Long distance questions

[Marcel de Groot]

First I have to say that this forum is fantastic. There is so much information that I have trouble selecting which threads to read next 3 months...
Since we are living in Holland (Europe), we are not as familiar with the American habbits. We therefore have these questions:

Why is breakfast (in buffet style) in the hotels hardly ever mentioned. In Europe a lot of hotels offer an "American style breakfast buffet". Is this "not done" in the Orlando area, or what are we missing here?
Is it common to stay a long period in a WDW resort and taking some days "off" without doing any sight seeing (laying around the pool just having a rest), or is that just money wasting?
We went to the Disney resort in Paris for 4 days, which was great (and long enough). How long should one stay at Orlando to see the major attractions? One should know that we are a family (Dad and Mom) with one kid just aged 4 and a mother being 4 months pregnant.

Please allow some miswritting, we are normally Dutch speaking people.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Welcome to the Dis. Let me see if I can answer some of your questions.....


A lot of hotels here offer a "Continental Breakfast" which is a light breakfast of pastries, cereals, toast, juice, milk and coffee and sometimes fruit and yogurt. Disney hotels only offer these amenities at the concierge level.

Most people take a rest day or two throughout their stay to lounge about and rest. The Disney resort in Orlando is 4 parks compared to the one park in Paris. We normally spend 7 days there and still don't manage to see everything. I know that many people traveling from Europe stay 10 or more days. Most of those that I know of would be seeing the Disney parks as well as Universal Studios and Sea World. I could easily spend 10 days just at Disney and I only live 12 hours away!

Please feel free to ask any questions here, this is a very informative place and we are more than happy to help!

 

[Nickunited]

Welcome to the DIS! Which resort are you staying in? Most of the Disney resorts have many breakfast options.

Second - you should take days to rest - especially since you are pregnant (Congrats by the way!) It is hot and a lot of walking. I would schedule some rest times for sure!

I hope you enjoy your trip to WDW and the US!

If there is any other way I can help please let me know.

 

[jel0511]

Welcome to the DIS, and your English is great by the way!!! It is very true that most European hotels usually provide a free full buffet breakfast, but that's not the case at most US hotels. Usually breakfast is handled just like any other meal, you order off a menu and pay at the end. There are buffet breakfasts that are all you can eat, and they incur a one time charge. As indicated above, the Disney deluxe hotels do offer a level of service called concierge which provides a cold, Continental breakfast for their guests. This is a higher level room than just the standard, and usually is more expensive than the regular room plus what you'd pay for a full breakfast. I've stated at WDW from 5 days to 2 weeks, and yes, we do take days off from the parks and just lounge around the pool. It's a great way to withdraw from all the excitment from the parks and actually get some relaxation time as well. Coming from Europe, I'd recommend a minimum of a week, since it is such a long flight. This way you'll have time to recover from your jet lag and really enjoy the attractions as well as relax a little. You won't be able to see everything, hey I don't see everything in two weeks, but it is a nice pace to try to get a lot in. I hope you have a GREAT time!!!

 

[bytheblood]

Welcome to the Disboards and congrats on the new baby.

In my opinon, you would not be wasting money for resting as long as you booked your resort as a room only reservation and bought your hoppers separately. That is what we do and we save money. We are going for 8 days and have purchased 5-day hoppers. This is allowing us 1 day for miniature golf, a relax day for the pools and shopping in DTD and for our arrival day, we will be taking pitures of the resort and going to Chef Mickey's for dinner.

 

[Marcel de Groot]

Thanks to all that have written an answer to our questions. One real American habbit is very clear; Americans seem to be much more willing to help than the average European.
To be sure that I understand the replies on the breakfast question, I write down what I understand from it.
In a lot of hotels (resorts) you can order a breakfast in a restaurant and pay for it as you use it. Some hotels (resorts) have it included in the roomrate. Did I "translate" the answers correctly?

I also understand from other threads, that you can buy breakfast related food in shops in the hotel (resort) and eat that in your room. In Europe that is normally not allowed, but as I understand in America it is very common.

We are still debating to go or not and if we go where to stay. Dutch touroperators offer a few Disney resorts, non-disney resorts and also privat houses. Our prefference is currently the Carribian resort at Disney or the Holiday Inn Family suites. Feel free to add your opinion to these or any other suggestion.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Hello, welcome, and congratulations on your baby!

As stated, you can buy breakfast at any Disney hotel. You can also order from room service at the deluxe hotels, not sure of the rest. You can bring food in and eat in your room. This is quite common in the Boardwalk area since there is a bakery there. People will buy their coffee and food and take it back to their rooms. Only the concierge level of rooms at the deluxe hotels offer free (cold) breakfasts as well as snacks througout the day.
There are quite a number of breakfast buffets at the Disney hotels and parks, some with the Disney characters. These are all you can eat and each person is charged either an adult or child fee.
Since you will need to take breaks during the day from the tons of walking you will be doing you should seriously consider a Disney hotel. This will make it much easier to get back to your hotel. Disney hotel guests get free use of all Disney transportation from all the hotels to all the parks.
Please check out the information on allearsnet.com and
mousesaver.com.
Lots of good information and cost-saving ideas.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by Marcel de Groot
Why is breakfast (in buffet style) in the hotels hardly ever mentioned. In Europe a lot of hotels offer an "American style breakfast buffet". Is this "not done" in the Orlando area, or what are we missing here?

It really depends on where you're staying. Some Disney resorts offer a buffet breakfast. (Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Contemporary) - but you will have to pay extra. It's not included in the room rate. Other Disney resorts don't offer the breakfast buffet. As others have said, they offer breakfast, but you order something, and pay for that. It's not all you can eat. AND, as others have said, the concierge level is available offering a free contintental breakfast. It's included in your room rate, but it's a pretty expensive rate.

If you stay outside of Disney, you have a LOT more options. I think the Holiday Inn Family Suites room rates include a continental breakfast. (Continental breakfast is "American Style", as you said, meaning all you can eat - but your choices are somewhat limited. It's all cold things like pastries, bagels, cereal, and fruit...) Some other non-Disney hotels offer a full breakfast buffet with hot foods, and include it in the room rate. Your breakfast options all depend on where you're staying.

Originally posted by Marcel de Groot
Is it common to stay a long period in a WDW resort and taking some days "off" without doing any sight seeing (laying around the pool just having a rest), or is that just money wasting?

ABSOLUTELY! I saw someone from Scotland who was staying for 21 nights. I know someone else from Alaska who stayed the same amount of time. It's YOUR vacation! If you want to come for a long period of time, and relax by the pool, then go ahead! YOU decide how to spend your vacation time; not someone else!

Originally posted by Marcel de Groot
We went to the Disney resort in Paris for 4 days, which was great (and long enough). How long should one stay at Orlando to see the major attractions?

As someone said, Disneyland Paris consists of the Magic Kingdom, and the Disney Studios. Walt Disney World encompasses 47 sqaure miles (Manhattan could fit within the Walt Disney World boundries) - it has the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Studios, Animal Kingdom, 2 water parks, countless mini-golf courses, quite a few regular golf courses, a shopping district, a nighttime entertainment complex, an interactive theme park, and some 20 resort properties - and that's just on Disney property! Outside of Disney World is Universal (with 2 theme parks), Sea World, and countless other attractions. There's SO much to see that any length of time you stay still may not feel like enough!

Originally posted by Marcel de Groot
One should know that we are a family (Dad and Mom) with one kid just aged 4 and a mother being 4 months pregnant.

Please allow some miswritting, we are normally Dutch speaking people.

You and your family will have a WONDERFUL time if you choose to come.