Newbie here and wanted to say hello

[mofi's mum]

Hello to all of you, I am new on here but have been browsing for a few days now. I am Claire, am 26 and married to Tim. We have 3 children, Molly 5, Phoebe 3 and Jack 1. We live in Wallington, Surrey. We are planning our trip for Dec 07.

You all seem to know Disney very well and I wondered if you might be able to help me with a few questions I have about the trip my family and I are planning. Apologies in advance if any of these questions are on the wrong board!

Firstly, its our first trip out there. We are most probably going to be staying in the All star movie resorts hotel, how easy is it if you don't drive to get to and from other attractions and theme parks, eg universal and seaworld? Do you normally get cabs? Or are buses easily available? If cabs, are they expensive? Would a cab be able to carry all of us-there are 2 a and 2 c plus a baby?
Sorry there are so many questions, I will probably have loads more soon! Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot
Claire

 

[lizbro]

Hi Claire
I`m a relative newbie too and never been to WDW so i can`t answer any questions but i thought i`d say hi and you`re in the right place ,if any one can help you they can here and are also the friendliest bunch!!
liz

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Hi Claire,

Welcome to the boards

I think probably a cab is going to be your best bet - especially with 3 young kids and, I presume, a double buggy. We have always driven but it is quite a distance from Disney to Universal - which would be costly by cab. The last cab we took was only a 2 mile journey and cost $7 + tip.

Is it that you don't want to drive (ie scary on the other side of the road) as it would really make life easier if you have a car. I drove for the first time on our last trip (normally just leave it to DH ) but it is no problem at all everything is well sign posted. They also offer sat nav in the rental cars but I haven't tried that yet.

This is sure the place to ask all the questions - sorry I can't help with the buses but some else is bound to be able to shed some light on that.

Happy planning,

Tracey

 

[mofi's mum]

hi thanks tracy and liz. I have to admit I am terrified of the thought of driving over there, hubby doesn't drive either. I have never driven abroad and it all looks so confusing. I suppose its something we might have to consider though, I don't want to spend loads of money on getting to and from places. Yes, we'll have a double buggy and prob loads of rubbish to cart around everywhere! Buses don't seem quite so appealing now!

Thanks
Claire

 

[mofi's mum]

Sp: Sorry I mean Tracey

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Don't worry - we'll not fall out over a spelling mistake

Do think seriously about driving - I really think it is going to be the practical option. My kids are now 11 and 6 so we don't have to bring the kitchen sink but I remember those days.

Also helps if you want to go shopping or try one of the local restaurants off site - some of which are really good value compared to onsite.

Tracey

 

[angel659]

Welcome pop over to the community board we are a friendly bunch.

First of all ASMo lovely resort. We have stayed there twice.

Transportation:

If you have booked a hotel to stay at ASMo then you can use the Magical Express coach. Its disneys own transportation from Orlando Int Airport its free. All you need to book it is to call Disney uk.

Cabs are expensive and I would recommend using Mears transportation. Ok you have to load your buggy onto the coach which will be the same as Disneys coaches. However using Mears transportation service to SW or Us then it would be longer and would include stops. If you can hang in there it will save you a lot of money. This is coming from a family who took a 5 year old and twin boys of 23 months. Basically my dh would supervise the kids, while I collpased the buggy and held onto it on the disney buses and coaches have a holding area. We only hire a car for 2 days just to do some shopping really and the beach. Otherwise its a waste of money for a car to sit in a car lot all day.

BTW driving is so much easier than driving over here no roundabout nonsense and you can do u turns practically anywhere.

 

[jen_uk]

Hello!

The Disney transportation is great (and All Stars are brilliant hotels) so if you are nervous about driving then I wouldnt bother hiring a car. To get Universal etc as Michelle said Mears are good and do not cost too much.

 

[wayneg]

Welcome Claire
Can't advise on transport as we always get a car, there are so many things you miss out on without a car. It is the easiest place in the world to drive. I won't drive in Europe again, Tenerife terriffied me but driving over there is simple, I find it hard to come home and drive here. If you think you could try drive there plz do it is worth it.
Your choice of Hotel, maybe with it being your first time you will enjoy on site. Personally after 14 visits I think they are small and overpriced rooms. but others on here disagree with me and prefer onsite. I much prefer somewhere like Courtyard by Marriott LBV just 2 mins drive to Downtown Disney, usually pay £25/night incl wireless internet in room. 5 of you in Allstars will be a little tight in my opinion.
When you going in Dec, will you be there over Xmas or back home for Xmas day?
Ask lots of questions thats what we are here for.
Welcome again
Wayne

 

[mofi's mum]

Hi thanks for all the replies.

We are planning to be there for Christmas and New Year, its my husbands 30th so we wanted to do something a bit special which is why I have been planning this for a while now.

Wayne, would that £25 per night be per person or room? We would like to stay onsite but we are quite flexi but are a bit wary about booking offsite as we have absolutely no concept of how far away some of the hotels are from Disney, etc-for example some on International Drive and other areas such as Kissimmee. I've looked at maps but like I said, I really have no idea in real life these places are from each other!!

claire

 

[Girlsontour]

Hi Tracey. We have never had a car (thought it would cause just too many arguments!! ) The first year, when we stayed on IDrive, it cost us about $400 for the 2 weeks on cabs. When we "progressed "to staying on-site we found it so much easier for transport. We split the holidays between Disney and a Universal Hotel so that the cab fares don't cost us that much - we only do Seaworld when we are at the Universal Hotel and that costs about $40 return. I have just booked a cab from CSR to Discovery Cove and that has cost $55 return. The Disney transport is first class from the resorts to the parks. Hope this is of some help to you.

 

[paulh]

if staying ofsite you would knead a car.WDW is 42 square miles in size a lot of people dont reilize this.Your choice os all star movies is a good one.For first timmers the room is to sleep in so dont wory about the size, hay we have been going for 16 years and they are big enougth.Would say stick to disney as you will be there at christmas and honest it wont be your last visit so you can do the rest next time you visit.
As for driving its easy if you want too but you can book returns with mears,check with frount desk or bell services.Most of all have fun and enjoy it
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Yes it costs us £25/ per room, but over Xmas period would probably be more, all hotels are.
You have picked the worst time to go to Disney regarding crowds, line for everything are ridiculous, upto 2 hours for popular rides, you need to work fast pass system well. Saying that you have picked the most magical time to go, I complain every time we go at Xmas but we still go back again, the place is fantastic.
Everyone has different views on where to stay, we did not like ASM. we also don't like Villas. You have to find the best option you think will suit you, then your next visit(There will be many) try a different option.

 

[Trinad]

Hi Tracey, We stayed at all star movies four years ago and took a cab from reception to Universal at a cost of $30.00.

 

[jen_uk]

I would definately stick to onsite for your first visit, the Disney transport is great, very quick and easy and ASMo is a great hotel, the theming is fab and you are in the heart of it all. Being so close means that it is easy to pop back to hotel for swim or sleep, if I was offsite I know that I could not be bothered to drive back and forth. Over Christmas it is very busy and on some days the parks will close their doors, if you are onsite generally you will get in whereas if you are offsite you may not.

 

[wayneg]

I would definately stick to onsite for your first visit, the Disney transport is great, very quick and easy and ASMo is a great hotel, the theming is fab and you are in the heart of it all. Being so close means that it is easy to pop back to hotel for swim or sleep, if I was offsite I know that I could not be bothered to drive back and forth. Over Christmas it is very busy and on some days the parks will close their doors, if you are onsite generally you will get in whereas if you are offsite you may not.

This is what I mean about different views on hotels. We stayed at ASM at Xmas, it was packed, used Disney buses for 1 day we were like cattle, they were packed, with very rude people, no consideration for elderly or people with children. Glad we had car rest of holiday.
It is a good point about closing the gates to offsite guests, we always get there for opening so does not matter but if you like to go in later Xmas thru New year they can fill to capacity.
Another option is to do 2 hotels, I know it means moving but its an option to look at.

 

[mumloveseeyore]

not an expert but can only say welcome we have always stayed onsite and have had pretty good expeiences of disney transportation, have always used mears to get to universal wthout to much trouble. hope this helps . have also found booking your own airport tranasfers to be cheaper and quicker than the tour opertators aiport transfers. thanks gill

 

[natalielongstaff]

welcome to the boards i prefer to stay onsite, to me it just seems more magical.

 

[UKDEB]

Hi, Claire, and welcome to the DIS

As Wayne says, the Christmas/New Year period is the busiest of all - crazily busy, in fact. For that reason, I think you're sensible to choose to stay onsite. The lines for the buses will also be very long and there's a good chance you won't get on the first bus, especially staying at ASMo, where I understand they don't have separate buses for the 3 resorts there. Maybe I've got that wrong, or maybe it's different at busy times. No doubt someone will put me right if that's the case!

I would suggest giving the buses a go for the first few days and seeing how you get on - you can always rent a car, actually onsite at Disney, once you're there. If you're anything like me, though, you'd probably just stick with the situation. I've been 15 times and I still like to have arrangements like that sorted out in advance.

If I was choosing a value resort, I would go for Pop Century over All Stars. It's newer and, in theory at least, you shouldn't get the problem with the buses that are often reported by those staying at the All Star resorts. Both are quite a distance from the parks, though, so your only transport options are bus or taxi (you'd be looking at around $15, including tip, each way from resort to park, but that would be my choice during the Christmas period). You could consider the Swan or Dolphin which are both situated between Epcot and MGM (along with Disney's BoardWalk and Yacht & Beach Clubs). There are some incredible deals to be had, particularly through Dreams Unlimited (the DIS Travel Agency). There is boat transportation to both parks, which is much easier with kids and buggies than buses, and you can also walk, albeit MGM would be a bit of a trek with little ones. You'd still have to get the bus or taxis to MK and AK. However, although they're onsite, they're not owned by Disney, and, whilst they're very nice hotels, some people miss the Disney touches. I guess that could be an issue for you with young children.

I can't imagine being in Orlando without a car, but that's easy for me to say because dh does all the driving! There are plenty of people who not only manage without, but prefer it.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Hi Clare, welcome to the DIS! We are not far from you, just over the other side of Croydon in Beckenham.
I bet you're really blown away now with all the comments and opinions, that's what I love about this place!
We are going with our little uns and my mum in 26 days and our trip has been booked since July06. We are staying off site on south idrive and up until yesterday we were going as non drivers! We sat down and did our sums and worked out that we would probably spend near to 700usd on cabs in 14 days inc. airports transfers. Obviously we are staying off site and your costs wouldn't be nearly that much. This included a few park breaks (ive been told that's essential with little uns) during the day.
This also took into account the free shuttle we were going to use to get TO the parks in the morning. So you can see how quickly you rack up a taxi bill.
I'm a pretty confident driver but I am a bit nervous about driving out there, esp with my children in the car and after a long flight.
Wayneg suggested a cheap agent for dollar car hire and I went with them, maybe you should consider a car even for just a few days.
Enjoy your planning, I have learnt so much on here! Ask lots of questions.
ta ta.