September 27th, 2009 | 
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It is hard to imagine a more exciting, magical, and eagerly anticipated vacation than a Disney theme park adventure.
And because the prospect of the trip is so exciting, the planning process can be half the fun. Here is how to get started planning the trip of a lifetime, for a lot less than you might think.
Order Your Free Disney DVD
One of the first things you will want to do is take advantage of the free Disney Parks Vacation Planning DVD. This official Disney DVD takes you on a complete tour of both resorts. Go inside the parks and get an overview of the Disney complexes in both Florida and Southern California. Preview the water and roller coaster rides and get tips on where to go and what to do. The DVD also features planning guides, information on affordable places to stay, things to do, and upcoming special events. You can order it on the official Disney Parks website. (Simply do a Google search for “Free Disney Vacation Planning DVD.”)
Hotel Deals
The second thing on your list will be to find the best Disneyland and Disneyworld hotel deals.
Keep in mind that you will pay lower prices on both lodging and park tickets if you book your trip during the off season, which runs from October through April.
Disney resorts have a number of on site hotels, which bring lots of advantages, including discounted ticket prices and, of course, convenience. But the experience of staying in a resort hotel comes with a price: as much as triple the cost of other hotels.
If cost is the foremost consideration in planning your Disney vacation, begin an online search for hotels near the resort instead. Many of these neighboring hotels offer comfortable, clean lodging and may provide a complimentary shuttle service to the resort.
Accommodations range from value priced to deluxe, with amenities to match. Make a list of the features that are most important to you and refer to them when deciding on a hotel. If you do not mind parking your car and walking instead of using the valet, or if you do not mind limited room service, then you do not need to pay more for a deluxe hotel stay.
The distances to and from the park can differ, so be sure to ask about the location of the hotel in relation to the park, as well as whether the hotel offers complimentary transportation, such as shuttle bus or monorail service. There are lots of choices and you can find many different package deals depending on your budget and preferences. The Internet has made it so easy to compare Disney area hotels (and their amenities) at a glance.
Saving on Meals
Disney does not allow you to bring food into the park. But you can save money by having breakfast before entering the park and eating dinner after you leave. Lunch prices tend to be quite a bit lower than dinner prices at the restaurants inside the park, so you can experience the magic of a meal in the park for less.
You will be permitted to bring in bottled water, which is much less expensive than buying sodas and bottled water inside the park.
More Disney Travel Tips
1. Some hotels and travel agents offer discounts to nurses, teachers and government workers, as well as AAA, AARP and Entertainment Book members.
2. Make sure to purchase your tickets before you get to the park, so you do not have to stand in line when you get there.
3. Read your tickets and passes and make sure you understand what you are paying for. Remember, too, that some rides have certain height requirements for children.
4. Walking the parks may be fine for the adults, but you may want to either bring your own stroller or rent one for your child.
5. If you have a child who is too small for a particular ride, take advantage of the Disney “Baby Swap” option. All you need to do is tell the attendant. When you reach the front of the line, one parent will be able to ride while the other parent holds the child. When the ride is over, you switch. That way, neither parent has to sit out.
6. The weather can be unpredictable so do not be caught off guard. Make sure to bring an umbrella, ponchos and some cool weather clothing. Plan ahead for rainy days by having a list of indoor activities you want to do in the area, as well, just in case of an extended downpour.
Though a Disney vacation may seem overwhelming during the planning stage, rest assured that a little bit of planning now will make for a more relaxed, memorable (even magical) vacation that you and your children will remember for a long time to come.
Help answer the question about traveling tips
Mazatlan traveling tips? Places to stay, places to see and things to do?Hello! Do you have any suggestions or advice for traveling to Mazatlan? Any recommendations on fun places, good restaurants, good budget places to stay, and good day trips if we rent a car? Would it be a good place to travel if we're on a budget? Also, is it pretty safe, I'll be traveling with my friend and we are both ladies. Thanks in advance!
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I remember traveling to the US in 1999, and the guy asking me the reason for my trip. I said: ‘Pleasure’ (upon his prompting me with possible answers, since I hadn’t flown ANYWHERE since I was 14, 18 years earlier…). He said:’Be more specific.’ I said: ‘To visit a friend’. He said: ‘Male or female?’ I said: ‘Male’. He sneered. Oh, if I’d had more time…I’d so have been hauling out his supervisor… He finally let me in, but I could still see the twit shaking his head. What-EVER.
You're right, it's close to 13 hours from Louisville to Orlando. My map program says 13 hours & 45 Minutes to cover the 860 miles. That doesn't include any pit stops or sightseeing.
I'd take my time and make a 2 day trip out of it. There's an awful lot to see between the 2 towns. Theres Nashville and Chattanooga in Tennessee. Then you hit Georgia, my favorite place to visit is the air force museum in Warner Robins. They have a SR-71 Blackbird spy plane on display there, along with many other planes seldom seen by civilians.
Stopping for the night between Louisville and Macon, then doing the museum before traveling to O rlando would make a good 2 day drive.
I-75 once you get out of Chattanooga to Floridas Turnpike is your best route. You'll have to stop and pay a toll shortly after you get on the turnpike and that could be your last. When you get to Florida SR 50 there is a free get-off at Exit 267. Then you can drive into Orlando on SR 50. Or, just stay on the turnpike to I-4 and another $0.50 toll. You won't need to use the East/West toll road to get to Orlando. That road is a local pay as you go road. The toll booths will drive you nuts.
Your destination in the Orlando area will determine where you need to exit the turnpike. If you're going to the US192 area of Kissimmee, you can exit the turnpike near Exit 289 and take US 27 South to US 192 and save over a dollar in tolls. The distance won't be too much different since the turnpike parallels US 27 for some distance
Good luck, drive safe
The price is about right for where you are staying and the tickets and car, but you need to ask yourself the following questions……….
1 – Do you really need a rental car if you are going to stay at the Universal Studios property most of the time and in the parks all day.
2 – Why not stay in Disney property for a couple of days with the same options (hotel & tickets & free transportation on property)and a few days at Universal?
3 – Why are you getting a 7 day pass to Universal (you really only need 2 to 3 days TOPS to see EVERYTHING there).
4 – I sugest staying in Disney property (better deal on airfare, rental car, hotel, tickets & transportation on property), and visiting Universal Studios, Islands of Adventures and City Walk.
By the way the BEST Disney park for a 9 year old is the Magic Kingdom, them MGM Studios, then EPCOT and last Amimal Kingdom.
Because you are limited with your time I suggest the following itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrival to Hotel and then go to Downtown Disney or City Walk for shopping.
Day 2 – Magic Kingdom.
Day 3 – MGM Studios or Universal Studios.
Day 4 – EPCOT CENTER (dont forget to see Illuminations Laser Show and Fireworks at 9 pm).
Day 5 – Islands of Adventures.
Day 6 – Water Park (Wet & Wild or Typhoon Lagoon).
Day 7 – Shoping in the morning, then fly home in the afternoon.
Check out http://www.waltdisneyworld.com for hotel / tickets at disney.
Check out http://www.universalorlando.com for hotel / tickets at Universal.
As far as spending money is concerned for food, souvenirs and incidentals for one week – minimum $75 per person / per day.
If you have any questions you can contact me at abnertours@yahoo.com
Hope this helps………………………..
well you got something that is bad,but you must to see the way they treat the latin american people,you are lucky,because a lot of mexicans and centroamericans got kill for nothing,man i guess you are in a better country ,stay there and do whatever you think,if you want to get a real good time visit cancun mexico,puerto vallarta or there are so many places where the north americans go for vacations….see you and good luck
what part canada are you going to?
wow, that must of been dissapointing for you… at least it’s a story you can tell your grandchildren some day or something
There are plenty of things to do in Orlando area, the only thing that they don't have is snow !! I was there the past April , I went up on a helicoper , tow up to the ski on a sail plane and a hang glider(that's the best) , went wakebroading and jet ski , rode a airboat tour,see a circus on Downtown Disney and you got to eat at Wolfgang Puck over there.How about horse back riding,they also have off road Segway at Fort wilderness Campground. They have all kinds of boating activity at the Disney Contempory Resort, you don't have to be a guest to go there. Its a secret , you can park in the Polynesian Resort and go touring for free on the MonoRail . It goes on and on , you will run out of time and money before you run out of things to do in Orlando.
You shouldn’t have the same trouble in Canada. Please don’t be put off going there by past experiences.
I’m sorry this happened to you. I’ve never been overseas before, don’t even have a passport, and this sort of thing scares me a bit, but then again, that’s the purpose of airline shows.
What this country has descended to make the use of the f-word completely accurate and even most appropriate even to the refined conversation. We are no better than the worst banana republic in terms of how we treat our guests. It’s utterly shameful and utterly unforgivable. These TSA thugs really need to lose their citizenship because they behavior proves they are less than Americans and less than men.
I have been on the Disney Wonder before. First of all there is an adult only pool area and an area for the kiddies too. They have lots of little clubs/gamerooms for all the kids where they watch Disney movies, play games, have pj parties, and just have fun and stay occupied so mom & dad can go to a comedy club or show. Onboard there is also Flounder's Reef Nursery, an Internet Cafe, Photography Services (take photos you dont have to buy them if you dont want but you get to see them developed), Shopping, and Cellular at Sea. Some things to expect:
Just For Kids:
Day and Night Disney's Youth Counselors host kids in places packed with so much fun they fill nearly half a deck! From pirate ships and princess visits (characters are onboard) to a non-stop interactive wondrland there is always something happening.
Just For Adults:
Special spaces invite adults to escape in everyway you can imagine. From the exclusive spa and adults-only pool to the ultimate romantic resturaunt and incredible district (an area of the ship exclusive to adult entertainment) there is always a way to escape.
Whats Included:
one of the best things about a Disney cruise is that nearly everything you could dream of is included in the price, such as: Entertainment for all ages day and night, Just for Kids, Just for Teens, Just for Adults, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Sodas, Snacks, and more daily, family-sized staterooms, and endless Disney magic.
What's included in the basic price of a Disney cruise?
Onboard, your vacation package price includes almost everything — from your stateroom to breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, along with soft drinks served at meals and at the beverage station on Deck 9, and snacks and ice cream throughout the ship. All onboard activities and entertainment are included. While you're sailing, there are only a few things that will require an additional charge: spa or salon visits, phone calls, photos, video games, Internet usage and all alcoholic beverages. Average about $11 daily for tips.
So Much Fun:
Prepare yourself to be dazzled! And delighted. Onboard you will expereience Disney family entertainment on a spectacular scale. Enjoy breathtaking, original Disney musicals with all the style of broadway. The legendary "Pirates IN the Caribbean" deck party that lights up the night with fireworks, music, and wide-eyed wonders. The ships now boast an outdoor theatre to play Disney movies and to just catch the good moments onboard. There is also an indoor movie theatre showing first run films and other disney classics.
Dinner With Friends:
Throughout your cruise, you will "rotate" through three uniquely themed resturants. You'll enjoy a deliciously different restaurant each night, but your servers will stay the same. That way they can get to know your favortie foods. Your dislikes. Even your nickname (if you tell them). And if you have small children or picky eaters then you can always tell your server and they can get you a hot dog or hamburger. Simple as that! The cusine on a Disney Cruise ship is spectacularly delicious! Try things that you most likely would not. If you dont like it then order something else. Dining is a special event.
For Dinner:
On 7-night cruises:
First night: cruise casual — no shorts, swimwear or tank tops
Three additional "cruise casual" nights — no shorts, swimwear or tank tops
One pirate or tropical night (deck party)
One formal and one semi-formal night — formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for women: gown or dress; semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket; for women: dress or pantsuit.
Castaway Cay:
This is Disneys private island (the original island from Gilligan's Island) and it is exclusive to Disney Cruise Line guests! Along the glistening and breathtaking crystal clear shore, you'll discover seperate beaches for families and teens. An amazing, sandy play place for kids. And, a hidden private beach, just for adults. This is your ultimate beach day! Go bike rinding, snorkel in the crystal waters and find mikey in the water and a sunken ship! Or just spend time tasting and smelling the great BBQ buffet! This is by far my favorite beach!
Grand Cayman:
Grand Cayman Island is known for 7-Mile beach, sea turtles, and the famous Stingray City! There is also a town called Hell! Many tourists come to GC to swim and snorkel in shallow 3 foot water with the gental rays! There is also a touring of a sea turtle farm, botanical gardens, and the city of hell available for an excursion. The Cayman Islands are great for Scuba diving too!
Cozumel:
Cozumel is an ancient Mayan City with great culture, and although it is small, a lot to do! It is always nice to rent a car (we rented a convertable Bug for $40 day) and drive around the island (there are only 2 roads and you can get a map in the shopping district basically right where you get off the ship), this way you can see the other beautifully, unpopilated with tourists, side of the beach. There are tours available to different Mayan ruins, horseback riding, Dolphin Swims including the new Dolphinaris for little ones, and lots of beach parties going on. Or you can just spend your time shopping around. Once you get off the boat there are many locals offering tours as well.
For More info call your Travel Agent or visit http://www.disneycruiseline.com
HAVE FUN & BON VOYAGE!
fuck america! why u want to visit shithole when aussie is better than usa
Below is the information I post regarding visiting New Orleans, and the weather here in late March to mid-April is usually very nice. Also, French Quarter Festival is April 11th to 13th (a weekend), and it would be a great time to visit: http://www.frenchquarterfestivals.org
You don't say where you live, but there is good airline service to New Orleans from all over the country.
Good luck!
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Consider visiting New Orleans.
NOLA is one of the world's special places with an ambience unique in North America, and remains so even after Katrina devastated it in 2005.
Katrina flooded about 80% of New Orleans with salt water, and the water stayed for almost a month. Much of the city is still struggling to recover and all you have to do to see devastation is drive around. It will take years for NOLA to fully recover from Katrina.
However, the parts of the city that tourists usually visit were not flooded. It's not a coincidence – the French Quarter and other old parts of the city were built on relatively high ground and only suffered wind damage from Katrina. The damage has been repaired and you have to look closely in the FQ and city center to see that Katrina happened at all. You should visit and see for yourself.
Note that the City of New Orleans is only part of the greater New Orleans area. The GNO area had a population of about 1,400,000 before Katrina and is estimated at about 1,200,000 now (July, 2007). The absent 200,000 are mostly from the City of New Orleans and the parishes of Plaquemines and Saint Bernard, which were the worst-flooded parts of the metro area. Jefferson Parish – just to the west of the City – suffered only minor flooding and has fully recovered.
You can drink the water, the electricity & phones work, and services like the post office, hospitals, schools, and police/fire/EMS are operating. Restaurants, stores and shopping centers are open.
Municipal services like street cleaning & trash collection collapsed after Katrina. Those services were fully restored in late 2006 and it is no longer an issue.
I recommend staying in the French Quarter (Vieux Carre") if you can. There is a very wide range of selections available, from moderate guest houses to very exclusive "boutique" hotels. Search Yahoo Travel and Travelocity for ideas and also check the hotel websites.
You don't need a car to get around in the French Quarter, Central Business District, or Warehouse District. Also, the parking regulations are Byzantine and there are lots of Parking Control Agents. If you drive or rent a car, leave it in a lot or garage unless you are traveling away from downtown.
The regional transit authority (www.norta.com) sells 1 and 3 day passes that offer unlimited use of buses and streetcars for the day(s) you select. There are also lots of taxicabs.
Regarding crime, questions like yours tend to attract highly negative "answers" from people who do not live here and who have little or no idea what they are talking about. Use the same common sense necessary in every major city in the world and there is little chance you will be a victim of anything except a need to visit the gym: Pay attention to your surroundings. Don't leave something like a camera-bag, purse, or backpack unattended on a park bench while you wander off to take photos. Etc.
New Orleans has mild weather from late October to early May and the city stays green all year most years (rarely freezes and almost never snows). We pay for the mild winters with hot, humid summers – particularly in July & August. The good news for summertime visitors is that hotel rates are lower.
Things to do:
There are many sightseeing opportunities in the greater New Orleans area, including carriage rides/tours, plantation tours, swamp tours, ghost tours, and even Katrina disaster tours. The steamboat Natchez also does a harbor tour. There are numerous tour companies and your hotel can help with the arrangements. Try to avoid scheduling an outdoor tour until you know the weather forecast for the day in question.
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to http://www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to http://www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music. Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so know the price before you sit down. The clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking water or nothing. It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it s delivered so there can't be any confusion at the end of the evening.
Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to http://www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).
Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).
The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.)
The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.wyndham.com).
Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.
All of the famous restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Brennan's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends.
Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade – which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).
There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry
The Aquarium and Audubon Zoo are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. There is a shuttle boat (not free) between the Aquarium (which is next to the French Quarter) and the Zoo (which is several miles away). You can also drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.
The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking.
New Orleans City Park has an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + free parking (www.neworleanscitypark.com).
Check http://www.frenchquarter.com for ideas on other things to do.
Hope you have a great time, wherever you go!
One of the most expensive aspects of Disney is the food! I would either look into getting a dining plan, which will allow you to eat onsite at different parks and hotels for meals at a discount, or bring ( or buy from a local convenience store or grocery store) some basic breakfast or lunch items so that you can eat some small meals or snacks in your rooms. That way you could splurge a little more on dinner or eat at some of the fun theme restaurants on-site.
You should absolutely get park-hopper tickets (unless you're just planning on only going to Epcot), as tiickets are probably the most expensive part of Disney. Staying on Disney property is definitely a lot of fun and enhances the experience, but just keep in mind that the Extra Magic Park hours are not for every park every night. They rotate parks each night, so that will depend on which parks you are planning to visit and when.
chhhhhhhhhhhhhhinnnnnnnnnnnnga tuuuuuuuuuu maddddddddddddreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
1. fly in the sky
2. kill a deer
3. swim with sharks
4. drink snake's blood
5. live in Tokyo for 2 years
6. work in a funeral home
7. fight with blade
8. meet Nelson Mandela
9. buy a laser-blade
10. join the army
Week days always cost less than weekends. That goes for both Hotels/Resorts and Airfare. You'll want to book your plane tickets soon, the prices are going to jump again. For the Swan/Dolphin, youre looking at paying about 200$ a night. It's good for the money. And it's basically right in the middle of everything. There is probably going to be fuss leaving the park and coming back, no matter where you are. It's a good idea though. Gives everyone a chance to relax so you arent at each others throats. Just make sure you know when transits are coming so that you don't miss one.
Oh.. and Swan/Dolphin reservations.. 888-828-8850
omg :O
It's a great time….bring something to read or do with you, the worst part of air travel is waiting either at the gate or on the plane for departure. You'll have a great time….hopefully you don't sit next to a fat person with hallitosis!
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