WDW Trip with 8 month-old. Help!

[momatwork]

Hello, everyone! I am desperately in need of your help and hope you won't mind giving it to a "newbie."

I am a new mom to a DD who will be 8 months old by the end of February. I've just been told that I need to make a four-day business trip to a town about an hour north of Orlando right around that time.

My little one still needs me to eat, if you catch my drift, so I've convinced my DH, mom and dad to come along with promises of a WDW vacation for them while taking care of the baby while I am working.

So, that brings me to my million questions:

1) Am I out of my mind?

2) Where should we stay? I want it to be easy for them to get around, and we'll almost certainly need laundry.

3) How should we stay? I would prefer to spend less than $600 a night total on our hotel stays. Can you get a two-bedroom suite for that much anywhere or would we be looking at two separate rooms? Can you get two separate rooms for that much?

4) They would probably go to the different parks for three days, but I think I would only be able to manage one afternoon. Any suggestions on tickets?

5) What other amenities should I be looking to take advantage of that I don't know about?

6) Should we book our room and tickets through the Disney phone number or is it better to use a travel agent?

OK, so that's only five questions. But any help that you can provide with one, some or all of them would be SO appreciated!

 

[jenseib]

For what you want, I would use a travel agent. I would have them get tickets for the days the need them (it will be cheaper than buying each day) and you could just get one at the park, or perhaps your hotel counter will sell them.
I think 600 a night is alot, so I don't htink you will have any problems finding something.
I knw Residents Inns used ot ahve nice rooms like you are looking for. (suites) There are a few newer hotels that do the same type of thing. I would defiantely get a travel agent and have her find what you need. There are also stuff right at downtown disney that may work for you guys too. I'm not sure if you want to be the one doing the traveling, or them.(to and fromwork/parks)
Do you plan to stay a day or too longer after your meeting? If you can, I would. That will let you enjoy some time as well down there.

 

[momatwork]

I'm so glad to hear your advice about the travel agent. I haven't used one in years, because it's so easy to do everything yourself. But it seems like you really need to know your stuff to book a good Disney trip.

I was really hoping to put us at a hotel in the resort system so they could take advantage of buses, monorails and boats. I will be driving to and from my meetings each day, so they will be car-free.

 

[Ariel8676]

I would maybe look into one of the vacation club resorts..you could get a 1 or 2 bedroom suite with a full kitchen if you would like....that way you are inside Disney, you can take advantage of the Magical express bus to and from teh airport and you can use the transportation system to go back and forth to teh parks...
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortRates?id=SaratogaSpringsResortRatesListingPage
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortRates?id=BoardWalkVillasResortRatesListingPage
These are just 2 examples of what is out there...There is a washer and dryer also in the rooms...
And no you are not crazy..we have been to WDW MANY times with our girls from the as young as 8 weeks..lol
You can PM me with any questions......if you would like

 

[jenseib]

Also the AllSTars Music has added suites. Not sure what they are like, but you could check it out on the Disney website and ask on here as well. They are cheaper than some other options, but may not have as much luxury to them either. There is laundry of some kid at all the Disney htoles, but not all are in your room.

 

[mco-missy]

I have done quite a few trips with my DDs at that age. Also, I live about 40 minutes north of Disney- where is it that you are going? Do you want to stay where your work is or at Disney?

1) Am I out of my mind?
Nope- it is a great age to go to Disney. They aren't complaining about wanting to walk, they love all the sights, they still go with the flow,....


2) Where should we stay? I want it to be easy for them to get around, and we'll almost certainly need laundry.
I guess I need to know if you want to stay on Disney property or where your work is. If you are staying on property anywhere is pretty easy- disney busses, monorail, boats, etc.


3) How should we stay? I would prefer to spend less than $600 a night total on our hotel stays. Can you get a two-bedroom suite for that much anywhere or would we be looking at two separate rooms? Can you get two separate rooms for that much?
You can definately get something for that price!


4) They would probably go to the different parks for three days, but I think I would only be able to manage one afternoon. Any suggestions on tickets?
Do you think they would want to hop from one park to another or just stay at the same park all day? Really, just a 3 day ticket for them and a one day for you seems like all you would need


5) What other amenities should I be looking to take advantage of that I don't know about?
I'll have to think about this one.

6) Should we book our room and tickets through the Disney phone number or is it better to use a travel agent?
I always do the booking myself.

Feel free to ask more questions as you think about them!