hello im back with loads of questions!!

[scojos]

sorry i have been disloyal, but it broke my heart to pop in when i couldn t go, but have persuaded dh to go back in 2008 very excited.
so here are my questions;
1. is it worth staying on site there are 5 of us me dh ds 10 ds 8 (hes autistic) and dd5 so we have limited accomodation options PO riverside is the cheapest or interconnecting room at pop century or one of the other budget hotels, what do you think would be best and which of the budget hotels is better?
2. when to go- either the last 2 weeks of Aug (dh choice) or for xmas (my choice) what are the crowds really like at xmas, is it really as awful as everyone says??
3. ddp is it worth it?
4. do we need a car?
5. does the swan/dolphin do the ddp? as a teacher i get quite a hefty reduction on prices there but how different is it to a "disney" hotel?

thankyou for your replies
ive missed you all

tracy

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Tracy, cannot really answer all of your questions but......

Our son is Autistic too, personally for us we find if we are staying on-site a DVC resort best as there is more room plus cooking facilities too.
However, overall a villa wins in terms of comfort, room, and overall flexibility. I would suggest as an alternative to 2 hotel rooms, providing you are happy with the idea of staying off-site.

Last 2 weeks in August historically is a decent time to go providing you can handle the very high temperatures and humidity, my son and wife cannot so August is out for us in the future.
Crowd wise is generally not too bad as many US schools have returned, however the Disney Dining Plan has kind of changed that to a degree, whilst the parks will certainly not be packed it is more difficult to predict how busy they will be.

Christmas, crowd levels go up considerably from the middle of December onwards, and Christmas week is packed, one of the busiest times of the year - though like I say early in the month is not too bad at all.

We always rent a car, so for us with Joshua it is essential to have one, strictly speaking you can get away without one however personally for convenience and travelling around it's a big advantage having your own transport and essential if you are staying in a villa.

 

[scojos]

hi johnny sorry to be a bit thick but whats DVC??
thanks
tracy

 

[Andy B]

We have been in August and at Christmas and I can say the Christmas week is very much busier even leading to closing of parks (mainly MK) if busy.

At christmas 2003 on Boxing day the crowds were so full that the major walkways were shoulder to shoulder and we managed 3 rides before giving up!

 

[Soprano]

Can only answer the car question as we never stay onsite (Wifey fears Disney over-load!)

We have been 4 times without a car and found it pretty easy to get around. We like to see a lot of Orlando. Not just Disney, but like to spend a few days shopping at the malls, outlets, Sea World, Universal etc. We've managed okay on buses (although once we were stuck on one for over an hour because it went the long way...) We stay on International Drive as its so central and easy to get around.

Last year was our first time with a car. Wow, what a difference! It was MUCH better. So much easier to get around, come and go as you please not checking timing for coachs back to the hotel.

We would NEVER go without a car now.

It depends on what you want to do/see. As you are staying onsite, its easy to get around Disney, but if you want to venture a little further, it would be a bit of a hassle getting around without a car.

Its also VERY EASY to drive around Orlando. Driving is very stress free there.

 

[UKDEB]

Welcome back, Tracy.

Other than the crowd issue, if you want to stay onsite, Christmas is much more expensive than the last two weeks of August. Christmas falls into the Holiday price band (i.e. the most expensive), whereas the last two weeks of August is Value season (the cheapest).

All Star Music now offers Family Suites which sleep 6. Rack rate in value season is $179, so a bit more than two inter-connecting rooms ($82), but much nicer and more practical I would have thought.

There are some great rates available for the Swan and Dolphin and they do have the advantage of being within easy reach of both Epcot and MGM, but they have no Disney theming which can be an issue for some people. Staying there, you would not be eligible for DDP.

 

[Madjock]

We stayed at POR in December. It is a lovely hotel but we, 2 Adults & 2 children (13&7), found it to be cramped, the main problem is that there is very limited space to store your luggage and not much space to hang things up, if we had had to use the rollaway bed as well it would've been a total pain. Much as this was a lovely hotel with three children I think this would be my last option.

We had the DDP. If you and your children tend to have three courses at meals then it can be good value and it can also be good value if you plan on doing a lot of character meals but we found it far more food than we would normally have and the limitations on children's choices from the menu very frustrating.

If you are staying onsite then you could definitely not bother with a car but we find it's still easier having our own transport.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

hi johnny sorry to be a bit thick but whats DVC??
thanks
tracy

I am not an expert but I sort of know what it is, in a way similar to Timeshare I guess.
There are a number of Disney DVC resorts that offer studio/1 & 2 bedroomed accomodation, with full kitchens etc - the accomodation is not budget though and it can be expensive to stay there.

Here are the resorts:

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Beach Club Villas
Disney's BoardWalk Villas
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Vero Beach Resort
Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort

see....
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/index.html

 

[wifey]

We've never used a car, we get about just fine without one, but we do not drive. I agree with Johnny a villa sounds ideal for your family

 

[nattyk]

hi

Can only add re the hotel or villa - we are family of 5, 2 adults and 3 kids (age 6, 4, 2 1/2) and there is no way we would stay in a hotel for 2wks with the 5 of us - as much as we would love to stay onsite...a Villa is the way to go - once the kids are in bed, dh and I can go for a swim, watch tv have a meal etc....which we could not do in a hotel room - the space, washing facilities, kitchen, your OWN pool etc...... makes the holiday I think....also if you have a villa then you will need a car to get around....

Re when to go - I would love to go for xmas one year, but the crowds do put me off - i guess it depends if you can go earlier in Dec??? we are going the week before Easter this year and are planning to go again in 2009 and we might go end of Aug....

Good luck with whatever you decided..

Nat

 

[eyoreaud]

Hi Tracy,

We stayed at the Dolphin last year, there is a disney gift store in the large beautifully decorated lobby along with some other stores as well. They also do character dining (didn't do this so cant comment on how good it was but other people we talked to said it was nice. ) Standard Room sizes are on par with other Disney Resorts. The Resort grounds are quite large as is the resort itself.

We've also stayed at POR and it was fine if a bit cramped, (There were only 3 of us) but when staying on-site you will notice that the room sizes are quire snug even when staying in a delux resort, much more room in a suite or as already mentioned, one of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) resorts.

We usually go the first 2 weeks in Dec and although it can be a little chilly at times the crowds are almost non existant Don't know if this is an option for you. Hope this helps a little .

Audrey

 

[stephensmum]

Sorry to gatecrash this thread, can anyone tell me how to start one of my own? Have read for awhile now & would love to be able to ask questions for my May trip.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi Tracy

If you are 'doing' Disney 24/7, then staying on site is the most appropriate, but if you are only visiting the parks a few times, then why not choose a villa? We have done both - with 4 of us.

Why not stay in a villa and then on-site? Then you get the best of both worlds? You could do a week eating out of Disney, discovering all the great restaurants around the area - then have a wek of DDP?! Then in the future, you'll know which suits you best?!

Definitely get a car!

Tracy

 

[castanea1985]

Sorry to gatecrash this thread, can anyone tell me how to start one of my own? Have read for awhile now & would love to be able to ask questions for my May trip.

Hi Stephensmum,
Just press the 'new thread' tag on the top left!
Tracy

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Sorry to gatecrash this thread, can anyone tell me how to start one of my own? Have read for awhile now & would love to be able to ask questions for my May trip.

Hi,

Go to the Trip Planning forum, ie

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47

On the left hand side about 3/4 of the way up you will see 'new thread', just click on that type in a subject for your questions, and then type away in the box supplied.
Once done, hit the submit tab and off you go!!

oops sorry Tracy didn't realise you had already answered....

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Johnny & Tracy, could'nt see for looking.
Sharon