Where do I start?

[esmee1sttip]

Hello Dis board!

I have been reading the forum, internet guides and guide books on how to plan your first stay at WDW and not blow a budget...etc. I am not striving for the perfect trip...I just want to make sure I make this trip as easy on my family as possible. I am hoping someone can help answer a couple of my questions.

A few trip plans that are set:

1. We (me, DD 13yr and DD 10yr) are flying from the West Coast to Orlando and I am considering an overnight flight and arrival day would be for enjoying the resort/area/pool. This is a first time trip to florida/WDW. Has anyone tried this? How did it work?

2. My DD cannot stand heat. They are most happy at low 70s (i know, not ideal..lol). The oldest has type 1 diabetes and the heat affects her a lot. I was planning for February (not president's day weekend). I am wondering if Feb will be tolerable for them and yet they still want to swim in the pool(s)...is that possible?

3. We will stay on site this time @ POR in a "princess room". I can't take the big bright themes of the value and yet we still want to have the magic of disney. Anyone with older kids who tried this? How did it work out?

4. I have not booked anything and have been saving my pennies...I have enough to buy tickets and am wondering if I should buy those first from Undercover tourist (before prices go up) or should i be booking rooms? We will not be using the dining plan due to the fact that we are more grazers, dietary choices and the diabetic, so that will not impact the room/package.

5. As for flights...they are so expensive from here...anyone from the west coast with any suggestions?


Thanks for any and all suggestions as they are very much appreciated.

Esmee

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi and welcome!

I'm sorry to say I can't answer most of your questions. I'm from NY and we're both teachers, so we go in August.

But I do want to tell you that friends stayed at POR and adored it!!!

Also, consider booking with a Disney Certified travel agent-- you'll have someone looking for bargains at no cost to you. Also take a look at the historic times when discounts were offered. http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/ There's no reason to pay rack rate for a room if you can get a discount.

As far as temperatures go, this should help you narrow down the right time of year: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USFL0372


Oh, and make sure you squeeze in a character meal or two! For princesses, I would suggest either dinner at 1900 Park Fare (Cinderella, the prince, the step mom and step sisters. The stepsisters are a total hoot as they bicker and whine!!! And it's a buffet, so you should be able to find what you need for your diabetic daughter.) or breakfast at Aukerhaus in Epcot (Another buffet. This time 5 princesses stop by for photos and autographs.) If your'e suffering from princess overload, try Chef Mickey's-- Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy stop by each table, and it's another buffet.

Enjoy your planning!

 

[SA mom]

The great folks that run this forum also own Dreams Unlimited Travel. Call them. They go to WDW ALL THE TIME. They will be a great resource and it is no cost to you.

 

[esmee1sttip]

Thanks for the suggestions...I am seriously considering a disney travel specialist. I think it would take some of the pressure off of this first time trip

 

[Lobofan5]

Florida is one hot and HUMID place... humid will get you, every time.

 

[Metro West]

Welcome!

 

[esmee1sttip]

Florida is one hot and HUMID place... humid will get you, every time.

This is exactly what I am hoping to minimize....we are so use to the Northern Mildness and the West Coast is significantly less humid too...we are such a bunch of wimps

 

[jesswindsor]

Welcome!!!

 

[RadGirl]

Regarding the temp and the pool question. I live about 2 hrs south of Disney and currently the weather has been all over the place, from mid 60's to 80's. We do have an outdoor comunity pool which is somewhat heated. It has been very nice to go swiming with the kids any time that the temp has been high 70's-low 80's.

Now, when I was pregnant, I once went swiming in a pool (not heated) when it was mid 60's in the middle of January

All this to say, that as long as it isn't too breazy, I'm sure they will have a great time

 

[esmee1sttip]

Regarding the temp and the pool question. I live about 2 hrs south of Disney and currently the weather has been all over the place, from mid 60's to 80's. We do have an outdoor comunity pool which is somewhat heated. It has been very nice to go swiming with the kids any time that the temp has been high 70's-low 80's.

Now, when I was pregnant, I once went swiming in a pool (not heated) when it was mid 60's in the middle of January

All this to say, that as long as it isn't too breazy, I'm sure they will have a great time

Thank you so much for your reply. Where we are at...it has been in the 40s-50s (right now, we think the 60s are warm!). I can only imagine that they would try going swimming even in the 60s...I am going to just stop worrying about it and just prepare for every type of weather...rainy/sunny/warm/chilly.

 

[RadGirl]

Glad to be of help Now, since you are planning ahead and saving money, may I recommend you get those spray bottle/fan things. I believe you'll find them at Walmart on sale and much cheaper than at Disney.

And you are right to plan for every possible weather (ie. tank top, t-shirt, hoodie). As of late it seems the weather has been doing crazy things!

 

[Anna114]

OP I have to assume you are willing to take your children out of school? It obviously limits your choices on when to go if you don't. I am a fan of early May, it's a little warmer then you like but price wise it's a good time to go. Crowds are low too since kids are not out of school yet. Towards the end of May many get out of school. Also, colleges aren't out. You get a bigger bang for your buck because you can do so much more.

 

[boundfordisney]

I agree with pp we went the first week of may once , it was great and had free dining to. If free dining comes out in a few weeks time I would be checking into going sometime in that window frame as it saves big time even if you arent big eaters. We are going next week and again end of September first week of october, its hot but not overly hot. Went once end of Jan. first week of feb. but was to cold to swim imo

 

[JDUB]

Welcome! We stayed at POR with our oldest DD8 and loved the resort and pool/hot tub. It's nicely themed with nice rooms. The boat ride to DTD is also a great thing to do on arrival day along with the pool.

Watch for room only discount to save some money at POR or like others said, free dining will help with your 3 "adults" meals.

Good luck and have fun planning!

 

[esmee1sttip]

I am okay with taking my kids out of school for a Disney trip and I so glad to hear about the positive experiences at POR. Thank you everyone for your suggestions and sharing your experiences. Although, I may not respond to everyone, I am certainly keeping track of the information.