What's new

Excited!!

rchansen

rchansen

in the sweet tooth recovery program
Joined
Jan 1, 2014
Messages
1,503
Girls!! I am 45 years old and I think I am finally going to Disney World!!

My girls are 21, 19 and 16. We have never been on a real family vacation. We've rented cabins, we've gone camping. My girls played AAU basketball in the summers so family "vacations" were wherever their tournaments were.

I have been bugging my husband that we need to do a family vacation before it's too late and the girls are out of the house for good. He wanted to go to Glacier National Park...thinking it would be a cheaper vacation. It's not. I started looking into Disney for the heck of it and it's looking like we might make be going!!

So question for those of you who have been... We're thinking 2-3 days at the parks and the rest of the time we'd like to stay near the ocean. Any beach/resort/rental advice for the ocean stays?

I AM SO EXCITED!! 45 years old and I have never seen the ocean!!
 
rchansen said:
I AM SO EXCITED!! 45 years old and I have never seen the ocean!!
Click to expand...
oh EVERYone, everyone needs to see the ocean!
what an amazing fun time, and with grown kids to laugh an be silly with too! This sounds fantastic!
 
I've not been to a Florida beach, so I can't help. But I'm jealous about Disney world, and yayayayayayay for you!!!!
 
Well, you realize Disney World is in the center of the state, so for ocean, its either drive west to the Gulf or drive east to Daytona Beach, the Atlantic ocean. When are you planning on going. Summer is H _ _ _!!!!! It is so hot and crowded at Disney you can barely stand it! The best off months are February and October. Order books on line and plan your time at Disney very carefully! There is SOOOOO much to see and you waste a lot of time walking around if you don't know where you are going. Look at an ariel map of Disney and plan your route. Plan what rides you want to go on and what you want to see. I usually started at the left, worked my way around behind the castle to the right, then went to see the castle and worked my way down Main Street to take in all the shops as I headed toward the exit. Main Street is also the best place to see the parade.
If you have 2-3 days then definitely take in Epcot world. You will LOVE it!! Buy tickets that allow you to take the monorail from one attraction to the other. Epcot is shaped like the figure eight. GET THERE EARLY!!! Go into the guest area, I believe it is still inside the huge globe, and make your lunch and dinner reservations. Otherwise you won't get in!! My very favorite lunch spot was at The Land attraction. I just googled it and I think it is the one called The Garden Grill. The whole restaurant turns as you are eating showing different panoramic views of our country. For dinner, its really up to you, whatever your favorite country is. You will feel like you are dining right in that country.
Do the front part first, again making your way circling from left to right. Then take the ferry or walk to the back section and start at the left, I believe it was China, and just make your way around the circle seeing all the countries. It is an experience you will never forget!! Now realize, it has been over 20 years since my last trip so much has changed. Google as much as you can and maybe YouTube may have some good stuff also, but I can't stress enough----PLAN!!!! Living in Daytona Beach for 21 years, Disney was my 2nd home. Can't even count how many times I have been there.
As for hotels, there are so many along A1A in Daytona. The hotels are right on the beach. If you want to get away from the mob, go further north to Flagler Beach or south almost to Wilbur by the Sea. Here I would look for cabins for the week. These are out of the way places. Hope this all helps. You will have the time of your life!!!!
 
Pretty much what Nancy said - we live here in FL and go usually between Oct and March when it is cooler. The tickets deals are best - or generally the best - for their 3 or 4 day park hopper. Get the hopper pass no matter how many days you purchase. This allows you to go from park to park in the same day which is great if you want to do things in one park, then see a parade in another, fireworks in another ..etc. Make reservations for your in park meals months in advance - there are some that are must sees!

HAVE FUN!
 
Last edited:
How exciting! I'm so excited that you might see the ocean AND Disney! I can't imagine not being near the ocean. We are there so much, it would be mind boggling to me. It's a place of enjoyment, happiness, and excitement!

Have an awesome time!
 
I've never been to WDW, but I have an engraved walkway stone there somewhere. I bought it so long ago, I can't remember where. Anyway, I'm excited for you! I live very near the Pacific Ocean & love it. Good luck & have fun!
 
NancyP said:
Well, you realize Disney World is in the center of the state, so for ocean, its either drive west to the Gulf or drive east to Daytona Beach, the Atlantic ocean. When are you planning on going. Summer is H _ _ _!!!!! It is so hot and crowded at Disney you can barely stand it! The best off months are February and October. Order books on line and plan your time at Disney very carefully! There is SOOOOO much to see and you waste a lot of time walking around if you don't know where you are going. Look at an ariel map of Disney and plan your route. Plan what rides you want to go on and what you want to see. I usually started at the left, worked my way around behind the castle to the right, then went to see the castle and worked my way down Main Street to take in all the shops as I headed toward the exit. Main Street is also the best place to see the parade.
If you have 2-3 days then definitely take in Epcot world. You will LOVE it!! Buy tickets that allow you to take the monorail from one attraction to the other. Epcot is shaped like the figure eight. GET THERE EARLY!!! Go into the guest area, I believe it is still inside the huge globe, and make your lunch and dinner reservations. Otherwise you won't get in!! My very favorite lunch spot was at The Land attraction. I just googled it and I think it is the one called The Garden Grill. The whole restaurant turns as you are eating showing different panoramic views of our country. For dinner, its really up to you, whatever your favorite country is. You will feel like you are dining right in that country.
Do the front part first, again making your way circling from left to right. Then take the ferry or walk to the back section and start at the left, I believe it was China, and just make your way around the circle seeing all the countries. It is an experience you will never forget!! Now realize, it has been over 20 years since my last trip so much has changed. Google as much as you can and maybe YouTube may have some good stuff also, but I can't stress enough----PLAN!!!! Living in Daytona Beach for 21 years, Disney was my 2nd home. Can't even count how many times I have been there.
As for hotels, there are so many along A1A in Daytona. The hotels are right on the beach. If you want to get away from the mob, go further north to Flagler Beach or south almost to Wilbur by the Sea. Here I would look for cabins for the week. These are out of the way places. Hope this all helps. You will have the time of your life!!!!
Click to expand...


WOW!! This is A LOT of information that I will definitely look into. Thanks!! :)
 
We just got back from DisneyLAND and I honestly prefer it to WORLD. Yes it's smaller- but you get just as magical experience! ;) PLUS in California- you are RIGHT by the ocean! And.. it's flippin' gorgeous! Plus- maybe not as hot? Not sure if CA vs. FL is an option- but I would go that route! :D
 
I haven't been to Disneyworld since 2007 and played no part in the planning of the trip, so I don't have any advice there. Just best wishes! So glad you're getting to go see the ocean. I grew up in southern CA and the ocean is one of my favorite things to look at. I'm surprised I don't miss it more living here in Fredericksburg where I have to drive 3 hours to see the actual ocean.

Oh! seeing Amie's post above mine reminds me of something I learned about the ride Space Mountain at WDW vs Disneyland in CA. I LOVED Space Mountain in Disneyland in CA, which is the only location I'd visited a few times before I went to WDW for the first time in 2007 with my family. My oldest daughter had just turned 6 and was excited to try out roller coasters. I went on and on about how SMOOTH and relaxing the Space Mountain ride is. It didn't even occur to me that it might be different since I was at a different location. Well, at WDW Space Mountain is NOT smooth. It's choppy and whip-lashy and jolty. I felt so bad for my daughter (though she took it well and continues to enjoy roller coasters!). I was glad we were able to go to the CA location a year or two later so I could show her what I meant by the smooth relaxing Space Mountain!
 
I've never been to either Disney ( we lived outside the US for the years my children would have been interested) but I know oceans! As gorgeous as the Pacific is it's COLD so if ocean swimming is on your list pick WDW in FL. We sent my one son and family there when he came back from an Iraq tour, and the children enjoyed it a lot - three grade schoolers. My son and wife said Never Again and the children were fine with it as a one time trip. They seemed just as happy in the fancy pools and continue to vacation at South Carolina beaches - now as college and hs students.

The only thing I've heard from adults who like WDW (w/o children) is to Plan, Plan, Plan and not expect to get as much seen as you think you will. I do have a son who lives near Disneyland and he & his fiancee have gone but found it expensive for a day out.
 
I just have to say I'm so excited for you!!! I love both Disney and the beach. I would highly recommend checking out the site WDWprepschool.com - a wealth of info and she also has a podcast with lots of planning tips as well.
As for the beach, I have been to both Cocoa Beach and New Smyrna Beach which are nice and relatively close to Orlando - I think Daytona may be close as well (not sure). In my opinion the gulf coast is more beautiful, but also quite a drive from Orlando. HAVE FUN!!
 
That sure is exciting! I love the ocean (amazing since I live 3000 km from the nearest one!) I don't know FL but just enjoy! We are going to be in Orlando this summer, though and then are taking a few days to the FL Keys for beach. It's a 7ish hour drive, but we're looking very much forward to it!
 
sberkan said:
That sure is exciting! I love the ocean (amazing since I live 3000 km from the nearest one!) I don't know FL but just enjoy! We are going to be in Orlando this summer, though and then are taking a few days to the FL Keys for beach. It's a 7ish hour drive, but we're looking very much forward to it!
Click to expand...

Oh my! Forgot about New Smyrna Beach! A lovely place to stay and only about 20 minutes from Daytona Beach. Yes, the Gulf Coast is much more beautiful but not really considered ocean although it is part of the ocean that comes into the Gulf. Its a lot colder water than the Atlantic.
 
We went on Spring Break in Florida in 2014. We skipped Disney, but we did got to Clearwater Beach and it was beautiful. Powder white sands. We also took a day up in Crystal River and went Three Sisters Springs (a bit North or clearwater) and went to swim with the manatees. We were a week too late for the huge groups of manatees, but we did see a couple and it was so cool!
 
NancyP said:
Well, you realize Disney World is in the center of the state, so for ocean, its either drive west to the Gulf or drive east to Daytona Beach, the Atlantic ocean. When are you planning on going. Summer is H _ _ _!!!!! It is so hot and crowded at Disney you can barely stand it! The best off months are February and October. Order books on line and plan your time at Disney very carefully! There is SOOOOO much to see and you waste a lot of time walking around if you don't know where you are going. Look at an ariel map of Disney and plan your route. Plan what rides you want to go on and what you want to see. I usually started at the left, worked my way around behind the castle to the right, then went to see the castle and worked my way down Main Street to take in all the shops as I headed toward the exit. Main Street is also the best place to see the parade.
If you have 2-3 days then definitely take in Epcot world. You will LOVE it!! Buy tickets that allow you to take the monorail from one attraction to the other. Epcot is shaped like the figure eight. GET THERE EARLY!!! Go into the guest area, I believe it is still inside the huge globe, and make your lunch and dinner reservations. Otherwise you won't get in!! My very favorite lunch spot was at The Land attraction. I just googled it and I think it is the one called The Garden Grill. The whole restaurant turns as you are eating showing different panoramic views of our country. For dinner, its really up to you, whatever your favorite country is. You will feel like you are dining right in that country.
Do the front part first, again making your way circling from left to right. Then take the ferry or walk to the back section and start at the left, I believe it was China, and just make your way around the circle seeing all the countries. It is an experience you will never forget!! Now realize, it has been over 20 years since my last trip so much has changed. Google as much as you can and maybe YouTube may have some good stuff also, but I can't stress enough----PLAN!!!! Living in Daytona Beach for 21 years, Disney was my 2nd home. Can't even count how many times I have been there.
As for hotels, there are so many along A1A in Daytona. The hotels are right on the beach. If you want to get away from the mob, go further north to Flagler Beach or south almost to Wilbur by the Sea. Here I would look for cabins for the week. These are out of the way places. Hope this all helps. You will have the time of your life!!!!
Click to expand...

Can I stay with you? LOL!!!! and you be my tour guide.
 
Disney is amazing no matter how old you are! We've been to Florida twice, Disney once. The last time we went we drove to Clearwater beach from Orlando. My boys had never seen the ocean and it's one of my most favorite places. That can be an option for you too instead of staying right on the ocean. Then you can stay near the parks and such. :)
 
Robyn, I am so excited for you. The ocean is one of the most beautiful things to enjoy!
 
Back
Top