Just Back and a few take aways

[bsiev1977]

Yes thank you all so much you all have been just great. The more info i get, the more changes i make…lol..I see this will be lots of planning and changing before i book every thing?

Might be, but once you book, things are very simple. If you book a Deluxe hotel, you have the Express privilege locked in, plus transport around the property is simple and quite convenient.

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks every one, i was thinking more of the Disney on site hotels? Looks like i need to look into UO resorts a little more? We are going last week of April ( that can change). We where going to do a 10 day trip but others have told me 7 would be fine that time of year? Its really only 5 because two days are travel days. So we where going to do 3 at Disney and 2 at UO? At first i was looking at staying on site and not rent a car, but after looking at how you get to and from each park and the cost of on site hotels, it seem like a much better deal to get a off site hotel and drive to the parks? We have 15 in are group. This all seems like soooooooo much work for a vaction? I am not really a planner i just want to go and have fun. I guess that is why we don't do the Disney thing very often.

you'd need 2 mini vans for 15 people, can be expensive if you don't find a great rate. Price out now to get a general ballpark, then add it to your budget.

google Disney world & universal crowd calendars, there are free ones to check your dates. spring break likely over by then, should be good.

there are many condos in the area with 2 BRs, most don't sleep more than 8 - 10 people. Check out the Orlando hotel section here. We have enjoyed stays @ the Sheraton Vistana. Many swear by renting units from owners @ Bonnet Creek. Renting DVC points is another option, but pricier imo

If you want to stay onsite @ WDW, watch for promotions, mousesavers is a good site for that. Also Disney offers"free" magical express transport service to/from airport.

you could always use uber to switch over to Universal for a split stay, saves on the daily parking fee

if you don't have a TA, now might be the time to price a few (including the sponsor here) since you have such a large party to book.

These boards and you guys have been very helpful, i have to remember this is a vacation. The only reason we are going to Orlando and not just go to Disneyland is UO. We have only been to Disneyworld one time over 20 years ago, my kid was 12 and the poor thing was so sick she didn't even leave the room for 8 days. We had just done a 30 day trip to Belize and Costa Rica and she got fever and poor thing just about died. Now she is 32 and has given me 4 grandchildren so i really want to make this a trip of a life time. But now we have my niece and her kids coming and the manger of my store and his kids. The budget has gone from $10k to $30k…My first home was only $28k….lol…So now i will look at all the UO hotels? I am starting to see the reason to stay on site? But last time we stayed on site and it still seem to take a hour to get to the parks? If i remember right? You couldn't just walk to every thing like Disneyland.

you only go around once! no need to break the bank though, there are deals to be had, just need to dig at bit. Universal onsite hotels are all within walking distance. boat service from the parks to RPR & PBH takes minutes, depending on how you hit the boats at the dock/crowds.