Planning first family trip

[disneydreaming101]

I posted this in a new thread also, but I want to say thanks to everyone for the replies...the advice was really helpful! We have booked our first trip to Disney and we chose August to do it. We don't have to take our kids out of school, we got a great deal on a room/airfares and we get to go a lot sooner...we will be there in less than 25 days! We also talked with our kids about what they wanted to be able to do at Disney, and one of the top things to do was swim. I'm sure it will be hot hot hot at the parks, but we will prepare the best we can for it. I have taken the great advice I have gotten here to prepare! I have already purchased my raingear, will have water bottles ready, purchased water spritzers with fans and a great bag to carry all of our stuff. I am still unsure what to do about the dining. I will call to look into any Adr's that I can...if it doesn't work out, counter service it is! (Our kids aren't interested in the character meals, so that part works out!) I would love to do the DDP but if I can't do many TS's it seems to be a waste, but still working on that part! I assume there is not a dining plan with just CS's and snacks on it?? I also just purchased the Unofficial Guide to Disney and reading it voraciously! I guess I will skip to the part about dining...Thanks again for the advice and I will post when we return!

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

If your not all that into Character Meals ... I would say eating at CS is just fine . This year DD will be 11 and would have to pay $38.99 for the Dining Plan and I know that it would be a waste of $$ on this trip ,since she is happy to eat Mac & cheese and Chicken nuggets. I really think 1 character meal would be nice for your family though. I suggest Chef Mickey's or Crystal palace (in MK) . We have enjoyed them both !!!
Where have you decided to stay ???? Will you be on site or not ? Happy planning !

 

[disneydreaming101]

We are flying down and staying at the Pop Century...I am so excited because that is the value resort I wanted because I read that it has it's own bus service which is a little quicker and less stressful. We got a deal through Expedia for the flights and the room. So far, so good... we have never used this company, so fingers crossed. We purchased the park hopper plan for flexibility. For food, we are most likely going to pay Oop, since this was a last minute deal and Adr's are hard to get, though still trying. We added it up with the prices in this forum and my Unofficial guide and even if we get crazy lucky with a few Adr's or walk in's for TS, it will still be cheaper for us to do Oop this time around. Did I read the post right on this thread that mentions that ice water is free at CS's? If that is right , then I am a happy person because we drink way more water than soda. What about the refillable mugs...they are $12, I think. Are the refills free or a small charge? Can I use them at the parks or just the hotel? Also, anyone have thoughts on what is the best standard room/section at Pop? Again, I am full of questions! Thanks for the advice, I am so excited about this trip!

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Hi ...great to hear you'll be at POP...you'll really love it ...take some time to walk around the resort . It's fun, clean and upbeat with piped in music by the pool and walkways. Your kids will love the "Goofy" Spray Jets !
The refillable mugs are only good at the resorts, but you can fill them up any time day or nite ! I would at least get 1 for each of your kids.I sometimes share the drinks with my kids. I usually throw them in our backpaks when we go into the parks because we always want a cool drink on the way back to our room after a day in the park . We fill them up also and bring them out to the pool with us ,too
I requested the 50's area of POP at check in last time and we got a great room ....closest to pool and Everything POP/Food Court !
Happy Planning ...let the countdown begin !

 

[ashleypmo]

We are flying down and staying at the Pop Century...I am so excited because that is the value resort I wanted because I read that it has it's own bus service which is a little quicker and less stressful. We got a deal through Expedia for the flights and the room. So far, so good... we have never used this company, so fingers crossed. We purchased the park hopper plan for flexibility. For food, we are most likely going to pay Oop, since this was a last minute deal and Adr's are hard to get, though still trying. We added it up with the prices in this forum and my Unofficial guide and even if we get crazy lucky with a few Adr's or walk in's for TS, it will still be cheaper for us to do Oop this time around. Did I read the post right on this thread that mentions that ice water is free at CS's? If that is right , then I am a happy person because we drink way more water than soda. What about the refillable mugs...they are $12, I think. Are the refills free or a small charge? Can I use them at the parks or just the hotel? Also, anyone have thoughts on what is the best standard room/section at Pop? Again, I am full of questions! Thanks for the advice, I am so excited about this trip!

Ice water is free at all parks. Probably a liability thing, to keep people from keeling over on the sidewalks!

And mug refills are free in your resort. For the best standard room/section at Pop, the Unofficial Guide to WDW says:
"The best rooms for both view and convenience are the lake-view rooms in buildings 4 & 5, representing the 1960s. These rooms are subject to highway noise from victory way and Osceola Pkwy across the lake. If work resumes on the other half of Pop Century, these rooms will also contend w/ the sights and noise of construction. A safer short-term bet, though with a less compelling view, would be east-facing rooms of building 3 in the 1950s, and of building 6 of the 1970s. Avoid south-facing rooms in the 1980s building 7 and 1990s buiding 8. Both are eco chambers for noise from nearby Osceola Parkway."

 

[lisaross]

we did our 1st family disney trip last August! The later in August the better as schools down south are already back in school! The weather was hot, but its the summer - and you can use the pools in the hotel till midnight!

I'd definitly do August over Winter - like you said it can be cold and its not too enjoyable freezing at the parks...........

lisa

oh and if you have time, take the kids for a haircut at the barber shop in MK - its about 12 bucks and they spray pixie dust all over there hair pretty cool!

enjoy

lisa