Feedback on my tentative Feb 2015 WDW plans?

[Inspired18]

(Hopefully, this is a good forum for this thread!)

I have been reading and reading....and reading, and at this point, I would love some feedback from fellow WDW travelers about what I've planned for my family.

Some background:

-- booked Art of Animation Cars Suite for Sunday 2/8/15 - Friday 2/13/15
-- Stay, Play, Dine and Save discount seemed best for onsite stay, almost stayed offsite but I'm being convinced by the whole idea of being in the bubble
-- 5 theme park days: 2 MK, 1 for every other theme park
-- just went ahead with regular dining plan because of discount package and not wanting to nickel and dime food too much. A big vacation like this...it's nice not to think about it (beyond having to schedule ADRs, I mean)
-- first time WDW trip for 7yo boy, 3.5yo boy, and 1yo girl
-- driving from Illinois over 2 days, 1 night in hotel on way down, maybe around Chattanooga or further into Georgia if kids can tolerate it
-- probably won't arrive/check-in until Sunday evening (?)
-- celebrating 10 years of marriage (married in October but want winter getaway)
-- will also go to Kennedy Space Center (need to buy from UT?)

Do you have any advice or tips? Anyone else booking Stay, Play, Dine, and Save? It seems better than buying Late Winter discount/room only and UT tickets.

Should I book an offsite hotel for the night coming in and go to MK from offsite hotel next morning? Is it better to wake up in WDW and head to park? I guess I am worried about how checking in later on Sunday night will affect the dining plan credits. I'm trying to line it all up in my head.

I wonder if I should stay one more night at WDW...for the day we go to the Space Center. Or should I book an offsite hotel for KSC, too?

Thanks for letting me bounce this off of all of you!

Excited for our trip!!

 

[Inspired18]

Also, I am mourning a stay at the Wilderness Lodge, but I think my kids are at an age where the theming of Art of Animation (especially the Cars section) will blow their minds and be really memorable.

We can go to WL later, right? Right?? LOL.

*Plus,* the Art of Animation really seems to provide some space (that I just love) for our family of five. I really don't want to stay in a small room with two double beds. Even the 2 Queen moderate resort rooms seem small. (?)

 

[MandiC]

Sounds like a good plan We did stay-play-dine this February and I thought it was a pretty good deal. Better than any other ones run at that time (as is usually the case unless you stay deluxe).
The thing about the Wilderness and a family of 5 is after your baby is 3 you would have to go for a DVC room. We loved Port Orleans Riverside Alligator Bayou rooms which sleep 5...we didn't spend much time in our room but the resort was very much our 'style'. Just food for thought for trips once baby is over 3 Art of Animation seems like a great choice for kids. I know after we came back we saw a Disney Resorts tv special and the kids asked why we didn't stay there

 

[Inspired18]

Thanks for commenting, Mandi!!

It's so nice to hear from others.

I was looking at POR, too. I just wanted a little more room in the room, if you know what I mean. Maybe we will be at the parks later than I think...I don't know. Everything I read says to take that midday break and rest in the room. Plus, I am one of those types that needs quiet and space when I am getting overwhelmed. I get easily rattled.

Good to know about baby over 3 and Wilderness Lodge. I was thinking the bunk beds would be doable, even when kids are older. Maybe they wouldn't want to sleep together though. Even the queen bed and bunk bed in a WL room wouldn't be as big as this AofA suite though! Or so it seems.

I'm just trying to be a good sport about sleeping in such a loud room! LOL! Sleeping between traffic cones, getting 'spiffy in a jiffy', and all the bright red. The WL looked so bee-yew-tee-ful. But the kids will love AofA!! That's funny about your kids and the resort! Aw. I'll bet they had fun at POR though!!

Thanks!! Glad to hear you thought the discount was a good deal!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

FYI VWL is going to do a refurb and adding a 5th bed. A murphy bed like they have at GF. It a fold down bed that is located under the flat screen TV.