Will $10k CDN be enough for mom dad and princess (6)

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

I think others have covered the money aspect, but please go check out the DISabilities sub-forum for some suggestions on traveling with your daughter's health needs (sounds like getting a "stroller as a wheelchair" tag would be helpful.

Will do YES a stroller rental was looked at a few years back and still applies because she will GO GO GO but very short lived so stroller is a definate and will rent off site and have it sent to the resort etc. BUT thank you I will check out the DISability section if i can find it for suggestions tips helpful guides etc. Thank you for suggesting this.

++++WOW thank you very much for mentioning this +++++++ Stroller as a wheel chair. I DID NOT even think of that as i was like hmmmm ok so we need to park the stroller then she needs to stand with us? that extended length was a very BIG concern of mine. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

 

[SirDuff]

Will do YES a stroller rental was looked at a few years back and still applies because she will GO GO GO but very short lived so stroller is a definate and will rent off site and have it sent to the resort etc. BUT thank you I will check out the DISability section if i can find it for suggestions tips helpful guides etc. Thank you for suggesting this.

The "stroller as a wheelchair" tag will allow you to take the stroller (with her in it) through lines where generally strollers are not allowed, which sounds like it would be helpful.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, the stroller-as-wheelchair may be very helpful for her stamina. Here's a link to the disABILITIES Forum. There is an FAQ thread pinned near the top of the page, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

Thank you for the link. Much appreciated. i went to the forum, unfortunately i was reading and getting more confused with DAS // Genie ?? and whatever else they were comparing with.. 15 mins of reading and I was confused. Genie I get as i am still dabling with it to see if it is worth purchasing. DAS is a new court. i kind of get the premis will do more reading.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Hi OP, welcome to the Disboards! We are also a family of 3 (Mom, Dad, and 6 year DD) in Ontario. I think you've gotten some great advice so far. If you're flexible on timing, I'd pick a time when the weather is most suitable for your family. It ranges from surface-of-the-sun hot in the summer to four-seasons-in-one-day weather in the winter. It seems to always be busy at Disney world these days. (I feel like my last Feb trip was busier than my last Dec trip!) You can definitely get a solid vacation for $10K.

I may not be as practical as some of the others on here, so for me, I'd rather drop one night from the trip than pack sandwiches for the park or buy "souvenirs" in advance. The cost of one night accommodation on-site plus tickets for 3 pays for a lot of overpriced plastic junk that will collect dust in your home for years to come in all seriousness though, I love these tangible reminders of our vacation together. But I do try to keep it down to ONE tangible reminder per trip now because...

The biggest danger of spending $10K on a Disney world trip is that you'll want to go back for another trip! We did a "once in a lifetime" trip in Dec 2018 to Disney world (funny enough, spent about $10K on it as well, although that was 4 years ago) and now are addicted.

Some random thoughts:
- I love December because of the Christmas decorations, so always prefer to go in December if thats an option. Getting away from the cold Canadian winter for a bit is always nice too. But December isn't always reliable for swimming weather in Florida. Late October to early April is probably my ideal, weather-wise. Does it stop me from going in the other months? Nope. I am truly addicted. As Olaf would (somewhat) say, some things are worth melting for!
- Flying out of Pearson lately has been horrendous. Our outbound flight was delayed because of the plane sitting at the gate & not being allowed to unload due to customs restrictions. And on the return trip, you guessed it, we sat on the tarmac for over an hour due to customs keeping passengers on the plane vs. having them run riot through the customs hall. I don't blame them, but it sure isn't fun sitting there with a cranky 6 year old at 8PM. We got home after midnight despite landing at 8.
- With that being said, I'm taking the Leafs' lead to heart and flying out of Buffalo next time. If its an option for you, I'd suggest considering it. Price savings aren't as significant as they used to be, and you have to make sure you allot time to drive & cross the border, but that airport is a joy to fly out of compared to Pearson. I've never flown out of Detroit but maybe thats an option for you too, depending on where you are in Ontario.
- My personal favourite resorts when pushing a kid in a stroller are Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, and Beach Club/Yacht Club. The first two are walking distance to Magic Kingdom, the last two are walking distance to Epcot (and to some extent, Hollywood Studios).
- Don't be afraid to have some spontaneity when it comes to dining reservations. Getting up at the crack of dawn at 60 days before your trip can be exciting (I'm a planner at heart) but checking the day before has allowed me to snag some great reservations, as people cancel them one day in advance (to avoid the cancellation charge if you cancel same day, or don't show up).
- Look into Genie+ and/or DAS if you qualify. I don't know much about DAS but Genie+, if used correctly, can save you a lot of time. There's videos out there on how to use it and how to stack rides.
- I'm too cheap to pay for individual lightning lanes, but if you hop into line right before park close for the headliners, you'll find the wait time is often much lower than what is posted. (Rise of the Resistance is our usual line at park close, we hop in around 8:55 when park closes at 9:00 and the wait time is about 18 minutes to the first pre-show, vs. the 45+ minutes shown.) Wait times are not reliable.
- Ice water is free, but I find it tastes funny at some locations, so I usually bring a water bottle and fill up at the ones that don't taste funny to me.
- Bring an extra battery for your cell phone, you'll need it. Also bring ponchos, I prefer the disposable ones so I can toss them after each use rather than try to dry & fold them up into the neat little square they came in.
- Fireworks are awesome, well worth watching at least once on your trip. If your kid has an early bedtime, consider one of the winter months for your trip, as it gets darker earlier so fireworks at MK are an hour earlier than in the summer months. I don't know if Epcot fireworks hours change, haven't seen that happen recently.
- The MK parade is also awesome. The cavalcades are fun, there's tons of live entertainment, and the atmosphere at MK itself is just magical.
- All the parks are worthwhile. My 6 year old would rank them currently as Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom. But the order changes frequently so I wouldn't dismiss any of them out of hand. The resort pool is great too, and kids don't really care if they're in a value or a deluxe.
- If your family is able to stay up late, the extra 2 hours for Deluxe resort guests at Epcot and MK on select nights is fabulous. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/guest-services/extended-evening/ Highly recommend. We aren't able to get up early enough for the morning extra hours for all on-site guests, so can't speak to that perk.
- Don't forget to make park pass reservations!!!! Book it as soon as you buy tickets. You can always go in and change it around later but I've seen too many posts from people that have their vacations perfectly planned out, and then realized they can't get park reservations anymore. Personally I love the flexibility of being able to hop, so we can end the day with fireworks when we want to.

- Overall, just go with the flow. My six year old changes her mind frequently and being willing to change plans day of allows us to all have a more fun, relaxed vacation. Do I plan everything anyways? Yes. But I'm willing to let it go... sometimes.

 

[DisneyMama811]

Nice great i was thinking of January /feb value time as well but NOW im getting excited and may look at sept 5-15 (block area) not sure how long and or where to stay. VALUE resort may be the way for us to go as well was very excited for it lol. Yes see with your airfare off the budget you are at the same budget. thats great. AND you are getting WAY more lol.
Car Rental. Yes i am contemplating this as well. pretty sure with Parking fee / milage and rental cost i think we may just set up UBER/swift / taxi (for the days we dont or cant make public trans. still may be cheaper to do that and less hassle of gas and items for car rental. BUT you are going to universal. I need to figure out how you're doing this on the same budget. lol with 4 people wow. yes rest days im looking at as well.
BUDGET resort the cheapest i keep seeing is sports / music? if i recall the offers I was getting those for about $120-$150 then saw POP for like avg of $185 then dream spot is Port orleans Royal suite rooms but just destroys the budget or reduces time there. over $300. but thats the fun i like take from here to enhance here etc. ROOM is a little weird in MY head its really very little time spent other than relax / sleep. SO CHEAP is my thought! i saw the tour of sports resort on tube , looks fine for a hotel IDK lol. Sorry for typing out my head thoughts. we are a pretty simple family and love the fun factor.

I'm off the same mind when it comes to hotel, my mom used to always say "a hotel is just a place to put your head at night" we won't spend much time in the room and honestly I'd rather stay cheap as possible so we can use money for other things such as 1 or 2 Character meals and other special things. We are considering all star movies purely because hubby and I have stayed there before and the outdoor themeing is top notch for our kids age group

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I don't think you need to worry too much about DAS, as you can use the stroller-as-wheelchair so your daughter doesn't have to stand in lines. DAS is for guests who have non-mobility situations that make waiting in line painful/impossible. Focus on learning about Genie+ in WDW.

I really enjoy the character dining experiences, so I would happily do very cheap breakfasts in the room in order to spend on the character meals, but it really depends on whether your daughter is into that or not. If she is, check out the various options and see which one has the characters and food she will like best!

Once you have your hotel selected, get familiar with the transportation options to the parks. Since you will have the stroller as wheelchair, it will reduce the amount of walking your daughter has to do, but it is also a good idea to practice with a similar stroller ahead of time, so that she is comfortable with it, and so you are comfortable pushing (it takes more muscles than you'd imagine!), and also comfortable with collapsing it for transportation.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

Hi OP, welcome to the Disboards! We are also a family of 3 (Mom, Dad, and 6 year DD) in Ontario. I think you've gotten some great advice so far. If you're flexible on timing, I'd pick a time when the weather is most suitable for your family. It ranges from surface-of-the-sun hot in the summer to four-seasons-in-one-day weather in the winter. It seems to always be busy at Disney world these days. (I feel like my last Feb trip was busier than my last Dec trip!) You can definitely get a solid vacation for $10K.

I may not be as practical as some of the others on here, so for me, I'd rather drop one night from the trip than pack sandwiches for the park or buy "souvenirs" in advance. The cost of one night accommodation on-site plus tickets for 3 pays for a lot of overpriced plastic junk that will collect dust in your home for years to come in all seriousness though, I love these tangible reminders of our vacation together. But I do try to keep it down to ONE tangible reminder per trip now because...

The biggest danger of spending $10K on a Disney world trip is that you'll want to go back for another trip! We did a "once in a lifetime" trip in Dec 2018 to Disney world (funny enough, spent about $10K on it as well, although that was 4 years ago) and now are addicted.

Some random thoughts:
- I love December because of the Christmas decorations, so always prefer to go in December if thats an option. Getting away from the cold Canadian winter for a bit is always nice too. But December isn't always reliable for swimming weather in Florida. Late October to early April is probably my ideal, weather-wise. Does it stop me from going in the other months? Nope. I am truly addicted. As Olaf would (somewhat) say, some things are worth melting for!
- Flying out of Pearson lately has been horrendous. Our outbound flight was delayed because of the plane sitting at the gate & not being allowed to unload due to customs restrictions. And on the return trip, you guessed it, we sat on the tarmac for over an hour due to customs keeping passengers on the plane vs. having them run riot through the customs hall. I don't blame them, but it sure isn't fun sitting there with a cranky 6 year old at 8PM. We got home after midnight despite landing at 8.
- With that being said, I'm taking the Leafs' lead to heart and flying out of Buffalo next time. If its an option for you, I'd suggest considering it. Price savings aren't as significant as they used to be, and you have to make sure you allot time to drive & cross the border, but that airport is a joy to fly out of compared to Pearson. I've never flown out of Detroit but maybe thats an option for you too, depending on where you are in Ontario.
- My personal favourite resorts when pushing a kid in a stroller are Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, and Beach Club/Yacht Club. The first two are walking distance to Magic Kingdom, the last two are walking distance to Epcot (and to some extent, Hollywood Studios).
- Don't be afraid to have some spontaneity when it comes to dining reservations. Getting up at the crack of dawn at 60 days before your trip can be exciting (I'm a planner at heart) but checking the day before has allowed me to snag some great reservations, as people cancel them one day in advance (to avoid the cancellation charge if you cancel same day, or don't show up).
- Look into Genie+ and/or DAS if you qualify. I don't know much about DAS but Genie+, if used correctly, can save you a lot of time. There's videos out there on how to use it and how to stack rides.
- I'm too cheap to pay for individual lightning lanes, but if you hop into line right before park close for the headliners, you'll find the wait time is often much lower than what is posted. (Rise of the Resistance is our usual line at park close, we hop in around 8:55 when park closes at 9:00 and the wait time is about 18 minutes to the first pre-show, vs. the 45+ minutes shown.) Wait times are not reliable.
- Ice water is free, but I find it tastes funny at some locations, so I usually bring a water bottle and fill up at the ones that don't taste funny to me.
- Bring an extra battery for your cell phone, you'll need it. Also bring ponchos, I prefer the disposable ones so I can toss them after each use rather than try to dry & fold them up into the neat little square they came in.
- Fireworks are awesome, well worth watching at least once on your trip. If your kid has an early bedtime, consider one of the winter months for your trip, as it gets darker earlier so fireworks at MK are an hour earlier than in the summer months. I don't know if Epcot fireworks hours change, haven't seen that happen recently.
- The MK parade is also awesome. The cavalcades are fun, there's tons of live entertainment, and the atmosphere at MK itself is just magical.
- All the parks are worthwhile. My 6 year old would rank them currently as Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom. But the order changes frequently so I wouldn't dismiss any of them out of hand. The resort pool is great too, and kids don't really care if they're in a value or a deluxe.
- If your family is able to stay up late, the extra 2 hours for Deluxe resort guests at Epcot and MK on select nights is fabulous. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/guest-services/extended-evening/ Highly recommend. We aren't able to get up early enough for the morning extra hours for all on-site guests, so can't speak to that perk.
- Don't forget to make park pass reservations!!!! Book it as soon as you buy tickets. You can always go in and change it around later but I've seen too many posts from people that have their vacations perfectly planned out, and then realized they can't get park reservations anymore. Personally I love the flexibility of being able to hop, so we can end the day with fireworks when we want to.

- Overall, just go with the flow. My six year old changes her mind frequently and being willing to change plans day of allows us to all have a more fun, relaxed vacation. Do I plan everything anyways? Yes. But I'm willing to let it go... sometimes.

Love it! Yes I am a planner and i have to step back and say DARN IT! the closer to setup etc i just want MAJOR things covered FOOD costs / suvineers (some special things) try to make it magical..locations and timing to from etc just to coincide with being in the park..... ONCE in the park I REALLY want to forget everything and let her lead us lol. BASICS once covered all good i think we can wing it and still have a blast. Yes our 6 year old is balancing she likes princesses but is noe getting into superheros big time so yes i already figured HOPEFULLY we can manage a 4 parks with probably 1 extra at MK and 1 extra Studios. Early mornings are definately good for me and daughter mom well i'll get her going thank you for the post great tips in there.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

I'm off the same mind when it comes to hotel, my mom used to always say "a hotel is just a place to put your head at night" we won't spend much time in the room and honestly I'd rather stay cheap as possible so we can use money for other things such as 1 or 2 Character meals and other special things. We are considering all star movies purely because hubby and I have stayed there before and the outdoor themeing is top notch for our kids age group

Great reply thank you! lol i only been to vegas as a vaction like 20 years ago and all i remmebr was people saying DONT pay for room pay for crash time as youll never really spend HUGE time in it. And honestly we are a modest family and we have stayed in MANY hotels while at sick kids for her and we are no stranger to beds and tv shower and such Pretty much all we need to function is the goal. But once outside of that door I want her experience to be MAgical you know? and yes i see the big characters etc and the decor I think shell be all over that EYE candy! Originally we were planning to stay at the port orleans for our stay as every time i watched the tours of rooms etc on utube she would go crazy for that Royal room? and MOM says she would go crazy for Animal Kingdom room savanna --- lol yes we cant afford those so that probably justifies the value resorts and put a lil more to in the park value and experiences for us perhaps.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

I don't think you need to worry too much about DAS, as you can use the stroller-as-wheelchair so your daughter doesn't have to stand in lines. DAS is for guests who have non-mobility situations that make waiting in line painful/impossible. Focus on learning about Genie+ in WDW.

I really enjoy the character dining experiences, so I would happily do very cheap breakfasts in the room in order to spend on the character meals, but it really depends on whether your daughter is into that or not. If she is, check out the various options and see which one has the characters and food she will like best!

Once you have your hotel selected, get familiar with the transportation options to the parks. Since you will have the stroller as wheelchair, it will reduce the amount of walking your daughter has to do, but it is also a good idea to practice with a similar stroller ahead of time, so that she is comfortable with it, and so you are comfortable pushing (it takes more muscles than you'd imagine!), and also comfortable with collapsing it for transportation.

Love the post its like mind reading...while i read these posts as im thinking these things what a great community lol.

"I really enjoy the character dining experiences, so I would happily do very cheap breakfasts in the room in order to spend on the character meals, but it really depends on whether your daughter is into that or not. If she is, check out the various options and see which one has the characters and food she will like best!"

Last planning pre covid yes we are a modest family we have no issues eating pizza in our room for dinner and a simple breaky for less to accomodate SPECIAL experiences.... as far as will she enjoy it? YES! food wise she is very typical standard i have all confidence kids menus will cover every thing she eats. no worries.

Cheers

 

[tjmw2727]

Late to the party but I wanted to say that although the princess rooms are pretty, they are IMHO not convenient, they are the furthest away from the main pool and dining and later in the bus route increasing the odds of standing room only.

If you can upgrade from All stars, I would put that extra toward a room at pop century instead. You have Skyliner access to two parks and can leave the stroller open. One bus stop and easy access to not only the main pool and dining at POP but also AOA. Instead of two queens you will have a queen and a murphy that converts to a dining table when not in use. This leaves you proper space to eat breakfast and other meals in the room.

Several grocery stores in the area will deliver - we get drinks, snacks, cold breakfast, fruit & veggies and lunch fixings to have in room when we have downtime. Some of my dd's favorite memories are the nighttime swims and pizza in the room!

Think about a longer stay if you can (at least a week?) and a longer park ticket, the cost reduces as the days increase. This gives you flexibility to take mid-day pool breaks, later mornings, etc. and still enjoy all the attraction you can especially if your dd will tire easily.

Have fun planning!

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

Late to the party but I wanted to say that although the princess rooms are pretty, they are IMHO not convenient, they are the furthest away from the main pool and dining and later in the bus route increasing the odds of standing room only.

If you can upgrade from All stars, I would put that extra toward a room at pop century instead. You have Skyliner access to two parks and can leave the stroller open. One bus stop and easy access to not only the main pool and dining at POP but also AOA. Instead of two queens you will have a queen and a murphy that converts to a dining table when not in use. This leaves you proper space to eat breakfast and other meals in the room.

Several grocery stores in the area will deliver - we get drinks, snacks, cold breakfast, fruit & veggies and lunch fixings to have in room when we have downtime. Some of my dd's favorite memories are the nighttime swims and pizza in the room!

Think about a longer stay if you can (at least a week?) and a longer park ticket, the cost reduces as the days increase. This gives you flexibility to take mid-day pool breaks, later mornings, etc. and still enjoy all the attraction you can especially if your dd will tire easily.

Have fun planning!

Thank you so much for this input and opinion. good advice and thoughts. These are the posts that really help in thought process of planning.
ORINGINAL : my initial thoughts were POP (skyliner) plus single bus to parks and or Taxi UBER lift whatever they posses etc. I have been watching Video and reading etc. SKYLINER: can have huge wait lines ( I am hoping at busy times vs off season and of course times of day etc)
GROCERY: Yes for sure was one thing a year and a bit ago i thought about and looked into. Walmart delivery etc. It gets hard to choose resort give and take typically the give is more $$ for accessibility. ROOMS i keep seeing the rooms close to the lobby and or transport and food etc are always preferred rooms and cost more. looking more into it.
As I mentioned my biggest concern is Walking distance for our little one, even with the stroller I know she will be a GO GO GO walker. And I have to admit I love she likes walking but i feel the time frame of distance vs speed will be a factor I feel what some people can do in a day she may need 2 days. So this is where I need to plan accordingly. This is why i was looking at DAS and or Genie +.
I get tired just looking at the resort tours distances. They are extremely large every time i see the lobbys I just start counting in my head the steps and time to get a rough idea. I am thinking that I would rather spend a little more (and may have to) to have a closer location to the food court and lobby / busses. I get it use the stroller // but that in it self is another battle she isnt a toddler where she is fine with getting a free ride lol she is 6 but can walk to the end of the drive way and be tired or sore after like 5 mins it is definitely a challenge with her prosthetic and heart/lung condition. ENERGY( HIGH) stamina (very LOW). and that doesnt cover IF the leg gives us any Physical limitations(Irritations and or pinches etc) sometimes we need to keep her leg off for a day just to allow for bruises or tender spots to breathe etc.
SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT: ride conditions I just saw a video or article cant remember , about people with pace makers and or heart condition's etc and the effects that the ride(s) may have on them G-forces etc. Maybe that the bigger rides Idont know But will look into them for sure.

Thanks for the pointers and advice. I have a full list of things as I was at a planning stage previously etc but right now is alll about feasibility. And yes the prices have changed. thats why we went from POP / PORT AoA to All star to compensate. $$

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

Love the post its like mind reading...while i read these posts as im thinking these things what a great community lol.

"I really enjoy the character dining experiences, so I would happily do very cheap breakfasts in the room in order to spend on the character meals, but it really depends on whether your daughter is into that or not. If she is, check out the various options and see which one has the characters and food she will like best!"

Last planning pre covid yes we are a modest family we have no issues eating pizza in our room for dinner and a simple breaky for less to accomodate SPECIAL experiences.... as far as will she enjoy it? YES! food wise she is very typical standard i have all confidence kids menus will cover every thing she eats. no worries.

Cheers

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

I don't think you need to worry too much about DAS, as you can use the stroller-as-wheelchair so your daughter doesn't have to stand in lines. DAS is for guests who have non-mobility situations that make waiting in line painful/impossible. Focus on learning about Genie+ in WDW.

I really enjoy the character dining experiences, so I would happily do very cheap breakfasts in the room in order to spend on the character meals, but it really depends on whether your daughter is into that or not. If she is, check out the various options and see which one has the characters and food she will like best!

Once you have your hotel selected, get familiar with the transportation options to the parks. Since you will have the stroller as wheelchair, it will reduce the amount of walking your daughter has to do, but it is also a good idea to practice with a similar stroller ahead of time, so that she is comfortable with it, and so you are comfortable pushing (it takes more muscles than you'd imagine!), and also comfortable with collapsing it for transportation.

I have been thinking about this and actually just thought of a very real common scenario, for us anyways) if we have to keep her LEG off. Still trying to run scenarios and plans if this was to happen. As she is more aware she is different from her Kinder class I know not having the leg on with us is fine but she can become self conscious when its off (which isnt often) but can happen (sores rubs tender bruises etc) I think having DAS may allow us a little buffer for contingency and if it isnt needed great if it is well....I dont want to try and troubleshoot or figure things out while its happening.

 

[Wayland10]

If you’re planning far enough in advance you could look into renting DVC points and be closer to the parks. No over the top theming, but it might put AKL into reach. At Jambo House a lot of the standard view rooms gave “partial savanna view”, which imo is nearly as good for less money. Still busses, but we love it there.

 

[tjmw2727]

snip
ORINGINAL : my initial thoughts were POP (skyliner) plus single bus to parks and or Taxi UBER lift whatever they posses etc. I have been watching Video and reading etc. SKYLINER: can have huge wait lines ( I am hoping at busy times vs off season and of course times of day etc)
Snip

Stayed at pop and aoa at least 6 times since the reopen and the only time we had excessive waits for the Skyliner was at the very beginning when the were only boarding one party per car and this was at Epcot closing. This includes NYE when we waited barely 20 minutes at Epcot closing as well as this past Apri 2022 and we are returning next week.

There are times when the lines look long but if you wait it out (and or time it) they move very quickly.

Genie + and DAS are completely different, you will have to talk with GS to see about DAS and generally speaking if stroller as wheelchair meets her needs she may not qualify.

Genie plus can be purchased day by day so continue your research and to see if the extra $ is worth it in each park. Some use it in MK but not in Epcot and you don't have to purchase it every day of your trip.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

If you’re planning far enough in advance you could look into renting DVC points and be closer to the parks. No over the top theming, but it might put AKL into reach. At Jambo House a lot of the standard view rooms gave “partial savanna view”, which imo is nearly as good for less money. Still busses, but we love it there.

LOL you forum members are KILLING ME! XD the more i get excited and see the doables i get these kind of posts thats saying HEY check this out! lol love it.
THEME rooms? NAH! honestly i feel you pay for decor where I am pretty sure little one will be unconcious 95% so kind of keeping that on a PLUS vs must. AKL is SOOOOooo expensive Mom said that little one would lose her mind seeing animals outside the room but the price tag associated is VERY high for our budget.
What are DVC points? sorry very new to disney stuff this is our first vacation as a family ever just bad timing over her life and the world etc. We are canadian so its hard to associate alot of things for normal residents vs out of country etc.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

Stayed at pop and aoa at least 6 times since the reopen and the only time we had excessive waits for the Skyliner was at the very beginning when the were only boarding one party per car and this was at Epcot closing. This includes NYE when we waited barely 20 minutes at Epcot closing as well as this past Apri 2022 and we are returning next week.

There are times when the lines look long but if you wait it out (and or time it) they move very quickly.

Genie + and DAS are completely different, you will have to talk with GS to see about DAS and generally speaking if stroller as wheelchair meets her needs she may not qualify.

Genie plus can be purchased day by day so continue your research and to see if the extra $ is worth it in each park. Some use it in MK but not in Epcot and you don't have to purchase it every day of your trip.

from the updates i have been seeing etc... Genie plus is a purchaseable add each day and at the time we are planning on going it will be a DAILY order so to speak. Which i am ok with I like that little bit of control like you said MAY be worth MK not so much epcot etc. As far as DAS trust me from what i have seen regarding the Aquiring the DAS vs result you may be correct ALL in all IDC how things work and we are far from entitled feeling family Lightning lines seem so doable and or waitlines NOT in excessive of 30 mins are our goal. And based off the Popularity of each ride i can easily see windows of opportunity. NOT even sure HOW many rides we will be shooting for i dont feel its about the rides...vs Attractions shows, character meets etc is more realistic. Also i keep forgetting about MOM and DAD lol which is very normal for us. I need to do a little research on the rider swap thing and how it works with say lightning her stroller etc. Thanks for your input it is really appreciated I just dont want to over look anything that can make our trip (EASIER) which 95% seems mobility issues. thats why we are trying to make it a 2 day MK 2 day Studios with 1 AK 1 Epcot. Thats the plan but as you probably know can change on the fly.

I SPOKE TO THE MRS: we are good to go she is on board but our time has changed back to JAN /FEB times still good deals (off peak) and weather may be WAY more tolerable for us ... YES i would still swim in 15 degree climate and gop back to the room for some ZAA! I was a little worried on food budget but the more i se the videos on TUBE i see the menu prices....I feel we are VERY good with the budget of $25 per meal as i havent seen one yet that wasnt character or special and what some consider snacks we would count as meals...lol so very comfy. Drink on the other hand is a close watch no issues having our own with the odd splurge.

I am sure i could find out but will ask here DO the fridges in the rooms have freezer section?
I almost always freeze my waters so they are cold throughout the day.

ALSO COFFEE SUGGESTIONS: Ok i get it its florida I see a ton of ICE coffee which can be ok ....BUT I NEED COFFEE first thing in the morning maybe 2 cups before they usually get out of bed...Is this doable? and are the refil mugs worth the price?

Cheers all thanks for the great thinking tips.

 

[Wayland10]

LOL you forum members are KILLING ME! XD the more i get excited and see the doables i get these kind of posts thats saying HEY check this out! lol love it.
THEME rooms? NAH! honestly i feel you pay for decor where I am pretty sure little one will be unconcious 95% so kind of keeping that on a PLUS vs must. AKL is SOOOOooo expensive Mom said that little one would lose her mind seeing animals outside the room but the price tag associated is VERY high for our budget.
What are DVC points? sorry very new to disney stuff this is our first vacation as a family ever just bad timing over her life and the world etc. We are canadian so its hard to associate alot of things for normal residents vs out of country etc.

lol! Glad to throw more ideas your way! So DVC is the Disney version of a timeshare, but owners can rent or sublet their points. A week in an AKL standard view in January is 88 points. They’re renting at around $18 per point right now, so that would be $1584 or so. A week in February is a bit more. The downside is that you’ll need to book ASAP- 11 months out is ideal, at AKL 7 months is doable. The pros are: a deluxe for a substantial discount, a kitchenette with a getter fridge, microwave and toaster, and the chance (for more $$) to book bigger rooms, like a 1 bedroom suite with a full kitchen. The kitchen really helps save money, especially on breakfast for us.
The downside is that the reservation will need to be paid in full when you make it, and it’s (usually) non refundable. So you need to be sure. I’d go through a rental agency (search DVC point rental to find them) because they offer protections against fraud.

*edit- these prices are USD.

 

[Daddy's 'lil Princess]

If you’re planning far enough in advance you could look into renting DVC points and be closer to the parks. No over the top theming, but it might put AKL into reach. At Jambo House a lot of the standard view rooms gave “partial savanna view”, which imo is nearly as good for less money. Still busses, but we love it there.

Yes i have just started to look over this DVC rental point thingy ma Bob..... a tad complicated to navigate and so far the sites to achieve our goals the Cost of the DVC point to $ figure is worse than rack rate i have ...so no real incentive thus far. for a week at AKL I was getting value of $4600 rack for jan 18-25 /23 and the dvc prices were like 4700+ 5500 etc. (perhaps im reading these wrong) lol and then whatever Disney releases in the next week of new Offers for the dates we want to go 4600 may be a lot less.
Saying this AKL even at 4600 is around 1500 more than what i was looking at for a room budget. I will keep dreaming lol. But seriously ...As cool as a AKL SV room would be $$ just probably isnt realistic for us. And to be Honest if i was to PAY more for a better resort I would be thinking like port orleans (my original favorite..and the lil one like tiana ) liked the royal room or even maybe AoA mermaid room? again when we are looking at the grand scheme of things the room has to help us (with her best interests and i guess ours ) first, THEN dream/memory making pluses. Its so much ...... making it sound like we are cheap but really our budget is our budget and dont want to sacrifice to much of one thing to establish a new memory so to speak. BUT IM TRYING lol!