[jafsunshine]

We are finally starting to plan our trip to Disney World. Does anyone have any idea where I can find a height requirement for the rides at Disney. I have 4 kids and all are of different ages so I need to figure out who can do what. I tried looking on their site but am not having much luck.

Also if anyone has any money saving tips I am all ears!

[momofsarah]

Go to wdwinfo.com They have wonderful, wonderful tidbits for the parks and there is a spot Disney World Information - Disney's Height Requirements that you enter your childs size and it will tell you what rides they can ride.

As for saving tips, bring your own water and snacks if you can carry them in a backpack. Water is 3 or 4 dollars a bottle!

[jojogrub]

OOOhhhh, I was just telling my dh a few weeks ago that Disney is offering 3 free nights when you pay for 4 or vice versa if you stay at one of their resorts!! I think you have to stay certain dates, but wow what a deal!! I think it includes tickets too!! I've also had a lot of coworkers and friends tell me to do the meal plan. They say it may look like it costs a lot, but in the end....awesome food and awesome deal. HTH! Have a great time!! You must must must do Sea World while you're there! It is absolutely fabulous!!

[herold314]

Just to let you guys know if you or your dh is a veteran go to Welcome to Veterans Holidays - Military Discount Cruise you can get a timeshare for 7 days for $329 a week. We just got a 3 bedroom with full kitchen and washer and dryer through my grandpa 17 min from disney for that price. Just thought I'd let you guys check it out.

[FirealSwords]

Originally Posted by jafsunshine

Also if anyone has any money saving tips I am all ears!

All ears! Disney! How cute!

There's a couple links I found in a parenting mag last month. Maybe they will help you out a little:

Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Vacation Information Guide - WDW Planning Guide - Walt Disney World

Orlando Travel & Visitors Bureau - Orlando Florida Vacation - OrlandoInfo.com <---- under Discounts & Promos, they have a Magicard you can sign up for that supposedly saves you a bunch of money, and it's free for the asking.

MouseSavers.com - Disney Discount Source - Disney World Discounts, Disneyland Discounts, Disney Cruise Discounts

[jafsunshine]

Isn't it awful to stay off Disney property because of having to pay to park and what not? That is our down fall is for us we have 6 people in our family so we can't do a budget room because of the occupancy rules so we have to get a suite. So expensive to do that. Luckily we have a Disney credi card and earned enough points to cover our tickets completely.

[dmyersquin]

I like the website Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Vacation Information Guide - WDW Planning Guide - Walt Disney World .

[BStroh]

DH and I went on our honeymoon 4 years ago and stayed off site. We got our hotel for around $200-250 for the week. It was dirt cheap, a Ramada, so it wasn't a dive or anything. The decor was outdated and you could tell the place needed a remodel, but it was clean! They had a free shuttle everyday to the parks so it was great for us!
Take water bottles and refill them during your visit. Stock up on the lemonade/ice tea/ little water bottle packets and when you are in the mood for something else other than water, that should do the trick.
I've got the bug to go again! I would like to talk DH and now DS (2 years!) into going next fall, when DS is 3.

[jafsunshine]

That is the decision I'm trying to make now is to stay on or off. We have a disney card so if I stay on property I will have to pay OOP $200 but if we stay off property then I get tickets and room free and have $600 left over. Sounds like an easy hcoice right. It's not because of shuttling to the parks. The Holiday Inn which is where we would stay shuttles in the morning and then at night. So we would have to shuttle us and our 4 kids plus a stroller. I just have heard it's a pain in the butt to do it. But we would have alot of left over money to play with in the park if we went that route. I just don't want to be a cheap skate and ruin our fun because of it.

[luv2sav]

We have gone 4 or 5 times and always stay off site. We use my SIL timeshare, excess inventory, so the condos are always dirt cheap. We always go with my inlaws, and they always pay for the tickets. We cover the food and the rooms, so it works out real well for all of us. We have breakfast before we go and bring sandwiches packed in a small collapsable cooler for lunch and also bring bottles of water and juice boxes(food and drinks are really expensive in the park!) Then we eat dinner back in the condo at night. We do try and cut costs, but we eat out once or twice during the week, and if there is special treats in the park, we dont feel bad about splurging because we are so frugal elsewhere. Hubby just HAS to get the fish n chips in England at the World Showcase in Epcot and I love the desserts in France! Kiddos love the ice pops!

We have never shuttled before, not sure if it a pain or not. Sounds like it would be like taking a taxi, only free, right? Do they only pick up at night, or do they have various shuttle times during the day? That would be my only concern, not hvaing a way to get back to the room. It would be nice to not have to pay to park, that part really bugs me.

[jafsunshine]

They shuttle at 7/10 in the morning or at 6/9 at night. That is the part that wories me with taking 4 kids is being stuck there at the parks. But I also want to be able to buy them things at the park that they would want and not feel guilty about it. if we staid on site we woudln't be able to do that.

If you don't mind me asking how much is it to pay to park and is it hard to get into the park from the parking lots?

[luv2sav]

If I remember correctly, it costs $10 to park. It could have gone up though, that was last year. The parking lots are very large. If you have to park way in the back, you can take the Disney shuttles from your spot to the park entrance, not too bad there. My FIL is handicapped, bad knee, and cant walk very far, so we park in the handicapp section.

I wouldn't worry too much about not having a vehicle. It is a full day at Disney. A few hours can fly by SO FAST! We went the second time when my boys were 2 and 4, in strollers, and they napped in their strollers when they got tired. By the time you are worn out and ready to go back to the room, your day is over.

[jafsunshine]

Thank you so much you are relieving my anxiety about all of this. We are traveling alone iwth a 8,5,3 and 3 month old. So as you can imagine I"m stressed already about it. I thought it was more to pay to park so that is nice to know as well.

We are bringing a stroller for the baby you think our 3 year old would need one or if he needs one during the day can we rent one or are they all sold out?

[luv2sav]

I would double check the parking fee, just seems like everything is going up these days. It is ALOT of walking, so I would bring a stroller for the three year old as well. We brought umbrella strollers, easier to travel with! I believe you can rent strollers, but they do sell out, especially at Magic Kingdom.hth's :-)

[shakin72]

also they are given free admission if you go on your birthday, but it has to be on your birthday there is a link on there website to sign up. My twins are going to be 5 in april so we're taking them. Both for free just need to pay for me and dh.

[jafsunshine]

That's pretty cool. My 2 boys were born in May but I"m thinking it will be to warm by then. The girls are defiantley out with going on their birthday.