First Family Trip Planners Thread for WDW Newbies!

[Groomer Gal]

Ckwats.....maybe we should do what the pagent Moms do and give them candy and soda/energy drinks all day to keep them up up up!!!

NOT!!!!!

(truth be told...I might need it more than them!)

 

[artemis4]

What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there?

We are staying at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek (WBC). It is one of those resorts that is pretty much within the boundaries of WDW without being a WDW resort.

We started by thinking offsite - rent a house. However, I don't want to deal with a ton of traffic on vacation. So, then we were looking at staying at a WDW resort, POFQ in particular. We would need two rooms for most any WDW resort, and that money really adds up. I was looking at our corporate website one day and decided to check out business discounts when lo and behold there was a hotel perk that included WBC. So, we booked a full week at WBC for $600 in a two bedroom condo with full kitchen.

Our decision was made right there. I booked the room and bought our tickets the next day. Even with figuring the costs of parking, gas for getting from the hotel to the park, and not getting free dining, we are saving over $1k, maybe closer to $2k depending on how expensive our dining choices are when we are down there.

I'm most looking forward to all the space we'll have in our room, the fact that we'll have a kitchen for breakfast and any other meals we chose, and the fact that we are still just minutes away from the parks. In fact, some of the parks could have less of a commute than we would have had from POFQ, according to the Unofficial Guide.

 

[artemis4]

More questions... Moms with smaller kids do you plan on going back to the resort during the day for naps? My 5 year old no longer naps and I think the 3 year old could pass on naps... We are renting strollers so I am hoping they might sleep while we walk..

My five year old stopped napping at 18 months. That said, I am planning on a three hour slot almost every day that we are in the parks for either DH or myself to take him back to the hotel room to nap. All that walking wears a little one down, and he does usually sleep in the car after we do 3 hour hikes. I figure everyone will be happier if he has some decompression time.

 

[WishnDreamer]

Is anyone using one of the touring plan sites? I've been looking at Easy WDW and Touring Plans and they seem to conflict on some days. I have also seen TGM and Ridemax on here. I'm just wondering which is the best way to go.

I found easywdw first & so have went with them. Josh's explanations of how he figures the crowd calendar makes sense to me. Also, from what I can tell, it doesn't change as much. I see a lot of complaints from loyal past users of Touring Plans (& TGM) that it is going downhill & changes too much which leaves them scrambling to change ADRs in parks that were good but are now bad.
Even though I am staying on site, I do not plan on taking advantage of EMH, because of Josh's recommendations, along with others, that that just makes for a more crowded park. I'd rather be in the least crowded and get more done, personally, than have an extra earlier or later hour to do it when I am on vacation and don't want to drag my family out of bed earlier or keep the kids up later.
Don't tell easywdw (lol) but I also bought Ridemax because I have found I was really enjoying the planning and wanted to run the plans I made thru there to see what I came up with. Much of it stayed the very similar. And Ridemax wasn't really that expensive for me to get another Disney fix!!!
Ridemax is fun but if you want free, I'd use easywdw.

 

[WishnDreamer]

We are staying at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek (WBC). It is one of those resorts that is pretty much within the boundaries of WDW without being a WDW resort.

We started by thinking offsite - rent a house. However, I don't want to deal with a ton of traffic on vacation. So, then we were looking at staying at a WDW resort, POFQ in particular. We would need two rooms for most any WDW resort, and that money really adds up. I was looking at our corporate website one day and decided to check out business discounts when lo and behold there was a hotel perk that included WBC. So, we booked a full week at WBC for $600 in a two bedroom condo with full kitchen.

Our decision was made right there. I booked the room and bought our tickets the next day. Even with figuring the costs of parking, gas for getting from the hotel to the park, and not getting free dining, we are saving over $1k, maybe closer to $2k depending on how expensive our dining choices are when we are down there.

I'm most looking forward to all the space we'll have in our room, the fact that we'll have a kitchen for breakfast and any other meals we chose, and the fact that we are still just minutes away from the parks. In fact, some of the parks could have less of a commute than we would have had from POFQ, according to the Unofficial Guide.

This was the offsite place we were looking at originally. My mom had a friend who always stayed there when they went and said it's wonderful. I believe we looked at it online they have a few different pools and minigolf, lots of stuff for the kids. Looks very nice.

 

[WishnDreamer]

Some of us have already mentioned this but, how will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?

We are flying. Kids first flight. Which they are more excited about than Disney. We are taking Magical Express to WDW. We will take the busses to the parks each day.

There are a couple days we plan to utilize taxis to get to meals because of the 1 1/2 hours they say it takes to get to a meal from resort to resort. We will of course also take a couple monorail rides after those meals to get to the parks which my kids are uber excited about. So am I!

I think everybody who goes to WDW should plan a ride on the monorail even just for fun.

 

[ncneighbor]

We are still debating the driving flying issue. I am searching for good airfare. I live in NC which is about a 12 hr drive from Orlando so it is doable, but I would rather fly. Right now tickets are about $1100 for the four of us and the cost of driving is about $500 (for gas and overnight cheap hotel stay on drive back. Going there I think we can do straight thru on the excitement.) If I can get the difference to under $400, then we will fly.

My sons know about the trip, being teens there were/are a lot things I had to confer with them about. Don't want to push that cool-ness too far . But, they will be old enough for one of these (which will be a surprise) at the Disneyworld Speedway:

Experience the speed and performance of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, Audi R8 or Porsche 997 in the hands of a professional for two thrilling laps around The Exotics Course at Walt Disney World® Speedway! Strap your helmet, buckle your seat belt…and hold on!

 

[nene0182]

Some of us have already mentioned this but, how will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?[/SIZE]

It's a 30 hour drive from our house to WDW and that doesnt include any stops so driving was really out of the question. We looking at flying out of our town and ticket prices were $686, so $2058 for the 3 of us. We are driving 5 hours on Friday night to a bigger city, staying the night at a hotel there and flying to WDW the following morning, on the way home we are flying in on Saturday and leaving for home the following morning. These tickets cost us $354/each so $1062. The hotel we are staying at by the airport provides free parking for the week as well. So that is costing us $200 for 2 nights plus parking. Which means we are still saving almost $800 and it will not cost us that much in gas to get there are back.

We are renting a car at WDW only because my ILs live about an hour away and we have plans to go see them a few times when we are there. We are paying $120 for the week

 

[WendyWonderland]

The Royal Guest rooms look lovely. Post a pic after your trip. I'd love to see it.
Welcome!

Thanks for the welcome! I'll definitely post lots of pictures!

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin?
Actually, I don't know. I haven't read much about it. If it's something we can easily access from our phones or an iPad or something, we'll probably do it for convenience.

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise?
I'm trying to. I've shown my son (5 years old) the videos that are on the planning DVD. He starts kindergarten this year, so part of me thinks the excitement might be too much and will interfere with him focusing for the 3 weeks he'll be there before we pull him for 5 days to go to Disney. I'm thinking I might wait for him to get out of school the Friday before we leave, and surprise him with the news then.

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?
It's 10 hours to get there, and we'd all kill each other if we were stuck in a car that long so we're flying. Flight leaves at 7:55AM, and we're an hour from the airport. /facepalm We're gonna have to wake up sooooo early. We're not planning to leave WDW for anything, or any reason until we go back to the airport, so transportation while we're there will just be between parks.

 

[WendyWonderland]

Ckwats.....maybe we should do what the pagent Moms do and give them candy and soda/energy drinks all day to keep them up up up!!!

NOT!!!!!

(truth be told...I might need it more than them!)

OMG.. The Honey Boo Boo Child elixir, lmao. Drink of champions.

 

[salann]

Add me to the group! We are going May 30 - june 5th staying at the CR

Questions of the Day So Far

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates? Me, DH, DD (7) DS (5) We are going right after school gets out

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick?
I have everything I wanted:
5/30 Ohana dinner
5/31 Breakfast Chef Mickeys
6/1 La Hacienda de San Angel dinner
6/2 Mickeys BBQ
6/3 Akershus Dinner

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there?

We are staying at teh Contemporary. Looking more forward to the ease of walking to MK

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin? I guess if it's an option we will!

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise? Yes I am! The kids won't know until the day before (if my plan goes smoothly)

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?
We will fly to Orlando then rely on Disney Transportation to get around

 

[WendyWonderland]

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?
We will fly to Orlando then rely on Disney Transportation to get around

You'll have to let us know how the transportation works out for you. We're going to be relying on Disney transportation while there too, and I'm worried that I'm going to underestimate how long it'll take to get somewhere and end up being late for ADR's or something. I'd definitely be interested to see how it works out for you.

Someone posted this in one of the many pages in the tips thread, http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/aspx/twiz.aspx

Depending on how accurate it is, this will be my Godsend.

 

[salann]

You'll have to let us know how the transportation works out for you. We're going to be relying on Disney transportation while there too, and I'm worried that I'm going to underestimate how long it'll take to get somewhere and end up being late for ADR's or something. I'd definitely be interested to see how it works out for you.

Someone posted this in one of the many pages in the tips thread, http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/aspx/twiz.aspx

Depending on how accurate it is, this will be my Godsend.

oh what a great tool! Thanks! I'm hoping that I don't get too confused with the disney transportation, it's one of my biggest worries

 

[Groomer Gal]

You'll have to let us know how the transportation works out for you. We're going to be relying on Disney transportation while there too, and I'm worried that I'm going to underestimate how long it'll take to get somewhere and end up being late for ADR's or something. I'd definitely be interested to see how it works out for you.

Someone posted this in one of the many pages in the tips thread, http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/aspx/twiz.aspx

Depending on how accurate it is, this will be my Godsend.

WOAH!!!! How great is that!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!! I hope it's accurate!?!?!?

Ps...Honey Boo Boo Child......tee hee.

 

[ckwats]

Groomer Gal- Love the sugar idea!!!! I love yummies so I am sure it won't be hard at Disney.

How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there? We are flying!! My Sister was nice enough to give us 800.00 worth of United vouchers. So that made flying easier.

When we get to WDW we plan on relying on Disney transportation... I have read mixed reviews.. I think for the early morning ADR we will get a taxi. If things are not working out my parents will have their car so we can use that.

 

[ckwats]

We are staying at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek (WBC). It is one of those resorts that is pretty much within the boundaries of WDW without being a WDW resort.

We started by thinking offsite - rent a house. However, I don't want to deal with a ton of traffic on vacation. So, then we were looking at staying at a WDW resort, POFQ in particular. We would need two rooms for most any WDW resort, and that money really adds up. I was looking at our corporate website one day and decided to check out business discounts when lo and behold there was a hotel perk that included WBC. So, we booked a full week at WBC for $600 in a two bedroom condo with full kitchen.

Our decision was made right there. I booked the room and bought our tickets the next day. Even with figuring the costs of parking, gas for getting from the hotel to the park, and not getting free dining, we are saving over $1k, maybe closer to $2k depending on how expensive our dining choices are when we are down there.

I'm most looking forward to all the space we'll have in our room, the fact that we'll have a kitchen for breakfast and any other meals we chose, and the fact that we are still just minutes away from the parks. In fact, some of the parks could have less of a commute than we would have had from POFQ, according to the Unofficial Guide.

I think the extra space will be great! I know we are going to be tight in our room. One adult and one child in a double bed..... But it is Pirates. The things we will do for the kids!

The last day of our trip we are staying at the AOA in the new CARS family room since my brother and sister will be bunking with us then. I am excited to see that room.

Wish me luck I am going to get up bright and early on Tue 6:00 am to make my ADR's. I am excited!!

 

[artemis4]

Wish me luck I am going to get up bright and early on Tue 6:00 am to make my ADR's. I am excited!!

Good luck with the ADRs! Where are you trying for ADRs?

That is one thing I can't decide if we want to do or not. We aren't reservation people when it comes to food.

I feel like the ADR system has removed the possibility of people like us eating TS. When we are vacation, we do not like to decide where to eat until that day, often times when we are walking by a place. If we are in the mood for hibachi or parrilladas that day, we would drop the $200 (seven people) for the meal at Teppan Edo or La Hacienda de San Angel easily. Preplanning it a few months in advance, though? I doubt it we'll do it. If Epcot had a character breakfast that wasn't princess, I'd do one with the 5 year old while his siblings are in the YES class, but since they don't, I'm not planning any ADRs right now.

Some of us have already mentioned this but, how will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?

We are driving, ~1300 miles each way with five kids in the van. Seriously, we are looking forward to it. We've done long trips before, and we know we can handle it. With the cost of flight lately combined with the rental car cost, it just didn't make sense to fly, plus I don't like the freaky TAA measures nowadays. We will drive around WDW as well. We could take the shuttle, but I don't know that we will.

 

[jmangum100]

WishnDreamer.....There's a change in our vacation schedule. We are now flying out on May 31, 2012. Yippee!! We were going to drive, but got a great deal on plane tickets and van rental. We are staying offsite and going to be in Florida for 2 whole weeks. I am thinking about extending our park tickets from 5 days to 7 days.

Does anyone know if you have to wait til you get there to extend the days and how much it usually is?

 

[cmoran81]

Thanks for the welcome! Very excited

 

[ckwats]

Good luck with the ADRs! Where are you trying for ADRs?

That is one thing I can't decide if we want to do or not. We aren't reservation people when it comes to food.

I feel like the ADR system has removed the possibility of people like us eating TS. When we are vacation, we do not like to decide where to eat until that day, often times when we are walking by a place. If we are in the mood for hibachi or parrilladas that day, we would drop the $200 (seven people) for the meal at Teppan Edo or La Hacienda de San Angel easily. Preplanning it a few months in advance, though? I doubt it we'll do it. If Epcot had a character breakfast that wasn't princess, I'd do one with the 5 year old while his siblings are in the YES class, but since they don't, I'm not planning any ADRs right now.

Some of us have already mentioned this but, how will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?

We are driving, ~1300 miles each way with five kids in the van. Seriously, we are looking forward to it. We've done long trips before, and we know we can handle it. With the cost of flight lately combined with the rental car cost, it just didn't make sense to fly, plus I don't like the freaky TAA measures nowadays. We will drive around WDW as well. We could take the shuttle, but I don't know that we will.

I am going for CRT, Chef Mickey and Mama Melrose, Rose and Crown and Plaza. I think.

We are not on the dinning plan so we are not going all out.

Artemis-I am not big on planning for food but I have read that so many people now use the dinning plan that you need ADR's for almost everything. CS not included.