hi - i am new!!

[Sunshine 2008]

We have been to florida 8 times but have never stayed onsite, we are thinking about going for a week in dec as cant get time off work!

There is 2 adults, 2 children (8&9),

I have found flights with virgin for £1300, then i have seen the pop hotel for $740.

Do you think this is a good price ?

also how much spending money do you think we would need for a week, we dont like the fancy places so bennigans, TGI etc. are what we like,


thank you

 

[tony64]

Sorry I can't help as I've never stayed on sight, but welcome to the Dis.

 

[Lisash]

Hi Welcome to the Disboards. I have never stayed on-site either so am not sure on your price but it sounds reasonable. We have just booked a two week off-site holiday with Virgin for next Christmas for 2 adults and a 12 year old and it has come in at just over £2000. As for spending money it is difficult to judge as it all depends on how much shopping you plan on doing while you are there. We tend to stock up on enough clothes, cosmetics & trainers etc to last until our next trip so tend to spend quite a lot A lot of the restaurant chains like Bennigans & TGI's etc have menus on their websites which can help give you an idea of what meals etc may cost to help you budget and it's a lovely way to pass the time until you go, planning where you can go etc. Happy planning

 

[mandymouse]

Welcome to the Disboards Sunshine 2008

I have moved your thread over to our UK Trip Planning forums, where I am sure you will get lots of help

Mandy

 

[wayneg]

Hi Welcome to Disboards.
The flight prices sound ok.
Hotel, $740 you do mean $ not £.
Thats about £53/night. Probably about right for Pop.
If you are having a car and eating offsite personally I would stay offsite also, £53 will get you a lot better accomodation offsite, but you have been before and guess you know that, just my 2cents, we did not enjoy onsite.
Very difficult to advise on spend, every family is different, we spend approx $100 (£50) per day on food, drinks and snacks for 3 of us. Have AP's for all parks so no spend there.

 

[team harris]

Welcome to the site Sunshine 2008. Pop Century is a great hotel and the price seems fair. The Disney transport onsite is fantastic and the food is good too and reasonably priced. Hard to say how much spending money you will want but as you know food off site is cheap and plentiful. Enjoy your planning

 

[AlanUK]

Hi Sunshine 2008

Welcome to the DIS

Looks like you have had some good responses to your questions already

We like Wayne also set a budget of $100 per day for our family of 3 which usually sees us having a good time You might want to budget slightly more as you are a party of 4 although it does depend on how much shopping you plan to do as Lisash says.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Welcome to the Dis boards!

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Morgstar]

Hello and welcome to DISBOARDS!

The prices sound fair.

However, as with quite a few comments he makes, its difficult to argue with Wayne's stay off site suggestion. Personally im not sure you'll see the benefit's of staying on site that you would during Holidays ie. EMH. (I am assuming you are talking about going after Thanksgiving but before Christmas? Therefore crouds should be low and you wont need those extra hours) That sort of price will get you some nice places off site. Obviously you will save yourself $11 a day in parking but you're only there for week.
After saying this, my girlfriend and i are flying out wednesday and staying at POP, (got an exectional deal )

SPENDING MONEY, you've been before so I would imagine you've got a pretty good idea. It's different for each party.

For instance; My GF and i fly out on the 9th and return on the 25th. We are taking $2500 cash and i can guarantee that wont be nearly enough. DGF likes to shop, ALOT and i like to completely relax and have a few beers in the evenings (plus the playoffs are on so ill be spending ALL DAY in the ESPN on the 12th and 20th). If we spend less than $3500 - $4000 I will be surprised. VERY SURPRISED!
However i am in full agreement that if we wanted to we could get away with as little as $100 a dollars for food and refreshment.

Hope you have a great time planning and i will PM you opinions of POP we i return.

 

[angel659]

Pop sounds like a ok deal. Where did you get the price from?

I have stayed in a villa and stayed on site. I have to say for us its on site all the time. We have recently bought DVC. However, I still wont let it cloud my judgement. It all boils down to people's wants and needs. For instance dh and I like the transportation. We also like the fact that its just a bus stop away and not having to worry about driving back. Your still the magic and we have saved money on car hire. We only hire a car for the days we need to hire one. We like trying all the disney resturants and feel that these are reasonable in my opinion. I know that you can eat cheaper elsewhere, but that would mean hire a car and we spend most of our time in Disney.

I would look at what you want out of the holiday. If you are staying on site and do not intend visiting US, IOA or anything like that is it actually worth hiring a car, when it will be sat in the car park? Would the car hire save you money in food after the difference of taking off car hire?

Spending money is hard to judge on how much you want to spend. Everyone has limits. Having a look at few menus this will help you work out your budget.

I hope this helps. Welcome to the boards.

 

[Goofysmate]

welcome sunshine 2008

 

[epcot1stfave]

Welcome suunshine 2008 I would advise you to avoid the Pop the 1st week in Dec as that is when Disney hosts the pop warner & they use Pop as the hotel where most of them stay. It will be over run.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Welcome to the boards

we love POP, the buses are great and the resort theming is lovely, my kids are similar ages to yours and they loved it

 

[djh7581]

Hi
I am also new here so Welcome, i hope you dont mind me also Hi-jacking your post to say hello.

I have stayed onsite for the last 4 times and Yep the price seams good, looking at the Virgin holidays website dont know if you have looked but the price is cheaper before 08 December.

I agree staying onsite is Really fun and your children will enjoy it, the transportation is really good, and if i'm not mistaken you will also enjoy the Extra Hour of magic - so you can have early entry to a selected park on a selected day.

You have choosen a really good time to go just before the holiday season - in my opinion this time is the Best - you may also want to look at doing Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party - this is Brill.

Spending Monies well this depends on how much you want to buy

Hope this has helped

David

 

[jjk]

Welcome

 

[angel659]

I have to say Even All Star Music was over run with loud teenagers the first weekend arrived, due to pop warner week. I have to say it was rather annoying and I am pleased we never had a preferred rooom in the end. Never thought I would say this. After they left it was nice it quietend down again until three days before we left.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We have stayed when it was Pop Warner week & yes they are loud! Do you now if you will clash with this?

I think $120 per day should be enough if you are not going to go overboeard or do any shopping at the malls for clothes & perfume etc! Have a good holiday & welcome.

 

[crabbie1]

Another vote for onsite.I have stayed at pop as well and the theming is great for the kids ( and adults) after all you don't seem to spend much time in the room anyway.Have you looked at attraction tickets direct for pop and look at expedia as well.We are hoping to go december this year and in november the virgin flights were down to £316 each(for this december),so your quote seems very good as it is valid now. Unfortunatley we have to wait a while before we can decide to go.There are always deals around even a month before you go its just whether you want to have everything all sorted for peace of mind.As for spending we normally take around $3000 for the 3 of us for 2 weeks but we have the DDP.If you budget around £1300-1500 this should be ample for a week.Better to have too much than not enough and like others have said it depends how bigger sponges your kids are !!Mine is a huge sponge and sucks all our money