Trip Planning Stress!

[baseballmom94]

Heres the deal: my husband and I want to take our two kids (ages 9 and 6) to Disney over our Spring Break in March (Yes, I know-- the busiest time of the year!) We stayed at the Yacht Club for a week in 2000 and loved it. Our kids were under-3 and 6 at the time and we want to go back now that they're a little older. My 6 year old doesn't remember quite as much as my 9 year old. However, we are trying to be a little more economical-minded this trip and are trying to decide which hotel/resort.

We are planning to do:

Magic Kingdom (2 days)
Universal Studios (1 day)

We already did MGM and Epcot last time. My husband REALLY wants to go to Universal.
I'm getting stressed because flights from our city to Orlando are getting booked up already and hotels are getting booked up as well. I already tried to get the Dophin teacher's rate (Husband qualifies as college professor) and that is sold out. Since we want to go to Universal, is it better to stay on-site at Disney for the first 3 nights and then switch to a hotel near Universal? If we do this, do we need a rental car or is it better to use a shuttle service or taxi?

OR should we find a nice off-site resort that is close to both resorts. Then we would definitely need a rental car. I also have no idea how far WDW is from Universal.

As far as staying on-site, we like Disney but we're not like HUGE fanatics.....just trying to give our kids a fun experience while they can still appreciate Magic Kingdom. I just think the resort prices are so exhorbitant for what you get.

What advice would you give me?

 

[threeboysmom]

Are you going to have a rental car? If not, then it would be best to stay onsite at Disney - maybe one of the moderates or even the All Stars to save money? I'd call and see what exactly is available for your dates. Or some of the Downtown Disney hotels with bus transportation have been running around $80/nt. rates. I personally wouldn't stay offsite unless you had your own transportation. I believe Universal runs a shuttle bus between WDW & Universal - you'd need to check that out on the Universal board.

OR, you could stay offsite (plenty of hotels/resorts to pick from!!)then rent a car and do both WDW & Universal easily. They're actually only about 20-25 minutes apart from each other. I'm assuming you're staying for a week? If your husband really wants to do Universal (both parks?), there is a great special running - 5 days for $89.95; whereas just 1 day costs around $54 with no hopping priviledges. Even if you only go twice, you're still ahead of the game moneywise.

Don't get stressed! Planning is supposed to be fun!! We'll help you! Ask away!!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Check in to staying on site at Universal. With your room key you are allowed Front of the Line access to rides, shows and food. Go to Universal after MK because you may not want to return to WDW again. You need 2 days at MK because 1 of them is standing in line.

 

[DaddyDon]

motherfletcher
But soooooooo True!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Getting pretty thin there, Dad! Are you still going to RPR for Thanksgiving dinner?

 

[DaddyDon]

Have ressies at 6.00p.m. if i can hold out that long!!!!!Looking foward to going !!!!on the short rows See what happens when fall out of that spell! I have not become anti -disney,But what have they done for the guest lately?????My wife and i have tentive plans to stay at pop century in jan..But they havent gotten any money from me either or a cc She wants to see the new fireworks,and i want to do the drunk around the world,ooopppppsss,I mean the beers around the world,Then its off to UNIVERSAL!!!!!!!!! So i can break in my annual pass!!!!!!! You know i have to justify the cost u know

 

[Motherfletcher]

Is the new fireworks the perimeter ones? They had that for MNSHH and my kids freaked.

 

[DaddyDon]

Im not sure!!!! But i dont have to worry about it till 2004!Because me and my money are going to UNIVERSAL!!!! And front of the line.....In the short rows.......

 

[Lisa P.]

What was it that you loved about the YC? Room? Theme? Walk/boat to the parks? Pools? Restaurants? What about it do you want to repeat on this trip?

If it was the room/theme/pools/restaurant, then you may consider any of Disney's moderate hotels, which are nicely themed and include hot tubs, kiddie pools, playground near a theme main pool area. They also have some kind of water area for a nice evening walk (around a lake or along a river).

If it was just being at Disney and it's more for the kids' sake, Disney's value hotels will be fun for them too. You'd save quite a lot of money on a stay there, over the YC!

If you loved the boat access to the parks, Wilderness Lodge and all the monorail hotels have boats to the MK, where you plan to spend 2 days. The price is higher than the moderates, of course.

The Universal hotels have boat access to their parks, as well as the equivalent of an all-day FastPass for their hotel guests. The value of this during peak spring break may prove very worthwhile!!!

If money is tight and/or you don't want to pack up and move in the middle of your trip (takes valuable vacation time and adds stress mid-trip), I'd suggest that you look for a nice place offsite in Lake Buena Vista, Orlando near S. Int'l Drive, or Kissimmee east of Disney. If you stay west of Disney, you may get caught in Disney traffic when driving past to reach Universal.

There are suite hotels, upscale convention hotels, timeshare resorts (family-friendly activities) - a lot more desirable options than just a simple hotel room with a basic pool. And nearly all of them would cost less than a room at the YC during spring break! The suite hotels and timeshare resorts often are available at weekly rates without daily housekeeping service, if you want a very spacious, luxurious condo or suite for less money and you plan to check-in on a Fri/Sat/Sun. So do most vacation homes, even pool homes. You'd probably be surprised at the reasonable rates.

If you identify what's important to you and a reasonable price range (before taxes), people can make suggestions.