Help me decide...

[redmomof4]

I am far from a Disney Veteran. Been there twice in my 31 years and cruised once on the 4 night cruise with 2 kids. We now have 4 kids ages 14,8,5,and 3. My plan is to have two connecting rooms at a value or a moderate depending on price (discounts etc-I am willing to buy an ap if the room discount is worth it) and two connecting rooms on the cruise if possible. I'd love some input from more knowledgable people about how I should lay things out.

We are going either late Sept. or early Oct.
Here is what I have so far, please help me fill in the parks on most approp days etc...

Tues-Fly In
Wed-
Thrus-am open/Board cruise ship in afternoon
Fri-Cruising-Naussau
Sat-Cruising-Castaway Cay (or vice versa)
Sun-Disembark early in the am
Mon-
Tues-
Wed-

I originally thought we'd leave Tuesday, but I don't think that gives us enough time at the parks, so I am thinking one day later on Wed we'll fly home. My questions are
**How would you break down the parks with kids the age of mine
**What things should be absolutely not miss (Fantasmic etc...)
**We'd like to do MNSSHP if it is going on during our stay, what days of the week is it usually offered at the beginning of the month?
**Could I send Dad and the older two boys to Quest one of the flying or cruising days and the younger two and I could do a character bkfst or other meal?
**If there are AP codes for our dates, it would be to my benefit, I would think since we are booking two rooms (think two discounted rates!)
**If I purchase the DDE, do I get the discount for everyone in my family or just my meal?
**What would be the best sort of transfers?? I don't think we'll be renting a car, but if we need to we will. If we don't what do you recommend? We would need transfers to the hotel, to the port, back to the hotel and then to the airport for 6.

This trip will be so $$ w/ 6 of us and I just want to enjoy it and have everyone else also, but to get our money's worth, ykwim?

I am open to all input, even switching days, flying different etc...

Thanks
Shawna

 

[Selket]

I can't answer many of the questions but the DDE card is good for up to 9 people dining with the cardholder (including the card holder? not sure). Anyway it would cover your family.

However the AP rates out right now are much better for the deluxes than for the mods or values. You'd probably come out a bit ahead by one in your party purchasing an AP since you're getting 2 rooms though. That would depend on the discounts and IF you can book the rooms with the AP rate. Perhaps book the rooms with the AP rate first and then get the AP. That's what I've done for my upcoming trip.

Have fun!

 

[GIOny]

Alot of the fun in a Disney Vacation is the planning. As far as your schedule goes, with that many different age groups you will find that it will be a loose schedule and you will wing it alot, allowing for everyones needs and desires. You asked about renting a car, if you plan on this being a total Disney vacation it probally would not be necessary to rent a car but since you are taking a cruise I assume you will need transportation to get to the ship (don't they depart from Cocoa Beach or that area?) Here are some thoughts on the subject:http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/transp.htm . For getting to and from the airport, Disney has a new service starting on May 5th, that offers complimentary ground transportation to and from Orlando Int. airport. Here is the website about that:http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortCatListing?id=DeluxeResortListingPage it's called Disney's Magical Express. Not sure about your schedule, what where you planning the day you arrive and that Wednesday. Are they supposed to be park days? What not to miss? Nothing, but of course that is impossible so just hurry up and start planning your next Disney vacation!!!

 

[redmomof4]

Dh might like to go to Kennedy or Seaworld (i could care less, but the boys will like Kennedy) so I am leaning to renting a car. It might be a wash by the time we pay for transports to the hotel, to port canaveral, back to the hotel and back to the airport. We'll see. I have heard of the Magical Express, but not sure w/ us putting our cruise in the middle. We might just have to pay for cruise transports. I did just learn that all 7d land/sea vacation packages get 8d tickets now I think (mousesavers.com newsletter had this info) so that would be great for us since we are adding on days (I didn't think 4n was enough on land!)
But I really want other's input on which parks to do which days etc.
Here was a tenative plan I was thinking at work last night

Tues-Fly in-maybe Kennedy depending on flights
Wed-MGM
Thurs-AK prior to going to the port (maybe not enough time to do this)
Fri-cruise
Sat-cruise
Sun-Disembark early-Seaworld-MNSSHP in eve
Mon-MK
Tues-Epcot
Wed-Fly home

Any input
Thanks to all who have answered so far.
Shawna

 

[karebear1]

I don't think you'll have time to do AK the day you leave for the cruise. Is there a particular reason why you are spliting your days like that? This is my suggestion. Come in the night before you leave to do the cruise. Check into a value resort- get 2 rooms at AP rate or code rate. Let the kids do Disney Quest, Chef Mickey's that night. Take a ride around on the monorail. Get up the next day and get ready to go on your cruise. Have a nice leisurely morning and enjoy yourselves. Your coming back from the cruise on a Sunday- that's GREAT if you would consider renting points from a DVC owner. You could get a 2 bedroom villa (sleeps 8) at OKW during that time from Sun- Thursday (leaving Thursday) for about $960.00. If you wanted to stay 5 days and leave on Friday, it would cost you about $1200.00 (This is renting points at $10.00 per point - which is the general price they go at) Renting at this rate, would be about the same as getting a 2 moderate rooms at the AP rate, but you won't have to buy an AP, PLUS you get a lot more room! OKW villas are huge! A 2 bedroom villas is approximately 1300 sq. ft. This would be great for a family of your size and includes a full kitchen, full sized frig, Living room and 2 bedrooms, plus a washer and dryer. You can go here to read more about OKW villas and see pics: http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_okw.htm . Scroll down on the left and click to see photos of OKW.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

 

[redmomof4]

I had thought about that, but would rather get our lodging a little cheaper. Plus one of the reasons we are splitting it like that is because of my work schedule. It is better if we can be gone from Tues-Wed like I have planned out. The cruise leaves on Thurs. I am open though. I thought splitting it would be good for the kids, not a park day, then a park day then another, but a little leisure in between.

Do you think we just don't have enough time to do AK on the departure day?
Thanks again
Shawna

 

[karebear1]

You really don't have time to do a park on the day you leave for the cruise. The bus down (if that's what you chose to take) leaves by noon I think, and most people that drive themselves down check into the DCL as soon as they can- by 10:30 am or so, which means they leave around 9- 9:30 am.

 

[redmomof4]

That is exactly what I wanted to hear. It's been since 99 that we cruised on the Wonder and I couldn't remember what time we checked in. I know we didn't start "cruising" until 4-5pm or so. Thanks again.

 

[karebear1]

You're welcome!