Newbie help!

[sweetiepie71]

Hi
I've been to DLP a number of times, but we're now thinking of saving for a WDW trip but I have no idea where to start at all.

I've no idea where to look at staying, what area to look at or anything, I have absolutely zero knowledge about WDW/Florida at all.

I also have three children, so I guess a lot of hotels are out of bounds for us?

Could someone please give me a very basic idea of how much we'd be looking at for flights for 5 of us from either London/Midlands or Manchester/Liverpool to Florida, plus tickets, plus hotel or villa and car hire for two weeks in about Feb (2011) Then spends. I've estimated I need to look at about £6000, is that about right?

 

[torsie24]

My advice is to get the Brits guide book and also read a lot of trip reports. You'd be surprised how much of an expert you can become with a few weeks hardcore DIS reading under your belt.

I remember looking into a WDW trip for the first time after DLP trips, it was mind boggling! And now I can't remember what all my panic was about, lol.

 

[luke]

My advice is to get the Brits guide book and also read a lot of trip reports. You'd be surprised how much of an expert you can become with a few weeks hardcore DIS reading under your belt.

I remember looking into a WDW trip for the first time after DLP trips, it was mind boggling! And now I can't remember what all my panic was about, lol.

Is great advice!!

Do you want to stay on Disney property or offsite?

Do you want to do all theme parks are just Disney?

Lots of questions but so much fun planning

 

[sweetiepie71]

Is great advice!!

Do you want to stay on Disney property or offsite?

Do you want to do all theme parks are just Disney?

Lots of questions but so much fun planning

Not sure about where we'd stay, onsite is fine IF we can get all 5 of us into a room, or interconnecting rooms. We'd also consider a villa if it's a more cost effective option. Obviously if staying onsite gives us the option of free dining, we'd consider that as we're using that for this DLP trip and it's saving us a packet, however I know that eating out in the US is lots cheaper than in France.

Would like to do Disney and possibly universal.

Not sure when the best time to go would be, we don't like it scaldingly hot, but would like it to be just tshirt and shorts weather.

 

[juliebro]

As other posters have said, the Brit's Guide is the best place to start - and asking questions on here.

We have never stayed on-site, as we like the space and freedom that a house gives us. It also works out relatively cheap too, depending on how many there are of you.

Flight costs will vary depending on the dates you want to travel and whether you are prepared to fly indirect.

How old are your children?

 

[sweetiepie71]

As other posters have said, the Brit's Guide is the best place to start - and asking questions on here.

We have never stayed on-site, as we like the space and freedom that a house gives us. It also works out relatively cheap too, depending on how many there are of you.

Flight costs will vary depending on the dates you want to travel and whether you are prepared to fly indirect.

How old are your children?

Kids are currently 10, 8 and 5, so if we go in a year will obviously be 11,10 and 6. Does flying indirect add huge amounts of time to the journey? Have ordered the book from Amazon.

 

[juliebro]

We've always flown indirect to Orlando and so we're used to it, but it does add a few more hours to the journey (all depends on the connection times). However, the savings for 5 could make it worth it financially. Also, you go through customs and immigration at the airport that you first land in, so that when you arrive in Orlando you can just grab your bags and go.

It's worth getting some prices and checking the difference before you decide.

 

[torsie24]

We just flew indirect with Delta via Detroit.

Only added 3 hours, which in the grand scheme of things was nothing, as we wouldn't go to parks on the first day anyway.

We saved £200 and that was jsut for 2 of us, adn the planes were really great.

I'd definitely do it again. Was also really nice to not have to deal with immigration in Orlando.

Well done ordering the brits guide. It really is a great book for newbies. Once you are a bit more clued up about the parks and different resorts then the Unofficial Guide is really in depth, and also great to read, but I think it'd make you even more confused if you were new to WDW.

 

[Tinks1984]

Depending on were you wish to stay, there's always the options for a family room at the Disney resorts.

I know that Disney's value resort, All Star Music has family suites, which sleep up to 6 people, so that could be a place to start. I'm not sure which or if any of the moderate or deluxe resorts have any of these rooms though, but I'm sure someone will know

 

[torsie24]

Port Orleans Riverside can sleep 5 (but only if booked through US)

And the Grand Floridian and i think Poly can sleep 5 too.

Or you could get a 1 bedroom DVC.

 

[lizbro]

If you are talking about out of term time then we've been in November twice and it cost us all in about £6000 inc spends -we stayed this Nov at the Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa -its offsite but fabulous place for larger families.Kids were 12,10 and 7 when we went and the we had a 3 bedroom suite/apartment with master bedrrom with jacuzzi bath,shower,toilet ect.Full kitchen inc dishwahser,washing machine tumble dryer and then another bathroom with 2 further bedrooms -1 with huge double bed and 1 with 2 double beds in.After staying there i don't think we could ever go back to just one room for the 5 of us.It was really central and downtown disney was about 5 mins away -most parks were about 10 mins with universal ect probably 15 -hope that helps and i also recommend the brits guide -fab fab fba book!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

For the size of your family a villa sounds ideal, we are regular villa renters and enjoy the extra room and freedom you get with a private home.

Having your own pool is a massive bonus if you have children and you also get the time and space to relax also, which is not necessarily the case in a hotel.

You could do a split stay, with a few nights on site and the rest in a villa, that way you get the best of both worlds and you avoid the possible problem of having to cram into a hotel room for the whole of the holiday, DVC accomodation I admit would be a compromise between the 2, but can be very expensive depending on how long you choose to stay there.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We have been in October - tagged 10 days onto half term - the weather was lovely

You may be able to get better prices going out of school holidays.

I also like staying off site and have rented a 3br townhome - I really like the extra space - especially when you are staying 2 & 3 weeks. Also the washer and dryer come in handy - especially with 5 of you - it will save on luggage!

 

[scojos]

if you can get it, the free disney dining plan may make it worth the "extra" cost of staying on site. The dvc saratoga sprngs, old key west etc. have 2 bed appts, we are staying there for 2 weeks, with ddp and tickets, for 14 days next aug, cost was about £3300 - off the top of my head
i would recommend on site, we did it last year for the frst time, and its magical, i would add PORS is too small for 5 in a room, boy do i know!!!
just dont panic, spend time im here, everyoneis v friendly, we generally know what we are talking about, hey some people spend far too much time on here
merry christmas
tracy

 

[thestevied]

Me and my partner always travel in september and its perfect. Still shorts and t-shirts weather, plus its a very quiet time to visit, plus you get the Disney Dining Plan, plus its the cheapest time of the year to travel! Only negative is you would need to take the kids out of school

 

[scottish mum]

We are also a family of 5 and it does limit you choice of hotel rooms if you want to stay on site. Most deluxe's sleep 5 but of course are more expensive, you could also have 2 rooms at a value resort but that puts the cost up too. We stayed at the cabins in Disney's Fort wilderness resort and campground last year and it was great. You get a bedroom, living room and kitchen and sleeps 6. A villa would work out cheaper but then you would need a car. If you can go when free dining is on this can help a lot. Next year we are staying at the beach club resort and got free dining. For the 5 of us we are paying about £6500, this is for all flights, accomodation, and tickets and the free dining. We are going in october. I would imagine february would be cheaper but not sure if they do free dining then.

Have fun planning