Anybody want to take me under their wing?

[Procrastinator]

I'm sure my username says it all. We've been promising our 6yo dd that we are going to take her to Disney World since June 2004 when my brother's family went. We've finally set the date, and it's coming up way too fast.

I've been searching all over to try to find any info and tips I can to make our trip as fun as I can while still keeping it as inexpensive as possible.

My family is me, my dh, my dd who is 6, and my ds who will be 2 in August. Our plan is to go May 19-27, 2006. We figure then we will miss the insane crowds of Memorial Day and dh only has to take a week off work rather than the 2 we were originally planning. This trip will definitely focus on Disney World, and I've contemplated doing non-Disney things like Sea World and Kennedy Space Center.

I've been looking on the Disneyworld website, pretty much figuring a value resort since we'll likely not spend a whole lot of time in the hotel and the kids are young enough that just being at Disney will be enough for them. After reading around here, I'm thinking POP becaue of the bussing situation. Staying offsite hasn't really been an option, because I like the extras that come from staying on the grounds.

Some of my specific questions are:
Should I book through the WDW website, or is there a better way to book?
How far in advance do I HAVE to book?
Should everything be booked together, or separate...should I get my own plane tickets or book it all together?
Dining package? Seems costly at $100 a day, since my 6yo doesn't really eat a lot. Any imput?
Is vacation insurance worth it?

Please feel free to give me ANY info you can or direct me where to look. I'm sure I sound like an idiot, but I haven't been do Disney World in 15 years, and that was when I was 10 so I didn't have a hand in planning at all. Thanks in advance for any help you'd be willing to offer me. I'm really getting excited now that it's almost 2006!

 

[safetymom]

I suggest asking your resort questions on the Resort board here on the DIS. You will get all sorts of good information.

 

[malibuconlee]

For the dining plan:

Take a look at the menus to see where/what you would like to eat. I know that DH and I will be doing the dining plan on our next trip. We spend a lot more per day than what the plan would cost for the tow of us.

As for your 6 year old. Well, it's not that expensive per day for kids. I do know that my 5 yo nephew would not want to share his plate with me. He wants his "own" everything. Plus, not sure if yours is a picky eater, buy again the nephew would prefer chicken nuggets to what I would order.

 

[byoung]

Welcome to the DIS.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

First I'd say that if you are going to focus on mainly WDW then stay on-site, value resort is the way to go, decide if you like the All Star Movies, Music or Sports ot the Pop Century go on allearsnet.com and check out the resorts section, look at the pics and discriptions and pick which one your family would enjoy the best, the offical WDW site is good to.
Next, on the DIS boards under the Resorts board there is a sub-forum for codes and rates see if there is a code watch thread for May or start your own. If you have no idea about what codes are read this: FAQ & Guidelines for Discounts and Codes
I booked with Disney over the phone because I have found the web site to be not always up to date.
Booking the sooner the better but you still have some time.
Check the Disney Resturant Forum and you'll find lots of talk about the Dinning plan and ask all the questions you have.
We did not get trip insurance but it is a good idea.
Here are some sites to check out to help you:
allearsnet.com
mousesavers.com
intercot.com
mouseplanet.com

I'm sure you will have hundreds of more questions, welcome to the DIS thats what we're here for. Happy Planning!
Danny

 

[MiknMinMouse]

If this is your first time out, I'd say go with a Disney Travel Agent, there are two that are talked about frequently on this board. They can make your life a lot easier. At least that's been my experience. I've done it both ways, myself and through Small World Travel and I prefer letting them do the work. That being said, if you're a definite do it your selfer be sure to check out mousesavers.com for the best money saving info. Allearsnet.com has great information on just about every aspect of disneyworld. Also, I'd buy a guidebook. Some don't recommend that with all the info on the web, but with me, I sometimes get burned out on reading everything on screen and I like to have a book I can carry around with me and look at. You definately got off to a good start by coming here! Hope you have a great time.

 

[Disneylovingmom]

Your children will love any of the value resorts. My kids are grown now, but they always preferred the value resorts over the moderates. Be sure to go to the Disney web site and tour the resorts. As for the dining program, my family is not doing it on our trip next month. We eat at counter service restaurants most of the time and figure that we spend less than the cost of the dining program. I think if you plan to eat a lot of meals at full-service restaurants, the dining plan would be worth it. You can go to the allearsnet web site and click on dining. She has the menus with prices from all the restaurants in theme parks and at the resorts. It is a great web site. She has lots of WDW info. Also check out the mousesavers web site. This is a great web site with all kinds of ways to save money at Disney. Good luck and have lots of fun!!!

 

[Procrastinator]

Thank you all SO much for your warm welcomes and useful information. It has helped me make so many decisions today, I feel like I'm ready to pack up and go. I am rather frustrated that I didn't book a couple days ago when I could have saved $50, but I guess I can't turn back time.

I found answers to a few of my questions. Thank you for directing me to the restaurant board. I found menus there and discovered that we will probably spend a lot less on food if we just buy it rather than do the dining plan. I also found a direct flight on my own that was cheaper than the 1 stop flight that the official site found for me.

I feel like I'm getting more excited by the minute. How am I going to make it to May?

 

[eeyore45]

Congratulations, and WELCOME!!

Have fun in planning!! I love the DIS!! Its so helpful, and gives so many different experiences, try the Family board since you're traveling with young children as well!! I think the best advice I got was to relax and not try to do everything, and when you think the line is super long, time it - I was often surprised I'd think the line would be 30 min to an hour it was so long, and often times we'd get thru it in 15 min!!

For another helpful free planning site, for deciding on the Dining Plan, as well as deciding which park which day I found www.touringplans.com helpful to us, its from the Unofficial guide, and he has some touring plans free as well!! Make a list of the "must do" rides, and get there at park opening, that way you can spend time when it gets crowded, just soaking up the magic, sitting down eating a Mickey Bar while waiting for a parade, or the Fireworks!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Minniespal]

Welcome to the Dis

 

[jessica52877]

I thought that we always did good by eating without the dining plan or meal vouchers. But we went this past October and LOVED the plan. We got to try it during the free dining plan time. My son is now 3, at the time he was 2 so no dining plan. And he still eats off my plate usually (only turned 3 a couple of days ago) BUT because of the dining situations when we go here in a couple of weeks we will be doing no character meals. We can't get the dining plan because we aren't booking a package (we dont need tickets). I would more then recommend booking the dining plan because we only eat one main meal per day (sit down) and then sometimes a counter service. I can't say we really made money on the plan, we got tons of desserts and appetizers we didn't need and skipped it quite often, but we did not pay more for the plan on any given day then we would have spent on food. The plan includes tips and drinks,which is great! Even for son who was 2 at the time. Always happy to bring him milk. At $10 a day for the kids I think it is worth it simply for the character meal situations and then you can get some milk with the snacks if needed. Also loved getting fresh fruit for my son with the snacks! Just my thoughts on it. Had you asked me before getting it for free I would have said NO WAY!

Jessica

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Welcome to the DIS! As others have said, the value resorts are great if you have small kids, my dd loved ASMo. Now that she's older we stay deluxe or moderate, just because they have a slide at the pools and we try to take a couple of days off from the parks. As far as the dining plan goes, we went to WDW in May of last year, and it was HOT. It might be nice to have some sit down meals during the day inside in the A/C to sort of recharge. We just got back from another trip a couple of weeks ago and did the dining plan and it was wonderful! We had the opportunity to eat at some places we would have without it, so it's definately worth looking into.
Also, since this is your first trip in 15 yrs. and your kid's first trip ever, I would focus on WDW and skip the other things like Sea World and Kennedy, just because IMO you should have a couple of days of "down time" to just relax and enjoy the hotel pool, or Downtown Disney or whatever, plus, like I said, it's so hot that really the temps can zap your energy pretty quickly.
Have fun planning, and don't hesitate to ask anything you want, someone here will know the answer!

 

[MouseHouse14]

As for the resorts, since your kids are young, they will probably like the Movies Resort the best. Mine absolutely LOVED the huge figures (Dalmations, Toy Story...etc) that were scattered throughout the grounds. All the Value Resorts are great, but that one seems to appeal to younger kids. Have a great time!

 

[The Dark Dancer]

Welcome to the DIS!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

It is 2006 now so that means you are even closer to planning your dream!

To address your questions: First, I would stay at ASMo with age of your children. It's so much funner and the buses aren't as bad as some say. True that Pop has it's own but Disney realizes that All Stars share and the buses are always generous!

Second and with regard to the Dining Plan: I cannot seriously believe that this would benefit you unless you just don't want to bother with planning meals and such.

Third: Focus on Disney only since it's been awhile. Build in downtime and realize that you will not do and see it all. It's just not going to happen - lol!

Best advice: Don't push your kids and go commando all the way! Relax and stop and smell the roses. The kids will see them and I hope you will too!

Happy planning!

 

[HappyLawyer]

you don't need anyone to take you under their wing, once you get into the boards, you'll want to fly free, trust me.