more from inside the lodge if anyone's interested. It's really, really cool. More than cool enough to justify its distance from the parks.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10580704)

AKL is so awesome. I especially love Sanaa. Here's some pics of the views at AKL that I took last month.

Sanaa at sunset:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/...881b826d_k.jpgSanaa Savannah Feeding Time by silock99, on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/...213566ae_h.jpgSanaa Savannah Too by silock99, on Flickr

Random animals outside the Kidani village rooms:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/...57f3bc97_h.jpgKidani Village Crane by silock99, on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/...5be2ffbb_h.jpgBaby Zebra Kidani Village by silock99, on Flickr

I have some more from inside the lodge if anyone's interested. It's really, really cool. More than cool enough to justify its distance from the parks.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 12918503)

**** WDW during the summer. It's Florida heat + massive crowds. HARD PASS.

Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990 (Post 12918463)

Headed down tomorrow for 8 days or so.....Anyone else going this summer?

Originally Posted by TimBone (Post 12918515)

This. My wife gets saying we need to take the kid. **** that.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 12918525)

Take them, but in early December, Late January or early February. Lowest crowds, never hot, but still warm enough to swim. IMO, that's the only time to go.

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 12918589)

Cannot agree more. The family has gone in both during the summer and in the off season - piss on going in the summer.

But have fun!

Originally Posted by 007 (Post 12918604)

I haven't been in the winter yet but the one thing I don't like about going during those months is the fact they close earlier.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 12918737)

Only by an hour or so lol

And you get more done during the day because of the lower crowds, so you don't need to be there from open to close, anyway.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 12918737)

Only by an hour or so lol

And you get more done during the day because of the lower crowds, so you don't need to be there from open to close, anyway.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud (Post 12918788)

Jewru hates wasting daylight almost as much as he hates spending money


:D

Originally Posted by 007 (Post 12918904)

Unless things have changed, the last time I checked their winter hours they closed around 7pm. I like having those extra 2-3 hours at the end of the day. You can get quite a bit done there.

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990 (Post 12918463)

Headed down tomorrow for 8 days or so.....Anyone else going this summer?

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea (Post 12918951)

I'm already here. Heat isn't brutal yet, but I'm on the coast and Orlando is always worse, but at least it's not July or August, which will be like saunas.

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990 (Post 12918463)

Headed down tomorrow for 8 days or so.....Anyone else going this summer?

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 12918966)

Shit, it's already like a sauna here in KC. Heat indexes are supposed to be flirting with 110 the next couple of days. Never thought that taking a vacation to Florida in the summer to escape the heat could possibly become a thing, but it might.

Originally Posted by scho63 (Post 12919057)

I was at Disney World when I was around 16 years old with our family. We did it as a Christmas trip around Dec 1979. Was pretty damn cool. A lot smaller than today obviously. I learned how to juggle on that trip and also met former NBA star and NJ Senator Bill Bradley with his wife and two kids on the tram from the parking lot.

I am curious to anyone who has just been there with a family of 4 or 5 and maybe a total of 2-3 days, what the hell did it cost you? We had the luxury of staying at my grandparents house in Ft Lauderdale for free so no hotel bills.

Not including airfare, what did it cost?
$1,500 or more?
$2,500 or more?
$4,000 or more?

What do they charge per day into the park?
What does that include?
Other things to pay for to enter?

Originally Posted by scho63 (Post 12919057)

I was at Disney World when I was around 16 years old with our family. We did it as a Christmas trip around Dec 1979. Was pretty damn cool. A lot smaller than today obviously. I learned how to juggle on that trip and also met former NBA star and NJ Senator Bill Bradley with his wife and two kids on the tram from the parking lot.

I am curious to anyone who has just been there with a family of 4 or 5 and maybe a total of 2-3 days, what the hell did it cost you? We had the luxury of staying at my grandparents house in Ft Lauderdale for free so no hotel bills.

Not including airfare, what did it cost?
$1,500 or more?
$2,500 or more?
$4,000 or more?

What do they charge per day into the park?
What does that include?
Other things to pay for to enter?

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea (Post 12919054)

Central Florida will fool you at certain times. I get a Gulf Breeze which helps. But it's been 87 at times in July, when Boston nearly hit 100 one year...and that's on the coast too. Tho' it's a city so it's a heat sink. I found Grande Isle Nebraska insufferably hot and humid near the end of August last year, when I expected it to be cooler and less humid than here. I mean it's much further north.

Orlando, on the other hand, is literally stultifying in July and August. It's inland. I did Bush Gardens one year when family came down in July which is further inland even from downtown Tampa, than my location. Just brutal. You move very slowly and take breaks in the children's sprinklers.

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat (Post 12919082)

https://www.undercovertourist.com/or...-world-resort/

3 day ticket would be $306.95 per person and that is without the park hopper. $361.95 with park hopper. Cheapest Disney hotel is probably a little over $200 a night.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud (Post 12919098)

Disneyworld and Disneyland have become outrageously expensive.

From 2010-2014, we had the Premium Annual Pass, which had no blackout dates and was only $239 per year with parking included.

Now, it's $639 for the Deluxe Annual pass and it doesn't include parking, which is $15-20 dollars, depending on where you park and has about 100 blackout dates.

A 5 day Park Hopper is $594 dollars.

What's made matters far worse is that before 2015, the annual passes had to be paid in full but that year, Disney began accepting monthly payments. The wait per ride used be about 10-15 minutes but now, it's 45-60 (if not longer).

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 12919102)

Yeah, that's some bullshit. It's not like Disney isn't making a ****ing mint off of their Marvel and Star Wars properties that they have to go and fleece the people flocking to their parks. I get wanting to make money, but let's not **** your customers into the ground for that almighty dollar, perhaps?

Originally Posted by scho63 (Post 12919099)

So a rough calculation in my head would be:

$360 x 4 = $1,440 for tickets for 4 people
$360 x 5 = $1,800 for tickets for 5 people

Let's say average hotel at $250 a night for 3 nights =
$750 if 4-5 people can stay in one room
$1500 if you need 2 rooms

Lastly food:
4 people x 3 days x $60 a day/person = $720 total
5 people x 3 days x $60 a day per person = $900 total

So roughly
4 people: $2,950-$3,600
5 people: $3,450-$4,200

Not a cheap vacation if it costs another $1,000-$1,500 for airfare and not a single souvenir bought.

That would buy me a hell of a lot of escorts, cigars, and good booze!
:D

Originally Posted by scho63 (Post 12919057)

I was at Disney World when I was around 16 years old with our family. We did it as a Christmas trip around Dec 1979. Was pretty damn cool. A lot smaller than today obviously. I learned how to juggle on that trip and also met former NBA star and NJ Senator Bill Bradley with his wife and two kids on the tram from the parking lot.

I am curious to anyone who has just been there with a family of 4 or 5 and maybe a total of 2-3 days, what the hell did it cost you? We had the luxury of staying at my grandparents house in Ft Lauderdale for free so no hotel bills.

Not including airfare, what did it cost?
$1,500 or more?
$2,500 or more?
$4,000 or more?

What do they charge per day into the park?
What does that include?
Other things to pay for to enter?

Originally Posted by Pestilence (Post 12919167)

Taking the kids in August after school starts. Hopefully it won't be SUPER ****ing busy. Nothing can be as bad as when we took the kids for New Years. Holy **** was that a mistake.

Works out on cost though because I'll be down there for a work conference. Hotel paid for. Driving down and I get reimbursed for mileage. We're literally paying for the Disneyland tickets and food.

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 12919118)

No, you're absolutely right. They get away with it because people are willing to pay for it. For me personally, that's a ton of scratch to pay to just sit around in hour long lines in an overcrowded park.

Maybe I'm just turning into a grumpy old bastard? :hmmm:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud (Post 12919194)

Are you going during the week or on the weekend? The weekends are absolutely brutal these days.

Also, if you haven't been in a while, be prepared to see scores of obese people riding electric carts. I'm not talking 20 pounds overweight, I'm talking 300-600 pounders.

Also, there's usually a strong contingency of douchebag parents toting around under 2 year olds in dual and sometimes triple strollers.

What the **** is their 18 month old going to get out of Disneyland, other than a sunburn?

Originally Posted by Pestilence (Post 12919208)

Driving down on a Sunday. The kids and the wife will be in the park with some friends during the day on Monday and Tuesday while I'm at the conference. Then I'll join them at night. Wednesday....all of us will be in the park during the day and night. Then we'll drive back on Thursday.

We're thinking about coming down a day earlier and going to Universal. The kids have never been and the oldest really wants to go for the Harry Potter stuff. Not sure yet.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud (Post 12919224)

I live 10 minutes from Universal and I haven't been over there, other than CityWalk and Pearl Jam at the Gibson Amphitheater (which is now Harry Potter) in more than 20 years. FYI, parking is $20 dollars, which I found out the hard way when I went to the IMAX presentation of Rogue One. I should have Uber'd.

Be sure to stay on top of the Fast Passes. Plan your day out, which rides at which time, etc. so the wait won't be as long. You can't stack Fast Passes all day, you have to wait until you're within the time frame (usually 1 hour) of your current pass in order to get another pass. It's jacked up.

I talked to a friend earlier this week that took his family to Orlando that told me it's like $50 additional per person to purchase Fast Passes at Universal, which he said was totally worth it. It's too bad Disney doesn't have a similar option because I'd grab it in a heartbeat.

I've taken my kids down for a full 12 hours before and we've only gotten into 6 or 7 rides.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Pestilence (Post 12919229)

Thanks for the heads up. I think there are really only 2 or 3 things that the kids want to see if we go.....so we're not 100% sure that we're going to do it or not. Maybe we'll just head over Sunday night after we get into town and hit up the shops around there.

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead (Post 12919267)

We thought about going next spring, but not sure if our 2 kids are too young for it. They will be 3 (they are twins). Thinking might be best to wait a year.

Originally Posted by Pestilence (Post 12919269)

I've got twins and we took them for the their first time when they were 5. They were more 5.5....but still. I don't know if I'd take a 3 year old. They aren't really going to understand a lot of stuff and you're mainly going to have to stick to the really little kid rides.

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead (Post 12919272)

Ya thats what we were thinking, especially if you gonna spend as much as it cost