Hello! Help! Where to start???

[Shelebeen]

Hi everyone,
I have done a fair amount of research and travel to DL, but not since 1976 to WDW, I am now in the very beginning stages of planning a trip to WDW for next year at Christmas break (am a teacher who also has kids at school) so we do not have any flexibility in terms of dates...

I am finding researching about the hotels very overwhelming, there are so many and so many parks I don't really even know where to start...

This I do know:
We want to have enough time to do all the parks properly... 8ish days enough?

Also we want to look into a 3 or 4 night disney cruise while we are all the way there.

In terms of staying on site - in DL we prefer the Grand Californian - and I think we *might* like to stay at the Animal Kingdom hotel.

Can anyone give me some advise in terms of where to start?

Thanks
Carole

 

[bbangel]

We just spent 10 days on site with 7 days in the parks. We could have used at least one more in park day so we could have taken things at a slower pace.
Best way to start the hotel search is to ask yourself some questions. How much do I want to spend and how close do I want to be to the parks? If you stay at AKL you only have bus transportation. The other deluxe hotels have monorail and/or boat transportation. If you like the Grand California you would probably enjoy the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[madonna31]

The Grand Californian is described by Disney as "a cross between Disney's Grand Floridian and Disney's Wilderness Lodge" so I think you would be VERY pleased with either of those resorts.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is fantastic, although transportation and dining options are to be desired.

There are 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 2 entertainment and dining districts plus MUCH more. So your length of stay in WDW should be much longer than one at DL. I go down to WDW every year for 2 weeks and still don't have enough time for everything. I would suggest a minimum of a 7 night stay.

As for DCL - I would suggest the 4 night, as the 3 night is simply too short.

Can anyone give me some advise in terms of where to start?

Start by contacting a Disney Vacation Specialist (not a regular travel agent) as they can assist you with the hundred's of details involved in a Disney vacation for the same price you can find for yourself.

 

[drag n' fly]

Hi everyone,
I have done a fair amount of research and travel to DL, but not since 1976 to WDW, I am now in the very beginning stages of planning a trip to WDW for next year at Christmas break (am a teacher who also has kids at school) so we do not have any flexibility in terms of dates...

I am finding researching about the hotels very overwhelming, there are so many and so many parks I don't really even know where to start...

This I do know:
We want to have enough time to do all the parks properly... 8ish days enough?

Also we want to look into a 3 or 4 night disney cruise while we are all the way there.

In terms of staying on site - in DL we prefer the Grand Californian - and I think we *might* like to stay at the Animal Kingdom hotel.

Can anyone give me some advise in terms of where to start?

Thanks
Carole

If you live on the east coast you can appraently fly out of Buffalo much cheaper and bypass the passport requirement for a while. If you prefer the Grand Californian then Wilderness Lodge is pretty much the same. If you want to try something different the Poly is also apparently nice and sits on the monorail.
OT~This is our very last vacation taking the kids out of school. We are just going to have to pony up the cash for Spring break or Chrstmas break from now on.

 

[madonna31]

This is our very last vacation taking the kids out of school.

Oh but the lower crowds you should encounter during your travel time will be SOOO worth it!!!

 

[drag n' fly]

Oh but the lower crowds you should encounter during your travel time will be SOOO worth it!!!

Well we thought so too madonna31. Between the dance competition, cheerleader competition and the 100,000+ attendees PLUS all their family members going to the builders convention there I am starting to wonder

 

[madonna31]

Notice I said should

In all seriousness; as long as you are there before President's Day (which by the looks of your ticker, you are) you should be fine.

 

[drag n' fly]

Notice I said should

In all seriousness; as long as you are there before President's Day (which by the looks of your ticker, you are) you should be fine.

Yes we are leaving to come home on the the 15th...whew!