Newbie, have a couple questions

[Naisy68]

Ok, we are pretty new members and I'd like to hear from the more experienced members please? I have a couple questions...
Here's our story...
We are planning our first trip for this coming May. We are hoping to surprise my parents at Christmas with this trip as a present from us (both of them are in their 70s) We are hoping to get into our home resort, AK Villas. I have requested a one bedroom villa.

I don't think my parents would need the same ticket package as we are going to be getting as I am thinking they will stay close to the resort more often, my dad especially as he has a prosthetic leg and really just enjoys watching people and reading most of the time. He doesn't like to feel like he's holding us back from anything which is why I requested a savannah view by the way.
What would the best ticket option for us be? OR do we all have to have the same ticket/dining option? I know that is how it works at the regular Disney resorts but I'm hoping we can get away from that with DVC.
Also as a general ticket question, we probably won't be using our tickets for more than one trip a year. We wouldn't really need to purchase annual tickets for this would we? We usually buy 5/6 day park hoppers with disney dining tickets.
Can we wait and add our park ticket/dining package when we check in? Or should we look for the deals and book them before hand?
Thanks for any advice in advance, Renee

 

[drusba]

Go here on this site for the various park tickets available and prices: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm With DVC you can get the annual pass for a discount and can but do not have to buy in advance; all other tickets are regular prices and you just buy when you get to the resort; your group is not required to have the same type of tickets.

Not sure of rules for the dining package which you can also get.

 

[CraftyMouse]

What would the best ticket option for us be? OR do we all have to have the same ticket/dining option? I know that is how it works at the regular Disney resorts but I'm hoping we can get away from that with DVC.

Also as a general ticket question, we probably won't be using our tickets for more than one trip a year. We wouldn't really need to purchase annual tickets
for this would we? We usually buy 5/6 day park hoppers with disney dining tickets.

You would just purchase tickets for the number of days you think you'll be in the parks and do the same for your parents. You can get hoppers if you think you'll be at more than one park per day or skip the hopping option if you just want to visit one park per day.

(BTW, no one needs to have the same ticket option...whether at DVC or at the regular resorts. Each guest can have the ticket they prefer.)

As for dining, you must purchase the dining plan for each member of your party for all nights of your stay.

Can we wait and add our park ticket/dining package when we check in? Or should we look for the deals and book them before hand?
Thanks for any advice in advance, Renee

You can wait to get your tickets at check-in, but the dining plan must be added at least 72 hours before your arrival. You cannot add the dining plan at check in.

Hope that helps.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

We had a magical gathering in May of 2007 for my mother's 75th b-day and my daughter's 7th. Both of my parents are in their mid-70s and my mom had had quite a few health issues prior to this trip. We stayed at Boardwalk in a 2 bdrm Villa and we rented my mom a scooter because while she was willing to walk the parks, she would never have made one completely. My father walks everyday and did not need anything but his feet hurt him pretty frequently....My dad used his ticket everyday, my mom did not. She actually opted to stay at the hotel one complete day but explored around the grounds, the boardwalk and the path over to HS (then MGM). You can purchase separate ticket packages and there are sights that sell them for a few dollars cheaper...check mousesavers.com. Also, you can add on to your tickets if needed but I think you pay full price for the additional add on days, I am not sure. You may want to get the additional days for your dad in case he just wants to go have lunch or dinner with you somewhere and then people watch in the parks or spend time on the exhibits at EPCOT. He might also appreciate a scooter. My mom was against it, at first, but found it to be fun and my daughter LOVED being able to ride around with Grandma and give her little 7 year old legs a break!!

What a really nice thing to do for your parents! I hope you can get into AKV! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Susan C]

Get Dad the scooter...no better place for it....

Have Fun

 

[Naisy68]

The scooter is a great idea! Thanks for the tip! I had thought about that but wasn't too sure yet. Where is the best place to rent these? My mom is just getting over heart surgery herself but by May will not be wanting anything to slow her down. She will be wanting to walk and shop, walk and shop and explore. Dad has a touch of dementia so we probably will have to go back and get him rather than let him meet us at the parks. This scares me some about him but I really think he'll be ok as long as we let him have his down time and not act like we are worrying about him. He will be more comfortable just staying at the room or relaxing in quiet places at the parks. I love the scooter idea though!

 

[Naisy68]

Thanks Crafty Mouse for the tip about the dining plan.
So the dining plan is more in conjunction with the resort stay than with the tickets then?
So if we are staying 5 nights, we will gett the dining plan for 5 nights for each person then? I always thought it depended on park tickets for some reason.

 

[CarolMN]

The scooter is a great idea! Thanks for the tip! I had thought about that but wasn't too sure yet. Where is the best place to rent these? My mom is just getting over heart surgery herself but by May will not be wanting anything to slow her down. She will be wanting to walk and shop, walk and shop and explore. Dad has a touch of dementia so we probably will have to go back and get him rather than let him meet us at the parks. This scares me some about him but I really think he'll be ok as long as we let him have his down time and not act like we are worrying about him. He will be more comfortable just staying at the room or relaxing in quiet places at the parks. I love the scooter idea though!

Naisy68 - The very best place to get all the info on scooters is the disABILITIES Forum. You may even find other ideas for your Dad.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Thanks Crafty Mouse for the tip about the dining plan.
So the dining plan is more in conjunction with the resort stay than with the tickets then?
So if we are staying 5 nights, we will gett the dining plan for 5 nights for each person then? I always thought it depended on park tickets for some reason.

Each component is separate...hotel, tickets, meals. Your hotel will be reserved through DVC. Your tickets can be purchased through WDW or through an outside provider. As for meals, some choose to purchase the dining plan and some (like us) do not. It is up to you, but if you do get the dining plan it must be for the full length of your trip and for everyone in your party.

For example, we reserve our villa through DVC, purchase Annual Passes with the DVC discount and pay for meals on our own. When my parents join us they get hopper tickets for the length of their stay as they usually only come along once per year. It really is up to you.