Author |
Message |
Eazyeast
Member
08-19-2005
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 8:07 pm
I looked all over the site and couldnt find anything in travel or related to Disney so I decided to start a new thread with a question. Im planning a Disney World trip next summer with my 2 girls and wife. I have been before and took advantage of the package deals including the park hopper and water park option and plan do that again. Im wavering on the Disney Meal option. Has anyone here ever got the Disney Meal option and if so do you think it was worth it? Also I think I will either stay at the Disney Caribean beach resort or Port Orleans. Anyone stay at either? Any advise on either question or advise on secrets I may not know about in Orlando will be appreciated. Last time we stayed at Cornado Springs.
|
Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 8:11 pm
I've never been to Disney, so I'm not much help... but there is a Disney Tips thread over in the Travel section (Community Corner --> Getting to Know You --> Travel Central). Hope this helps!
|
Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 8:37 pm
I"ve been to Disney World about 30 times but since I lived in Orlando I can't really help you with those kinds of tips.
|
Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 8:43 pm
A number of years ago I got a package deal which included lunches and dinners. Could go to sit-down-and-be-served restaurants (not just fast food) in Disneyworld -- prepaid. That was nice. But as it turned out, didn't feel the need (sorta not even able) to eat that much food that was already paid for. I think it would have been more cost effective to get dinners only prepaid (part of package). Just eat more like fast food for less at lunch (though food is generally $$). Probably lost out on some money getting prepaid lunches.
|
Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 8:49 pm
Anyone have a favorite Disney resort? I've been there twice -- once stayed in the Wilderness Lodge and once in the Polynesian Resort. I liked the ambience of the Wilderness Lodge better than the other. But for location location location, Polynesian was great -- on the monorail and walking distance to the transportation center. When I go back, probably would stay at one of those two again . . . but which? Anyone like others better for some reason?
|
Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 9:12 pm
Lurknomore -- are you out there? come talk Disney with us! I will be visiting the Caribbean beach resort in a few short weeks so can report back in November on my stay. On paper, it seems like a great resort. I have only stayed at Pop Century and the Dolphin prior to that. As for the dining plan? For me it's not even something I would consider. I'd go for a AAA discount instead. Why I wouldn't do the dining plan: because I don't eat that much food to make it worth the money. We often split counter service meals. I also don't like to spend time at sit down meals. I want to spend most of my time in the parks riding rides and seeing shows. I have to call it a night, but I will return to this thread because i love to talk Disney!
|
Bbrocks
Member
09-06-2007
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 9:20 pm
We've been to Disney World 37 times (we live in the northeast). A great board to get lots of disney advice is disboards.com. We won't do the Dining plan because as another said, we don't eat all that food..even with the recent changes. For the past 2-3 years, it's been free August and part of September..but then you can't be using any discount on your room rate, and you must buy at least one days pass (so it doesn't work as good for those of us with annual passes).
|
Eazyeast
Member
08-19-2005
| Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 10:46 pm
Thanks for the responses so far. Since my intitial post I found the disney thread in the travel section which lead me to to disboards.com eventually. I have spent the last 2 hours or so reading it and not beleiving the discounts you can get. Im guessing that sometime soon after the 2008 rates come out that they will be posting there seasonal discounts as well. Im hoping I can get lucky with something in June rather its percent of hotel or parkhopper and waterpark for free. I dont expect the free dining plan because it looks like its always in April.
|
Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 2:53 am
We didn't get the Disney Food Package last time. But, we go to DW a few times a year. (We're 2 and half hours south of there) We love the cabins at Fort Wilderness Campground, because you get a full kitchen with all the amenities. You can eat some of your meals (like breakfast) in your cabin. The cabins come with maid service, too. There's a marshmellow roast every night with fun movies under the stars in the campground. The cabins can be expensive, but they are worth it. IMO. Also, we rent a golf cart, which adds a lot of fun. You just park your cart wherever you go in the campground. We park it by the boats in the morning, take the boat to one of parks, then when we come back in the evening it's waiting for us. They have plugs to charge it. OR we park it by the buses at the other end, and it's there when we get back. We just park our cart out front of the cabin. The advantage to staying on the Disney grounds is the transportation. You can take boats, monorails..etc.. You also get to use your guest card like a credit card, which you pay when you leave. We also have our packages purchased sent to our cabin. It's nice not to carry packages. We've also stayed in several of the Disney resorts. The only one we didn't like as much was Disney Music. It was more like a regular hotel room and very small. Again, the advantages of the transportation made it ok, though. Some our favorite restaurants in the parks are: In Epcot, Mexico. The Mexican restaurant has delicious food, but it is expensive. You have to make reservations. In MGM, the Sci-Fi Drive In. You sit in old fashioned "cars" and watch old movies, as if you're at an old drive-in theater. It's a lot of fun. In MGM, The Brown Derby. In Magic Kingdom, we like the colonial restaurant. I'm not sure of the name, but it's over by the Hall of Presidents. (in that area) The hotel I don't recommend is the Contemporary. I know a few people who've stayed there recently and were not too pleased with it. The Polynesian is nice, with lots of atmosphere. There is a back entrance to Epcot from some of the resorts. You get your own entrance and boats to it. You can check that out, too. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortOverview?bhcp=1 Have FUN!
|
Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 3:42 am
Bbroks, I am so jealous!! ITA with nixing the food plan, havent heard of anyone who got their money's worth from it. We have a friend with a condo nearby so have only stayed onsite four times: All-star, Port Orleans, Polynesian and the campground. Our least favorite was the Polynesian. Most favorite was the campground but that's a whole different type of vacation, we drove down in our RV. The girls loved having a golf cart to boot around the campground, you could sit under the stars and watch movies at their drive-in. The Port Orleans had a wonderfull flavour to it that we loved as well. One thing we never fail to do at WDW is to take one afternoon/evening to hotel hop. We take Disney transit from one resort to another, check out the gift stores and have dinner along the way. The thing with Disney is that its pretty much impossible to be disapointed with any of their accomodations. Whatever you pick, have a great trip.
|
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:41 am
The Grand Floridian will always be my favorite. We've stayed at the Boardwalk, (which is pretty kewl too) Carribean Beach (love the food court, and the drink mug is a great deal), and various other places.
|
Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:48 am
Karuuna, you stayed at the Grand Floridian?! Wow! I feel like I'm living the high life staying at Carribean Beach (because next time I'll probably be back at Pop Century -- which is fine, but is not glamorous).
|
Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:57 am
I have stayed at the contemporary and also at Fort Wilderness. I loved loved loved fort Wilderness. We had our own trailer which had a living room, bedroom and fully fitted kitchen with everythying in it. The cleaning staff cleaned up everything. At the time my son was 5 and my friends children were 10 and 8 so having the freedom to get up cook breakfast in the morning, while the kids were in their jammies was great. The trailer also came with an outside barbecue and a picnic table. There was a grocery store that had everything you would need and the prices were pretty good. It was just a walk to the water park river country which was great too. We have stayed at The contemporary which was fine, nothing special. I also have stayed at time shares in the area which worked as well but overall I prefer staying in the resort itself. Just easier getting around.
|
Eazyeast
Member
08-19-2005
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:59 am
The Grand Floridian is nice to think about but will never happen for me. Gonna have to stick witht the moderate resorts for a while, maybe try all 4 of them and then see if we can move up a notch.
|
Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 8:01 am
The last time I was at Disney we ate breakfast every morning at the Waffle House. It was good food, cheap, and quick.
|
Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 8:03 am
Maris, the cabins have replaced the trailers. But, they are the same idea. I look at it as having my own little house on Disney property..LOL

|
Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Monday, September 24, 2007 - 6:58 pm
we are planning to go in Feb....my friend is giving us great deal on her 5 star resort timeshare...now gotta see what is best price for disney tix...guess that disboard would be best place to find deals for 5 day park hoopers?
|
Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Monday, September 24, 2007 - 7:40 pm
Pamy, go check out mousesavers.com There you can sign up to get a monthly email newsletter. In there you will find a link to the cheapest park tickets around from underground tourist. I recently bought my tickets from them and they are quick and have a fair return policy. My only complaint is that the tickets are paper (not plastic). But best price you can find. Plus, mousesavers has great Disney tips.
|
Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Monday, September 24, 2007 - 7:44 pm
That is where we stayed, in a cabin at the Wilderness. It was great. I loved the idea of having the kitchen. DH and DS are nighttime eaters and didn't like the idea of going broke in the vending machines of the hotel. We did the same thing Maris did. We ate a big breakfast every morning in the cabin. Snacked at the parks. Grilled out most nights. Kitchens are completely equipped. Saved us a ton of money. Always had snacks and cold drinks right there. We did drive there though so I had the coolers packed. The maids were great about cleaning up. The first morning I put everything in the dishwasher but didn't run it. They ran and emptied it. One morning we were running late so I just put everything in the sink. All cleaned up when we got back. No trace of breakfast even being cooked. It had plenty of sleeping. Can't remember if it was a queen or double bed in the bedroom along with a set of bunk beds. There was a Murphy wall bed that pulled down from the wall in the living room, that is where the boys slept. It was nice that there were 2 TV's, one in the living room and one in the bed room. No fighting over what was being watched at bedtime. You have the water park right there, the ferry takes you to Disney. A petting zoo, the trading post, bus stops everywhere. Horseback riding, a lot of people brought bikes but I didn't think about that so we didn't have ours. The pools are just plain pools, nothing fancy, laundry rooms at the pools. The kids liked to go to the pool after dinner so, I brought home clean clothes (yea), since they were right there at the pool. I am wanting to go back and get 2 cabins so son, DIL and grankids can go with us.
|