Too many choices-- someone please plan our trip!!

[ruthgator]

I'm about done with trip planning-- and I've barely even started... DH and I want to take our kids DS7 and DD4 to MK and DHS. We live in atlanta so we will drive.
Do we take DS out of school? We want to stay off property due to finances... where? What days to do what parks??? And, most importantly, WHEN do we go?? We want it to be about a 5 or 6 night trip with 2 days at MK and one at DHS. Do we plan on going during star wars weekend (DS would be in heaven...)? But this won't be our only trip... we'll be back...

Please point me in some sort of direction so I don't feel SO confused... thanks! Ruth

 

[worm761]

I would be more than happy to help. Are you OK with taking your DS out of school? When does school end for him this year? My dad went last month and stayed off site at Sun Lake Resort. They are around 59 a night for two bedroom villa at bookit.com. Dad said they were nice and from the pics he took they look ok to me. That is a really good price. Your trip would have to be over a weekend in May to do Star Wars Weekend. Those are very crowded but a lot of fun. The only thing really different for the kids is the characters. The rest is a parade, meeting the actors, and special collectors merchandise. DBF and DS like it but they are much older than yours and really just like seeing the characters. I would suggest you do DHS and SWW on a Friday. The locals tend to come out on Sat and Sun so it is extra crowded those days. Then just do MK the other days. Any other questions? Does this answer your questions?

Since you seem to be overwhelmed....remember as you are reading that a lot of people on here plan out what parks on what days, which rides at what time. I can honestly say I don't do that and I have yet to have a bad trip. I plan our meals because we stay onsite and use the dining plans. Other than that we wake up and decide which park we want to do. I figure it isn't our last trip so it will all be there the next time. If you need any other help, feel free to PM me.

 

[vester]

Here is your trip hehe.

Go May 14-24. Pull kids out. The last 3 days will be star wars weekends, it will be the first weekend. Stay at Silver Lake Resort (you can get WICKED deals at skyauction dot com.) Its about 3 minutes from the entrance of Animal Kingdom. There you go.

Vester

 

[ruthgator]

Here is your trip hehe.

Go May 14-24. Pull kids out. The last 3 days will be star wars weekends, it will be the first weekend. Stay at Silver Lake Resort (you can get WICKED deals at skyauction dot com.) Its about 3 minutes from the entrance of Animal Kingdom. There you go.

Vester

That was laugh out loud funny!!!
DS's last day is May 21 (which happens to be his birthday). We don't mind pulling him out of school at all. I'll have to check out Silver Lake and Sun Lake... We will only stay for about a week, not 10 days... DH can't be gone that long... keep the ideas coming, people!

 

[mrstomrice]

Have you priced staying on property at a value? They have great deals now, from % off the room to a gift card. By the time you pay $12 a day just to park, you need to add that to the cost of a less expensive room. I entered May 22-28 for a room at the All Star Sports and got a price of $510 for the room. When you add tickets for all 4 of you for 5 days (which you will spend wherever you stay), the cost is $1415.82 (base ticket, no hopping for 5 days). You can also price it out to get a gift card to spend that is worth $350, but the price may go up a bit.

 

[ruthgator]

Have you priced staying on property at a value? They have great deals now, from % off the room to a gift card. By the time you pay $12 a day just to park, you need to add that to the cost of a less expensive room. I entered May 22-28 for a room at the All Star Sports and got a price of $510 for the room. When you add tickets for all 4 of you for 5 days (which you will spend wherever you stay), the cost is $1415.82 (base ticket, no hopping for 5 days). You can also price it out to get a gift card to spend that is worth $350, but the price may go up a bit.

We are just not a one room type of family. DH and I like/need our ahem, privacy... and DS/DD don't do well sharing a bed. At all. We want at least a one bedroom so we can be alone and DD can be on the bed and DS in a sleeping bag( possibly in a tent...) on the floor...

 

[worm761]

Also think about any dining you want to do. If you are planning any sit down dinners or character meals, you have to make reservations. Otherwise it is counter service all the way.

 

[Champagne]

We are just not a one room type of family. DH and I like/need our ahem, privacy... and DS/DD don't do well sharing a bed. At all. We want at least a one bedroom so we can be alone and DD can be on the bed and DS in a sleeping bag( possibly in a tent...) on the floor...

We're in the exact same situation. I would love to stay onsite, but I want a separate sleeping area from the kids.

 

[BobbleClank]

We are just not a one room type of family. DH and I like/need our ahem, privacy... and DS/DD don't do well sharing a bed. At all. We want at least a one bedroom so we can be alone and DD can be on the bed and DS in a sleeping bag( possibly in a tent...) on the floor...

Seriously? Part of the allure of Disney is having the family together at all times for me. My better half and I wouldn't even think about breaking in a disney bed.

 

[goingtotheworld]

Check out vacationcentralflorida.com. They have condos and townhouses for reasonable prices and are very close to the parks. We will be staying in one of the condos in April and the communication with the owners has been great! They have also received great reviews on some of the other WDW sites.

Good sites for planning information that you may want to check out tourguidemike.com, allears.net, mousesavers.com and passporter.com

Happy Planning!

 

[aaronandterri]

Have you thought of staying at one of the dvc resorts, either direct or by renting some points.

 

[momof1princess]

ok, depending on the dates you go, you'd want to check the park hours for may at http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/may10.cfm?requesttimeout=1000
we always base which park we go to on how early or late the park is open and whether or not the parades are being done that day. bear in mind though, if you're staying offsite, you won't get to take advantage of EMH.
as far as dining, i would recommend crystal palace at MK, biergarten at epcot and tusker house at animal kingdom. hollywood & vine at hollywood studios is okay, not spectacular, but i believe they have a playhouse disney character meal for the young ones your kids may enjoy. any further questions, please ask. i love helping with this stuff.

 

[ruthgator]

Have you thought of staying at one of the dvc resorts, either direct or by renting some points.

I've seen people 'renting' points, but I truly don't know what that means... can you explain-- or point me to a thread that explains it??? Thanks so much!

 

[hedge333]

I don't know about where to stay, etc. but I would hesitate to pull your son out of school. I know it is ideal to go during the off season but as a teacher I think pulling kids out, especially in March, April, early May is a bad idea. I know in a lot of states these months are when state testing and other important things occur, make up tests and events are difficult for schools and students to coordinate. If he has to take make-ups, he'll miss even more content in class. I can see maybe going at the end of the school year when things are winding down. Also, it is hard for a student to catch up. He may be able to make up the work but there is so much that happens during instruction in the class that you just don't get with assignments alone. I know the appeal of taking kids out is great, better prices, smaller crowds, cooler weather, etc. However, it is important to think through all that he would be missing in school and weather he would do the work while he was gone or have to make it up when he returns, etc. I know that's a downer of an answer. Just something to consider.