First trip to Disney!! :)

[3boysmommy]

This is our first trip!!

I have 3 boys 8,10 & 11.

We will be driving? flying? from Ohio.

I have read over threads but theres so many abbreviations! I have no idea what they mean! LOL

we won't be going til the first of next year, what do I need, or can do NOW, to get ready?

I see there's hopper passes, food certificates etc.. do I need to get these early or??

We are a family of 5 and maybe a mammaw & pappaw going

so wheres good places to stay for this many?

Thanks so much for any & all the help!! Cathy

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad says.................................Welcome.

The only thing you need to do right now is start saving lots of money! Or you may have to leave a child behind at WDW, they use them in IT's a Small World!

You can ask about abbreviations, someone will give you a link that explains them. I'd do it but the only link I understand is sausage.

Keep reading, and when you know what tickets you want go to a local Disney store and get them before you go. I'm not sure when, but I think Disney raises ticket prices in the fall, so best to buy them before they do that.

The rooms are tough, I would stay onsite, which will cost more, but has its perks. Some deluxe resorts will hold 5 but it will be crowded. I would try to get ajoining rooms at any of the All Stars, or Pop Century. There are some decent suites off property that are nearby and could save you some money, but then you have to drive to the parks and pay for parking and drive home after a real long day.

The place is 47 square miles, so I hope you plan to stay than four or five nights. At least 8, if you can.

You are already better off than most because you are here!

 

[crisi]

Abbreviations:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

You can buy your hoppers at the gate, though its cheaper it buy them through a broker before you go. Hang out on the budget board or check out www.mousesavers.com for info.

Food vouchers - we just pay cash. You can also go hang on the budget board for the pro's and cons to Connections. I think cash will work best for a first timer, as you need to know the "system" to get value from Connections.

Port Orleans will sleep five and is moderately priced. But its up to you. How do you travel with your kids normally, stuff them all into one room? If so, book Port Orleans. If not, look for adjoining rooms where ever you choose. Or a suite offsite. I, too, would recommend staying on site - but a lot of the people here are Disney snobs (including myself) who wouldn't dream of offsite. Plenty of people have wonderful vacations offsite and save a lot of money. The folks at the resorts board will be happy to help you pick out the perfect onsite resort, and the ones on the Orlando Hotels board can help you choose something offsite.

The parent site here is www.wdwinfo.com and has lots of information. Also try www.wdwig.com. If you want a book, I like Birnbaums for first timers (Passporter is good to, but Birnbaums is the only one with color pictures and has color maps, nice for first timers).

 

[Jordan's MOM]

WELCOME


I would go ahead and try to book your room very soon. If the first of year means January, you have chosen a very good time to go. The resorts are at value prices and the crowds are very low. I guess I am one of those Disney snobs, but i think that staying on site makes our WDW vacation. My DH refuses to stay off site. One of the perks is the WDW transpotation. If you fly, you can get by without a rental, and if you drive, you don't have to move your car all week. There are places for every budget. Even after you book a resort, you can keep an eye on the board for discount codes and special that you can go back and modify your reservation for. Tickets can be bought at any time. The local Disney Store has them, as well as local AAA ofices at a 5% discount to AAA members. They can also be bought at your resort when you arrive. I suggesst a good guide book to get you started, as well as reading these boards. The unoffical guild book, while a little negative sometimes, is full of great information.Ask questions here often and have fun planning.


jordans' mom

 

[3boysmommy]

thanks so much everyone!! we dont have the exact date yet, so cant make the reservation,
Im so afraid that I'll make it and something will come up and we wont be able to go that particular week! LOL

and if I do and they have a promotion cheaper, I can change it??

I think we'll PLAN to stay on site as we probably wont get to do this again poor budget! LOL

we usually all stay in one room, all 3 boys still fit comfortably in a full sz bed, not big guys

also is it real busy through Christmas/New years? any other time not quite as busy?
the boys usually have a spring break in April, I think I saw that that's a busy month?
that would be great as they get a week off and then we could take another week, so they'd only miss one week of school, otherwise we will only be able to go one week. Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[dzneprincess]

Originally posted by 3boysmommy
I think we'll PLAN to stay on site as we probably wont get to do this again poor budget! LOL

If budget is an issue than you will definitely need to consider traveling in off season, IE not Christmas/New Years and NOT Spring Break. You can get GREAT rates for on site rooms during the off peak season. IE last year a $49 a night rate was offered to annual pass holders at the All Star resorts. Of course now with the Fairy tale package (FTP) they may not be the great AP rates. Your biggest expense is going to be your tickets. They never expire, and if you are definete that you all are going to go, then definetely start buying your passes. You could buy one at a time,that way you will get the major expense out of the way. BTW I recognize your username from mycoupons. I post over on the YFB board as mabell75, if you need help feel free to pm me
Amanda

 

[AreWeThereYet]

OK, so I am a DVC member, but I would suggest a stay at one of the Disney Vacation Club resorts for a party of your size (especially if grandparents are coming too). You can get one that sleeps 8 very confortably. First of the year would be a great time to visit - crowds and such.

We stayed off site the first two times to WDW and then got to stay on site - WOW!! What a difference it makes to be 'in'!!

We always get our tickets early from AAA. You can save a few dollars over waiting til you get to the park.

You can find lots about food in the threads - keep reading.

Have a fantastic trip!

 

[mm6mm6]

Hi there 3boysmommy! You're going to have a blast for the next year just thinking about it! Stay tuned on these boards and you'll be an expert without even having gone to WDW yet!

One thing you can do now is save money before you go on your trip. And I don't mean put it away. I mean spend it now when prices are cheap!

As an example, right now over on www.disneystore.com they have some clothing items at 60% off. And then you can type in the code "exclusive20" when ordering and save another 20% off on the already sale priced stuff.

You can get matching tshirts for your whole family and save a ton of money right now instead of buying them right before your trip.

With five of you, any way to save starts right now!

In my opinion, it's just a little bit more added magic to be together wearing matching Disney outfits (or only tshirts) while you're on vacation at the World!

 

[lexis53]

Hi! Another option is a home rental. Some people have gotten great deals at skyauction or vrbo.com. You could save quite a bit. Plus, you would have a kitchen to help ease the food expenses.

This place is really great at helping newbies plan! Nice people who really want to help

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says................................ Stay at Dixie Landings, some of the rooms sleep five with a trundle bed. Its now called
Port Orleans Riverside, but I will never use that name.

Going off peak is very important if you can do it. For the cost of a two week trip, one at peak heavy crowds, one low crowds, like Xmas and the week after New Years, you can almost do two trips a week each for close to the same cost.

A two week trip means you need to by annual passes, after 8 days it's better to have an AP. You will fight crowds for a week, long lines etc., then it will be nice.

maybe try this. We went Nov. 2001, for ten days, so we had to get AP's, for value. Then we returned for the last 9 days of the AP, down to the last minute in 2002! You get AP rates at the hotels, and a reason to return! Plus when you go off season, the lines are so much shorter.

Just read a post from someone who goes this time of year, he said the lines aren't that bad, maybe 30-40 minutes for Peter Pan and the other fantasyland rides.

I say go off season and you will do all of fantasyland, if you hit it first in less than 45 minutes. Every ride.

 

[cali2gagirl]

Keep checking out disney.com for room specials...and keep looking here for tips I haven't been yet...but believe me...I've had TONS of priceless advice ! - Since you have time to plan still...Each possible time you have money saved...go to The Disney Store (TDS) and buy a hopper pass for one of your people going. Do this as you save up money for each one..so it doesn't hit you all at once! Defitnitly buy there..or online..advance purchase saves you some money.
Being my first trip...I HAD to stay on-site..but depending on the importance to you...you will probably find a Disney-friendly hotel just outside for a cheaper rate. If you stay All-Stars (value)..I'd get adjoining rooms for that amount of people...I've heard they are tiny. We are staying there for 3 days this trip..but of course...how often are you IN the room when AT Disney??
We'll be in a moderate resort Coronado Springs (CSR) for our last 2 days (it was a last minute add on..we knew 3 nights wasn't enuf to enjoy WDW)
And..another thing we're doing..great for kids..to help save $$ is we bought a big crayon at ToysRUS...a bank for $5 and we put all our change in it - depending on how much you have at the time you leave...either give it to the kids as spending money (exchanging for Disney Dollars is fun!!) or split it with them and use that for souveniers n such -It's great you have a decent amount of time to gather all the info!!
TRACY

 

[house_of_princesses]

Welcome, 3boysmommy!! As Disnee Dad said, you're already ahead of the game by coming here! Keep reading, keep asking questions, it will all come together before you know it.

Someone recommended reserving your room now. I agree. Decide your hotel and make the ressie. You can always modify it later, get a discount, whatever. Better to have some spot than no spot. Two things to consider... a FW cabin may work for your family or if grandparents go, get adjoing rooms and perhaps one of the boys could bunk up with them?

Start researching the differences between tickets and purchase away, before rates go up. Remember, you're never locked into a ticket. You can always upgrade (but can't downgrade. ).

I like The Unofiicial Guide to WDW by Bob Sehlinger for it's reality checks. Some call it negativity (and it is), but it's closer to the truth than most. Not that the others are false, just look at WDW through rose colored glasses. I also have Passporter, but I still like Unofficial Guide for newbies.

Don't forget to frequent the Budget Forum. Great place for $$ saving tips!

Most of all, have fun!! 1/2 the fun is in the planning!!

 

[lentesta]

Hi 3boysmommy,

Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions about the Unofficial Guide. I'll be gald to help.

house_of_princesses, thanks for the recommendation.

Sincerely,

Len Testa