Help!!!

[annie2871]

My family and I are going to Disney for the first time at the end of June. We will only be able to spend two full days at Orlando and of course we want to spend them at the Magic Kingdom. I have a few questions for the "pros" on here:

1. Which is better on site or off? I found some hotel rooms on dreams unlimited for $39 a night. One was a HOJO and the other a Clarion I believe. Does anyone know anything about these hotels?

2. If you stay onsite, do the Disney tickets come any cheaper? What are the benefits of staying onsite?

3. Can you take coolers into Disney? And if you can, which is better the cooler or just buying food inside Disney?

I'm sure I"ll come up with more questions later, but that's all I've got for now. The only reason we are only staying two days in Disney is because we have to go to Daytona for a dance competition for my daughter. Some day we will go back and stay a week at DIsney!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I can only answer two out of your three questions.

Disney tickets are not discounted when you stay onsite or offsite. You best bet for discounts for passes are either through www.ticketmania.com or www.floridaorlandotickets.com. Or if you are a member of the Disney Club you do get a 10% discount. Also, check out www.mousesavers.com for other Disney discounts.

You cannot bring a cooler inside of the parks at Disney World, I'm not sure about the water parks, but I'm definately sure you cannot bring them into MK, Epcot or MGM.

Hope this helped a bit

 

[tink2dw]

COOLERS-It depends on whether you mean a small soft 6 or 12 pack cooler bag,which you can bring a picnic in or a camping cooler which would not be allowed.

ONSITE/OFFSITE- that depends on what your family needs are. Will you have a rental car?

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

1. Which is better on site or off? In my opinion, definitely ON-SITE

2. If you stay onsite, do the Disney tickets come any cheaper? What are the benefits of staying onsite? No the tickets do not become any cheaper. You can get a discount if you are a member of the Disney Club, though. The benefits of staying on-site is you are within close proximity of WDW. The theming of every hotel and grounds is amazing. You will truly be lost in the magic. Once you get to your hotel you will never have to see your car again, because there is extensive WDW transportation to get you anywhere. You can travel from your resort to all of the 4 major parks, the water parks, any other resort and Downtown Disney. It seems to me this sure beats having to drive to WDW from another hotel and find a place to park in the parking lot. You can be back at your hotel in just a short time. There are countless recreational opportunites at each resort and too many restaurants to count.

3. Can you take coolers into Disney? And if you can, which is better the cooler or just buying food inside Disney? I don't think you can actually take coolers inside the parks, except for the waterparks. Food and drinks are very expensive. If I remember correctly it is $2.00 for a bottle of pop and $2.50 for bottled water. You can however take some snacks and water bottles in your backpack or bag to help trim the costs some.


Hope this helps!

 

[CarolA]

I did a search on the Howard Johnson over on the Orlando Hotels board and found some decent reviews. I am spending one night there next week and if you post again so I remember I will try and tell you how it was.

If you want to do this inexpensively, then off-site is probably the way to go. However, the end of June will be HOT and CROWDED so staying on site would allow you to go back to the room easily for a swim.