My Disney holiday plan - what you think ?

[BrianL]

For me about 7 days is good in Disney to see it all without a rush, though with nighttime activities coming to AK that could change. I always leave AK early to hop to another park for the evening, but I'd stay once Rivers of Light starts. So if you want to be safe you can have more days. Extra days get much cheaper once your over 4 so no worries there.

I would probably not be going into a park after a full day at Universal. It can keep you plenty busy and after transportation back, it could be pretty late. I'd stick around Citywalk for dinner or something before heading back.

 

[Lewandowski]

OP I just read that you are coming from Scotland. If that is true, is this like a once in lifetime trip for you? Many people are saying don't do 10 days in the parks because maybe they haven't thought of that. If this is a once in life time Disney world trip for you. Do 10 days at the theme parks. You won't regret it.


I really can't comment much on Universal because I have only been there once and was not too impressed. Universal is a really good park but for me its not really much of a step above SeaWorld, Six Flags, etc. Disney as miles above them and is really the only parks that are worth travelling that far for. Trust me if Disney didn't exist, Universal would be much less crowded and not as famous. I honestly think Universal is attracting so much people and is very crowded because its right next Disney World which is luring people to also go there as well.

By the way if nobody said this yet: ADR means Advance Dining Reservation. Honestly if I were you I would just stay onsite and do 15 days at Disney World and forget about the rest of the parks. Don't get me wrong SeaWorld, Universal, and Busch Gardens are great parks but those kind of parks can be found almost anywhere around Europe or the USA. Don't waste your orlando time on those.

If I were to spend 15 days at Disney and it was like once in lifetime, I would do this:

3 days at MK
3 at Epcot
2 at HS
2 at AK
1 at Blizzard Beach
1 at Typhoon Lagoon
1 day just to explore Downtown Disney
1 day to explore other resorts.
the last day could be a day off, or come back to either water park or DTD for a second visit.

I guess I don't have to explain much about the theme parks and water parks because they are quite obvious.

Downtown Disney though has a lot to offer. There are tons of shopping stores, and interesting restaurants. T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, Raglan Rd, and Portobello are my favorites. Also some attractions I really love there are Cirque du Soleil, Disney Quest, and the Hot Air Balloon Ride.

There are tons of hidden attractions at the disney resorts as well, and if you are there for 15 days, you have the time and its worth it. Check out the water slides at Polynesian Hotel and Old Key West Resort. Also something I love doing at Animal Kingdom Lodge is there are tons of chairs in a certain area where you can sit and rock in while watching some of the animals. It can be quite fun.

Also make sure you don't miss Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Its one of the best dinner shows ever at the Fort Wilderness Campsites and Cabins. I'd have dinner there the day you explore the other resorts. Ohana is another resort restaurant that shouldn't be missed with the huge trip you are doing.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and we can work out a whole plan together.

 

[Garyjames220]

See downtown Disney. Why would I need a day there. Is it not mainly just for eating ?

And what is this old key west all about

My hotel choice was the all star ones, Dolphins, Mexican themed one, CB resort or Animal lodges

Does the animal kingdom lodges stand out above the others

 

[MaryKatesMom]

In October both water parks will be open and you can do the day there and the night elsewhere. Water park days are the days we schedule the Fantasmic! dinner package and pick nighttime FP+ at HS.

Go to the Universal board and ask their opinion of 2 or 3 days in Universal. You'll get 3 days for the 2 parks. Honestly, since HS is under construction and EPCOT hasn't added something in the last 15 years (only cut back on performers) they are now only 1 day parks. MK is the only park worth 2 or more days.

We stay in the Epcot area so at the end of the day we can walk the WS with a beverage. Although we now eat at the Epcot resorts because the food and prices are much better.

 

[BrianL]

See downtown Disney. Why would I need a day there. Is it not mainly just for eating ?

And what is this old key west all about

My hotel choice was the all star ones, Dolphins, Mexican themed one, CB resort or Animal lodges

Does the animal kingdom lodges stand out above the others

Downtown Disney, now called Disney Springs is mostly shopping/dining, but also has nightlife and street entertainment. It is not something you need a whole day for, but it's a fun place to hang out for an afternoon or evening (more crowded at night though).

Old Key West is just one of the hotels. Unless you are staying there, there is not much reason to visit. It is themed after the Florida Keys, small islands off the tip of the peninsula.

All Star hotels will be the least expensive, and the least fancy. They're okay, I guess. They have fun, over-sized, sculptures themed to Sports, Movies, or Music, depending on your hotel. Personally, I find Pop Century, also a Value resort, to be a bit better location wise (nearly identical to the All Stars in construction, amenities).

Dolphin, part of the Swan & Dolphin, is in the Epcot resort area. It is actually not owned by Dinsey but you still get the onsite perks. It is close to Boardwalk and Yacht & Beach Club behind Epcot, and is similar to those in amenities and such.

The "Mexican themed" one must be Coronado Springs, which is a nice, Moderate property. It is huge and hosts conventions sometimes. The grounds are lovely with a big lagoon, but you might be quite a walk from the front desk if you're at the back. It is similar to Caribbean Beach, except that CB is much larger (it has more bus stops). I was advised by the phone CM on a stay where I was thinking about those two, to go with Coronado Springs.

Animal Kingdom Lodge will definitely stand out, both in quality and price. If it's worth it to you, you can't go wrong. It'll be a top notch experience for sure. Some of the better restaurants can also be found there.

 

[Garyjames220]

The thing is with the animal kingdom lodge I have found a deal in my travel agent where it's a very good pice. About the same as the Coronado springs.

I take it you would go for this one then ?

How easy is it to get to everything from this resort

 

[BrianL]

The thing is with the animal kingdom lodge I have found a deal in my travel agent where it's a very good pice. About the same as the Coronado springs.

I take it you would go for this one then ?

How easy is it to get to everything from this resort

For about the same price as Coronado Springs? Heck yeah, I'd stay at AKL for that!

AKL is a little further away form everything, except Animal Kingdom of course,, but the Disney buses work pretty well. It'll be furthest to Magic Kingdom, so budget your time accordingly. I can't say for sure how long the ride is, but maybe someone who has stayed there can. I don't know how many buss tops that resort has either, but it shouldn't add too much time.

 

[Garyjames220]

How far a walk is it to the animal kingdom front gate

Wonder how close it is to downtown Disney and universal too

 

[BrianL]

How far a walk is it to the animal kingdom front gate

Wonder how close it is to downtown Disney and universal too

Oh you wouldn't walk. It's close, but not that close, and the roads at WDW are not set up for walking. There are no sidewalks and there is a lot of wildlife around too. The will not allow you to walk, but AK would be the shortest bus ride from AKL.

You should check out some Google Maps of the area to get an idea of how locations relate. WDW is a big place, but the roads are private and you shouldn't have many traffic issues at the time you are going, excepting construction if there is any. Universal isn't that far away either, but about a 20 minute drive, though you are affected by city traffic going out there, so it varies.

 

[Garyjames220]

Thanks you have been very helpful

Am thinking of doing

9 days dinsey
2 universal
1 Seaworld / downtown
1 water park
1 discovery cove

What u think of that plan

Any other wee things I should no

 

[Garyjames220]

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would do 3 days of Universal...it is that awesome.

I would add a day at Aquatica and drop waterparks from your Disney pass. Aquatica is the best waterpark in Orlando AND by going to Discovery Cove, it's already free for you. I would also do 7 days in Disney (3 MK, 1 EPCOT, 1 AK, 1 DS, and 1 choose to return day once you decide what you like). So, mine would look like this...
7 days Disney
3 days Universal
1 day Discovery Cove
1 day Sea World
1 day Aquatica
1-2 days of choose-your-own-adventure/down days

In October, you might choose a day to do the Universal or Disney Halloween parties...and you wouldn't want a pre-planned park day if you chose that...

 

[BrianL]

Thanks you have been very helpful

Am thinking of doing

9 days dinsey
2 universal
1 Seaworld / downtown
1 water park
1 discovery cove

What u think of that plan

Any other wee things I should no

Sounds like a great time to me.

There are plenty more details that go into planning your time (ADRs, Fast Pass), but you'll get to that.

 

[Garyjames220]

There is just so much do to here

We love Disney and the main problem is trying to decide how many days to do in Disney parks then work the rest around that really

 

[BrianL]

I think you'll be happy with 9 days at Disney. If you are going in October, I think 2 days at US is fine. Some people really like it, but crowds should be pretty low around that time. Unless you are big Harry Potter fans, I think you'll be fine.

I can't speak much about Discovery Cove/Aquatica etc. One thing to know is that you will not do everything, so don't stress about it. Just do stuff you will enjoy in the time you have. It'll be great no matter what.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

How many days would you say u need in Disney to do everything without a mad rush

Also the days we don't go to Disney and do universal etc. Do u find that u sometimes want to go back to a Disney park on the evening. Or is there plenty other things to do on evening. Just want to make sure I get passes for the right number of days in each one

Funny thing is, whether we go for one day or many days, Disney seems- for us- to always = a bit of mad rush. It is the nature of the beast.

1. WDW is very large. It takes a good deal of time to get from one place to another, no matter how you travel. Also no matter what, like if you want dining or to see a show, you need to be in a specific place at a specific time, via the WDW transportation system which is a bit unpredictable. Well timed rushing can = a big benefit. There is a big benefit to arriving at the parks very close to when they open each morning. The 9am wait for most rides is often 10min; the 11am wait may be over an hour. There's a big reward for those who are willing to 'rush' a bit in the morning.

2. Glad someone explained ADR= dining. Except WDW doesn't give actual reservations. There's no table waiting empty for you. It is more like a spot in the (dining) queue. When you arrive at the restaurant, you put in your name. You wait to be called. With a party of two, you'll probably only wait 20min. Disney table service meals generally take 90 minutes (sometimes longer), but sometimes we've waited an hour just to be seated! What really makes an impact though is getting across WDW for an ADR. If you are at Animal Kingdom Lodge, getting to Boma/Jiko will take you 4minutes. Getting to a restaurant in the World Showcase of Epcot could take over an hour (wait for bus, bus ride, entering the park, bag check, walking across Epcot). Disney World is a BIG place.

3. YES - WDW and US have TON of things to do at night. DO read up. Epcot, MK, and now HS have excellent fireworks (almost) every night. MK's night parades are WDW's best parades! HS has the Fantasmic show! Some rides are best at night. Some nights PM lines are also very short. If you don't want to use 9am hour, consider the 11pm hour! PM hours are variable based on expected crowds, especially at MK. Epcot and Universal have concerts some nights! Universal's Hard Rock hotel = fun nights for adults! Outside the 4 parks is Disney Springs and US's Citywalk. Both open very late. The resorts also have things like nightly campfires, movies! Pools are open late.

Do read up about Disney's Fastpass+. Long before you arrive at WDW, you can pick 3 each park day. FP = (1hour) access to a special short line, instead of the normal 'standby line'.

There's also many shows and parades at Disney. No matter how well you plan, if a bus is slow- you might have to hustle to be on time. In some cases the bus only come around once every half hour.

Dining is a factor when picking where to stay. The value resorts have decent food courts, but no table service. the moderates have decent food courts for breakfast, and a so-so table serve (none at POFQ), BUT - most the moderate resorts are rather large a sprawling. the walk from your room to the food court might be 15min each way. Coronado, PO Riverside, and C Beach are beautiful resorts, but walking around those lakes takes time. "preferred room location"= shorter walk. The special rate pirate/princess rooms are often the LONGEST walk to the food court area. The business class and Coronado is a good choice, IMO. The extra cost gives you access to a preferred location room ANd you get access to a special lounge. The lounge serves continental breakfast 7am to around 10:30am). Later they serve snacks until 10pm. Among the beverages offered is beer and sangria.

The Disney deluxe resorts have the best Table service dining, plus a high end deluxe Table service location called a Signature. Signature = like $50+pp. They have small food courts, but food courts are often good for breakfast because they are quick.

 

[Garyjames220]

I think you'll be happy with 9 days at Disney. If you are going in October, I think 2 days at US is fine. Some people really like it, but crowds should be pretty low around that time. Unless you are big Harry Potter fans, I think you'll be fine.

I can't speak much about Discovery Cove/Aquatica etc. One thing to know is that you will not do everything, so don't stress about it. Just do stuff you will enjoy in the time you have. It'll be great no matter what.

Yeah we plan it getting the universal express pass to. So think that 2 days would be OK if we done that

 

[mickeyluv'r]

How far a walk is it to the animal kingdom front gate

Wonder how close it is to downtown Disney and universal too

Guests are not allowed to walk to any parks from AKL.

AKL is my FAVORITE resort in terms of theming! Very beautiful. Also easy to walk around within the resort, and the animals are fun. If you can get it for the same price at a mod, I would take it.

You are only allowed to walk to the other half of AKL.

Do look at the WDW website. Of the deluxes, AKL and WL have slightly smaller rooms than the other deluxes, and slightly slower (in general) transportation to the parks. (when you average across all four parks.)
Of the 4 parks, most guests spend the most time in MK. from AKL, MK is the furthest park.
these, I think are all the reasons why AKL (and WL) is less$ than the other deluxes. Still, AKL is usually more than the mods.

It takes about 30min to drive from WDW to US. If you drive, it is probably about 15-20min from AKL to DTD (there's traffic and some construction now). If you take a free shuttle bus, the drive is the same, but buses are 20+min apart. You might wait zero for a bus, you might wait 25min for bus to arrive.

Also, if you go to US for the day- there's a giant parking garage and security....You will need extra time for those. There can also be traffic. In the morning, expect it to take at least an hour. See below!

I'm not trying to scare you. I've helped many first time visitors. Until you go, it is hard to imagine the size and scope of WDW.

For a first trip, keeping things kind of simple is good. At most, I'd only plan a few Table service meals.

These days, WDW is all about the upsell. You don't need park hopping, You don't need the Fantasmic dining package. Like I said earlier, the water parks are fun, but we went to WDw for over 20 years without going to one.

for the US part of your vacation, I truly suggest staying at one of the US hotels. The pluses are well worth the cost.

You plan on having your own car, right?

There's really no other easy way to go between WDW and US except taking a taxi/towncar. Taxi is pretty much Mears. You can look up their rates. You also need tranportaion to/from the airport. WDW has free shuttle buses to/from the airport. At US, you are on your own.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yeah we plan it getting the universal express pass to. So think that 2 days would be OK if we done that

VERY much look at staying onsite at Universal! You can stay at Royal Pacific for the cost of Express passes!

It is a great perk! Especially if you end up going anywhere near Thanksgiving. (prices will be lower if you avoid the holiday.)

Gosh....I used to cover US in one day before HP. Yes, you could do (most of) both parks in two days.

We are long time WDW veterans. We used to go to Orlando for about a week.

Recently though we've been very happy doing 2 days at WDW, and up to four at US!


Our old split of days was often: 2MK, 2 Epcot, 1 each HS/AK both US parks.

HP is the big unknown at US. You could blow through Diagon Alley in an hour (if you get lucky with a short wait at Escape from Gringotts), or you could spend half a day in that one area: shows, getting a wand, using a wand, food, looking at all the details, shopping, long line for EFGringotts.

Just like WDW, Us has an extra morning hour for onsite guests to access HP. the 3 top hotels are also very nice. We really liked Royal Pacific.

 

[Garyjames220]

TO be honest I was hoping to not take a car

I would like a wee break from driving plus the odd we cocktail