Where to Begin?

[Tennis Mom]

Hi everyone. Dh and I made the decision to go to Disney in February (Gotta love year round school and funky vaca times!)

Where do I begin? LOL I know this is broad. SO far, I *think* I have decided on the Coronado Springs Resort (No real reason, stear me away if need be). Travel*city has it at $199 per night. Is that good?

I know we need Park Hopper passes. Is going ahead and getting the upgrade to use for future visits worth it? Dh will be travelling to FL on Business so we will be there again. What about the food option? Seems like a good idea. Is it?

We will have 5 of us. Some people say we cant stay in one room, but my daughter is 2 and needs a crib. Is that cool for a normal room?

Also, I have heard to stay in a resort where there is a food court. True or false?

I need all the tips and advice I can get. I need to move on this planning!!

Thanks heaps!
Sara

 

[Captain Brain]

Welcome to The Dis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tennis Mom]

Thanks!

 

[byoung]

What time in feb our you going? Rack rates are lower than $199 before Feb 15. You can check the rates at resorts on top of page.

 

[iluvcountry]

Hi everyone. Dh and I made the decision to go to Disney in February (Gotta love year round school and funky vaca times!)

Where do I begin? LOL I know this is broad. SO far, I *think* I have decided on the Coronado Springs Resort (No real reason, stear me away if need be). Travel*city has it at $199 per night. Is that good?

I know we need Park Hopper passes. Is going ahead and getting the upgrade to use for future visits worth it? Dh will be travelling to FL on Business so we will be there again. What about the food option? Seems like a good idea. Is it?

We will have 5 of us. Some people say we cant stay in one room, but my daughter is 2 and needs a crib. Is that cool for a normal room?

Also, I have heard to stay in a resort where there is a food court. True or false?

I need all the tips and advice I can get. I need to move on this planning!!

Thanks heaps!
Sara

Coronado Springs is a very nice place, but if you ever want to go to the foodcourt, make sure you get a room near it, otherwise you have to walk maybe a half mile to a mile to get there! The pool was great and the rooms were nice, we just HATED the walk

 

[Minniespal]

Welcome to the Dis

 

[magicaldisney]

If you watch the specials on the Walt Disney World site, you should be able to get much better than $199.

If you have five people you might want to consider Port Orleans Riverside. They do have a pull out under one of the full size beds so that you can sleep five. As for a crib, would side railings work? The resort offers them to those that need it. POR also has a food court and this resort is a moderate resort so it would cost the same as Coronado Springs. If you want more info on this particular resort, let me know.

What you didn't mention was how many days you would be there for and how many days you have park hopper passes for. That would help determine i you should make them non expiring.

The dining plan is a personal choice on what works well for you and your family. We find that we save more not using the dining plan because we are not the type of family to go to the sit down resteraunts for our meals. Counter service saves money for us so we can buy more souveneirs. The dining plan would cost us more money, but we would eat better I'm sure.

Good luck on your planning!!

 

[Tennis Mom]

Thanks for the info.

We luckily have the baby still in a crib so that does halp our choices. We are going from Sunday to Saturday.

Since we will be taking the grandparents (dh has to work some and cant play the while time) so sit down dinner would be what they prefer.

Where would I locate the specials? I have checked all the "expedia-like" sites and 190 per night is the best I have found. What am I missing?

Also what is Presidents week?

Thanks heaps!

Sara

 

[magicaldisney]

Why aren't you going through Disney for your reservations? I did a quick check and I don't think you would pay more than $155 for a standard room at a moderate resort. Also it said they are running a special starting Jan 1st until March 8th. You really should check their site disneyworld.com.

You can also call them at 1-800-828-0228. They can go through everything with you. But, if you want special deals, go on their site and get discount codes. We have paid as low as $89/night for a moderate going directly through Disney. You have to be quick on the discounts though. Even if you book at a higher rate, if a discount comes up later, call right away and change your rate. Are you sure that when they are in a crib it doesn't effect your occupancy?

I believe that President's week is the time around Presidents Day and kids have off of school so it gets busier. I could be wrong though maybe someone else knows more on that.

 

[Tennis Mom]

I just went to Disney and got everything for 2600+ but Dreams Unlimited sent me 2100+



And how does one put ina discount code?

 

[magicaldisney]

The only code available right now on Disney is YQR. This code includes park passes that include park hopping and water parks and more options.

Another site is giving more code options for the time you are going. Go to mouseforless.com. Towards the top of the page in red letters is where the new discounts are. Check into those. YRE for room and tickets...YRD for room, tickets and dining.

Whenever I have a code I always call that 800 number I gave you. Then I make sure I am getting exactly what I want. PLUS, I have even had CM go the extra mile and find me additional discounts.

What is Dreams Unlimited?

I would be more than happy to look further for you but I need to know what the dates are, how many people, ages of children, how many rooms, and what type of park passes you want. All of that info makes a huge difference on what kind of prices you get.

Let me know if I can do anything else to help.

 

[Tennis Mom]

Thanks MD,

We are going Feb 19 - Feb 25 (sund to sat) 4 adults (2 rooms) and 3 kids 6, 6, 2. We want to do Park Hopper and I think meals, if it helps. Dreams Unlimited is a travel agency that I saw on this site.

 

[AJKMOM]

Ok, you will definitely get good information here. Try the Budget Board and Disney for Families Board. Dreams Unlimited is recommended by DIS'ers, so is SmallWorldVacations. Watch the calendar and make sure it isn't a busy time.

Go to the disney Resorts Board and see all the different pro's and con's of the resort you pick. Coronado- some say it is very spread out, especially when walking back to your room after a day at the parks. Unfortunately, you will find all differing opinions about EVERYTHING here, but maybe you will see something that more pertains to you.

 

[magicaldisney]

Is the price you got for you/souse and children, or was the price of $2100 for two rooms and all of your passes?

I found on Disney 1 room for 2 adults and 3 children with 7 days of Park Hopper Passes at a moderate for $2046.62 (no dining). And that's without any discount codes. You can get even cheaper I'm sure.

If you got a price of $2100 for two rooms and park hopper passes for 4 adults and 3 children, then you should take it.

 

[Frantasmic]

It takes a while, but you should read all the sticky threads at the top of the Themes Forum, the Resort Forum, and the Dining forum.

That will give you a good start.

 

[canwegosoon]

These are my faves
Look at the DIS resorts board for codes, and check out all the info on the home page.
Ask Dreams Unlimited for a (free) price quote.
Check out www.mousesavers.com and www.allearsnet.com

The first decision you are going to have to make is if you want a package(this includes your hotel and tickets, with or without meal plan too), you can do it cheaper in pieces, but it will require a little work and some sacrefices(you will not be able to eat at the top of the line places every night). So you need to decide if you want it all done for you, or you want to go within a certain budget...Then you have to check out transportation getting to WDW might drive your actual stay dates. Then once you get your transportation and hotel, you can start booking your meals(allears and the dis boards are full of information). I would also second POR we stayed there a few years ago, and had a great trip.

 

[Tennis Mom]

You guys are the greatest

I Found (through the Disney website) $1785 for 2 adults and the 3 kids. Dh is booking tonight. That price includes Park Hopper for 6 days and hotel.

Our Transportation to WDW is simple... my foot on the pedal for 8 hours

We opted not to get the meals due to not really being sit down people. I appreciate all of yalls help!

SB

 

[magicaldisney]

Doesn't it feel good to get that out of the way!! It doesn't hurt to keep watching for other specials, but I think that's probably as low as you'll get. Now onto other planning. If you have further questions let us know.

Where did you decide to stay. You might want to get ideas from others on what building to request to stay in. I can help you with POR or POFQ. You can request at the time of booking. (You used to have to wait until a couple days before you arrived)

 

[Tennis Mom]

We are staying at FQ. Where should we request?

 

[magicaldisney]

POFQ is a great resort. It is nice and small compared to the other resorts on the property. It has a great pool with slide for the age of your children. There is also boat transportation to Downtown Disney, as well as a bus, but taking the boat is a nice change of pace. If you haven't already booked, don't be surprised if it is filled up already. Because of it's smallness it is popluar, there is much less walking to do. It also has less rooms. You can also walk, bus or boat over to POR, which is right next door.

I would request building 3 or 4 if you want to be closest to the main dining hall and buses. Building 2 and 5 are by the pool and also close to the main dining. Buildings 1, 6 and 7 are the farthest away from everything.

If it's booked up and you end up at Riverside, let me know, I can help you with that as well.