Can someone help me plan?

[momof2cuties]

This is a kind of a last minute trip to try to escape some stress, after a difficult few years. I started thinking we would go for for 10 or so days, staying at a value resort. It's me and my 3 kids (2 teens, 1 4 yr old) Then got anxious that the value and 2 double beds may not be too comfortable with 3 adult sized people and an energetic little guy.

Yesterday on a whim, I booked a great deal at AKL for the first week. Oh and my 10 day plan, increased to 14 nights. My oldest is trying to convince me to make it 17 nights.

We will mostly likely never do an extended vacation like this again, so I'm leaning towards doing at least 3 to 5 nights at a value mid stay and then extend to 17 nights, possibly staying at the Port Orleans for the end of the vacation.

There goes the budget. Originally planned to spend around $1200 on lodging. I'm up to $3200 in lodging. UGH!!! and not sure how much time we will spend in the hotel, but couldn't let the AKL deal go.

I was planning to get a 9 day park pass, but am I wrong that if we go to a park on our first full day, that we only have another 13 days to use the rest? That kind of stinks...

Same with the mugs - if we get mugs, we won't be able to use for the full stay?

And dining plan - I wasn't planning to do the dining plan, but was going to do some math today. We would like to do some of the character meals. I was thinking it might be good to get a few days on the dining plan. I think I could do that correct? Maybe for the end of our stay at Port Orleans, or wherever we end up.

Is it worth being at Disney for July 4th or will the crowds make it not enjoyable?

Lots of questions - please help me think some of it out.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you're going for 17 days get 10 day tickets and take a few days off from the parks here and there.

It sounds like you'll be doing a triple split AKL/Value/POR. We don't like to go to parks on arrival/departure days. We like to relax, unwind, unpack and explore the resort, maybe head to Disney Springs.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

That trip looks stressful to me. We don't split stay due to the hassle. We never stay more than ten days because we get homesick. Throw in you are way past ADR opening so your restaurant choices are sniping and none. Then on top you are going at a very busy time.

If you plan on escaping stress then you aren't. We go in September to avoid all the things I just mentioned. No stress. Just my worthless 2P.

 

[momof2cuties]

I'm not worried about restaurants. I've always done last minute planning and never had much issue getting the restaurants we want. We aren't too set on any must do meals.

I would much prefer September, but with a Junior in HS and a Sophomore in College, it's really impossible to get away then.

 

[Sue M]

I would stay at the value first, and add DDP to that res. Then remainder of stay at AKL. Get 10 day hoppers with water parks attached to first stay at value with DDP. This way since you have a long stay, you get 10 days of water parks too. So some non park days you can go to water park.
I'd simplify your plans to just 2 resorts splitting your time with a value and AKL. Why add stress to vacation?

 

[momof2cuties]

Sue - the great price at AKL was only available the first week If I get 10 day hoppers (we won't use water parks) and go our first full day, will the rest be good 17 days later? Or do they expire within 14 days? Would be nice to get to a park our last day.

 

[Sue M]

Yes, unfortunately park tickets must be used within 14 days of first use. So your remaining days would be non park days. For that reason I wouldn't go to a park your first day. There's a lot to enjoy at AKL, make it a resort day. Great pool, shop, enjoy the savanas, look at resort activities schedule. We enjoy the evening Cultural Safari. Very interesting. There is also evening night viewing of Savana with night vision scopes. Walk over to explore Kidani.

For non park days you. Can go to Disney Springs. We like going to the AMC Fork & Dine theatre.
Take a day visiting other resorts. You can take a bus to DHS then either walk or hop a boat to Epcot resorts. In the evening Boardwalk has outside evening entertainment. Stroll around to BC/YC, grab an icecream from Beaches & Cream take out window.

One thing we enjoy doing is making lake breakfast reservations at Ft Wilderness Trails End. You can take the resort bus to MK and hop on the Ft Wilderness boat, have breakfast buffet Then go explore the area, resort shop, the stables are close by so you can go look at the pony corral, and the big Percheron draft horses. Go back to boat dock and take boat to Wilderness Lodge to explore. Then you can take boat from WL to Contemporary and explore all the monorail resorts.

There is also 2 Mini Golf courses.

 

[momof2cuties]

Thanks Sue - they really should let you use the tickets for your entire stay - strange rule!

 

[Sue M]

Thanks Sue - they really should let you use the tickets for your entire stay - strange rule!

I know! We book 14 days, and have an AP. Prob our last because of AP price hike. So with 14 days reg tickets for future at least we will have access for 14 day limit. After APs exp we will get the Water park add ons, as we enjoy the Disney water parks. Like everything Disney, the theming is amazing.

Maybe will cut our visit to 12 days since regular tix only go to 10 days, and we prob would go to WP 2 days, one day for each.

 

[krfender]

Get annual passes! We calculated that we only needed to use 12 days to break even. Then you get photopass and discounts on merchandise and dining

 

[kreckl]

July 4th will be very crowded. I wouldn't go then. Do you have fast passes for your favorite rides? That will help some- at least you know you'll have those with a reasonable wait.
We love split stays but going from AKL to a value will be tough, imho.

 

[Sue M]

Get annual passes! We calculated that we only needed to use 12 days to break even. Then you get photopass and discounts on merchandise and dining

It used to be, but with new higher, much higher price I'm not sure AP is the way to go anymore. What calculation are you using for 12 days as break even?

 

[scrapquitler]

given that you are going to be at AKL at the beginning of your trip, I'd suggest that you plan the first three or four days to be non-park days. Firstly, AKL has a ton of activities at the resort, and you are likely going to find that you just want to sit on the balcony or the overlook and watch the animals, and that will definitely help you reach your goal of relaxing and un-stressing. I'd also use that opportunity to spend a day at Disney Springs, and maybe resort hop to a restaurant or something at another resort (we loved Trader Sams at the Poly, and we had fun walking around the Boardwalk as well).

 

[scrapquitler]

[QUOTE="momof2cuties, post: 55760840, member: 54339"
Same with the mugs - if we get mugs, we won't be able to use for the full stay? [/QUOTE]

I think that I've seen posts stating that if your resort stay is longer than 14 days, they will extend the expiration date for the mugs, but I do not know that first hand.