Conference koolit::disney

    Russ, Right on International Drive, in the Mercado Shopping Village, is
    a fairly decent Mexican Restaurant called Jose O'Days.
    
    Cheers,
    Ken
    
    

	I'll be arriving on the 12th Feb - could someone please give me a 
        couple of answers :-

	1. I have seen it mentioned in Birnbaum's guide that President's
           week is a busy period at WDW.  I know it's in February - which
           dates and what does the holiday celebrate ?

        2. I have a desk diary which says 12th and 15th Feb are U.S. holidays
           Is it correct and what are they for ?


	Thanks in advance,

	Paul

    School vacation week is Feb 14, - Feb 20. This is in Massachusetts
    anyway. It's a week that parents can take the kids away and they won't
    miss any school. Also tours go around that time. So you'll probably hit
    some busy times.
    	WE used to have separate holidays celebrating Lincoln's and
    Washington's birthdays. It's all gotten lumped into one Holiday now,
    Presidents Day. 
    	Hope this helps.		
    			Barbara

RE:    <<< Note 327.2 by SBPEXE::DOUGLASS "Chewing on life's gristle ....." >>>
                    -< What and when is President's week ? >-

>>	1. I have seen it mentioned in Birnbaum's guide that President's
>>           week is a busy period at WDW.  I know it's in February - which
>>           dates and what does the holiday celebrate ?
I guess that would be the week from Feb.14-20.  It celebrates the birthdates
of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

>>        2. I have a desk diary which says 12th and 15th Feb are U.S. holidays
>>           Is it correct and what are they for ?
Feb. 12 is Lincoln's birthday (and Feb. 22 is Washington's birthday).
President's day is Feb. 15 (the official holiday celebrating all presidents,
but people really think of it as one lump holiday for Washington and Lincoln).

I'd say you were in for some fair crowds.

We went during the February Vacation last year.
It was difficult to book flights. There were waits for rides.
Following the plans in the the unofficial guide helped.

When we went to see the new light parade there was a big crowd at the beginning
of the parade root but we found some space at the end of the parade root quite
easily. Starting at the back of EPCOT worked out great. Also Americans are not
used to queueing so you may not get as frustrated in the lines. I noticed that
they had a street juggler entertaining the longer lines.

You should have a great time. The parks often open later when
they are more crowded.


		Enjoy yourselves,
				Peter.

    Advantage of living in NH...School vacation week is the 22nd-26th.
    That's when we are going. We did the same week a couple years ago and
    the crowds were not that large.
    
    -- Bill

	Thanks for the comments ....

	So we have to put up with a few crowds ..  I think we can live with 
 	that little problem.  ^;)


	Paul

this may seem like a strange question but ...

i've been planning for some time to take my family to Florida in October this 
year (myself, my wife, children aged 4 and 6), and obviously disney world would 
be a major part of our holiday. However there have been several reports in the
european press lately of tourists being attacked, robbed, murdered in Florida, 
and i'm starting to seriously consider whether to cancel the trip and go
somewhere else. As reported in the european press the problem is bad, and getting 
worse.

So my question is - is Florida a safe place to visit ? I don't want to spend my
whole holiday wondering about whether we're going to stay alive to the end of
the trip. Are any problems confined to specific areas (Miami?) - we intend to fly
to Orlando, pick up a hire car, stay in Kissimee and visit disney world and all
the other "attractions" within travelling distance. Should i cancel and take
the family elsewhere ?

Thanks in advance for your advice,

     Ray Wright,  Neuchatel Software Development Centre,  Switzerland


ps how bad are the crowds likely to be over the last couple of weeks in October ?
And what can we expect from the weather ?

    Orlando area is a safe area.  There are parts of Orlando, like
    any other city, that you don't want to walk around in, but the
    area you are talking about is safe.
    
    Miami area is where most of the trouble has been.
    
    I stayed in Kissimmee in January 93 and drove all around without
    any problems.
    
    Just my 2cents worth,
    
    Lynda

    The situation in southern florida is really no different than any major
    city.  Like .-1 said, there are places you don't want to be in.  stick
    to the main tourist traps and you should be ok.
    
    the press sells its product by making it look worse than it really is.
    out american press does a job on London.  You'd think the IRA bombed
    each building every day.  certainly London is unsafe for anyone if you
    believed them.

    
    
    Ray,
    
    I have been to Florida 3 times in the last 4 years from the UK.  We
    stayed in a house in Kissimmee each time (I can recommend a super place
    to stay - great for family holidays - contact me if you are
    interested).  
    
    Each time we have visited we have heard reports of muggings, murders
    etc, but we have never seen any trouble in six weeks worth of holidays
    there.  
    
    I think that you should go, relax, let the kids have a *great* time in
    Orlando, but be a little street-wise at the same time (ie, don't carry
    all your cash on you, lock valuables in the boot of the car etc, just
    normal precautions that you would take on any holiday).
    
    If you want more info from a European point of view, either ask here or
    mail me.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Alison

    If you stick to the beaten path, parks and tourist attractions, you should
    have no problems. Just avoid the "bad parts of town". The most recent 
    incident happened when the tourist was lost in Miami (easy to do), 
    left the main highway, and ventured into an unsavory area at night.
    
    Linda  

    Ray,
    
    As has been noted you will be okay if you play the basic tourist role
    and do the things that tourists do, go the places where tourists go,
    and just use your common sense.
    
    It's important that you get your bearings once you start driving around
    Kissimee and Orlando. When you arrive get a map and get comfortable
    with the area as soon as possible.
    
    You will be fine doing all the Disney and the Kissimee stuff. Once you
    find comfortable routes to all your destinations stick with these
    routes.
    
    Orlando is like any other city on this planet...it has bofe safe and
    unsafe areas and I really think you have to go out of your way to find
    an unsafe area down there.
    
    To comment on your other question you should not have any problems with
    crowds in October unless a ton of attractions are closed for
    maintenance.
    
    Mike

    Be aware of the most common technique used these days by muggers
    (and worse)...They spot a tourist vehicle (easy to do...they all have
    rent-a-car stickers and/or "rental plates" (Florida is changing this
    but it hasn't happened yet)), follow them until the location is
    good for a mugging, then ram the tourists from behind.
    
    When the tourist driver gets out to look at the damage...WHAM!
    
    If you are involved in an accident, don't get out of the car unless
    it is a well-lighted, populated area or, better yet, have the other
    car follow you until you can find a police officer.
    
    -- Bill

    My understanding of the problems is that they  occured around the Miami
    airport on the way to Miami Beach.  In and Around the airport in Miami is a
    very tough neighborhood, stay away from there and you will probably be
    fine.  I also understand that crooks were targeting cars with special
    rental plates, this should shortly not be a problem as the rental car
    companies are changing their plates.  Go and have fun and just bring
    your common sense along with you.

thanks for all the replies. Looks like we will be going after all.

     ray

    
    	Two men have been arrested in the latest murder in Miami.  Also,
    as already stated the state of Florida is issuing about 150,000 new
    license plates to rental agencies.  The little rent-a-car stickers
    are being removed from the cars, making these car less obvious to
    muggers.
    
    	The American press is noted for telling the worst, and not always
    following up with the latest status.
    
    	Relax and enjoy your trip,  Linda
    

    
    I'm in the middle of planning my next Disney trip for next year, I 
    visited in the summer of 93 and then again over christmas and new year
    94-95. Both of my trips have been package holidays and people have
    often commented that its the most expensive way to go. I have a good
    15 months to plan this trip and i'm looking for a cheaper way . 
    Would a fly drive work out any cheaper after the hotels are paid
    for, the hotels dont have to be disney... Any of your ideas would come
    in very helpful ....?   This will probably be my last trip for
    a few years as the wife has informed that after this trip were having
    kids, so I want it to be the best...

    Time is on your side. Start planning now.
    
    Mike

I've always found that I can beat any package price (for a family)
by just calling airlines, hotels, car rental companies, etc. myself 
and asking for the lowest prices. You can make out better sometimes 
by asking for the AAA (or other) discounts).

Don't let having kids stop you...about 18 years ago my wife and
I went to WDW when she was 6 months pregnant with our first
child. We've been going back about every 2nd or 3rd year ever since
with kids from 1 year old on up. You just have to pace yourself
and be flexible. Have fun!

Doug

PS Sometimes a package deal does work out to be cheaper
   for just one person.

   If you have an on-line service you can check many prices
    yourself.