re: Give me your Disney Pro Tips

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you have a vehicle, I'd say drive to the parks. Get to parks early and parking won't be an issue. Life is so much better when you don't have to deal with the buses in my opinion.

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We will have our car with us as of now... unless we get cheap airfare. So the parking isn’t to bad at the parks?

The bus from Pop to the parks are not really that big of a problem. Its leaving the park after Happily Ever After (Firework Show @ Magic Kingdom) that the bus for the value resorts suck. If you drove to MK I am not sure how much time it takes to get back to your car. Maybe it's a little bit faster, but I doubt its worth dealing with driving around WDW these days with all the construction going on.

We get a snack before the fireworks start and when the show is over we take our time leaving and people watch. You can also check out the gift shops on the way out on main street. The last thing you could wait to see is "The Kiss Goodnight". It's not a huge deal, but if your killing time in the park instead of waiting at the bus line it's something most people don't stick around for. Happens about 30 minutes after park closes.

We drive to Lake City for the night then drive the last 2 hours and hit the parks by 11am. We drive back in 1 day.

We always stay at the Beach Club. It has the best resort pool in WDW. We get a room near the international gateway for Epcot and eat in Epcot each night.

We do 3 fast passes in the morning, go back to the Beach Club to hangout at pool for a few hours, then set a fast pass in Epcot or Hollywood Studios for the evening.

We only do rides with fast passes.

You can bring kids in almost every bar. The bars serve the same food as the nearby tableservice if you ask.

If your kid wants to do Jedi training be at Hollywood Studios an hour before opening.

We have been a bunch of times at Thanksgiving. The crowds build and it is very crowded on Tuesday and Wednesday. I would do Magic Kingdom Saturday, Animal Kingdom/Magic Kingdom Sunday, Hollywood Studios/Epcot Monday, and Epcot Tuesday. The Holiday Festival in Epcot Starts Sunday before Thaksgiving and has extra food booths, extra concerts, and Santas from around the world.

We don't try to do everything. We enjoy the immersive experience.

We stay offsite so always drive our own car. Parking is $20 a day but you can come and go to all parks all you want after that. If you get there early enough nobody is even there to take your money. We had an early breakfast and got there around 7:30 to take pictures before it got crowded and the parking people were just getting there.

All parks are easy to park at. Most you can just walk to the entrance. Some you may have to take the tram if your lot is far away. MK you park and then get on the monorail or ferry to the entrance. Leaving isn't bad as long as you are ready to leave when it closes or wait till crowds leave. Driving around the propert is easy and never seems to have much traffic except in a construction zone. I'd much rather my car than a Disney bus. But we have a giant double stroller, and ice chest and change of clothes in the back. If you stay at Contemporary or Polynesian then the monorail is great. But if you're taking the bus it isn't as reliable as your own car. Ever.

I agree Beach Club has the best pool. Just out of curiosity, why do you only go on rides with FP+? I know for some rides it's almost a must, but there are plenty of other rides that you really dont need a FP+ for. Do you just find those rides not worth it even if its walk on?

I don't understand why you would pay all that money and then only go on rides you have a fastpass for. Doesn't make sense.

You do you. I haven't seen a show yet that I wanted to see again.

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You do you. I haven't seen a show yet that I wanted to see again.

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Not the big stage productions, but all of the small interactive entertainment that the people trying to do everything rushes past. -main street citizens, Jack sparrow, the marching band, British Revolution, the Canada bandstand, the different accapella groups, the Africa drums in AK, all of the little animal demonstrations in AK, just to name a few. They will all interact with you and take pictures with your kids.

As far as the price, we spend about $1000 A day for a family of four for Beach Club, park hopper plus tickets, food, souvenirs for the kids, and about 4-6 adult beverages a day between my wife and I. It costs $300-400 to get there and back driving including hotel on the way down. This cost is about the same as any other vacation we have taken in the last few years.

Last summer went to San Antonio and stayed at the Hill Country resort. We went to Six Flags one day. It averaged out to about $1000 per day. We have been to the Caribbean and it worked out to $1500 per day. A decent condo for the week on the gulf coast is $4000 after all the fees.

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And to throw a cherry on top you have to pay to park and the buses are free.

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If you are staying on property, you get free "standard" parking. I would still take the bus for the other reasons mentioned in llfshoals post.

As far as strollers go, do not rent the ones from Disney. You can rent from a third party for next to nothing if you are tight on space in your car. Contact your travel agent for this info. Your TA will be able to provide you with a quote, and they should be happy to because it will give them a little extra commission. The third party stroller company will drop of your stroller at you resort on the day your TA tells them to and will pick it up from your resort as well. It's a very convenient process.

Disney has definitely tried to make all the parks pretty well rounded for all ages and both sexes. On a 4 day trip especially the first time I can't see skipping any park to see another twice.

I really think all the pressure on Magic Kingdown has forced Disney to make the others better for kids and families.