must cut time at WDW

[hugabearjo]

I am very sad, I have to cut my trip down in days. I just had three very big unexpected expenses that are making me rethink the trip at all. But, I am so excited as are the kids that I think I just need to trim the fat.

Veterns and not so veterns could you please help me know how many days minimum we need to spend vs. ideal. I don't want to feel like we only got a taste and had to leave.

I have already decided to cut Sea World as we can do that in California next year for Disneyland's 50th anniversary that we are already making plans to be at (my Mom was there when it opened in 55 and she wants to be there when it turns 50)

As for Universal we can do that in Calif also but, they only have one park and not Islands of Adventures. Is it worth it to spend the extra money to do that one and take away from Disney days?

Please help me know what a short and medium trip would look like as far as days.

I guess I should also say that we are going sometime between April 22 and May 7 which is better cut the beginning dates or later. I care about less crowds.

Thanks
Keep Smiling

 

[AdventurerKat]

First off, sorry you have to shorten your trip. I hate that and unfortunately it happens to me all too often.

Make the trip closer to the first part of May.

As for how many days, I would say at least five nights, six days. Some will say more but that gives you a day in each of the parks and time for rest or water parks.

I personally am not a big fan of IOA (except for Spiderman!) so I am probably not the best one to ask. But if you think this is your only Orlando trip ever, then try to get there. If not, save it for next time.

Go and have a good time! I say a trip to WDW for just a few days is better than no trip at all!

 

[tcfdick]

You didn't say where you will be staying. This is a way to cut down on cost too. You could stay off-site for lots less or in a value resort with a discount code (look on http://allearsnet.com). You can also cut down on food costs by stopping at a grocery store and buying snacks and breakfast food. If you have a car rental, someone suggested stopping at Winn Dixie near DTD area because they were the cheapest in the area. I agree with AdventurerKat about a minimum of 6 days to do the parks with a water park. I've been to IOA and you can easily do this park in one day. That makes a seven day trip to do all that you mentioned.

 

[worm761]

first some questions:
1. how long were you going to begin with?
2. how many of you are there?
3. how old are the kids?
4. where are you staying?
5. flying or driving? is driving an option?

 

[jgates]

If you are doing a rental, check mousesavers.com for codes. You may still be able to pull a considerably better rate than you have now. (I am thinking you may be planning on driving yourself since changing your airfare doesn't seem to be one of your concerns).

We really like US/IOA, but if it were a choice of going or not going, I would just save that for another trip and concentrate on Disney this trip. Less park admission, less fighting of traffic.

 

[hugabearjo]

the original trip was 17 days. We were spliting our time between Hampton Inn Lake Buena Vista and POR. We are now only staying at Hampton Inn this gives us free breakfast and snacks for lunch. I always pack snacks from home and DIsneyland has never hassled us so I think it will be the same. We can't stay at a value resort as there are 5 of us.

We live in Oregon so flying is the only way. I already called the airline and I can change up until 14 days before traveling. Their isn't even a charge. Yeah Southwest Airlines. and I got a great rate of $189 per person from Portland ORegon round trip.

The kids are all boys 13, 11, 9 the 13 is the scary one. He hates rollercoasters etc. Boy 9 loves them but, is short for his age. boy 11 likes anything.

I am working on Rental cars tonight, the codes are crazy.

Thanks for the input, I really am struggling because I want to do it all and know I can't. I am glad for your insight

 

[jgates]

Definitely visit Mousesavers then for a rental code. We got a great rate on ours with a code thru summer and it seems like there are a couple other really good ones that go thru May? You will NOT be sorry for visiting there!!!

I don't know the location for Hampton Inn Lake Buena Vista, but Hampton Inn Maingate West is fairly convenient. We stayed there a couple of years ago and it was nice. Set slightly back off 192 so it was fairly quite during their road construction then.

Another thought? I don't know which Disney places offer 5 people capacity. Maybe one of the mods with the current codes out there? Some of those are FANTASTIC!!! No breakfast, but if you are saving $6 per day for parking, plus onsite convenience those are factors to offset. You could go off-site for supper to Sizzler or somewhere - we grabbed coupons for Ponderosa right from the promo books in the front entryway for $1 off. Others just stood there staring off into space - we saved $5 for our group digging thru the books.

You could possibly also skip a rental for the trip - just hire transport to and from the airport and do a grocery stop. That would free up $$$. Pick up a styrofoam cooler and milk/bagels/cream cheese/poptarts - whatever those bottomless pits will eat for breakfast!!! You would be forced to eat at a food court etc for supper then though so that could up $$.

If your airfare is long paid for then don't even factor that in. Look at what is left and figure from there.

Are you possibly military that you could purchase your park hoppers from Shades of Green? If not, check the prices at Paramount or one of the other sides to try to save $$$. Decide how many days you want to spend at the park - maybe leave at least one day for down time, pool time, or whatever. Maybe mini-golf. That is fairly reasonable. Either on Dis or at Pirates of the Carribean. (2 locations moderately close if I remember right - One slightly north of DTD on the west side of I4 and the other on I drive).

 

[Disney Doll]

Some of the moderates sleep 5. There are also many suites off property that would sleep 5 comfortably, and probably give you a kitchen so you could maybe prepare breakfast in your room. I would also check the hotels near DD, on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

As for length of time, I would say a week would give you a pretty good taste of everything, with some time left over to repeat what you really enjoyed or work in a water park. Epcot is 2 days. MGM is 1- 1 1/2 days. MK is 1 or 2 days, AK is 1 day. That's 6- 6 1/2 days, so oyu could do a waterpark one afternoon, or cut down MK to one day if that's all your family needs...you don't have REAL little ones, so that could work. MGM could be one day, depending on if there's stuff you're not interested in seeing...again, maybe you could skip the real child-oriented stuff.

 

[jgates]

Going back to the 17 day trip, I can't criticize you there - mine are usually 14 to 16.

If you skip SeaWorld & US/IOA you are definitely in need of less time.

Back to passes - if you buy from paramount or ticketmania (?), you can get passes with a pluses for waterpark etc. That would also fill up days! Paramounts 7 day passes are 7 plus 4 pluses for $314 A $249 C (3 to 9). 5 day with 2 pluses are $255/$211.

You did not indicate what you were paying at the Hampton Inn (and it is none of my bees-wax) but when I put in a night at rack rate on the website it is $119 plus tax for 3/22. I think you could do enough better with a current code at the Mod's to more than pay for breakfast, etc, if you are paying anything close to that. Staying onsite might be cheaper in the long run.

Holiday Inn Family Suites is a good one too. I think the site is hifamilysuites.com or something like that.

 

[hugabearjo]

WOW! you made me feel good about my $48.60 rate at the Hampton Inn. I have been watching the rate rise just in case it went down for me to change the rate again and it keeps going up. I had not checked in a week or so. Boy it has risen. I like my rate even more now.

That is the AAA rate I got about 2 months ago.

I don't have military ties but, I am thankful for the rates for them. They deserve it and so much more.

Thanks for the help.

Keep Smiling

 

[Sarahsmom85]

park passes --- FITS are $311 and include water parks and Disney Quest which your kids would love, and also one Character Breakfast. The pass is good for 30 consecutive days.

If you wanted to do Universal they have great sales. I used my mastercard and got 5 consecutive day pass buy 4 get one free, for $89 each. https://tickets.universalstudios.com/USRG/us_store_secure2.jsp?merchant=mastercard
Then there is a sale by radio stations offering $50 GC to Citywalk restaurants for $25. Check the Universal on home page.

good luck.

 

[prncess674]

I stayed at the Hampton Inn LBV for my last trip and found it to be just fine. Nothing fancy. I am not sure how you are going to fit 5 peope in a room that size though. The room has 2 double beds and there is room for little else.

 

[hugabearjo]

Hampton said it was two Queen beds???? are they double????? We will have to make it work but, I will be bummed if they aren't queen,

how was the breakfast? do you remember what the choices are?

thanks again for the input

 

[lochbox1]

We got a two bedroom timeshare for a week around that time for $538. It was a good deal for the Horizons and we don't have to attend a presentation; as it was from the owners.

However, it sounds as if your under $50 per night rate for breakfast is a great deal and I think even I could squeeze in one room for that price!

Goodluck!

 

[CarolA]

The Lake Buena Vista Hampton is newer and I think it does have Queen beds. I will say that some of the queen beds look small now a days. LOL I really like that locations LOTS more then the Maingate. There is a reasonalbe Winn Dixie for groceries very close too. Ask the Hampton for fridge. Some hotels have them in every room, but not all. They usually don't charge.

I was curious and checked the website. They have both double and queen rooms. Ask for a queen/queen when you check in.

Personally, I would figure out how many days you want to cut and then decide what NOT to do.

I am not a big Univesal Fan, but....

If you REALLY need to cut just go with 6 days or so and only do Disney. Put the KIDS on a VERY tight souviner budget. The kids I have gone with are never allowed to get much, but I have witnessed some families having WWIII over Disney costs and several times when Mom and Dad are yelling about the costs I have noticed the kids with hundreds of dollars in JUNKE! (The things you get to see waiting on the bus at the MK!)

 

[hugabearjo]

whew! I just got off the phone with them they are all two queen beds

 

[Ozymoe]

My 2 cents...do you really have to drastically cut the time? If you get the 7 day hopper+ passes you actually have 12 days at Disney...7 in the parks, 4 in water parks (really days in themselves, especially if you put them in between the park days...bonus: you'll be rested for early starts each park day morning and you can really explore everything that each waterpark has to offer)...and DQ is definitely a whole day experience for your boys!

Fort Wilderness (with it's free nightly campfire/outdoor movie) is another "event" that your boys would probably like...sing-a-long w/Chip/Dale...also the Belgians are housed there and you can visit them...and there's a beach for wading and sand building...

 

[sln88]

Originally posted by hugabearjo
WOW! you made me feel good about my $48.60 rate at the Hampton Inn. I have been watching the rate rise just in case it went down for me to change the rate again and it keeps going up. I had not checked in a week or so. Boy it has risen. I like my rate even more now.

That is the AAA rate I got about 2 months ago.

I don't have military ties but, I am thankful for the rates for them. They deserve it and so much more.

Thanks for the help.

Keep Smiling

Right now, Skyauction has a 2 bedroom at the Vacation Village at Parkway available starting 4/23 through the ready set go auction. You could win that for around 60 + fees of 210 = 270 for a week. That would put your daily cost at around $40 including the tax. You would save a bit of $ on your hotel, have lots more room, and be able to eat some of your meals at the condo.

here is a link(hopefully)

http://www1.findweeks.com/resorts/r...id=0&lp=1&resultcount=13&locale=0&selection=6

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by hugabearjo
whew! I just got off the phone with them they are all two queen beds

I don't find there to be that huge of a difference between a double and a queen size bed. I still wonder how you are going to fit 5 people in a room that size. There is no way 3 people can sleep in one queen size bed

 

[prncess674]

the Hampton Inn LBV had a pretty basic continental breakfast. Pastries, bagels, cold cereals. Juice, Milk, coffee. I found the coffee to be horrible, but I am somewhat of a coffee snob.