Onsite Hotel for Family of 5?

[meohmy]

Okay, going to sound harsh, but here's what I'd suggest. Don't do it!!!! You're only a month out, have done absolutely no research, don't know the parks, have no FPs booked, no ADRs, and you're going at the absolute busiest time of the year. Just sounds like a recipe for disaster to me! You don't want your first visit to be a bad one. Disney is overwhelming--even to veterans sometimes. There's a lot of planning and research to do to really make it a wonderful trip.

Could you plan for another time--next spring or summer or even a year from now at Christmas? I just really feel you may be setting you and your family up for failure by trying to do a last minute trip without really knowing much about Disney at all. You probably won't get to eat at the restaurants you want, may not get to ride many rides without waiting hours in line.

Take a breath, do some research, plan ahead--Disney will still be there and you'll have a great trip!

 

[meohmy]

You do not sound harsh, but mean and condescending.
The OP asked for advice, not to be judged as incompetent.
Everyone is overwhelmed by their first visit to Disney and I believe the OP realises that they will not do everything but wishes advice on how to make their trip a magical introduction to Disney World for their children.

OP, please ignore the mean hearted know all's and continue with your plan for your vacation. It will be magical.

 

[sullyfam]

Two big things: stay onsite and stay at Disney the whole time! For your first trip and especially at Christmas time, that is what I would recommend. Next advice: call Disney right away and let them guide you through everything. Don't try to do it yourself. Way too overwhelming and time is too short.

You've already gotten some suggestions here on the hotels onsite that accommodate a family of 5. Let Disney tell you which one has availability. Book a package and do park hoppers (I would skip the water parks). Have them check dining availability. If you can get at least one reservation that you want per day of your trip, it could be worth doing the dining plan. You can also spend as much time as you want/can on the Disney dining website checking availability afterwards. Things become available all the time.

Our first trip bringing our kids was planned last minute and it honestly was my favorite one! It can be done, you will just need to be flexible about expectations and also, have some time between now and then to do some serious crash course research and planning. Make a daily itinerary for which park you plan to visit, which dining reservations you have/want and go from there looking into fast passes etc. And definitely take advantage of extra magic hours!

Yes, a lot of people plan a year (or more) in advance for their Disney trips but that doesn't mean you can't plan a trip last minute and not have fun! Have a magical vacation

 

[mjkacmom]

You do not sound harsh, but mean and condescending.
The OP asked for advice, not to be judged as incompetent.
Everyone is overwhelmed by their first visit to Disney and I believe the OP realises that they will do do everything but wishes advice on how to make their trip a magical introduction to Disney World for their children.

OP, please ignore the mean hearted know all's and continue with your plan for your vacation. It will be magical.

I don't think that post was harsh, I think it was realistic. Disney is expensive, and many, if not most, people don't realize how big it is, how crowded it is, or how much planning can be done. Any many people end up having a disappointing experience, just because they didn't know.

Years ago, we decided to take our kids apple picking, right after church on a Sunday, on a beautiful fall day. It took us 2 hours to get there (25 miles), and 2 hours to get home, and it was packed. I vowed to never go apple picking again, because it was a miserable experience. Obviously, we made some rookie mistakes. I know many families who go every year. I'm guessing they go at a different day and time, and have a different experience.

I'm a practical person. If I'm going to shell out thousands of dollars for an experience, I'm going to do my best to make it the best experience it can be. Who knows if the OP has the funds to go back again?

 

[siskaren]

I don't think that post was harsh, I think it was realistic. Disney is expensive, and many, if not most, people don't realize how big it is, how crowded it is, or how much planning can be done. Any many people end up having a disappointing experience, just because they didn't know.

Not to mention the fact that the OP wants to go at the busiest time of year, and doesn't even have a hotel reservation yet. I will concede that I planned my first trip only six weeks in advance, but I went in September and this was years before FP+ (or even FP, for that matter).

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

You do not sound harsh, but mean and condescending.
The OP asked for advice, not to be judged as incompetent.
Everyone is overwhelmed by their first visit to Disney and I believe the OP realises that they will not do everything but wishes advice on how to make their trip a magical introduction to Disney World for their children.

OP, please ignore the mean hearted know all's and continue with your plan for your vacation. It will be magical.

If it's mean and condescending to try to stop someone from spending thousands on a vacation that may very well turn out to be a disaster, then call me mean and condescending. The people who are saying it can be done, have been before. They know something about what's involved. The OP obviously had not done any research at all. Not a bad thing. Just a fact. And a fact that could lead to a miserable trip and lots of wasted money. I'm just being realistic. But call it what you want.

 

[meohmy]

If it's mean and condescending to try to stop someone from spending thousands on a vacation that may very well turn out to be a disaster, then call me mean and condescending. The people who are saying it can be done, have been before. They know something about what's involved. The OP obviously had not done any research at all. Not a bad thing. Just a fact. And a fact that could lead to a miserable trip and lots of wasted money. I'm just being realistic. But call it what you want.

 

[meohmy]

I believe I did.

 

[Julylady]

Okay, going to sound harsh, but here's what I'd suggest. Don't do it!!!! You're only a month out, have done absolutely no research, don't know the parks, have no FPs booked, no ADRs, and you're going at the absolute busiest time of the year. Just sounds like a recipe for disaster to me! You don't want your first visit to be a bad one. Disney is overwhelming--even to veterans sometimes. There's a lot of planning and research to do to really make it a wonderful trip.

Could you plan for another time--next spring or summer or even a year from now at Christmas? I just really feel you may be setting you and your family up for failure by trying to do a last minute trip without really knowing much about Disney at all. You probably won't get to eat at the restaurants you want, may not get to ride many rides without waiting hours in line.

Take a breath, do some research, plan ahead--Disney will still be there and you'll have a great trip!

You do not sound harsh, but mean and condescending.
The OP asked for advice, not to be judged as incompetent.
Everyone is overwhelmed by their first visit to Disney and I believe the OP realises that they will not do everything but wishes advice on how to make their trip a magical introduction to Disney World for their children.

OP, please ignore the mean hearted know all's and continue with your plan for your vacation. It will be magical.

I don't think this advice was "mean and condescending" at all! Go back and read the OPs first post. She wants to stay on property and purchase the dining plan. She admits herself that she is not a frequent traveler and doesn't know too much about Disney. This is a recipe for disaster. These are the people who come back saying they hate Disney and are never ever going back. I am hoping the OPs first experience is a great one for her family and postponing the trip and doing more research first will increase the likelihood that it will be magical. Hopefully by now she has done more research and has made the decision as to go or no go this December. Either way, Mom2Aidanand Eli provided sound advice. I have been to WDW at least 25 times. If someone offered me an all expenses paid trip over Christmas of THIS year, I would decline it. I know how much preplanning a trip over the holidays takes and their just isn't enough time left.

 

[jacknsally19]

As long as you aren't going in to your stay at WDW with the mindset that you have certain meals to do and must ride activities, you can have a fun time on short notice. I would strongly suggest using a DISNEY specialized travel agent to book your hotel stay. If there are any last minute deals, the agent should be able to help you. They can also assist with dining reservations and fastpasses. Your hotel choice is really going to depend on your budget and again that is something a travel agent can really help you. I have used both Dreams Unlimited and Mouse Fan travel for disney vacations. This is probably the most important tip I can share. I would also echo my fellow posters and suggest Disney first, Kennedy space center / beach second. My other suggestion would be do Universal instead of Disney. Universal is a great time and onsite resorts are beautiful. The only negative is that there are a lot of thrill rides that the whole family can't enjoy.

I'd also suggest asking each member what their number one priority is for Disney and make your decisions based on it. It may make sense for you just to visit 2 of the 4 parks based on family interests. Good luck and continue to ask questions as they arise.

 

[maxiesmom]

Since when has being honest become being mean and condescending? I'm guessing the OP came here looking for advice. And postponing a trip that many people plan months and months out is valid advice. Hopefully if the OP truly wants to make this last minute trip (and I wouldn't blame them at all!) then they are ready to buckle down and get planning. Showing up during Christmas with no ADRs and no FPs is not a good game plan. Well, maybe for some of us who have been lots it would be ok, but for first timers who really want to see it all, it is not.

 

[meohmy]

It becomes mean and condescending when "Don't do it' is followed by multiple exclamation marks to denote the OP's folly, quickly followed by a list of things they have failed to do.

It has always been my understanding that these boards are here to share your knowledge with others or to gain knowledge from others.

I did not believe it was for people to be told if their vacation plans were acceptable to the masses or to those who had been to Disney X times.

If a member of these boards truly believes that someone is making an enormous error in their vacation plans, there are nicer ways to inform them than to list their perceived failings.

My post was about manners.

If the OP is honest enough to say they have very little knowledge of their desired destination, but have booked flights, please, advise them of the best way to achieve that dream, especially when they say they are not expecting to see and do everything.

Share a little knowledge and help this family have a wonderful vacation.

 

[mjkacmom]

It becomes mean and condescending when "Don't do it' is followed by multiple exclamation marks to denote the OP's folly, quickly followed by a list of things they have failed to do.

It has always been my understanding that these boards are here to share your knowledge with others or to gain knowledge from others.

I did not believe it was for people to be told if their vacation plans were acceptable to the masses or to those who had been to Disney X times.

If a member of these boards truly believes that someone is making an enormous error in their vacation plans, there are nicer ways to inform them than to list their perceived failings.

My post was about manners.

If the OP is honest enough to say they have very little knowledge of their desired destination, but have booked flights, please, advise them of the best way to achieve that dream, especially when they say they are not expecting to see and do everything.

Share a little knowledge and help this family have a wonderful vacation.

You are a little bossy for someone with such a low post count... Seriously, chill. People here try to be helpful, and telling someone who is heading to WDW at the busiest time of the year, with little planning done, that their vacation will of course be magical, is not good advice. You put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. The OP did not imply that she knew this was a super busy time, or that this was the only time they could go.

My opinion (which I have the right to have and share), is that, if possible, maybe this trip could be postponed.

 

[maxiesmom]

Unfortunately the thing is that many of the things the OP lists as her family wanting to do will be all but impossible to accomplish at this late date. No one has said what she wants to do is unacceptable, but may out of the realm of possibility when the trip is so close and over the holiday.

The OP will need lots of luck to book any character meals. And to grab any but the bottom of the barrel fast passes. Maybe her family will be fine with that, maybe they would rather wait and go when they will be able to schedule everything they want. Hopefully if they are going next month the OP has been on it, and checking for FPs and ADRs multiple times a day. Because that is what it is going to take at this late date. Telling someone they may be better of rescheduling is not being mean. It is being truthful.

The only post I think has been mean and condescending has been yours.

 

[DisneyOma]

You do not sound harsh, but mean and condescending.
The OP asked for advice, not to be judged as incompetent.
Everyone is overwhelmed by their first visit to Disney and I believe the OP realises that they will not do everything but wishes advice on how to make their trip a magical introduction to Disney World for their children.

OP, please ignore the mean hearted know all's and continue with your plan for your vacation. It will be magical.

If it's mean and condescending to try to stop someone from spending thousands on a vacation that may very well turn out to be a disaster, then call me mean and condescending. The people who are saying it can be done, have been before. They know something about what's involved. The OP obviously had not done any research at all. Not a bad thing. Just a fact. And a fact that could lead to a miserable trip and lots of wasted money. I'm just being realistic. But call it what you want.

I was going to suggest postponing the trip or picking a less crowded time to go as well. This is the one time of the year (Christmas break) that WDW most often sees park closures due to crowds. Four days at the parks, with level 10 crowds, FP+ not booked, ADRs not booked, premium costs for any resort/hotel/house, doesn't sound like a lot of a chance for magic. It's really going to be about waiting in 90-180 minute lines, riding 3-4 attractions a day, and battling crowds at the counter service restaurants.

 

[meohmy]

My family stayed off site and went to Disney the week between Christmas and New Year a few years ago with no ADRs booked and did indeed have a magical time. We were fortunate to be able to book some ADR's on the day, including one for Cinderella's Royal Table. We went with the plan that we would enjoy the parks and go on any ride which was available. The only problem we had was the drive to and from the parks, it was horrific.

I have looked at the dining avaIlability for the OP's dates and there are still some character meals she could book, Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, Mckeys Backyad BBQ and a late booking for the Crystal Palace. Hoop Dee doo, T Rex and Rainforest also have avaIlability so there are lots of restaurants with child appeal the OP could consider.

I list the above just to show there is the opportunity to book meals over this busy period, although the Magic Kingdom did not seem to have avaIlability for five.

I hope the OP will find some of the posts on this thread helpful and I do hope her family has a wonderful Disney vacation, whenever and for how long the they decided.

I do have one question for my fellow board members, how many times do you have to post before you are not thought as bossy?

 

[maxiesmom]

[QUOTE="meohmy, post: 54757330, member: 524415"

I do have one question for my fellow board members, how many times do you have to post before you are not thought as bossy?[/QUOTE]

You are up to 7. Way more than anyone else.

 

[meohmy]

[QUOTE="meohmy, post: 54757330, member: 524415"

I do have one question for my fellow board members, how many times do you have to post before you are not thought as bossy?

You are up to 7. Way more than anyone else.[/QUOTE]



Thank you.
Informative as always

 

[Gracie09]

From your previous posts, you have stayed from two to three weeks for your visits. So it's much easier to catch a good reservation when you have 21 days to check for it. The op is going for four days.

It becomes mean and condescending when "Don't do it' is followed by multiple exclamation marks to denote the OP's folly, quickly followed by a list of things they have failed to do.

It has always been my understanding that these boards are here to share your knowledge with others or to gain knowledge from others.

I did not believe it was for people to be told if their vacation plans were acceptable to the masses or to those who had been to Disney X times.

If a member of these boards truly believes that someone is making an enormous error in their vacation plans, there are nicer ways to inform them than to list their perceived failings.

My post was about manners.

If the OP is honest enough to say they have very little knowledge of their desired destination, but have booked flights, please, advise them of the best way to achieve that dream, especially when they say they are not expecting to see and do everything.

Share a little knowledge and help this family have a wonderful vacation.

 

[kohlby]

Not doing the dining plan will make it easier with planning this close. So, that's one recommendation I have. As for 5 people, again, we love the Dolphin.

As for going during the busiest time without any planning, I've been there. I never used to plan for our Disney trips past booking the hotel. I used to teach public school so we would go over Christmas break, often starting our trip on Dec 26th. The parks don't allow any more people in if there are too many in the park - that happened several times. (We went 3 years in a row over Christmas break without any planning). So, be careful about park hopping. That was in the days before doing the fast passes before entering the park. Learn how to sign up for fast pass before you get there and do that. Though you likely won't get everything you want, you'll be able to get something and that will help you. Plan to get to the parks at rope drop every day. The crowds get bad fast - but not everyone is there at the very start. Tour smart. This means become familiar with the attractions - know what your kids really want to try to do, height limits, if it's an attraction that you should get a fast pass for and/or if it's an attraction you want to hit first thing at rope drop. We had a blast every time we went over Christmas break and did a lot. We never looked in a single book or online for tips. (Though I suggest you do - the Unofficial Guide to Disney is a great one for a first timer). We were flexible but also had an initial plan of attack at each park.

As for Universal, you're in luck if you don't want to plan much at all. Stay onsite and you'll get express pass included for three of the hotels and the early extra hour. We usually stay at Royal Pacific Resort. If that's too pricey, then Cabana Bay will get you the extra hour in the morning but not the express pass.

Also - I realize this doesn't help you for December, but I came across Elite Airways when looking for flights for my nephews who live in Maine. Elite Airways is starting direct flights from Portland, ME to Melbourne, FL. Melbourne is just over an hour from Disney and about an hour from Kennedy Space Center. I had never heard of Elite Airways so I thought I'd pass this info along to you! They usually only fly on Mondays and Fridays for that route, but have some Saturdays in April during spring break. And if your spring break is the same as my nephews' - in mid-April - then the crowds will be MUCH more manageable. So, if you do decide to hold off on going, consider spring break this year. (Spring break is not the best time to go when it's near Easter, but it isn't this year. That might be an issue in 2017).