How do YOU do a quick 3-day weekend trip?

[jpessa]

I need to get away, work is killing me right now so I thought "why not a quick trip to the World?" I've never done a weekend trip before, so thought I'd come to the experts for advice.

It's me and DD3, probably next weekend!!! Friday after work to Monday evening. Great prices on flights. Need to go cheap cheap.

So how do you do it?

On-site or (eek!) off-site?
Free dining or room only?
Since we just went 2 months ago I know we would focus on MK, but should I get a 2 day ticket or 3? (really wish I could use that last day we didn't use on our base tickets last trip... Boo)

Any and all advice appreciated! This is last minute but I may just be able to pull it off. Maybe. If DH doesn't lose it on me

 

[worm761]

I need to get away, work is killing me right now so I thought "why not a quick trip to the World?" I've never done a weekend trip before, so thought I'd come to the experts for advice.

It's me and DD3, probably next weekend!!! Friday after work to Monday evening. Great prices on flights. Need to go cheap cheap.

So how do you do it?

On-site or (eek!) off-site?
Free dining or room only?
Since we just went 2 months ago I know we would focus on MK, but should I get a 2 day ticket or 3? (really wish I could use that last day we didn't use on our base tickets last trip... Boo)

Any and all advice appreciated! This is last minute but I may just be able to pull it off. Maybe. If DH doesn't lose it on me

As far as I can tell, there are no discounts for next week available right now.

When we go for a quick unplanned weekend we stay at the value resorts and eat all counter service. For a three day trip we would do Mk, Epcot, and then AK and hop back to MK for the final evening.

I would suggest onsite because once you factor in the hotel, rental car, gas, and parking you could have stayed onsite and not had the hassle. Though I will be honest and say that none of us liked the trip we stayed offsite.
As for your tickets, how many park days are you planning? That and your budget should determine which ticket you should get.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

I need to get away, work is killing me right now so I thought "why not a quick trip to the World?" I've never done a weekend trip before, so thought I'd come to the experts for advice.

It's me and DD3, probably next weekend!!! Friday after work to Monday evening. Great prices on flights. Need to go cheap cheap.

So how do you do it?

On-site or (eek!) off-site?
Free dining or room only?
Since we just went 2 months ago I know we would focus on MK, but should I get a 2 day ticket or 3? (really wish I could use that last day we didn't use on our base tickets last trip... Boo)

Any and all advice appreciated! This is last minute but I may just be able to pull it off. Maybe. If DH doesn't lose it on me

For only 3 days I'd stay on site. But it depends on what you want? If you want a kitchen and stuff, then yeah do off site. I'd stay on site, and if you want to do it cheap and no discount, I'd, personally do a moderate. Or definitely do a value if you want!

I'd definitely do a 3 day ticket. There's not a huge price difference, and extra park time!!

 

[jpessa]

Yeah I also prefer on-site. I'm fine with value. We stayed at POP last trip and loved it!

The difference in price from a 2 day to a 3 day for one adult, one child is significant. $160.

I would get there super late Friday, so no park. Saturday and Sunday full park days. Monday I would fly out at 6pm, so MDE would pick us up at 3. Normally I'd be all about doing a park that day, but for & $160, not so sure.

 

[jpessa]

Another question : I usually go in low season with crowds of 3 or 4. Josh is putting crowds at 7 and 8 with MK not recommended on Saturday (of course). Is it going to be crazy? I've been in November before (last year, actually) and don't remember it being crowded. I know "crowded" is relative, but what do you think? Those that are there now? Thanks!

 

[disneyerin]

Suggestion:

I would get The Little Mermaid room (for your DD's enjoyment )at Art of Animation and order your fast passes as soon as possible. Make the FP+s for the middle of the day. Get breakfast or lunch reservations at whatever park you are going to.Then,if there are Early Morning Hours get to the park extra early. If not, be there at rope drop. Until about 11am I bet you would be able to ride all your favorite rides with hardly any wait. Then, you'll have your fast passes to use.

Good Luck!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Another question : I usually go in low season with crowds of 3 or 4. Josh is putting crowds at 7 and 8 with MK not recommended on Saturday (of course). Is it going to be crazy? I've been in November before (last year, actually) and don't remember it being crowded. I know "crowded" is relative, but what do you think? Those that are there now? Thanks!

I'll be there next Saturday, and yeah, I think it's going to be crowded. It's a non-party day after two days of parties, it's a Saturday, and it's the start of Thanksgiving week.

Good luck planning! Sounds fun!

 

[ShayBells]

I would do a two day ticket to save money and do DTD Friday night. Than swim on Monday before you head home.

It sounds awesome. And stay on site in a value. I don't know about prices now but I just looked up a four night two day ticket stay in April it was about 800$ I think for me and DS. I think. I was messing around a lot with different nights and tickets.

Good luck and it sounds awesome. A weekend away with the kiddo :

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Yeah I also prefer on-site. I'm fine with value. We stayed at POP last trip and loved it!

The difference in price from a 2 day to a 3 day for one adult, one child is significant. $160.

I would get there super late Friday, so no park. Saturday and Sunday full park days. Monday I would fly out at 6pm, so MDE would pick us up at 3. Normally I'd be all about doing a park that day, but for & $160, not so sure.

Oh geez! I wasn't sure what the difference was! I remember reading it wasn't much..maybe that wasnt from a 2 day to 3 day...lol

 

[jpessa]

Suggestion:

I would get The Little Mermaid room (for your DD's enjoyment )at Art of Animation and order your fast passes as soon as possible. Make the FP+s for the middle of the day. Get breakfast or lunch reservations at whatever park you are going to.Then,if there are Early Morning Hours get to the park extra early. If not, be there at rope drop. Until about 11am I bet you would be able to ride all your favorite rides with hardly any wait. Then, you'll have your fast passes to use.

Good Luck!

Thanks, I know of I book by Friday I qualify for free dining but not for LM rooms. We did a split stay in September at POP and AoA (booked LM but got upgraded to LK suites). It was great. She loved it so much! But free food is still free food

Thanks for the great touring tips!

 

[jpessa]

Oh geez! I wasn't sure what the difference was! I remember reading it wasn't much..maybe that wasnt from a 2 day to 3 day...lol

I know, right! I think it's anything after 4 days is $10 per extra day.

 

[jpessa]

I would do a two day ticket to save money and do DTD Friday night. Than swim on Monday before you head home.

It sounds awesome. And stay on site in a value. I don't know about prices now but I just looked up a four night two day ticket stay in April it was about 800$ I think for me and DS. I think. I was messing around a lot with different nights and tickets.

Good luck and it sounds awesome. A weekend away with the kiddo :

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thanks for the advice!

 

[curemyreed]

Thanks, I know of I book by Friday I qualify for free dining but not for LM rooms. We did a split stay in September at POP and AoA (booked LM but got upgraded to LK suites). It was great. She loved it so much! But free food is still free food

Thanks for the great touring tips!

You can get Free Dining just one week away?

 

[jpessa]

You can get Free Dining just one week away?

According to what I read on the website, you can get free dining for stays between September 29th and December 22nd of you book by November 15th.

I put my dates in for November 22nd to 25th and it worked.

 

[DisneyFave]

I usually do only 3-day trips. I make the same mistake every time of getting an early morning flight and attempting to go to the parks for 8 hours+ in the afternoon (to get my money's worth), thinking it'll be too painful to miss out on a park visit my first day. But now I've learned my lesson: any day that starts with a flight should not involve a park. Much better to stroll the resort or DTD and then be better rested for a full day at the parks on day 2. Being at the parks is just not fun after dealing with airports.

These 3-day trips kind of force you to be commando, so don't be surprised if you feel like you need a vacation on your first day back to work on your return!

As for passes, if you think you'll do more of these trips in the future then I'd look into a 10-day nonexpiring ticket. I have one and it will last me 4 trips total (plus I can trick myself into thinking trips #2/3/4 are "free")

 

[DisneyFave]

For only 3 days I'd stay on site. But it depends on what you want? If you want a kitchen and stuff, then yeah do off site. I'd stay on site, and if you want to do it cheap and no discount, I'd, personally do a moderate. Or definitely do a value if you want! I'd definitely do a 3 day ticket. There's not a huge price difference, and extra park time!!

I actually disagree with the staying onsite thing. If you're going to be in the parks for very long days, then why pay extra for a Disney hotel? Maybe you save 20 minutes of commuting time, but you probably won't be at the resort to enjoy its amenities that much anyway. Granted, I say this having just spent $900 for 2 nights at the Poly, and I think I spent a total of 3 awake hours there... And I could've left with a savings of $650 by having stayed at the (in my opinion) perfectly comfortable Holiday Inn near DTD. I also unexpectedly found myself needing a break from the magic at the end of the day. My castle view didn't seem so wonderful at 1am when I was tired of the crowds.

 

[Planogirl]

I personally prefer to stay offsite over the Value resorts but it really depends. If you want to use the dining plan and FP+ then definitely jump at the Value resorts. You might want to try for the Allstars.

If you prefer to save some money and stay somewhere with more space and amenities, maybe check to see if some of the nicer area resorts are having any good sales. You could check the Downtown Disney resorts first if any of those appeal to you.

A quick trip like that sounds like fun!

 

[FamilyGuy]

Never attempted such a short trip. But we could never stay offsite if visiting Disney parks again. Did it once and couldn't stand it. Even if it's just a value resort.

 

[davidl81]

I would also vote for the value resort. As far as the 3rd park day that is a tough call. ME would pick you up by 3 which means you need to be leaving the park by 2 at the latest. It's a tough call, but my gut feeling is to buy the extra park day since you gave already come this far.

 

[BBQMommy]

How would I do it?
Stay on-site and do a 2 day ticket for my favorite two parks (MK/EP). Probably not do meal plan unless free.
3 day trips are our norm due to work (I hear you on the stress and applaud you getting away.) I don't try to jam everything in. What we see, we see and just enjoy whatever we soak in.