Am I Crazy?

[mom2rtk]

I could be wrong, but I think you'll be far enough past Easter that it will be fine.

And just make your intern promise to host you in China when you come over to visit DL in Shanghai!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I could be wrong, but I think you'll be far enough past Easter that it will be fine.

And just make your intern promise to host you in China when you come over to visit DL in Shanghai!

I thought about that, but she will be in China only a few weeks before flying back to the U.S. What's crazy is she is about 5 hours from Hong Kong Disneyland, but she's never been! I will tell her that if she ever goes back to visit her family in China, she MUST give me a call.

 

[scrapquitler]

Our Spring Break is April 11-15.


LOL! I actually asked her how she did with crowds since Spring Break was one of the busiest times. She said, "Uh, I'm from China!" It was hilarious. Now I, on the other hand, don't do so well with crowds, but I will manage. I've been at Christmas twice.

ETA: I just looked at the crowd calendar and it's 5s and 6s the whole week. I figured it would be wild, but I guess because it's not near Easter, it's not bad. Woohoo!!!

That's our spring break, too, and we'll be there. I think you will be fine, and the crowds will not be as bad as you are imagining. You'll probably have trouble if you want to get 7DMT, or A&E, but most rides you'll still be able to FP+. I'd just plant the expectation with her that in three days you aren't going to see/do everything, and then just kind of go with the flow while there. I'm sure your intern will enjoy herself!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I realize that you are trying to do this as cheaply as possible, but POP is available on Orbitz for $105 a night when you use promo code SURFSUP at check out

I must have missed this. It is saying SOLD OUT.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I thought about that, but she will be in China only a few weeks before flying back to the U.S. What's crazy is she is about 5 hours from Hong Kong Disneyland, but she's never been! I will tell her that if she ever goes back to visit her family in China, she MUST give me a call.

I think there will be more than a call! I predict a long and abiding friendship after this trip. She must look up to you as a mentor, what a gift!

 

[kayteekt]

Our Spring Break is April 11-15.


LOL! I actually asked her how she did with crowds since Spring Break was one of the busiest times. She said, "Uh, I'm from China!" It was hilarious. Now I, on the other hand, don't do so well with crowds, but I will manage. I've been at Christmas twice.

ETA: I just looked at the crowd calendar and it's 5s and 6s the whole week. I figured it would be wild, but I guess because it's not near Easter, it's not bad. Woohoo!!!

Yea, i was gonna say "spring break" crowd wise is really last week and this week. We are going the 9th-12th. Purposefully after the madness.
Crowd calendars look good. Looks like things should drop off after this weekend. This was a very last minute trip, we decided to go for a quick trip about 3 weeks ago. Anyway, I haven't booked a single ADR (we've never done that, we usually book 1-2 per day). I did make FPs, but I'm not sure if we'll move around. I know at least 1 day we prob will.
I did those right under 30 days (would have been eligible for 60 since we're on site) was able to get what we wanted, including 7dmt and the coasters. So i wouldn't sweat it too much.
As for a room, you can always check availability on site, if not there are lots of hotels close by

 

[johnsonet]

Go for it!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Found some good prices on airfare which would be nice since it's such a short trip and we are 11-1/2 hours away. But to use ME, I'd have to be staying on-site, correct? I'm going to call DVC Member Services tomorrow to see if I can get a DVC discount on any of the values. That would be 25% off. So flying would save us at least one night's hotel cost.

Can anyone tell me about MDE? I have to buy the tickets by Thursday to get the DVC discount. It's cheaper for me to buy a 3-day PH and add the WPM option even though we won't have time to even step foot in a water park. That's because the DVC promotional price did not increase with the latest ticket hike. But I must buy them by March 31. Lots of decisions to make between now and then.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

As far as parks, how does this sound?
Day 1: Epcot (arrive early afternoon--focus on World Showcase and IllumiNations)
Day 2: MK (definitely rope drop, parades, fireworks)
Day 3: AK (maybe DS after closing)
If this works, we may just do a regular 3-day ticket through Disney or UT instead of the 3-day PH with my DVC discount.

 

[Paigevon]

I just booked a room through cheaptickets.com 20% off with discount code TRAVELER20 (maybe TRAVERLERS20 if the first one doesn't work?) -- you have to tell them for the code to lonk to MDE but it was a better price than listed on the Disney site! I picked All Star Movies (about $100) but they had a preferred room at Caribbean beach and Port Orleans Riverside for less than $200 a night. Not sure what the room budget is but being on site is so convenient and includes parking! I didn't check your exact dates though!

Go go go and have a great time!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I just booked a room through cheaptickets.com 20% off with discount code TRAVELER20 (maybe TRAVERLERS20 if the first one doesn't work?) -- you have to tell them for the code to lonk to MDE but it was a better price than listed on the Disney site! I picked All Star Movies (about $100) but they had a preferred room at Caribbean beach and Port Orleans Riverside for less than $200 a night. Not sure what the room budget is but being on site is so convenient and includes parking! I didn't check your exact dates though!

Go go go and have a great time!

I'm looking at going April 13-16, but those nights are sold out for the values. Going to check tomorrow about a DVC discount. $100/night will be fine especially if it's on-site. I've only stayed off-site once but it was without a car. I can probably handle it if I have a car, but we are thinking of flying, and with that expense, a rental car is out of the question. I know nothing about flying, so no idea about DME or other shuttle services if staying off-site. I'm begging to feel overwhelmed!

 

[g-dad66]

Yes, to use DME, you must be staying onsite.

 

[pa. dad]

We planned our last trip only 6-8 weeks out and we did okay. A few of the Fast Passes were sold out so that old us where to be right after rope drop then. But we did get some good fastpasses and reservations.
I think you'll have to accept that you may miss a few things here and there. Despite spending 2 days at the MK, we still missed peter pan and astro orbiter. One think I should say- park hopping may be difficult for you. the fastpasses that you do get will be for later in the day in some cases. We just got the best ones we could and worked our plans around those.

 

[Paigevon]

I'm looking at going April 13-16, but those nights are sold out for the values. Going to check tomorrow about a DVC discount. $100/night will be fine especially if it's on-site. I've only stayed off-site once but it was without a car. I can probably handle it if I have a car, but we are thinking of flying, and with that expense, a rental car is out of the question. I know nothing about flying, so no idea about DME or other shuttle services if staying off-site. I'm begging to feel overwhelmed!

Oh wow, yes just a few weeks earlier than I was looking and nothing!

The cheapest on the Disney site that I currently see is $202/night for Port Orleans French Quarter.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Moved our dates to April 11-14 and Pop is available. It's basically $120 including tax and resort fee with the SURFSUP code. I think this will be worth it to be on-site. Airfare is around $200 so I think that will be worth it to avoid the long drive and the wear and tear on the car. This may be the way to go.

We planned our last trip only 6-8 weeks out and we did okay. A few of the Fast Passes were sold out so that old us where to be right after rope drop then. But we did get some good fastpasses and reservations.
I think you'll have to accept that you may miss a few things here and there. Despite spending 2 days at the MK, we still missed peter pan and astro orbiter. One think I should say- park hopping may be difficult for you. the fastpasses that you do get will be for later in the day in some cases. We just got the best ones we could and worked our plans around those.

I agree about park hopping. It saves us to not get it and there is plenty to do in each park since she's never been. I'm thinking Epcot on the first day, MK on the second day, and AK on the last day.

 

[Paigevon]

YAY!

 

[Paigevon]

Moved our dates to April 11-14 and Pop is available. It's basically $120 including tax and resort fee with the SURFSUP code. I think this will be worth it to be on-site. Airfare is around $200 so I think that will be worth it to avoid the long drive and the wear and tear on the car. This may be the way to go.

I agree about park hopping. It saves us to not get it and there is plenty to do in each park since she's never been. I'm thinking Epcot on the first day, MK on the second day, and AK on the last day.

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/calendars/april-2016-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/
You may already know of Josh's site, just wanted to link you just in case! Crowd level 5's all week, not bad!

 

[mrzrich]

Did you book? Because if you can get a DVC rate it might be slightly cheaper than Orbitz.

 

[balletomane]

I think you're a doll. You are making a dream come true. If you are willing, do what you can. It's more than what she will have if you do nothing.

 

[gap2368]

I teach middle school, and my intern this year is from China. She just told me that she would like to go to WDW over Spring Break--which is in two weeks!!! We have come up with this crazy plan to go! I've never planned a last-minute trip like this. I am a compulsive planner!!! Here's what I'm thinking, but please give me any tips you can think of.
1) Transportation: We will probably drive which is what I'm used to. If we do end up flying, ME provides ground transportation only if you are staying on-property, correct?
2) Hotel: I'm sure everything is BOOKED! It's Spring Break!!! I own DVC and checked the site, but nothing much is available unless we move rooms. Plus I'm needing to go for CHEAP! I checked Baymont Inn in Celebration which is about 2 miles for AKV. It has availability and for $59 (AAA rate). We would split the room, so about $30/night/person. Would this be the best way to go since we won't be in the room much?
3) Tickets: I have NE tickets, but not sure I want to use them for this trip. I need to save them for my family trips. I can get a DVC discount right now, but I'm thinking we will just do a 3-day ticket so that discount doesn't work on that many days. I know about Undercover Tourist, but I have extra Disney GCs from churning, so I'm thinking of just buying them through Disney. If we do 3 days, we will do one day in MK, AKV, and Epcot. Or should we Park Hop? I'm sure that would be better since it will be extra crowded.
4) I have an MDE account already set up for my trip in June. Should I set up another account just for this trip, so things don't get crazy? I'm still learning about all this MDE stuff! If we stay off-site, we won't get Magic Bands unless we pay for them, right? We can just use our plastic ticket to get into parks and charge things, right?
5) What about FPs? Am I out of luck this close to the trip?
6) Food: I figure we will just do CS to save time and money. Probably not a lot of ADRs available right now anyway???
Any advice you can give quickly will be greatly appreciated!!!

1 yes I think you should drive
2 that sounds like a good price so I would use that hotel as you said you are not going to be there long just to sleep
3 how many days are you going to be there what about 4 days one day for each park
4 you can do a new account if you really wanted too but once you have tickets it is easy to set up FP for things you like to ride you just have to have a ticket for every day you set up FP for.
5 no you are not I go all the time some times I just go the night before lets go to disney tomorrow and we go sometimes I book FP on the way dawn at 3 AM ( more like 3;30) you some times have to get creative like for hard to get FP like 7DMT you can get one FP easer then 2 so you do one FP for 11-12 and the other one from 11:-12:30 and then you ride it between 11:30 and 12 when they over lap

12 if you want to save money and time then yes do QS but you could get TS if you really wanted if you know what parks you are going to on each day you can stop at GS and see what is open but agin this will take time

I would try and do rope drop if you can you will get in some much more in the first hour to an hour and a half that the park is open as it dose not get busy until about 10:30-11

I think some times the best trips are the lest minute trips whee you do not have a lot of time to plan things make a list of 3 or 4 things you really want to do at each of the parks and any thing else is just extra

Have fun