First time and struggling.

[littlesos]

I am trying to plan our first trip to Disneyworld, and I would like some advice please....

I am planning for 10 days at the beginning of Feb 2012 (is this a sensible time??)

We have narrowed it down to a few options.
1. 10 days at AKL in a standard room, with free DDP
2. 5 days at Floridays, followed by 5 days at AKL in a Savannah view room (changing hotels on my daughters birthday as a surprise)
3. 5 days at Floridays, followed by 5 days at Wilderness lodge (seems more central)
4. 10 days at Wilderness Lodge, with free DDP

Which would you pick, of have I got it completely wrong AND do we need to book a car, (2 adults, 5 yr old and 8 year old who both love animals)

I am wavering about AKL because of it's distance, however never having been there is it really that far out??

Thanks
Rach

 

[DisFanJen]

The Wilderness Lodge and AKL\V are great places to stay but I will say right up front that if you're not doing a Savannah View then AKL\V is overpriced, and the main reason to go there is to see the animals so a savannah view is a must.

So I'd skip option 1 right off the bat.

2 & 3 are both OK, but if you can make the whole stay on-site then that's the way to go.

So, if animals are your thing I'd go option 2, otherwise I'd go option 4, stay on-site and get the Dining Plan.

I wouldn't worry about the distance to AKL as Disney transport isn't bad there (stayed there a few times and used their transport). However I'd always advocate getting a rental car as they are so cheap and there's nothing like getting into the car and avoiding those long grouchy bus lines at the end of the day.

As to early Feb, I can't be specific but I tent to go late feb\early march (as it's on my b'day) and it's fine right till later in march when Spring break starts. In early Feb I think you hit one holiday (President's day???) but other than that I think it's clear.

 

[queendisney]

firstly we were at WDW in Feb/March this year and found it a lovely quiet time of the year to go. Weather can be chilly in the day and cold at night but other days its very warm in the day and just chilly at night, so you will need to pack for all kinds of weather. We def had days where it was warm enough to swim.
If your children love animals then I would spend the 10 days in the AKL with the free DDP. Yes AKL is a bit of a distance from certain parks but def nearer to others like all the resorts really. But NOTHING is really to far away that you should worry about it. I really don't think you would regret staying at the AKL, like wise the WL.
Personally I wouldn't hire a car for the whole time you are there, just use the WDW transport and maybe just hire for a few days if you are doing Universal or maybe some shopping. Others will def say hire a car don't use the transport, but its just a matter of opinion really. If you plan on being out all day at a park will your children cope with having to wait for the bus to take them back to the resort late into the evening? etc...
Have fun planning..

 

[wayneg]

Welcome to DISboards.

You will get different answers as we all like different ways of doing things. I love AKL but it has to be a savannah view for me, I would rather stay at OKW than have a car park view at AKL. Others would prefer AKL wherever they are.
We don't like changing rooms unless we have to, it takes time out of your holiday. We do it for a cruise or next year we will have to move because you can't do more than 21 days on free DDP but we will never move just for the sake of it. We would choose a hotel and stay there the whole time if its for only 10 days.
We are enjoying OKW just now, next year will be our 4th time there but the cost for us doing 21 days is just too high at AKL or WL, OKW & free DDP will cost £2,835, AKL(savannah view) £5,292 or WL from £4,725

Early Feb, depends what temps you like, we were very lucky this Feb half term, hottest it has been for a few years but no-one knows until they get there you could get anything from cool fleece temps every day to sunbathing temps every day. Its very unpredictable in Feb.

Car, for us 100% needed, we wouldn't go without one, others manage no problem without one.

Distance for AKL, with a car we don't find it too far out, we often go there for lunch, about 15 min drive from OKW for us. For AK its right next door.

 

[littlesos]

Thank you.
Not sure I can afford the extra ££ to have 10 nights savannah view, so I might cross off option 1.

I have to agree that moving hotel halfway through is going to be a pain, but the cost saving allowed us to upgrade the AKL room to savannah view for those five nights(which would come with DDP)

So....
If I bin the changing hotel idea, and unless I win the lottery, face the fact that I can't afford 10 days savannah view.

Where would you suggest. I have a budget of a little over £4000. I've been saving up for a while and it will probably be the first and last time I can afford to take my girls there, I want it to be memorable, comfortable and easy.

I don't mind hiring a car, but wondered if it was necessary. I had gone with the deluxe resorts because of the free DDP, but I am open to suggestions. I know everyone is different, but the differing points of views help me see things from a different perspective. Keep them coming please. I need to book by the 15th Nov!!!

 

[DisFanJen]

You know I never thought about the weather, I instantly started thinking about crowd levels!

But as PPs have said, the weather around that time of year (in fact anything from November thru early March I'd say) is very changable. Warm enough to swim some days, jumper and jacket weather the next. But us brits are more used to that than most, just pack for everything and you'll be fine.

 

[DisFanJen]

Thank you.
Not sure I can afford the extra ££ to have 10 nights savannah view, so I might cross off option 1.

I have to agree that moving hotel halfway through is going to be a pain, but the cost saving allowed us to upgrade the AKL room to savannah view for those five nights(which would come with DDP)

So....
If I bin the changing hotel idea, and unless I win the lottery, face the fact that I can't afford 10 days savannah view.

Where would you suggest. I have a budget of a little over £4000. I've been saving up for a while and it will probably be the first and last time I can afford to take my girls there, I want it to be memorable, comfortable and easy.

I don't mind hiring a car, but wondered if it was necessary. I had gone with the deluxe resorts because of the free DDP, but I am open to suggestions. I know everyone is different, but the differing points of views help me see things from a different perspective. Keep them coming please. I need to book by the 15th Nov!!!

The car isn't essential but it does help, and the price of getting a compact is very cheap. However if you stay on property for the whole stay you can skip it quite happily. ME to and from the airport and Disney Transportation around the parks.

If you do stay off property, you'll find there's a bigger need for a car. You really don't want to rely on hotel shuttles to get you to and from the parks. They tend to have specific drop off and pick up times that can be a lot earlier than park closing.

My first trip to WDW we stayed at a Howard Johnson (I know, the shame!) and the shuttle dropped us off at 9:30 and picked us up at 18:00. No chance for a mid day break, no possibility to stay later, even though the park was open till 9pm.

That lasted 2 days then we got a rental car and never looked back.

Of course you could just take cabs but that adds up quickly and you may find a rental car would have been cheaper.

So, staying on-site, car nice but not essential. Staying off-site, for nothing else than to protect your sanity, get a car.

I think if the 10 days in a Savannah view are off the cards, your option of 10 days at the Wilderness lodge is a great idea. Or you could get one of the deals at SSR, it's a great place to stay.

But as Wayne said, you'll get a lot of differing opinions here. It's like the old IT joke. Get 20 IT professionals in a room and ask them to do a job and you'll get 20 answers, and none of them will work first time!

 

[jen_uk]

How about staying at a value such as Pop Century? The theming is great for kids and Pop had a fab location as it's very central. If this is probably going to be your only trip then I would try and go for longer, you need a minimum of 14 days to have a chance if seeing everything. For a first visit you could manage without a car as the WDW transport it pretty good.

 

[DisFanJen]

Oh, one more thing (sorry to carpet bomb the thread guys).

When you worked out the savings for the split stay, did you include the cost of food for the days you wouldn't be getting the DDP? It can add up quickly.

Also, to give you some help, have you thought of going through an American TA?

They can't book the flights of course, but if you tell them your budget (minus the flight costs) then rough dates and what you'd like they can crunch the numbers and get you some good deals, even though you are in the UK.

 

[wayneg]

You have to price every option, staying onsite you can take advantage of ME to and from the airport if you didn't want the car. If you opt for a car you save on Disney parking fees. How much would it cost at Floridays plus food? is it a lot less than onsite with free food?
We have just had a great week offsite, Fairfield Inn at £29/night but add food & snacks of around $100/day and we get very close to the OKW price of £110/nt(after discounts)

 

[DisFanJen]

How about staying at a value such as Pop Century? The theming is great for kids and Pop had a fab location as it's very central. If this is probably going to be your only trip then I would try and go for longer, you need a minimum of 14 days to have a chance if seeing everything. For a first visit you could manage without a car as the WDW transport it pretty good.

If I read it right, the reason for a deluxe is to get the full dining plan. I think the values only get the Quick Service Plan. Though saying that I think you can upgrade from the QS plan to the full plan for a nominal charge.

 

[misha-ginger]

I have gone twice in early Feb. Watch the prices, they jump dramatically the middle of Feb. The crowds tend to be low and the weather unpredictable. We did go swimming both times but we are Canadians and used to much colder weather. I have stayed at both WL and AKL savannah view. My kids who were around 7/8 & 9/10 both enjoyed WL more. We found the kids were not that interested in staying in the room or hotel to watch animals after the initial excitement wore off when they had theme parks nearby. They liked WL because MK was a very short boat ride away MK is the park they both love.

 

[littlesos]

Right.
AKL crossed off, thanks. I have to admit I had wondered whether the girls would get bored at looking at the animals every single day.

Mistake in my calculations means that actually WL is only £100 cheaper than AKL savannah view, so it is really outside budget, but I think we might just have to stretch, have no car, and no shopping!

The only other option we have now considered is OKW, as this too has DDP, and a 1 bed villa comes in £500 cheaper than WL. The only niggle is the distance of the villas from the main restaurant, especially if we don't take a car.

Or stay off site for 10 days, get a car and eat out... Arghhhhhhh. I'm too much of a bargain hunter for this. I hate paying a penny more than I need to.

I will definately look into an American TA though. Thanks for that.

 

[Dizneemad]

As stated the difference between deluxe to value is all down to the type of dining plan. Seeing as it is your first time planning and organising your trip around table service meals each day(dont forget you have to add a tip on these also) against counter services whenever you like, could work out as a better option to get the most from your first and maybe (it is addictive) only trip.

 

[disneyholic family]

i would go with the OKW free DDP option...

we love OKW.....and if you take a 1 bedroom, it will be absolutely enormous...
even just a studio at OKW is bigger than a room in the wilderness lodge...

you can request a room in a building close to the main building...

 

[dixonsontour]

I'd go for OKW and free DDP for your first trip without doubt.

We did 14 nights OKW with free ddp 2010 and have booked again for 2012.

We just came back yesterday from 14 nights at Floridays resort. It suited us this trip as we did non disney parks and we got a great rate.

But it didn't have the wow factor of being onsite and character meals are very expensive - we paid $91 inc tip for 3 of us at chef mickey's.

Even DH has now been converted to onsite!

 

[dixonsontour]

Main restaurant at OKW is ok but nothing great - plan on eating in the parks or other resorts.

An option for the car/no car debate is to just hire for a couple of days from the disney car care centre nr MK (need to book with alamo). They pick you up from the hotel in a little alamo bus take you there and in reverse will drop you off at any park or your hotel. we did this in 2009 when we stayed at all star movies.

If you are just planning on disney then you will be fine without a car - you can get a bus to any park or bus or boat to DTD.

We prefer a car as we visit other parks and shop.

 

[Sapper383]

We stayed at AKL in September, it was so beautiful, pictures just don't do it justice. I would definatly recomend a stay there.....I wish I could aford to go back myself

 

[misha-ginger]

We have never not gone without DDP. Part of the experience of disney is the restaurants. Judging by the receipts from our dinners using the DDP is cheaper than paying out of pocket and we also aren't worried then about the exchange rate for the dollar since everything is all prepaid. We book a table service restaurant every night. The kids get to experience different types of food (even it means giving them some of your plate since the kids menu is a little repetitive), It also means everyone gets to sit down for dinner, don't underestimate the need for this since you will be doing lots of walking. We have never rented a car, we have always just used disney transportation.

 

[dixonsontour]

We have never not gone without DDP. Part of the experience of disney is the restaurants.

Agree wholeheartedly with this.

Not sure how much you have looked into disney dining options but aswell as character meals there are 'themed' meals eg sci fi - you eat in a car at a pretend drive thru movie or whispering canyon with the ketchup joke.