Trip advice last week march 2014

[drmax]

Hello. A family of 4 ages 48,40,12 & 11(boy and girl). We would be driving from Indianapolis and planning on 3 days total at parks. I figured a hopper pass allowing us to come and go as we please and then a hotel off campus "if" there'd be a huge savings of money. I don't have any discounts I'm aware of. Also we have no need to be out driving around so if the benefit of having service to the park from the hotel is useful, then I would consider. Not having to drive for 3 days would be wonderful. Any advice for a hotel and passes, with what info I've given would be greatly appreciated. Greg

 

[Nayan]

I would take a look at the value resorts (All-Star Music/Movies/Sports). Disney has an offer on room rates right now and since you would be staying on-site there would be no need to drive. As far as tickets go, there's really no way to save. 3 day tickets will run $1370 with Hopper, $1120 without. I would skip the Hopper and spend one full day at each park that you want to visit.

 

[drmax]

I would take a look at the value resorts (All-Star Music/Movies/Sports). Disney has an offer on room rates right now and since you would be staying on-site there would be no need to drive. As far as tickets go, there's really no way to save. 3 day tickets will run $1370 with Hopper, $1120 without. I would skip the Hopper and spend one full day at each park that you want to visit.

I understand the 2 resorts are value resorts. I priced the pop at 130 a night. Unsure what the savings would be at the allstar. I agree on the hopper deal and to skip. We may do 3 days at dw and then a day at universal and just keep at the same hotel

 

[davedmaine]

I understand the 2 resorts are value resorts. I priced the pop at 130 a night. Unsure what the savings would be at the allstar. I agree on the hopper deal and to skip. We may do 3 days at dw and then a day at universal and just keep at the same hotel

Much cheaper to do all in DW or all at universal. The first day prices are the killer

 

[Nayan]

I just pulled up All-Star Sports for $108/night.

 

[drmax]

I just pulled up All-Star Sports for $108/night.

Roger that

 

[drmax]

Much cheaper to do all in DW or all at universal. The first day prices are the killer

Being our kids are this age we'd do dw for sure. I'll have to ck out the attractions at universal. I heard there was a Harry potter thing there and we all loved those movies. If that in itself is great then the money don't matter. I heard that park can be gone through in a day so gifts would be a relief as far as not rushing

 

[Nayan]

The Harry Potter area is very cool and since you all like the books then you would have a blast there . If your kids like roller coasters they have a number of those as well.

 

[drmax]

The Harry Potter area is very cool and since you all like the books then you would have a blast there . If your kids like roller coasters they have a number of those as well.

Most likely once-in-a-lifetime trip as our kids are little we won't skimp on that park even if it cost more money just for one day I hope we can see everything in that park and one day however?

 

[drmax]

I just pulled up All-Star Sports for $108/night.

I pulled it for nights of mar 24-28 and comes to $135/night. 2 adults 2 kids

 

[Nayan]

When you go to the main Disney site, scroll all the way down to Places To Stay and click on Special Offers. Click on the Save Up To 30% link, then click on the Select Disney Value Resort Hotels, then choose All Star Sports and enter your dates.

 

[drmax]

When you go to the main Disney site, scroll all the way down to Places To Stay and click on Special Offers. Click on the Save Up To 30% link, then click on the Select Disney Value Resort Hotels, then choose All Star Sports and enter your dates.

Shoot. Didn't know that. Thank you

 

[Nayan]

You're welcome . I hope they still have rooms for your travel dates.

 

[monagh10]

There were rooms available during that time period for $116/night at Pop

 

[drmax]

Wife through a wrench in the gears and invited her mom. Now looking for a family suite. Good grief. Most likely now find a place off premises. As long as it has a heated pool we'll be good

 

[drmax]

DW aside, we are wanting to do universal, seaworld and discovery cove. (swim with dolphins etc) How many days do I need to do, what I just wrote?

We're only doing Magic Kingdom and Epcot at WD world.
I'm trying to figure out how many days total I need for this trip, in order to book the room and flight. I figure 2 days for WD world itself, just unsure on the others.
THx, DM

 

[Nayan]

Universal is two parks, Universal and Islands of Adventure (Islands is where Harry Potter is located). So If you are only interested in the Islands, then you would need 3 days. If you wanted to do both Universal and Islands, you would need 4. All of those parks take a day each.

 

[drmax]

Universal is two parks, Universal and Islands of Adventure (Islands is where Harry Potter is located). So If you are only interested in the Islands, then you would need 3 days. If you wanted to do both Universal and Islands, you would need 4. All of those parks take a day each.

Here's what has happened. Booked the Pop (only discounted one for my dates)
for 5 nights) Booked Discovery cove for the 24 (ouch big bucks) which I was told is entire day deal. That came with Seaworld pass so that'll be another day. Then 2 days for Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Then I'll yet have to get passes for Univeral. We're giving 1 day for each event. I didn't get the wd 2 day passes with my hotel but can add them on in the next 2 months, if I find that the prices online are no different. The guy told me that the 2 days passes for 4 are $780. That would include the "front of the line" deal. Dunno what I'll find.
Is it worth it to get the "front of the line deal" (i don't know what they call it) at univeral? I hate waiting in lines. If it's worth plz advise. Wouldn't be worth it, if several hundred people had that deal, as they'd be ahead of me in that line! Also, there is Universal Islands of adventures. Is that worth it? If there's anything else I should be aware of about Universal, or should attend plz advise as well. I know it's all a bunch of $, but we're treating this as if we may never do it again...Thx, DM
(just read where the front of the line pass can't be used over and over....rip off)

 

[drmax]

I'm starting to 2nd guess my choice of staying on the property. The price of food is driving this thought. If I stayed off campus, we could grab our breakfast and dinner off campus, inbetween hotel. That alone would save us most likely 1/2 the cost of food. We won't have a car, but I'm sure there are plenty of food joints in amongst the hotels. Since most hotels will drive us to/from WD and universal and seaworld, I'm really uncertain of why I was pushing for staying of the grounds. I mean, it isn't like it'll be a quick walk from epcot or MK to our hotel. That will require a shuttle of some sort. I have 2 months to get a full refund on hotel. I may just do that. Can someone recommend a decent hotel off campus? Sorry to be wishy washy but I suppose that's what the forums are about. We are flying into Orlando, so I suppose that should be taken into consideration. Thx for the help. DM

 

[Nayan]

Yeah, don't do Front of the Line passes as they are a huge ripoff. Universal is split into two parks, the main one (Universal itself) and Islands of Adventure. Islands of Adventure is where the Harry Potter part is so yes you want to do that one. If you wanted to save some money I would suggest you just do Islands and skip the Universal Part.

Have you made any reservations for food at either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot? Here's a link to the menus:

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm