Planning trip. Any advice?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Planning trip. Any advice?
2
Fri, 01-12-2007 - 3:41pm

Hi everyone! I've been lurking for awhile. We're planning a trip to DW this spring sometime with our kids (8&6). Not sure when just yet - we have to see what happens with DH's work, but I think we can plan the rest in the meantime.

We were there 10 years ago (pre-kids) and stayed off site and swore we'd stay on site next time. Here's what we're thinking:

-All Star Movies (Toy Story if available)
-Magic Your Way with Dining (6 days)
-Parkhopper

If anyone has suggestions on when to travel, how much time is tied up in transportation to the parks, the Fastpass and how you get it, advanced meal reservation suggestions, things to not miss, kid challenges, etc I'd appreciate it.

Avatar for sphintergirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 01-12-2007 - 5:11pm

When are you planning on going this spring? There is a deal that Disney Just released for free park hoppers and room discount (I think) from April something to June something.

We did a quick trip the first week of April in 2005. It was 4 days. We stayed off site at a hotel. The weather was good and the crowds not bad. I think Easter was either way before we were there or after. I can't remember that year much. After the trip pregnancy sucked my brain.

We have done 2 fall trips and have loved them both. Crowd levels are down and so are the prices. Are you able to go in the fall?

This past fall we stayed at All Star Movies in the Toy Story building. The rooms were tiny. We didn't think it was going to matter to us but it did so we moved to the contemporary. The food court at All Star was really nice. One of the pools was closed for refurb, which wasn't too much of an issue. We were there only 2 nights and only swam once.

As for food. Can't go wrong eating at Disney. Your kids are still considered kids so they will be eating off of the kids menu at any restaurant that is not a buffet or preplated character dining (I think). There are a lot of great places to eat with the characters...Ohana(breakfast), Crystal Palace, Chef Mickeys, Princess meals at the castle and at Epcot and without characters...Boma, Ohana (dinner), ton of places at Epcot, Whispering Canyon Cafe.

Transporation from All Star Movies. It was OK. It seemed like a long haul at night when you were pooped and the kids were sleeping and you had 3 resorts worth of people PACKED on your bus. We never waited long to leave the resort to go to parks, so that was nice. It depends on where you are going as to how much time you spend in transportation.

Fastpass. Select rides/attractions have fastpass. You put your park ticket in a machine outside the attraction and it spits out a pass with a time for you to come back later to ride. You can only get so many fastpasses in a certain amount of time. .

Just ask away. Allearsnet is a great website with a ton of information including restaurant menus, hotel pictures and a ton of information.

Sarah

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-13-2007 - 8:49pm

We stayed at ASMovies in 2004, in the Buzz Lightyear building and we loved it! When are you planning to go? You can make dining reservations (ADRs) at 180 days out, in case you didn't know that.

We didn't have any problems with transportation from ASMo (or Caribbean Beach resort, for that matter) at all. The busses came about every 10-15 minutes, and I left an hour travel time to get from place to place. I don't know that it took that long, but to be on the safe side, allow a little extra time; things can happen.