Frustrated w/WDW planning

[wdw4fun]

Okay, I'm truly going crazy and passed frustrated. I love to plan for trips because it's so exciting seeing all of the pictures and fun activities; however, this has been the most frustrating. I was so thrilled when I found out about this site until I started second guessing every resort and most recently until I was reminded of the alligators and snakes in Florida. I don't know why I'm letting all of this get to me but I'm back to square one after months of planning. My DH doesn't want to stay in a small place and the deluxe resorts are way out of my price range. I keep hearing people say they found good deals but I"m not sure where to go to find such deals. I'm considering staying off site but this is my family's first trip to WDW(DS4, DD10) and I'm afraid the offsite hotels won't give them the full effect as would the onsite resorts (am I wrong?)

 

[Catrin]

OH.... if there is anyway you can stay Onsite.. than please do so! Especially for your first family trip.

You can look and get discounts at the Moderate hotels... AAA etc. Just keep calling and looking.
It is just my opinion.. but when I first stayed onsite... after several trips off site... I felt so SPECIAL and felt the Disney Magic even more.... and that was just from staying at the All Star resorts.
Good Luck planning!
Catrin

 

[klinlin]

Don't worry about alligators!! If Disney ever had a problem with them it would have been front page news!

And just my opinion.... Don't stay off site! You and your family will love whatever resort you stay at, and nothing beats being able to go back to the room for a nap, a swim etc...

 

[Swimnoid]

How long are you going for? Don't obsess over possible things that might go wrong. Just go and enjoy it! Don't try to do everything in one trip. Relax! its vacation! Definitely stay on site. We stayed off site the first few years we came. After the last trip off site (and it was in a nice hotel, not expensive, but nice) I didnt want to come back anymore. Then we decided well, lets go one more time and stay on site and we havent looked back yet. Our first on site hotel was POR (Dixie Landings back then) and it was great and well worth the price. Then we discovered the DIS and all the discounts available. Don't over plan. That can make you really frustrated if your plan doesnt work like you wanted it too.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[wdw4fun]

I really needed that advice and believe it or not, I've finally decided on a room- Swan/Dolphin. I was able to find a couple of different decent rates and the rooms look right up our alley. Okay now what? When you're planning your trips and you've decided on a resort-where do you go from here.

 

[DZNYMGCFAM]

You should start looking at any meals that your family might want to do (character meals, sit down meals....mainly ones that you should get a priority seating for). Decide what days you want to be in what parks, etc. Then make your plans for your meals according to the days you will be in the corresponding parks, or near that hotel, etc.

Good Luck...glad to hear that you are staying on-site!!

 

[gigi1313]

my best advice is to get a good disney specialist travel agent... if you would like the email addy of the one i am currently using, feel free to pm me

 

[dawgfan]

Your hotel choice is a great happy medium. I think you have chosen well. This places you at a pivot point of parks and monorail systems. You can hit MGM in the morning and float through Epcot eating lunch. Then move to the monorail system to the TTC and head over to MK for the afternoon. With kids at the age of yours you need Park Hoppers for sure. Plan at least one water park day at Blizzard Beach. If you have enough days go to Typhoon Lagoon on another day. If not enough time just do Blizzard Beach. I predict that AK will not be a main attraction for your kids but a morning half day visit may work out well enough. Again if limited on time I would skip AK and do the other parks. Save AK for another visit. If you have enough time then go. As far as charecter meals are concerned Chef Mickeys is a good choice for an evening meal. I think you will also enjoy O'Hanas. I would give those a look. Teppanyaki and Coral Reef are also worth a look. Teppanyaki for dinner and Coral Reef for lunch. Begin planning your days on what parks you want to visit and move to with what meal you may want to try. Do not get too tied down to a schedule of PS's that you feel that you have to go go go.