re: First time Disneyworld family trip - HELP NEEDED!

what r your dates?

Unless she is kicking in some $$$ for the trip leave the mother in law home.

The 5 in a room thing will wreck your budget. Stay at an on site value resort.

Ignore those saying stay off site. With 6yo's you want to take a break/nap during the middle part of day and its tough to beat the on site transportation for this.

Lot of good and bad advice being thrown at you in this thread. You headed for more confusion.

First thing you need is a budget. Travel, room, park tickets, food, souveniers.

I'm a veteran of many many trips and the planning can be a little overwhelming when you don't know what the hell you are doing. I can't believe some of the stupid crap I hear people saying at the parks. People who are miserable, having a miserable time because they have no clue what they are doing.

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If u can get a hotel on site u can ride all rides with no lines and do whole park in a day or so

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Uh, yeah. It's called rope drop and fast passes. We can do everything before 5 PM in the middle of July.

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Even if u get for one night u can do parks for two days.

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I have no idea what you're saying. Park Hopper? That cost is unreal.

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I can get the royal pacific for under 200 a night typically. No waiting in line is huge time saver de stressor. Buy a popcorn bucket for 5 bucks u can refill forever for 99c. But the big plastic red or blue souvenir cups with built in straw, get the old ones not the new ones with the damn chips. Usually available right on site. Can refill forever for 99 cents or icees for 2 bucks. I have had mine for five years. Bring in both days. If u get the chip ones will only work for one day, which is why they are fading out old ones.

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I give up. Someone else interpret this for me.

Meh. The Internet has all of that and more. Especially with construction updates, ride closures, park hour updates, up to date menu prices... Things that are much more useful when planning a trip and looking at which parks to go to which days.

You are all over the place. I'm assuming crack.

This is best website I know of and a ton of the posters work at disney or Universal or are regular park people. LINK

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Don't get a hotel.

Look on airbnb or similar sites and get a house or condo nearby.

Much cheaper, extra space, and a kitchen to cook meals instead of spending money eating out.

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This. For many years we had a mini family reunion in Orlando during spring break week. We rented a house five minutes from the parks that slept twenty, had a screened-in swimming pool, game room, etc. for $1200-$1500 for seven days. Most of these houses are owned by Europeans who only use them a few weeks out of the year and rent them for the remainder. Smaller houses cost even less to rent. Tickets to the parks are expensive. Shop on-line for deals in advance and remember that there are lots of other parks and attractions in Orlando besides Disney so don't commit to a three-day pass that you'll feel obligated to use.

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I have one from 1994. It was really helpful at the time.

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I'm a research junkie. I had a year to prepare for our trip back in 2010, and the book didn't have shite on me. It was a nice keepsake, though.

I'm a veteran, being going since the place opened and know what an E ticket ride was.

Some good advice to enjoy the trip.

1 - It's going to cost money, just accept that. There's some good advice about means/drinks etc. that will help.

2 - You're stupid if you stay off site. People will say you can get a cheaper room, and that's true. But what do you lose by doing it? TIME, which is far more valuable. The All-Star resorts are nice, and the buses run every 20 min going to the parks. The time you save there is invaluable, not to mention you have young kids. They'll get tired, you get tired. Get up early and go, head back to the room in the middle of the day, get a nap, hit the pool, and head back in the afternoon for more.

3 - Character Breakfast, do one. I recommend Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. If you have twin girls, there's one in the Norway section I think they still do that's princess themed. It's been a long time since my girls were little so I can't speak to how that one is done these days.

4 - Don't try to do it all at once. Relax, you'll enjoy it a lot more. Use the apps, fastpass. You'll be glad you did.

5 - I'm sure the guides are great. Best advice I can give you really though, is look online at the park maps. Get an idea how you want to move through the park. Where the restaurants you might want to eat at are, restrooms, etc. And of course what rides you want to make sure you don't miss.

6 - On the Kali River ride in Animal Kingdown...wear a swimsuit and a shirt/top that dries pretty easy. Put your shoes/socks in the center. You'll hate yourself if you don't. Somebody on that ride isn't just going to get wet...they're gonna get soaked. It might be you. It's usually me