Visiting the Mouse
It had been at least five years since the last trip to Orlando and Disney and since 1987 when it was by car. It takes a really long time to drive almost 500 miles. After an exciting day-long drive south, which included a break-down, being towed 80 miles, and getting a rental car, we were finally at the doorsteps of Disney.
Not staying on Disney property, but close by, we were able to enjoy complimentary drop off service at the different Disney parks. You just have to remember where and when the charter bus will meet you later that day. If you miss the last bus, its a long dark walk back to the hotel. Luckily that wasn't an adventure we had to endure and we never missed that last bus.
In case you haven't visited Disney recently, you might be surprised at the cost of admission tickets. The tickets were much higher-priced than when we last were there. This leads to an inevitable question: Is there any way you can get those tickets cheaper? After a little research, I wouldn't recommend trying to buy any unused tickets from someone not associated with Disney. Although eBay lists lots of sellers for these tickets, don't get trapped into buying a ticket that has already been partially used -- a five day admission ticket with four days left on it -- for example. The reason? Biometrics. That means when you first use the ticket upon entering the park, you scan a fingerprint into the turnstile. The next time that ticket is used, if your fingerprint doesn't match, then you don't get in. Thats right.... CSI at Disney! Even if the DA's say those things aren't real on TV, it really works on those tickets. My best advice on tickets is to check with your hotel and see if you can get a break on tickets from them, you might get lucky, otherwise expect to pay $100+ each.
There were a few changes in the parks that I noticed, but its basically the same, with a few new rides/exhibits to see. I got to see Magic Kingdom, Epcot and MGM over a two-day period. The lines weren't too bad, but it wasn't a weekend or a holiday, so there weren't unusually large crowds in the parks. I did notice that the area around the park has grown substantially. I may have just noticed it more, since I drove into town on this trip for the first time in almost 20 years. All the retail shopping stores and eateries can be found in the area. Yes, there's even a Hooters nearby, but we didn't have time to visit.
The usual advice would apply for anyone going to visit. Take comfortable shoes for all the walking. Avoid the family-congested areas in Magic Kingdom near the castle, unless you have little ones that want to see "Its a Small World." Beware the concession prices for food and drinks in the park. Always get one of the park maps when you enter any of the parks--if nothing else, it will show you the location of the restrooms and water fountains. Remember there is more in the parks than you can see in two or three days. Don't try and see everything - pace yourself! The "Park-Hopper" is a pricey option on the tickets, but it allows you to visit more than one park in a single day. If you get this option, you could hit one park in the morning, then go back to the hotel at mid-day for a break, and return to a different park in the late afternoon and stay for the fireworks display.
I think for the next visit, I'll check into renting a nearby house and see if I can include a parking pass with a multiple visit option to allow returning later in the day. After even a couple of days, a hotel room gets a little crowded.
