Tips, pointers and advise for my holiday!

[Phylers]

... Wegmans ....

... Wawa ....

I've never had both of those in one city, but it'd be a quick way for a city to warm my heart.

On topic, Universal's Express Pass (their FastPass) is indeed pay-for-play. Universal resort guests get it via their room key, but everyone else has to pay for it. It's rarely worth it. For starters, some of the bigger rides - like the main ride in WWoHP - don't have Express Pass access anyway, so there's arguably the longest line in the park that you can't even use it for (plus, you want to be in that line; the line is better in a lot of ways than the ride, and the load time is so short, the line moves).

If you do want to do Express Pass, walk around the park and get an idea of the crowds before buying one. They sell the passes inside the park, too, so you don't have to buy one at the ticket kiosk. If it's not that crowded, save your money. Since it will be early May, you might even be able to miss the beginning of the summer rush.

[crazybones27]

You can only get Disney gift cards at DS or online? I want a cute one! Walgreens or Wegmans sell them?

Let's try hitting reply and not edit .

I think for cute ones you might need to go to the Disney Store. I know you can now buy the standard Mickey Disney Giftcards at almost any Grocery Store, Wawa, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Kmart, etc. just make sure on the back you see the WDW logo and it will note it can be used at WDW .

[rogpalmeruk]

I totally understand - I usually stay off property, too! If the shuttle is an option and low cost, rock on, that's the way to do it! Taxis can be quite expensive in the area, and it'll add up over the course of a 2 week vacation.

I've been looking at that too...staying onsite at disney is a good £400 more than staying off site, so its trying to work out the difference of parking/fuel and the convience of being near by, but now we think we are going to kennedy space center, we will need a car... my parent's had a accident outside of the surf shop in cocca beach on our second trip, which meant we just stuck to taxi's for the rest of the trip and for our third family trip...

also just encase your not aware, if you or your girlfriend is under 21, you can't drink in the US.

[Phylers]

I've been looking at that too...staying onsite at disney is a good £400 more than staying off site, so its trying to work out the difference of parking/fuel and the convience of being near by, but now we think we are going to kennedy space center, we will need a car... my parent's had a accident outside of the surf shop in cocoa beach on our second trip, which meant we just stuck to taxi's for the rest of the trip and for our third family trip...

Ron Jon's or the newer (Ron Jon's rip-off) Cocoa Beach Surf Company? Actually, I guess it'd be both since they're right next door to each other.

also just in case your not aware, if you or your girlfriend is under 21, you can't drink in the US.

Good point! That works out for American kids visiting the UK, but it's not as fun the other way around.

[rogpalmeruk]

yes Ron Jon's...mind went blank then... turned right outside, women flew through a red straight into us... mum never drove nor will drive in the states ever again now... unsurprisingly....
on one my many trips to the states, had a 19 year girl on our trip who had to constantly have a big X on her hands when in clubs/bars, she wasn't impressed...

[Phylers]

yes Ron Jon's...mind went blank then... turned right outside, women flew through a red straight into us... mum never drove nor will drive in the states ever again now... unsurprisingly....
on one my many trips to the states, had a 19 year girl on our trip who had to constantly have a big X on her hands when in clubs/bars, she wasn't impressed...

That intersection is crazy. Fun fact for the future, though - Ron Jon's is open 24 hours, and that's not a bad area of town; in other words, it's cake getting in and out at about 1am.

I the "club Xs." It's a right of passage for all kids between 18 and 21. Plus, it's totally a blast the first time you go into a club and don't get X-ed (the first time legally and legitimately, anyway ).

[Ill_jc]

I the "club Xs." It's a right of passage for all kids between 18 and 21. Plus, it's totally a blast the first time you go into a club and don't get X-ed (the first time legally and legitimately, anyway ).

I've not seen that forced on people here in clubs, but I have seen people way above legal age doing it themselves to advertise that they don't drink haha

[rogpalmeruk]

Well over here you only find 12 to 17 years out drinking, by 18 they've had enough or their livers have packed in... lol...

[little miss vinyl]

What a great idea! Where do you buy them? I love my little one from Food & Wine. I wonder if I can still refill it?

I might be a little late on this you van purchase Disney Gift cards at most grocery stores or online at disney gift cards dot com. They have lots of great designs and characters!

Disney Girft cards are reloadable; you can have them reloaded at your local Disney Store or at an merchandise loaction in the parks (they might be able to reload them via the website listed above - I am not sure.


I probably have at least 20 different designs that are empty sitting in a drawer.

---------- Post added at 08:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 AM ----------

Do you know if they print the balance on the receipt after each purchase? That's one of my hangups with prepaid Visa cards - you have to remember the exact balance (or call in for it) if the card won't cover the entire transaction.

The balance always prints out on your receipt - at the parks and at DS. IF you do not know your balance before you start your transaction a cast member can look it up on their registers. (but not on that register once they start the transaction)

You will receive one receipt for each form of payment used. So if you use 3 gift cards; you'll get 3 receipts.

---------- Post added at 08:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------

is there any kind of identification or contingency with disney giftcards in the event of loss or theft? they sound better than taking cash or my card but i'd worry that if i lose it i'm screwed! I suppose to be safe I just put enough for each day on it each morning, if I have to ring up for a balance i'd probably have to get a mobile over there to avoid mega roaming costs.

There is a toll free number on the back of the cards. I beleive if you have the original receipt showing that you purchased a gift card that you might be able to get it replaced if it were lost. However, you'd need the 16 digit card number on the back of the card -- all receipts block out the last 4 digits and the pin # on the back of the cvard, whcih most people never bother to qwrite down.

I would recommend having several cards; 1 per day -- and don't worry about checking balances - just go to a CM atthe reigster ank ask them to check it for you.

[rogpalmeruk]

I just booked my trip this afternoon, first week of october at the all star music resort for a week...couldn't wait another 6 weeks for last minute as only half a dozen seats left on the flight we wanted, and if we had to go to london or manchester we end up losing the savings... can't wait...first time staying at WDW as always stayed off site

[Ill_jc]

i'm more than jealous that you're going more than 7 months before me!