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.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Really? Personally, I like EPCOT (and out here, California Adventure) more than Disney but that's probably because I've been to Disney dozens and dozens of times.

California Adventure is better because it was built to hold more than 100 people at a time.

[Gravedigger]

I love Epcot, favorite part next to Animal Kingdom, but it's really hard to choose because Magic Kingdom is always a great time. My wife and I usually waited for the discounted Meal Plans, rather than the money off the rooms. We never crunched the numbers before but it always seemed like a better proposition to eat for a cheaper price every day and pay full price for the rooms.

EDIT: Also, don't worry about the room prices, go with the lesser costing resorts rather than the high priced ones. We stayed at Coranado Springs and found that we were gone out of the room for the entire day so the room felt like a waste to us. The only negative to that is the resorts are further away from the parks then the ones close to Epcot and the middle of everything.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

California Adventure is better because it was built to hold more than 100 people at a time.

[007]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Really? Personally, I like EPCOT (and out here, California Adventure) more than Disney but that's probably because I've been to Disney dozens and dozens of times.

I did Park hoppers one time and hated them. My kids like to be in the park all day so spending nearly 90 minutes between parks annoyed them. Yes 90 minutes.

That said, if you take afternoon breaks anyway then Park hoppers may be a good option for you

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Guru

I did Park hoppers one time and hated them. My kids like to be in the park all day so spending nearly 90 minutes between parks annoyed them. Yes 90 minutes.

That said, if you take afternoon breaks anyway then Park hoppers may be a good option for you

90 minutes between parks? We've always walked freely but maybe Orlando is much different than Anaheim.

[ct]

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 thats a suite, go to the grocery store for breakfast food and sandwhiches, 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

solid advice

i'm a big proponent of on property, even thought it looks crazy expensive, when you work out the transportation cost (if you rent), daily parking, magical express, numerous on-site perks, it's worth the extra $ and not as much as it seems

also, the split days, hit the parks early, break, head back in evenings, are truly key to enjoying a long trip during hot weather!!

we are headed to port orleans riverside late next week. this is typical of our timing for trips, right after our schools get out, but before many other areas of the country, including florida. it's pretty busy over the memorial weekend, then settles down quickly.

general research, the disboards are great, my wife lives there like we do here. also, mousesavers.com is very good too. plan ahead and look for discount codes for rooms or dining plans if you want that.

[ct]

Originally Posted by Guru

I did Park hoppers one time and hated them. My kids like to be in the park all day so spending nearly 90 minutes between parks annoyed them. Yes 90 minutes.

That said, if you take afternoon breaks anyway then Park hoppers may be a good option for you

Park Hoppers are the shit man!! we always do the half days, so the hoppers are pretty much a must for us. yes it complicates the new fast pass reservations, but recent chances will help that too.

[ct]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

I love Epcot, favorite part next to Animal Kingdom, but it's really hard to choose because Magic Kingdom is always a great time. My wife and I usually waited for the discounted Meal Plans, rather than the money off the rooms. We never crunched the numbers before but it always seemed like a better proposition to eat for a cheaper price every day and pay full price for the rooms.

EDIT: Also, don't worry about the room prices, go with the lesser costing resorts rather than the high priced ones. We stayed at Coranado Springs and found that we were gone out of the room for the entire day so the room felt like a waste to us. The only negative to that is the resorts are further away from the parks then the ones close to Epcot and the middle of everything.

We've stayed at beach club twice, several times at the moderates, Riverside multiple times and Caribbean beach once, not a fan of CB.

Once at beach club we rented points from a DVC member for just the mrs and i, loved it! Next time was the whole family, didn't enjoy that nearly as much, wish we hadn't spent the extra $ that time. Having said this, the back door entrance into Epcot, which is by far my favorite, from the Boardwalk area was so freakin cool!! I will be goin back when my wife and i schedule another trip for just two.

and we have never paid for a meal plan, waste of $, imo. no way we would eat enough to come close to needing that. plus we've started using garden grocer to pre-order some groceries for the room, they deliver! it seems expensive (it is) but saves SO much $ vs paying as you go or doing the dining plan.

[rhinson1380]

As far as places to stay, go to VRBO.com and check out Bonnect Creek, Wyndham Orlando. It's a resort, has a ton of kids pools/stuff and you can get a two bedroom, two bathroom suite with full kitchen and full living room for anywhere from $99 - $120 a night depending on when you go. It is actually on the Disney property, but is not a Disney resort. And you can still get the Disney Magic Bands even if you don't stay on their property. It is like an extra $5 I think.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by 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.

Just heard on a TV show the other day that now you can get an electronic bracelet that will let you pay for EVERYTHING that is tied to a credit card. Supposed to be really fast and also I think there is a way for priority line spaces also.

Aside from that it is probably as expensive if not more than going to Paris or Bora Bora or Australia. Big bucks!

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Guru

I did Park hoppers one time and hated them. My kids like to be in the park all day so spending nearly 90 minutes between parks annoyed them. Yes 90 minutes.

That said, if you take afternoon breaks anyway then Park hoppers may be a good option for you

I'm doubting your kids were SIX years old.

The reason I'm advocating park hopper is for splitting the days, which are a must, especially if (1) your kid will enjoy the pool as much or more than the park, and (2) is so young they would likely benefit from a nap, and (3) if you're going in the blazing heat of summer. They are also handy if you're not happy about deciding when you book your restaurant reservations which park you must go to that one day. It's seriously convenient.

You got an 18 and 17 year old, then yeah, sure, go to a park for 14 hours each day every day. A six year old will melt down (literally and figuratively), BUT THEY WILL WANT TO TRY.

I sat my two boys down and said "this IS the plan", multiple times, before we left. That way when 1:30 or whatever came and we left the park, they didn't fight and scream. They knew we were going to be back at a park (usually a different one) later, and that there was a pool waiting for them. Plus the mandatory nap.

Too many parents trying to cater to too many spoiled kids who end up getting hot and tired and having emotional meltdowns... I wasn't going there.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by scho63

Just heard on a TV show the other day that now you can get an electronic bracelet that will let you pay for EVERYTHING that is tied to a credit card. Supposed to be really fast and also I think there is a way for priority line spaces also.

Aside from that it is probably as expensive if not more than going to Paris or Bora Bora or Australia. Big bucks!

I went to Paris recently and it was like 40% more expensive. And we stayed at the equivalent of an Airbnb, rather than a hotel room!

[ct]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I'm doubting your kids were SIX years old.

The reason I'm advocating park hopper is for splitting the days, which are a must, especially if (1) your kid will enjoy the pool as much or more than the park, and (2) is so young they would likely benefit from a nap, and (3) if you're going in the blazing heat of summer. They are also handy if you're not happy about deciding when you book your restaurant reservations which park you must go to that one day. It's seriously convenient.

You got an 18 and 17 year old, then yeah, sure, go to a park for 14 hours each day every day. A six year old will melt down (literally and figuratively), BUT THEY WILL WANT TO TRY.

I sat my two boys down and said "this IS the plan", multiple times, before we left. That way when 1:30 or whatever came and we left the park, they didn't fight and scream. They knew we were going to be back at a park (usually a different one) later, and that there was a pool waiting for them. Plus the mandatory nap.

Too many parents trying to cater to too many spoiled kids who end up getting hot and tired and having emotional meltdowns... I wasn't going there.

sadly that last statement is the #1 mistake of new visitors. you literally try to do too much every day, and it ruins everything for everybody, including those of us unfortunate enough to be anywhere near you

TAKE BREAKS!!!

[Chiefnj2]

Google garden grocer. You order groceries online and they deliver it to the hotels in the park. You will save a ton of money. You don't even have to be at the hotel when they deliver it.

It won't matter much for you since your child is so young, but the new wrist bracelet fast pass system sucks holy balls. It's horrible.

Books dining now. If you stay at a Disney resort, you can start to book meals and stuff months in advance. If you don't and you go at a crowded time you will be screwed especially if you want to do character dinners

[ct]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Google garden grocer. You order groceries online and they deliver it to the hotels in the park. You will save a ton of money. You don't even have to be at the hotel when they deliver it.

It won't matter much for you since your child is so young, but the new wrist bracelet fast pass system sucks holy balls. It's horrible.

Books dining now. If you stay at a Disney resort, you can start to book meals and stuff months in advance. If you don't and you go at a crowded time you will be screwed especially if you want to do character dinners

I've used the magic bands twice and it was mostly positive. My daughters had to be reset 3-4 times the first couple days which was annoying but once worked out, no issues. pays for everything, park entrance, pool entrance, resort entrance, fast pass entrance, what was your issue with the bands? or do you just mean the fast pass reservation ahead of time you didn't like?

edit: i mentioned garden grocer before as well, and reinforce nj's comment too, garden grocer will save you serious $!! we buy cases of h2o, hydration during hot weather is a problem, seriously! we basically preorder breakfast foods for the room, fruits, cereals, also we bring the breakfast bars from home or could order those too. saves tons of time and money to get that one meal done in the room and go catch the bus. order snacks too if you have kids, so you can save a few trips back to the food court for those afternoon or evening binges. garden grocer kicks ass! do it!