DAH for a WDWMK newbi. Advice please!

[little tess]

Hi everyone! My name is Tess. I'm a long time forum reader. Am going to DAH in March & need advice about efficiently managing value hotel for one night or 2 & transportation between airport, room & MK. We are flying in from CO & Iowa the day before, going to room, sleeping in day of, getting to the park about 7pm to soak up the atmosphere before DAH. After, either go back to room and sleep, flying back out later the afternoon of the day after, or go to airport and fly out earlier the day after. Will be accompanied by my DS & DD, both in their early 20's.

Don't know squat about Orlando except to stay out of rivers & lakes. Cold to me is 20 below w/0% humidity. I understand DAH is 3 hour event with lower crowds, limited food options & not a "full park experiance". Am not buying a day ticket as well. I don't like crowds, don't have the budget for a 10 day resort extravaganza, & I'm all about rides. Understand MK is a bit of a walk around. Ok with a value hotel as long as it's safe & clean.

Thank you in advance for your experience and advice. I'm super excited!!!!!!!
(ps: This is not a post and run)

 

[Accident]

Since you've never been, not here for long and your talking getting here fast enough to do one of the remaining dates. go check out dreams unlimited travel (the owner also owns this forum). they are an excellent disney specific travel agency with no additional markup. They will very quickly get you the best price and help try to setup the few things you need to have ready by the time you arrive. It's close and harder to get things lined up, especially when you have no clue what the options are (and there is thousands of little details to pick from).

the short answer is disney offers free airport buses, they have lower cost resorts (value resorts). there is free transporttation between resorts and theme parks, water parks and springs and it runs fairly often.. You'll get that all setup when you book a reservation on the website. You just need to pick a resort. The lower costs ones go between 1 of the 3 all stars or pop century (it will go back and forth close to the travel date, usually all stars is the lowest cost).

After hours is 3 hours but you can get into the park with no other ticket as early as 4pm (they say 7, everyone has been saying they get in at 4 with no problem). you only need another ticket if your gonig to other parks on the other days or want to get in another park or magic kingdom earlier than 4pm on after hours night. if you can time getting in at 4, there is a good chance you can quickly catch the FoF parade (which many consider disney's best daytime parade). it passes near the entrance about 4 (when it starts at 3:30)

 

[little tess]

Thank you Accident! You got the nuance of my question spot on! Much appreciated.