trip planning advice

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

This is pretty much a once in a lifetime trip for my parents, who have never been to WDW before. It is also their 35th anniversary, so I would like to wow them. I also would like to show them why I keep going back to "a place I've already seen seven times." I'm not sure what would be better(and more cost efficient)- one room at a deluxe, or two at a moderate. Also I don't know if getting annual passes and the dining experience will be much more economical than the 10 day MYW tickets and the dining experience. Augh!! Its so much easier to plan a trip for just myself and the kids! My dad saw the Grand Floridian on the travel channel and fell in love with it. So here lies another problem: Should I get annual passes and hope I can secure a good rate at the Grand Floridian(and try to cram 5 into 1 room), or just get two rooms at one of the moderates? I was even thinking about the Ft Wilderness cabins, but I heard that you may have to take two buses, and sometimes transportation is slow. Help!! Any suggestions?

 

[whacked]

I would not try to cram 5 in to one room at the GF. That's a recipe for disaster.

The Disney parks make people tired. Cram them all in one room and you'll probably be sorry unless you're the Beaver Cleaver family.

You might be able to save enough money with that many people getting at least one AP and the Disney Dining Experience card (DDE). The card is good for 20% off at select resturants (a lot of them) for up to 10 guests. That alone might pay for one person to have the AP and DDE card.

If you can get AP discounts for the time you're going, you would probably make up the AP cost difference with one AP if you are staying more than about three days.. You don't need to have the pass in hand to book AP rates, so you can wait until after you make reservations to get the AP. You can book up to three rooms with one AP.

Cabins at FW with a rental car would be another option. They have full kitchens and you could save a lot of money that way. Not the same experience as being in a deluxe resort though. There are some pretty cheap deals on reantal cars in Orlando if you look around.

Some of the AP rates for FW and AKL run close to the price of the moderates, so two rooms at either of those might work out if the AP rates are good at either one.

I would book two rooms at a moderate under a room only reservation at the AAA rate, and hope you can upgrade with an AP rate later if they become available.

That's what I'm doing. (well, it's actually three rooms I'm booking, but same concept).

Again, I would NOT try to put that many people in one room, but that's just my opinion, which is worth at least as much as you paid for it.

 

[the kabuki]

I would stay away from FW for a once in a lifetime trip for mom & dad. If dad's already fallin' in love with GF, Fort Wilderness will probably be a let down. Not that there's anything wrong with FW, just can't compare the two.

IMHO, it would be a bad idea to cram 5 into one room. Everyone's going to need breathing space at the end of the day. Much more enjoyable to book connecting at a mod than crunching into a deluxe.

 

[juliesue]

If you need to WOW them and this is a once in a lifetime trip, I would go with the OP and see if you can get discounted rates at one of the deluxes. Some one in an earlier post said they got AKL savannah for only $125 more than a moderate for 3 nights.

But, if the budget is really tight, I do think two rooms are a must. They are grandparents, but I am sure they are not used to kids 24/7 and the parks really do wear you out. Having a separate space would be the most important thing to me if I was taking my parents. All of the moderates are very nice, and with two rooms, that would give you more space.

I would NEVER squeeze more than 2 adults into a room if there were also kids in the party. Too much commotion!!

 

[DawnCt1]

When my kids were young, DH and I always took my mother. We had no problem with five in a room. I think it depends upon how well everyone gets along. It's particularly do able with the sink area being outside of the bathroom. That wasn't the case at the Poly prior to the opening of the GF. We all stayed in a jr. suite one year at WL and absolutely hated it. No drawer space, rooms too cramped, etc. I felt more comfortable in a standard Yacht Club hotel room with five of us. On our Disney trips, we spend so little time in the room that it was never an issue. If you want the GF and that's how you can afford it. Do it!