First time to WDW - advice needed

[Mouseketeer1974]

Hi
Just reloated here from the DLRP message board as we've decided that next year will be the year we finally visit WDW.

We're tied to school holidays due to other half's work so we're thinking Summer holidays 2012.

SO the first of many questions (no doubt) is where to stay. I see that most travel agents are offering free dining and 14 day tickets for 7 day price for when we want to go but I'm not sure whether staying onsite would be best for us? There'll be four of us, 2 adults, 2 children (8&6)

Should we stay onsite and if so, where do you recommend? It's 20 years since I last visited "American Mickey" but I would guess that we'd probably spend less time at Epcot than at say MK or the Studios,

TIA

 

[orangetiggs]

port orleans is a nice hotel but they are also offering a good discount on old key west and saratoga springs which are nice rooms as they are part of the vacation club. the basic room is a studio with a small kitchen

with these hotels ou get the full dining plan which is a counter service, a table service and a snack and a refillable mug

port orleans you only get 2 counter service meals and 2 snacks and a mug each per night

so it sometimes works out cheaper to go for the better hotel if you plan on havin table service meals

we did this in 2009 just 2 Adults and spent over $2000 on food and this was all free!

also if you stay onsite you get free transport and extra hours in the parks

we have only ever stayed onsite so cant help with offsite

 

[Rohais]

Hi

I *love* Port Orleans French Quarter. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2009, to get the free regular dining plan. It was gorgeous, but I missed the peace and calmness of POFQ. So, for 2012 (and 2011 but we had to cancel) we've booked POFQ and upgraded the free counter service dining plan to the regular dining plan for £280 (2 adults)

I think maybe just look at the WDW website, and the different hotels available. Maybe take a peek over at the Resorts forum here

 

[WiganTony]

We had free QSDP in Aug 2008 when we stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort, but last year we booked Old Key West (Aug again) and got free DDP for the same price as the moderate hotels, which let us eat at far more Table Service restaurants than we would have done. I kept a record of our DDP "spend" and we would have spent over $1100 on TS meals for three of us (less $200 in tips).

Although for 2012, WDW seem to have cottoned on to the fact that pricing OKW the same as the moderates was too good a deal for the holidaymaker and the price for OKW is around £150 more for 2 weeks, we have still booked for August 2012 as the £150 would only cover two, possibly three Table Service Meals if we didn't have free dining.

For your kids, you could use the DDP to book a number of character meals which I'm sure they would really enjoy.

We also take into account that the studio at OKW has more space than the moderate hotels, and has a small kitchenette with fridge, microwave and coffee maker which means we can make our own breakfasts and get a quick exit from the room for the parks.

 

[higgy66]

Hi
There'll be four of us, 2 adults, 2 children (8&6)

Should we stay onsite and if so, where do you recommend? It's 20 years since I last visited "American Mickey" but I would guess that we'd probably spend less time at Epcot than at say MK or the Studios,

TIA

You may be surprised to find Epcot may end up being your favourite. The first time we took the girls they were 7&6 and I expected Epcot to be a one off visit which they might find boring. Boy were we wrong - they LOVED Epcot!

There are so many things for their age group to do and I'm not just talking rides - There are so many extra activities.

They were into all the educational stuff which really surprised me and they still talk about all the things they want to do again at Epcot when we go in October. There's also Kim Impossible Spy challenge which they want to do this time and lots of Kidistop places in each of the countries where they can decorate a mask and add a stamp from each country. We're going to buy the passports this year so they can get a stamp from each country and the CM's of you ask will sign them

Edited to add: We ended up spending more time in Epcot than any other park!

Have a wonderful time planning

 

[Disbabe]

we've never stayed onsite and even with the free dining - would never warrant the cost for us and there's 5 of us. We've stayed in a villa also but to be honest wouldn't do that again either as the distance to the parks was quite alot.
The last 3 years we've stayed twice at Cypress Points Grand Villas and last year at lake buena vista resort village and spa.
We just love both of these places as you get all the facilities of a villa, is home away from home and have large communal pools which are fabulous. Both are within a 5 minute drive of downtown Disney and therefore very close to the parks. My preference is Cypress Pointe as the villas are larger than those at lake buena vista and is slightly closer to DTD.
What makes them both fantastic is that each room has a jacuzzi bath which is great to relax in after a day at the parks - has a washing machine, drier and ironing facilities, full kitchen amenities including a dishwasher.
Both times we booked Cypress Pointe through Hotel Kingdom and got it for about £800 for the 2 weeks for a 2 bed.
Its worth looking at other options as we certainly wouldn't pay £2000 on food for 5 of us for 2 weeks. We also find disney dining restrictive as you have to eat on property - just my personal opinion and I know alot of folk would argue against what I've said. Its all down to personal preference.
We just like the freedom to do what we want when we want.
Oh and final point having booked both a package and doing it ourselves - we would do it ourselves every time as packages are so much more expensive than doing it all yourself.

 

[Mouseketeer1974]

Thanks so much for all your views

I'd already been wavering between OKW and POFQ and am pleased to see that my first instincts were the recommendations made.

I think what might tip it for us is the dining upgrade as the children love character meals and we find that by doing a couple of character meals we save lots of time not queuing for autographs in the parks...

I know it would probably be cheaper to book everything independantly but with there being so much to consider I'm thinking that we're probably better of with a travel agent first time out. Am I right or is it simplicity itself?

 

[Tinkerbellgal]

Hello!
I think it depends on where you would like to be in the world if I'm honest, and what parks you think you'll spend the most time in.
I'd recommend looking on the actual WDW site to get an idea of what the many resorts can offer to you and your family.
We have never done the dinning plan in WDW as we didn't fancy the idea, however after doing it in DLP in 2009, we are doing it this time around!
Its saving us so much money, and we are able to eat at places that we normally wouldn't have been able to.
Hope this is helpful Welcome to the world of WDW!

 

[WiganTony]

I know it would probably be cheaper to book everything independantly but with there being so much to consider I'm thinking that we're probably better of with a travel agent first time out. Am I right or is it simplicity itself?

It's a difficult call whether to book a package or DIY for the first time. With regards to pricing, last year (July/August), we booked flights, 4 nights at Universal's Royal Pacific, 12 nights at OKW with free DDP, 14 Day WDW and Universal Tickets, a one day Seaworld ticket, car rental and insurance for a shade over £4,000 for three of us. When I looked at booking a VH or TCD package, it was costing that amount purely for flights and accommodation!!

That said, it can be a bit nerve racking waiting for decent flight prices!!

One possible compromise would be to price up booking a fly drive package (but not paying the additional insurances - rent your car separately as it will be cheaper than paying for the additional insurances), then book accommodation and tickets directly with Disney. Alternatively, have a look at some independent travel agents who will package up flights, hotels and car rental but you wil probably get a better deal - a couple that spring to mind are Complete Orlando and Charter Travel. Hopefully others may have further recommendations for you.