Going to Disney World for the first time next year

MaleficentRocks · Post by **MaleficentRocks** » Aug Sat 05, 2006 11:13 pm

Ok, so my family has decided that we are going to go to Disney World in October 2007 for the FIRST TIME! I am so excited. I am a little (ok, a lot...) overwhelmed with all the hotel/resort choices.

So...I am coming to you guys: where have you stayed or where can you recommend a place to stay at Disney World? I know that it will be at least me (27), my brother (32), my parents (both disabled) and possibly my grandma and great aunt (both in their 80's). So as you can see, no little kids, just big kids.

So please, any suggestions you might have on hotels, any trip tips or anything would be appreciated!

Thanks!

knedeau · Post by **knedeau** » Aug Sun 06, 2006 7:56 am

Hi, It depends on your budget, and what you want to spend. Every Disney resort offers the Disney experience. But if you're looking for CONVIENIENCE to the parks (and budget is a bit higher), I would personally go with the Magic Kingdom Resorts that attach to the monorail. (The Contemporary, THe Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian)The Monorails connect with the magic kingdom (directly) and Epcot (via the ticket and transportation center). From the ticket and transportation center you can get Anywhere in Disney via bus (you can also wait outside your hotel for these busses too). If you do not intend to get a Dining plan you can make your reservations via AAA (for a discount). If you ARE thinking of a dining plan (I think they are worth it, but again, it's a budget issue) Then you can make your reservations directly through the disney website http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/?bhcp=1

What's nice about staying in a Disney Resort, is that you don't have to think about transportaion. They provide it for you... even from the airport if that's what you wish.

A great Website FULL of great disney info is http://www.allearsnet.com/

(Also, the Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Campground and the Animal Kingdom Lodge are beautiful too!)

Good luck!

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Aug Sun 06, 2006 2:39 pm

I would ask what kind of theme do you prefer and certainly what kind of budget are you looking at? The Magic Kinddom resorts are convenient, but I prefer the Epcot Resort area personally as you can walk to Epcot, transfer on the monorail there to the Magic Kingdom and you can take a ferry to the Disney Studios. If you choose the Yacht Club or Beach Club you'll have THE most amazing pool/miniwater park at your access. This area has some of the single best dining options too.

In terms of theme the Animal Kingdom Lodge is my all time favorite resort - the African theme is carried out to the very last detail and there are 3 great dining options in this resort alone. The Wilderness Lodge is another great place for theme.

There are a ton of discounts out there, but AAA is a good place to start.

Have fun, ask a ton of questions!

MaleficentRocks · Post by **MaleficentRocks** » Aug Sun 06, 2006 5:07 pm

I'll take a look at that site and see what they have to offer. As far as budget goes, I have over a year to save, so I am going to stay in style! LOL.

I was looking at the cabins, they seemed nice. Has anyone actually stayed there at those before?

Does anyone have info on the Dining plans? I've heard of these, but don't really know the details.

Thanks!

knedeau · Post by **knedeau** » Aug Sun 06, 2006 7:17 pm

The Dining plan is an add -on for each person where you get a set amount of meals added on to your resort package. My sis and I in 2002 spent $1400 total four our meals (8 days) before the dining plan was offered.. Kind of expensive... and we SHARED most of our meals! With the dining plan, we can eat at our favorite places and STILL not go over our budget! You can read more about it here http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/ti ... gPkg06Page
You just have the wait person swipe your room key at the end of the meal! I love it! So Convienient! Woohoo!

bribren · Post by **bribren** » Aug Mon 07, 2006 3:46 pm

Cabins are first rate, much more like a hotel room than a "park" cabin.

Look at your budget and do the best resort category possible. Because you are going for the first time, I think you would benefit from all of the things to see at a deluxe resort.

Check out the Epcot Area resorts. Yacht and Beach Club, Boardwalk and Swan?Dolphin. Very good transportation options for your older parents.

Swan/Dolphin also has some great deals at times. http://www.swandolphin.com/

Ketira · Post by **Ketira** » Aug Wed 09, 2006 1:49 am

and in the minor things dept: make sure you bring SUNSCREEN! That's still a hot time of year, so be sure your budget allows extra drinks for your group (including you!) to help deal with the heat.

One other thing: Always check the weather forecast before leaving your room! This way, if a major storm comes (not often in October, but it does happen), you can make arrangements with the staff to (a) either find safe places to stay or (b)get a refund so you can take an early trip home. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but from June - November, storms are a part of Florida's landscape!

(If you want to know the logistics behind that, PM me. I'm not sure if it belongs here.)

jrcohen · Post by **jrcohen** » Aug Wed 09, 2006 9:28 am

Ketira wrote:and in the minor things dept: make sure you bring SUNSCREEN! That's still a hot time of year, so be sure your budget allows extra drinks for your group (including you!) to help deal with the heat.

One other thing: Always check the weather forecast before leaving your room! This way, if a major storm comes (not often in October, but it does happen), you can make arrangements with the staff to (a) either find safe places to stay or (b)get a refund so you can take an early trip home. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but from June - November, storms are a part of Florida's landscape!

(If you want to know the logistics behind that, PM me. I'm not sure if it belongs here.)

I would agree with that statement for the most part. But as long as there's no hurricane looming I don't think you wold have to worry about the rain too much. When I lived in South Florida we used to say "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes." There's lots of 5-10 minute down pours that just pass through like once a day, then after that it's perfectly sunny. But if there is a hurrucane, that's when you'd have to be more cautious.

Just Believe · Post by **Just Believe** » Aug Wed 09, 2006 6:55 pm

Your first time??? WOW!!!! Have a BALL!!!

Try and do as much as you can!!!

MaleficentRocks · Post by **MaleficentRocks** » Aug Sat 12, 2006 12:20 am

There's lots of 5-10 minute down pours that just pass through like once a day, then after that it's perfectly sunny. But if there is a hurrucane, that's when you'd have to be more cautious.

Are you sure you aren't talking about Utah weather? It's like that here too! Just today in fact, black as night, rain...oh so much rain! And then 5 minutes later, clear as day, like nothing happened.

Thanks so much to everyone for their input. I've learned more so far then I knew before, I still have a lot of time to research it out.

Now, has anyone stayed NOT as a Disney hotel while in WDW? Like, the Marriott? How does that transportation work in a situation like that? My bro can get us rooms at the Marriott for 39.99 a night for a big suite, so it would be more reasonable for us to stay there. Allow us to stay longer at least (more days!)...

Thanks!

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Aug Sat 12, 2006 9:29 am

That Marriott is nice - but it ain't Disney. The resort experience is part of the entire vacation experience to me - while that rate won't even come close to getting you at the Value reosrts, I always suggest staying onsite at Disney. It's just not the same.

During my senior year of high school my parents mad the mistake of waiting too long to book and the Disney resorts were sold out - we stayed at the Hyatt and we while it was nice we were miserable not being at a Disney resort - my dad called every single day that week trying to see if there was a cancelation.

You pay a premium to stay onsite - but in this case just like with most anything in life - you really get what you pay for.

Good luck!!

Post by **js3901** » Aug Sat 12, 2006 10:29 am

I've stayed off-property every time I've been down there. The last 3 times we stayed at 3 different hotels - Fairfield Inn (by Marriott) on International Drive in 1999, Days Inn on W. Irlo Bronson Hwy in 2001, and a different Days Inn (a little closer to the parks) on W. Irlo Bronson Hwy in 2002. The Fairfield I believe had a shuttle to area parks, but we had a rental car, so we never utilized it. With the 2 Days Inn, they each had shuttles, which were nice and convient. The only thing I didn't like about the shuttles is they make multiple stops, and if you're the last stop, you may get bumped to a different, later shuttle. Plus, they only run during certain hours (like 7 AM - 9 AM in the mornings, and 8 PM - 10PM at night. So, you're getting up earlier than you want, and may be forced to wait a while before you're picked up (longer than even the busses at the on-site resorts). Also, if you miss the shuttle, you're probably going to have to call a cab to get back to the hotel...

Ketira · Post by **Ketira** » Aug Sun 13, 2006 1:23 am

Bound2Succeed wrote:
There's lots of 5-10 minute down pours that just pass through like once a day, then after that it's perfectly sunny. But if there is a hurrucane, that's when you'd have to be more cautious.
Are you sure you aren't talking about Utah weather? It's like that here too! Just today in fact, black as night, rain...oh so much rain! And then 5 minutes later, clear as day, like nothing happened.

*chuckles* Nope; and I wasn't kidding about the sunscreen. You're going to be closer to the equator than you're used to, and that means the rays are going to be more intense than what you're used to. Without sunscreen, you would turn red by the end of the day. We natives call folk like that "lobsters".

October may be the tail end of the Hurricane season, but sometimes one or two pops up and heads here. Nothing like Francis or Jeanne, however....

robwhite · Post by **robwhite** » Aug Sun 13, 2006 6:06 pm

I recommend somewhere GREAT like the Wilderness Lodge or the Polynesian.Though All Disney Resorts Are Great Anyway!

bbowen13 · Post by **bbowen13** » Aug Tue 15, 2006 11:25 am

If you are looking for a resort in the middle range I would suggest Riverside. They have a great dining area that offers alot of variety.