first timer questions

[sscheier]

Yeah! It's official! My sister and I are going to take our 3 boys, 11, 12, and 14, to Disneyworld in June next year!
My sister is a member of a non-Disney vacation club so she will be taking care of the resort while I will be buying the tickets.
My question is when should I buy the tickets? Are they attached to specific dates or does it even matter when I buy them?
I registered with the my experience thing on the wdw website. It seems like all I can really do is make restaurant reservations there when staying offsite. Which is fine, that works good.
And if they do roll out fastpass plus for everyone by then will the offsite people still have anything available with the onsite people already being able to book?
I am a single mom who has been saving and hoping to take her son for years. My sister (has a good husband that just can't make it for other reasons) has two boys and they have never been either. We are so excited we can make this happen for them. I think they are just the right age to.
Any advice and help to a first timer is greatly appreciated!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Sorry FP+ will only available to those who stay onsight.

Your tickets will be good for any day that you visit

If you want good prices on tickets look at Undercover Tourist. I use them all the time and they have lower prices than Disney.

 

[sympatico]

You can buy tickets at any time and as long as you don't use them they are good for whenever you go. I usually get mine at undercovertourist.com They are cheaper than getting them at the gate. Their prices include tax whereas some places don't. They will ship them to you free or if you want to get them quick then you can pay for that. You can buy multi-day base tickets for the 4 major parks: AK, MK, DHS, Epcot and then if you want to go to the waterparks you can add that option and/or if you want to be able to go to more than one of the 4 major parks in one day you can add the park hopper option. If you have the waterpark option you can do a waterpark and a major park on the same day but not two major parks unless you get the park hopper option.
If you sign up for the mousesavers.com newsletter there's a link in there which can save you a few more dollars off on the undercovertourist site.
I don't know about the fastpass plus.
Boys that age may enjoy Universal's Islands of Adventure also: lots of thrill rides and Harry Potter section if they're into that. Universal Studios is also good. Decisions , decisions !!

 

[sscheier]

I will get tickets from the undercover place then, thanks for the tip. I was planning on the full park hopper plus options because the boys will really enjoy the Quest place in the hot afternoons I believe.
Our dates are June 7 to June 14. Really excited to be there for a Star Wars day. Since we are coming all the way from Arizona we are thinking of flying in the day before and getting a cheapy hotel for the first night in order to be well rested to start our vacation first thing Saturday morning with a Star Wars Hollywood Studio park opening. We thought about a redeye flight to do the same thing but decided against it because of probable crankiness from the boys (and possibly the sister too). This way we can do Star Wars in the morning and take the afternoon to check into the condo and do our grocery shopping and then go back somewhere and do something cool that night.
Any suggestions for the hotel the night prior? it doesn't have to be near the parks, actually near the airport may be better or somewhere in between. Doesn't need anything more than a place for 5 people to sleep and take a shower.
Can anyone set me up with links to possible strategy plans for off-site people?
Our boys are not so much into thrill rides at all, it is going to take some convincing to get them all to go on Splash mountain but I am determined. They are all looking forward to dinosaur themed things (I got a reservation for the T-Rex restaurant), the Star Wars stuff (we have to meet Chewbacca!), and my son is especially excited for Animal Kingdom. The oldest nephew is getting into his Italian heritage (from his dads side, my sister and I are not really Italian just American mutts) so I was thinking of making a reservations somewhere in Italy at Epcot.
I am sure I will have tons more questions as I start planning.

 

[sscheier]

How does photopass work for off site people? When do you buy that, can it be bought early too?
We don't want to have to spend much on lunch each day. Thinking about bringing in PB&J or something. Does anyone have suggestions for really cheap lunches to keep up the energy of pre-teen boys?

 

[powellrj]

If you sign-up for the mousesavers newsletter which comes out on the 15th of the month, she has a link in it for a few dollars off tickets. I know many people on the DIS have used the link and Mary who owns the board posts on the DIS.

 

[spiceycat]

How does photopass work for off site people? When do you buy that, can it be bought early too?
We don't want to have to spend much on lunch each day. Thinking about bringing in PB&J or something. Does anyone have suggestions for really cheap lunches to keep up the energy of pre-teen boys?

I can get it early - but have annual pass and DVC member - so would think the general public can too. You get a good discount for buying it early.

think it works the same as onsite.

there are several airport shuttle - who will take you back and forth to the airport for free.

which timeshare will you be in? - some you have to get a rental car - others - well they have buses - the schedule aren't great.

problem with pre-teen and teens is they can eat forever. so would bring more PB&J sandwiches.

have not looked in the fass pass thread for a while - but last time looked - WDW was going to have it for everyone. you have to register your tickets - which is why some may not do it.

although wouldn't count on this summer -now summer in 2015 - would say everyone will be on the new fass pass system - but not this year (I don't think)

 

[sscheier]

Spiceycat, thank you so much for your reply.

I am concerned about trying to keep the hollow legs of three pre-teen boys full! That is what my family always says about pre-teen/teen boys, that they have hollow legs, because they eat and eat forever and are still skinny! Besides PB&J, what else is portable and filling and won't give them too much of a sugar crash later?
I was planning on getting a rental car so we did not have to rely on anyone else's transportation schedules. I am not a big city driver at all, are the roads around WDW very stressful for us smaller town drivers?
Is there a thread somewhere discussing where off-site places to eat may be?
Since it is my sister's timeshare we are staying at I don't know the name of which one she is choosing yet. (Actually I should ask her husband, he is the planner of that family, she is the "okay, whatever as long as I have my breakfast" person.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I can get it early - but have annual pass and DVC member - so would think the general public can too. You get a good discount for buying it early.

think it works the same as onsite.

there are several airport shuttle - who will take you back and forth to the airport for free.

which timeshare will you be in? - some you have to get a rental car - others - well they have buses - the schedule aren't great.

problem with pre-teen and teens is they can eat forever. so would bring more PB&J sandwiches.

have not looked in the fass pass thread for a while - but last time looked - WDW was going to have it for everyone. you have to register your tickets - which is why some may not do it.

although wouldn't count on this summer -now summer in 2015 - would say everyone will be on the new fass pass system - but not this year (I don't think)

Free airport shuttles are generally for hotels very close to the airport. So be careful where you stay. The only one I know that has free shuttle is the Country Inn & Suites that is 2 miles from the airport

I find driving around WDW to be easy. When you fly in be sure to take the "south" exit of the airport. It will take you to 417 with is a much quietier and easy ride to Disney. the north route takes you on 528 and then to the busy hectic I-4 highway which is a nightmare

For dinner take them to CiCi pizza its all you can eat for $5.99. There is steak and shakes. Ponderosa for breakfast - all you can eat. There is a Hess gas station outside of the MK that has a great little café area with a bunch of table. THey have specials on pizza usually a large one topping for $8.00 and a free 2lt of pop. We love their pizza and hot dogs which are 2 for $2.00. They also have made to order subs and grilled chicken sandwiches.


Oh don't forget you can take drinks and snacks into the park. Nothing in glass bottles