Hi! It's been a few years since I used these boards!
I've started our big 2019 trip plan the last couple of days whilst I am feeling pregnant and miserable. I'm a bit sad I won't be visiting a Disney park this year (probably not next year either unless I visit my sister). I've been to a park every year in the last 5 - DLRP 2012 & 2013, WDW 2014 (our honeymoon) and DLR 2015 & 2016 when I've taken a stopover in LA whilst visiting my sister in Boston. She'll be visiting us this year after baby is born so no excuse for me to travel haha!
When we went to WDW we said we'd definitely be back in 5 yrs - 2019. Hoping Star Wars land is open by the time we go (although not holding my breath) as hubby is a big fan. It's our DD's 5th birthday at the end of September and because school won't start for her until mid October due to school holidays we are planning a 3-4 week trip mid September onwards. We will also have a 2 yr old at this point (and definitely no more!)
So my basic plan is fly to Orlando and spend the first 2-3 nights at Universal to check out WWoHP, then two weeks at WDW followed by a 4-5 night Disney cruise. I'm wondering if we might be better to do a mexican riviera cruise instead of Caribbean one given the time of year weatherwise, and would love to do a Halloween themed one. It would also break up the long travel back to New Zealand if we stopped on the west coast for the cruise.
Given the length of time we want to spend at WDW I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile buying an annual pass for one of us and hoping for a good Room Only discount (I have my heart set on WL again) - if it's up to 35% as currently advertised for their special now it would definitely be worth the annual pass price - does this offer come up for September much? We'd buy 10 day PH for me and DD - I'd put the AP in my husband's name as he would want to visit MK every day for his sorcerers game cards and could take the 2yr old, whilst I could do something else with the 5yr old on our non park days. Alternatively if we didn't get the AP I'd be hoping for free dining if they still do that in a couple of years time! I'm guessing we couldn't do free dining if that offer came up if we'd booked a room with AP? I wouldn't do the dining plan if we had an AP because it looks like you get discounts on meals with it anyway, but it would possibly be worth doing otherwise considering the 2yr could share from our meals.
Last time we went to WDW we rented points but I don't think I'd do that this time round as we can't justify the expense of a 1bed villa and I don't see much difference between a studio and regular hotel room (which we'd get a better deal on with a room only discount or free dining). We'd also need a bit more flexibility incase we want to adjust plans so I wouldn't be keen to rent 11 months out.
1 more question - are the water parks suitable for littlies? I like the look of Typhoon Lagoon but we couldn't go last time (weather was freezing in Jan so it was closed). I'm not sure if a water park day will be worth it when the kids may be just as happy playing in the hotel pool.
Dreaming of Disney....
I've started our big 2019 trip plan the last couple of days whilst I am feeling pregnant and miserable. I'm a bit sad I won't be visiting a Disney park this year (probably not next year either unless I visit my sister). I've been to a park every year in the last 5 - DLRP 2012 & 2013, WDW 2014 (our honeymoon) and DLR 2015 & 2016 when I've taken a stopover in LA whilst visiting my sister in Boston. She'll be visiting us this year after baby is born so no excuse for me to travel haha!
When we went to WDW we said we'd definitely be back in 5 yrs - 2019. Hoping Star Wars land is open by the time we go (although not holding my breath) as hubby is a big fan. It's our DD's 5th birthday at the end of September and because school won't start for her until mid October due to school holidays we are planning a 3-4 week trip mid September onwards. We will also have a 2 yr old at this point (and definitely no more!)
So my basic plan is fly to Orlando and spend the first 2-3 nights at Universal to check out WWoHP, then two weeks at WDW followed by a 4-5 night Disney cruise. I'm wondering if we might be better to do a mexican riviera cruise instead of Caribbean one given the time of year weatherwise, and would love to do a Halloween themed one. It would also break up the long travel back to New Zealand if we stopped on the west coast for the cruise.
Given the length of time we want to spend at WDW I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile buying an annual pass for one of us and hoping for a good Room Only discount (I have my heart set on WL again) - if it's up to 35% as currently advertised for their special now it would definitely be worth the annual pass price - does this offer come up for September much? We'd buy 10 day PH for me and DD - I'd put the AP in my husband's name as he would want to visit MK every day for his sorcerers game cards and could take the 2yr old, whilst I could do something else with the 5yr old on our non park days. Alternatively if we didn't get the AP I'd be hoping for free dining if they still do that in a couple of years time! I'm guessing we couldn't do free dining if that offer came up if we'd booked a room with AP? I wouldn't do the dining plan if we had an AP because it looks like you get discounts on meals with it anyway, but it would possibly be worth doing otherwise considering the 2yr could share from our meals.
Last time we went to WDW we rented points but I don't think I'd do that this time round as we can't justify the expense of a 1bed villa and I don't see much difference between a studio and regular hotel room (which we'd get a better deal on with a room only discount or free dining). We'd also need a bit more flexibility incase we want to adjust plans so I wouldn't be keen to rent 11 months out.
1 more question - are the water parks suitable for littlies? I like the look of Typhoon Lagoon but we couldn't go last time (weather was freezing in Jan so it was closed). I'm not sure if a water park day will be worth it when the kids may be just as happy playing in the hotel pool.
Dreaming of Disney....
