Will's Second Birthday, and Disney pics.

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TPRJones
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Post by TPRJones »

If you aren't made of money there's always the All-Star resorts. They aren't bad, and aren't outrageously priced. For a resort.
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Post by TheCatt »

GORDON wrote:How expensive do you think it is? The wife is going on her second trip of the year next month.
More than 200$ per night?
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Post by GORDON »

Hard to quantify when you have a package. You get the meal plan and park tickets and resort all in a big bundle. You never see your car for the duration, you never pay for a meal.
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Post by TheCatt »

GORDON wrote:Hard to quantify when you have a package. You get the meal plan and park tickets and resort all in a big bundle. You never see your car for the duration, you never pay for a meal.
$400/day?
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Post by GORDON »

TPRJones wrote:If you aren't made of money there's always the All-Star resorts. They aren't bad, and aren't outrageously priced. For a resort.
Those are low end, there are mid-range, and high end.
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Post by GORDON »

TheCatt wrote:
GORDON wrote:Hard to quantify when you have a package. You get the meal plan and park tickets and resort all in a big bundle. You never see your car for the duration, you never pay for a meal.
$400/day?
Honestly don't know. Talk to my wife on facebook. I told her to expect a message.
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Post by GORDON »

She knows the times of year to go. And if you are going to do it, do a 5-day package, and don't do weekends. Weekends are more crowded.
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TPRJones
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Post by TPRJones »

The limit of my knowledge of prices is that the All-Star (low end) rooms can be as low as $100 a night. But that's not for a package deal. It does include free transportation to the parks on the buses, though.
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Post by TheCatt »

I check out a 5-day package at a deluxe resort for weekdays only. $550 - 600 / day for 2 adults + 2 kids.

That appears to include WDW tickets + lodging.

Food was $500 to $1,100 extra.

So looking at $4-5k for a trip. How do so many people afford this stuff?
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Post by GORDON »

I believe the deal my wife has for next month was about $2k for her and my son, 5 days, all parks, meal plan, in the 80's resort. Airfare not included.

Maybe it was $1600. It was such a good deal which is why she decided to go again.
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Post by Leisher »

Why are you looking at the deluxe resorts? Try the economy ones. There are 3-4 of those. MUCH cheaper and nice enough. We can't stay at those anymore because our family is too big, but if we had one less kid, we'd still be staying at them.

Each of the economy resorts has a shop, arcade, large cafeteria, multiple pools, daily events run by Disney staffers, bar, outdoor movies, etc.

I mean, how much time do you think you'll stay in the hotel? You'll be at the parks from the buttcrack of dawn until they close at 10-midnight depending on when you go.

Staying on campus also means you'll be taking Disney buses everywhere (unless you drive down), which is convenient and kind of cool. They do get packed on the first runs of the day and dinner time runs.

My wife is also a Disney expert. We don't go as often as Gordo's clan, but we love it there. My wife plans out everything for each park, and Gordo's right, you need to do it well ahead of time.

Is the trip worth it? Yes if you're not cheap, like your kids, and go with the understanding that this isn't a thrill ride park. Disney is about details and an experience beyond going up and down a hill really fast.

Also, there are two 5 star restaurants at Epcot (the French and Italian places) that I hear you need to book a year in advance.

Also plan for a night at Downtown Disney and an excursion to Boardwalk Disney, which isn't very big, but it takes you back in time.

IMHO:
-You MUST get to the Magic Kingdom on the first day, and be there in enough time to watch the park open. It's one of those once in a lifetime things.
-Animal Kingdom will be a short day, so plan on pool time, Boardwalk Disney, or Downtown Disney that night. The Rainforest Cafe is a fun eating experience for the kids, and much better than the typical food you'd get at one (they're a chain).
-Hollywood Studios or whatever they call it these days is my favorite. You must eat at...Gordo help me here...it's the family place where the waitresses act like your mom and scold you if you don't eat everything. Great experience. See The Little Mermaid live show if you have a daughter. Ursula is awesome. Right next to that is the hidden gem of the park: Disney Dance Club. For some reason few people know about this place and ALL the characters show up there throughout the day to dance with your kids. The Muppet Show and the Indy show are cool. Star Wars! They're updating the Movie Ride, which I always enjoyed. The Aerosmith coaster is the smoothest I've ever ridden. The tower is also pretty cool, but probably too much for your youngest.
-Epcot is also awesome. Rides are geared more towards an older audience (Flight, Test Track, Space Mission) and the walk around the world is a boardwalk of kiosks featuring food and booze from countries around the globe. Their fireworks show is also pretty awesome.

We're heading back to Disney in early fall next year.
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Post by TheCatt »

Thanks for the highlights. Right now, I think we're looking at the first week of December.

I was looking at Deluxe because I wanted to see what it would cost. Wilderness lodge is what I priced out.

When you say economy do you mean the moderate ones (Carribean, Cabins, Coronado, Port Orleans), or the value ones (All-star, art of animation, etc)?
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Post by GORDON »

First week of December might be good because that is before most schools let out for their xmas vacations....

I prefer the Fall, though. I like what they do for Halloween.
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Post by Leisher »

When you say economy do you mean the moderate ones (Carribean, Cabins, Coronado, Port Orleans), or the value ones (All-star, art of animation, etc)?


Value. I believe there are 4 now: All star sports, All star movies, all star music, and the art of animation is the newest one.

There are more highlights, I'm just hitting some of the big ones. Between Gordon and I, we can probably tell you what restaurants to avoid and want rides you don't want to miss.

Also, the place to eat at Disney studios is the Primetime Cafe. Food is good and the service is pretty funny. It's the closest restaurant experience that will remind you of eating at home with your parents. Although, the decor is dated past our generation at this point. Tell your wife to not eat her veggies and see what happens.
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Post by GORDON »

1. Arm bands:

Leave your wallet, money, and car keys in the room safe for the entire week, all you need is your arm band for buying stuff and using the fast pass. Nothing to lose. Convenient. Doubles as a child locator. If a kid gets lost ANYONE wearing a Disney name badge, from the CEO to the person scraping gum off the pavement, will made it a fun and calming experience for the kid. They will buzz the kid's wrist band, and it will alert the parents where their kid is. Our kid had standing orders that if he gets lost, "buy a pop and stay there." That tells us where the arm band was used, though honestly it is just as easy to have an employee help. I have never been less than amazingly impressed with every Disney employee.

2. Food:

Lunch (quick service, on the meal plan) selections improved GREATLY last year over the year before. You don't need reservations for these places, they are "order at the counter and go sit down" places. Before I had to eat burgers or chicken strips most days. This last visit, I never had the same lunch twice in 5 or 6 days, and most of it was very good, and I never had a burger. Nothing was bad. Flat bread pizzas, tuna melts, baked italian subs, and other stuff. Liked. Was not impressed by the barbecue sammitch, but I had to try it once just to make sure. Peeps who know barbecue should skip that. TPR should try it because as we know he doesn't know a lot about barbecue.

Dinners, reservations NEEDED.:
Hollywood Studios: Yeah, I couldn't remember the name of it. Last time we were there we were served be "Cousin Vicky" and she was naggy. She told me that sometimes people don't get the joke and ask for the manager. GET YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE.

The restaurant with the drive-in screen changed the menu and got better. I had a decent steak and a 28oz Fat Tire, there.

In Epcot: The Canada restaurant is supposed to be the best place in the parks for a steak. 4 or 5 stars.

My kid LOVES the Mexico restaurant, and he's picky. Probably the best meal we had in the parks, 2 visits in a row.

There's a princess dinner at Norway, but be ready for Norwegian food. Not sure if worth.

Magic Kingdom: Chef Mickey's is the place to go. It's a character meal, too. In the Contemporary resort, take the monorail there.

There a restaurant near the hub of the park... forgetting the name... something-Palace? It's like 1920's and made of glass. It's a character meal, and a buffet. Good enough.

Animal Kingdom: you want to go to the character breakfast at The Tusker House.

Rainforest Cafe is right outside the gate. NOT a Disney restaurant, but you can still pay with your arm band.

3: Disney Magic Express

Use this. Your baggage will be checked at the airport in NC and go all the way to Disney. You will get off the plane in Orlando, and go directly to the Disney bus. Your baggage will be collected by Disney and will be in your hotel room within a few hours. Same when you leave... check in your luggage at the resort, get on the bus and go to the airport, and your luggage will be waiting for you when you get off the plane as long as the airline doesn't lose it. The fault will NOT be on Disney's end.

Fast Pass:

They just changed this so I am not an expert at the new system, but you MUST use it. On the first day you can make reservations online, do so. It's something like 3 months out.

Hard to get rides:

Hollywood Studios: Toy Story mania

Not even sure what park, but: meet Anna and Elsa

Epcot: Test Track

Everything else is hit and miss, but those 3 things are guarenteed long waits.

You can have 3 FP reservations at once, and they need to be at the same park... and other rules... like I said, it is new and I am not expert level at it. My wife is, and loves talking about it, so pepper her with questions. She can also tell you which rides to FP, and which to not bother because always short lines.




Edited By GORDON on 1420571367
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Post by GORDON »

There's a Disney app for your cell phone.... current ride wait times. Maybe install that and get an idea of what's up. It used to require you to actually be in the park in order to work, but doesn't any more.



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TPRJones
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Post by TPRJones »

I've stayed at All Star Sports, All Star Movies, and All Star Music: once each. They're essentially interchangeable, although I liked Music slightly more for some reason I can't quite define. They were fine, and you don't spend any real time there anyway. Although I didn't have kids along, so I don't know those parts.

Oh, my don't miss at Epcot would be the UK fish and chips. Outstanding!




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Post by GORDON »

Yeah, truth be told we spent very few of our waking hours at the resort.

Be wary.... when we stayed at Coronado Springs, we were literally a 2/3 mile hike from our room to the central area where the restaurants and snack shops and stuff were. That was majorly inconvenient. For example, you can buy a mug that works for unlimited beverages at your resort, for your entire trip. But when it is 2/3 of a mile one way to get it, that makes the evening's free hot chocolate not quite a good deal. If you work with a travel agent you can often request to get a room near the central building, wherever you go.
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Post by GORDON »

My wife said her travel agent would be happy to plan your vacation for you. She is also a Disney expert and has access to all kinds of discounts and deals. Her thing is called "Pixie Travel." One night we were out at a restaurant, and she checked in our location on facebook. Her agent immediately responded, "Oh, my husband is the owner!" and he happened to be standing at our table right at that moment. We asked if he was he, we chatted a bit, and he gave us a discount for using Pixie Travel, heh. Good people. Also, her agent happened to be up at midnight when Dawn was trying to book the fast passes, so she gave Dawn tech support for the Disney website.

I confirmed: My wife is paying $1600 for her and my kid for 6 days at the parks, resort, magic express, and meals included.




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Post by GORDON »

Also, my wife said she would never try to plan a Disney trip without a Disney-expert-travel agent. Too many details you don't want to screw up.
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