Please help: Planning and Four options for November trip

[ijimerarekko]

Hello everyone,
Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place. My Japanese friend is visiting me in November, and she loves Disney (she goes to the one in Tokyo like every year) so I plan to take her to Disney World. I honestly know zero about Disney World, I went there as a kid but don't remember much. Here's what I plan to do:
1.Buy the 2014 unofficial guide to Disney
2.Reserve one of the four options below by Sept 15 when promo expires
3.Go to Disney World

Questions:
1. Could any of you please help me choose which one of these would be the best bang for my buck? We would be splitting it about 50/50. She doesn't care about water parks.
2. Would she actually enjoy Disney World if she goes to Tokyo Disney every year? Would there be some sort of language barrier? (Her English comprehension is okay but not great)
3. I'm including the day of arrival (11 AM) and departure (6 PM) in the day count. Would it be too tiresome to fly and go to the park on the same day?

I have four options with free dining: Prices include round trip flights
1. (5 days at a moderate) (which? riverside, carribean, coronado, wilderness) Normal Dining plan (1 counter, 1 restaurant) $1881.64
2. (7 days at pop century) $1860.34 quick service dining (2 counter)
3. (6 days at pop century) $1718.18 quick service
4. (5 days at pop century) $1530.38 quick service

EDIT-Also open to any better options you suggest

 

[jmasgat]

I think your friend will find enough different about WDW that the trip would be worthwhile. After all, there are 4 parks. As for language, there are translation devices available. Here's a link to info.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/attraction-translation-devices/

The value of Dining plan is a much debated topic--many feel that there is a lot of food, and if a Room-Only discount is available, that is a better way to go. Have you run numbers using the RO discount that is still available? And then just buying tickets separately? (There are some ticket discounts available. Check mousesavers dot com link to Undercover Tourist--they are reputable and I have used them successfully)

Day of arrival and day of departure are fair game for parks. You don't say where you're flying from or if your friend is flying directly to WDW. You would have time to do parks, although given that it's winter, you would be limited to how long, e.g. AK closes around 5pm. Departure day, parks for sure. And if you decided to skip Day 1, there are lots of suggestions on what to do otherwise. Here's an example from Allears.

http://allears.net/pl/fnight.htm

As for resorts, Pop is fine, but if the price were not too different, I would choose a moderate. Makes for a somewhat quieter atmosphere with a few more amenities. Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter are good choices.

I'm sure others will chime in to offer good advice. Good luck deciding. I'm sure your friend will appreciate the trip.

 

[sazzifrazz]

Well you have to determine how much time you spend at the resort. Personally I much prefer the moderates over the values...but if it means getting to spend 2 extra days at The World...I'll suck it up and stay at a value.

Have you looked to see about renting points at a DVC through David's?