Help with Hotel and Itinerary

[placeela]

Hi! I have been to WDW 10+ times but am new to DL. We are planning a trip May 24-29th. It will be me, DH, DS11, and DD9. We will have the 3 day military park hopper passes. I have a couple questions:

1. Hotels - I am so torn! Right now I have the new Homewood Suites booked. I love having the breakfast and evening receptions. I called and can get with the military discount PPH Theme Park View Concierge for $500 more (so $100 more a night). I like to stay onsite at WDW, but I know DL is different. I think the food would be pretty equal (maybe better breakfast at Homewood), but I am very interested in the Extra Magic Hours. Would this be a big advantage? I know some people lean towards DLH (that would be $650 more and no concierge level) or GCH (that would be $1000 more and no concierge!), but I think I am between PPH and Homewood due to price and amenities. We don't spend a lot of time in the room and I really like that PPH has the twin sleeper sofa in all rooms (right?) so the kids don't have to share a bed (because they wouldn't!). Just wondering if all you veterans thought it would be worth the $100 a night for the EMH and staying in the Disney bubble. Any other advantages onsite I am missing?

2. Itinerary. We will definitely visit the parks Wednesday and Thursday. I know the last two days- Friday and Saturday will be packed. Right now the plan is to go to a beach on Friday for a rest day and then hit the parks Saturday. My only hesitation is if the parks will be a lot less busy Friday. Any thoughts? Most all the crowd calendars have Friday and Saturday the same. However, I think some crowd calendars assumed Friday would be 24 hour day and it doesn't look like that is happening. Thoughts on going to the park Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday? I really like the idea of a break day and we can't upgrade our tickets since they are military.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

You are going to get a lot of different opinions on this one!! Personally for $500 more Concierge level would be an absolute for me. Since you will have a day of rest you will be able to take advantage of the pool area at PPH. EMH is amazing especially since only hotel guests get it for DCA; you can get a lot done during the magic hour. I'm a Veteran as well and planning on utilizing the Salute tickets and the discount for PPH in August.

I cannot help as far as crowd index between Friday and Saturday but having a day of rest in the middle to me would be the way to go.

Have a ton of fun planning.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I would definitely do the PPH Concierge. I don't know that all rooms have sleeper sofas but if you put your DS's age above 10 (and a 2 queen room), I think you will automatically get those rooms. Honestly, it is a great deal because of the EMH every day (which makes such a huge difference you won't believe it (especially at DCA). Plus, we have found that we only need to eat one meal in the parks with concierge level. I happen to love the PPH for my family and your family has a similar make up. The rooms are pretty big. The hotel is easy to navigate. The EMH is a HUGE advantage for DCA. Only guests from the 3 on site hotels can get in on those days. Which basically means you can complete every ride without lines except RSR and grab a RSR fast pass right at park opening. EMH is not as big of an advantage for DL because off site guests can get EMH by buying a 3 or more day ticket. However, if your kids are like mine and don't care about Fastasy land, you can make big inroads into the park during the first hour. (I usually hit Indy, BTMRR, and Star tours, maybe buzz and then the park is open and I can grab a space mountain fastpass. If you are only staying a few days, I think it is well worth the money. PPH Concierge is at least as nice as Homewood and considerably closer.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have only ever stayed off-site so I have no thoughts on your first question. Sorry.

I think the park will be more crowded, overall, on Saturday. Friday evening crowds will pick up as locals come in after work. But I would imagine the daytime would be a little less terrible than Saturday. (Don't quote me on this, of course...haha. Hopefully others will chime in.)

 

[CateinPhoenix]

If your family will be up and ready to go and IN line for EMH then I say definitely do PPH Concierge. I am a Hilton Diamond member so I usually love Homewood Suites, but when at Disney we try to do PPH if it makes sense in our budget.

Do note however, that right around that time of year the parks open at 8:00am which is 7:00am for EMH/MM. When we splurge and stay PPH Concierge, I bring one son with me to bag check and wait in line while my DH and other DS go to the Concierge. The Beachcomber Club (Concierge) doesn't open until 6:30 so you have to plan ahead to utilize it and EMH/MM. I bring gallon size ziplock baggies and my DH gets what we need (bagels, fruit, danishes, cereal) with the complimentary bottled water, juice boxes and sodas that we put in a back pack for during the day. We try to be first at bag check and then first in line at a gate. Then DH and DS join us and we eat while waiting in line. We have been in the first car on RSR 9/10 times with this strategy. (if RSR is up and running.....depending on if there is a grad night...but that's a whole OTHER thread).

We usually hit the parks from 7:00am EMH/MM until 2 or so and head back for a nap. Sometimes we go to the pool party they have at PPH sometimes in the afternoons. Then we stick around for the afternoon /appetizers snacks/drinks at the Beachcomber and then shut down the parks at closing. I also agree with the previous poster that said you will probably only need one meal in the parks. When we have Concierge we will usually have lunch in the parks before leaving for nap and then something small later in the evening, maybe popcorn, ice cream or a corn dog.

We've found Saturdays in May and June to be very doable because most of the APs are blocked. But that is a holiday weekend so you will want to keep that in mind. I think the Friday beach day will work out fine with your park days of W/TH/S.

Again, it really just comes down to your family and if they are early morning people to take advantage of the EMH/MM to make the extra cost worth it.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Oh, I meant to also add that every room we've stayed in at PPH had the twin sofa bed which is perfect size for a 9 year old. We request the pool side Cabana rooms, they are considered Standard View but I feel like having the patio makes the room seem bigger.

 

[pa. dad]

I have only ever stayed off-site so I have no thoughts on your first question. Sorry.

I think the park will be more crowded, overall, on Saturday. Friday evening crowds will pick up as locals come in after work. But I would imagine the daytime would be a little less terrible than Saturday. (Don't quote me on this, of course...haha. Hopefully others will chime in.)

All things being equal, I would also think that saturday would be a busier day in the parks too. People do have work and school fridays.
I think a lot more people who go to DL Ca stay offsite than at Disney world in FL. First, there are a lot less on site hotels and also, many of the offsite hotels are really close.

 

[yupikgal]

We are having the same dilemma, but a little bit different situation. No kids included in our trip-they are grown anyway.. Not staying as long as you, but flying all the way from Alaska, and mainly since it's our 25th anniversary, I want it to be special! We had booked a couple of other offsite motels that are right across, as well as the Homewood Suites you are considering, but I have cancelled 3 out of the 4 that I had booked, and am very close to calling Costco to book the onsite pkg for DLH or PPH!! That's mainly the dilemma for us now, which of the two we want!! The first day we fly in (this Friday) we will probably need to rest, unless we can't get our room right away, and then we will drop out bags & head to the parks. Still trying to figure out the daily strategy! Saturday morning will be EMH as well as Sunday, then check out on Monday to head to Vegas to finish our trip!

Good luck with your decision, I know it's difficult, but honestly, where ever we both end up, I'm sure the trip will be amazing!! Looking forward to the Food & Wine festival, it hasn't been there since 2010!

 

[placeela]

If your family will be up and ready to go and IN line for EMH then I say definitely do PPH Concierge. I am a Hilton Diamond member so I usually love Homewood Suites, but when at Disney we try to do PPH if it makes sense in our budget.

Do note however, that right around that time of year the parks open at 8:00am which is 7:00am for EMH/MM. When we splurge and stay PPH Concierge, I bring one son with me to bag check and wait in line while my DH and other DS go to the Concierge. The Beachcomber Club (Concierge) doesn't open until 6:30 so you have to plan ahead to utilize it and EMH/MM. I bring gallon size ziplock baggies and my DH gets what we need (bagels, fruit, danishes, cereal) with the complimentary bottled water, juice boxes and sodas that we put in a back pack for during the day. We try to be first at bag check and then first in line at a gate. Then DH and DS join us and we eat while waiting in line. We have been in the first car on RSR 9/10 times with this strategy. (if RSR is up and running.....depending on if there is a grad night...but that's a whole OTHER thread).

We usually hit the parks from 7:00am EMH/MM until 2 or so and head back for a nap. Sometimes we go to the pool party they have at PPH sometimes in the afternoons. Then we stick around for the afternoon /appetizers snacks/drinks at the Beachcomber and then shut down the parks at closing. I also agree with the previous poster that said you will probably only need one meal in the parks. When we have Concierge we will usually have lunch in the parks before leaving for nap and then something small later in the evening, maybe popcorn, ice cream or a corn dog.

We've found Saturdays in May and June to be very doable because most of the APs are blocked. But that is a holiday weekend so you will want to keep that in mind. I think the Friday beach day will work out fine with your park days of W/TH/S.

Again, it really just comes down to your family and if they are early morning people to take advantage of the EMH/MM to make the extra cost worth it.

Thank you so much for the detailed response! We shouldn't have a lot of trouble being up in time since we are coming from Central Time and the kids are used to getting up early for school. We are rope drop people all the way at WDW so my family knows to expect it!

 

[placeela]

We are having the same dilemma, but a little bit different situation. No kids included in our trip-they are grown anyway.. Not staying as long as you, but flying all the way from Alaska, and mainly since it's our 25th anniversary, I want it to be special! We had booked a couple of other offsite motels that are right across, as well as the Homewood Suites you are considering, but I have cancelled 3 out of the 4 that I had booked, and am very close to calling Costco to book the onsite pkg for DLH or PPH!! That's mainly the dilemma for us now, which of the two we want!! The first day we fly in (this Friday) we will probably need to rest, unless we can't get our room right away, and then we will drop out bags & head to the parks. Still trying to figure out the daily strategy! Saturday morning will be EMH as well as Sunday, then check out on Monday to head to Vegas to finish our trip!

Good luck with your decision, I know it's difficult, but honestly, where ever we both end up, I'm sure the trip will be amazing!! Looking forward to the Food & Wine festival, it hasn't been there since 2010!

Good luck with your decision as well! It is actually our 15th anniversary, but we are taking the kids because we are military and are getting ready to move. My husband will be gone most of the summer in training so this is also our family vacation. Have a great time!

 

[placeela]

Thank you all for your help! I think we are going to go with PPH. I am going to hold on to both reservation right now though and see what is happening with the pools at PPH. I see they are set to go under refurbishment on April 25th and there is no end date listed. As long as those aren't all closed, PPH it is!

As far as itinerary, I think it will be less crowded on Friday, but I still think I would rather do a beach day this day. I figure the beaches will also be very crowded on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, so no matter where we go Saturday, we will just have to put up with crowds. I would rather have a break between park days. Thanks again!

 

[DahliaRW]

Speaking to crowds and not to hotels, I'd recommend trying to get in all the big rides the first two days in the parks. Plan that Saturday to go see shows and do rides that have a higher capacity (shorter lines) and utilize FP to do any "big" rides you want to repeat.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Oh, I meant to also add that every room we've stayed in at PPH had the twin sofa bed which is perfect size for a 9 year old. We request the pool side Cabana rooms, they are considered Standard View but I feel like having the patio makes the room seem bigger.

Can you tell me about the cabana room? When I booked PPH concierge level the CM asked me if I would like him to request one of those rooms. Are there concierge level cabana rooms and standard cabana rooms?

 

[Ndusmama]

Thank you all for your help! I think we are going to go with PPH. I am going to hold on to both reservation right now though and see what is happening with the pools at PPH. I see they are set to go under refurbishment on April 25th and there is no end date listed. As long as those aren't all closed, PPH it is!

As far as itinerary, I think it will be less crowded on Friday, but I still think I would rather do a beach day this day. I figure the beaches will also be very crowded on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, so no matter where we go Saturday, we will just have to put up with crowds. I would rather have a break between park days. Thanks again!

Have you actually called the hotel for military rate discounts? Sometimes it's as high as 40% off. I just did DLH concierge cheaper than standard at PPH. And personally with kids the DLH has better pool and water slides for kids. But definitely CALL because that is the only way to get military discount. If the PPH is down and unavailable they may let you pool hop like they did when the DLH pool was down. So something to ask.

 

[placeela]

Have you actually called the hotel for military rate discounts? Sometimes it's as high as 40% off. I just did DLH concierge cheaper than standard at PPH. And personally with kids the DLH has better pool and water slides for kids. But definitely CALL because that is the only way to get military discount. If the PPH is down and unavailable they may let you pool hop like they did when the DLH pool was down. So something to ask.

Yes, when I called they had the PPH Concierge Theme Park view for about $200 less than DLH (no Concierge) with the military discount on each. I really like the idea of Concierge and Theme Park View. Thanks for the help!

 

[clori]

When we went we had no parks planned for arrival day (3 hour time change and getting to hotel around noon local time). We stayed at DLH for 1 night to have the nice pool/waterslides etc on the day we had the most time for swimming, enjoyed a character brunch, walked through Downtown Disney a bit etc and most importantly to us had early entry at CA for the next morning. We had a friend staying so just put all our stuff in her room but could have brought it to the baggage storage area. We did nicely ask if our standard room could be one that had a day bed since it was the same price and somehow we ended up getting upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite with a king bed, sofabed and cot. It was a pleasant surprise.

My friend and I left the park around 5pm so I could get my bags and I took a cab over to our hotel which was close by (Desert Palms Hotel on West Katella). The advantage of switching hotels for us was that we had a 1 bedroom suite for less money per night than our DLH. We also had a bed for each girl, full kitchen which we cooked some meals in. We had food waiting for us from a free Vonn's delivery and the hotel staff put away the perishables. The hotel also had a free breakfast. Our park ticket gave us a free early entry to DL. My kids were fine switching hotels since we spent the vast majority of the day in the park plus they knew the plan. We did eat breakfast and most dinners at the hotel. My youngest and dh preferred to go swimming at night while my oldest dd and I went back to the parks some nights.