Well after several years of discussing it, my wife and I decided to jump in and do it. We LOVE Disney! Its one of those unhealthy obsessions. I don't think its clinical, but our parents think so. We are often asked by family and friends: "What would you recommend for our next Disney trip?"
We have our own opinions about everything. From dining options to rides to accomodations, this is our take and should not be viewed as authoritative. We like to think so, but we can't charge for the info.
(Insert lengthy legal jargon here.)
We have been annual passholders for 4 years. We are Florida residents too, so we get perks that alot of people don't.
My wife and I are 6th generation Floridians. That means we live north of Orlando which most of South Florida doesn't claim as part of Florida, more extreme south Georgia. We grew up with "The Mouse". We both visited the parks multiple times throughout our lives. Our daughter has been going since she was practically a newborn.
This is so you can get a feel for who we are. Our style is spontaneous. Very little pre-planning usually. Typically, its a "Hey, we don't have anything this weekend, Let's go to Disney!" If you live close to O-town, then an annual pass is the way to go. For the money, if you visit a park more than 5 days throughout the year, you have paid for the pass.
Secondly, if you like extreme heat and humidity, dehydration, heat exhaustion, large crowds, long waits, come to WDW between mid-May until mid-September. We seldom go at this time of year. Its hard for us to resist. Check the park hours and go on an evening when they are open late. Shorter lines, cooler temps but, still uncomfortably warm.
Finally, get familiar with the My Disney Experience app for Apple and Android devices. This is the ideal tool for checking wait times, getting dining reservations and just about any other detail you might want. This is also the best way to line up your Fastpasses. It is a great planning tool. I know I said we don't plan, but once we are on-site, we start putting a schedule together.
We have had some great times at the parks and the resort areas in general. We have finally learned a few tricks to getting the most out of our limited time and budget. Its our hope to share a little of our experiences. Good luck and see ya in the park!
