Planning our 1st Trip!!!!

[Medicmouse]

I'm new to the DISboards - but I'm already hooked! Thank you all for soooo much awesome advice. I am planning a trip for Nov. 2006 from Northern Ontario - flying! I am still tossing up staying on site vs off site. How many days do you suggest at DW? There is me, my husband plus two kids DD 12 and DS 9. Any feedback on Discovery Cove? My daughter is a dolphin freak!!! Is it worth the $? I would also like to spend a day or two at a beach!

 

[NancyK]

Welcome to the DIS!
Disney World is absolutely huge. We've been many times and never done everything there is to do there. If you can make the trip for two weeks, that would be ideal. I have heard that November is an awesome time to go. The parks aren't open as late, but the crowds are low with the exception of the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend. You may want to avoid that week if possible.

I have stayed both onsite and offsite. There are pros and cons to each. If this is your first trip, I would stay onsite for the Extra Magic Hours and for the transportation to the parks. But it's a decision you have to make based on YOUR family's needs. If you go to the "Resorts Board," people there will tell you they would rather not go if they have to stay off site because "you won't feel the magic." That just isn't true. The magic is being with loved ones regardless of hotel. We're staying off-site in December and looking forward to it. If you head over to the Orlando Hotels and Attractions Board, you will get a more balanced view. Here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15

Enjoy the planning stage! It's almost as fun as actually being there!

Nancy

 

[digskat]

We stayed offsite in November on Parkway Blvd, and enjoyed it so much we are going back this October. This time we are staying onsite. We enjoyed the offsite, finding a great deal at what was Homewood Suites.
It is true, that you could easily spend your entire vacation at WDW. We did MK on Monday, MGM on Tuesday, Typhoon Lagoon on Wednesday, Animal Kingdom/MK (fireworks and night parade) on Thursday, and Downtown Disney on the Saturday. We missed Epcot and Blizzard Beach, due to wanting a day of rest. There is so much to do and see, and it definitely is the happiest place on earth.

 

[yxe dad]

I've only ever stayed on-site but can say that all of the "perks" seem worth the few extra dollars I might have saved off-site. As for time, it's all what you feel would be good enough for you. You will never see or do it all, but it just makes you want to go back that much sooner. I'm going for 19 days in Jan 06 with a 3 day disney cruise in the middle of the of our trip. I have two boys 6, and 8 who love to go on a ride 2-10 times in a row. I don't what to rush them to another ride because I have a schedule or don't feel I have enough time "to see it all". Just relax, have fun, and no matter how long you go for, on the plane home you'll be trying to figure out a way back. I always plan seaworld and universal studios days but can get thru those parks in a day each. I have never been to Discovery Cove but have heard amazing things about it. You might want to consider a disney cruise (lots of other cruise lines are a short drive away) for your beach days. The cost really isn't that much more than a the cost of hotel, food, and entertianment for those beach days you were planning anyway. Have fun

 

[the kabuki]

My vote would be for staying on-site. Here's some previous threads on this:
http://www.disboards.com/search.php?searchid=1308242

As for how many days, our trips have lasted 7-8 days total. 2 days for travelling, 5 or 6 for the parks and/or water park. No you will not see everything in this amount of time, but we've gone 11x now (which is nothing compared to some on this board) and still haven't seen or done it all.

 

[hockey mom]

Welcome

Friends of mine did Discovery Cove and loved it.

November will be a great time for the parks but could be hit or miss for your beach days.

We have stayed off and on site. While the WDW hotels are very neat you might be best value wise to stay off site. With this being your first trip you won't be spending much time in your room We have rented through Skyauction and gotten very nice 2 bedroom condos for $261 US/week.

 

[sherry66]

Welcome to the DIS

 

[DutchsMommy]

We love onsite - the transportation is great for us.

Where abouts in Northern Ontario do you live? My sister is in Sudbury and is getting married in the Sault in Nov. Are you further north than that?

 

[MECH8T7]

Keep in mind that, if you do Discovery Cove, you get passes for Sea World (good for several days)...so, you'll want to allow for time to visit Sea World too.

We went on our first family trip last March. We were there eight days, staying on-site. We spent parts of a couple of days at Sea World but the rest of our time was spent at WDW either in the parks or at the resort. We didn't even get the chance to do any of the waterparks or stroll around Downtown Disney.

By the way, if you are going in November, you'll want to start thinking about Advance Dining Reservations for any character or special WDW meals during your stay. You can start making them 90 days out and a handful of the events (e.g., breakfast at Cinderella's castle) can be difficult to book if you don't do it 90 days in advance.

 

[Medicmouse]

Thank you all for replying - you have all been very helpfull. DutchsMommy I live about 4 hours north of Sault Ste. Marie - hence my need of travelling SOUTH!!!!! I lived in Sudbury though when I went to college.
So it sounds like 6 days at WDW would be good? Do you suggest buying the dinning plan? $10 for a mini fridge a day seems like a lot to me?

 

[hockey mom]

The dining paln is alot of food. We don't rent a fridge- we just use a cooler. Check out the menus on wdwig.com.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I thought the fridges were free now, maybe everywhere but Pop and AStars?

PS - Wow, you are NORTH!

 

[Inga]

HI

My vote is to stay on-site, the value resorts are pretty good for the money, we thought. I always found some of the areas outside of WDW to be a bit rough around the edges, whenever I leave the WDW area I am always happy to get back as things are quite a bit happier and more pleasant in the 'World' than outside. Just my opinion, we have done both but will not go back to staying off site. The time it takes to get to MK from International Drive is just too long for me in rush hour traffic in the morning!

The value resorts don't have fridges in the room, but the moderates do. If we are staying value, we buy a styrafoam cooler, fill it with ice, and do some grocery shopping on our way from the airport to our resort at WDW. Staples like milk and cereal can bring the costs down!

There is so much to see at WDW these days that we have stayed 10 days on site and just done Disney and still wanted to stay longer.

Inga

 

[riu girl]

I think that there is and will always be a debate about staying on site vs. off site. Last year was our first WDW trip (and what I assumed would be our only trip, like that is going to happen, we are now about 4 months away from trip 2!!!) . At first I assumed we would stay off site since I found a great rate at the Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista. But for less then $20 more per night we could stay at a value. I took my dilemma to this Canadian board of experts and followed their advice and stayed on site. Once there for a day or DH looks at me and says "we will NEVER stay off site".
But on the other hand, hockey mom and others have found a weeks accommodation in a one or two bedroom for 261 US at a 4 or 5 star resort using skyauction.com. IMHO, that would be fabulous also, since you would have a kitchen and TONS of space compared to a value resort. PLus those resorts look fabulous.
I think with us it was a driving issue. I don't drive in unfamiliar areas and DH simply doesn't like driving (except his motorcycle). So for us, the great Disney transportation was the main factor for loving staying on site. Plus the Disney ambiance.

Good luck with your trip plans!
Suzy V.

 

[the kabuki]

HI

My vote is to stay on-site, the value resorts are pretty good for the money, we thought. I always found some of the areas outside of WDW to be a bit rough around the edges, whenever I leave the WDW area I am always happy to get back as things are quite a bit happier and more pleasant in the 'World' than outside. Just my opinion, we have done both but will not go back to staying off site. The time it takes to get to MK from International Drive is just too long for me in rush hour traffic in the morning!

The value resorts don't have fridges in the room, but the moderates do. If we are staying value, we buy a styrafoam cooler, fill it with ice, and do some grocery shopping on our way from the airport to our resort at WDW. Staples like milk and cereal can bring the costs down!

There is so much to see at WDW these days that we have stayed 10 days on site and just done Disney and still wanted to stay longer.

Inga

Totally agree, I find I'm so glad to be back on Disney property after going to I-DRive for eats, and souveniers.

I also buy a cooler while we're down there.By buying our own water/juice/milk and snacks we save a ton of $ that way

 

[Manon]

I'm new to the DISboards - but I'm already hooked! Thank you all for soooo much awesome advice. I am planning a trip for Nov. 2006 from Northern Ontario - flying! I am still tossing up staying on site vs off site. How many days do you suggest at DW? There is me, my husband plus two kids DD 12 and DS 9. Any feedback on Discovery Cove? My daughter is a dolphin freak!!! Is it worth the $? I would also like to spend a day or two at a beach!

We were supposed to stay off-site in june, but after asking this board and an other one in french, everydoby convinced me that with kids on-site is easier. It was our first family trip, 1st one for my DH too, and like many said, he told me that we would never go to Disney and stay off-site! It's too nice parking the car and not touching it for a week!!!
But if it's a money issue, better stay off-site and go to Disney!!!

 

[Medicmouse]

We were origionally planning our trip for NOV 06 but yesterday by girlfriend sent me an invitation to her wedding at DW this Feb. She got misquoted and the savings is awesome. We are going in Feb 06 !! WOW!!! I barely slept last night!
I hear we don't need passports yet only drivers licenses. Birth certificates for the kids I assume? We are going to be there for my birthday - a dream come true. I'm still in shock. Yahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Has anyone been in Feb? I hope the water parks are open.