Ok here is the deal. My family of 4 and my hubbys cousins (a family of 4) are wanting to go to Disney in Florida in the Summer of 2011. I know this is a year and half away but if we do not start planning now we will not have the money. What I am wondering we have never been before and know nothing about how to even get started planning the trip so we would just like some suggestions or any advice. We are planning on driving there and stopping here and there on the way. We live in Arkansas. So I will take any advice I can get.

Thanks bunches!

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Lori
Wife to Wes (briarsdad)
Mom to Will(11)9-14-98 Briar(8)DS 6-22-01

If I were you , I would start here: http://www.disboards.com/index.php. This is a HUGE forum with anything disney. One thing to be aware, if you are going in summer it will be HOT so you do need to plan for it.Fortunately at disney they do have a lot of shows that are air conditioned.Bring air mister fans(they sell them at walmart in the spring-little battery operated fans that have a squirt bottle of water)that saved us.You couold also look at a trip report I wrote: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1852434 It's from Hannah's make a wish trip but it has a lot of pictures of rides and shows.

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Mom to Hannah(11)DS and Logan (7)

At work now, but I suggest joining tourguidemike.com (small fee, well worth it) and getting on the Mouse Savers website!

I love Disney!!!! I find that I need to plan about one hour for every hour we plan on being in the parks, but I'm a bit of a geek that way!

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We go every summer! We are in CT so its hot there, its hot here but there we are having fun and you have to walk in a store for 5 minutes and you are ready for some warmth (LOL). disboards (someone mentioned above) is a great site as well as mousesavers.com and allears.net. There are crowds and lines but unless you go in October....you will always have lines. Disney is extremely accommodating everywhere you go (we have found the least accommodating park is Animal Kingdom....not bad but not nearly as nice as the other parks in terms of going out of their way to give that little extra - my opinion).

Definitely recommend character meals - Chef Mickey (Cont Hotel), Crystal Palace (MK)- great breakfast, Donald's Breakfastasuarus (AK), Play & Dine (HS) - those we always make multiple reservations for. Book far in advance (I think they may have gone back to 120 days in advance - definitely need to especially with Chef Mickey or you'll be eating dinner at 8:30PM). Hint - make breakfasts before park opens (if park opens at 9 for ALL, make reservations for 8:15. (not on early entry days - the park is empty - great photo ops - no waiting in klines to get in!! I have a pic of my sons walking towards the hat in HS and NO ONE is around!!!

Highly recommend staying on premises! Have done both, won't stay off property again, even if its cheaper adn larger space. Stroller - whether it be yours or theirs is a must. Our oldest (non Ds) was in one till her was 8...just because...makes for a more pleasurable day - if they are not in it....it carries your stuff.

Definitely split your day, go in morning, leave about lunch time and return after 5 - cooler and less crowded. Take advantage of xtra magic hours (when you stay on property) parks (vary by day) open an hour early and stay open an xtra 3 hours at night (which means magic kingdom can be open until 3am).

Dining plan is good if you plan on doing character meals (pretty much the rest of you r food iis free for the day). At the end though we have 38 snacks remaining....got water and pretzels for car drive home.

Let me know if you would like more tips.....I can go on and on.......don't want to give too many "secrets" away publically LOL

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~Melissa~ Mom to David (11) and Joey~Ds(6) and wife to Michael

Actually, I came here when I was planning our trip to Disney last year!!! Ha!
My advice, is get the special needs pass. Another mom gave me that same tip, and it made a HUGE difference for Bene. She knows how to stand in line and such, but she doesn't cope with the heat, and gets really lethargic, won't drink enough etc etc. The special needs pass made it possible for us to enjoy the parks to the fullest without worrying whether we'd have a child sick from the heat on our hands.

Enjoy!!! Disney is our very personaly wonderland. I am definitely taking Bene back in a few years when she's older.

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Mom to:
Jesper 07/23/95 (stepson)
Hanne Torill 06/06/98 (daughter)
Benedikte 04/14/00 DS (daughter)
Mads & Emil 07/05/00 (stepsons)
Svein Atle 05/13/03 (son)