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#1
08-31-2009, 04:08 PM
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Who's done Disney??
We are starting to plan and save for a Disney vacation next summer. It is going to be the 5 of us and my parents (*I think*) going. This is going to be our last little hoorah before our oldest son goes to college.
I need suggestions on where to stay. We can't afford the top of the line Disney resorts, even though we would love to stay there, and even welcome staying off campus but in the area. I went to Disney when I was 16 and we stayed in Kissimmee, took oldest DS to Orlando and did Sea World and other things and just stayed in a regular hotel. If you have gone, where have you stayed? We need something that will accomodate all 7 of us or cheap enough that we can get two rooms. We need all the information we can get!!! Thanks a bunch! Kim
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#2
08-31-2009, 04:11 PM
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there are a million hotels in the area that you can stay at and most offer free transportation to the theme parks. Depending on what you like I would recomend going to universal studios and islands of adventure while you are here. Disney is fun but I.O.A is soooo much more fun!!
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    Dreaming of creating for Cindy Schneider, Studio Flergs & Kristin Cronin-Barrow
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#3
08-31-2009, 04:12 PM
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I've gone 21 times and we're going next summer.
I would recommend the All Star resorts. They are the value resorts on property, and you get the benefits of transportation, free parking, and extra magic hours.
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Sara Creating for absolutely no one because I don't think I know how to scrap anymore.
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#5
08-31-2009, 04:16 PM
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#6
08-31-2009, 04:17 PM
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Some info I posted for Mari...
Make use of the extra magic hours since you are staying on property. that will give you an extra hour at the parks in the morning or the evening, just check the schedule. Use fastpasses!!! That's the most important if you really want to see everything. Rides that are/can be scary: Dinosaur (don't do it, I won't even go on it) Snow White (possibly.. the witch pops up a few times) Haunted Mansion (really just the first part) The Great Movie Ride (this is such a fabulous ride if you can get him to ignore the thing from Alien coming out of the ceiling LOL) This is my fav disney site.. gives you TONS of info.. height requirements for rides, everything. http://allears.net/index.html When you do epcot, make sure he gets a kidcot passport.. they have stations in each country, and they'll stamp his passport and he can make a craft, i think Innoventions in Epcot has a lot of cool stuff too. Also Epcot, something my parents did with us, and we're going to do with the kids next summer, tell him he has $20 to spend and he has to buy something to eat from every country.. they have food carts and stuff.. packaged local food.. it's neat and they learn something. Here's the closure schedule, not sure when you guys are going. the only major thing closed right now is Space Mountain and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and Living With The Land.
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Sara Creating for absolutely no one because I don't think I know how to scrap anymore.
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#7
08-31-2009, 04:17 PM
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#8
08-31-2009, 04:18 PM
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Here's the info on the value resorts. We always stay there.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/hot...tValueng:value I would get a suite for you guys and then a 2nd room.
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Sara Creating for absolutely no one because I don't think I know how to scrap anymore.
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#9
08-31-2009, 04:18 PM
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#10
08-31-2009, 04:20 PM
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I wanna say it opened maybe 8-10 years ago. it is right next to Universal Studios. Has a ton more rides though then the other theme parks. There is a new park that just opened like a year ago now called Aquatica next to Sea World. It is a water park. Pretty cool also.
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Dreaming of creating for Cindy Schneider, Studio Flergs & Kristin Cronin-Barrow
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#11
08-31-2009, 04:21 PM
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I've stayed at all 3 of the All Star and we are staying at Pop Century this summer.
Wait a bit and book if you can. I keep thinking that they are going to extend the free dining. Haven't done it yet, but it's still early. You can book dining res. 180 days in advance.
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Sara Creating for absolutely no one because I don't think I know how to scrap anymore.
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#12
08-31-2009, 04:22 PM
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My ex and I went to WDW 6 years ago (pre-kids) and stayed at the cheapest on-site hotels there and they were great. Very convenient and highly recommended! We're thinking of going back next spring (with kids and mothers this time) and will do the same thing.
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#13
08-31-2009, 04:22 PM
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#14
08-31-2009, 04:25 PM
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#15
08-31-2009, 04:31 PM
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We have stayed in a couple of the All-Star resorts and highly recommend them. While they aren't the top of the line like the main Disney ones, they are still held to Disney standards and have activities going all the time just like the big ones. We stayed in the music one last and loved it.
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#16
08-31-2009, 04:53 PM
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We are going in 3 weeks! This will be the first time I stay in a Disney motel. 2 times we stayed off site, once we stayed in a non-Disney owned motel on property. After the last 3 times, we know we need to stay in a Disney owned one. The perks seem well worth it. We are staying in a moderate level one, Caribbean Beach. Since there are so many of you, I would look into the suite or Camp Wilderness where they have some cabins. We got the Deluxe Dining Plan and are really excited about it. We get 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. They also have ones though were you can get 2 meals and 1 snack a day and an even cheaper one where you can do the counter service (fast foody type) meals. Buying the plans or going during free dining times, could really save money especially since you have a teenage boy. Good luck and have fun!
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#17
08-31-2009, 05:06 PM
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I went to Disney with my family twice when I was a kid... I sooo want to bring my kids in a couple years (when my baby is maybe 2 years old). My kids' dad's parents were talking about bringing us (and paying lol) but now they're divorced so that won't happen. I want to bring them without the in-laws though (cuz his mom's been driving me insane lately & I can't stand more than an hour with her, let lone a week!)
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#18
08-31-2009, 05:13 PM
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this is my favorite disney message board...they can give you all kinds of hints and give you good infor on places to stay...and DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK!!!! I have used this site for my last 2 trips and found all kinds of good information...about fastpasses, hotels, snacks, budget tips and even links to restaurants and menus....
http://www.disboards.com/ and if you want to do character meals you can book them strating 60 days from the date you want to reserve....
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#19
08-31-2009, 07:30 PM
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Thanks a bunch for that site!!
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#20
08-31-2009, 07:47 PM
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#21
08-31-2009, 07:53 PM
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Look into renting a pool home. I have this dream of renting a pool home for 2 weeks and doing Disney, Universal and Sea World. It was supposed to come true next year for my 40th birthday/our 20th anniversary, but it looks like I'm going to be outvoted. www.romancingthemouse.com would be my choice for a pool home.
On property, the All Star Music Resort has family suites, and your family could do that and your parents could get a nearby regular room. Planning a trip to WDW is a huge undertaking (at least for me). You're right to get started early. 
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#22
08-31-2009, 07:58 PM
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This is actually a great idea. Ive heard that you can get a decent sized house for less then a hotel for a week.
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Dreaming of creating for Cindy Schneider, Studio Flergs & Kristin Cronin-Barrow
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#23
08-31-2009, 08:09 PM
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...plus if you buy anything in the parks...they will ship it to the gift shop of your Disney resort at no charge...no lugging around packages! I loved that benefit!! It was there by the following day.
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Thanks!
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#24
08-31-2009, 10:03 PM
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You might want to join the e-mail list at this site. http://www.mousesavers.com/ It is free to get the e-mail newsletter and that is where I found the great deal on our package. We stayed off site but the deal was AWESOME and was perfect for us.
I've also heard that there are Disney World apps if you have an iPhone. Don't want to be a Negative Nellie but I would suggest checking out the menus before getting the Disney Dining package. You can check out menus here: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm I know some families that are pleased with the Dining package. I'm relieved that we didn't have it. We ate mostly counter service in the parks (but did a nice sit-down in Epcot and I went to the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian). We were there for a week and we found the food offerings lacking. It seemed like we only had a couple of choices of what seemed like almost the same offerings whichever park were were in. I really found the choices disappointing by the end of the week. And we ate a wonderful breakfast each morning at our off-site hotel. I also liked not having to get the "adult" choice which I would have been required to do with the plan, I believe. Sometimes I actually found the kids meal offering a more desirable choice -- even though it wasn't a lot of food. Again, many families LOVE the dining plan. I just wanted to put it out there that we didn't love the food options and were relieved to be able to eat elsewhere. I purchased the Disney PhotoPass CD. http://www.disneyphotopass.com/ I got it at a discount by purchasing before our trip. It is expensive but I think it was worth it. If you have 4-5 pictures printed by them I think it is about the same as the price of the CD. We ended up with hundreds of photos because you are also able to take the photos from the PhotoPass people and add borders, etc. 'Twas very cool. I would also recommend having your "important" picture (i.e. in front of Cinderella's Castle, or whatever else you're hoping to get) taken by a couple of different PhotoPass Photographers because they vary in ability. Also, some of the PhotoPass Photographers can do "Magic Shots". We were thrilled with these and I did ask different photographers if they did magic shots. Here is site that explains those. http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/ Another hint, when you get your PhotoPass card, take a photo of it with your camera or call home and record the number, etc. This will help them find your photos in case you lose the card. Also, you can put multiple photopass cards on the same CD. So if your party splits up in groups have them take a PhotoPass card so they can get more photos, too. Then add them all to your account before you order the final CD to be sent to you. If you don't want to get the PhotoPass CD/photos, the Disney people are also great about taking a photo with your camera. Just ask them. Be prepared for a lot of walking. I even started "training" ahead of our trip. LOL! So glad I did. Since you do have a number of people at different age stages you may find it easier to stay on property so that you could go back to the room for a rest during the day. We added Park Hopper so that we could go to multiple parks on the same day. That worked ideally for us. My sister and her family happened to go with her in-laws the week before us. They did not have Park Hopper and it worked out ok for them. So either way. For us, we had someone who didn't really want to hang out at Disney all the time. By having the Park Hopper we had the option of starting the day in the Magic Kingdom but then eating dinner in Epcot or if someone wanted to go back to see something or a ride it was no big deal because we weren't committed to a park for the day. Because of the PhotoPass I am in the pictures too instead of just taking them. I can't believe how much I'm smiling ear to ear in these photos. I hope you have a fun time. I know this is a long message but I thought in case anyone else was interested. If you have questions feel free to PM me.
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#25
09-01-2009, 01:44 PM
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Thanks for much for all the tips!!!!! This definitely helped!!!
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#26
09-01-2009, 01:47 PM
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I wanted to say THANK YOU for all the sites, tips and tricks!!!! It is very much appreciated!!!!
It has been SO long since any of us have been to Disney and we need all the help we can get!!! LOL
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#27
09-01-2009, 02:00 PM
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I don't know if it's any cheaper, but we stayed at the Nick Hotel and my kids loved it!
http://www.nickhotel.com/
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#28
09-01-2009, 05:19 PM
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we just returned last night from our WDW trip. We stayed at Animal Kingdom lodge this time and at Port Orleans last time. I would say that you need to make sure, especially if you are on the dining plan, your reservations for meals are in place. We paid for the plan with 1 table service, 1 snack and 1quick meal each day and had a hard time using the table service meals because we could not eat in a resturant on 2 of the days we were there. We used some of our table service meals for in room dining instead. On the last day, we traded in child quick service meals for snacks for our plane ride home.
Of the 2 places we have stayed, I think I preferred Port Orleans. They have a boat shuttle to Downtown Disney. Be prepared to be standing in long lines or on a really crowded bus if you are in the park until close. Fastpass is a must for your group and I would think about riding a few of the rides in the singles line since your oldest will be into the faster things that the little ones cannot ride. I heard from a friend that if you go to the vacation club for the tour, they give you fast pass cards to use at the park of your choice just for taking the time to go.
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#29
09-01-2009, 06:30 PM
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the Nick Hotel looks so cute! I live here and go past it all the time and would like to stay there sometime LOL
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Dreaming of creating for Cindy Schneider, Studio Flergs & Kristin Cronin-Barrow
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