Help needed!!! Ottawa to WDW

[Marmot007]

Hi everyone,
We have decided last minute to book a trip to Orlando and I need some help. I usually don't book things last minute so am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Our dates are flexible, but are looking at leaving anytime between mid Feb to early March. Would stay about a week. It would be my husband and I and our twin 2 year olds
1-where is best to book our flight? I'd be looking to fly direct out of Ottawa to Orlando. So I'm guessing Air Canada or Westjet. I'm seeing cheaper deals on Expedia. Anywhere else?
2-we'd like to rent a car once we're there. We'd need car seats. Anything I need to know?
We'd like to explore the area a bit, but maybe not necessary?
3-and the biggest question, where to stay? We think we'd only go into the parks on 2-3 days (since the kids are so young, still napping, etc) but we were still thinking of staying in one of the Disney resorts just for convenience (and also to help limit my choices right now because I'm finding it overwhelming) do any of them have bar fridges, or even better kitchenettes...or would we have to go offsite for this?
I don't think any of the fancy expensive resorts are in our budget

Thanks so much for any help!

 

[badiggio]

If you're looking at "direct" it's probably going to be westjet,which usually leaves around 4:30 pm.If you can handle a layover for an hour or so,we usually fly United and take a 6 am flight,getting ther by 11am.Since we discovered Bonnet Creek,we have always stayed there and in a Presidential suite.You're not going to find anything at Disney in this price range to compare and if you rent a car,it's a short drive to the parks,especially Hollywood and epcot.Downtown Disney is also close by.Usually I find the best deals through expedia,including cars,but check directly with United as well.
As for onsite,we've only stayed at the deluxes ,so can't comment on the value or mods,but for convenience and being a little cheaper than GF,Bay Lake-Contemporary,I'd say wilderness Lodge.

 

[martin33]

Hi there,

We leave from Ottawa for the same trip each March- with kids under 5.
Direct is the way to go but prices out of YOW were extremely expensive this year so we are opting for direct from Syracuse-$900 tax incl for 3 of us roundtrip to Orlando
As for car rentals- I ve had good luck with costcotravel.ca
As for accomodations we have rented disney points for the past 4 years - this allows you to stay at disney properties at up to 50% off the online disney rates.
Without getting into excessive detail- look at at place like Davids disney point rentals- the concept is well laid out there but there are cheaper sites to rent points from
Best of luck

 

[mulan1123]

I flew direct from YOW with WestJet.

If you plan on staying on site, maybe check out the value resorts. I find they are very family oriented with their décor, such as Art of Animation. And I think I read somewhere that kids under 3 don't pay or close to nothing....

 

[Evelyne]

Flying direct would be the best with young children. I would check the Values, maybe Art of Animation would be easier for you. If you are staying on Disney property maybe you could skip the car rental...
Have a Nice trip

 

[tone.def]

If you can swing it, with two year olds, (I assume you're taking a stroller) try to get the Contemporary or Polynesian Resort. Monorail with a stroller and close proximity to Magic Kingdom can't be beat. The busses are a pain with strollers as they must be folded BEFORE you board.
If you decide to rent a car, the value level resorts are okay. The kids love them for their theming, I personally do not love the exterior corridors and food courts.

 

[Lizard Valley]

Timing: mid February to early March can be tricky - president's day is Mon Feb 17th, and it's a very popular (and expensive time for hotels), and has high crowd levels. Crowds die down on Monday Feb 24 until Sat Mar 8th. But then you have Canadian school break in there. In Montreal, kids are off from Mar 1st-9th. This makes airfare expensive. Check Ottawa break period, but I think travelling on Sun 23rd or Mon Feb 24th could be ok.

2yr olds: no extra charge for hotels for kids in general, just if you have more than 2 adults. Park tickets are not needed for kids under 3 yrs. you'll have to buy seats for them. Consider bringing your car seats onboard for them (only if youre flying direct, and if you're getting a rental car).

Hotels: it's a little late to try to get DVC points rented for a resort close to MK. You might be able to get a room at Animal Kingdom Villa's though. Definitely recommend David's; you'll pay a bit more than renting from an owner, but much less than through Disney.

PP is correct in saying that there is nothing more convenient than the monorail (or walking) from the Contemporary or Bay Lake tower. But you'll pay a premium for those resorts. Otherwise, you can stay in a value or modererate. There may be some room only or stay, play, dine discounts for your time period. And since the kids won't cost you extra this time, it could be worth it.

Car: if you stay onsite, it's completely unnecessary. Especially since driving to MK banishes you to the TTC, and a monorail to MK. A resort bus is the most efficient for MK. Your best car rental prices will be found aroud 2-3 weeks before your arrival. You can always plan on resort busses, and take a car if a good price comes up. I second the Costco.com suggestion (I use the US site). Watch the "transportation" forum and "Feb car rental" thread for lots of info on pricing.

I strongly suggest you check out easywdw.com and download the February crowd calendar, read up on park recomendations day-by-day, get your park tickets ahead of time so you can reserve some FP+ times ASAP. And if you're planning on eating at some table service restaurants (especially if you end up with a package that includes table service dining), you'll want to make dining reservations right away (but after you plan which park you'll be in on which day). If you don't want to plan that much, then I don't recommend you get a dining plan with table service. Stick to Quick service and a value resort.

Feel free to ask anything else!

 

[Marmot007]

Thanks for all the help everyone!

We ended up booking a flight for Feb 24, 7 nights. Unfortunately it's Air Canada but it was the cheapest. We did direct as I can't imagine surviving any stops with 2 yr old twins. The quicker we get there the better. I'm already super anxious about it

We're now trying to decide where to stay. Port Orleans Riverside has a discount for our dates. But we're leaning towards Wyndham Bonnet Creek (since we can get 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, laundry, etc). I had originally wanted to stay at a Disney resort just for the convenience etc, but sounds like if we're using the buses either way then it's not all that convenient no matter what we choose (good to know about folding the stroller before! That's a pain)
I will check out the bonnet creek thread but its very long...any key points I should know ie/ things we'd miss out on vs a Disney resort?.. especially with kids

We've decided to use their car seats on the plane, so we'll have those when we arrive and will be renting a car. Maybe we'll just drive into the parks rather than take a bus..undecided

We'll gate check a stroller so that we can use it at the airport. It'll be complicated with luggage and carrying on 2 car seats

Anything major I'm missing? Other tips greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[Marmot007]

Or any other off site recommendations? We like Wyndham because it's close

Will check out renting DVC points as well

Thanks

 

[Lizard Valley]

Good job Marmot!

Nothing to stress about with an Air Canada direct flight from YOW - it really doesn't get easier than this.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about Bonnet Creek, other than hearing generally good things about it. I remember reading that they're charging for bus service to the parks, and you'd have to pay for parking if you take your car. I don't know if they charge for wifi. Just make sure you take that into consideration when pricing it out. Although I think the price can't be beat.

DVC, for fun I took a look for you. Bay Lake Tower is definitely booked. I'd recommend a 1 BR to get the full kitchen and laundry and you can at least hang out in the living room/balcony when the kids go to bed, and they have pack n' plays (might have to request a second one). You'll have better luck with the larger resorts - AKV (272 pts for 1BR Sav view), OKW (222 pts for 1 BR; 296 pts for 2BR). David's charges 14$/pt.

Happy planning!

 

[bankr63]

If you can't get WBC for your dates, try Sheraton Vistana Resort or the Marriot "Palm" resorts. These are very close to Disney and offer 1 or 2BR accomodation which is a godsend (unless you like sitting in a dark hotel room once the kiddies have gone to bed.

Use the car if staying offsite. You only pay once per day to park and it is just as easy to return to your resort for mid-day naps if you have a car as it is if you are relying on Disney Transport.

If you are first timers, pick up Kim Wright Wiley's "Walt Disney World with Kids" at Chapters. This was a great book for our first trip with kids many years ago. Now we rely on Unofficial Guides, but Kim had a really good "mom's-eye view".

Direct flight is a great choice. We still do this even with older kids now; well worth a higher cost for the convenience factor.

For car rentals, be sure to check the transportation board here on DIS for the latest discount codes too.

 

[bankr63]

DVC, for fun I took a look for you. Bay Lake Tower is definitely booked. I'd recommend a 1 BR to get the full kitchen and laundry and you can at least hang out in the living room/balcony when the kids go to bed, and they have pack n' plays (might have to request a second one). You'll have better luck with the larger resorts - AKV (272 pts for 1BR Sav view), OKW (222 pts for 1 BR; 296 pts for 2BR). David's charges 14$/pt.

Happy planning!

OMG!!! That's expensive!!

2BR accomodation at the offsite resorts can be had for around $1000-1500 for the week. Check out Timeshare User Group or Redweek.com on the Internet to rent directly from a TS owner.

 

[Lizard Valley]

OMG!!! That's expensive!!

2BR accomodation at the offsite resorts can be had for around $1000-1500 for the week. Check out Timeshare User Group or Redweek.com on the Internet to rent directly from a TS owner.

Yup. Hence why so many people choose to stay offsite. On the other hand, it's a bargain for those who would be staying in a deluxe Disney resort anyway.

Just an example:

Feb 24-Mar 3 (7 nights). No tix, no DDp, 2 adults, 2 infants

Animal Kingdom Lodge Deluxe studio, Savannah view: $3546 ($2660 with current room only offer)

Animal Kingdom Villas Deluxe Studio, Sav view (has a kitchenette, no laundry): $4000 ($3000 current room only offer).
Worth 139 pts @ 14$/pt = 1946$ (David's) or
139 pts @12$/pt = $1668 (private)


Animal Kingdom Villas 1 BR, Sav view (full kitchen, full laundry):
$5500 ($4123 with current room only offer)
272 pts @ $14/pt = $3808 (David's)
272 pts @ $12/pt = $3264 (private)

 

[Marmot007]

So I think we're going for WBC through Ken Price.

This is all coming together very quickly!

I'm sure I'll have more questions soon

Thanks very much

 

[Lizard Valley]

Good choice! And you can't beat the price

If you're interested, think about signing up for the mousesavers newsletter. She sends it out on the 15th, and if you hurry, you'll be in time for the next one. Lots of hotel discounts (for your next visit), updates on Disney promotions/ride closures, and a link for special mousesavers discounts on Disney tickets through Undercover Tourist (highly recommended).

 

[mab2012]

Sounds like you've settled on accommodations, but FWIW, I was going to suggest looking into a private townhouse rental. There are loads of them very near to Disney. For easily under $1000/week (closer to $500 on the low end), you get lots of space, private laundry, a fully equipped kitchen (because really, eating in is often just a lot easier than eating out with two year olds), and often a private pool. And if you're only planning to go to the park on a couple of days, proximity to the parks is probably less important.

Also FWIW, I think you've made absolutely the right choice about the car seats. It is a PITA to haul them around the airport, but, safety aside, many kids are just more comfortable in car seats. They can see out the window, see the seatback TV, reach the trays. And of course they're restrained, so you don't have to worry about them climbing around. Plus, I was never comfortable with the idea of renting a car seat. I've seen lots of reports of car seats that are dirty or in bad repair, and, more importantly, the rental companies won't guarantee that they'll have a seat for you. What happens if you show up and can't get a seat? Totally stuck. One tip about flying with car seats - make sure you know where the sticker with the maple leaf is located. Sometimes the flight attendants ask, and it's just faster if you know where to look.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Lizard Valley]

One tip about flying with car seats - make sure you know where the sticker with the maple leaf is located. Sometimes the flight attendants ask, and it's just faster if you know where to look.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Good point! The flight attendant is looking for the words "CMVSS 213." or "Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.". It's not always on the maple leaf sticker - it's sometimes on a tag attached to the harness on the back, or on a separate sticker on the base, or on the side.