The Pre-Planning Stage... if that exists... Help needed!

[Holstar]

Hello!

Well, I've finally made the transition over from the Disneyland Paris forum to this one - exciting!

We took our nieces (13, 10 and 7) to DLP last week for seven days and it was bliss - I always forget how much I love Disney until I'm there!

We're been thinking for a while about WDW, my partner suggested maybe going to Greece or Spain with the girls next year but looking at prices it would be about £2k for the five of us anyway, and the girls have said they would like to go to Disney anyway, so we relented and suggested maybe going for Christmas too, but that would be another £3k! Expensive year for holidays!

With that being the back story, we came to the conclusion (I say 'we', I very much mean 'I' ) that it would be best to just go all out and do our dream WDW holiday instead.

So... Before I look at booking and paying deposits, I really need some help and advice from you all based on how you've found various resorts!

If anyone of you have input in just one of my questions please please let me know! I'm so stuck!

1. The girls are a little older (they'll be 14, 11 and 8 when we go) and don't mind being on their feet - but they will want to see everything! What is the ideal amount of time? For us, 14 days would be the minimum, but would 17-21 be too much or about right? My logic is, if we're going to do this, we won't be able to afford to for quite some time after, I'd like to make it as memorable as possible for them!

2. Which would be the best options for accommodation based on your experience? We looked at the more budget hotels, but if we upgrade we get the dining plan which would be handy as we'll be spending most of our time in Disney! Or, if we're looking at say 21 days, would it be cheaper to go down the villa route? My partner will be 25 in June, will he be able to rent a car? Will I be able to drive it at 23? How far would the commute be to WDW and is the car parking good?

3. Even if we don't go down the villa route, is renting a car a must? We'd be happy to (as long as Ben and I would be able to drive it at our ages!), is this the best way of getting around? We're thinking day trips to Wet 'n' Wild, Discovery Cove etc. Or, are the transfers from the park/public transport options good?

4. When is the best time to go? The girls will go back to school mid-September, but it's been suggested to be to aim to go late August to early Sept as American kids are back at school by then and the parks are less crowded? The school are generally fine with missing the first week or so of school. What would the weather be like Mid-September? Or would it best to just go for July/August?

5. Where's the best place to look for good deals? I've been scouring the internet and calling travel agents all week, but the cheapest we've been quoted has been £5,600.00 for two adults, three children for two weeks, flights, hotel, park tickets (Disney only). Am I crazy to hope to get the costs down a little?

6. Ideally, we'd like to get a dining plan as we'll mainly be in the park (the kids only want to do Wet 'n' Wild, Universal and Discovery cove), but even with a dining plan, how much should we be budgeting for spending money, treats etc? We gave the girls £100 each for spending money at DLP which worked well, but we'll obviously be going for longer this time!

My partner and I are very lucky that we get a work bonus in March, plus my savings means we would be able to afford £5k-ish fine (I say fine, I'm accepting living on beans on toast for a few months!). But... It's still LOT of money. I just know that yeah, we could go to Greece or Spain, and sure, I'd love to see DLP at Christmas - but in all honesty, would I regret not doing those things? Not at all. Would I regret not going to WDW? Yes! Sorry to bring it all down to money - but my gosh! This is going to be expensive!

Any help or advice at this pre-planning stage would be amazing! I don't know anyone that's been with children, or for that matter been at all, so I have no one to lean on for advice! Please just point me in the right direction!

xxx

 

[jen_uk]

Hello

1 - if you can go for 3 weeks then I would, this means you can get lots done but still have enough rest days that you get parked out. WDW and Universal are HUGE and you will be surprised at how long you need to spend there. Then of course there's Seaworld etc.

2 - Personally I like to stay onsite as it makes it easier to travel back to the hotel in the middle of the day for a rest and swim. Plus it means you get early entry and all the other benefits. You can rent a car at 25 no problem, at 23 you make just have to pay more for the insurance.

3 - If you stay onsite then the WDW transport is really good, you can then book transfers to other places using Mears etc. However, having a car does really open things up for you and it means you can eat offsite which is so much cheaper.

4 - Mid to end of August is a great time to go as the crowds are not too bad and the weather is lovely and hot. Be prepared for the heat though and consider that when you plan your days as it really takes it out of you.

Lastly, don't plan too much, if you try to go to WDW, Universal, Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, W&W and more you will probably end up parked out and unhappy. For a first visit I would limit it to WDW, Universal and Seaworld, this then leaves you time for shopping and rest days.

Happy planning!!

 

[MarkF0wle]

1. The girls are a little older (they'll be 14, 11 and 8 when we go) and don't mind being on their feet - but they will want to see everything! What is the ideal amount of time? For us, 14 days would be the minimum, but would 17-21 be too much or about right? My logic is, if we're going to do this, we won't be able to afford to for quite some time after, I'd like to make it as memorable as possible for them!

We're a family that goes for 21 days at a time. We find that with 14 days we're making exclusions based on what we would rather do above getting everything. Even with 21 days there next year we are only planned to have 1 rest/mall day. But as a family we do everything Florida has to offer. In terms of cost effectiveness adding an extra week is good value as half the cost will no doubt be flights. We recently added a 3rd week to our booking for only £600 extra each, good value considering 2 weeks was costing £2500 each.

2. Which would be the best options for accommodation based on your experience? We looked at the more budget hotels, but if we upgrade we get the dining plan which would be handy as we'll be spending most of our time in Disney! Or, if we're looking at say 21 days, would it be cheaper to go down the villa route? My partner will be 25 in June, will he be able to rent a car? Will I be able to drive it at 23? How far would the commute be to WDW and is the car parking good?

With 5 people in the party 1 Disney room will be cramped. They are opening the Art of Animation resort with family suites next year which are bigger. But you'll still be on top of each other. If all you plan to do in the room is sleep; probably not an issue. But you will get more for your money off-site. If you go off-site you will have to pay OOP for food. Honestly the Dining Plan saves a minimal amount of money; it's more a way to pre-pay for food. Last year being there for 14 days; 4 adults eating mainly offsite we still spend upwards of £1,000 on food. A car; I think 25 is the minimum. I'm not sure. If you stay off-site you NEED a car; however parking will be about $15 a day wherever you go.

3. Even if we don't go down the villa route, is renting a car a must? We'd be happy to (as long as Ben and I would be able to drive it at our ages!), is this the best way of getting around? We're thinking day trips to Wet 'n' Wild, Discovery Cove etc. Or, are the transfers from the park/public transport options good?

Staying off-site do get a car; there are options but as soon as you venture outside Disney it's not great. Can be cheap but also a long time! The best route without a car is to get a Taxi. A normal taxi from Disney to/from Universal is about $30 each way. (I'm not sure 5 will fit in a normal taxi!?) We looked at this option for next year but after working out what it would cost us in taxi fare we're renting a car.

4. When is the best time to go? The girls will go back to school mid-September, but it's been suggested to be to aim to go late August to early Sept as American kids are back at school by then and the parks are less crowded? The school are generally fine with missing the first week or so of school. What would the weather be like Mid-September? Or would it best to just go for July/August?

If you're stuck with summer best is to go the last 3 week of summer holiday as the Florida kids go back. It's a noticeable drop off. However we've been at all times over August (Mum was a teacher). Having the right plan for each day is more important. It can work for you. August will be hot & you will get daily afternoon storms (usually last about 30mins). Despite the crowds August is my favourite time to go.

5. Where's the best place to look for good deals? I've been scouring the internet and calling travel agents all week, but the cheapest we've been quoted has been £5,600.00 for two adults, three children for two weeks, flights, hotel, park tickets (Disney only). Am I crazy to hope to get the costs down a little?

I can't help here. It's going to be expensive. But worth every penny. I don't shop around, I'm quite a mug in that respect. Or have more money than sense? DIY is cheaper but you need the money upfront for that. At least a TA will take a deposit.

6. Ideally, we'd like to get a dining plan as we'll mainly be in the park (the kids only want to do Wet 'n' Wild, Universal and Discovery cove), but even with a dining plan, how much should we be budgeting for spending money, treats etc? We gave the girls £100 each for spending money at DLP which worked well, but we'll obviously be going for longer this time!

This is pretty individual. It's easy to spend money at WDW. There are shops everywhere. You can buy anything with a Mickey Mouse of it. When we were younger my parents budgeted $100 a day for the family for food/purchases. But things would still get credit carded. The idea here is to be sensible. Instead of buying something everywhere, plan 1 day to shop. That way you can monitor the expense.

Enjoy it here, everybody has a wealth of knowledge.