Disney Trip

[dancerjodi]

We'll be going to Disney in mid-May (for the first time ever) for a Star Wars Weekend. We're staying at the Port Orleans Hotel and will be there for a long weekend to explore with friends. A couple of NEGers are going, and chose that place because the Sandweasel and his fiance were given the weekend there as a holiday gift. Thus, our hotel decision was made.

I really wanted to get back to NOLA this year with the Tiggerette and Developer for Mardi Gras. Given this trip and one to CA for a day at Skywalker Ranch in "the spring" (time TBD) and DragonCon in the fall, we figured doing NOLA in February would be tough. So, we'll kind of get there via our Disney hotel. Or something.

I need to buy a 3 day park hopper pass, where do you folks usually get yours? AAA sells 5 day ones at a discount, but that's overkill. There are a bunch of sites that pop up via google as selling the 3 day passes, but I'm not sure who is reputable (I know they sell them from the Disney site too, but I figure I can find somewhere cheaper). I saw some on Ebay, but if I can just buy one for a travel site for similar price I'd prefer to do that.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, you're going to what ranch?

[electricsoup.livejournal.com]

http://www.allearsnet.com/ <- they've got a HUGE amount of information on disney :)

i'm a big fan of the passporter too - i usually hate travel books, but this one really has a lot of great information and makes it easy to keep track of budget, etc. www.mousesavers.com is also a good site :)

have a GREAT time! :)

[thenetimp.livejournal.com]

Skywalker Ranch. Ie home of Lucas Films. Wish I was going... :-(

[arianasilver.livejournal.com]

Well from what I understand 5 day passes don't have to be used at once. So if you did buy a 5-day pass and only used three days, you could save the other two for a vacation next year. You can buy passes from the Disney Store in any mall as well. I'd be a tiny bit leary buying park-hoppers online from a pop-up site. They may be used up, and the only way you'd know is after trying to get into the gate of the park.

[andrewfeland.livejournal.com]

We just went last June, and had a blast. Quote of the trip: Andrew (4 yrs old), after getting out of Star Tours, was offered another chance to ride.

"No, thank you. I did not appreciate being shot at."

You may find that the five day ticket is only a couple bucks more than the three-day. We tried to get five-day tickets for our six-day trip to cut costs; total cost savings getting a 5-day instead of a 7 day pass ended up being around $8 total for the five of us--yeah, not even $2 each.

Port Orleans is nice; we were in Coronado Springs, which is the same level. Disney staff really go waaaaay out of their way to make sure you have a good time, though it gets a bit Big-Brothery sometimes. Food tends to be a bit on the expensive side, but not movie-theater expensive or (in my experience) even on the level of a state fair. We tried a couple of different options--I recommend the German buffet in Epcot, and the pastries in the Norwegian bakery are outstanding. The Maelstrom ride is definitely good for a laugh--in two short minutes you go from trolls to oil, and then you're finished.

So far as price goes, I'd use the Disney site as a price check and go from there. We ended up getting a package deal from their site that was comparable to anything we found elsewhere.

Have fun!

[thenetimp.livejournal.com]

Just remember when you are at Disney, there are 2 Port Orleans Hotels. "Riverside" and "The French Quarter". They are on the same bus too and from the parks. I was totally confused because when I went down I was staying at Riverside, and had no idea there was "The French Quarter". Just something to be warey of when you get down there.

Disney fun

[trixie.livejournal.com]

I had the best time in Epcot as opposed to the ride/disneyworld sections. Each country is really fun to explore, and the fireworks at night were incredibly fun.
Not sure what is up for travel plans for us. I just got an invite from my 8X year old uncle requesting my family to be present for his wedding (in N.carolina). Last few times we were down there were for funerals... (grandma, great aunt, another great aunt) it would be nice to visit, and perhaps asked to sing, at something other than a funeral.
As to the city, just like waltham couldn't be anyplace else than waltham- i'm sure you'll appreciate the nicer differences disney makes on the Big Easy. I am grateful you'll have that experience to draw from.
Honestly, not sure how much fun M.G. would be this year anyway- kinda feels bittersweet.

Let me know if you need help pet sitting. I can clean cages, n'stuff.

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm quite familiar. I just wanted to make sure I was reading correctly.

[lensman.livejournal.com]

That, and I think they are also getting a tour of the new Presideo studio area too...

New Orleans

[dali-muse.livejournal.com]

Have you thought about going to C12 this year in New Orleans. You'd get in your trip. plus benefit their local goth community.

Although we have a difficult time benefiting our own goth community sometimes. LOL

Re: New Orleans

[dancer.livejournal.com]

I had thought of going to C12, but is it in April again? That time of the year is tough with us going to CA in March and FL in May (April is kind of right out) . . .

[lensman.livejournal.com]

Yeah there is a lot down there to see. I'm also kinda guessing that tk7602 would like the StarWars ride over at the Disney/MGM studio's park. (Somehwere I have a picture of me standing under the almost life sized AT-AT :-) Would be cool if you got one of the two of you in costume there, but I'm not sure how mouse-ville takes to it's guests walking around in costume.)

As Krista said EPCOT is another great place to wander, and Magic Kingdom is geared a bit more for kids, but there are a few hidden gems in there as well. Personally I like the highspeed rides(Thunder/Space/Splash Mountains, IndySpeedway) and the slow interesting rides (Carosel of Progress, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean)....

Other than Circ de Sole I didn't see to much of downtown disney, and what I did see I wasn't that much of a fan of...(kinda seemed a little like an over priced shopping mall, but they had some interesting stuff.) I think there is supposed to some good nightlife in that area. I don't remeber why but I didn't have that much time there to see it.

Disney

[dancer.livejournal.com]

During the Star Wars weekends the 501st has typically participated in events at the park (marching in the SW parade, getting the cool kid 'cut in line' passes). I'm not sure if we'll bring armor though, because we may not have a ton of room for luggage. We're flying into Jacksonville and driving 3 hours to Disney with a friend (5 people and costumes for 4 of them plus normal luggage may just not fit in the car).

The 501st is actually the only costumed group that's been allowed into the Disney parks in Disney history (aside from Disney employees). Kind of neat! :)

[denonymous.livejournal.com]

Life is so hard for them.

Re: Disney

[(Anonymous)]

given the time of year, May in Florida may not be the best time to be in armour anyway. Slave leia would be nice and cool and easy to pack... but somehow can't see slave Leia and Goofy in the same theme park. ;)
hehe. ;) Ah choices!!! >;)

[thenetimp.livejournal.com]

OK just making sure... :-p

Re: Disney

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Not sure who made this comment, but anyway! :)

FL in May can't be any worse than Georgia in August, so the heat doesn't really worry me :)

[jedimaster6872.livejournal.com]

how did you get the invite to "The Ranch" OMG !!!

so envious of yas now ... first Lori and now you .. sigh ....

Wish I knew about plan making fo Disney.. would liked to have gone with you all... oh well.. always nexy time.... besides I might be going to a con in TX this year... spend time with my fiend thee and hope to see THE ALAMO if I have time to go that far from con...

the ranch .. sigh ...

Re: New Orleans

[dali-muse.livejournal.com]

Alas, it's in April again this year. I wish the organizers would have it either in May or August, but I know that any of the warmer climates would be absolutely disgusting those months.

Alamo

[dali-muse.livejournal.com]

Unless you are a huge history buff, the Alamo is not a big deal. Although SanAntonio has the second biggest goth community in Texas so the nightlife is pretty good.