Where's the best place to stay?

[andrewqh]

I'm thinking about taking my first ever trip to DisneyWorld (I'm a SoCal resident and am a Disneyland Passholder) in November. I'll be in Miami then for a wedding.

Not even sure where I should begin asking. I'd like to try things that are exclusive to DisneyWorld (not go on or see attractions that are the same as Disneyland unless I have time)... how many days in the park would I need?

Also, where's a good place to stay? Close enough to walk, as I probably won't have a car, or if I do rent one, I won't want to pay for parking... I'm thinking $125/night, less than a mile away... as nice of rooms as possible with those criterias?

Lastly, if I'll be coming from Miami whats the best way to get there? Is there a train? Should I try to book a flight?

Any help would be greatly appreciated =)

 

[jdb in AZ]

Disney World is so spread out compared to Disneyland. The only hotels within walking distance of the park are those on property.

I would fly into Orlando and take Disney's Magical Express (free to Disney World guests staying on property) then you wouldn't need to rent a car or pay parking.

Here on the DIS boards is a whole thread about hotels -- from budget to the deluxe.

I would stay a minimum of three days, more if you can swing it.

 

[minnie mum]

jdb in AZ gave really good advice. Flying in and taking Magic Express would be the easiest way to arrive and leave.

WDW is HUGE compared to DL. The only resorts which are close enough to walk to a park are Deluxe resorts, so won't fit into the budget you stated. And even those require buses to get to other parks.

Your budget might get you into the value resorts, comfortably. But I don't think you'd be able to swing a mod resort unless they come out with a really great discount. Transportation to the parks from these resorts is by bus. If you go to the Resorts forum, there is a FAQ sticky which has tons of valuable info about places to stay.

If you are a WDW first timer, then 3-4 days would be the minimum I'd recommend. Even the rides that are also at DL are not always exactly the same. It's one of the things we enjoy about occasionally going to DL: to compare the rides and enjoy the differences. Check out the Parks forum or just click on 'Theme Parks" at the top of the page for lots of info on the various attractions at each park.

 

[sharonabe]

As the PPs have said, you don't need a car if you stay onsite at a WDW resort, and your $125/night should get you into any of the values. WDW provides transportation to all those staying onsite. Go to the WDW website and click on special promotions to see if any of those appeal to you, and follow the link to check price on a vacation pkg.

I would do at least 4-day base tickets if you have that much time and go to all four parks for one full day each. If you don't have that much time, then park hoppers would be a good thing so you can see all four parks.

 

[Hootch]

doing a a Value resort I would stick with POP Century. There are certain times of the year when Moderate resorts will approach your price. Since you will likely be out of the room most of the time a Value should work fine.

I recently asked about the differences between Disney World and Disneyland. We will be traveling out West next summer and we're trying to decide if it worth it to visit Diesneyland for one day since we travel to WDW often. There are a number of sites that have comparisons but the one I found most helpful is linked below. It's written by a Disneyland passholder that has experienced both parks.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

You might consider looking at renting a car and driving to Orlando. We have rented in Orlando and dropped in Tampa. Miami is further away and may not be an option. There are shuttles from the airport to WDW and some people take towncars. A town car seems a bit much for one person.

 

[chartle]

Here is a little perspective on how much bigger and spread out WDW is compared to DL.

I plopped the pic of Disneyland in some undeveloped space south of the Magic Kingdom.

I think you need to read some posts here and maybe get a touring book for WDW before you can really ask good questions.

For one the area around DL is looks to be all developed with a few on-site hotels and numerous off site hotels with in walking distance.

WDW is 45 square miles of mostly undeveloped land that acts as a buffer to the outside world. Any hotel offsite will require a car or some sort of possible sketchy shuttle service. There are a wide range of on site resorts that all have free, frequent bus service to the parks and other areas.

 

[katrina1122]

You can't walk to all the resorts even if you stay in a deluxe. Some you can walk to Magic Kingdom, Some you can walk to Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios, none allow you to walk to Animal Kingdom.

All disney resorts offer free shuttle service to all 4 parks, 2 water parks and Downtown Disney.

For under $125 unless you go in an off peak season, you'll need to stay at a Value Resort, we love Pop Century.

I did Disneyland before California Adventure opened. Think of Disneyland as a mini version of WDW's Magic Kingdom with some rides thrown in from the other parks. You'll probably duplicate all the rides anyway since they pretty much all have some sort of difference to them. We never go for less than a week and I've been going since I was 2. I'd say a minimum of 4 days though so you can at least hit every park.