Travel With Rick

A fellow Blogger, big on Disney!

Park maps

excellent site here - everything from rope drop maps to parade routes and best spots from which to view fireworks!

Disney Transportation

here

Park hours (under construction)

Busch Gardens
11-16th Aug 9:00 - 21:00
17-22nd Aug 9:00 - 19:30
23rd Aug 9:00 - 19:00
24th Aug -> 9:30 - 18:00

Seaworld
11-16th Aug .9:00 - 22:00
17-21 Aug 09:00 - 21:00
22-23 Aug 09:00 - 22:00
24th Aug -> 09:00 - 21:00

this info from here

Celebration

website


These look fun!

A peaceful spot right on the doorstep (Lake Louisa State Park)

On the US 27




Swimming is offered....although maybe not!

Westridge

Is we see this
View Larger Map we're on the right track!

WDW Merchandise

"We go to the Super Walmart at mark 15 on Irlo Bronson, when you go in they have a big section on WDW. The stuff is the same as at WDW but for 1/2 the price. The tags even say WDW on them too. The first year we headed down someone pointed this out to me and I couldn't believe it until I went" from disboards.com

Park hours

not available for August yet but watch this space!

Dining out

by cuisine and area
Typical Golden Corral prices (Feb 09) from here on thedibb.co.uk
Golden Coral, Ponderosa should be similar.

Buffet Prices

Breakfast (8AM-11AM)
Adult $6.49 includes beverage
Child $4.99 includes beverage
Senior $5.99 includes beverage

Lunch (11 AM-4 PM)
Adult $6.99 beverage $1.79
Child $4.99 beverage $1.79
Senior $6.49 includes beverage

Dinner(4 PM -10 PM)
Adult $10.99 beverage $1.79
Child $4.99 beverage $1.79
Senior $10.99 includes beverage

Applebees on Ambersweet Way, menu here

Useful post on the Dibb website shows we won't starve!
"Berry Town Centre is a couple of minutes away with a Publix.

Chinese takeaway Bamboo WOK or Applebees to sit in.

There is also a Mia pizza and Spice of Life Indian takeaway in the complex next to Publix.
We didn't think too much of the Indian but others seem to have enjoyed it.

I think there is a fish and chips as well at BTC if you're homesick already.

Further up just passed the 192 on the US27 you'll find MacDonalds; Burger King; Taco Bells; Long John Silvers; KFC; Randys; Irish Pub (at the entrance of High Grove); Chilis (Near Walmart)

In town centre at Cagan Crossing you'll find Sabor Tropical Restaurant; Rolling Dough Bake Shop; Gators Dockside Pub; Simbas Swees (Ice Cream Parlour); Pepperoni Pizza Place, China 2 (home Delivery); Ricky Ritos (soon I think)

You are also within 10/15 mins of the various eating placea around Championsgate
Chillis, Tuscana grill bar, an Italian, a MacDs and China1.

Crackerbarrel just south of the I4, Mannys chop house a bit further south on the US27. "

Esta

Online forms to complete (but I have to renew my passport first 'cos it runs out in June), all about it here

Fast Passes

Magic Kingdom’s Fastpass Attractions

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear
Jungle Cruise
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Peter Pan’s Magic Flight
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Winnie the Pooh

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Fastpass Attractions

Indiana Jones
Rock N Roller Coaster
Star Tours
Tower of Terror
Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Toy Story Mania

Epcot’s Fastpass Attractions

Soarin’
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Test Track
Living with the Land
The Maelstrom
Mission: SPACE

Animal Kingdom’s Fastpass Attractions

Dinosaur
Expedition Everest
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
Primeval Whirl

Handy thread on when to get the FPs etc

Motion sickness? Rides to avoid!

Here

Groceries

Publix's

The 192

www.kissimmee-us192.com
handy 'cos it shows stores and restaurants that could be useful on arrival.

How to get from Sanford to Orlando...with photos!

http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/british/airport_routes.htm

Outback Steakhouse and Thomas Cook Magazine

Outback Steakhouse
Highly recommended by a friend.

http://www.thomascookmagazine.com/category/onboard/

Random hints and tips from folk on the thedibb.co.uk

"Get a cheap white styrofoam cooler from wallmart for about $2. Every morning put a couple of inches of ice in it. Put your drinks.... water bottles, cokes, juice.... in the cooler. Put it in your boot.

In the middle of Summer, the ice will still keep all drinks inside and anything else cool ALL DAY! Unbelievably, there's still ice in there when you empty it at night!

We've done this countless times. In the car parks, when you turn your air con on, but it's still too hot to get inside, it's wonderful to drink ice cold drinks while you wait for the car to cool."

"Take a photo of the row your car is parked in i.e. 'Donald 23'.
This way you will always find your car."

"Dont go mad on special going out clothes, during the day all we wore were shorts and tshirts, and a long sleeve top for the evenings"

"If your doing buffets such as golden corral go at about 3.30pm. Not only is it quieter but there will be more variety as they are putting out all the food for the evening menu which starts at 4pm each day. That way you pay the lunch price which is $2 less but get the evening menu."

"Take sealable plastic bags, for phones, ipods, wallets for water rides"

"photocopy all park tickets in case they get lost!"

"When approaching the Universal Studios car parks always take the left hand lane. When the lanes coming from different directions merge always move over to the left again. This lane always moves faster. When you enter the car park itself and are going up the ramps most people stay to the right but there ARE two lanes so again take the left one and you'll go past everyone else."

All from this thread.

Itinerary

First draft!
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/planner.php?a=edit&p=1334

Trip Reports

What others get up to on their Orlando visit...
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=252598

Places and Reviews. So much to see, so little time!

It's just dawned on me, we have more to see than there is time for!
We booked Thomas Cook's Do It All Plus Pass. This gives us:
7 days for:
Magic Kingdom (Reviews)
Epcot (Reviews)
HollyWood Studios (Reviews)
Animal Kindgom (Reviews)

7 admissions to:
Blizzard Beach (Reviews)
Typhoon Lagoon (Reviews)
Pleasure Island (Reviews and changes)
Disney Quest (Reviews)
Wide World of Sports Complex (Reviews)

and 14 admissions to:
Universal Studios (Reviews)
Wet 'n' Wild (Reviews)
Seaworld (Reviews)
Islands of Adventure (Reviews)
City Walk (Reviews)
Busch Gardens (Reviews)
Aquatica (Reviews)

hmm...shame there's not 48 hours in a day!

Fast Passes

How to use 'em

In addition to the parks there's all this to do/see....!

Downtown Disney


State Parks

Disney Quest

Other costs in the parks

Had a quick look. Looks like it's about $8 each for burger and fries.
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/menus.html#mk

Parking: $12 per park?

Maps

Park maps are here.

Every map you can think of here!

Shop til you drop!

Malls and Outlets

The Loop (includes eateries)

Screeeam!

Orlando video library.
I now know which rides I won't be attempting...most of them seem to be at Busch Gardens!

Videos of rides

This might come in handy when I need to tell the kids which ones I am not going on :-)

Forums and blogs

A few forums that are useful for finding out this 'n' that...


http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/index.php

www.orlandocrazy.com

www.frommers.com/community

www.thedibb.co.uk/forums

allears.net



And a collection of blogs...