Overwhelmed mom planning trip for Oct/Nov '04

[momloveson]

I've been reading the posts here and you all seem like an awesome group of people. Here's my story.

I'm an OVERWHELMED mom trying to plan a trip to WDW anytime between October 25 and Dec 1 of this year. (DH's boss is giving us flexibility). Husband, our 4 year old boy, and me. Would like 5 of those days in Disney. I have a chronic illiness, so I know I won't have the energy to see everything. I'm thinking we could maybe see 3 parks in the 5 days. Also, we want to plan the trip so that the parks aren't packed to the gills when we go. I have a very difficult time standing in line. (my neighbor did tell me though that if I use a wheelchair it woud make it easier.) So far I've learned that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are must sees having a preschooler.

We're driving (from Michigan) and its my husband, me, and our 4 year old son. I have handicap car priveledges, but I do not plan on using our car once we get there, and hope to be able to use Disney transportation to get around.

We want a nice place. A kid friendly pool (Can we expect to swim in Oct/Nov?). I need a comfortable bed and having a fridge in the room would be awesome for snacks. I've been researching the All-Stars value resorts, but will they be too loud at night? Will I come away thinking it was a tacky place?

I really want to stay on the grounds because everyone has told me its so much easier. Because of my illness, I anticipate having to go back to our room to rest a couple of times a day. I don't want hours of driving to spoil my 4 year old's MAGIC!

I want a nice place, but I don't want to get taken to the cleaners. I've looked at sites like PriceLine, but I'm rather nervous about what hotel (Resort) would accept our bid. We don't need the Grand Floridian! (granted, that would be awesome, but we definately CANT afford that).

Including taxes and fees I've got about $100/night for a place, and if it is someplace that has extra priveledges (like disney transportation or extra magic hours or even lots of kid friendly stuff to do) we could probably go up to $140/night including taxes and fees.

Anyone interested in pointing me in some directions to get this up and rolling. I've thought of going to a Disney specialist travel agent...but I've really got to try to spend wisely on this trip. I'm a bargain shopper, but I do like quality. This will probably be our only vacation for the next 5 or so years and I want my son to have a ball.

I'm very overwhelmed with the overload of information. Can someone help me?

 

[nkjzmom]

I am definitely no expert but I'll do my best! My first instinct would be to check out the wings of the Contemporary Resort. They are probably more than $140/night but they are just a short walk from the tower where you can hop right onto the monorail for the Magic Kingdom. You will probably spend the majority of your time there and it is wonderful to be so close when you do need a rest.

After that I would look into a moderate hotel...I believe some of them have really neat pools. I think that the All Stars would be very nice...we are staying there for the first time in November.

Does your son like Playhouse Disney? If so, you really don't want to miss that show at MGM.

Good wishes for your trip!!

 

[MECH8T7]

...or contact a Disney specialist Travel Agent, like Dreams Unlimited. (CRO is the Disney Central Reservation Office. You should be able to find a toll free number on several posts on these boards).

There are definite advantages to staying on site.

Disney has a few promotions on right now and I'm not sure about the pricing for the dates that you have in mind but you might be able to get a room at one the Disney moderate resorts (e.g., Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter) easily within your price range and you might not be even that far away from the price for a room at one of the deluxe resorts. These promotions have been going on for a few weeks now, so availability might be limited (or exhausted) and you might have to be flexible. If you cannot get any discounts, Disney's value priced resorts are in your price range (e.g., All Stars, Pop Century). Pop Century is almost a brand new resort and you will see from all the posts that people are pretty pleased with their experiences their.

Anyways, if you think you want to stay on Disney property, you should start making some phone calls right away. One of their promotions requires you to book your stay by October 10 (Sunday).

If you want some quick info in a more structured manner than these boards, go to www.allearsnet.com. For details on discounts, go to www.mousesavers.com. But, as I said, try to figure out where you think you might want to stay right away and then try to book your rooms by the Sunday deadline! Even if you change your mind, if you book through CRO, your deposit (one nights stay) is refundable until about a week before the stay.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[SB in KY]

You have plenty of on-site options open to you in your price range. You could book any value resort and probably a moderate resort. One advantage of staying on-site, is when you make your room reservation you can request a first floor room and a wheelchair. They will provide one to you at no cost for the length of your stay and it is much more convienent than renting one each day at the parks because it can be quite a hike from the bus stops to park entrances. And it can be a lot of walking just around the resort. You can just fold the WC and walk onto the bus, and then ride after getting off the bus.

Another advantage of a WC is if your son gets tired of walking he can always hop in your lap and ride for a while.

I think one of the best weeks of the year to go is the week before Thanksgiving week (this year the week beginning 11/14). Crowds are very low, weather is usually delightful and the Christmas decorations are going up. A week in early Dec. would also be nice.

If you hurry and book a room you may be able to get an excellent discount (many codes must be booked by 10/10...). The value resorts (All-Stars and Pop Century) are very nicely themed and while fairly basic they are a lot of fun (be sure to request a room near a bus stop). The moderates are some nicer...the rooms are very well designed for families (rates at the moderates including tax with codes range from $88 to $95/night if you can get booked by 10/10).

All of the resorts have very nicely themed pools that would be entertaining for your son, all are heated. Weather will most likely permit swimming during your visit.

Given your situation I would STRONGLY suggest that you NOT try to use Priceline for this visit. I love Priceline and use it often for many purposes, but they do NOT book at onsite hotels and you will really need to be onsite to use the bus service, get back to the room easily, etc.

 

[Kimberle]

Hi,
Welcome to the DIS!! Planning your first trip can be overwhelming.

I'd recommend copying your post and reposting it on the DISabilities brd. They will be a wonderful help to you.

Asside from the DVC's, resorts come in 3 "flavors", value, moderate, and deluxe. Values have the fewest ammenities (like sit down resturants), they have fun pools, but no slides. Moderates can be very large and spread out (like a 20 minute walk from your room to the food court), they have 1 sit down resturant and neat pools with slides. Deluxes have the most ammenities and most desirable locations, 2+ sit down resturants, closer to theme parks, pools w/ slides.

All resorts have handicap accessible rooms. I would like a mod would probably be a good fit for you as long as you can get a room that is close.

You might also want to consider renting one of those scooters during your stay. The DISabilities brd people can help you there too.

WDW is an awsome place to stay. It is so nice to hang out around the pools and just relax!

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

With your schedule your best travel dates for price anyways is sometime between Oct 31 and December 19. This would put you in the value season.

Call CRO at (407) WDISNEY and they will help you with many questions about booking resorts. Ask for code BAT or BAP and see what they have available. You may have to be flexible with your dates because the codes have been out for a while and much is already booked.

Examples of rates you MIGHT get are as follows (without tax):

Value Resorts $55 standard, Value season
Moderate Resorts - $85 standard, Value season
Wilderness Lodge - $149 courtyard view, Value season

(Have them check any resort you are interested in and you might be suprised at the rates available.)

I also second the recommendation for the Contemporary for your situation. Being on the monorail would be so much eaiser for you than the busses. (However, you'd have to take a bus to AK).

The WL would also be a good choice with the boat to CR and MK. But depending on water levels you won't be able to take your wheel chair.

Have a great vacation and if we can help with any specifics please ask.

BTW - I recommend you start calling ASAP because room availability with the codes is limitted and it expires 10/10

 

[travelin' tigger]

I'll keep this short as there've been alot of great suggestions.

First, I'd try calling or emailing Dreams Unlimited. I've personally never used them but they will help you with every aspect of your trip and get you the best deals out there - I've heard nothing but raves about them!!!

As far as resorts in your price range I'd do:
value - Pop Century. Newest of the values, it's clean and comfortable. Get a preferred room (the 60s buildings), but away from the pools.

moderate - definitely POFQ. This is the smallest of the mods so everything is close by. Also there's only 1 bus stop to deal with and the pool for your son is great!! Also the rooms were just refurbished.

Hope this helps and good luck with your decision!!!

 

[missypie]

1. Look at the resort pictures on allearsnet.com and figure out which value and moderate resorts you like best.

2. Call for reservations with several blocks of dates in mind and several resorts in mind. Call right away before the rate codes expire. If no discounts are available for your stay, have them check the NEXT night. I kept being told no discounts were available. When I had them check the next night, I found out that a discount was available for 4 of the 5 night I wanted.

 

[year2late]

With a chronic illness (and need to stay on budget ) you might want to consider a resort like Port Oreleans French Quarter that is very compact. Some of the other resorts are HUGE and you would spend a chunk of time and energy just to do simple things. Your handicap placard would give you more options if you happen to need your car to get to a park.

 

[momloveson]

Thanks for all the quick help. I am definately looking into the onsite and wasn't even thinking about some of the smaller resorts. I'll be reading and re reading all of this advice. Thanks.

 

[RoLaren]

It's gonna be okay, don't be overwhelmed

I haven't stayed there but have heard wonderful things about Port Orleans French Quarter. When I checked yesterday on the WDW website, they had availability for mid-november at 111.50 a night using the Fall code (BAS) for a water view room and that included tax and all! We were considering switching to that resort because we have relatives staying there but we have a disabled person in our party and my DH hates giving up the monorail access being that we have a wheelchair to deal with. So we're staying at the Contemporary and I was able to get an AP discount rate for a wing room; but even that rate is above the amount that you want to spend, so likely a monorail resort will not work for your budget.

I would also recommend WL if you want to stay deluxe. The location is GREAT! Very convenient to the MK. But if you have to be in a chair all the time, as someone already pointed out traveling by boat is iffy at best. You'd likely end up with busses just as you would at PORFQ.

Just offhand, it sounds to me like with your needs and budget you would likely be happiest at either PORFQ or WL. I do NOT recommend PORS because they do not have elevators in the buildings and everything is so spread out, FQ is a much smaller resort area and all the rooms were renovated recently so it's all new.

If you're concerned about noise, you'll likely be happier at a moderate than a value. Values can be great but they can get pretty noisy if you happen to pick a week when there is a big group in town! You can check the Walt Disney World website to see what major events are happening in the next couple months. I know the Funai golf thing is huge in October, we happen to be catching the end of Food and Wine and Super Soap weekend when we go but we're just going to plan our touring around Epcot and MGM to avoid those crowds.

If you have any specific questions just fire away, I've planned lots of last minute trips and they are so much fun!

 

[goofy4tink]

Welcome to the boards. Now relax, you're among friends. My first thought would be timing. How about the first full week after Thanksgiving? Not crowded and the weather is nice and the holiday stuff is going on. Or the week before T-day...11/14-20. Don't go for T-day week itself. It's crazy then. Or that first week in Dec. If I remember that's when MouseFest is and it could be pretty crowded. We were there in mid-Dec and it wasn't too bad. Of course that's right around the PopWarner time but we never had an issue with the kids there. And our stay in AllStarMusic was the quietest stay we've had to date.

As far as which resort to stay in...AllStarMovies would be fun for your little one. Or if you wanted a moderate I would go with POFQ also. AS far as POR goes, I believe the mansion section does have elevators. Alligator Bayou does not since it's only two levels.

Keep checking the boards but get on the phone now and see what is available for the time you like. Then, relax...remember you will never see all there is to see or do all that there is to do on one trip. Take your time and enjoy. Hope your trip is wonderful.

 

[TWOOD]

I vote for POFQ - the pool & slide are just right for a 4 year old! He'll love it! You'll love the compact size, newly refurbished rooms, & the fact that you're 1st on & off the buses. The food court is decent, and the price will save you some extra money for character meals, souvenirs, etc... A standard view @ POFQ doesn't have to mean a parking lot view - this resort is covered in lovely courtyards - request a courtyard view on your reservation, and a building close to the main bldg. & bus stop. Bldg. 5 on the courtyard side was very quiet & convenient when we stayed there several years ago. The boards will help you tremendously, so relax & have fun planning, & then have a magical vacation!

 

[Taratink]

Hey momloveson! All the resort advice that you have been getting is great. In my opinion the Animal Kingdom is not a must see. We went with a 2 and 4 yr old last year and it was okay. There was a lot of walking and not a whole lot to see. If you go there is a small petting zoo which I thought that was dissapointing too. I love the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I am sure that you will figure everything out soon and you will have a magical time. The beauty of a Disney vacation is that your pace is the perfect pace. Enjoy!
Tara

 

[ElizabethB]

I agree with the poster who suggested the Contemporary garden wings. You have monorail access to MK. We stayed there in August and found we loved the convenience. If you get a standard view room (ours turned out to be a pretty view of a lake beside the north wing) and manage a discount, it could be within your price range. Ask for the first floor and you should be set.

Also, renting an electric scooter is a good idea. My mother likes the ones you can rent from Walker's (I think the name is). Easier to steer than the ones at the parks. You can drive it right onto the monorail which will enable you to go to MK and Epcot pretty easily. Some buses also accommodate them, but I think the buses are harder. Walkers will deliver right to your hotel and pick the scooter up from your hotel at the end of your stay. The parks require a lot of walking and I think you'll enjoy it much more with a scooter.

In any event, this is a vote for garden wings at the Contemporary if you can swing it. Although the decor of the rooms and hallways is just this side of hideous, the convenience can't be beat. And the rooms are some of the largest on property.

 

[hightown]

Like Elizabeth, I was going to post consider a scooter! My DM rented one for a week from Walker Mobililty. They deliver to the hotel. You can rent one at the parks too but they go fast. It was a lifesaver for my Mother. The cost was 250.00. I think daily rental in the parks is 35-40

If you do get a scooter, I wouldn't go with the Value Resorts. It might be hard to get it in and out of the room.

CBR has the largest rooms of the moderates but it's really spread out -- campus style. If you have a scooter that may not be a problem. I'd agree POFQ but if you tell the reservationist that you need close to foodcourt and bus due to MEDICAL and MOBILITY issues, they will put that on the ressie and try their best to get you a good room

Sharon

 

[momloveson]

Thanks for all the input on the resorts. Thinking I'll do more research on the moderates and may even snag ourselves a deluxe for a night. We were talking about going to one of the water lands, , but if we have a good popol at the hotel, why bother.

Realistically, how much should I expect to spend on meals? We've got a 4 year old who's not picky, but certainly doesn't eat very much unless he starved. Husband would be satisfied with burgers every meal. Not the same for me. I'll be honest, I love food. So far a budget of $40/day has been set for the 3 of us in total. Is this unrealistic? I definately want t o hit at least one character meal. DH will FLIP OVER LIKE A SALTED SALMON finding out that 1 family meal may cost us $100+.

much thanks, sorry if some of this doesnnnn't make sense, some meds just kicked in.

 

[jennymouse]

Welcome to the DISboards. You've already been given lots of good advice. I hate to tell ya, but $40 would get you one meal at a counter service place and maybe an icecream at WDW. You may need to consider staying at a value resort so that you can add more to the food budget. You can take snacks for breakfasts in the room to save a bit. Go to http://www.allearsnet.com/ and at the top of the page, click on "dining" then at the top of the left hand column is says "the menus" click on that and it will give to the menus for every restaurant, and the prices, in WDW. A good rule of thumb is $50 per person, per day.

I also recommend renting a scooter for the week. Five days will cost around $175, I just priced it for our trip in February. We used Care Medical last year for my father and are renting from them again this year. You can rent wheelchairs, but if your DH is pushing you in your wheelchair, who's going to push your little one in the stroller? You don't want a child in your lap all day. With the scooter, you can do it yourself and your DH can push the stroller.

Try not to get overwelmed. Just plan your trip in segments.

1. Accomodations.
2. Transportation
3. Food and making Priority Seating arrangements.
4. Admission media. I suggest getting 5 day park hoppers and skip the water park.

Have fun!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Welcome to the Dis! There is also a budget board that is very helpful for ideas to stretch those $!

One nice thing about the All Stars is the food courts. They are pretty inexpensive and offer pretty much variety. You can find menus at: www.wdwig.com

I don't think we have ever ate for less than $40 per person per day. That's eating breakfast in the room. Do a grocery stop on the way in and bring a cooler and eat breakfast and a rest time meal from it.
That will save a lot. Our favorite time to go is the week after Thanksgiving! The weather is nice and the parks are not crowded! Enjoy your planning!

 

[232271]

http://allearsnet.com/pl/mobility.htm

Here is a link to allearsnet. com they have wonderful information
for those who have special needs.

I wish you a magical trip!