Conference koolit::disney

    First day, Sea World. Perhaps with a late visit to RiverCountry
    Second day, Magic Kingdom
    Third day, EPCOT
    
    	There is no way you can do all of either the Magic Kingdom or
    EPCOT in one day. Sea World can be done in a day (planning and timing
    are critical as is an early start.)
    
    			Alfred

rep to < Note 35.0 by SALEM::OLEARY >

>We're going to Florida in April.  We've allocated 3 days for the Orlando
>area.  

    Hate to say what  .1  said,  but  are  you sure you can't allocate more
    time, 3 day's in Orlando, if this is your first time is way to short, 3
    full days WDW in April especially  if  it's  one of the school vacation
    weeks might be enough if all you  do is MK/EPCOT.  Even though April is
    usually slow, especially this year since Easter is in March, the crowds
    are somewhat large, lines do get long but are  manageable.  I've notice
    a big difference in the 10 years from '77 (1st  trip) to '87 (4th trip)
    both  during April school vacation weeks.  Word of mouth is  spreading,
    especially since  they  are  advertising  WDW  like  crazy these day's,
    hardly advertise 6 years ago.
    
>What itinerary would you recommend for 2 thirty-something parents and a
>13-year-old son?
    
    If  you  have  one of the 2 guide books I'd  recommend  either  one  to
    follow.

>Bear in mind that we'll be wrapping up our vacation with four days of
>relaxation on the Bermuda's beaches, so we really want to go "on tour" from
>sunup to after sundown while in Orlando. 
    
    If you do any close to what I think you'll need  to do in 3 days you'll
    need it.
    
    Claude
    

    My personal feeling is spend the entire vacation in Bermuda and
    plan a separate vaca in Orlando.  I went to Bermuda in 87 for my
    honeymoon and spent 8 days there and loved every minute of it. 
    Three days in Orlando is just a tease, you'll need alot more time
    there.  Anyway, have fun doing whatever you decide!!
    
    Ellen
    
    P.S. I feel that the 13 year old will be slightly bored in Bermuda
    and will be totally excited in Disney!!
    

    I know, I know...3 days are not enough, but 'that's all folks'
    
    We've been given accomidations for the trip, so the number
    of days in the different locations are not our choice.
                           
    re 1 -- is Sea World on par with WDW and Epcot such that we'd want
    to spend our first day there?         
    
    We'll be in Orlando the 20th,21st and 22.  New Hampshire schools
    are on vacation the following week. Any idea if we'll be hitting
    a vacation week for other states?
    
    
    >P.S. I feel that the 13 year old will be slightly bored in Bermuda
    >and will be totally excited in Disney!!
     
    ;-) The 13 year-old won't be going to Bermuda -- just hubby & me ;-)

rep to < Note 35.4 by SALEM::OLEARY >
                           
>    re 1 -- is Sea World on par with WDW and Epcot such that we'd want
>    to spend our first day there?         

    Well if  you been to any marine type park, then you probably won't miss
    much and I'd opt for just WDW, except that Sea-World  is  probably  the
    premier marine park going. 
        
>    We'll be in Orlando the 20th,21st and 22.  New Hampshire schools
>    are on vacation the following week. Any idea if we'll be hitting
>    a vacation week for other states?

    Yup, good old  Taxachusetts  come to mind, and I'm sure there are other
    states as well.    
    
    I see your on  the  Salem cluster, I'm located in core A along the main
    aisle  to the cafe near pole G15 if you wish to  stop  by  and  ask  me
    questions,  just realize that once you get me going it's sometimes hard
    to get me to stop.  My brother-in-law stopped by Monday night and  told
    me he plan to go in December with his 3 yr old, well after  an hour the
    wife  said  if  you don't shut up now, you'll have to take us tomorrow,
    well I have to admit it worked.  ;^)
    
    Claude
    

    
    If it were me (personal opinion) I wouldn't go to all the trouble
    to get to Orlando and waste a day seeing "just fish". Sea World
    is overated for the costs. It's OK if you've never been there, but
    in your case, there's a Sea World in the Northeast Corner of Ohio
    (believe it or not) that is as good and less crowded. I do believe
    my geography indicates Ohio is closer to NH than Florida. :-)
    
    I would be inclined to drive to Ohio at another time, see SeaWorld
    and then head up to Sandusky, Ohio and visit Cedar Point, a very
    huge 1-day minimum Amusement Park that takes up the whole peninsula.
    And as of this summer, has the worlds undisputed largest roller
    coaster. They have 4 or 5 different roller coasters at this point
    
    Anyway, in Orlando, do yourself a big "happy" favor and suck up
    as much WDW as you can cram in during three days. That's my plan
    this coming Aug. Disney has a little of everything, a lot of magic
    and a lot of other things, ...... All in one giant park !!
    
    Also, you could take a walk through note 6 in the HOLIDAY_NOTE and
    see some other reactions to Sea WOrld near WDW
    
    Mark
    
    

	Sea World is a very interesting place that can easily take up a whole
	day.  However, it seems expensive (funny how WDW doesn't seem as
	expensive) for a family.  If you go to WDW for 2 days, you will have to
	buy 2 single-day passports, which will allow you to go to either MK or
	Epcot, but not both.  If you get a 3-day passport to WDW, you can save 
	some money (don't forget the Magic Kingdom Club card) and go back and 
	forth between parks if you want.

	--Jay

    There is one Orlando attraction that I would have loved to see if
    I had the time...it is called Boardwald and Baseball.  It is a
    fantastic amusement park with lots of rides, a real boardwalk and
    a baseball stadium with big league games....sounds like a ball.
    
    

    This is  the  old  Circus  World, renovated and some attractions added.
    When it was  Circus World, the only really good thing about it were the
    live shows and the loop roller coaster back when I visited in '82.  Has
    anyone been to B&B and can say how good it is.
    
    Claude

    I went to B&B in May of 1987.  The loop roller coaster was fantastic,
    but not what I call a roller coaster.  The car goes forward through
    a loop, stops (track ends), and backward through the loop.  New
    one for me.  Oh yeah, you have to take an elevator up to the ride.
    
    There is also a non-looping roller coaster.

    RE:10 Sounds wild!  I am definatley going to visit B&B next time
    we go to Orlando.....but I am going to have to skip the rollercoaster
    :-) my poor stomach would never make it.
    
    Lynne

    Time to wake up this note. I will be attending a wedding in Boyton
    beach Fla. (next to West Palm Airport) the 22nd of Feb. We will arrive
    on the 19th and spend the time at my wife's brothers in Boyton beach
    until the wedding. I would like to drive down to Epcot early Sun.
    morning and just do Epcot until late Tuesday. Our flight is not until
    8:45pm back at West Palm airport and I hear the trip will take about 3
    hours. I will have a rental car. I have been to Epcot before 3 years
    ago so I am just interested in the new things since. It will only be my
    wife and I. So my questions are:
    
    -I know this is Mass. vacation time because my wife is a teacher. But
    they should all be gone by then. Will I hit other schools out for that
    week?
    
    - What type of passport should I get for half of Sun. Monday and half
      of Tues.?
    
    -I hate to make hotel reservations because I'm not sure I want to do
    this. Will I have trouble finding a place to stay right in Epcot?
    
    -Will they let me in Epcot to inquire about a hotel?
    
    Thanks
    
    -

    John,
    
    Is this your first time down there?
    
    This may help in answering your questions.
    
    Mike

    Mike,
    
    No. You might have missed it. I was there 3 years ago and did all of
    Epcot. But after reading some of these notes there is a lot more to
    see.
    

    Okay.
    
    Well it looks like you intend on spending three days (Sun-Tues) at the
    theme parks. If you intend on doing 1 park  per day I'd get a 1-day
    ticket each day. If you intend to do more than one park in a day you
    may want to consider a multiple-day pass.
    
    I would investigate hotel accomodations before going down. YOur budget
    may help you make a decision as to wwhter you stay on/off the property
    although I get the feeling you want to stay on the property.
    
    Each state is different regarding School vacations. Therefore it may
    not make that much of a difference. Notice I said "may".
    
    Mike

    re: .12
    
    First of all, it's *always* worth it.  :-)
    
    >>-I know this is Mass. vacation time because my wife is a teacher. But
    >>they should all be gone by then. Will I hit other schools out for that
    >>week?
    
    Probably, as Mike said, other states have different schedules.  Keep in
    mind too that Mondays and Tuesdays are typically the busiest days of
    the WDW week so it's likely you'll see some lines.
    
    >>- What type of passport should I get for half of Sun. Monday and half
    >>  of Tues.?
    
    If it were me, I'd get a four-day world passport.  Use 3 days and save
    the last one for a return trip.  A 3-day pass would be better but I
    don't think these are available anymore.  But with a world passport,
    you can bop around from park to park if you like so the option is there
    to spend the day in EPCOT and go over to the MK to catch the
    SpectroMagic parade at night.
    
    But you say that you'll only stay in EPCOT so I would weigh the costs
    of three single-day tickets versus a world passport.  You may find for
    a few extra bucks, it's worth the flexibility.  But stay away from the
    Super Passports, you won't have time to use everything it gives you.
    
    >>-I hate to make hotel reservations because I'm not sure I want to do
    >>this. Will I have trouble finding a place to stay right in Epcot?
    
    I recommend making reservations.  You can always cancel but be sure to
    check on their refund policy regarding what happens to your deposit if
    you were to cancel.
    
    >>-Will they let me in Epcot to inquire about a hotel?
    
    It's not necessary to go into the EPCOT park to check out what are
    considered the "EPCOT hotels".  The Dolphin, Swan and Yacht & Beach
    Club resorts are accessible without having to go through the park. 
    Also, the Caribbean Beach Resort is nearby and cheaper, though it may
    be hard to get a room at this late date.
    
    Lastly, it's *always* worth it.  :-) :-)
    
    - Skip

We are going to be down there during the Westborough Msss. school vacation.
We're going down as soon as school finishs on the 14th and coming back on
the 23rd (Sunday).

I think you'll miss the worst of it.

Judging from the price hike for that week it is when most schools will be on 
vacation.

    Picking up on the "school vacation" question, given the choice of 
    going (1 day only) to WDW on either Sunday Mar 1 or Monday Mar 2,
    what day would you recommend for being less crowded?

    Sunday

    As to  school  vacations,  remember  that the Colleges and Universities
    seem to have  thier  own  vacation  breaks  seperate  from  the  normal
    Elementary and High School  Winter breaks in February and Spring Breaks
    in April.  Mass's school break is always  a  week  before  NH's,  other
    states I'm not sure of but they seem to  be  scatterred in February and
    April.
    
    Colleges and Universities Spring Breaks  seem  to be from February thru
    April  based  on  past  newcast  around   the  activities  around  Fort
    Lauderdale.  But then again you don't usually have to worry about these
    since they seem to want to be at the beach vs. WDW.
    
    Claude

    SUNDAY.
    
    Kathy
    

    You guys are really scaring me away from going Sun. 23rd (late
    afternoon) all day Monday 24th and half day the 25th. What makes Monday
    such a big day? I hate lines and if I am going to stay on the property
    I want to get to see a lot on Monday. My wife informs me it has been 7
    years since we were at Epcot not 3. (Where did the time go) Did someone
    a few back say N.H. school vacation is the week after Mass? (17th-21st)
    Or was that College? I may just have to stay in West Palm 3 more days
    and do nothing but sit around and talk. :-)

    John,
    
    Monday is a crowded day because most people elect to arrive in Orlando
    on a Sunday (afternoon) so that Monday is their first big day. You can
    still avoid the long lines be arriving early, leaving around mid-day,
    and returning around 4 or 5.
    
    I might suggest that Monday be used to visit either Epcot or MGM
    because they seem to have longer operating hours. Epcot may be the
    choice here because a)TMK is usually the first park people visit
    (especially with young children) and b)MGM is a close second because it
    is new to many visitors.
    
    Why not do MGM on Sunday, Epcot on Monday, and TMK on Tuesday?
    
    Mike

    Mike,
    
    That's sounds like a great plan. We are in our (real late) fifties :-)
    and will not be going over to the MK unless we have a lot of time left.
    We would like to just revisit Epcot and take in a FEW new countries
    that were not there 7 years ago and then look into MGM and Treasure
    Island. Still can not figure out what pass would be the best. So many
    choices. Is there a note in here that describes each pass and what it
    gets you into and how much each cost? I know it's in here somewhere but
    by the time I find it I will probally be down there.
    
    Thanks for any more pointers.

    John,
    
    Look through note 166....I suggest going through the last 25 replies
    since they may have the most up-to-date info.
    
    Mike

    Well things must be slow down there, I just called and made
    reservations for the 23rd of Feb. for 2 nights. It is a Garden
    view for $99 per night at the Carribbean Beach Resort. They could
    not guarantee a no smoking room. I will try to upgrade to a
    deluxe/courtyard view when I arrive. Might as well get the best for
    two quick nights. If I can't upgrade, what would be the best floor,
    section to ask for? I have 48 hours before arrival to change my
    mind. I WILL be asking more questions now that I have decided to
    go.

    John,
    
    Was that $99/night including tax? If not then methinks the rates have
    gone up. 
    
    Mike

    Mike,
    
    No. It was $108 with tax. 
    
    P.s. When can I request Martinique and other choices? Should I call
    them or wait until I get there?

    
    You can call and make your requests now.  However, they will not
    guarantee your request.  I've already requested Martinique, second
    floor, smoking room (for hubby).  They will definitely make a note of
    your preferences.
    
    Kathy_who_is_still_looking_for_a_cheap_airfare!
    

    One would hope that the earlier you call the higher up on the list you
    become when the rooms become available.
    
    $108 sounds high.
    
    Mike

    For those of you who have not seen MGM and are going soon you should
    keep in mind that if you will be in Orlando for only a few days you may
    want to keep close tabs on the weather and save the best weather day
    for MGM.
    
    During wet days they hold back quite a bit on the Indiana Jones Stunt
    Spectacular because of safety reasons. Also, "Sorcery in the Sky" could
    be a bit dampened by rainy weather.
    
    YOur best bet on rainy days would be EPCOT (with the exception of
    "Surprise in the Skies").
    
    Mike

    
    MGM is closing at 7 till end of this week (was all last week and
    the week before) so no Sorcery in the sky. 
    
    I believe starting the 10th or 11th the park starts extending the
    hours; such that it will be dark enough for Sorcery.
    
    		- Annie