One time we talked about Disney....

[emarieme]

So I'm booking a DW vacation today. Because the hotel prices at DW are so much cheaper than DL, even with plane tickets it's cheaper to go to the Florida parks. Bomus, parents and aunts and uncles will be there to babysit.

So, anyone wanna chat Disney planning with me? Or, are you active on a  Dsiney board anywhere you could refer me to?

Little Bubba will have just turned two, and yes, he's all shot up with the MMR! I'll probably be psycho and bring disinfecting wipes too because I'm neurotic like that.

[namastebiotches]

We went this past October! How long you guys staying?

[skategirl128]

I took DS when he was 4 and we had a blast! I didn't have anyone to help me so we took the parks at our own pace.

We were there 4 days and did Epcot and magic kingdom. I only did parks on two days and we had a rest day in between. I rented a stroller and highly recommend that!

[emarieme]

5 full days. We get in Saturday evening and leave the following Friday. Going in Spring when school is still in. So rent the stroller? Don't bring our umbrella?

What about car seats? And when the hubby and I went a few years ago we did the meal plan. I'm unsure on that now....

[NariaDreaming]

I don't even go here, but I'm a travel agent, certified Disney travel planner, and I go to WDW at least once a year.

As for other majorly active DIsney boards- www.disboards.com used to be my go-to place, but it's gotten super catty and not as helpful.


When are you going?
Where are you staying?
How many days?
How old is your little minion?

[namastebiotches]

We rented a stroller just to lighten the load (through a 3rd party that delivered to the resort.) We went when DS had just turned 3 so we didn't feel the car seat was necessary. Not sure at 2.
We didn't do the meal plan.

[sandandsea]

We did 4 days at DL and CA in November. It was awesome. Ds loved it, especially the characters. Before we went he knew Mickey and the cars characters but that's it. When we came back he knew all of them and loved all of them. We did Goofys kitchen and the BBQ place as special dinners and he loved both and I think it's totally worth the money. He was a month shy of three at the time and was free everywhere. We stayed at a good neighbor hotel and walked or took a shuttle to the front gate. It was a great trip and I would totally go annually. But it's just a car ride for us so it's cheaper than a lot of other places.

[sandandsea]

Oh and the hotel beig close was awesome as on day 3 we went to the pool for a while and nap at the hotel them back to DL for dinner and fireworks.

[skategirl128]

I rented through a third party. I got a medium sized stroller that I used to carry around extra stuff since it was just the two of us. The stroller was delivered right to my resort and I left it there for pick up also.

I had the meal plan and loved it! They accommodated DS's dietary restrictions everywhere we went! We loved the lunch with pooh and piglet at magic kingdom!

I drove to Florida so I had my car seat but I didn't use it once there.

[sandandsea]

We brought our stroller but the rented ones at the park were pretty inexpensive and city minis. They were very nice for rented ones!!

[emarieme]

Feb 8, 2015 22:43:07 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

I'll be following this because we are probably going this summer. I wouldn't have taken DS this year because I feel like 2.5 is a bit young but his birth parents live in Orlando and probably won't next year. Thanks in advance for all the tips!

We too had originally planned to wait until he was 4.5 but it's turning out to be an incredibly cheap trip for us! 

My my dad is military and May is Shades of Green (Military Disney Resort) appreciation month. Rooms are $115 a night. Combine that with the deal on tickets, $177 for a four day park hopper (parents buying via NEX).

Nice hotel, cheap Disney, babysitting, we can do it again in a few years. Now just to find plane tickets for a decent price.

NariaDreaming, the new fastpass is what's making me nervous! Any good FAQ you know of?NariaDreaming

So the stats:
7 days, with travel, 5 days to enjoy
Staying at Shades of Green
Minion will have just turned two
Giong in mid-May

[eyenigh]

We went in November when my son was 2.5 for 4 days but only spent 2 in the parks, which, for us, worked out really well. We had planned to do one of the water parks for a 3rd day but it was so cold that they were closed down. My son will absolutely not ride in a stroller so we did a lot of walking and carrying him on our shoulders. If your kid will use a stroller, my god, get one. We stayed right on the resort and they send the Magic bus for you so we didn't bother with a car seat and I'm glad we didn't. We stayed at the Art of Animation and, if I had to do it over again, I'd up for a suite because our room was all the way in the back of the resort, probably half a mile or so, and without a stroller, and 49 degree weather/rain when we went, this was pure hell. The suites were way closer to the front and super cute. Despite the terrible weather and screaming shoulders from carrying our heavy kid, we had an awesome time and will definitely take him again.

Oh, also, the FastPass option ruled. We planned our whole day around it and it really made it easier for us to decide what we wanted to do. You can pick what you want to do and edit it all the way up to your trip so don't feel like you're bound to any decisions you make right away. 

[emarieme]

You guys are getting me so psyched up!!!! Now I just have to get through the next three'ish months of work. I'm so, so excited. Disney is such a magical place to me.

[namastebiotches]

We were crazy & did not utilize fast pass. It worked out though. I'm not sure if your resort has extra magic hours but if it does, definitely take advantage of that.

[namastebiotches]

As far as flights, if you have Frontier, definitely check them out first!

[namastebiotches]

Magic Strollers is who we used. They were the cheapest out of the big 3 for us.

[eyenigh]

Feb 8, 2015 22:43:07 GMT -5 @juliagulia said:

I'll be following this because we are probably going this summer. I wouldn't have taken DS this year because I feel like 2.5 is a bit young but his birth parents live in Orlando and probably won't next year. Thanks in advance for all the tips!

2.5 was a great age for my son. He had a great time-- obviously not at the level a 4 year old would but it was very exciting and interesting to him. Also, before age 3, kids are free so that sweetens the deal a bit, too.