First Disney Family Vacation

[mitchs]

Used to live in Ft Lauderdale prior to the birth of my 2 boys (now ages 7 & 8).
We will be going to WDW June 6-10, 2006.Thinking about an all inclusive vacation (flight, WDW Hotel, Tickets...).

Need your recommendations. Hopw many days, which property to stay at, include the dining plan?, what is disney quest? Properties to visit. Magic Kingdom (2 days), Epcot, MGM?

Very excited to be finally taking a family vacation, no less to WDW!

Please give your best recommendations.
MS

 

[karikoffman]

Here's what I say. It would be great to book the first night in a cheap hotel in Orlando ($80.00 since you'd be getting n late.) Then go to the resort, spend three days there so that it's geared around the kids, and then spend your last evening at a really nice suite that has a separate room for the kids, so they can go down, and you can relax. So many people come back from Disney, feeling like they need a vacation from their vacation. I say, plan it so everyone gets a little of what they want. You may even want to try to fit in an evening, just the two adults. Hmmmm.
KK

 

[fofinia]

Your questions are pretty broad. But there are value resorts -All Stars, Pop Century they will give you a hotel on property with all the benefits that come with that (buses, extra magic hour, etc) with the lowest price. And then the hotel categories go up from there. So price, location and luxury level are up to you.

We usually hop everyday we are there. We go to say Magic Kingdom in the morning and then back to hotel for nap or quick swim and then on to Epcot or MGM for dinner and the rest of the evening. I haven't personally done the dining plan but there are lots of other posts on these boards about it so you could get more info there.

Disney Quest is located at Downtown Disney and it is an indoor arcade. I believe it has 3 or 4 floors and you pay one admission fee and can do the games. Some of the games are more interactive than your standard arcade. I can't remember the cost or if anything inside costs extra though. Although I think at their ages your boys would like it. But where you will only have 3 or 4 days I think you will have plenty to do just doing the parks.

As for which parks they are all great. I personally would want to see all of them. But with a limited schedule you may be pushing it. It just depends on if you will be in the parks all day or if you will take breaks. Future world at Epcot has quite a few interacting attractions. Magic Kingdom has the Buzz Lightyear ride where you score points for shooting the aliens. I'm sure your boys would love that. I do and I'm a mom.

I'm sure you'll get lots of advice here. Just keep researching and reading other threads. You can do a search on a specific subject to see if it's been discussed before as well.

But have fun.

 

[mitchs]

Here's what I say. It would be great to book the first night in a cheap hotel in Orlando ($80.00 since you'd be getting n late.) Then go to the resort, spend three days there so that it's geared around the kids, and then spend your last evening at a really nice suite that has a separate room for the kids, so they can go down, and you can relax. So many people come back from Disney, feeling like they need a vacation from their vacation. I say, plan it so everyone gets a little of what they want. You may even want to try to fit in an evening, just the two adults. Hmmmm.
KK

thank you for the quick response.
I will research the boards more. it seems as though the boys will need a break (me too) by late afternoon. a swim / nap sounds great then we can hop to another park!

he pop seems to be the place to stay. the majority of the boards say to do the dinner plan. do the resorts offer an all inclusive (hotel, tickets, dinner plan...) plan?

 

[mitchs]

awesome advice. i will continue to view the boards. looking for an all inclusive deal (AAA?).

seems the pop and the hopper pass along with dining is the way to go. i'll keep researching and im sure that more questions will come!

thanks again.
MS