3 days in August -how do I make the most of it?

[twissie]

I have loads of questions, I would be very happy if kind person or people could help me out.

I am going to be in Orlando for 3, maybe 4 days in August (not my ideal time but any time is better than none). I know its peak summer holiday season so I need some serious planning to make the most of such a short time. I'm also on a tight budget, so I'm probably looking at staying offsite (unless anyone can tell me differently). It's just me and DH on this trip and we haven't been since 2010.

I think I'll be looking at only 1 or 2 days of park tickets (the other days won't be worth it with flight times). What is the cheapest way of doing this? Or *shock horror* should we have a trip without going into the parks - it's a lot of money if it's going to be impossibly busy when we hope to be back for a 2 week break in the next year or so?

Can you dine in hotel restaurants (particularly character dining) if you aren't staying onsite? - we have particularly good memories of the character breakfast in GF although the names escapes me - is this still good? Is the cost going to make me cry?!

Has anyone been to Capones recently,we loved it 4 years go but I know things change. I can't find any recent reviews.

Any other advice that anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated such as places offsite to eat cheaply, or hotels ideally within walking distance of downtown (our room on the last trip was a 5 min stroll from downtown and it was great to go for a drink or 2 and walk home!)

Thanks in advance

 

[wdw4rfam]

I have loads of questions, I would be very happy if kind person or people could help me out.

I am going to be in Orlando for 3, maybe 4 days in August (not my ideal time but any time is better than none). I know its peak summer holiday season so I need some serious planning to make the most of such a short time. I'm also on a tight budget, so I'm probably looking at staying offsite (unless anyone can tell me differently). It's just me and DH on this trip and we haven't been since 2010.

I think I'll be looking at only 1 or 2 days of park tickets (the other days won't be worth it with flight times). What is the cheapest way of doing this? Or *shock horror* should we have a trip without going into the parks - it's a lot of money if it's going to be impossibly busy when we hope to be back for a 2 week break in the next year or so?

Can you dine in hotel restaurants (particularly character dining) if you aren't staying onsite? - we have particularly good memories of the character breakfast in GF although the names escapes me - is this still good? Is the cost going to make me cry?!

Has anyone been to Capones recently,we loved it 4 years go but I know things change. I can't find any recent reviews.

Any other advice that anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated such as places offsite to eat cheaply, or hotels ideally within walking distance of downtown (our room on the last trip was a 5 min stroll from downtown and it was great to go for a drink or 2 and walk home!)

Thanks in advance

We stayed at the royal pacific hotel for one night before checking into our resort last year. It was really nice, and we paid $99. Its walking distance to downtown Disney, and also walking distance to the main road there, (can't remember the name) with a bunch of chain restaurants. Undercover tourist is the cheapest place for tix, and reliable. They will give you tracking info too. Depending on when in August it may not be too crowded. Check the crowd calendar at either undercovertourist or allears.

 

[twissie]

Thank you, I will look into that hotel.
I've looked up the tickets and crowd calendars and sadly I think I'll give it a miss this time. It works out that I'm only there for the busiest days.
I will wait until we are there for a longer break when I can enjoy it more.

 

[flortlebap]

Have you considered maybe doing universal and sea world for those three days? If you could push for a Universal hotel you would get a free FOTL pass for US and IoA (beating the crowds) and you might even have time to squeeze in Aquatica too...

 

[wiigirl]

Have you considered maybe doing universal and sea world for those three days? If you could push for a Universal hotel you would get a free FOTL pass for US and IoA (beating the crowds) and you might even have time to squeeze in Aquatica too...

 

[twissie]

Thanks for the suggestions, I have been waiting to have the dates confirmed and they have just come back that i will only be there for 1 full day and 2 half days so I don't think I'll do any parks on this trip, I'll have been on a whirlwind trip for the previous 5 days and will probably have low energy.

I think I'll try to make the most of other gentler activities that I wouldn't want to do on another trip when I do have park tickets.

I am still struggling to find out if I can make dining reservations for 1900 Park Fare for the Supercalifragilistic breakfast if I am staying offsite? Is it open to anyone who reserves? Do I have to pay to park at that hotel?

Thanks again for the advice, I really appreciate it - even if I can't take it on this trip!

 

[queendisney]

We stayed at the royal pacific hotel for one night before checking into our resort last year. It was really nice, and we paid $99. Its walking distance to downtown Disney, and also walking distance to the main road there, (can't remember the name) with a bunch of chain restaurants. Undercover tourist is the cheapest place for tix, and reliable. They will give you tracking info too. Depending on when in August it may not be too crowded. Check the crowd calendar at either undercovertourist or allears.

Isn't the Royal Pacific at Universal Resort? If so its def not walking distance to DTD! Or is there another one at Disney now?

Anyway..to the OP..as you're not going to do the parks you could still do a bit of Disney. Maybe some miniature golf and watching the fireworks from the Poly Beach in the evening. You could also do something like a hotel tour. We love looking around the WDW hotels and taking all the transport to them. Enjoy x