First timer - 5 day trip from Treasure Island

[wendybird7]

Hey guys, first timer here, long timer at Disneyland Paris but due to go to WDW in September/October 2015 as part of a trip to Treasure Island and I'm beyond excited - but need some help with tickets/accommodation/itinerary.

So, we're (my boyfriend and I) looking at going the 28th Sept - 2nd Oct, and staying offsite (as don't think you can stay onsite for this length of time, plus it's cheaper). So questions number 1 - can anyone recommend anywhere offsite that is basic, cheap but near enough? We don't mind driving, but the nearer to the major parks, the better.

Second question - tickets. The only options I can find on the Disney site seem to be 7- 14- or 21-day Ultimate tickets. Is there a 5 day ticket option? Is it worth buying through the WDW site for the magic band thing? (it does look quite cool...)

And last question - given we've been to DLP a few times (my boyfriend has visited WDW in the past, so has been to all parks except Animal Kingdom, a bit), what would you suggest itinerary wise for 5 days? Also think we'll want a couple of nice meals (on-site/in the parks preferably) so would love to hear your favourites?

Lastly - absolutely any and all top tips gladly received - especially any money saving tips as the costs do add up! We will be looking to go back to WDW in a few years, if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

 

[Kath2003]

5 days really isn't very long for WDW. At best you could aim to do a park each day plus one revisit. If you're doing this, you'd be best staying onsite to reduce travel time.

Alternatively, you could try the other Orlando parks - Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Sea World would be doable in 5 days and, if you've done DLP, offer something new. These parks are very geared up to adults, particularly if you like big rides! These are easily accessible from International Drive either by car or by bus/trolley and tickets are cheaper.

It sounds as though we have a similar set up - it's just me and DH on our holidays. DH and I enjoy the Uniersal and I Drive option because it allows us to walk to bars and restaurants in the evenings; we like to have a drink in the evenings when we are on holiday, and it's no fun if the other one is always driving! Hotels on I Drive are very cheap. That said, some people don't like I Drive (big, busy area with tons of restaurants and bars) so you'd need to see if you think it's for you. This year, we are doing a week on I Drive, costing £250 for 14-day passes to Universal Studios/Islandof Adventure and £200 for a 3* hotel. That's less than the cost of just the Disney tickets...

We do tend to chuck in a character meal at Disney for good balance - but you don't need an park ticket to eat the Disney hotels, which offer a good range of character dining options.

 

[Elise79]

You can stay onsite for any number of nights but the UK offers sometimes have a minimum number of nights. I would look at onsite with only 5 days to save time getting to the parks - WDW is much much bigger than DLRP - it covers 47 square miles!

With tickets you will be looking at buying US Magic Your Way (MYW) tickets - have a look at Undercover Tourist for prices - you would probably only need base tickets without any options - you could always add hopper once you got there if you felt you needed it to save spending money you might not use.

5 days isn't a lot of time to see all the parks but could give you a good taster for future.

 

[wendybird7]

Hi guys thanks for the replies. I realise five days isn't a long time, but the reason for us going to Florida at all is that my boyfriend's parents are taking us away to treasure island for two weeks to celebrate their 40th anniversary, and so we're actually even pushing it at five days as we want to spend time with them of course (they wouldn't be coming to WDW).

We will be going back in a couple of years for our honeymoon so any tips for making the most of this taster trip? I am definitely set on going to wdw, I'm not too interested in the other parks for the moment. I'll have a look at booking on site as time is of the essence, but depending on the price I think we'll still go off-site.

Thanks again guys!

 

[Elise79]

Ok - you need to sit and look at the attractions in each park and book your FP for your top 3 attractions in each park before you go - WDW has my magic + now part of which allows you to book 3 FPs per day. This is done at 60 days if you stay onsite or 30 days if you stay offsite. You will need to set up an account on the Disneyworld website and have bought and linked your tickets to book your FPs.

I would plan on a day at each park and with the time of year you are visit to get most out of Epcot visit Monday-Thursday as the Food & Wine festival draws a lot of locals over the weekends.

You might want to look at getting a subscription to Touring plans.com - it's not very expensive and you can set up personalised touring plans. You put in the park and attractions and it tells you which FPs to book and the order to do the rides to minimise waits. With only 5 days and your first that could be really helpful.

What's your budget for accommodation? We can try to make some suggestions then

 

[chmurf]

When deciding between onsite and offsite, be sure to factor everything in

You might have a long drive to the parks. Parks are roughly a 15 minutes drive away from one another. Just going form an offsite hotel to the entrance of the property might add 15 to 40 minutes depending on location and traffic

But staying offsite will require to pay $18 per day for parking at the parks when it's free for onsiters

Onsite gives you morning and evening EMH at select parks. Since you only have 5 days it might be a good way to maximize your park time

Booking on the us site at a Value hotel might get you free qsdp (2 counter service meal and 1 snack per night) if a deal pops up
Last year the deal came out second week of may and the year before it was split between may and august depending on the check in date
So staying onsite might actually get you free food

If you want to maximize your experience further, have a look at mnsshp (halloween parties) which are a separate ticket event

 

[zavandor]

I've stayed offsite before and I think at WDW it can work very well, just rent a car (I say this because sometimes I find people thinking about using public transportation for WDW: do it only if you're a masochist).
Since WDW is so large, if you stay on site and take a bus it will take 20-40 minutes to go to a park (including waiting for the bus to arrive) from a Value resort, not much less than driving.
Other than International drive, you may look at the Kissimee area, which looks nearer WDW and since you're not going to Universal, being on International drive doesn't look like a big added value (you'll probably squeeze as much time as possible in the parks). But I've never stayed there, so I cannot comment on it.

If you know you're going back in a couple of years, I'd consider Universal and Sea World as a PP suggested. There are the Harry Potter lands (Diagon Alley is incredible, I've just came back) and rides you could have not experienced anywhere (Forbidden Journey and Transformers are worth the ticket price alone) . If you've been to Disneyland Paris before, you'd probably know many of the WDW rides and since you're staying for a short time you won't have the time to appreciate the resorts and the parks. I know because the first time I went was for only 5 days and since then I don't go for less than 14 days

 

[Kath2003]

If you're already paying for a hire car, you may as well stay offsite. The lower offsite prices will offset the parking fees, and the extra drive time is probably negliable as you would be considering the value Disney hotels anyway, which are the furthest from the parks.

If you're not renting a car, stay onsite. I'm very much pro-offsite, pro-bus, but trying to Disney in 5 days is a monumental feat by any standards, and you don't want to have to bus it in to the TTC, then make your way to the other parks etc. when time is already at a premium.

Again - as you're two young adults, looking to stay offsite, who have already done Disneyland Paris and plan to return to do WDW "properly", I'd do Universal. Much better use of your 5 days, much cheaper, much more adult-oriented. I'm also not sure I'd want to honeymoon somewhere I'd already been...? (Though this was my husband's condition of the proposal - "will you marry me? Bear in mind that we are NOT honeymooning in Orlando..." - and yes, our honeymoon was the BEST holiday we've ever had, despite all the trips you see below!)

 

[Elise79]

If you're already paying for a hire car, you may as well stay offsite. The lower offsite prices will offset the parking fees, and the extra drive time is probably negliable as you would be considering the value Disney hotels anyway, which are the furthest from the parks.

If you're not renting a car, stay onsite. I'm very much pro-offsite, pro-bus, but trying to Disney in 5 days is a monumental feat by any standards, and you don't want to have to bus it in to the TTC, then make your way to the other parks etc. when time is already at a premium.

Again - as you're two young adults, looking to stay offsite, who have already done Disneyland Paris and plan to return to do WDW "properly", I'd do Universal. Much better use of your 5 days, much cheaper, much more adult-oriented. I'm also not sure I'd want to honeymoon somewhere I'd already been...? (Though this was my husband's condition of the proposal - "will you marry me? Bear in mind that we are NOT honeymooning in Orlando..." - and yes, our honeymoon was the BEST holiday we've ever had, despite all the trips you see below!)

We would have honeymooned in Orlando had we been able to afford it at the time having been together twice before but we weren't delaying the wedding just so we could honeymoon in Orlando

And again I can understand the OP wanting to do WDW despite having already been to DLRP - for me the main attraction in Orlando is WDW. I couldn't care less if I never set foot in Universal or SeaWorld again. That's my opinion so I can understand why someone would only want to do WDW but I also wouldn't keep suggesting someone try WDW if they really wanted to do UO. However that's the beauty of Orlando something for everyone