your best Disney decision

[cleophus12]

I agree. DVC. I'm only sorry we didn't do it 18 years ago on our first visit. Oh, the money we could've saved.

 

[colagirl]

I would say deciding on a whim (because it wasn't much more/night) to choose Club Level the first time our whole family went 6 years ago. It was perfect for us, especially when we were there with my older parents. Have been back twice since and done club again both times.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Using touring plans--initially the plans in the back of the Unofficial Guide, then the personalized plans through TP.com.

 

[Dr Gevil]

buying DVC! Wish we did it a long time ago.

This x2. Being able to walk to EPCOT and DHS from BCV is great. Will also enjoy a 5 min ride to AK from AKV, esp. once the nighttime activities start up there.

I have also fully embraced the afternoon trip to the pool/pool bar before having dinner and heading back to the parks, or just hanging out and watching the nightly movie on the beach.

 

[automaticsoap]

Going on my first solo trip! I usually go with my boyfriend and a couple friends once a year and my siblings every few years, but I'm always the biggest WDW fan of the group. Going solo has given me a great balance between doing things completely my way and enjoying the parks with friends and family.

 

[kkendle]

Really??? Tell me more... I go once a year and will exclusively use bus transportation. I haven't encountered many problems with this really. Is car transport faster in your opinion? Or are you saying this because car transportation is great for leaving the parks at closing when infinite people are cramming onto buses Just curious to hear why. Good comment

I did not originally post the reply about having your own transportation but I totally agree with it. I really like not having to ever wait for a bus and being crowded and/or having to stand on a bus when my knee is hurting! I do like being dropped off where the busses let you out but with the parking lot trams...it isn't a big deal. Also I like being able to stop and get drinks and snacks on way from airport to Disney and being able to go get whatever we need if anything comes up.

 

[MrsHull]

Making an off-hand comment to my sister that I would love to celebrate my 50th bday at Disney (really not expecting to go). We will be there in Sept!!!! Taking a sling bag instead of a backpack.

That's awesome! Mine is similar. Last December, I told hubby I have always wanted to see the Magic Kingdom at Christmas. We check in on November 28!!!!

 

[kj2mom]

I love this thread! It has some fantastic ideas! It also makes me remember how different everyone's 'best' can be. Some of the things I have read were actually the opposite of what I would consider the best for me. This is not at all bashing, just noticing how different everyone's decisions can be but still be the best for them individually! I took my children by myself for the first time last week, we stayed off site and what I was most worried about was the car rental/driving. Everything went soo smoothly I believe I now prefer driving over buses. Not sure what I would do if we stay on site again sometime as I am quite frugal and would probably not want to spend money on a rental when I didn't have to but gosh did I love how easy it was to get from the parks to our time share (Cypress Pointe just outside of Downtown Disney). We did not experience any traffic issues at all, usually ended up so close we did not even have to tram to our spot, and the whole driving aspect was actually quite pleasurable.

 

[sharona]

Really??? Tell me more... I go once a year and will exclusively use bus transportation. I haven't encountered many problems with this really. Is car transport faster in your opinion? Or are you saying this because car transportation is great for leaving the parks at closing when infinite people are cramming onto buses Just curious to hear why. Good comment

That's a whole other thread lol...actually, you could do a search and likely find thousands of threads about bus vs. car. It's definitely a personal choice and both sides have pros/cons but for us, after the first trip using DME and the buses, we were all done with that! Personally, I hate public transportation after taking it for years to/from work and subjecting myself to more of the same is no vacation for me!!

I did not originally post the reply about having your own transportation but I totally agree with it. I really like not having to ever wait for a bus and being crowded and/or having to stand on a bus when my knee is hurting! I do like being dropped off where the busses let you out but with the parking lot trams...it isn't a big deal. Also I like being able to stop and get drinks and snacks on way from airport to Disney and being able to go get whatever we need if anything comes up.

Yes, what kkendle said. But mostly it's the independence that having your own car affords.

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

Promising ourselves that we will come back someday... It takes away from the frantic last day of trying to get "a list" done. The someday keeps finding its way sooner and sooner but either way it takes the pressure off.

Giving ourselves permission to go with the flow with a few "must haves" scheduled.

 

[floydfamily4]

So glad to see the responses. I totally agree that what works for one might not work for another! I think if someone is trying to plan a great trip they should realize that what is best for me might not be the best for them and they can still have an awesome trip! I think I sometimes forget that a great WDW experience is almost as unique as the family experiencing it. I will share one more thing that made our trip wonderful then - we stayed offsite in a wonderful townhouse with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. Being able to have hubby cook a good breakfast and then hit the parks and then come back in the evening and park in front of the doors with 2 sleeping 4 year olds was priceless! That was magical to me!!

 

[DizDaD7]

I did not originally post the reply about having your own transportation but I totally agree with it. I really like not having to ever wait for a bus and being crowded and/or having to stand on a bus when my knee is hurting! I do like being dropped off where the busses let you out but with the parking lot trams...it isn't a big deal. Also I like being able to stop and get drinks and snacks on way from airport to Disney and being able to go get whatever we need if anything comes up.

This is where Garden Grocer comes into play..Everything already in the villa fridge

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

Making WDW a family tradition when our children were small. We tried to go once a year and even now that they are almost grown, it feels like HOME to them even if we don't go as often.

 

[CopperWife]

Best decision I made was buying MNSSHP tickets. A week long vacation for a family of 4 to Disney can be expensive and 4 tickets to MNSSHP just seemed too extravagant and not in the budget. But I was able to juggle some things around and free up the money to get the tickets. BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT! We just loved every single thing about MNSSHP. Even my tight-wad DH loved it and said it was worth every penny. Looking forward to attending another party this October

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Stopping the split stays. For a few years, if we were staying more than 5 nights, I would always do a split to sample new resorts and room categories. On our last trip in April, my DH would only go along if we stayed all 7 nights in a 2-bedroom villa at BC. It was HEAVEN! So relaxing to not have to pack up mid-stay. I also loved having the washer/dryer! It meant traveling lighter. What a great vacation!

 

[CdnKayDee]

Going to WDW for Honeymoon. Making POR our first MOD. Visiting many times before kids.

 

[nuzmom]

I agree with renting a car. For us, getting out of the crowds for a quiet ride back to the resort is very appreciated. We also use it for going to a go-kart track, groceries or items we forgot to pack, and for eating off-site sometimes.
Our best decision was for DH to return to our room (because he can only do a "little" Disney) and my DS18, DS13, and I stayed in the MK for EMH in late December - from 1:00am to 3:00am!!!!! It was incredible!!! It had sprinkled early in the evening and between that and the hours, the park was empty. We have fantastic photos of an empty main street with Christmas lights reflecting off the wet pavement. Let alone the fun memories the boys and I had of enjoying the evening together.
We are DVC and staying in a grand villa (for a week) at kidani was awesome! They are HUGE and it gave us enough room to get some space between us and extended family!

 

[Aerinha]

Going by myself so that I could stay where I wanted, go where I wanted and eat when/where I wanted. Also, taking a filtered water bottle which made the nasty water taste great and saved me hundreds over all my trips not buying bottled water in the parks.

 

[belle1986]

Going by ourselves as a family (just the 3 of us)..... no extended family.

I agree with this. Disney is the only vacation we get to do without the in laws and that makes it even more magical.

 

[DebbieB]

Buying DVC in 1999. 15 years of great trips so far!