Real new dad from Massachusetts

[jtolpin]

Hello Moms (and Dads if around)

I'm a dad of 3 girls (Yes, the house of Estrogen) - age 10, 8, and 5. (but for Disney, I think they're qualified as 9,8, and 5, right?)

We're making our first trip down to Florida this yr. We flew to Myrtle Beach with the kids last yr (from Mass.) no problem.

Our major issue is DD#2 with multiple Food Allergies including milk, egg, wheat, et al...

Looking for ANY information on cheap (ha!) pkgs from Mass, when to go, what to do, as the girls are VERY excited to head down to Florida!

Thx for going easy on me!

Jason

 

[nicolemm]

Disney is great with dealing with allergies. My sister (27yo) is allergic to tomatoes, potatoes and peppers and she did not have a single problem in any restaurant, CS or TS, they were very accomodating.

 

[Aliceacc]

HI and welcome!

This may help you get started: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

 

[wilde_oscar]

cheap is all relative... ticket prices are pretty regulated... the value resorts are all pretty darned nice... the more days on your park tickets the lower the per day cost. 5 days of room and tickets for a family of 5 can be as cheap as $2000 during the summer.

If you plan to stay onsite, don't worry about the food allergies... Disney will go out of their way to be accommodating.

A good starting point would be a guide or two, your library will have them... Unofficial Guide, Birnbaum's, etc. The complete Walt Disney World is also great.

There are 4 parks, each with a lot to see and do. Make a list of must see stuff at the parks, then it will get easier to set an itinerary.

 

[imadisneynut]

Hello Moms (and Dads if around)

I'm a dad of 3 girls (Yes, the house of Estrogen) - age 10, 8, and 5. (but for Disney, I think they're qualified as 9,8, and 5, right?)

We're making our first trip down to Florida this yr. We flew to Myrtle Beach with the kids last yr (from Mass.) no problem.

Our major issue is DD#2 with multiple Food Allergies including milk, egg, wheat, et al...

Looking for ANY information on cheap (ha!) pkgs from Mass, when to go, what to do, as the girls are VERY excited to head down to Florida!

Thx for going easy on me!

Jason

just to let you there are dad's on this site I am one of them and just wanted to say

 

[disneydad1954]

Welcome I am also new to the site.

 

[M&N]

Great to see DDs involved too. Have fun planning.

 

[imadisneynut]

Great to see DDs involved too. Have fun planning.

always

 

[teacup317]

Aliceacc you rock! You always know just what to say and have a link handy to back everything up. Too bad we didn't live closer, my husband even thinks your as organized as I try to be. Thanks for all your posts.

Linda (teacup317)

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi Linda, thanks for the compliment!

I'm a math teacher and the mom of 3... problem solving is what I love to do!!

(Of course, the problem of how to clean this house is an entirely different story!!!)

And my husband just laughts at all the time I spend on this site. He asked the other day: We have our reservations made and your got the dinner reservations... what else can you possibly find to DO on there??

If he only knew!

 

[pat fan]

Looking for ANY information on cheap (ha!) pkgs from Mass, when to go, what to do, as the girls are VERY excited to head down to Florida!

If you belong to AAA you can get a pretty good discount by using them. One perk is that you also get the AAA parking pass if you are renting a car while at WDW. But, that also means renting a car, which you really don't need to (unless you just like to drive, like my DH does).

We go in the summer as we can't take kids out of school (or couldn't, they're older now). If you go in July (which is what we do) the sweet spot is about 2 days after the 4th and before 15th or so. The 4th of july revelers are gone and ir's right before the tour groups start showing up. After the 15th or so, pandemonium and I would avoid it like the plague, especially since it's your first trip.

Our major issue is DD#2 with multiple Food Allergies including milk, egg, wheat, et al...

No problem at WDW! If you are making ADR's for TS meals, have them note it on your reservation and then remind them when you check in at the restaurant. They are very helpful.

I would also recommend the Value resorts. We prefer the Music, but they're all nice. The Music has just been renovated too, which is a plus. They have Family Suites now that would suit your family size, unless the little one is still in a crib? Not sure of the age cut off, though. Something to check out.

Have a great time planning and on your trip!

 

[jtolpin]

OMG. There is SO much to learn. I feel like such a newbie to this (oh yeah, I am!)

Anyhow, we're in the process (stage 1) of finding the right dates to go...

Our June is free, so we're trying to find a good 'flight time' to go, and then basing the trips start/end time on that. Good idea?

Whats a good time to arrive?

Arrival could be mid afternoon
Departure could be later in the PM (7:00)

You don't want to 'lose 2 days' based on late arrival there/early departure, right?

We're looking at the ASM resort. I've read the threads on 'What you need to know about it' and taking notes...

Our girls don't seem very interesed in the 'water parks' segment, as they are chickens... Is it worth it to 'not' get the WP option (but DO get the PH option)? Can you do without the water parks if you end up, say, just going swimming in the pools, kwim?

Thx all! I feel welcome already!

jason

ETA: Oldest DD is 10, but if we say she's 9, she eats 'as a child', right? Off the kids menu?

 

[RussellDisney]

Me and the kids are the Disney nuts in our house, the wife thinks it's just OK

Picking the flights first sounds like a good idea. Airfare is expensive, so get that settled first.

If the kids aren't interested in the water parks, don't add it. Even the value resorts have nice, large pools with cool theming. If you think they might want a simple slide, consider CBR. It's a nice moderate and this summer will have two pools with slides while the main pool is closed for renovations. Otherwise, the value pools will cool you off just fine!

As this is your first time, I'd hold off on the PH option to the tickets. You will probably find plenty to do in each park to occupy one full day. Plus, if you're going in the summer you might want to consider hitting a park early in the morning, taking a mid-day break at the resort, then going back to that park in the late afternoon. You can always add the PH once you are there, it's the same price regardless.

As others have said, food allergies are easily accomodated at the World.

Welcome aboard and have fun planning! It can be overwhelming, but just keep on reading these boards and it will all come together.

 

[dismark-e]

Welcome from another new DD There is so much valuable information here.

 

[pat fan]

Whats a good time to arrive?
Arrival could be mid afternoon
Departure could be later in the PM (7:00)

Whenever you can get a cheap flight is the best time to arrive! We try and get there as soon as we can. If we get a 7:00 flight we can be in the parks right around lunch or a little later. This works for us. If it doesn't for you, and you get a late flight in (really late) you could always stay off site one night at a flea bag and then check in at 7:00 am and hit the parks when they open!
We do departure backwards of our arrival. We try to find a flight around 5-6:00 so we get a good 1/2 day in the parks. But, if you are saving $$, again you can book an early flight home, stay at WDW till closing on the day you checked out of your WDW hotel and stay in a flea bag after leaving the parks.

Our girls don't seem very interesed in the 'water parks' segment, as they are chickens... Is it worth it to 'not' get the WP option (but DO get the PH option)? Can you do without the water parks if you end up, say, just going swimming in the pools, kwim?

You can do without the water parks, IMO. We did it once, and I wouldn't do it again. they're so crowded and to us, it's more fun at the pool since they've added the games etc...
I would get the hopper, though. JMO.

ETA: Oldest DD is 10, but if we say she's 9, she eats 'as a child', right? Off the kids menu?

Anyone can order off the kids menu, I did it at least 3 times last summer and I sure don't look under 9 I would not recommend fibbing on her age. Bad karma etc....

 

[Rylee]

Hi Jason,

Will you be staying at a Disney resort?

If so, (and I strongly recommend that you do... lots of perks) assuming your wife is going, you will need accomodations for 5. (Disney is very strict about room occupancy... fire codes.)

If there is 5 in your party, your choices are more limited, lowest, going up in cost...

• Port Orleans Riverside - 1 room... 2 double beds, 1 trundle bed, 1 bath, 1TV
• 2 rooms at a Value resort - 4 double beds, 2 baths, 2 TV's
• All-Star Music Suite - bedroom - 1 king bed, living area - pull-out sofa and chairs for 4, 2 baths, 2 TV's, small fridge and microwave.
• Fort Wilderness Cabin - Bedroom - 1 double bed and bunk beds, living area - pull-down murphy bed, 1 bath, 2 TV's, full kitchen.
• Deluxe resort - any room for 5, 2 queens, 1 daybed, 1 bath, 1 TV.

There are other options but cost more $$$.

If you have AAA, you can receive a discount.

If you are flying and staying at a Disney resort, you will not need a car rental, although some prefer it to Disney transportation.

If you want to book the Dining Plan, you must book a package.

Dining Plan would be approximately $106 times (X) the number of nights of your stay. You will each receive 1 Table Service (TS), 1 Counter Service (CS) and 1 snack credit times your number of nights. Tips are not included.

You can read menus and prices at the allearsnet site.

Dining Plan or not, if you want to dine/experience any of the TS restaurants, including character meals, you should make Advance Dining Reservations (ADR). Reservations can be made 180 days in advance.

I don't really feel the hopper option is necessary, especially for first-timers, but it does allow more flexibility, especially for dining purposes.

Have fun planning... any more questions, just ask.

 

[Cee]

Welcome! Go on the DVC Rent/Trade board and read the thread on renting
points from a DVC member. This is a less expensive way to get a larger accommodation. The DVC resorts have studios that sleep four with a kitchenette, 1 and 2 bedroom villas with full kitchens and HUGE grand villas
that sleep 12! I've rented points a number of times now and have had great
experiences each time and saved big. The difference between the rack rates
is significant. Good luck. You and your "Estrogen Squad" will have a blast!

 

[imadisneynut]

hey all you dads out there here is a link for dis board dads

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1635716