Help please!

[Bethminor]

My hubby and I have finally decided that we will go back to Disney this year. We are planning to be there the week of Thanksgiving (worry #1). Last time we were there the whole family was sick and miserable and hated every minute of it (kids were 6, 4 and infant).

I want to make this trip the best we can! The by the time we go the kids will be 10, 8 and 5. We will also have DH's mother and step father with us so if any kid doesn't want to go on a certain ride there will be plenty of people to watch kids and ride with kids. Which means I'll finally get to ride anything I want!! Yeah!! Usually I'm the one who has to sit out from the rides with the scardy cats and too short kids.

We will be staying off site at our timeshare. We will probably be eating at least one meal a day in the timeshare. I am planning on a 3 day park hopper but we will be in orlando for 7 days. I must admit I nearly had a heart attack when I put in the tickets for a 3 day for 5 adults and 2 kids...over 1800 dollars! Ack!

So I guess I'm looking for whatever advice you all have. Ways to save money, things to do the other days, places to go, people to see, etc, lol.

-Beth

 

[nmmom95]

Did you try Undercover Tourist for tickets? They are a little cheaper than Disney. Also, if you don't really need the park hopper option, it will save you $52 per ticket.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

My hubby and I have finally decided that we will go back to Disney this year. We are planning to be there the week of Thanksgiving (worry #1). Last time we were there the whole family was sick and miserable and hated every minute of it (kids were 6, 4 and infant).

I want to make this trip the best we can! The by the time we go the kids will be 10, 8 and 5. We will also have DH's mother and step father with us so if any kid doesn't want to go on a certain ride there will be plenty of people to watch kids and ride with kids. Which means I'll finally get to ride anything I want!! Yeah!! Usually I'm the one who has to sit out from the rides with the scardy cats and too short kids.

We will be staying off site at our timeshare. We will probably be eating at least one meal a day in the timeshare. I am planning on a 3 day park hopper but we will be in orlando for 7 days. I must admit I nearly had a heart attack when I put in the tickets for a 3 day for 5 adults and 2 kids...over 1800 dollars! Ack!

So I guess I'm looking for whatever advice you all have. Ways to save money, things to do the other days, places to go, people to see, etc, lol.

-Beth

I personally would spend all 7 days in Disney, so the first thing I would do is upgrade those tickets to at least 5 day hoppers, it's only about $4.00 more per person to upgrade. We do 7 or 8 days ever trip and still don't see everything. The parks will be PACKED, so at a minimum, I would do 2 days MK, 1 day Epcot, 1 day DHS and 1 day AK. By the age of 4 my kids could, and did, ride most everything in the parks.

You could to the other two days at Universal, but it will be PACKED too.

 

[Bethminor]

I went to that other website and looked up tickets but found it was more and not less. (unless I'm doing something wrong)

I'm not sure we want to do more than 3 days at Disney. I didn't even think about how busy it might be. Are there any special things going on over there in November?

-Beth

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I went to that other website and looked up tickets but found it was more and not less. (unless I'm doing something wrong)

I'm not sure we want to do more than 3 days at Disney. I didn't even think about how busy it might be. Are there any special things going on over there in November?

-Beth

Thanksgiving week is one of busiest weeks of the year at WDW. You can't do all 4 parks in 3 days when the crowds are low, let alone with the parks are crowded. Also, if you are planning to do any character meals, you need to get on the phone when your 180 day ADR window opens up, which should be at the end of this month.

Almost all of the WDW Christmas happening are in full swing by Thanksgiving week.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/christmas_world.htm

 

[bartleby1]

I went to that other website and looked up tickets but found it was more and not less. (unless I'm doing something wrong)

I'm not sure we want to do more than 3 days at Disney. I didn't even think about how busy it might be. Are there any special things going on over there in November?

-Beth

Undercovertourist prices include tax, disney's prices will add it on when you check out. Also, if you sign up for the newsletter at mousesavers.com, every month (on the 15th) when the newsletter comes to your email, it will have a link for undercovertourist. If you order thru that link it will give you a little bit of an extra discount (not much, but something is better than nothing).

I would strongly consider adding more disney days. The first 3 days are the most expensive. After that, adding on additional days is cheap (around $4 per person for the 4th day and days after that are only $3 per person). You could drop the parkhopping also. That will save you around $52 per person.

ETA: Ordering thru Undercover, 5 adults and 2 children for 7 day NONhopping is around $1600 including tax. Hopping will add around $360

 

[big_ol_lineman]

drop the park hopper and add a day or two.. then u can have a day for each park and one to do whatever. plus u wont have to try and jam 4 parks into 3 days.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have to agree with all the PP - upgrade to 7 days, because it will cost SO LITTLE. I've been many times, and we were there during a slow time our last trip, 6 days, and we didn't come close to doing and seeing everything.

 

[chrisw127]

I don't usually use them because I go during slower times, but for Thanksgiving week or any other busy week, I would definitely go with a touring plan. You can get them through a lot of different sources; if you're wondering which one will work for you, check out the theme park boards, where they talk about the big 3 quite frequently (touring plans, tourguide mike, ridemax). I like using a wait time application like Lines (also from touring plans) or the one put out by Disney (you need to have Verizon service), that way I know whether or not it's worth it to walk across the parks or not. There are a lot of little things you can do to make that week manageable.

The other thing I would suggest is to have a night out since you have your in-laws with you. There are so many fun things to do at Disney at night. Last year my husband and I went out for my birthday. We went to Citricos and then MVMCP. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Good luck.