Help with DisneyWorld...

[sunshinemummy]

We are considering the WestJet deal to DW. I'm an expert on Disneyland and Vegas but never been to DW. My kids are 13 & 10. Which value resort is best?

The flights are Sat-Sat so really only 5 full days in the parks...is that enough? Should we upgrade the dining package or just pick a moderate resort? If so which Moderate resort is best? How is the weather in Sept? If we do 7 days we would not do the waterpark, but if we do 14 days then we should add the waterpark option? I'm just starting to plan and can use any advice here.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Pop century...If you stick with a value resort...Pop is the best, nice theming, clean, best food court...I would only upgrade to a modeate is you are planning on spending time relaxing at he resort. Since you are only planning on five day, I would think you are planning on spending a good deal of time at the parks...Enjoy your trip..

 

[squirrel]

Are you going for the Free Dining deal?

If so the price difference between upgrading the resort or upgrading the DDP from the QSDP to the regular DDP will be about the same as both kids are Disney adults.

I like Pop for a value resort and I would pick POFQ for a mod.(It's the smallest but it's next to POR which is a boat ride away). I did stay at POFQ for a few nights before a cruise. I unfortunately didn't get to use the pool. The mod. resorts will have a water slide at the pool. They are also a bit bigger and have fridges in them and the value resorts don't.

If you are going for a week get the basic 7 day park pass (you could get less days, but it's only about $3 more per person per day after a 5 day ticket). It would depend on flights. You can add the extra day(s) when you get to WDW if you need them or want them.

If you go for 2 weeks then yes I would upgrade the ticket to a 10 day pass with the WPAM options. You could easily use the extra days at the water parks and DQ.

 

[squirrel]

I just looked farther down and saw the thread on the West Jet offer.

Are you close to a US airport? I found driving down to Seattle was so much cheaper. Not only that but we get more flight times to choose from. I paid just over $500 CAN for my niece and I to fly from SEA to MCO return. It was a direct flight and a red-eye.

What age is the cut off for children for that deal? I ask because the price difference jumps to over $200 for each adult when you go to the moderate resort and the child's pricing stays the same.

I think you should price it out a few different ways. Do the West Jet deal, price one with Disney and add in the airfare, etc.

 

[grover]

Pop is great for a value..we loved it the most..the theming is fabulous!
I would go 14 days over the 7..like you said-it would really only give you 5 days and there is alot to see/do at disney and it is really nice to have some down time to relax as well-the waterparks are amazing and you can easily spend several hours/a day there!

 

[Sue M]

We are considering the WestJet deal to DW. I'm an expert on Disneyland and Vegas but never been to DW. My kids are 13 & 10. Which value resort is best?

The flights are Sat-Sat so really only 5 full days in the parks...is that enough? Should we upgrade the dining package or just pick a moderate resort? If so which Moderate resort is best? How is the weather in Sept? If we do 7 days we would not do the waterpark, but if we do 14 days then we should add the waterpark option? I'm just starting to plan and can use any advice here.

For a first visit to WDW, I think 6 days would be better,
2 days MK
2 days Epcot
1 day DHS
1 day AK.

WDW is huge. Love the dining plan. We usually get the basic DDP. Personally I like the moderates better then values, POR-Riverside is our fav moderate, Mansion Section. We like Magnolia Terrace bldg. for central location.

I would price out West Jet then, phone WDW reservations, be sure you ask if there are any deals, and price that out. I always book my own flights, I'm a 3 hr drive from Seattle, so fly out of SeaTac.

 

[Sue M]

Just read the rest of your post, and now are you going for 5, 7 or 14 days?
Sept is HOT! So yes, I'd do water park option if you are going for 14 days.

 

[aristocat65]

We are considering the WestJet deal to DW. I'm an expert on Disneyland and Vegas but never been to DW. My kids are 13 & 10. Which value resort is best?

The flights are Sat-Sat so really only 5 full days in the parks...is that enough? Should we upgrade the dining package or just pick a moderate resort? If so which Moderate resort is best? How is the weather in Sept? If we do 7 days we would not do the waterpark, but if we do 14 days then we should add the waterpark option? I'm just starting to plan and can use any advice here.

Where do you like to stay in Disneyland? That would kind of help with what kind of hotel you like. Are you someone who sees the hotel as a nice oasis and break from the parks or just somewhere to sleep?

I would go for a moderate resort over a value, especially if you are going to go for 14 days. Just more resort type amenities at a mod. The only one I have stayed at was Coronado Springs, and although it wasn't my favorite Disney resort, it has some advantages over the other mods. The rooms have been recently redone and have queens. (all the other mods have doubles) We are actually small people, but I don't know how people manage with doubles. That it always my dealbreaker with hotels. Check out photos on allearsnet.com.

With the age of your children as adults on the dining plan, a moderate will really pay for itself.

Keep in mind that if you are traveling Sat to Sat you have 6 full days, not just 5, so it might be enough. I hope you are also reading the resort boards and the dining boards to get info. Just keep in mind on the resort boards, people are VERY partial to their favorite resorts.

If you do decide to go for 2 weeks, you will have plenty of time to go up to Universal to see the new Harry Potter part. Universal is a lot of fun regardless. There are LOTS of rides and great thrill rides. You can usually get week long passes for $99. We usually go up there a couple of days during our trip for a break from Disney.

Someone advised getting the basic passes, but we find we like the hoppers as they give us more dining options when on the Dining Plan.

Lastly, I don't know where in Canada you are (thinking west if you go to DL) but the advice here to price out flights from SEA is good. You can fly non-stop to Orlando on Alaska from SEA and from YVR you would have to connect somewhere even on Westjet.

Good Luck

 

[nmccrea]

We just booked with this deal through West Jet. The price difference for my family of 3(DD is 10) was approx. 500.00. We went with the moderate since last time we stayed at a value and thought might as well try something different this time.Also we liked the Meal plan better than the one for the Value package. To upgrade your Value food to the next level is an extra $77.00 per person, so we would only be paying an extra $200.00 for a nicer hotel. We chose POFQ. Book soon as this deal seems to be going VERY fast. Enjoy, I know you will have a great trip. We can't wait to get back there!!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Which value resort is best?

Pop Century has the best bus service -- the All Star Resorts often share buses, so it might arrive at your hotel already full of guests. All the values have very food courts and pools.

Should we upgrade the dining package or just pick a moderate resort? If so which Moderate resort is best?

If you're trying to take advantage of free dining, you might want to check the availability of table service restaurants during your planned stay. Because of the free dining offer and the 180-day advanced reservation policy, it's possible that the restaurants you want are already booked up. If they are, you're probably better off sticking with the quick-service dining package.
As for which moderate resort is best, I hate it when the bus to the parks arrives 3/4 full, which can happen at most of the moderate resorts because they pick up guests around the perimeter of the resort before picking up at the main resort entrance. All except for Port Orleans French Quarter, which only has one bus stop. (Sometimes POFQ shares buses with POR, but I've never experienced this.) For this reason alone, I would recommend POFQ, despite the fact it is the only moderate resort without a table service restaurant. (IMHO, the boat ride to Downtown Disney makes up for this.)

The flights are Sat-Sat so really only 5 full days in the parks...is that enough?

My first adult visit to WDW was like that -- two travel days plus five park days. It definitely left me hungry to go back! Recent trips, when flying from western Canada, we stay for at least 10 days. Travel days-2, MK-2, Epcot-2, AK-1, DHS-1, shopping-1, waterpark-1.

add the waterpark option?

The waterpark option costs about $55, and since waterpark admission is $31.75, it's only worth it if you're going to spend at least a couple days in the waterparks.

 

[ccudmore]

If you end up going for 14 days and think that you're going to spend a lot of days in the park, price out an Annual Pass, at least for one of you and see how it works with the budget. You get discounted rooms with an AP plus you can also get a Tables in Wonderland card which gets you 20% (I think that's the amount) off all food for everyone in your party. For longer stays it sometimes works out better with an AP.

 

[almacdonald]

5 days is too short. You won't even come close to seeing it all. If 5 days is really all you can manage, don't bother with water parks or upgrading your dining plan, you'll want to spend as little time eating as possible to enjoy more park time. That being said, waterparks and the restaurants are one of my favorite parts of WDW!

The value resorts all offer pretty much the same amenities. I actually like the bus service for the All-star resorts better, they share a bus during slow times but each have their own bus during peak times. All of them have a food court and the rooms are all the same, except the decor (or family suites.)

In September expect the weather to be fairly hot and VERY humid. When we went it rained, no POURED, every afternoon for a couple of hours. Most people scatter when it starts raining so the lines are pretty short!

I think that answered all your questions.