Planning our first WDW trip ,late Jan

[alesslu]

We are planning our first WDW trip late Jan.
We live near Toronto(YYZ) ...trying to decide if we should
leave through Buffalo...If so what hotel to stay at that will let us leave the cars there for 10-14 days.

Would you recommend 6 or 7 nights.DD is 6.5 and DS is 4.5.
We are thinking of the meal plan ...tray lunch , sit down dinner with snacks.
What resort...keep hearing to just do a value resort as we're never in our rooms.What do you think?

Thinking of using Fairtale Dreams...do they really plan everything for you?Meals etc...

Did you use the Hopper option?

We also are planning to rent a house for 6 adults and 2 kids for another 5 0r 6 nights after Disney...Need 4 bedroom...

Where do you recommend? Contact them directly? Any #'s..
Ir should we just use a web-site like Windsor Hills?

Sorry so many questions!We want this to be a great trip for our family!

[iluveeyore]

I only have advice for flying - use Buffalo! We are going this December, and we got flights through Southwest (go directly to the airline's website to book yourself!), for $64 each way - that's $128 round-trip!!! And Southwest doesn't charge for luggage as Airtran and other airlines do. Buffalo Airport is so easy to get to once you cross the border (only about 15-20 min. from border crossing), and it's a nice, small airport to get around easily.
If you're not going to be in your room often, the values are the way to go. Fun theming for the kids at each one. Park hoppers are great so you can do one park in the morning, break for lunch or naps or swimming back at the room, then go to a different park if you want for fireworks or extra magic hours.
I'm sure you'll get many more tips about park 'n fly (we live 20 min. from the airport, so I've never used a hotel near the airport), and we've never stayed offsite, so I'm sure someone else can guide you.
Happy planning! Oh, and pack for all seasons as last January I wore a scarf and gloves with many layers for three days, and then capris and t-shirts for the last two days of my vacation (went Jan. 21-27 '09).

[Sue M]

Originally Posted by alesslu

We are planning our first WDW trip late Jan.
We live near Toronto(YYZ) ...trying to decide if we should
leave through Buffalo...If so what hotel to stay at that will let us leave the cars there for 10-14 days.

Would you recommend 6 or 7 nights.DD is 6.5 and DS is 4.5.
We are thinking of the meal plan ...tray lunch , sit down dinner with snacks.
What resort...keep hearing to just do a value resort as we're never in our rooms.What do you think?

Thinking of using Fairtale Dreams...do they really plan everything for you?Meals etc...

Did you use the Hopper option?

We also are planning to rent a house for 6 adults and 2 kids for another 5 0r 6 nights after Disney...Need 4 bedroom...

Where do you recommend? Contact them directly? Any #'s..
Ir should we just use a web-site like Windsor Hills?

Sorry so many questions!We want this to be a great trip for our family!

We leave from Seattle, so much cheaper, worth the 3 hr drive down + hotel. I found in this area, the Marriott Springhill Suites or Marriott Towne Suites let us leave our car parked free with a 1 night stay. I was away for 4 weeks in August, no prob. It was a location just off the airport, not at the airport. They had an airport shuttle bus which took you and picked you up.

At WDW I'd go with 7 nights. Park Hopper
For a first visit I'd plan 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot, 1 day DHS and 1 day AK. Any extra time, revisit a park you didn't get to do everything in. I could spend 2 days at each park! I like to build in a mid day break, get to a park at opening, stay till mid afternoon, come back to my resort for a mid day rest break, swim, whatever. Then go for dinner and a park that is open late for Extra Magic Hours.

As for which resort......I'd go with what is in my budget. We are at our resorts, and enjoy spending some time relaxing there, so I like the moderates, and WL & AKL.

I haven't used that Travel Agency, but if they are a Disney Authorized Agency, I'm sure they prob. are fine. I've used Ears to You, and know people who used Mouse Fan and have been happy with them. I think it's important to have a TA who is familiar with WDW booking. WDW puts out discounts, and a Disney Specialized TA will know the minute a discount comes out, and should automatically apply it to your res. They will help you plan your dining, and make those reservations for you if you want.

There are many sites that are helpful with WDW planning, some of my favs are:
Mousesavers.com, allears.net, touringplans.com good luck.
All

[tribus121]

With kids your age one of the values great the would love the the theming we have stayed at pop twice and my DD loved it ( 4 first time and 6 2nd time ).

Stay as long as you can for a first trip you would be very rushed to see everything in 7 days

With kids your age i would bring a stroller ( a cheep umbrella type will do ) we had one for our first trip and there where times we wished we had one the second time even when your kids arn't riding in it it is a great place to keep water bottles and backpacks

When getting park tickets get the hoppers if for nothing else it lets you have flexibility in your dining res and the ability to go back to a park to see a show you missed or a ride you just have to do again

It can be cold in Florida in late January ( still warmer than here ) Bring at least one set of late fall clothes ( We had to buy our DD a pair of mittens because her hands where cold one morning )

Avoid Martin Luther king day ( The third Monday in January ) if you can as that is a busy weekend


Bring a single air bed and sleeping bag for one of your kids so they wont have to share a bed (there is enough room in even in a Value but only for a single size )

look in to a free fridge swap here on the budget boards we had one for our last trip and it was a godsend ( had breakfast in our room most mornings )

It is worth a little extra to have direct flights transfers can be very stress full with kids in tow and in january you will not have to worry about weather in a 3rd airport

[sgschurman]

We love POP. We were there last February and are going again for March Break and the kids really enjoyed POP. Like someone else said, bring warm clothes. We had on hats, mitts and vests for the first 2 days!

[boundfordisney]

Buffalo is the way to go , we fly with southwest no problems. As far as resorts the caribbean beach is great for a moderate and the yacht club is where we have stayed in deluxe the pool is amaxing there! add park hoppers it really is worth it and as far as a vacation home my daughter has used allstarr vacation home, homes are beautiful, lots to choose from all close to disney! I would suggest to purchase the unnoficial guide to disney it has so much info, really helped with the planning for our first trip I wouldn t have known where to start without it! That would be the single most important thing to do before you start in the planning bye the book and you will have all the info you can possibly need! have fun planning!

[boundfordisney]

Forgot to mention that we stay at the quality inn airport its right across from the airport nothing fancy but clean and they have a pool , no problems with leaving the car there. We are booked here again Nov for our overnight stay, back to disney and our first disney cruise!

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Originally Posted by alesslu

Thinking of using Fairtale Dreams...do they really plan everything for you?Meals etc...

We used Fairytale Dreams & Destinations for our January 2009 (which was our first trip as well ) and they were FANTASTIC . For a first-timer, they are invaluable, offering lots of ideas and suggestions that you might not otherwise know about. And yes, they take the burden of all the planning off your shoulders....they book your resort, watch for discounts for your travel period (and automatically apply them to your reservation ), make your dining reservations, the whole enchilada. Even a nice little "welcome home" email when you return.

We dealt with Christine (the owner of FD&D) though there are several others in the office (and I'm told they're all just as great). Remember, you pay the same price booking through their office as you do through Disney. As well, they are members of TICO. I would MUCH rather deal with FD&D (via email or their toll free number) than with one of the Disney CM's at a long-distance fee (no toll-frees to use with Disney) and be left wondering, as many are after talking with a Disney Cast Member, if the information you received is accurate.

[Practically_Perfect]

I also recommend Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. They are fantastic! Christine had so many great ideas to share (even for me, and I've been to WDW a number of times) and was an invaluable resource. She was on the ball about everything - all of my emails were answered same day, was able to get me the dining reservations I wanted, made sure all my room requests were submitted, and gave great advice about getting around the Orlando airport and heading to Magical Express (if you're using it).

The only thing is they didn't book airfare for me, but I agree with other posters that you should book your own through Buffalo to save on fares!

[disneyfan2]

The only thing i find with Jan/Feb in Buffalo is be wary of Snow storms etc much worst in Buffalo. Friends of our went late Jan 2 yrs back, and there was a storm up here,. but the flights from Buffalo were cancelled til the following day.

If you go Moderates, they have a promo for buy 4 get 3 nights free. The moderates have nicer pools and bigger rooms, plus a Fridge which is so nice to have.
If you go Value they have stay 5 2 free. not as great a deal as Moderates but still some value.

[Sue M]

As a prev. poster has said, new WDW promos just came out. For Value resorts it's buy 5 nights, get 2 free, plus park tix, 7 days for the price of 5.
For Mod. and Deluxe resorts it's pay for 4 nights, get 3 free, and the park ticket upgrade.
I would book asap, if you are planning on going, as resort availability goes down the longer you wait.
WDW only puts a certain # of rooms on for the promo, and when they're booked, that's it.

[tabithakp]

Are kids are the same age and we spend a lot of time at MK so we like to stay at the poly. It will depend on your budget if it works for you or not but we really like the monorail and ttc being right there. You also get the electric water parade and you can watch wishes from the beach/pool/balcony (depending on you room).

We will not be doing the hopper this year. We only used more than one park per day once last year. But like someone else said for adr's it can be easier.

I would stay for 7 for sure this year we are doing 10

we always get the double stroller. Your older child will need it, its a lot of walking.

If your interested i can give you the TA's info. The deal we got was an agency deal and not a disney one.

Hope that helps!!!!

[firegoofy]

Flying with young children we found that a lot of the Buffalo flights were not direct and the thought of doing a layover and two take-offs and landings each way was too much. We found if you watch Westjet prices you can find some comparable prices if you are willing to travel early in the morning or later in the evening. The othr down side to Buffalo in the winter is the weather which can be wild and can cause you to miss connecting flights. As for the hotel we stayed at AS Movies when DD was 5 and she absolutly loved it all the over sized characters seem to really catch the kids interest. Being your first time it won't really matter how long you go there won't be enough time. So stay for what your budget will afford and start planning your return trip.

[You'vegotafriendinme]

Just wanted to post our vote for flying out of Buffalo on Southwest. We've done so many times (mostly in December). We've only taken direct flights and the last three times have arrived at the Orlando airport ahead of schedule. We stay the night before near the airport (Holiday Inn Express - would recommend them). With Southwest, the fares are so reasonable (less than $70 pp one way), and it is very cost efficient compared to flying out of Toronto (especially when you look at tax and additional fees). We have flown WestJet in the past as well; however, it was more than twice the cost, even factoring in US $ exchange. For us, the Buffalo airport is much closer to home, easier to navigate and travel to than Toronto - but again, we're fortunate to live a short drive away.
We've just returned from Disney (Pop Century) a few days ago and were thrilled that Southwest is participating in the program that allows you to check your bags at the hotel when departing. That saved us both time and the trouble of navigating the airport with our bags (other than our carryon items which was no problem).
We've stayed at All Star Movies, All Star Sports and Pop Century a few times. For us, Pop is our favourite value resort - the food court seems to have more choices. We've stayed at Caribbean Beach, which was nice too, but for us, too spread out.
I'm sure you'll have a great time and find what works best for you and your family. Wishing you a FANTASTIC trip!

[sk8jdgca]

I have never found any value in the park hopper. It takes so long to get form one park to another that it doen't make a lot of sense to me.
I'd suggest you sign up for tourguidemike. DIS members get a little discount and the vaule for your money is great- He will tell you how to tour the parks and what park to go to on which day. Colorando resort is a moderate-has a great pool and has queen size beds instead of double. If you are on the dining plan the pepper market there is a great value.