Which parks?

Save Magic Kingdom for last if you can; the other parks won't seem quite as magical to the kids. Or since you have a park hopper, visit two parks each day and do Magic Kingdom more than once.

Since you only have four-day passes for a week-long trip, save the water parks for days you don't hit the major parks. And don't forget to check out Disney Quest at Downtown Disney. That counts as a water park admission.

Check out one of the unofficial Disney planning sites (http://touringplans.com/ is the one I use) to check the estimated crowd levels for your stay and plan accordingly. Also check the restaurant reviews and make advance dining reservations (ADRs) for any table service restaurants you want to experience. Many Disney restaurants have little or no last-minute walk-up availability.

Can't help with this question since I don't understand what you're asking: "Is there curtains where going to the park versus waterpark makes a diff?"

And welcome to the best WDW site ever.

Welcome Love777. You will not get everything done, especially with only doing 4 days, so don't even try. First of all when are you going, that makes the biggest difference. Never been to Disney Land, but no they are not exactly the same.

The parkhopper allows you to go into as many park as you want in a single day, but it takes time to get to each and they are all large parks. We go with 7 day Parkhoppers usually and never get it all done, you just can't do it. Check out the Disney World site, check out the rides and make a list of what you want to do the most and start there.

We are here now and it is Hot hot hot, but we are still having a ball!

Since you're going next next week, don't bother paying for the touringplans site. Look for a private message from me, I'll fill you in on what the crowds will look like next week.

Food at WDW ain't cheap, so yes, eating offsite at someplace like Subway will save some bucks.

Ponchos aren't absolutely essential, but you're likely to hit at least a pop-up shower from time to time, so if you don't want to get wet it's probably good to bring a supply of cheap disposable rain ponchos along.

This same thing our parents had. With park hoppers, this is my plan:

Day 1 - Hollywood Studios in the morning then to a Water Park
Day 2 - Epcot all-day
Day 3 - Animal Kingdom, then to a water park
Day 4 - Magic Kingdom all day

Good luck to you and yours!

I don't think water park needs a whole day. Absolutely not. I'd be going to rope drop, or at least early, to a park. Leave around noon-ish. Go to resort. Take 1-2 break. Then Water park for 4-5 hours. That's really all you need. And I did have Magic Kingdom for a full day.

Hi!! Very jealous that you're going next week. I typically allot one day per park, including water park and pool day, but I would suggest keeping it flexible. Take a look at the Disney website with your kids - are they interested in all 4 parks?? Maybe there's one that is just kind of "eh", so if less time is scheduled for that park (or it gets skipped altogether) everyone will still be happy!

Also, I would suggest hitting subway and bringing it with you - leaving the park to get food is going to take some time (Disney is HUGE just to get on and off the "world compound"). Food is expensive, but think also about the time it takes to leave and come back. Since you're kids aren't little and won't need a nap, you may want to stay in the parks all day. Eat breakfast before you get to the park!

I would suggest having your family review what they are the most excited about. If you gear your trip around that then you win. Our house hold is low on the thrill rides so Hollywood studios is a short visit and then we head to epcot to take in some countries. We do the same thing with animal kingdom. When we travel with the extended family I ask everyone to write down 3 things they really want to do and we do it as a group. It helps to let everyone including the little ones be a part.

I don't think the water parks require a full day...BUT if you only have a four-day park hopper and you're going to be there a full week, there's no reason to cut your time in the four major parks to visit the water parks. Do them on days when you aren't going to the big parks.

Depending on appetites, Subway can get pricey, in my opinion (and we have one at work, so let's just say I've done my research). You might want to really think about what all you'd order ($5 foot longs vs other varieties plus chips and maybe a drink). If you're going to be spending $8 or so a person, is it more economical than eating in the parks and maybe ordering a kids meal or sharing? Portions can be pretty big at Disney (kudos, most places charge you an arm and a leg and you get an amuse bouche size serving!). Some places even serve adult size portions in the kids meal, so you could cut some costs that way. And then you don't have to worry about hauling them around all day and more importantly keeping it cool (hello food borne illness!). Just my thoughts - but I caveat it with I am single with no children. I realize paying for 1 is WAY different than paying for a family. Just wanted to give you a different perspective.

In all honesty, if you're dedicated to bringing your lunches, I'd suggest hitting a Publix (grocery store) and buying your lunch items, since CrazyCatPerson's research in another post indicated your resort has a kitchenette. There's a good thread in here somewhere about local grocery stores (to include Walmart, I believe) where you could pick up some essentials. In the end it will be cheaper and will provide more options to you. Bring some zip lock bags, make your own sammies, fruit, and chips, and off you go!! Get some stuff to make breakfast in your room or even throw some granola bars, peanut butter, etc into your luggage (checked luggage, PB won't get past TSA). Now I do think breakfast in the parks can be kind of pricey. Definitely tasty, but you can save some $$ buy eating some breakfast snacks you bring yourself!.

As JMUDukz said above, there are lots of grocery options. Buy what you need to make sandwiches, buy some sides (applesauce, chips, goldfish, etc.) and bring it in the park. Granola bars and poptarts are always good for breakfast on the go. Like I said, lots otf grocery options, and it's going to be much easier and more affordable than Subway. Dukz explained it all well.

How do the park hopper + water parks work? I thought you had to do the water parks within the time limit of the the pass. Do you get the four days in the parks then extra days for water parks?

If your kids haven't been before - I recommend having them review "Walt Disney World For Kids By Kids". It's a good way to get an idea of what the rides are like so they can zero in on what they want to go on. It's a small book with lots of pics but very good tips.

I agree with MrHub - you can't do it all in 4 days. Don't stress out trying to pack everything in - try to relax and enjoy whatever you manage to see/do.

Our park hopper/water park passes have always been no-expiration, so our experience may not apply. We're still going to water parks and Disney Quest on "water parks and more" passes with no more major park days. It's possible, though, that once you've used your last major park day, your passes are useless even if you haven't been to the water parks four times yet.

To get the most accurate info, perhaps this is something Disney needs to address. But my assumption would be that at worst, as long as you have one more major park day on your pass, you can go to the water parks on a day when you aren't going to a major park. So saving that last major park day for the last day of the trip and doing the water parks in the middle of the trip might work.

And Love777, you are correct - your park hoppers enable you to visit more than one major park in the same day, but if you go to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon on the same day, that counts as TWO minor park visits.

I checked the WDW Moms Panel to see if they've addressed the water parks issue. According to them, you have 14 days from the first use of your passes to use all the park visits - so even if you've used all four major park visits, you have what remains of the 14 days to use the water park visits. Here's the info from the Moms Panel:

"If you purchase a 5 day Magic Your Way Ticket with the Park Hopper and the Water Parks, Fun, and More Options, then you will have 5 park days (in Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom) and 5 Water Parks, Fun, and More Options (which you can use for Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Disney Quest, or ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex). You Magic Your Way Tickets will be good for 14 days from when you first use them (if you have not purchased the No Expiration Option for your Magic Your Way Tickets) so you could use the first five days of your vacation in the theme parks and then use your Water Parks, Fun, and More Options. You also could use a Water Park, Fun, and More Option and a theme park ticket in the same day or you could use multiple Water Parks, Fun, and More Options in the same day like going to Blizzard Beach in the morning and Disney Quest in the evening. It is really up to you how you use your Magic Your Way Tickets and Water Parks, Fun, and More Options."

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?sort=dateasked&page=3&qid=225803&pid=120&cid=124

I'm not sure what your families eating habits are or what your financial situation is, but if at all possible I would try to eat at the parks or bring food in the parks...with only having such a short time to do so much, I would not want to lose time by driving off site for food or with running back and forth to the car/parking lot. As others have said, a lot of the food is a large amount and its possible to split plates. We usually can do just fine for breakfast with a cup of coffee or a juice and a roll. Other places offer "toppings" bar where you can add your own burger toppings or buy the rib/chicken combo plate and split the meats. As well as figuring out the rides ahead of time, it would be worth looking at the quick service dining plans and the food options at various parks, perhaps making notes on prices and food at certain spots so when you get to the world you already know where you are heading for lunch or dinner. Yes, it's a lot of pre planning but in the end it sure is worth it! Check out www.disneyfoodblog.com for menus and prices -

I agree with the suggestions that you eat in the parks, even if that means bringing food in with you. It really will take a good couple of hours (or more) to leave the parks, drive to an offsite restaurant, and then head back in.

However...you're going to WDW when the parks are open late and the weather will be hot. So, if you were already planning on going back to your resort for afternoon pool/rest breaks to escape the hottest, most crowded time of the day, that could also be your lunch break. Stock up on groceries, have your main meal of the day during the afternoon break, and then bring sandwiches back to the parks in the evening.

Also, if you're park hopping, it would take less time away from the parks to swing by an off-site restaurant on your way from park A to park B since you're going to be in the car driving anyway. Don't get me wrong, it will take longer than going straight from one park to the next and eating onsite, but combining the park hopping and the eating would be a more efficient use of time in the car.

I actually suggest going to Magic Kingdom first, even if just for a little while. For first timers, it's the most magical thing for the first place you go be the Magic Kingdom!! I'd break it up with Magic Kingdom one day, Epcot one day, and Animal Kingdom/Hollywood Studios another. For your last park day, you can go back to whichever were your favorites!

And yes, I wouldn't really suggest going out of the parks to eat. It just takes up so much time. I'd rather pay a little more (and save on gas!) for the convenience. Though there is a McDonald's right across from the Boardwalk (so, between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, basically!) that's a little cheaper than anywhere else on site (though still more expensive than my local Mickey D's). We went there the night of the Super Bowl and were the only people in there. It was so nice and relaxing.

Unfortunately I don't think you can go to the water parks until you go to a theme park. Since you only have four days at the theme parks, you need to allow full days there. That being the case, get checked in to your hotel, take a swim, relax, get supplies from a grocery store (at least for snacks if not breakfasts or lunches) and do whatever you would like on your arrival day, Tuesday. And go to bed as early as you possibly can! I know you'll be excited, but Disney requires a lot of energy.

General tip for the entire trip--if you're able to convince yourself and your family about this, plan on arriving at the theme parks around 30 minutes before the scheduled opening. The vast majority of people do not do this, so you'll probably be able to do as much in your first three hours as the late-comers will in five or six hours. I understand this is a hard sell for many; if it's possible for you and your family, do it. And if it's not, simply try to get there as early as humanly possible every day.

General tip number two for the entire trip--make sure you completely understand FastPass and use it to the max. You can save hours in line every day with this wonderful system.