Planning my first trip to Disney World

[Lorelai71]

I am planning my first trip ever to Disney World and would really appreciate some advice. Family of 3 all adults.

As it looks, we can go the second week of August 2005 but I am worried about crowds and temperaure.

I think we will do an onsite resort and I was thinking of getting the meal plan which gives you a breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. However, I am wondering if the meal plan is worth it or if we should just pay for our meals as we go.

Please help, never been to Florida or Disney World.

 

[Rootskate]

If you go to www.allears.net they have all the menus listed for all of the Disney World restaraunts. Maybe if you look through and see the prices you would be able to make a more informed decision on the dining plan? Happy planning!

 

[Nanu57v]

I agree, look at the meals including in the meal plan and decide if you want to eat there. My DH is very picky, and most of the sit down meals are ones we wouldn't choose, so we might not get it.

I think an on-site is the way to go to get the whole experience, what price range were you thinking of?

There will be crowds in August.

 

[Lorelai71]

Thanks for the advice. Not quite sure on price. I was looking at the moderate package at $1800 a person but that is still a bit much. I was thinking since it's our first time that we should get the $1500 package but the moderate looks nicer.

Also, about how much extra money should we set aside for spending while we are there?

 

[Nanu57v]

I'm not sure if the $1500 package includes the park hopping option, or any of the plus feature, so you should expect to pay extras for that. Especially since your going in August, you'll probably want to visit the water parks. If you add the dining for $35 a day, you get a sit-down and counter service plus a snack. So that'll take care of lunch and dinner, so you'd only have to pay for breakfast. Some people bring a box of cereal bars and do it that way to save money. My DH and I generally spent less than $10 total for both of us for a hot breakfast at the All Stars food court. When we ate at Kona Cafe' at the Polynesian for breakfast when we stayed there, we spent no more than $13 a morning for the both of us.

Other than that you just need money for souveniers. We just got photos they take and sell you for about $10 a shot, a pin and a plush Mickey, so not too much for us. But everyone is different.

Plan more money that you expect to spend though, because there's always something you don't think of.

 

[Lorelai71]

It seems that it might be better for us to get our meals as we go instead of getting the meal plan. My family likes to stay up late at night and sleep in.

Congrats on the baby.

So it's probably a really bad idea to go in August? I just can't get away any other time and I really want to go this year.

 

[niks81]

Well certainly if you can't get away to go any other time and you want to go this year....you might as well!!! Besides, there are plenty of people that go in August

I personally think the Dining plan (not the premium package) is a really good deal because you'll likely spend that much money or more dining on your own. But, like another poster said, if you aren't likely to eat at the places on the list you wouldn't want to do it. There are PLENTY of places to eat though--I certainly don't feel that the plan is too limited. We did the Silver Plan last year and loved the convenience of knowing we had already prepaid AND the tips and tax was included also.

 

[NJDisneymom]

we went August 2003 and I was really afraid of the heat as we were traveling with my then 3 year old and my 5 month old. Well, it was a GREAT trip and if we couldn't swing our trip this May we definately would have considered August again.

I read how horrible the heat and the crowds would be and maybe we just got lucky but we only had one day that was truly HOT (and we decided to spend it at the pool). We did get some rain, but never enough to ruin a whole day. I didn't find the crowds bad at all, in fact one morning we went on Its a Small World and my 3 year old loved it so much wanted to go on again and we got right back on line and were on again within 5 minutes. Later in the day the lines got longer, but still not unbearable.

The meal package is worth it for some families, but you have to figure out what types of meals you'd like to eat and add up the costs. We do a lot of character dining so it seems worth it for us to spend $80/day on the plan (2 adults, 1 child) since we end up paying $50-60 for breakfast alone some days!!

If August is the only time you can go than GO!!! We had a wonderful time. Just be prepared for some crowds and some hot days and you will be fine.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

My wife and I have gone the last 2 summers (July in 2004 and August in 2003) and as expected it was hot, but still very workable. Just remember keep drinking plenty of fluids and pace yourself. One thing that worked great for us was to head to the parks first thing in the morning then back to the resort in the afternoon to cool off by the pool before returing for a fun night back in the parks.

Have a wonderful trip !

 

[Lorelai71]

Thanks a bunch. All of your post are so helpful. I feel much better and we have decided that August is going to be it. The first or second week and we will stay for 8 nights.

Another question, does anyone know when is the best time to go such as a particular week day or the weekend?

I think we will stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort-Trinidad. Has anyone stayed there? I grew up in Trinidad so I thought this would be cool.

 

[Nanu57v]

I've stayed at the Carribean Beach, but I don't remember which building. It was a long time ago and I think I was 12. I loved it! My DH and I aren't sure if we can swing the Polynesian financially for our upcoming December trip, so my second choice is the Carribean. Its got a beach with hammocks! How cool is that!

The one thing my parents didn't like about the Carribean is its very spread out. You may notice you can pay extra for a preferred location closer to food/buses. My DH and I aren't worried about that because we walk around the parks all day, whats a little walk to our room. However, we may feel differently about that lugging a 9 month old around.

About your day question, do mean day to arrive or specific days in which parks? I'd like to arrive on a Saturday and leave on a Sunday. Saturday's are the busiest day, but since we go off peak, its also the only day that had the Spectromagic Parade. Our honeymoon trip (2002) we arrived on sunday and left saturday, and didn't get to see the parade at all. Our last trip (2003) we opted for a shorter trip for some reason. We arrived late at night on a Friday, and stayed at an airport hotel. Then Saturday morning we took a towncar to our hotel and hit Epcot and then MK. That night we saw Spectromagic. I think MK is the most crowded on Saturdays. We stayed until Thursday that trip.

For which parks are crowded on which days, I copied this from All Ears:

A recent inquiry of Disney regarding which days to visit which parks had the following response:

"During regular attendance periods, our parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:

* Magic Kingdom: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
* Epcot: Tuesday and Friday
* Disney-MGM Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
* Disney's Animal Kingdom: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We went the first week of August last year and it was HOT and very crowded. I heard that the 2nd and 3rd weeks are less busy, although still hot. We brought MistyMates (portable misters that you can refill at any water fountain and require no batteries, available at WalMart for about $13) and several small fans that you can hang around your neck (also at WalMart for $1!) and they literally saved our vacation! I don't know what we would have done without them, since it can get very hot standing line. As far as the dining option goes, we've always found that you save a lot of $$$ by booking things seperately rather than buying the packages. If you book your resort room only and then discount codes come out for your timeframe you could save a lot. We're AP holders so we book room only anyway, but before we found these boards we had gone twice with packages and I cringe at the thought now of how much money we spent on "extras" that we didn't have time to use or were really available to everyone. I would price it out both ways and see which comes out to be the least expensive. Just a thought!

 

[Lorelai71]

Thanks again,
This board is soooooo helpful. I could not have done this without you. I think I am going to become a DW fanatic. I am so excited about planning this trip!!!

 

[Lorelai71]

Please bear with me but I have another question. I am assuming that codes make the room cheaper and from what I have read on these boards, you have to watch for them and some people get them in E-mails. Is there something I am supposed to do to get in on these codes? Do I need to be affiliated with a certain group or organization? What if I go ahead and book a room and then codes come out can I use them.

Also, I ordered a planning video from Disney's online site but it probably won't be here until the end of February. Is that too late to book my August trip?

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Watch for codes here on the DIS or at www.mousesavers.com. And no, late Feb. is not too late to book an August trip. Have fun planning!

 

[Nanu57v]

You should also sign up for the mousesavers newsletter on their website. Then you'll get emailed when hot codes come out.

 

[WDW LOVR]

Sign up for the Mousesavers news letter and the Allears news letter. Check mousesavers.com a couple times a week. The codes everyone is talking about will be there. Sometimes buying an Annual Pass can save you a bunch as the AP will cost only about $150 more than a ticket for 8 days and the money you can save on the room would make that up, sometimes in one or two nights.

There is also a great new benefit for AP holders. It's the Disney Dining Experience card. It costs $50 for AP holders and entitles you to 20% off all meals at a wide variety of restaurants all over the world. Check one of the other threads on the Diz or Allearsnet.com to learn about the DDE card.

We have never done a dining package. We never know what we'll be in the mood for. I'm sure if you used everything on the package it may be cheaper, but most times doing things ala cart is cheaper.

 

[Lorelai71]

Thanks! I have signed up for Allears and Mousesavers. I have spent the whole day on those sites and on this board and I am still excited.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I'm so glad to hear that you're having fun planning! Most "newbies" go to WDW without any kind of plan at all, so you're definately doing the right thing by doing your homework here! Have fun, and post as many questions as you like, we love planning as much as you do and are happy to help in any way we can!