Planning first trip to WDW.

[dezimber]

Hi! I am been lurking here on the board for awhile and posted on a few threads in other forums.


I would like to go to WDW in a couple of years. I am hoping I can some answers to a some questions.
1.) Are there travel packages for solo travelers?
The only ones I have seen are based on double occupancy.
2.) How much should I expect to spend/save?
I will more then likely take a late Friday night flight with a next day arrival. I am hoping airfares will be available for under $500 when I want to go. I will probably only get park tickets for 6 days. I would like to do 2 days in each Disney park with one non-park day but I am not sure if I will be able to get the extra vacation days.
3.) To Dine or not to Dine?
I haven't decided if I want to do the dining plan option. On one hand it would be nice to have it pre-paid but it seems like a lot of food and too many desserts. Most days I don't eat breakfast so I am hungry by noon and prefer soup and sandwiches over eggs and pancakes. I am looking forward to having a TS meal here and there. On the other hand I'd be happy with peanut butter & jelly most of the time with the occasional turkey leg. Depending on the changes between now and then may be the determining factor.
4.) Photopass and/or camera?
Is worth it to pre-order a photopass CD or just take my own camera (which I will probably do anyway)?
5.)Autograph book or not?
In all of the years I have gone to Disneyland I have never gotten character autographs. We always did the meet and greet and pictures but not an autograph. Maybe that was because we had a very limited souvenir budget so an autograph book didn't rank high enough to justify getting one. I also thought the whole autograph thing was silly. But since seeing the homemade autograph books I am having a change of heart. How odd would a 40+ year old collecting autographs(characters, CMs, mini pirates & princesses(adorable kidlets), flight attendants, or anyone else that contrubited to all the magical moments to be had)?
6.) Then were to stay?
Right now I don't plan to rent a car so I am planning to stay on site in a value or moderate resort.

 

[StageTek]

I did my first solo trip in Sept 2007.

1) I got a great package deal through Expedia.
2) I spent around $2,000 total for a 12 day stay.
3) On the dining plan there is a LOT of food offered. I'm kind of
like you and a TS meal every day was too much. Next time I'm not
getting the plan.
4) Camera for me.
5) When we start thinking about how odd we may or may not look,
it's time to quit going to Disney and sit with a shawl in a
rocking chair watching TV. I've never felt the need to have
autographs of cast members in costume, but many people just love
it. I say go for it!
6) I stayed at the ASMov and just loved it! I mean really loved
it. I used the Disney transportation (even discovered a few
tricks) and never had a problem.

 

[let'sgo]

I like the photo pass AND my camera. Go to www.disneyphotopass.com and under "Preserve your Disney memories" click on "Go to the Store." You can upload your digital photos, and make a book of your memories, and also include any or all of your photo pass pictures (I think to include any or all of the photo pass pictures it's about $20 more total for your book) plus the website has a few pictures that you may also want to include. It's lots of fun picking out the pages and writing captions and stories about your trip. And then you have it all together. You do not need to order the photo pass CD then. Check it out, and have fun planning!

I have never stayed at a Value resort, but I have stayed at the moderates. WOW, are they ever beautiful. The landscaping is fantastic, and they are just so peaceful. My favorite is Port Orleans, Riverside. If I was going in summer, this is the one I would choose as there are large, beautiful shade trees to shade you while you walk along the paths. Everyone has their favorite, so check them out and see what appeals to you the most.

Have a great time planning, and enjoy your trip!

 

[acm563]

I havent quite gotten to the point where I can do a solo trip so I applaud all of you who do so If I can ever get to that point and try it and enjoy it then I will indeed be a happy camper I normally go with my DS who is now 25 or friends but there have been many times I would have loved to go but noone had the vacation time or could afford it

I would like to say that I have stayed at Moderate Value Resorts in my 20+ visits to WDW and I have stayed at Value Resorts and while my favorite of the Moderate Resorts is the Coronado Springs my least favorite of the Moderate Resorts is the Caribbean Beach Resort. My favorite value Resort is Pop Century and if I only had a choice between Caribbean Beach and a value resort and could get them both for the same price I would choose Pop, that is how much I like it. There is one thing to remember if you do a value Resort and are using WDW transportation during your stay, the Value Resort bus stops are farthest from the park turnstiles

I always take my camera as well as doing the photopass card. Plan on having at least a 1G SD card as you will take lots of pics I now take a total of 3Gs in SD cards when I go as I also love to take short videos.

Be certain to go early to Epcot so that you can get a Fast Pass so you can be certain to do Soarin, the same thing with AK for Mt Everest.

There are reasonable places to eat throughout the parks as well as DTD, My favorite reasonable place at DTD is HOuse of Blues, their Po Boy sandwich if you like shrimp is awesome and tons of shrimp on it, for less than $10 if I remember correctly. If you want BF you can always get a huge BF at your resort for less than $10 if you are at a Value Resort. Dont pass up on at lesast one Character Meal....it is well worth it and you can get some of your autographs at that time. You can always find a counter service lunch for $10 and if you go to DTD for dinner you can always find something for less than $15 as a table service if you scout the places out(such as HOB noted above) Me personally, if i went solo I could eat for $20/day but that is just me as I am not there for the dining experience necessarily

Enjoy your vacation and once again I applaud you and others who can travel solo and enjoy yourselves.

I could go solo, meals, room and airfare included during value season for 5 days for $800 and I mean that sincerely ($500 room, $150 airfare thru southwest and $150 food) lol



Unless you happen to eat a lot of food I personally dont find the Dining PLan worth it, of course this year they have did away with the appetizer in the plan. I am the type of person that always leaves half of their food on their plate anyway so it is more reasonable for me(unless I go with my son) for me to pay as i go....

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Hi! I am been lurking here on the board for awhile and posted on a few threads in other forums.


I would like to go to WDW in a couple of years. I am hoping I can some answers to a some questions.
1.) Are there travel packages for solo travelers?
The only ones I have seen are based on double occupancy.
2.) How much should I expect to spend/save?
I will more then likely take a late Friday night flight with a next day arrival. I am hoping airfares will be available for under $500 when I want to go. I will probably only get park tickets for 6 days. I would like to do 2 days in each Disney park with one non-park day but I am not sure if I will be able to get the extra vacation days.
3.) To Dine or not to Dine?
I haven't decided if I want to do the dining plan option. On one hand it would be nice to have it pre-paid but it seems like a lot of food and too many desserts. Most days I don't eat breakfast so I am hungry by noon and prefer soup and sandwiches over eggs and pancakes. I am looking forward to having a TS meal here and there. On the other hand I'd be happy with peanut butter & jelly most of the time with the occasional turkey leg. Depending on the changes between now and then may be the determining factor.
4.) Photopass and/or camera?
Is worth it to pre-order a photopass CD or just take my own camera (which I will probably do anyway)?
5.)Autograph book or not?
In all of the years I have gone to Disneyland I have never gotten character autographs. We always did the meet and greet and pictures but not an autograph. Maybe that was because we had a very limited souvenir budget so an autograph book didn't rank high enough to justify getting one. I also thought the whole autograph thing was silly. But since seeing the homemade autograph books I am having a change of heart. How odd would a 40+ year old collecting autographs(characters, CMs, mini pirates & princesses(adorable kidlets), flight attendants, or anyone else that contrubited to all the magical moments to be had)?
6.) Then were to stay?
Right now I don't plan to rent a car so I am planning to stay on site in a value or moderate resort.

Hi!

1. I book directly through Disney since Disney packages are priced per room and not per person like through a TA or travel operator.

2. I paid $2200 for my trip in March, which includes a GV room at the Poly, 6 day parkhoppers and the dining plan. My air was free since I cashed in some air miles. (BTW, I was originally booked at Pop, then upgraded to moderate, then finlly bit the bullet and upgraded again to my "dream" resort).

3. This will be my first time on the DDP. I usually go with my DS(6), and am using this vacation to see if the DDP would be worth it on other trips.

4. I use both. I bring my camera and use Photopass. I do not preorder the CD, as I never know how many photopass pictures there will be to make it worth it. Last year, I ordered the CD the last day I was there after checking out the pictures.

5. Personally, I don't get autographs, but if a photo op presents itself, I'm there! If you want autographs, all the more power to you! Go and have fun!

6. For value, Pop. Love it. I do want to try ASMusic though. Now that the rooms have been rehabbed, it looks lovely. And I've heard that Music is more for adults. If you go with a value, make sure that there aren't any group bookings while you are there.

For moderation, POR ot POFQ. Absolutely adore POR! It's like being in a totally different world. Peaceful, beautiful and, IMO, as nicely themed as a deluxe.

 

[dezimber]

Thank you everyone that has replied. The information helps alot. I am aiming to go May 2010 or December. I am definatly want to do a character meal or a few. It's choosing that will be the hard part. I also want to see Spirit of Aloha but that will depend on how much money I can save. Disneyland use to have a similar show that I enjoyed when my parents took us. We have taken my nephews to the character meal @ California Adventure.

 

[ttester9612]

To assist with your planning, check out http://www.passporter.com and http://www.allears.net. Both sites contains varies information about WDW, DL an other locations.