Where to start?!? Newbie needs help

[Happy Tappy]

Hello!

I'm new to this section of Dis and need some help! I'm very familiar with how to book for DLP and get the best price but I'm a little lost with WDW.

I went to Florida as a kid but that seems like a lifetime ago and this will be the first time I'll be booking the holiday. I'm still not convinced I'll be able to afford it so

Some info:
Party: 2 adults, 2 children (DS 3, DD 1),
Dates: June 2013 or School holidays 2014

I have a few questions that I hope you can answer:

• Where to stay and why? I-Drive? Maingate or WDW resort. I think we'll probably spend a week hitting the Disney parks, and a week to do the rest.
  
• What's the boards favourite budget hotel? We're on a very tight budget!
  
• Are there likely to be any offers (free dining?) any time soon for the resort hotels?
  
• When is the best time to book? I appreciate it's getting late for June but is it best to leave it until the last minute or try and get something now?
  
• Is a car essential?
  
• Has anyone seen any great offers?!?
  
• After park tickets, how much spending money do most people take?
  
• Any other tips would be much appreciated, especially budget related ones!

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help!

 

[joolz1910]

Hello!

I'm new to this section of Dis and need some help! I'm very familiar with how to book for DLP and get the best price but I'm a little lost with WDW.

I went to Florida as a kid but that seems like a lifetime ago and this will be the first time I'll be booking the holiday. I'm still not convinced I'll be able to afford it so

Some info:
Party: 2 adults, 2 children (DS 3, DD 1),
Dates: June 2013 or School holidays 2014

I have a few questions that I hope you can answer:

• Where to stay and why? I-Drive? Maingate or WDW resort. I think we'll probably spend a week hitting the Disney parks, and a week to do the rest.
  
• What's the boards favourite budget hotel? We're on a very tight budget!
  
• Are there likely to be any offers (free dining?) any time soon for the resort hotels?
  
• When is the best time to book? I appreciate it's getting late for June but is it best to leave it until the last minute or try and get something now?
  
• Is a car essential?
  
• Has anyone seen any great offers?!?
  
• After park tickets, how much spending money do most people take?
  
• Any other tips would be much appreciated, especially budget related ones!

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help!

Hi
You can book now with Ocean Florida for next August, Disney will release prices at the end of the month. We went on out first WDW trip last year and we only did Disney, which filled the entire two weeks! I have only limited experience but I would advise staying onsite and getting the free Disney Dining Plan - it was a real highlight of our trip.

If you stay onsite you don't need a car, otherwise I would say a car is essential.

As we had the free dining (and I don't like shopping) we only took spending money for souvenirs - so it really depends on what you want to buy when you are out there. You will need to budget for tips though.

My pre-trip report (link in my signature) itemises all of our costs on the first page, as we were on a tight budget too.

Happy planning x

 

[orangetiggs]

Free dining is due out this month for next year

We only stay onsite as the transport saves us loads on parking and our kids both three are a bit too young to do universal in our eyes so disney suits us

The last two years we have booked hotel with complete orlando as were cheapest and then added flights with them when they release them

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Hi

Ill answer what I can

Weve only ever stayed in resort, and always done universal and walmart/mall trips. Didn't hire a car first 4-5 visits and just got shuttle bus to Universal and taxi to the malls etc. Over the years the cost of both started to outweigh the cost of hiring a car for 7 days of the holiday, so we do that now. As PP said your kids are quite young, and may not benefit from Universal that much.

If you didn't want to hire car and decided to stay on I-drive, definitely look for hotel that offers shuttles to Disney.

Past 3 trips and this upcoming one we've had the dining plan, which can save a lot of money, so with that being said we budget $200-220 dollars a day, thats for souvenirs, tips, shopping etc. some days you spend a lot, some you hardly spend any!

Usually best to book early, especially if you are looking at scheduled flights as they are usually a lot higher closer to departure date.

Hope you find a good deal x

 

[Happy Tappy]

Thanks guys.

It sounds like on-site is the way to go. I've found a deal for Pop which works out at £2.5k for flights and hotel (18/6-2/7).

Does that seem reasonable for this time of year?

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Thanks guys.

It sounds like on-site is the way to go. I've found a deal for Pop which works out at £2.5k for flights and hotel (18/6-2/7).

Does that seem reasonable for this time of year?

does that include tickets? seem like a good price. wheres that flying from?

On the spending money thing, we stayed off site in Anaheim 3 years ago, so no dining plan. We managed fine on some breakfasts in room, QS meals and few table service in parks and snacks on our $250 a day budget. still able to buy loads of souvenirs, mall trips etc. Not sure if you still need to hire fridges in value resort, think I seen somewhere on here you get as standard, could be wrong (usually am!) you can get a taxi round to walmart, LBV and stock up on juice, water, breakfast items.

YAY! hope it works out for you x

 

[amacspad]

Thanks guys.

It sounds like on-site is the way to go. I've found a deal for Pop which works out at £2.5k for flights and hotel (18/6-2/7).

Does that seem reasonable for this time of year?

Is that for this year? I think it sounds a good price even if it doesn't includ the park tickets, the value hotels are still fab, well themed and they all now have fridges in the rooms and wifi, I would book it!

Debs x

 

[Happy Tappy]

does that include tickets? seem like a good price. wheres that flying from?

On the spending money thing, we stayed off site in Anaheim 3 years ago, so no dining plan. We managed fine on some breakfasts in room, QS meals and few table service in parks and snacks on our $250 a day budget. still able to buy loads of souvenirs, mall trips etc. Not sure if you still need to hire fridges in value resort, think I seen somewhere on here you get as standard, could be wrong (usually am!) you can get a taxi round to walmart, LBV and stock up on juice, water, breakfast items.

YAY! hope it works out for you x

It doesn't include tickets and it is for this year.

Direct flights with Virgin from Manchester = £1500 (1 year old in lap).
Pop x 14 nights = £1008 (with hotels.com).

I've read about GG who will apparently deliver loads of items to your hotel room so I was planning on using them for breakfast and drinks.

Is it like DLP where you can take sweets/drinks into the park?

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Is that for this year? I think it sounds a good price even if it doesn't includ the park tickets, the value hotels are still fab, well themed and they all now have fridges in the rooms and wifi, I would book it!

Debs x

Definitely a good deal x

 

[torsie24]

Garden Grocer are fab - using them saves us loads of money, and yes you can take drinks etc into the parks.

 

[Happy Tappy]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm heading in the right direction!

Last question (for now!):

Pop vs All Stars (Sports/Music)?

The All Stars ones are slightly cheaper (£100). They all look the same but with different theming. Is one better than the others?

 

[amacspad]

The main dififference is the all stars is 3 hotels in the one resort and they share the buses (sports, music, movies) where as the pop century has its own bus but the themes are all as good!

Debs x

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm heading in the right direction!

Last question (for now!):

Pop vs All Stars (Sports/Music)?

The All Stars ones are slightly cheaper (£100). They all look the same but with different theming. Is one better than the others?

I would say POP. Havent stayed in it, stayed in all the AllStars, their location is a bit out and the hotels are a bit older. As Debs said, they share a bus. if you did decide on AllStars definitely ASMovies, request toy story or fantasia block x

 

[amacspad]

With pop century the new AOA is right behind it so its nice to walk over for a nosey and somewhere different to eat, plus you can use their bus as well if yours is full!

Debs xx

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

sorry, I just re read your post. ASMu or ***, either or, no preference

x

 

[Happy Tappy]

Thanks.

I just need to work up the courage to push the button!!!

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!

 

[amacspad]

Yeah, go for it, best feeling eveeerrrrr!

Debs x

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Thanks.

I just need to work up the courage to push the button!!!

Really hope you get it booked. We're leaving on Sunday for SSR and I have ONE case packed! No $$$ and car hire still to book, so best get on!

 

[torsie24]

I'd say Pop as the buses are better and I prefer the theming.

Also - now AoA is open and they're connected you can get AoA buses too and go to the AoA food court etc.