WDW trip info, please!

[bizybea]

Hi everyone!
I've never been to WDW and may be planning on going next year, woohoo!! But I need your help! I have sooo many questions, I'm really, really new to this. It would be 2 adults, one child, girl, 8 years old. We want to see as much of Disney as possible, but want to keep it interesting for 8 yr old DD. (For instance, would she enjoy Epcot, or should we skip it?)

If you had your choice, how many days would you spend at WDW?

What is the best time of year to go?

What kind of tickets to purchase?

We want to stay onsite, with transportation to and from the parks it doesn't need to be ultra fancy, since we'd mostly just be there to sleep and rest.

What parks to visit? What to see/do that everyone will enjoy? Must do's?

And, finally, (for now ) :

Where to eat and how much to budget for food each day?

Can you give me an idea of how much a trip like this would cost? (Just lodging, WDW, souveniers, and food for X many days?) We would find airfare on our own. I know this is a lot of questions, thanks for helping me out! Since this is the first time for me and my DD I want it to be a memorable and magical trip, so if you know of any extras that would make it possible, please mention! Thanks again!

Beatriz

 

[buzz2400]

You might want to address a few questions at a time. If you want to get the most of disney, stay onsite (the most inexpensive place is the All Stars). If you can, utilize the early morning entry. Each day one park opens an hour early for onsite guests only. You can get a lot done in that hour. Also while at the parks, use the fast pass. What we do is stay onsite, go the the park that is open for early entry, around midday go back to hotel and relax (and swim) and then hop to another park for the remainder of the day. Some kids like epcot and some don't. They do have other things besides the world showcase (which they have kid stations). If you miss epcot you will miss some good things there. If you go during the summer you will have to deal with the crowds and heat. If you can go during school, that would be the best. Less crowds means more ground covered. To decide what tickets you would have to decide what you are going to do. If you get the ultimate pass you have access to the four parks, two water parks, pleasure island, disney quest and the sports complex (which a lot of people say is a waste of money). This pass is only good for the day you check in to the day you check out. There are a few different kinds of park hopper plus tickets depending on how many days you purchase. Example is the 7 day park hopper plus pass entitles you to 7 days to the four major parks and four plus day to the two water parks, pleasure island and the sports complex. Unused days on these passes never expire. It is sometimes cheaper to buy these passes. You would have to price each one after you determine how many days you will be spending there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Best thing to do is get a vacation planner video from Disney. Go to their website and you should be able to find info there. Then get a vacation guide book, like Birmbaum or Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. There are others.

See what is there and then ask specific questions about what you might like to see or do.

 

[Space Command]

The 3 weeks before Christmas are the Best...you can go for a long 5 day weekend and see everything w/ no lines. Also the decorations are up and the place is beautiful. If your lucky you can go to Mickey's very merry christmas party. Stay on site if you can.

 

[ceecee]

We like September/early Oct. Still value season until 9-24, so it's a little cheaper. They have a Dreammaker pkg now where you pay for 5 days and get 7....includes the UPH which is a great way to go. Our DD is 8 and she loves Epcot, she especially likes to make the masks in the countries. She also loves the theming at the ASMO, although this year we are trying PC. Get some books and start reading to see what you really want to do. Our first year we had a four day hopper and commando'ed the parks...I even had a list!!!

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by bizybea
We want to see as much of Disney as possible, but want to keep it interesting for 8 yr old DD. (For instance, would she enjoy Epcot, or should we skip it?)

My kids actually like EPCOT and have since they were little. They prefer the part closer to the entrance (Future World) as opposed tot he World Showcase but even that can be fun for an 8yo.

Get her an EPCOT passport when you enter the parks. Buy her a lanyard and some pins. She can get her passport stamped in every country and trade pins with the CMs from around the world.

If you had your choice, how many days would you spend at WDW?

If I had a choice, I'd be living in an apartment on Main Street USA in the MK. But since that's not a possibility, I think that 7 nights in WDW is ideal for a newbie. That would give you plenty of time to visit all 4 parks, do a waterpark and DTD and enjoy your resort.

I would not do Sea World, Universal Studios or any of the other great stuff Orlando has to offer on my first trip to WDW.

What is the best time of year to go?

I like the first week after Thanksgiving the best. Crowds are light, rooms are less expensive and everything is decorated for the holidays. It's a very magical time of year.

What kind of tickets to purchase?

For 7 nights in WDW, I would recommend at least a 5-day PHP. That would give you 5 full days in the parks & 2 waterpark visits. Any unused days never expire, so you could use them when you visit again. (And you will want to visit again).

We want to stay onsite, with transportation to and from the parks it doesn't need to be ultra fancy, since we'd mostly just be there to sleep and rest.

The AllStar Resorts or Pop Century are your best bets then. They are not fancy but have comfortable rooms and nice pools. Their food courts are family-friendly and transportation to and from the parks runs frequently.

What parks to visit? What to see/do that everyone will enjoy? Must do's?

Visit all 4 major parks. Do one waterpark...both are great but we like Blizzard Beach. Get a good guide book and the Disney Vacation Planning Video. Let everyone pick out their top 3 for each park and make sure that you visit those attractions. It will make everyone happy. For planning with kids, I like Birnbaum's Official Guide because there are plenty of pictures and short, easy to read descriptions. For myself, I tend to lean towards the Unofficial Guide by Bob Sehlinger and The Passporter by Watson & Marx.

And, finally, (for now ) :

Where to eat and how much to budget for food each day?[/quote
Where to eat is a very subjective question. Some people like 3 sitdown meals per day while others survive on a donut & coffe for breakfast followed by counterservice meals during the day. You can get a good idea of the cost of food and what's available by visiting AllEars.net - Menus From Around the World . Don't foget to factor in 6.5% tax on food and any gratuities for sitdown meals. This will give you an idea of how much to budget for food.

Can you give me an idea of how much a trip like this would cost? (Just lodging, WDW, souveniers, and food for X many days?) We would find airfare on our own. I know this is a lot of questions, thanks for helping me out! Since this is the first time for me and my DD I want it to be a memorable and magical trip, so if you know of any extras that would make it possible, please mention! Thanks again!

Beatriz

AllStar Room (value season, rack rate)
$79/night + 12.5% tax for 7 nights ..............................$623
Passes (2 adult/1 child 5-day PHP from Ticketmania) ...$760
Food ($100/day for 8 days)...........................................$800
Souvenirs ......................................................................$500
Ground Transportation via Towncar...............................$100 RT
Total = $2783 without the misc. extras

I hope this gives you an idea of where to start.

 

[lovesdumbo]

mad4themouse-what a great job you did addressing the OP's questions. Just gotta say if money is tight you certainly don't need $500 for Souvenirs. On my last trip, I purchase a picture book for me $10, a toy car for DS $5?, a few plastic charaters for kids $20?, my oldest DD(4) wanted to pick out something-she chose a Mickey shaped pen $4?, and I purchased a few photos-$30. I did purchase a few toys on sale at the Disney Store before the trip which I brought to give the kids in our room. But my kids are all young-I guess when they are older they will be saying they want to buy more.

I have to agree with others who have said that after Thanksgiving and before Christmas is a great time to go.

 

[Focusdude]

FYI:

My family of four went last March 1-6; hotel (Pop Century) was about $100/night with AAA discount; we bought our passes through Disneyworld.com (we were lucky - we only needed three passes because my youngest was under 3!) - the passes were about $655. We rented a car (and got talked into upgrading at the counter (mistake - but it was 1:00 AM and we were not thinking clearly) - the rental car totaled about $320 (way too much!!); airline tickets from Boston - $800 r/t.

We spent much less money while we were there than I thought we would - I planned on $1,500 - I think we spent somewhere around $750. We had breakfast in the room at least 3 days, and told the kids before we left that they could only have two souveneirs each, so that cut down on costs!

We also purchased the Brita water bottles and filled them in the room before we left - a big savings, because bottles of water in the park are $2.50 or $3.00 each!

Hope this helps!!

 

[CarolynNC]

Here's a link to a thread where people are posting their budgets. You might find it helpful.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=573634

My one piece of advice is to take it slow and easy. You don't need to see and do everything to have a great trip. Sometimes I get caught up in "getting my money's worth" and wear myself out. I also recommend visiting all 4 parks. There are things to love in each of them. If you purchase a park hopper pass you can visit a different park later the same day if the park you're in isn't holding your daughter's attention. Don't be surprised if your daughter's favorite thing to do is visit the resort pool. When my son was that age I was horrified when he begged to spend the day at the pool. I could have booked a room at a local hotel. We've made many trips to WDW over the years and depending on the length of our trips we always schedule at least one day mid trip to do nothing. We don't visit the parks but swim in the pool, visit Downtown Disney, go visit other resorts, make a trip to Ft. Wilderness, sleep late, or just act likes slugs!

It can be overwhelming when you start but keep reading the boards and things will begin to make sense.

Carolyn

 

[frannn]

are both good months to go, if you avoid Spring Break or Columbus Day weekend. We've been during both those months, and found the weather to be very nice (high 80's) and the crowds manageable. In Oct, you can go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, which is extremely fun, and gives you extra park time with smaller (most of the time) crowds. There is a separate admission required, but it is well worth it. We tend to stay about 10 nights, at a value resort. We buy Annual Passes because we do not go to the water parks, stay longer than 8 days (cheaper than buying UHPs), and we sometimes get resort, shopping, and dining discounts. We do a few character meals, which are pricey, but many are buffet and we enjoy getting autographs and pictures without having to wait on lines in the parks. Most of our other meal choices are counter service, food court, and offsite places. Cost more than cooking it ourselves, but runs about 10/person without a drink or desert. If you normally order drinks and desert, you may wish to buy a refillable mug from your onsite resorts food court (can be filled up at that resort for your entire stay), or you may wish to purchase food vouchers (see thread at top of budget board). You can bring your own water and snacks into the parks to save a few $, as well as buy some disney gifts and tshirts for your DD in advance at the Disney store, when they have sales. Park souveniers can be found at a discount at the mall outlets in Orlando, such as the Beltz outlet. I would spend at least 2 days at the MK. Do you have any specific questions?

 

[mom of five]

Originally posted by bizybea
We want to see as much of Disney as possible, but want to keep it interesting for 8 yr old DD. (For instance, would she enjoy Epcot, or should we skip it?)

Hi and welcome!

Whatever you do, DO NOT skip Epcot!!!!
FW is very fun! Great rides. Fun fountains. Jammators.

And my kids (9,8,7,6,4) all loved WS. Funny street performers, lots of places to try snacks, kidcot and passport stops, and we actually met Genie from Aladdin and beauty and the beast all by themselves, and also that guy from hunchback of ND (my son knows his name, sorry).
Early evening we got fish and chips and watched the British Invasion (Beatles) show and the kids danced themselves silly and then leaving the park (it was dark by then) a CM asked them to play hopscotch with her...(Mom joined in too!). The day was magical and probably my favorite of the whole trip. DON'T skip Epcot!