Best way to book a Disney World vacation?

[The Bad Guy]

I'm in the very early stages of trying to plan a trip for our family to go to Disney World in late September/early October.

I've never been to Disney as an adult - my last time was in 1993 and it was god damn miserable, but I'd like to plan a great trip for my 6 year old.

We'd like to stay on property. Is there any tips, sites to utilize, to get the best deals? I'm sure we will get the fast pass and all that because we are only going for 3-4 days.

Thanks for any advice/help.

[Great Expectations]

A home renting for $12k a month in Missouri is worth around $1.3 mil on a 7% cap rate.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Guru

www.disneyworld.com


I have five trips under my belt now so if you have any questions at all just ask.

Come chat with me when you have 42 more visits to Disney...

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by O.city

Stay on the property for sure. Don't go cheap on anything, in the end, it's not really worth the hassle and the little you save. The fast passes are worth it for sure.

We stayed across the water from downtown disney. When you go to magic kingdom l, park at epcot and take the rail system. Easier in and out, less traffic etc.

My uncle lives in Orlando and they have season passes and go a ton so we got alot of little tips.

Get a room that's a suite, go to the grocery store for breakfast food and sandwiches, water etc. Take a cooler in the park for that stuff. Get up, go early, do some stuff and go back to your room over lunch, then go back in the evening. It's super crowded and hot during the day.

I'll post more if I think of anything

This is actually good advice.......not sure I agree with the "don't go cheap part" but that is just a matter of opinion.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by O.city

It's definitely expensive.

We have some friends whos parents took them, their two kids and his sisters family 2 weeks to disney, paid for everything.

He said it ended up costing them about 40k.

Sounds like they went a little overboard even for that size of family.

They probably stayed at a Deluxe Resort or Villa, ate out every meal and spent like crazy on souvenirs.

Unless as part of the package they did one of the Special Tours that Disney offers...

[Mile High Mania]

The tip sites are good, there's also vacation planners out there with the sole focus of making your Disney trip easy. They won't save you much money, just forget about that ... but they can help book your trip, schedule character breakfasts, and events like that.

Disney can be a whipping... but staying on property and doing all that stuff for your 6 year old, they'll never forget it.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I heard there are disabled mercenaries for hire that will pretend to be part of your family and get you to the front of lines.

Can't do this anymore....thankfully Disney caught on to this horrible stupidity.

Another case where a good thing (for families of disabled kids) gets ruined by someone who thinks only of themselves.

[Mosbonian]

Frank.....I am guessing you are taking your kid for the first time.

If you are trying to do it on a budget, you can get a decent room in the Pop Century and not break the bank especially the time frame you are planning to go in. The beds are smaller, but if it is just you, your wife and your kid they are sufficient. To be honest people spend less time in their hotel rooms than they think so as long as it's decent (and it's Disney so it probably will be) your hotel room won't matter.

If you don't mind spending a little more then the 2 I recommend are Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Both offer "other" activities that are interesting to kids and adults if you are "Park'd Out".

If you want something eclectic to do one night away from the Park, go do this:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/re...e-sing-a-long/

It's actually fun and you get a couple of Disney movies to entertain. If you stay at the Wilderness Lodge you only have to ferry over on a boat to get to the Campground instead of getting in your car and driving.

I'd tell you to try the Africa Trek if you don't mind spending a little extra cash.....it's basically walking half of the area that you normally ride thru in the Animal Kingdom. But you get to see things a little more up close. And that walk over the Hippo Pool and the Alligator Pit on the swinging bridge is actually fun.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ev...d-africa-trek/

There is a lot to do at Disney that most people don't know even exists......

I've stayed at every Disney Resort there in Orlando over the years save for Saratoga Springs, The Art of Animation Resort and the Treehouse Villas. If you want an opinion on a place let me know....

Another thing....especially for people who haven't been in a while. You aren't going to see it all or do it all in one trip. Plan what you want but be prepared to go "off-schedule" and do something you don't have planned.

Oh...and make sure to ride Soarin'.......

[007]

PS. Park hoppers are not worth the expense and are generally a waste of park touring time.

Also, since you are taking kids I would suggest staying at POP, or the carribean beach resort. They are the most kid friendly.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by O.city

It's definitely expensive.

We have some friends whos parents took them, their two kids and his sisters family 2 weeks to disney, paid for everything.

He said it ended up costing them about 40k.

WTF? Last time I was there was like 5 years ago, but a family of four cost NOWHERE near that much. Not even $10K. LIke 6K if I remember right. For a week.

[Amnorix]

I went when my two boys were younger and here is what we did. It worked out well.

We stayed at one of the four economy resorts. There's Music, Sports, and two others that I don't remember. Century I think. It was fine (bus to the parks). It has a pool, which is all that really matters.

We got a park hopper. We would go to one of the parks (NOT Epcot) relatively early and spend time there through basically lunch or so.

At around 2:00 or whatever, we went back to the room for pool/nap, or nap/pool. Disney involves ALOT OF WALKING. There is no way around it. It can also be damn hot. It is energy draining. Hot, tired kids are a ****ign nightmare, and I wasn't going to deal with that, so the naps were for the entire family, and mandatory.

Of course, we had a suite and the wife and i would just watch TV. :-)

After nap time, get back up, head out for dinner. Usually at Epcot as it has the widest/best selection of restaurants.

With kids that young, there a great chance that you will try to overdo things. Go on EVERY ride. TWICE! Yeah, they just don't have the stamina for it.

oh, and critical point -- BOOK YOUR RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS NOW!!!

Do research. Keep in mind that without park hopper, you're picking now which park you will be in on which day, which kinda sucks. I went park hopper to avoid the headaches around that issue.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

WTF? Last time I was there was like 5 years ago, but a family of four cost NOWHERE near that much. Not even $10K. LIke 6K if I remember right. For a week.

There was 10 of them there for 2 weeks and knowing his parents, they spared no expense.

This was also for all their flights, food, tickets everything.

[Amnorix]

We didn't do this, but I've heard good things about the Cinderella thing for girls.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/di...a-royal-table/


Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom) is an excellent buffet where the Disney characters come around and visit tables. Great food, and great fun for little ones.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/di...rystal-palace/


Coral Reef Restaurant (Epcot) has a SICK aquarium that you can see from your table.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/di...ef-restaurant/


At TEppan Edo (Epcot) the Japanese chef makes your dinner right in front of you.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/di...ot/teppan-edo/


Sci-Fi Dine In Theater (HOllywood Studios) has great ambiance -- the tables are like 1950s cars, and a reel of terrible highlights from '50s sci-fi movies plays on a big screen.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/di...ne-in-theater/


And easily the best (from my kid's point of view) was the 50s Prime Time Cafe (Hollywood Studios). The waiters are hilarious. They spin everything upside down, acting ike grandparents, and telling the parents to keep their elbows off the table, etc., while coddling the kids.

My kids loved it -- mostly because Dad got stuck pinning a napkin to a doorframe -- WITH MY NOSE -- for like 30 seconds in front of the entire restaurant. The food is good too, and it's a fun, memorable experience.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by O.city

There was 10 of them there for 2 weeks and knowing his parents, they spared no expense.

This was also for all their flights, food, tickets everything.

$6K was my all-in cost too. Family of four for a week. But I didn't stay at the highest end hotel, etc. etc. Sure, you can blow serious money if you want to, but that is honestly ridiculous. Like 4x what it needed to be.

[007]

I've heard several people state that the princess dinner at Epcot is much better than cinderellas royal table dinner. We've done both and like the Epcot version better as well.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Guru

I've heard several people state that the princess dinner at Epcot is much better than cinderellas royal table dinner. We've done both and like the Epcot version better as well.

I'll accede to your wisdom on the matter. With two boys, we didn't do any princess table thing. Never bothered to even look into it, but heard good things and wanted to point it out since obviously he has a daughter at the age where that is something worth checking out.