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Mrferret's picture
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Howdy ya'll good Disney folks i have a favor to ask from you.
We have a friend that is going away to Florida for the first time with her family.She is headed off in Feb and is only there for a week.
What tips and advice can we give her for a fun family vacation.They are staying onsite and are 3 children/2 adults with ages ranging from 2 - 16 ,all girls.

Am sure you people will think of some things we never would.

Thanks in advance

The Ferrets

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Mrferret wrote:
Howdy ya'll good Disney folks i have a favor to ask from you.
We have a friend that is going away to Florida for the first time with her family.She is headed off in Feb and is only there for a week.
What tips and advice can we give her for a fun family vacation.They are staying onsite and are 3 children/2 adults with ages ranging from 2 - 16 ,all girls.

Am sure you people will think of some things we never would.

Thanks in advance

The Ferrets

Don't try to do it all. Don't be afraid to take a break. And with such a large age range, don't be afraid to split the group. The 16 yr old isn't going to want to sit through Tales with Belle a bunch of times, and the 2 yr old can't do a lot of the rides the 16 yr old can. Just make a plan of where and when to meet up after.

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Make a plan but don't be afraid to ditch it.

Maybe set aside some teenager time if the 2yr old is having a nap/ later in the evening.

The Colonel's picture
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Important question, do they like their kids?

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Make sure they make ADR. If it's there first time they are going to want to make sure they have some reservations made.
Make sure they know about My Disney Experience and make their Fastpasses. They are already past their 180 day mark so the most popular things may be booked already. Let them know about things like Garden Grocier to get things they may want in their room like water, munchies and such.

designedbydisney's picture
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Adrs and fast pass the big hitters. Do mGic Kingdom over two days..... Adventure frontier Liberty day one, fantasy tomorrow day two

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The Colonel wrote:
Important question, do they like their kids?

laugh

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Don't spend the whole day in the parks. Take a break in the afternoon to let the kids relax and chill out. Kids get overwhelmed in the parks and need that quite time.

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Tell her to get the Unofficial Guide to Disney and read it cover to cover. It's a big help if you've never been there. Also help her make ADRs 180 days out. Most of all avoid Hollywood and Vile at all costs.

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Mrferret's picture
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figgy wrote:
Tell her to get the Unofficial Guide to Disney and read it cover to cover. It's a big help if you've never been there. Also help her make ADRs 180 days out. Most of all avoid Hollywood and Vile at all costs.

Best you don't read my pre trip report waiting

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figgy wrote:
Tell her to get the Unofficial Guide to Disney and read it cover to cover. It's a big help if you've never been there. Also help her make ADRs 180 days out. Most of all avoid Hollywood and Vile at all costs.

Oh my! eek I love the Unofficial Guide and buy it anually for all the updates, but it is so big that is completely overwhelming. I recommend Birbaums Official Guide for first time guests. There is even a Birnbaum guide for children to read. But the 180 days out ADRs is very good advice, especially if anybody has their heart set on BOG or CRT!

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Make a plan! Get everyone involved and know what is important to them. I agree with what a lot of people already said. Arm them with info about ADR's and how to navigate the FP system (I had been there 2x before I found out you could add on 1 more to the Magic Band after using the first 3). With the younger kids taking a mid-afternoon break will be essential. There will be meltdowns for all trying to get a 2 year old to make it 12 hours in the parks.

Tell them to plan at least 2 days in the MK, one for AK, one for HS, and another 2 for Epcot. I also enjoyed taking my LO to DD for a little break time and to just get out of the parks for a bit.

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Mrferret, did your friends enjoy their first trip? any mention of second trip for them?

Mrferret's picture
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scrappy wrote:
Mrferret, did your friends enjoy their first trip? any mention of second trip for them?

They had a great time Thanks for asking Smile

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2017 Prtugal wedding adventures
2018 Alskan disney cruise ??
2019 Florida

figgy's picture
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Mrferret wrote:
figgy wrote:
Tell her to get the Unofficial Guide to Disney and read it cover to cover. It's a big help if you've never been there. Also help her make ADRs 180 days out. Most of all avoid Hollywood and Vile at all costs.

Best you don't read my pre trip report waiting

I know you like to free style (no ADRs) Why do you think I posted that! LOL silly waiting

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