Help! I am just a little confused!

[Disney 4me]

Hi We are flying Delta airlines from Bufallo to Orlando on April 18th.-26th. I think I got a good rate, around $600 for the 4 of us. We have reservations at the Vistanna Villages from April 18-25 ,we needed to book an additional night so I reserved another night but we will have to move to another unit. I would have much rather stayed in the same unit the entire 8 nights.Cost is around $200 for the extra night. I can cancel that reservation anytime until April 23rd with no penalty. Do you think I will be able to find a more affordable place once I get to Orlando? We will have a rental car.Also, the Vistanna Village staff is now telling us we may not have a 2 bedroom lock off, but we may just have the 2 bedroom, even though we requested the lock-off and we were told previously we would most likely have the lock-off. We are bringing another family (3 people) with us because we assumed that we would have the lock-off. Anyone have any experience like this at Vistanna Village? They did tell me that they have put my request in, just not sure until they actually do the "blocking" whether we will get it or not.We are arriving on a Monday if that means anything.Next question, we have not been to Disney in 10 years, we are traveling with our 9 year old daughter and 15 year old son. The park hopper tickets look nice, we probably will get 4 day hopper passes. We want to go to Universal, we were there 4 years ago, we went there 2 days after a cruise. We loved it!! So where is the best place to buy hopper passes( or maybe we do not even need the hopper option do you think my kids would be busy enough at 1 park per day?) and where should we buy the tix for Universal? We are AAA members.Next question, we arrive in Orlando at 10:30 Am we most likely will not do the parks the first day, but where would be a good place to eat the first night? I have heard O'Hanna's is good, is that inside , if so, where, and can we go inside to eat without using a pass? Any other good ideas for the first day? I really do not mean to sound so clueless.... but I guess I just am! This board is so great! thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[Daxx]

Hello, fellow Buffalonian! Since you arrive at 10:30 am and don't want to hit the parks, here's a suggestion or two:

Check into your hotel. You won't be able to get into your room, but you will be able to change into your FL wear (shorts & t-shirts) in the lobby bathroom. Once you've done that, you have a few options.

You can hit the Character Outlet stores and get some good deals. We love to go check out what the outlets have before we do our shopping at WDW! There are the Belz outlets and another one, but I can't remember it's name. It has a nice Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, etc. Anyway, you can usually find some great stuff there and it gets you in the Disney spirit! The front desk personnel will give you directions on how to get there.

You can also hit Downtown Disney ... they have free parking in the back. Lots of shops to peruse! When we arrive late at night (as we usually take the 7:30 pm flight out of Buffalo), we always hit DTD after we check into our on-campus hotel to get a "taste" of the magic!

You can always put your swimsuits on and hit your pool.

You can try a character lunch or dinner to get the Disney feeling. Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary is our fave! You can have the hotel shuttle take you to MK and then take the monorail to the Contemp (or the bus to whatever hotel for your character meal). Or, you can valet park your car at the Contemp. (or any other hotel). I don't think you have to pay any fee if you tell the gate person that you're going to a Character meal at the Contemp., etc. If it's cutting it too close for a character lunch, at night you can try a character dinner!

Cannot help w/the lock-off, but $200/night is pricey! Even the moderates at WDW aren't that high! Have you looked into staying at the moderates at WDW?

Also, about the PHP - we got our AP's through AAA. Last year, it was the best price we could find! I'm sure AAA does Universal Studios, too!

If I can help out any further, let me know!

Yours,

Susan
Daxx's Wife

 

[Disney 4me]

Thank you, Susan for your reply and help! I think it will be fun to go to Disney for dinner, can we also watch the fireworks from there? I was just not sure if we would have to use a pass to go just for dinner or shopping.I also thought that $200 was a bit pricey for a small room for our last night -so maybe I will be able to find another hotel. I was thinking maybe in Universal. Actually the Buenna Vista did not look too bad and it is less than $100 per night. We have paid $1500 for 7 nights at the Vistanna Villages. My husband thought he got a good deal, lol. I won't tell him otherwise! I am sure it will be nice though...I will use my AAA discout for the park hoppers. I also belong to the American Federation of Teachers and the NY State Teacher's Union . I think they may also offer educator discounts.I actually live near Utica, have you ever heard of it? We are going to take the kids to Niagara Falls before we leave, that is why we are leaving from Buffalo. There just seems to be so much more to DW than there was last time we went, I do appreciate any help! Thanks!

 

[canwegosoon]

I just wanted to post that a possibility the reason why you might have to move is due to the school vacations in the NE, start during your vacation times(but I guess you know that!!! ). Swan offers NYSTU discounts...and I got some coupons for car rentals from NYSTU. My friend has a timeshare at Vistanna, and she loves it there...she is also staying at Swan on HHonors(I believe)for free!!!

I was also thinking that DD might be a great place to do dinner, would also think that you could get a better rate onsite esp. with a AAA discount. But Vistanna does have a great pool. Why don't you get a price on a moderate from AAA and see if there is a teacher discount at the Swan? Good luck.

 

[Daxx]

Hi! I do know where Utica is! Nice area!

I am pretty sure that the Swan still runs the teacher discount. If I'm not mistaken, all you need is a note on school letterhead stating that you are employed as a teacher. I could be mistaken, so def. check into it before you leave. I'm a parochial school teacher but haven't used the Swan's teacher discount, so I cannot be specific on what is needed. They should have info. on it here at disboards! Go to Swan info. and there's a section where it lists discounts. There is a teacher discount ... see what happens! And, if it's not too late to cancel Vistana, I'd think about doing it, esp. if you can get a better rate at a moderate (All Stars or Pop Century) or at the Swan.

Actually, the time that you're going looks like it's well after Spring Break. Our local school vacation is March 21 thru April 4th, and the local universities are on spring break during March 28 through April 4th. I did a check on college spring break on-line and many appear to be during mid-March. Link for that site is: College Spring Break Dates

You do not need to use a park hopper to have lunch or dinner at any of the hotels as they are all outside of the kingdoms. However, if you plan on going to any restaurants inside the kingdoms (ie: Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern, LeCellier, etc.), you will need park admission.

If you want to see fireworks while you're dining, then opt for the California Grill at the Contemporary -- a better place to see the fireworks, from what I hear. You really can't see them all that well from Chef Mickey's.

While in the Falls (American side?), the Seneca Niagara casino has a delicious buffet lunch and dinner. Children are welcome to the buffet. However, get a "frequent player card", free in the lobby, to get a discount on your meal. There's also the Hard Rock Cafe on the American side. If venturing to the Canadian side (remember your birth certificates), definitely go up and down Clifton Hill. Very Vegas in atmosphere and cheesy and touristy, but a riot to do!!! There are two restaurants on Clifton Hill -- Planet Hollywood and the Rainforest Cafe. However, I'd suggest saving those and doing them at Disney if you're planning on doing them! The Fallsview Casino has a great buffet as well ... however children are not admitted!

If I can help w/anything else, please let me know!