Just want to have a great time!
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Just want to have a great time!
| Sun, 04-23-2006 - 1:53pm |
Any ideas? I've been trying to price a vacation for weeks. I'm considering whether to stay onsite or off. We have a 4 year old. We're going for a week.
I just want to have a great, easy vacation.
fifilaroach
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Welcome!
I'm not an expert, but we've gone to WDW twice in the last two years and had a blast each time. We always stay onsite, it's so convenient to have the Disney transportation to take us where we want to go. We park our car at the resort when we arrive and we don't go near it again until time to go home.
If there are only three of you, any of the Disney resorts would work. We have stayed at a value resort once and a moderate resort once, and to us there wasn't much difference. If your child is 4, All Star Movies would probably be a good choice, or Pop Century. The rooms at the values are about the same size as a standard Holiday Inn or similar room. They aren't huge, but you aren't in there very much either. The moderate rooms are a little bigger, and the deluxe resorts have the biggest rooms of the 3.
I would recommend going to all 4 of the Disney parks...Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios. I would also recommend getting park hopper tickets, they allow you to visit more than one park in the same day. Either get a good guidebook (Unofficial Guide to Disney, the Passporter, etc), or do research online and find out what you want to do and see while you're there. Allearsnet(dotcom) is an excellent website with tons and tons of information. There is so much at WDW, you won't be able to do it all in 7 days, but you can do a good bit of it.
The time of year you go will affect crowd levels and how much you can actually do. We've gone at the end of Sept and at the end of August, and both times were good. It's also cheaper if you don't go during peak times; The week of/and right after Christmas, and Spring Break season are the most expensive and crowded times to go.
My boys were 4 and 2 on our last trip, and they really enjoyed everything. We like to go to a few character meals on each trip, we eat while the characters come around to the tables to sign autographs and pose for pictures. You can also find a lot of characters in the parks if you don't want to do the meals.
Do you know when you're going yet? You can make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at 180 days out now for the sit-down meals and character meals. We do one sit-down meal each day of our trip, and we try lots of different restaurants. If you want to do any sit-down meals, you're best off to make ADRs as soon as possible, especially since Disney has started the dining plan, most people without ADRs are turned away.
I hope this helps, stick around and ask all the questions you have. Someone here will know the answer!
Steph
If you're looking for easy vacation, you should probably lean towards staying on-site...especially if your 4 year old takes afternoon naps (or you may want him/her to have downtime away from the parks anyway).
All Stars Movies is definitely the most popular resort for little ones. There are larger than life favorite movie characters all around the resort.
Feel free to ask all the questions you need to.
Alysha
Don't forget that if you book soon (before June 2) you can get FREE dining package with a 4 night stay if you go between Aug 15 andthe end of September!!
If you want to go to Micky's Not So Scarey Halloween Party, then you can go as late as Sept 30, and stay at least 4 nights (THere is one scheduled Oct 1). YOu will still get free meal plan for your entire stay since you STARTED your vacation during the time frame!!
One more thing to consider!!!
~Elena
There are a lot of things that can affect the price of your vacation. When approx are you looking at going? If it's relaxing and easy you want, onsite is definately the way to go. Offsite can sometimes save you money but it adds headache, mostly in the transportation department.
I think we are going to go the weekend after Thanksgiving, and will do the park hopper and the dining plan. We will probably stay on site. I just wish the dang animal kingdom wasn't so expensive as my daughter is the biggest lion king fan ever!
My husband is not too realistic on the cost of a vacation, so I'm trying to break the price to him gently. hee hee.
How do I get a good travel agent?
fifilaroach
check out our cool baby and toddler stuff!
http://www.cafepress.com/sugarbelleshop
If you are going through a travel agent, make sure to get one that's a Disney Specialist. Most regular TA's don't know enough about WDW to make it worth your while and expense.
I personally don't use a TA, I make all the reservations myself by calling 407-WDISNEY. Or you can go to Disney's site and book online, but you've probably already been there.
Thanksgiving weekend (Thanksgiving Day through the following Monday) will be really crowded, but the crowds should go down after that.
How do I get a good travel agent?
Hee Hee- you email me. :-)