A little advice please!

[Queenie]

Hi all,

Scott's parents came over the other week and we were talking (very tentatively) about our possible trip next year. A few things came up and I'd llike to be able to give them some answers.

1. We're likely to be staying on property as this saves the cost of car hire for the length of our stay. We'd have to go value as everything else is too expensive, even after AAA discount. Even with over 50 combined visits between us, none of us have ever stayed on property. Which value resort would you recommend? For some reason I'm drawn to Pop Century, is it nice? We're not really likely to be in the room/pool too much but we'd like one that has the Disney atmosphere with us being on property for the first time.

2. As we'll be without a car, we'll be wanting to use Disney's Magical express. Does this work with any flight out of Orlando International or just certian airlines? If the latter, is there a list of them? We'll be flying in from L.A and out to Manchester but have no idea of what airline we'll use. Do we need to book the Magical Express seperately as we'll be booking flights only online?

3. Has anyone tried to book their Disney package through disneyworld.COM as opposed to disneyworld.CO.UK? The rates are much cheaper as it's in dollars but I'm wary of not being able to use them. Has anyone used Dreams Unlimited or Magic Your Way vacations, will they book for Brits? I'll be going to both for quotes if they do.

Thanks to anyone who can answer any of this. Just praying we get to go. Having an important meeting tomorrow that will have a major bearing on the holiday so have to see how it goes

 

[jen_uk]

Ive only stayed in ASMO so far and I can definately recommend it! I have looked around music and sports and they are both smaller and I dont think as nice. Im staying in Pop this year and I have heard that is just as nice, I think if you book either movies or pop you wont go wrong! Staying onsite is brilliant!
Ive never booked a car or used the magical express! We use the Virgin transfers which are great, a lovely coach straight to your hotel. I think you can use magical express with Virgin but I am put off by the fact you don't get your luggage for a few hours as when we get to hotel all I want to do is unpack and go to bed!
Hope this answers a couple of your questions.

 

[mushumadness]

we have stayed at pop and loved it!! we are booked to stay there again in october 2007

we have always had a car, so I dont know anything about transfers sorry

 

[carolfoy]

I stayed at all star movies last year and agin this year! I do feel its the value with the most 'disney style', those huge icons are fab.
I've used virgin transfers and as Jen says they are quick and efficient if you want to use ME you'll have to register with a US agent to get the labels sent out prior to travel. If you book through dreams unlimited you'll get exactly the same price as on the website BUT you'll be assigned an agent who will track your booking and advise you of any discounts that may apply - ie annual pass holder. AA member etc
I booked a limo for a transfer last year and it was fabulous!

 

[PigSoldier]

3. Has anyone tried to book their Disney package through disneyworld.COM as opposed to disneyworld.CO.UK? The rates are much cheaper as it's in dollars but I'm wary of not being able to use them. Has anyone used Dreams Unlimited or Magic Your Way vacations, will they book for Brits? I'll be going to both for quotes if they do.

I booked my trip with Disneyworld.com last year, although looking at prices for my next trip, the UK website seems to be about £150 cheaper, so make sure you use an up to date currency converter.

Didn't have any problems booking with them, although they did mess up my address, so I got no booking confirmation (or sparkly luggage tags!), and they lost my reservation, which meant £10 worth of calls to the US.

 

[mark&sue]

I have booked magical express for my friends who are joining us for a week at our DVC property this October. They fly in from Las Vegas and fly back to London. I was asked the time and date of their flight and also the airline and the magic express was booked. so far so good!



Susan

 

[Typhoon Tilly UK]

Hi

Cant advise you about staying on site as Disney or transportation from airport to resort but I noted that you intend to fly from LA into Orlando- before booking your flights check out 'Spirit Airlines' as they are very cheap (budget US airline - that compare to our easyjet etc...) they have their own website but I am unable to give you the link as am unable to post urls. They do fly LA into Orlando as I just checked!! Good luck.

 

[Queenie]

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice! We've now narrowed down the hotels to ASM or POP. We're not thinking of booking until Xmas/Jan anyway so we'll debate details nearer the time (got a holiday and baby to come first - not my baby btw!!!!!)

The meeting we had yesterday has now confirmed to us that we won't be moving house this year, instead we're going to do some moving around of finances which will give us more coming in each month and, if all goes to plan, allow us to easily afford the holiday!!

Thanks for the link to Spirit. At the moment I'm getting the cheapest quotes from JetBlue and Orbitz but you know how these things change!

We're pretty unlikely to be flying Virgin (too pricey) so we'll have to see about transfers. Might do a limo transfer up in Vegas! Gonna be so exciting!

 

[jns]

I see you are going this year as well ,so you might as well get AP's if you are going back in 12 months time again

we have book throught Disney over the phone and I have booked with Dreams Unlimited over the net
All you do is pay one night depoiset and pay the rest when you get there
you can book rate now with Dreams Unlimited and if any discounts come out they will change it for you
they will do all your ADR's and book any golf or tours
i have our cruise booked with them this year ,haven't decided yet where we are staying but will go throught them again

we have stayed in the Allstars sport twice
let me know if you have any questions
Enjoy the planning

 

[edinburghlass]

We stayed at Pop Century last year and on the recommendations from the Dis boards asked for a room on the top floor in the Fifties building over looking the lake. This we got and it was lovely. Over looking the lake is very quiet and with the added advantage of seeing the wild life in the mornings.

We also used Magical Express and we flew via Chicago to Orlando International. Last year some people got the yellow tickets some didn't, we didn't but this was okay as all we had to do on arrival at Orlando was describe the suitcases as per pictures we were shown and then head for the bus to our resort.

As we were due to arrive in the evening I had packed night clothes in our hand luggage and so we just went to bed without waiting on our luggage being delivered to the room. I faintly remember hearing them knocking on the door but didn't bother getting up and when we woke up there was a message on the phone and the luggage was delivered as soon as we called them.

So I can highly recommend both Pop and Magical Express

 

[Queenie]

This is all sounding great. We're now seriously considering renting DVC points and booking 2 studios at the Boardwalk as this is still within our price range and we loved it there when we we spent a few hours around there last year.

So the current thinking is a week at the Boardwalk with the Dining Plan so we can try out some of the wonderful sounding table service restaurants we wouldn't normally be able to afford and ME there and back. Sounds like the perfect ending to a wonderful 2 week vacation!

We've already got our Disney tickets for this year so annual passes aren't worth it for us, plus I don't think it would work for us as we're arriving in Disney on Sept 23rd this year but wouldn't get ther until Oct 15th next year which is more than a year. Scott's parents still have MYW days left over from last year so they don't even need tickets for next Oct unless they go over for EPCOT's flower fest/Star Wars Weekends next year as well which they're debating.