A lot of questions! First visit in 17 years

[Luv2trav]

I've been reading this board for about 2 weeks now and you have A LOT of wonderful advice!! I am going to WDW March 22-31st. We are staying offsite at Westgate Villa's (I have read both bad and good reviews regarding this location). We got an great deal for 330.00 dollars for 7 nights 2 bedroom condo. Yes, I have to sit through a 90 min salespitch but to me that is worth saving over 800 dollars and taking my chances. Here are my questions. Please keep in mind we have a 18 month old and my mother will be with us to help us out. So we will not have a problem with not riding anything.

1.We are trying to decide between 5 Day park hopper plus passes vs. 2 day passes at WDW and 2 days at Universal? Which would you recommend?

2.Is it worth to subscribe to Connections? Are their Disney passes really 10% off? How much would a 5 day PH Pass Plus cost?

3. Speaking of connections, Are the food vouchers worth it? Since we are staying off site are there many location inside the parks to eat at? If we are only eating lunch at the parks would you even bother buying the vouchers?

4. What do all these abbreviations mean?

Thank you!

 

[zurgswife]

Here goes....

1. As a diehard WDW fan...i would pick the 5day park hopper....getting a one day pass just seems too limiting to me. I enjoy go to different parks in one day....The other day I went alone due to a plane departure (the next day) I did 3 parks in one day....it was fun..

2.My familiariy with Connections is only through this board..but they don't seem like a consistant savings and too many hoops to order and cancel membership....I would try Ticketmania.com for on line ticket purchases..

3. I don't think they are worth the meager savings....

4. Which abbreviations do you need deciphered this link should help with most

http://wdwig.com/abrev.htm

 

[KristaTX]

I haven't been to Islands of Adventure, but I have been to the other Universal park once. I just don't think a 2 day pass to WDW is anywhere near enough. Maybe 3-4 days at WDW and 1 or 2 at Universal? In my opinion (and all my friends' and family members'), if you need to skip a Disney park, skip Animal Kingdom. It has the fewest attractions, although the Lion King show there is one of the best shows at Disney. I know, I know - someone who reads this will tell you AK is their favorite park. However, all 12 people I've been to Disney with like AK the least.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Try this site for everything you need to know about dining in Walt Disney World!

www.wdwig.com

Lots of other stuff, too.

 

[Luv2trav]

Thank you for all your suggestions. We are leaning towards 5 day park hopper plus tickets. I really feel at this moment WDW will be the best place to visit with my family.

Another question(I know I have a lot)
How easy it to park hop? Since we are staying offsite we will be parking and if we park hop is the transportation easily accessed? and return?

 

[JulesMom]

I think Connections is worth it. Check out www.mousesavers.com It explains Connections very well and lets you know where you can get a good deal.

4 dy Park Hoppers--$197.47
5 dy Park Hoppers--$236.76

 

[mco-missy]

Park hopping is not that difficult. You can drive your own vehicle from park to park. You only have to pay for parking once at the first park you visit each day. You just show the parking receipt at the next park.
Or you can use Disney transportation. The easiest is the monorail between MK and EPCOT. To travel between the other parks you have to take a bus. Also if you park at somewhere that closes early (Animal Kingdom) and take the bus to somewhere like EPCOT that stays open late you may have problems getting back to your car.
I usually just drive from park to park. I find it much easier. The signs are very easy to follow.
(Remember, if you go with two days at Disney those tickets are single day admission- no park hopping allowed. Just another reason for you to go with 5 day park hoppers and forget about Universal).

 

[SnackyStacky]

I took my first trip to Disney World a year ago which was my first in 16 years.

1.)Universal is WONDERFUL. It is such a great place to go. BUT, there's so much at Disney World that will be new, you'll probably not want to leave, so I would save Universal for another trip.

Having said that though, if you're going during the off season, and you have 5 full days to dedicate to touring, I would get a 4 day hopper to Disney, and a 1 day pass to the Studios. We got to see basically EVERY attraction because there was nobody there. All rides were a walk on, so we did a park a day and saw everything we wanted to. If you're going during a peak time, then definitely get a 5 day hopper.

 

[Luv2trav]

We have decided on doing the 5 day park hopper or get this maybe even a season pass!! How in the heck did I go from maybe 2 days at Disney to getting a season pass??

 

[SnackyStacky]

That's probably a VERY good decision.

Since that trip in january, I've been again in September, and again this January. I would have saved SO much money if I had bought an annual pass!

Have fun!!!