We're Going to Disney World, Want to Help?

Every once in a blue moon (the last time was 10 years ago), my wife and I take a "big" vacation. Our normal, annual vacation time is spent visiting relatives around the country, but when we take a "big" vacation, it's always something special. Last time, we took my mom and dad to Aruba and it was wonderful. This time, we have kids, and we're on our way to Disney World.

You know, it's something every parent has to do -- take their kids to Disney World. I went several times as a child (it helped that we lived in Orlando for a couple years) and our kids have wanted to go for a couple years now. So my wife and I decided we'd take the plunge this year and head to Disney this fall. I think it will be a blast.

But there's lots of work to do before that time. We need to make what seems like a ga-zillion decisions, things such as:

• When exactly do we want to go? (We're thinking the week after Labor Day. I was there a few years ago for an event and it was totally dead that week.)
• Where do we want to stay? (On property, off property, etc.)
• How do we want to get there? (Flying is waaay ahead in my book over driving.)
• How do we want to get around while there? (do we want to rent a car or not -- much of this is a function of where we stay)

And on and on. The questions seem endless and every answer turns up three or four more questions. Right now, we're talking to everyone we know who's gone to Disney and asking what they like, don't like, etc. It's a big project.

So this leads me to ask you -- what recommendations do you have when it comes to Disney World? What do you recommend we do? What do you recommend we avoid? What websites should we check out? Should we read any books? All comments are welcomed!

BTW, you're probably wondering why I didn't bring up any sort of personal finance issue in this post such as WHAT DO WE PLAN TO SPEND? I'll certainly address that in an upcoming post, so stay tuned. I'm sure you'll find it interesting how we decide what to spend on a "big" vacation.

Comments

[andy]

Check out disboards.com. I used this for our disney vacation last year and it was amazing how much info you can get there. Those people are Disney crazy. Personally, I won't go back to Disney and not stay on property if we're staying for multiple days.

[Chuck]

The last few years they have ran a deal where if you go in August or September and purchase a Disney package (hotel + park tickets) you get the Disney Dining Plan free. Works out to be a pretty good deal, there is a section on Mousesavers (an excellent Disney resource as well) where it shows where to get the most bang for the buck out of the plan.

No guarantee they are going to do it again this year though.

[M.]

I second Disboards.com, also look at Mousesavers.com, and consider staying at one of the non-Disney "on-property" hotels near Downtown Disney. You will get virtually the same access to the Disney transportation system, but it won't cost a Disney premium. When my husband and I went, we stayed at the Hilton, and got shuttle rides to the monorail, and even got early entry to the parks!

[Duane Gran]

I had some family go there last year and I shared the following link, which contains a lot of practical advice:

http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2006/12/disneyworld_rev.html

[Chuck]

Just wanted to provide the link to the Mousesavers page I referred to in my earlier comment about the Dining package:

http://www.mousesavers.com/diningplantips2007.html

[FMF]

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the help!!!

[Greg]

My wife posted all our tips, tricks, and suggestions on her blog. Very lengthy, so check the link for details.

The single best tip I can give is when you get there, just go with it. Long lines, clueless pedestrians, kids worn out by lunch time…just relax and enjoy it.

http://theleibyfamily.blogspot.com/2007/01/susan-gregs-disney-tips-tricks.html

[Bill]

That's a great time to go. Other good times are the beginning of November, the first half of December, and January 2 through February 15. I would definitely stay on property at one of the All Star Resorts. First, you get all the on-property benefits (extra park hours, etc). Second, they're the cheapest AND the most "Disney-ish" so the kids should love it. The rooms are a bit small, but you probably won't do much there except sleep, so that's fine.

The http://www.allears.net website has helped a lot on recent trips. Mouse Savers is a good one too. And definitely get the multi-day parkhopper tickets. I'd pass on the dining plan (unless it's free!), but that's just my preference.

Bring your own water bottles & snacks into the park. Just use single serving crystal light type flavor packets to cover up the nasty taste of the Central Florida water. You'll save a ton of cash that way.

[Moneymonk]

Fly, rent, stay ENJOY!

Fly, rent a car, stay in hotel on property .......ENJOY

[Lawrence]

I just took the family down to Disneyworld in January/07. A great place to stay is Florida Sun Vacation Homes. They are 3 miles to Disney, Gated Community, the houses have private pools and hot tubs. You can enjoy the park or sit by a private pool. All for good rates. Also, Mid january was not busy at all

[Tim]

Just a quick suggestion. *If* you drive and have AAA, Check into "AAA Diamond Parking". You get to park RIGHT behind/next to the "disabled/handicapped" spots for the regular parking fee. Staying on property is even better with extended hours for those who stay on property. Check out a good Disney Guide book updated for the current year for the best ideas on where to go when.

The best single idea is HAVE A "BATTLE PLAN" for the day, but be a little flexible too.

If you need character signatures, aim for character LUNCHES. Cheaper than dinner (and you'll be full for a good, long while) and you're GUARNTEED to get the time you want with the characters who come RIGHT TO YOUR TABLE. We had great luck with a "signiture t-shirt" with only 1 character's "handler" declining (BOOOOO to Figment's Handler...but YEAH to Figment!)

[DigitalRich]

FMF-

I got this one covered baby. THE ABSOLUTE BEST TIME to go to Disney World is during Night of Joy. It is a series of Christian Music concerts throughout the park the first full weekend of September (this year I think the dates are Sept 7 & 8). They close the park down early- about 6:00PM or so, and usher out all the people with regular Disney World tickets, including season passholders, etc. They then re-open from 7:30PM until 12:30AM for Night Of Joy ticket holders. You need a special ticket for this late session (you know may be able to land you some comps for this :).

The agenda- stay at Wilderness Lodge on property and get a special Night of Joy rate. Sleep in late, eat at the character restaurant (all the Disney characters will come up to your table to meet the kids, sign autographs, take pictures, etc). After that, hit the pool, then let the kids rest (maybe take a nap) and then hit the park in the afternoon- say about 2PM or so. On request, a small charter boat (seats 8 or 10 people) takes you right from the lodge and drops you off at the front gate (no monorail, lines, ferry, etc). When you are done for the night, the boat takes you right back to the lodge.

Park attendance is lighter than usual during the regular daytime park hours (kids back in school), and even lighter than normal since people noticed the short park hours during those days and picked other days to go. The park really clears up late in the day about 5PM or so, and you can go on tons of rides with little wait. THEN the best part- when the park closes, since you have NOJ passes you can stay in the park, walk right into Cinderella’s Castle for dinner or anywhere else in the park with no wait, and enjoy a laid back dinner while everyone else has to leave the park. Most Night of Joy ticket holders bus in from all over Florida , Georgia and Alabama and don’t have regular tickets for the daytime park hours.

Then...after dinner you can wander around the park and shops with hardly ANY people around at all (kind of creepy but cool), and then gates reopen at 7:30PM for Night of Joy. With a relaxing late start to your day, you can party all night long with the kids until midnight, take a boat ride home with no wait.

NOJ usually only has a fraction of the normal Disney World crowd, so again even during the evening hours, short lines, lots of fun. Last time we went we rode Space Mountain 5 or 6 times in a row in less than an hour. Amazing.

That's my two cents. Let me know if you want to chat about it. Oh! I also recommend you make arrangements to have your family swim with dolphins on the Disney property- there is a package you can buy when you book your room. DO IT.

DigitalRich
http://digitalrich.blogspot.com

[Bob Ohio]

Hi FMF & J^4,

First, fly, not drive. Your vacation time and energy is not worth four days of driving from western Michigan.

We've stayed onsite and offsite. Disney turned me off when they claimed we ate from the mini-bar when we did not. Disney is probably much less expensive and much more consumer friendly now than 20 years ago.

Regardless, we like getting a vacation house with three bedrooms and a pool, $600 per week after August 24. See www.a1vacations.com for more. Plus we like the freedom of being offsite, and doing non-Disney things like driving to Cocoa Beach for a day, and going to the waterslide park in Kissimmee. We cannot stand more than 2-3 days at the Disney parks.

We enjoy cooking food far more than paying 2-3 times as much for restaurant food. I imagine that most people enjoy freedom from cooking on vacation. Kissimmee has plenty of grocery stores and even a super Wal-Mart.

God Bless, and see you soon,

Bob & (C&J^2)

[Bob Ohio]

P.S. from Bob Ohio,

When we say Kissimmee, we mean the newer area southWEST of Disney, also known as West Kissimmee.

Bob

[Jondell]

i actually worked at disney as an intern last year. my best advice to you is to stay on property because you can take free buses all over disney property, plus you're offered a meal plan, which saves you A LOT of money!! also, extra magic hours are offered for disney hotel guests, so if you don't get to do everything that day, you'll have a little bit more time when they park is closed for hotel guests only!! buying 1 park tickets is a lot cheaper than park hoppers.. it's really hard to do 2 parks in one day, so i personally think park hoppers are a waste of money.. take your time and do one park a day.. :]

[Jondell]

i actually worked at disney as an intern last year. my best advice to you is to stay on property because you can take free buses all over disney property, plus you're offered a meal plan, which saves you A LOT of money!! also, extra magic hours are offered for disney hotel guests, so if you don't get to do everything that day, you'll have a little bit more time when they park is closed for hotel guests only!! buying 1 park tickets is a lot cheaper than park hoppers.. it's really hard to do 2 parks in one day, so i personally think park hoppers are a waste of money.. take your time and do one park a day.. :]