Options for going to Disney world

[mrsannb]

We are trying to decide what to do about a Disney vacation.
Some background info:
I am 15 weeks pregnant now, and ds is 5 and dd is 3. Her birthday is May 10. Baby is due in January. DH and I have been to DW 3 times. DS has been twice but doesn't remember. DD has never been. Airfare to Orlando will be about $950. Driving would take about 20 hours. Not really something we want to do. I'm trying to fit everything in for $2500, including food.

Here's the options I see:
1-Go this fall and stay at a value resort. We don't really like the value resorts, mainly because we had such a big problem getting bus transportation. Never had that problem with POR.
2-Go in May before dd's birthday, be able to stay at a disney vacation club resort (rent points). It'd be the same price with 3 kids at that time, before dd turns 3. But we'd have to keep track of 3 kids.
3-Go this fall and stay off-site, hopefully using some marriot points. We'd have to rent a car, and we like the convenience of staying on site.
4-Go this fall and pay the extra money to stay at a moderate resort. (that would be up to dh)
5-Just forget about it.
6-drive down there and use the money we would have spent on airfare to get a better room.


I really, really want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. $$$$ Ching ching $$$$

ETA: our plan is to stay for 5 nights.

 

[eliza61]

My vote would be for option #2 or # 6.

#1 I don't stay where I know I will not be happy. We tried that and our entire vacation we were wishing we were some place else. We will wait and save the money to get what we want.
#3 With little ones, IMO staying on site is the way to go. It is simply easier and more convenient.
#4 Don't make it more stressfull on Dh. If you guys can happily swing it no problem
#5 Bite your tongue

If you really, really want to stay at the AK- Can you start a slush fund for it. Cut out a few extras and save it? May take a little longer but AK is a great resort.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Hi
I would go in the fall. It's nice weather, crowds are low, and you won't be uncomfortably pregnant. Personally, I think it would be a lot of work to keep track of three kids plus have to nurse/feed a newborn. But I'm a mom of one...I think that anything with more than one would be overwhelming We have stayed at POP 3 times and have never had a problem with the buses but if you're not happy with a value than it might ruin your trip. I don't remember if you mentioned where you live but how much is the gas going to cost to drive to Florida and back. The airfare might be a better option!

 

[Minnie824]

I vote for driving in the fall. Personally, I think it would be a lot easier to go while pregnant than with an infant. We drove down twice, and ours was a 19 hour drive...kids did fine. 1st time they were 4yo and 19mos. 2nd time they were 5yo and 2.5yo. We left at 2am, stopped for meals and breaks, watched movies along the way, no problems. That would be my suggestion, and then see what the best room is you can afford at that point.

 

[mrsannb]

Well maybe we should give Pop Century a try. We did All Stars last time. What is the capacity of Pop Century compared to All Stars? Anyone know?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I'm not sure about the number of rooms but POP is larger than the All-Stars. Plus it does not share buses with other resorts (which All-Stars does)

 

[mrsannb]

Did you try to get a bus to Pop after Fantasmic or one of the other late shows? I'd be willing to give it a try if there were a bunch of people saying yes, the bus service to/from Pop is tons better than All stars.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Yup, we've done all of the late night shows. The longest we had to wait was 15 minutes for a bus after Illuminations. They had two buses waiting but we didn't walk out fast enough...we saw both pulling away just as we were getting out there. So we had to wait 15 minutes for another bus to show up. Again, this is in September when the crowds are really low to begin with. We've never found the hotel to be packed at that time and have always gotten our room requests at POP. We are only changing over to AKL since it's our 5th anniv. this year and decided to splurge.

 

[Atchley]

If you really don't want to stay at a value, I wouldn't settle. With three small children, the buses would be even worse. (Bus transportation is why we will never stay at a value again.) I would drive down and spend the extra money on the resort or rent the vacation points.
We never fly. It is about a 16 hour drive, but for what it costs for one plane ticket, I can drive my family of four. Then I have more money to spend on the resorts and souvineers.

 

[Nanu57v]

Have you stayed at Pop? I hated the All Stars but LOVED Pop. I actually contemplated staying at Pop anyway after DH said we could do Poly this year because I liked Pop so much!

I'd try and go this fall if you could...I'm sure you remember how hard things are with a new baby and nursing/bottles, plus crowds are less in the fall.

 

[Kat77]

1-Go this fall and stay at a value resort. We don't really like the value resorts, mainly because we had such a big problem getting bus transportation. Never had that problem with POR.
3-Go this fall and stay off-site, hopefully using some marriot points. We'd have to rent a car, and we like the convenience of staying on site.
4-Go this fall and pay the extra money to stay at a moderate resort. (that would be up to dh)

Go this fall is a recurring theme here possibly a wishful thought showing through.... I vote Fall! The weather will be easier and crowds are less. You could use taxi service if you find the busses are too cramped- abt. $12. Children think the values are the greatest! Mine questioned why we did not stay at 'fancy' Pop Century but boring POR Hubby wants a monorail resort next trip but I really think the kids should get to experience a value while it is fun for them and so much cheaper for us (we reserve two rooms!). I foresee my own personal Disney war.

5-Just forget about it.

Must be the preg hormones cause that is the craziest thing I ever heard in my life!

6-drive down there and use the money we would have spent on airfare to get a better room. Airfare to Orlando will be about $950. Driving would take about 20 hours. Not really something we want to do.

20 hrs would be a two day drive? Not something I would do with little ones (or ever- we fly instate!). And you can fly Southwest cheaper than you can rent a motel room for one night. Unless you are flying in from Canada you should be able to find better than $240 r/t! Where are you located?

I really, really want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. $$$$ Ching ching $$$$

Maybe you could save that for the next trip to Disney? The new baby will NEED to see the world someday. Start your next DW fund as soon as he is born and by the time he is ready to meet Mickey (three?) you will be all set for AK!

 

[mrsannb]

We'd be flying from St. Louis. Cheaper airfare comes up, but not for dates and times we'd actually be flying. Southwest was even more, like $178 one way per person.

I'm questioning wether I really want to do all that walking. It's a TON of walking to begin with, but being 25-30 weeks pregnant, after walking around Wal-Mart tongiht, I'm wondering if I could handle even 1 day of the parks! Too bad I'll be too pregnant for a cruise.

 

[MandM-Mom]

I don't know about your dr. but when I was pregnant they were not crazy at me driving long distances in the car, I was suppose to stop and walk around every couple of hours, that could make for a really long trip with little ones. I also think fall is great time of year to go.

 

[Nanu57v]

We'd be flying from St. Louis. Cheaper airfare comes up, but not for dates and times we'd actually be flying. Southwest was even more, like $178 one way per person.

I'm questioning wether I really want to do all that walking. It's a TON of walking to begin with, but being 25-30 weeks pregnant, after walking around Wal-Mart tongiht, I'm wondering if I could handle even 1 day of the parks! Too bad I'll be too pregnant for a cruise.

You have to download DING from southwest to get their good fares...from philly last year we got $39 each way!

 

[Doc CW]

I would do options 2 and 6 they seem to be the best.