Where do I start

[mom2febgirls]

I have never been to Disney World. We've decided to go in February (10-15) and I need to start planning. What do I do first? How much do you think I should plan to spend for the week? My husband and 2 daughters (one is under 2) and myself.

Thanks and I could use any advice you'd like to give me.

 

[E.Jane]

I use $50 per day per person as a guideline for food and snacks. Mind you, I have two teenage boys who would eat the hind leg off a donkey! I found that figure to be generous on our last trip, and came home with some cash in my pocket. We usually do one counter service meal per day, and one sit-down restaurant per day. We do not, however, plan on any character meals which would add to the expense quite quickly. Nor do we pack any food to bring with us. $50 per day covered everything but nick-knacks.

PS's are recommended for the major restaurants. On our last trip (end of January), although I'd made PS's, they really weren't necessary. The crowds are pretty low that time of year. I also found it annoying to think that I had to be in a certain place at a certain time. You loose a certain amount of flexibility. If I was travelling the same time again, I would skip the PS's and go where I felt like, whenever I felt like it.

I am a planner - my two trips to Disney, I had every day scheduled. I wouldn't do that again. I thought if I'd planned everything, I could see everything. Well, you can't! Just realize that you will have to make repeated trips to take in everything, so do some research and figure out what is a "must do" on your first trip. Remember to relax and enjoy the vacation - don't get caught up in the "commando-style" touring!

 

[JillU-DVC]

START with a guide book - I think the Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld is the best.

Read it from cover to cover, esp. any tips they have for getting around. If you're travelling during school vacation time, then this guide book will be a LIFESAVER!!!

You will need to PLAN what you want to do on what day, in order to get anything done (only if you're going during school vacations).

I really suggest you buy this book and read it immediately.

Have a wonderful time!!!

 

[Locknload82]

If you havent done so already, you need to see what flights and prices are available if you are flying. We are going in march and booked our airline tickets 10 days ago and found we had to adjust the days we could fly on to get the best deal. Since it was spring break time seats were going fast. It would have done us no good to book rooms first, only to find out we couldnt fly in on that date with out paying a lot more money.

 

[Bob NC]

Originally posted by E.Jane
Mind you, I have two teenage boys who would eat the hind leg off a donkey!

Boy, this IS the budget Board!!!!

Just kidding....I think I had that at Yachtsmans Steak House

 

[baloo59]

For online help, wdwig.com is a great place to visit.
Michael

 

[Boots]

I would like to first of all say welcome to the boards! We are so glad you have joined in with us! I think I would first of all buy the guidebooks to read and then I would make reservations for where you are staying. Have a great time planning!

 

[TomM]

First I would pick where I was going to stay, that is the major budget item. Decide if you are staying on Disney property or off.
Watch Mousesaver for prices.
Food can be expensive but if you eat breakfast in your room, a counter meal at lunch and some suppers out, even the food budget is reasonable. (We camp with our 5 yr old at Ft Wilderness, so our cost of food averages $35 a day with a couple meals out, a character meal and food on the trip down)
Then decide how many days you want to spend in the park, a four day hopper is $203 for adult, $161 for over 3.
We are camping in a popup camper in Feb, going to the parks 4 days, staying 9 nights. Our budget is $1,600 for everything including the drive down staying in a motel down and back, a character meal, a couple souv. for our daughter.
TomM

 

[dgaston]

You might request the Vacation Planning Video from www.disney.com Check out www.mousesavers.com and really spend as much time as you can for a first visit. You can never see or do it all. You definitely can have a wonderful visit and stay off-site to save money. Having a car is an advantage for trips to grocery stores and discount souvenir stores. With a little one, staying near the MK is an advantage for naps.

Welcome to the boards and happy planning.

 

[momx2]

Hello and welcome to the boards. I've read the Unofficial Guide cover to cover several times. You may want to get the old edition, because the new edition doesn't go into the Early Entry details. As soon as I bought the new edition, EE came back. I know alot of people don't like the next book I'm going to recommend, but for my 1st time I loved the Birbaums Official Guide. It is endorsed by Disney and a little slanted, but it has great color pictures and helped me see Disney in my mind better having not been for 20 years.

Also, I plan about $75 per day on food. Some days I go over, some I'm under. If under 3, the kids can eat free at the Character meals. We bring our on water and snacks and a cooler for milk for cereal and such for breakfast. I also bring a hot pot for oatmeal and soups. I bring an extra $100-$150 in spending money for the week for those balloons, cocktails and such. My DD 4 brings her own spending money for souveniors. We give her $4 per week allowance and she saves it all for our trips.

We've have only stayed at the ASMo and love it. We are staying at WL in 3 wks. (can't wait). It's my DD's 5th B-day so we are splurging, but she'll probably want to be back at ASMo--go figure.

Just keep reading the boards and you'll be a pro by the time you go.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi,
My husband and I took our then 18 month old son almost 2 years ago and had a great time. Mousesavers is a great site to visit. Also, just keeping checking these boards for tips. One thing to keep in mind, if you are doing Character breakfasts, they will not charge you for a child under 3 years old. That will definitely save you some money. I also recommend buying a foam ice chest to keep in your room to store milk, juice, etc for the kids. We also carried a fanny pack with small snacks for our son, and brought our own water bottles into the park every day.
Staying close to Magic Kingdom was a definite plus for us, since that is where we spent most of our time. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge, and our son loved the boat ride to Magic Kingdom every morning.

Have fun planning!