Advice for first time visit - family of 4

[AlexR]

Hi,

My family (Wife, 6-year old girl, 3 1/2 year old boy) are planning our first visit to Disney in Orlando. We are interested in Jan 1, 2, 3 (Wed - Fri) for our visit.
I know very little about the resorts, hotels, tickets, etc and am looking for any / all guidance for planning a trip for my family.

Accommodations - reasonably priced (we will have a car, but would use provided transportation if easier and recommended). Does not need to be on property, but if there are compelling reasons to stay on property and worth any additional, costs, please let me know.

Resorts - Are there any we should NOT go to because of the age / size of our children? Which should we definitely go to. Our daughter loves all the princesses, our son loves Mickey, Toy Story, Cars, etc.

Tickets - We would go 2 or 3 days. We are Florida residents, but i think the Florida resident rate is blocked out for Jan 1-3. Any suggestions for inexpensive tickets or multi-day passes?

Any advice is appreciated - I'm sure this is very open ended, but feel free to provide any thoughts that you feel would be beneficial!

Thank you! - Alex

 

[Planogirl]

I would check out the Resorts forum to get more detail about resorts. I would strongly consider staying onsite just to make things easier. You get free transportation and also involvement with Disney's My Disney Experience particularly FastPass+. There are tons of threads here about Disney's new program but I would go to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/ to read up on the details.

Which resorts are reasonably priced is hard to say of course since it depends on how much you want to spend. We like the category known as the moderates (both Port Orleans resorts, Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach Resort) but the values have their fans too. Be sure to check out Disney's own website to see more detail about the various resorts and pricing too at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ .

As for passes, we just bite the bullet and pay the high costs. You can get a little bit of a discount at http://www.undercovertourist.com/ . Note that this Disney ticket agent includes taxes and fees in their quoted prices unlike Disney who adds them at checkout.

Anyway, welcome to the DIS!

 

[lizabu]

I really like easywdw.com for deciding which park to go to on which day. They tell you which park will be the least busy and why.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

If at all possible, I would look to select different days for your first trip. The parks will be JAM PACKED and I think it would be challenging for a 1st time visitor to get much done in the parks and you'd only see a fraction of what there is to see there. If it were me, I'd go later in Jan and pull the 6 year old out of school for a day or two.

Much more space for the money if you stay off-site. You can get a large 2 bedroom suite for around 100/night off-site and for that price (actually probably much more since that's prime time Disney season) you are in a very small Motel-8 type room at a Disney Value resort. That said, Disney resort guests do get access to the Fast Pass + program which allows you to reserve 3 fast passes (basically, skip the line) for three attractions per day. And with your dates, you may need that. As of now, off-site guests can pull paper Fast Passes at the park, but that could change at any time.

Mousesavers.com has the best ticket info...and other money saving info. Good luck.

 

[Happyjen27]

It might be pretty busy those days. I would delay the trip by a week if possible. You might save HOURS in lines by waiting one week.

1. Accommodations - reasonably priced (we will have a car, but would use provided transportation if easier and recommended). Does not need to be on property, but if there are compelling reasons to stay on property and worth any additional, costs, please let me know.

2. Resorts - Are there any we should NOT go to because of the age / size of our children? Which should we definitely go to. Our daughter loves all the princesses, our son loves Mickey, Toy Story, Cars, etc.

3. Tickets - We would go 2 or 3 days. We are Florida residents, but i think the Florida resident rate is blocked out for Jan 1-3. Any suggestions for inexpensive tickets or multi-day passes?

4. Any advice is appreciated - I'm sure this is very open ended, but feel free to provide any thoughts that you feel would be beneficial!

1. I've only stayed on property and loved it because my kids (and myself if I'm being honest) need a mid-day break. To take a break while staying on property it seems so simple, hop on the monorail or the bus and go back to the resort. Nap then hop back on the monorail and bus to the parks. It seems like a bigger time investment if staying off property. Not impossible though, especially if you postpone a week and go during a slower time.

2. For resorts, again, because my young kids and I love mid-day breaks, I've been doing the monorail resorts. For me, time is money, and I want to spend the least amount of time going from place to place. Note, this is NOT the economical way to do it.

3. The more days you purchase, the cheaper PER DAY the ticket is. You'll do best to just price these out and see what works best. I don't know much about 3rd party ticket sellers, but I hear Undercover Tourist's name a lot.

4. Random advice: The magic of 4. Which is 4 hours of touring in a park before kids tend to be overstimulated, overtired and could benefit from a break. That is how we toured, and it worked great for us. We would take a break after 4 hours, sometimes nap, sometimes just swim at the resort, or lay around and read/color/watch TV. Then, we would go to dinner or the parks feeling refreshed and ready for more fun. Every family is different, some people go all day long and do stroller naps, no naps, and they enjoy their experience. You know best what will work for you.

 

[Disney44please]

Alex - I just planned our first family trip for my family of four also. We have a 2 and 4 year old. So, here are my suggestions:

Accommodations/Resort - Children themed rooms tend to be the best at the Art of Animation hotel. They have little mermaid themed rooms and family suites featuring Nemo, Cars and Lion King. They are a value resort, so you can find the most reasonable rates there. The All-Star Resorts are themed according to their name (think giant tennis balls @ All-Star Sports).

Moderate and Deluxe hotels are normally a step up in quality (bigger beds, indoor corridors at the deluxes) but may lack in some of the over the top "theme"ing

As for why to stay onsite. The new FP+ (fastpass+) system is only currently enabled for those guests who are staying at a Disney property. This will allow you to book up to three fast passes a day, prior to your trip. As you are going during a busy time, it will be quite valuable.

Additionally, you will also have access to the free Disney transportation between resorts/parks.

Tickets - We purchased AP's so I can't really help you out with those, but I know plenty of people have used Undercover Tourist. I just don't think it is worth the hassle of not having the tickets possibly linking to the MDE account, which negates the FP+ benefit.

Have fun and enjoy your vacation!

 

[princessmocha]

Like a few people have said, the days you have chosen are very, very busy days. So if you are locked into those days, be prepared for a lot of people in the parks.

As for resorts, you may want to try out the Art of Animation or even the All Star resorts for some really fun theming.

If you are set on going during this time, book it ASAP. Then if you want to do any sit down meals, plan those next. It may be tough to get into some of the character meals if that is something you were thinking of doing.

Good Luck!

 

[Planogirl]

Tickets - We purchased AP's so I can't really help you out with those, but I know plenty of people have used Undercover Tourist. I just don't think it is worth the hassle of not having the tickets possibly linking to the MDE account, which negates the FP+ benefit.

I thought that people were successfully linking Undercover Tourist passes now? Of course that might depend on who you ask.

 

[AlexR]

Thanks all ... we are seriously re-considering our plans to go on Jan 1, 2, 3. I've found all feedback to be pretty 'concerning' about those days. Plus, all our Florida resident discounts are blocked out during that time.
We will probably take a couple weekdays to go - any thoughts on whether a Thurs / Fri is better in the off season than a Mon / Tues?

 

[EveClark]

We went during September, which was a very slow time (Labor Day week) and while it wasn't a the first trip for my husband and I, it was the first time we took our (then) 4 year old son...
I think I would lean towards going on Thrus/Fri as opposed to Mon/Tues.
This gives you the less crowded weekdays to get used to how your family likes to do things so that you're good to go by Sat/Sun when it may be a bit more crowded.
I hope that helps! Good Luck!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

As someone who was in your shoes not long ago, I have 2 pieces of advice:

1) suck up as much info from this board as possible

2) pick one "must do" per day per child, and try to do those as early as possible. You will not come close to "doing it all" in your short stay. So, don't sweat it.

 

[catherines_mama]

As a former Floridian I agree, wait and go during a less busy time. You will enjoy it much more and your daughter will be fine missing a day here and there. Ours are older now and we still pul them out on occasion for Disney.

I'm a huge on properly proponent but I know budgets are what they are. If you can't get a good FL resident rack rate- we LOVED Pop Century. Some good offsites we like are: Hilton Garden Inn 11400 Marbella Palm Ct, Orlando, FL. It's so close and getting to Disney from here is easy. We still stay here the night before when we drive down from NC and want to save a night on points ( we bought DVC 2 yrs ago). We also like Royal Plaza at Downtown Disney. They have good deals and promos. I don't love the buses they have so prob plan to drive your car.
For good deals on property or off, look up mousesavers.com they always have great deals.

Tickets- look for the FL resident ones- nothing beats those deals.

Link your tickets to magic bands and drink the kool-aid and do FP+ this will ensure you guys get tondo the rides that are must-do. Get that planned on MyDisneyExperience as soon as possible.

When you get there, sit back relax and take it all in, you can't get the 1st visit back.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have been during that week and my advice is to avoid. It is VERY busy. Remember you are also looking at only a month out, that will reduce your choices of places to stay and ADRs to make. If you wait a week or two, you are in great shape. MUCH lower crowds.

My advice is to stay on site. Look at the three tiers of resorts and decide which fits your budget. We have stayed all three and never been unhappy. Moderates are the best choice for our family right now. With in that category,choose the resort that you think your family would like the theme best. For value, we like pop, but have not stayed at AOA. Moderate we like CSR the best. Deluxe is tougher as the cost varies soooo much. WL is one of the lower end cost deluxe and we like it a lot in Winter.
if at all possible, I would recommend at least 4 full park days. That is only one day in each park. We always do hopper passes, but as first timmers on limited time, you could save that money. You might be able to get free dining later in January too. We mostly do the regular DDP and do one sit down a day. Make ADRs ASAP. Many places will already be full, but eating off times you will find some good places. The most popular character meals will be full, but there may be some others still open.
Not sure where in Florida you are from, but Orlando can be cold in January, not cool but cold!!! Pack accordingly. You will want a stroller for the youngest and maybe the older one.
READ READ READ and understand FP, park lay outs etc. Plan to be at park before opening to enjoy those first few no crowd hours, If you are on site, consider doing EMH only if you get the hoppers and can hop as crowds build. Plans meal around what day you will be in what park, Come back and ask any questions that come up!!

 

[Disneyaddictz]

I agree with everyone, save the busy times for after you have gone several times, for me going during the holidays is to see the Christmas lights, my expectations would be low for actual rides because its jammed packed! However if you can't change the dates at least prepare yourself for the crowds and you will still have a great time. Def go early, like be there for opening. Use that time for the longest wait time attractions, skip the rest for later.
I have stayed on and off property, everyone has different (and strong) opinions about each. Yes off property is usually cheaper and spacious, however on property is sometimes closer and more disney themed, your around cast members 24/7!
Undercover tourist.com Is great for crowd estimators! Good luck!

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