People who stay longer than 10 days...

[cjappert]

We have always gone to WDW for 10 days, but we always feel like it wasn't enough. We drive 21 hours (each way!) to get there and want to make sure its always worth it.
This year we decided we were going for 14 days. I know you can only get park tickets for 10 days, so my question is what do you guys do on those other 4 days? are they just pool days? I figured they would be pool days/ explore other resorts... I just want to make sure we aren't missing out on anything! is there other stuff you all do on non-park days?

 

[Robo]

We have always gone to WDW for 10 days, but we always feel like it wasn't enough. We drive 21 hours (each way!) to get there and want to make sure its always worth it.
This year we decided we were going for 14 days. I know you can only get park tickets for 10 days, so my question is what do you guys do on those other 4 days? are they just pool days? I figured they would be pool days/ explore other resorts... I just want to make sure we aren't missing out on anything! is there other stuff you all do on non-park days?

Or, buy an AP and go every day.

(And, next year, too... before the AP expires.)

 

[JimmyV]

Or, buy an AP and go every day.

(And, next year, too... before the AP expires.)

Yes. Buy an AP and plan another trip 11 months after your next vacation.

 

[Meriweather]

yep.....we always go for 14 nights.....and buy an AP.
We also go to DtD, go to a movie, play mini golf, resort hop, pool days, etc.

 

[Disneylover99]

Or, buy an AP and go every day.

(And, next year, too... before the AP expires.)

It worked out well for us this past year! Something to look into for sure.

 

[bethbuchall]

We get 10 day tickets plus Water Parks and more and spend a couple of days (or partial days) at the water parks, Downtown Disney, and exploring resorts.

 

[lvt]

We go for around 14 days or more every 2-3 years. We like to do the "Options" tickets for mini-golf and waterparks too. For us only the premium annual pass or 2 of the regular tickets are the options we considered. We hit a major park daily.
What we did is 2 tickets per person. 1- 6 day hopper and 1- 6 day hopper plus options. We use the ticket with the water park options 2nd. This allows us up to extend up to 20 days at need. There are various ways to get there, but this is the route I chose and we will repeat next year. Have a great trip.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

ap here too

 

[missesdisney]

We do APs every other year but book the one in between 11 months after (so we go every year).

If you have an AP there are 10% merch discounts as well as room discounts to keep in mind.

 

[cjappert]

Yes. Buy an AP and plan another trip 11 months after your next vacation.

I cant believe I didn't think of that! brilliant. thanks! We go every year so this will work out great

 

[staceyeileen]

It always amazes me that people can spend that long at Disney and NOT do the water parks.

 

[andyman8]

I would definitely recommend the AP. Like other posters suggested DTD and mini-golf are great. You can even do some actual golfing should you care for it (they've got course levels for everyone). Definitely, want to head to a water park (I think only TL is open during your stay in February) and perhaps take a round at Disney Quest. If you're staying at BC (based on your ticker), you will definitely also want to take advantage of the pool in addition to visiting the BW. Oh and try La Nouba at DTD. You could get an AP discount.

A couple savings tips as well. Completely agree with Robo go for the AP. It will take so much pressure off of you. You can come and go as you please, park hop, and get decent discounts. While for one trip I'd advise against the TIW card, I recommend taking a peak at the restaurants that offer AP discounts and perhaps booking some of you ADRs around them. For example, most of the Epcot WS restaurants offer discounts at lunch M-F but not on weekends or at dinnertime, so perhaps choose to have a TS lunch and a QS dinner on a weekday at Epcot. And of course, don't forget about the 10% merchandise discount (I always find myself forgetting oddly).

To save on hotels, consider renting DVC points. If you're at Beach Club, you can rent for 14 nights in early February for $3,136 through dvcrequest.com. Both are good. This will be significantly cheaper than booking through the hotel and availability shouldn't be a problem this far out.

You could definitely have a lot of fun. Happy planning!

 

[cjappert]

I would definitely recommend the AP. Like other posters suggested DTD and mini-golf are great. You can even do some actual golfing should you care for it (they've got course levels for everyone). Definitely, want to head to a water park (I think only TL is open during your stay in February) and perhaps take a round at Disney Quest. If you're staying at BC (based on your ticker), you will definitely also want to take advantage of the pool in addition to visiting the BW.

A couple savings tips as well. Completely agree with Robo go for the AP. It will take so much pressure off of you. You can come and go as you please, park hop, and get decent discounts. While for one trip I'd advise against the TIW card, I recommend taking a peak at the restaurants that offer AP discounts and perhaps booking some of you ADRs around them. For example, most of the Epcot WS restaurants offer discounts at lunch M-F but not on weekends or at dinnertime, so perhaps choose to have a TS lunch and a QS dinner on a weekday at Epcot. And of course, don't forget about the 10% merchandise discount (I always find myself forgetting oddly).

To save on hotels, consider renting DVC points. If you're at Beach Club, you can rent for 14 nights in early February for $3,136 through dvcrequest.com. Both are good. This will be significantly cheaper than booking through the hotel and availability shouldn't be a problem this far out.

You could definitely have a lot of fun. Happy planning!

thank you for all the info! can you still get the dining plan even with the AP?
I've put in a request to rent DVC points for our trip. We are looking into buying a dvc resale and I think this would be a good way to test it out. I just have to wait for the 7 month marker to open up!

 

[mrsap]

We have always gone to WDW for 10 days, but we always feel like it wasn't enough. We drive 21 hours (each way!) to get there and want to make sure its always worth it. This year we decided we were going for 14 days. I know you can only get park tickets for 10 days, so my question is what do you guys do on those other 4 days? are they just pool days? I figured they would be pool days/ explore other resorts... I just want to make sure we aren't missing out on anything! is there other stuff you all do on non-park days?

We also drive and typically do 14 days, but it's definitely over kill for our family with two little ones to spend that many days in the park. Typically we do resort days, go shopping, go to Downtown Disney... etc. if you feel that you'd want to spend every day in the park, then definitely go with an AP, you can come and go as you please every day. Enjoy!!!

 

[andyman8]

thank you for all the info! can you still get the dining plan even with the AP?

With an AP discounted room package, yes you can. The same goes with DVC rentals though you do that through David. He has a dining plan calculator on his site to get the price.

That said, I am hesitant to recommend the DDP to anyone, particularly when you have access to a few AP meal discounts. That said, it sounds like you've been doing this for a while and know what works for your family.

 

[Disneylover99]

It always amazes me that people can spend that long at Disney and NOT do the water parks.

It depends what time of year you go.

We go for almost two weeks every August and we have not done the waterparks. It usually rains daily and there are often periods of thunder and lightening. The weather is too unpredictable for us this time of year. We also took a trip in the winter. Weather was too cool for a waterpark when we went.

 

[cjappert]

It always amazes me that people can spend that long at Disney and NOT do the water parks.

we've never done a waterpark actually lol. I always figured my kids were still too young to really enjoy it... maybe im wrong?

 

[cjappert]

With an AP discounted room package, yes you can. The same goes with DVC rentals though you do that through David. He has a dining plan calculator on his site to get the price.

That said, I am hesitant to recommend the DDP to anyone, particularly when you have access to a few AP meal discounts. That said, it sounds like you've been doing this for a while and know what works for your family.

I assume the DDP would still be worth it since my kids are still pretty young and doing a lot of character dinning... i'll look into it some more tho, just incase.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

We get 10 day tickets plus Water Parks and more and spend a couple of days (or partial days) at the water parks, Downtown Disney, and exploring resorts.

This is what I would do! Adding WP&M to your passes would alot you extra days for the "other" parks (ie: water parks). You could spend two days at each waterpark or just one day at each and a day at DTD + DisneyQuest (included) and another day swimming with mini golf or something like that

 

[mikat]

I assume the DDP would still be worth it since my kids are still pretty young and doing a lot of character dinning... i'll look into it some more tho, just incase.

If you do decide to go with APs, please consider Tables in Wonderland. It is a card that costs $100 and saves you 20% off of almost all table-service meals, and even some counter service meals at resorts that don't have TS restaurants. You also get free valet parking if you are dining at a resort.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm

There are some blockout dates:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/table...card-policy-and-participating-restaurants.htm

Since it is good for a whole year, you can use it for both trips you are planning 11 months apart, and it can save you a *ton* of money. It also won't lock you into the snacks / meals / desserts requirements of DDP and it is good for appetizers and alcoholic / premium drinks.