Spontaneous Disney

[DebinD]

Hola!

My family went to Disney a number of years ago as a family reunion. My kids were a little young so we bought 5-day forever tickets and only used 3.

So fast forward to this week and we have a 4 day weekend coming up for Easter and miles, and two days of tickets- so Here we go two weeks to Disney.


We don't really have this in the budget- so looking for reasonable resorts. We will be there 3 nights.

We also have food allergies (shellfish) and would love any tips for eating at Disney with allergies.

I need the crash course!!

We may buy tix for one more day so we can have 3 days in the parks.

MK is for sure.

 

[VAfamily1998]

What is your definition of "reasonable" for your resort budget? How many people are in your party and are you ok with your kids sharing beds?

I have a shellfish allergy. If you mention it when you check in to a restaurant they will send a manager to your table to discuss any concerns. After the first couple times this happened, I felt I really didn't NEED to talk to a manager, so I stopped mentioning it at check in and just didn't order shellfish But if you have strong concerns about the allergies, I would mention it when you check in at the restaurant so you can discuss it with the manager.

 

[DebinD]

What is your definition of "reasonable" for your resort budget? How many people are in your party and are you ok with your kids sharing beds?

I have a shellfish allergy. If you mention it when you check in to a restaurant they will send a manager to your table to discuss any concerns. After the first couple times this happened, I felt I really didn't NEED to talk to a manager, so I stopped mentioning it at check in and just didn't order shellfish But if you have strong concerns about the allergies, I would mention it when you check in at the restaurant so you can discuss it with the manager.

2 adults and 2kids and yes sharing beds is fine.
I'd be okay at $300 but can't do $500+ per night.


Good info on the shellfish . Thanks.

 

[VAfamily1998]

2 adults and 2kids and yes sharing beds is fine.
I'd be okay at $300 but can't do $500+ per night.


Good info on the shellfish . Thanks.

For under $300/night you are looking at a moderate or value. My favorite moderate is Coronado Springs. It is undergoing some construction right now--I've heard from a lot of people currently staying there that the construction isn't too intrusive. Still, my preference is to not stay at resorts undergoing refurbishment/construction, so I will recommend my second favorite moderate, which is Port Orleans Riverside. The resort is gorgeous and has a boat to Disney Springs. It is also a short walk to it's sister resort, Port Orleans French Quarter--they have beignets for sale in their food court!

 

[terri33inne]

You're looking at a moderate or value in that price range (discounts for that date range ended 03/30). What are the ages & genders of your kids? For the moderates I would recommend POR, and maybe a Royal Room, for a value our go-to is Pop.

As for the allergies, you can note it on your reservation as well as tell them when you check-in. If it's a buffet they will walk you through, and advise what you can/can't eat.

 

[DebinD]

Thanks for the recommendations!

Man $300 seems like such a splurge and is a value/budget!!

My kids are 9. B/G

 

[Marthasor]

I just hope you know you are going at one of the most crowded weekends of the year. Many people already have a big advantage over you in that they have scheduled their ADR's and FP+ reservations. If you are ok with going with the flow a little, you will be fine, but be prepared for big standby waits for hard-to-get FP+ rides that you may not be able to FP.

As far as resorts, as others have mentioned, the discounts have expired for that travel period, but you could book a mod for a little more than $900 total. I would recommend POR or POFQ.

Have you considered going at a time when you have more time to plan or when discounts are available?

 

[DebinD]

I just hope you know you are going at one of the most crowded weekends of the year. Many people already have a big advantage over you in that they have scheduled their ADR's and FP+ reservations. If you are ok with going with the flow a little, you will be fine, but be prepared for big standby waits for hard-to-get FP+ rides that you may not be able to FP.

As far as resorts, as others have mentioned, the discounts have expired for that travel period, but you could book a mod for a little more than $900 total. I would recommend POR or POFQ.

Have you considered going at a time when you have more time to plan or when discounts are available?

Well that would make sense- but my kids pass will age our at the end of summer- and this is really our best shot.

I didn't know we could Fp already!! I'm still trying to get out forever tickets switched over.

I don't even know what ADR's are. I did all this research in 2011 and I don't really want to do it all again! But I guess I should!

 

[DebinD]

Well that would make sense- but my kids pass will age our at the end of summer- and this is really our best shot.

I didn't know we could Fp already!! I'm still trying to get out forever tickets switched over.

I don't even know what ADR's are. I did all this research in 2011 and I don't really want to do it all again! But I guess I should!

Oh we aren't interested in ADR's. I guess we are staying onsite for the first time though -I should look into that!

 

[jolene63]

I would suggest Port Orleans Riverside (POR) or Coronado Springs (CSR). My nine year old loves both of these resorts. Their themes are very different so you might want to look up pictures of both and see which one you would prefer. We like the food court better at POR, however, y'all might not be at your resort much if you are only going to be there for four days. I'm assuming you will be at the parks most of the time. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Ensusieasm]

Well that would make sense- but my kids pass will age our at the end of summer- and this is really our best shot.

I didn't know we could Fp already!! I'm still trying to get out forever tickets switched over.

I don't even know what ADR's are. I did all this research in 2011 and I don't really want to do it all again! But I guess I should!

Children's non expiration WDW passes with days left on them can be used even if the child now has reached the "Disney Adult" age. So those tickets are not going to "age out". You would need to bring the tickets in person to a customer relations desk to get them converted to the adult pass needed. So you aren't under any deadline to get to WDW before their next birthday.
Also, my favorite Port Orleans Riverside is a gorgeous resort with boat transportation to the beautifully transformed Disney Springs. Prices at other times of the year can be in the 200 dollar range.

 

[DebinD]

Children's non expiration WDW passes with days left on them can be used even if the child now has reached the "Disney Adult" age. So those tickets are not going to "age out". You would need to bring the tickets in person to a customer relations desk to get them converted to the adult pass needed. So you aren't under any deadline to get to WDW before their next birthday.
Also, my favorite Port Orleans Riverside is a gorgeous resort with boat transportation to the beautifully transformed Disney Springs. Prices at other times of the year can be in the 200 dollar range.

Ohh - good to know! I didn't know that! Well we have the airfare purchased- so we are on our way!

 

[Ensusieasm]

Ohh - good to know! I didn't know that! Well we have the airfare purchased- so we are on our way!

Enjoy! There's no time like the present!

 

[Surgie2]

I didn't know we could Fp already!! I'm still trying to get out forever tickets switched over.

The minute you get your tickets switched over, get your FP lined up. The top rides may not be available but you'll get something and can keep looking for additional FP options to open up. Do you already have a My Disney Experience account set up? If not, do that now even before your tickets are converted. Then as soon as you have ticket numbers, you can enter those in your MDE for each family member and get FP reservations made. Once your MDE is set up you can make dining reservations. You do not need Disney tickets or resort room reserved to make dining reservations so do that now if you want any table service meals.

 

[DebinD]

The minute you get your tickets switched over, get your FP lined up. The top rides may not be available but you'll get something and can keep looking for additional FP options to open up. Do you already have a My Disney Experience account set up? If not, do that now even before your tickets are converted. Then as soon as you have ticket numbers, you can enter those in your MDE for each family member and get FP reservations made. Once your MDE is set up you can make dining reservations. You do not need Disney tickets or resort room reserved to make dining reservations so do that now if you want any table service meals.

Thank you. I do have a
Disney account- I was trying to add dining and FP etc but we haven't booked our hotel either. I think that's the MDE account.

I added the rest of the fam to the account.

 

[Marthasor]

Thank you. I do have a
Disney account- I was trying to add dining and FP etc but we haven't booked our hotel either. I think that's the MDE account.

I added the rest of the fam to the account.

If you want to make any dining reservations, you can do that now without a hotel booked. You won't be able to make FP+ on MDE until you have tickets linked. Once your tickets are linked in MDE, you will be able to make FP+. You are within 30 days of your trip, so you can even make FP+ without a hotel reservation. If you have physical tickets, look on the back and their should be a number there. You can use that number to link the tickets in MDE.

 

[IrishNYC]

Oh we aren't interested in ADR's. I guess we are staying onsite for the first time though -I should look into that!

Thank you. I do have a
Disney account- I was trying to add dining and FP etc but we haven't booked our hotel either. I think that's the MDE account.

I added the rest of the fam to the account.

ADRs are reservations for table service restaurants. Is that what you mean by dining? Or are you trying to add a quick service dining plan?

 

[Surgie2]

I was trying to add dining and FP etc but we haven't booked our hotel either.

Yes, you can book dining right now without a resort or tickets on your MDE account so don't wait if there is a restaurant available that you really want.

 

[cruiser21]

Thanks for the recommendations!

Man $300 seems like such a splurge and is a value/budget!!

My kids are 9. B/G

Try some of the third party sites. They may have rooms left at a discount.

 

[spiceycat]

you realize that you must be at WDW to get your tickets changed - so forget the fast pass getting them online - unless you arrive and don't go in the parks that first day - but you must go to the parks (not Disney Springs) to get the tickets changed. So I might wait to go to the parks for your next trip and just do the resorts this one. I might even consider buying new tickets for this time to do what you want to do.

I love Pop - but Pop crowded and it will be - might be hard.