Is early entry worth it in Dec.?

[suebo]

Hi everyone,

Let me just say, these boards are just the best! I have learned so much from all of you. Thank you. If any of my friends knew how much time I spent on these boards, they would flip. (All my friends have DSL and I still have a painfully slow dialup connection) I'm mostly a lurker but I need to know the following:

I have 3 kids 8,5,3. We want to do Disney the 1st week in Dec. for about 3 days. My budget tells me that HIFS for $73(Ent. Rate, if I can get it) would be a great deal.

I've never stayed offsite before because we like EE and disney transportation. I've been 3 times in late Feb. and early entry was just the best!! Do you think if I stay offsite that the parks will be managable without EE in Dec. when the crowds are low? Our whole reason of taking the kids out of school for a week is to go at a slow time and see the Christmas decorations.

And how easy is the transportation from HIFS? Can we get right there when the park opens and stay until it closes? I've heard such awesome reviews that I really want to give HIFS a try.

My husband will kiss my feet when he finds out there is the big FREE breakfast buffet and he doesn't have to share a meal with me or get dirty looks from me when he orders a big expensive meal(when I've chosen a muffin) This is what usually happens. LOL

Any opinions would be very helpful. Thank you so much.

Sue

 

[crisi]

Your park hours are going to be shorter in early December than you are used to in late Feburary. And as expesive as park tickets are, an extra hour worth of park time (with few lines) is giving you a 10% discount on the cost of the ticket. EE is a BIG perk to Disney resort guests.

OTOH, if you can get a good deal offsite, with breakfast, and you have gone to Disney in the past and will go in the future, you won't NEED to commando this trip. You are going for the decorations, which are just as pretty at 11:00 in the morning.

We went in Febuary last year before they reinstituted EE, and did just fine.

 

[nicknamy1996]

If dec. is like early Feb.(value season) you don't need EE. We've stayed at the All Stars for the last two years. 8 days this year, never used EE and never needed it. The crowds were not there. If it were strictly a budget move I guess we would stay off site.

Are you going in early Dec.? You can get the All Stars for cheaper than $77/night. But 5 in a room would be tight and no free breakfast. (I'm pretty sure you can have 4 plus 1 in a crib in All Stars) 3 is a little old for a crib I guess.

But back to your original question, No I don't think you will need EE. And I can't help you with transportation. I know WDWs is very good, hopefully someone else can help you with the HIFS transportation.

 

[KLAIT]

We went the first week in December 2002 and stayed offsite. I really don't think you will need EE. We were there when the park opened and stayed until they closed, but did absolutely everything we wanted to do in the day and more. There are no lines for anything. Our longest wait was for BTMR and that was about 20 minutes.....

 

[suebo]

Thanks for your input everybody. Yes, we are going in early Dec. which is value season. The All Stars is out for us because we're a party of 5. The ages will actually be 8,6,4. (I was off a little before, lol) Yes, no crib for us. Just a 4 yr. old that will try to weasel into Mom and Dad's bed if she doesn't have her own. Another plus to HIFS, she'll have her own bed and the older two will love the bunk beds. How early does MK close? I thought it was early in Feb. I can't imagine it being even earlier. I think the fireworks were at 7:30. Is it the same for Dec.? I'll try to look it up. I think I'm going to go for it and stay offsite. Not having EE isn't the end of the world, right? lol

Crisi you're absolutely right! We've done Disney 3 times already with the kids and we'll definitely be doing it again so we don't need to be so Gung Ho about it. We're planning on buying the 7 day hopper plus passes and spreading them out over a few years.

To tell the truth, the kids will probably like the pool at the hotel best. LOL


Thanks again, Sue

 

[NotTooGoofy]

If you haven't already, you may also want to post questions about HIFS in the Orlando Hotels and Attractions board. You should get several responses there too.

 

[suebo]

Thanks NotTooGoofy I think I will post over there. Maybe someone will have some info on transportation for me.

Sue

 

[horseshowmom]

Sue,

Have you checked out the board on this site for renting points to stay at the DVC properties onsite? Week nights (Sunday - Thursday, I think) can be VERY reasonable. I know they have studios, 1 BR, and 2 BR (these are more expensive). It's just a thought.

Have a good trip. Everybody should see the decorations at Christmas time. If you get a chance, tour the hotels too. They're gorgeous (WL and the GF were my DD's favorites).

sbc

 

[suebo]

sbclifton,

I looked into renting points for this past Feb. a little bit but then we decided not to go to WDW. Thanks, I'll look into it again. If it's cheap I might do it but I'm really looking forward to HIFS's free breakfast and kids eating free.

Sue

 

[horseshowmom]

I understand completely. My family also enjoys a great breakfast (and sometimes just skips lunch for an early dinner). Embassy Suites is one of our favorite hotels for just that reason.

I do hope to stay at BCV at some point though (mainly because of the incredible pool and the Epcot access won't be bad either). We had planned that for this May but had some unplanned changes.

Either way, you'll love WDW at Christmas time!!!

 

[suebo]

I just got done lurking at the DVC trade/rent board. I was tempted but darn that 3rd child of mine. LOL She kicks us up into a 1 bedroom villa and I don't want to pay the extra money. I was just going to rent a studio and bring an air mattress but I saw another thread that said it really was only for 4 people. That's what we do when we travel down to FL. (mostly in Hampton Inns), we bring the blow up mattress (automatic) and it works out great. Maybe not this trip but I think we'll definitely have to look into getting a villa another time. Some of those pools are incredible and the location to the parks is awesome. It might be nicer to do when the kids are older anyways. They are still kind of young to truly appreciate all of that stuff. I thought the Luna Coaster was cool but my two youngest would probably be afraid of it anyways. LOL There is always next time.

 

[mhelsley]

I know this would be a bit more than HIF but less that a BCV have you thought of Port Orleans-Riverside. They have rooms that have 2 full size beds and a pull out trundle. The trundle is not bad my DH slept on it and fit just fine.

 

[Kallison]

The parks are moderately busy in early December. I think the idea that the parks are "dead" at this time of year is outdated. I do think EE would be advantageous. Not to the point of blowing your budget though.

 

[crisi]

suebo,

The third child puts you to a two bedroom DVC unit. DVC one bedrooms and studios both "sleep 4." A two bedroom will "sleep eight" and a Grand Villa "sleeps 12"

DVC is not cheap for five person families - especially if you compare it to off-site accomodations.

 

[suebo]

mhelsley,

Yes, I have considered POR. We actually had 1 night reserved this year in the Alligator Bayou with a trundle bed. It was peak season and it was 205.00 for the night. We were going to splurge (it's more than I'm comfortable paying) and do Early Entry at Magic Kingdom. We ended up cancelling though. We did go to FL. but not Disney. POR looks great, especially the pool for the kids and the boat ride to downtown disney. Oh no, now I remember how much I was looking forward to staying there. LOL If I could get a code and get $109 or so, I might consider it again. Maybe I'll poll the family. I really like the idea of the free breakfast and kids eating free with a paying adult. That's always a plus when your kids are picky. Nothing more than I hate than buying them a meal and having them not like how the burger is charbroiled or what type of cheese is in the macaroni and cheese, etc.

Kallison,

Please don't burst my bubble. LOL I hope the parks aren't too crowded. I don't mind using the fast passes and waiting for 10-15 mins. but I don't want the huge crowds and 1 hr waits. No matter, we are going to give Dec. a try and check out the Christmas decorations.

 

[Kallison]

No, No don't let me scare you. To me 1 hour waits are very busy, moderately busy is the 15 to 30 min. range. I'm just saying some of the tourguide books tout it as the slowest week of the year and we've been twice that week and I don't find it to be true. We've also gone September and October, both slower. This year we will try August (hot I know). Have fun the Christmas decor is great. Don't forget you can try Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (which was a mob scene but some people just love it!)

 

[suebo]

NO scaring me off. I can't wait to go. I love to do all the research and planning for the trip. I've been overboard the past few days. I'm just trying to escape from the media of the war. The reality is brutal and I truly need to go to Fantasyland. Come on Dec.! You're going in Aug.? You brave soul. I would just wilt completely. I'm a baby about the heat in NH in Aug. with little to no humidity. I would never make it in FL. That I know for sure. Have fun though. I would love to try Disney in Sept. or Oct. My husband doesn't like to leave here during the Fall though. It is really a great time of year here. One day maybe....it doesn't take much to twist his arm to go.

 

[Kallison]

We were at a lake near Littleton NH last summer. I love New England. I know it will be hot, but oldest DS starts 7th grade and he absolutely refuses to miss any school. I guess he gets his overachieving from his father - lol! Have a great trip, don't forget to research Candlelight Processional too.

 

[suebo]

Kallison,

I want to do the Candlelight Processional but do you think our kids will like it? They will be 8,6,4. The more research I do, the more excited I get about going in Dec. I can't wait to see the Osborne Lights either. I just booked HIFS for Dec. 1,2,3,4 for $73 (Ent. rate) I am thrilled. The rest of the time we will be with our inlaws, so all and all a pretty cheap trip. I haven't bit the bullet and bought our tickets yet. I'm thinking of getting the 7 day park hopper +'s and using them over the next few years. The kids are still pretty small. They love the parks and the characters but truly love the hotel pool the best. I know HIFS will be fun for all of us. We're planning on just a couple of days at the parks and Typhoon Lagoon if it's not too cold. We'll be going to Busch Gardens sometime during the trip also. We went this past Feb. and bought the Fun Pass so we can go back again anytime before Dec. 31, 2003 when it expires.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Jumping in here.......we did the Candlelight Processional in December 2002 with our almost 4-year-old daughter. She absolutely loved it!

I also agree with KAllison about early December not being one of the slowest times of the year. Our trip was from Thanksgiving Day until December 9th, and we had less trouble with crowds over the supposedly horrid Thanksgiving weekend than we did the following week. It's very manageable, though. We were foolishly expecting lighter crowds than we'd had during our October 2000 trip.

Enjoy your trip and the wonderful Christmas decorations. If you have the opportunity, check out the Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian lobbies. They'll take your breath away!