New to all this

[CrispImage]

Hi there,

I am new to DISBoards but joined because we are planning to travel to Disneyworld (Florida) in 2010. This is a big undertaking as we are in Australia.

The first thing we need to work out is exactly when to go. We are planning to be away for approx 3 weeks, spending nearly all of this time in Orlando. Easter in 2010 is the 4th April. We could either go mid March and head home at Easter or leave just after Easter (say Easter Tuesday) and get home late April - which would be the least busy time at WDW.

We also have timeshare and have been told there are time share restorts close to WDW so this would be the most cost effective accommodation for us. Will it be easy for us to get to the parks if we are staying close by - we don't really want to have to rent a car and pay car parking.

Sorry for all the questions but the though of organising all of this is a bit daunting.

K

 

[stopher1]

Hi there,

I am new to DISBoards but joined because we are planning to travel to Disneyworld (Florida) in 2010. This is a big undertaking as we are in Australia.

The first thing we need to work out is exactly when to go. We are planning to be away for approx 3 weeks, spending nearly all of this time in Orlando. Easter in 2010 is the 4th April. We could either go mid March and head home at Easter or leave just after Easter (say Easter Tuesday) and get home late April - which would be the least busy time at WDW.

We also have timeshare and have been told there are time share restorts close to WDW so this would be the most cost effective accommodation for us. Will it be easy for us to get to the parks if we are staying close by - we don't really want to have to rent a car and pay car parking.

Sorry for all the questions but the though of organising all of this is a bit daunting.

K

WELCOME!!! How wonderful - we love going to WDW. You've got a good amount of time to work through the planning.

There are a lot of off-site properties close by. Getting around by car is quite easy. Every park has it's own parking lot, and you can car hop between them if you so desire without paying an extra parking fee (leave and go to another park - just show your paid parking ticket and they let you in the new lot). DTD is a free lot, and the water parks are free lots, so those are especially friendly to off-site guests.

Be sure to read up on this site, as well as check out the official WDW site to learn a lot of information. There's lots of time still, so no stressing! Have fun!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

LOTS of people go for Easter, Id leave the week b4 Easter or get there the week after Easter. Have fun!!!!!!!

 

[byoung]

Welcome to the DIS!!! Glad to have you here.

 

[jimmalru80]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Metro West]

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[Rylee]

Hi there,

I am new to DISBoards but joined because we are planning to travel to Disneyworld (Florida) in 2010. This is a big undertaking as we are in Australia.

The first thing we need to work out is exactly when to go. We are planning to be away for approx 3 weeks, spending nearly all of this time in Orlando. Easter in 2010 is the 4th April. We could either go mid March and head home at Easter or leave just after Easter (say Easter Tuesday) and get home late April - which would be the least busy time at WDW.

We also have timeshare and have been told there are time share restorts close to WDW so this would be the most cost effective accommodation for us. Will it be easy for us to get to the parks if we are staying close by - we don't really want to have to rent a car and pay car parking.

Sorry for all the questions but the though of organising all of this is a bit daunting.

K

Hi

It's tough to say if March or April will be busier... Disney considers from around the 3rd week in Feb., to mid April (may vary depending on when Easter falls) as "peak" season because of all the school "Spring Break's."

As for staying in a time-share... I would think you will definitely need a car rental. Some hotels/resorts do offer shuttle service to the parks, but from what I understand, it is at limited times in the morning and evenings and not always guaranteed. (If the shuttle's full, it's full.)

I have an idea you might want to consider... If you have 3 weeks to spend in the Orlando area, it might be more convenient to stay at a Disney resort, on Disney property, for a few days, while you tour the Disney parks. If you choose to do this... when you fly in, Disney offers their own shuttle bus (Magical Express) to and/or from the airport directly to/from their resorts.

If you choose to do this, you could fly into Orlando, use Magical Express to your Disney resort, stay for 4 or 5 nights (whatever works) and use Disney transportation around WDW. On check-out day, you can rent a car and drive to your time-share, visit other area attractions, then return the car rental to the airport on departure day. If interested, this plan would also work in reverse... rent car, stay at your time share, check-in at a Disney resort, turn car in, and use Magical Express to return to airport.)

Anyway, it's just an idea, but thought I'd mention it because it's so convenient and there are a lot of perks to staying on-site.

Also, parking is free to resort guest (if you wanted to have a car rental.)
Tickets do not have to match the number of days of your resort stay.

You have lots of time to plan, but one important thing to keep in mind... if you want to dine/experience any of the Table Service restaurants at Disney, you need to schedule Advance Dining Reservations (ADR's). You can book these 180 days in advance.

Have fun planning.

 

[RJD]

Welcome! That's quite an undertaking (Disney from Australia!) Good thing you have plenty of time. You will find ALOT of good information on these boards. There probably is not a Disney question that someone here doesn't know the answer to. Good luck with your planning and have fun. Planning is half the fun IMO.

 

[mickeynut1]

You will find lots of info here on the DIS Happy Planning

 

[dad2t&e]

Welcome! Disney from Australia,wow! You have plenty of time to plan the most wonderful vacation. You should find all of the information on these boards. There probably is not a Disney question that someone here doesn't know the answer to. I suggest you get the Birbaum book on Disney, as it has a lot of help. Good luck with your planning cause that is half the fun.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

 

[pepe of ohio]

I suggest you get the Birbaum book on Disney, as it has a lot of help. Good luck with your planning cause that is half the fun.


I agree on the book, we used that book alot many many moons ago. It's authorized through Disney so the info is indepth. We've done 40 trips to WDW and I can heartily suggest staying on-site. The benefits of on property can not be matched. Pick value season if you can, and to save money, value resorts or a split stay with a deluxe for a while. We're resort snobs, will only stay deluxe but we enjoy our resort as much as the parks and the deluxes are over the top in ammenities and theming plus they are closer to the parks, location is prime and that saves time. The transportation system is tops in our book, never used a car or rented one while there, and its free. Can't be beat, just check the bus stops to where you want to go, get on the bus or boat and away you go.

Hope you stay in America is great and make sure you smell the flower while in WDW, its the best place on earth.

 

[CrispImage]

Okay - looks like it would be busy March / April - would we be better going late January / early February? Would the weather be okay?

K

 

[pepe of ohio]

Okay - looks like it would be busy March / April - would we be better going late January / early February? Would the weather be okay?

K

We went January just before MLK day and this was a first for us, usually fall months we like better. Weather can be hit or miss, our experience was getting off the train is was cold, butt cold. Next morning beautiful and for the next 8 days temps were in the mid 80's, perfect, did alot of swimming, nothing better than night and morning seeing the haze coming off the pool, pool temp was like 86 degrees, fantastic. The day we were leaving, day 9, the bottom dropped out and temp was 60's again but we lucked out and hit that Florida sun window for our stay. Go back in January, don't think so, we're from the northeast Ohio region and have enough cold weather and don't want to spend our vacation in coats. Only great thing, crowds were minimal.