Suggestions for trip from Toronto.......

[PrincessasMommy]

Planning a trip Dec 9-16 for 9 of us....

Family 1 - 2 adults, 3 kids, 10, 3 & 2 (our 2nd family trip)
Family 2 - 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 & 5 month old (our friend's first time - keep hearing me talk about it and want to join in on the fun)

Overpaid for everything when I booked my family trip with an agent the last time (April 2005). Would like to do it on my own this time (with your help of course).

We rented a small pool home last time and loved the space and laundry facilities (which we think would be even more beneficial with 9 of us) but that requires a passenger van rental to transport all 9 of us along with 2 double strollers and a bunch of baby gear. Can anyone reccommend a home? A car rental agency?

What about staying onsite and using ME? Which resort would be best for all our kids? AKL?

Fly from Pearson? Which airline would you suggest? Just checked Westjet and price is $500 CDN x 8 of us = $4000. Should I wait to book? Go elsewhere? Flew Transat the last time and was happy with them but their flights aren't out yet.

Also - Flying out of Buffalo or driving isn't an option with 4 babies! I'd like to be happy on my vacation!

Thanks!

 

[mousy_in_canada]

What about going to Buffalo with the kids and staying at a hotel the night before your flight, last time I got tickets for $75 return including all taxes and fees ($375 TOTAL) worth the drive in my opinion!

AK would be fun for the kids!

ETA: hey I just saw we will be there the same time!!!!

 

[tigger2on]

It would probably be cheaper to look for deals and rent 2 cars/minivans. I know that the passenger vans cost an arm and a leg...and rarely go on special. We are renting a minivan and an economy in June if we go. That way everyone can fit and the strollers can go in the van... we also have a child in a wheelchair.
Our party would be 7...3 adults and 4 kids ( 2 under 2).
We have flown Air Canada,Air transit and Skyservice out of Toronto but are going to try Buffalo this time!
We have always stayed on site but have decided to try a pool house this time...and am actually lookng forward to being able to swimon our own whenever we want, and soak in the hot tub after the kids go to bed.
Good Luck and have fun!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

If you think you'd like to stay on-site, you might want to consider POR (Alligator Bayou). You can ask for connecting rooms and ask for a room with a trundle bed (then you can have five in your room). The resort is lovely, there are plenty of quiet pools for relaxing swims with your kids plus the big pool and playground.

I know that driving can be a hassle, but on our most recent trip (with a 1 year old and a 3 year old) we decided to try the "driving through the night" idea (from Guelph, Ontario). It worked very well, and we will definitely do it again. We left around supper time the first night and drove all night (taking turns napping). The kids slept most of the time. The next day we had planned to continue driving, but my son got sick (some kind of virus - we all had our turn with it by the end of the week) so we ended up checking into a hotel for the day. He recovered, we got back into the car at suppertime again, and arrived at WDW early in the morning. Even with that unplanned extra day in a hotel, it was definitely cheaper than flying would have been, and the kids were quite happy.

Teresa

 

[dsneygirl]

I would really consider Buffalo. I don't think it would be anymore difficult with children, in fact it may be easier because it is so much smaller. And you don't have to line up for Customs and then security, only customs. They also have a couple of Fisher Price Play areas set up.

You would be paying $100 a person, not $500. So you're saving $2000+ which would easily pay for AKL.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

Thanks for the responses.

To the person who suggested to rent 2 cars as opposed to a passenger van - what about paying for parking for 7 days twice? I have been quoted $1000 CDN for the week for a 12 seater, I think it's a good deal, all inclusive - what do you think? Can you direct me where I can pick up 2 vehicles for cheaper than that considering parking? I am all for 2 vehicles but can't seem to find any good deals - maybe I am looking in the wrong places? Would really appreciate your help with this one.

If I am to fly out of Pearson, can you suggest how I go about getting a decent deal?

Do you think staying on-site and nixing the car rental may be a better idea?

BTW, just wondering what's the cheapest you've ever gone to WDW for?

 

[iluveeyore]

Flying out of Buffalo is the cheapest way - Southwest flies nonstop to Orlando, and my sister got a deal last year for $80 roundtrip - very easy to get there from QEW - it would be totally worth the drive for so many people.
If you want a great place to stay, why not try Disney Vacation Club resorts? You can go to the DVC rental board and rent points for your stay - you can stay in a 2 bedroom suite with a full kitchen and comfortable sleep all of you - also has a laundry room in the suite. Old Key West is the cheapest for points, or you can choose Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Boardwalk or Saratoga - we are members, and eight of us stayed last year in a 2 bedroom. You can visit www.dvcfriends.com to see the rooms. If you want, I can check the amount of points you would need and let you know how much it would cost.

 

[iluveeyore]

I just checked for DVC points - would cost you 220 points for the time you are going Dec 9-16 for a 2 bedroom villa at Old Key West (my favourite and the cheapest as well) - $2200 total for the time frame as most points are rented for $10 each. And staying there allows you to all stay in the same 'apartment' - one room has two queen beds and it's own bathroom, the master suite has a king bed, jacuzzi tub and separate bathroom with shower, and the main room has living room with pullout queen sleeper, loveseat and chair, dining area and full size kitchen, which we usually stock with a trip to the Super Walmart nearby - cheaper than eating out too.
Worth checking into - the DVC resorts are premium resorts as well, a joy to stay at - check out the website I told you about and see for yourself!
Good luck!

 

[mousy_in_canada]

And just to add on the renting the DVC points,(which is a great suggestion) if you stay on site even if renting points parking is free or you can take internal bus transportation.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

If you want to go cheaply I would also suggest flying out of Buffalo. The last time we flew down there were two canadian families with us on the shuttle from the parking lot with 3 car seats and 3 strollers. We met them again at the gate for our non-stop flight on Southwest. They had no trouble with the carseats and strollers. Southwest is great with them and since Southwest has a non-stop in the morning and at night you don't have to worry about changing planes anywhere.

We also used Magical Express which was great as well.

Cheapest trip - flying Southwest out of Buffalo and staying at a value with an AP rate. Real cost for us is dining as we like to eat and my beanie collection which keeps growing.

I'm not sure if there is a cheap way of flying out of Pearson.

 

[Claud26]

We flew out in December with a 2yr old and a 5yr olf ... stayed over night at Holiday inn Express and our flight left at 6am on Airtran with a conection in Atlanta ... I know you must be thinking that is insane ... NOT at all it was so much easier then flying out of Pearson. We save $1000.00 which we used towards staying at The Wildreness Lodge.
Next time I would try to get a direct Flight. But other than that it was so much easier with the kids. Buffalo airport is a breeze compared to Pearson.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

Convincing me to go through Buffalo!
- Now, if I do, do I leave my car at the Holiday Inn Express?
- If I get a day flight is it relatively safe to leave it for a week in their parking garage? New Ford Expedition so I am a little comcerned with leaving my other "baby" somewhere I am not familiar with.

Anyone have any pool home suggestions?

Which Disney Resort do you feel is best for Toddlers?

Which car rental agency is best in your opinion?


I am thinking the new plan will be to fly from Buffalo, rent 2 cars and stay off site at a pool home. Might be nice to relax in the hot tub when the kids are asleep after the parks.

Which are the TOP 4 parks to go to in your opinion?

Thanks!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

Yes you can park at the Holiday Inn Express, several other hotels have park and fly deals as well. I would say your car is just as safe as being parked at Pearson for the week.

I think someone else mentioned renting DVC points. You may want to look at that again. By staying on porperty if one baby is fussy you can just pop back to the hotel for a nap. You'll also have the full kitchen and laundry.

 

[iluveeyore]

If you stay off site, it will be much more difficult to have a quick trip back to your rooms for naps for the young ones, plus you'll have to pay to park each time you go to a park, and it's much further to the park from the public parking than getting off a Disney bus or boat and getting to the front gate. Especially for Magic Kingdom where you have to park your rental and then wait for a ferry to take you across to the park with hundreds of others. The DVC resorts are like vacation homes, and the two bedrooms have a jacuzzi tub you can relax in while the young ones nap - the pool areas also have hot tubs to soak in. On property would be a much more enjoyable vacation, especially with little ones.

 

[iluveeyore]

Also wanted to mention Alamo and a couple other rental agencies are located on Disney property and will pick you up or drop you off at your resort when you're done with your rental. But if you take Magical Express, it's free and staying on property you can get anywhere you need to go with Disney transportation, strollers and all for free as well - no rentals needed and more money for souvenirs and extras you want!!!