Questions before booking trip.

[gwcollins71]

I've booked the air. Now I need to book the Disney part of the vacation. I have some questions...

Should I book 2 on line vacations. We are going down a day beofre the free dining kicks in and I can't book for the whole time on the computer and get the dining. OR should I book over the phone. I'm scared that they;ll mess up.

Also, would you reccommend Movies,Music or Pop Century? Lily, our daughter will be 13 months so I don't think she'll get the whole character thing yet at Movies. I figured Music would be less crowded. My SIL and her family will be coming to Movies about mid way through our vac. We can hang out together but I think different resorts would give us time away so we don't kill each other. We're still not totally stuck on the values either. Hubby has given the ok for the moderates if that's what I want.

We are planning on getting a rental for a few days. Need to go to the outlet mall and Margaritaville at Universal. (Please don't hate me.) Can we rent a car seat there? Do the rental companies have them? I really don't want to schlep her car seat down from Chicago with us.

I am so excited and the trip is kind of last minute so I didn't get to really research this time. Please help with any ideas and suggestions.


Thanks,
Gretchen

 

[angel's momma]

Bumping you back to page 1.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, you should book two 'vacations'. The phone reservationists won't mess up, but you can always go book through a travel agency (I personally prefer Small World Vacations, but there's also Dreams Unlimited - a DisBoards sponsor - and other Disney travel specialists, as well as general Travel Agents). This will not cost you any extra, and you can deal with the same person every time you contact them. Plus, at least the Disney Specialists (and AAA, sometimes) pay attention to any additional discounts for which you may be eligible. For example, my SWV Agent e-mailed me yesterday to tell me that Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party will be held a couple of times while I'm there, and that there's an advance purchase discount. Anyway, back to your questions
Personally, for a Value resort I'd recommend Pop Century, followed by Movies, then Music (then Sports, but you didn't include that option). Music probably won't be any more or less crowded than the other All Stars, but if your DH said OK to a Moderate, I'd go Port Orleans Riverside, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter and Caribbean Beach. Some of my opinions are experience-based, some are just based on what I've read about the various resorts. And your idea of staying in a different resort than your SIL's family seems brilliant - you can make plans with them, but not be on top of each other ALL the time.
Car rental agencies do rent car seats; the most convenient option for your rental would be National/Alamo, because they're at the Car Care Center near Magic Kingdom and will pick you up in their free shuttle at your resort. But you should compare prices - it may be cheaper to rent at the airport for your entire stay; but are you sure you'll need a car for 'a few' days? Can you combine your outlet trip with your Margaritaville meal and just rent for less than 24 hours?

 

[Belle1111]

I can't help you with the value resorts- but I like your idea of staying at close, but separate resorts with family! It gives both sides the chance to have some alone time.

When we travelled to CA awhile back we rented a car seat along with the car- just make sure they have the type you need- 5 point vs. booster, etc. We've also traveled with our car seat, but she was big enough to use it in the airplane by then.

Oh, and I've never been to Margaritaville in Orlando- but just from the name it sounds good to me!

 

[gwcollins71]

Thanks so much for the responses.

I'm glad I don't have to worry about a car seat. We will only be using the car for one day total (24 hours). I want to stay on property as much as possible.

We've already stayed at Carribean Beach, so that isn't an option. I've read the reviews and comments on all three sites. I am so worried that I will "choose" the wrong one. Which one has better transportation? Port Orleans or Coronado? What about the values? I don't want to have a cranky baby in a bus for too long if I can avoid it.

Can our relatives visit us at the moderates and swim with us? Technically, its pool hopping, but they'd be our guests? Does it count as pool hopping?

Please don't flame me. Just questions as they come up.

Gretchen

 

[gwcollins71]

Bumping, I want as many opinions as possible before I book.

Gretchen

 

[traviesojmt]

Well being a huge fan of the Port Orleans French Quarter, my very biased opinion would be that one. It is a smaller resort so requires less walking between buses, pool and food court. It also felt uncrowded to me. It does share buses with Riverside, but it picks up and drops off first at French Quarter. Also, moderates have a fridge in the room which I like.
I personally prefer to talk to an agent when booking rather than booking online. I use the 800-828-0228 number when I call rather than the 407#. I am going in Aug. and booked two vacations too. One for my family and one for my parents. Everything was great. You will get your reservation info in the mail within 7-10 days. If there is any problems, you will see it quickly enough to call back and fix it. The lady that we spoke to was wonderful. She repeated everything back and made sure it was right. If you have someone who you can't understand or doesn't seem to understand what you want to do, just say thank you, hang up and call again to speak with a different agent. We booked two vacations last summer too without problem. I have to add that for some reason completely unknown to me, the price when I call is sometimes a few dollars different than when I check the price online. This time ours was the same price but my parents was a few dollars different. Have no idea why that is and I didn't think to ask.

I too completely understand and agree that separate resorts with families is a fine idea.

Hope you have a great trip