OT So who's done the Disney World thing?
- Thread starter msuJD164
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Hey you were there the same time I was. I remember LSU literally scoring 5 TDs in about 8 minutes while I was walking around Epcot.
Been to Orlando several times and going for the week starting on April 15th...
I have an advantage due to my travel. My hotel, plan tickets, and rental car is being paid by sky miles and hotel points but I have figured out many of the secrets. The problem with packages is they want you to spend every day at Disney world. Universal is way better and those package will give multiple days at Disney world but you miss out on Universal and Sea world. You should arrange your hotel yourself and you don't have to stay on their grounds. Hilton and Hyatt have several properties outside the grounds and you can get those fairly cheap if you pay in advance. As little as 90.00 night. Shop around I always stay at Hilton Gardens off of 6. It has shuttle to all the parks and if you want to drive you are 10 minutes away from everything. Also when you buy ticket I it is cheaper to buy multiple days but you want to plan that so that you can go to more than just Disney. You need at least two days at universal and two days at Disney. I can't handle more than two days at Disney but could go every day to universal. In fact this year we are not even going to Disney world we are spending four days at universal. But if you never done Disney you need to spend time there. Universal has a deal now if you buy two day ticket you get one more day free. One more thing DO NOT GO ON SPRING BreaK! You will be miserable.
I have an advantage due to my travel. My hotel, plan tickets, and rental car is being paid by sky miles and hotel points but I have figured out many of the secrets. The problem with packages is they want you to spend every day at Disney world. Universal is way better and those package will give multiple days at Disney world but you miss out on Universal and Sea world. You should arrange your hotel yourself and you don't have to stay on their grounds. Hilton and Hyatt have several properties outside the grounds and you can get those fairly cheap if you pay in advance. As little as 90.00 night. Shop around I always stay at Hilton Gardens off of 6. It has shuttle to all the parks and if you want to drive you are 10 minutes away from everything. Also when you buy ticket I it is cheaper to buy multiple days but you want to plan that so that you can go to more than just Disney. You need at least two days at universal and two days at Disney. I can't handle more than two days at Disney but could go every day to universal. In fact this year we are not even going to Disney world we are spending four days at universal. But if you never done Disney you need to spend time there. Universal has a deal now if you buy two day ticket you get one more day free. One more thing DO NOT GO ON SPRING BreaK! You will be miserable.
We go every other year. Joined the Disney Vacation Club a few years ago as well. As much fun w adults as w kids. Email me and I will be glad to share some advice and answer questions. 1 tip in cost- leave in evening and drive to around Dothan, Al. From Starkville you can make it in arond 5 hours. Breaks up the drive and saves a TON of money on plane tix. Makes driving a good option. We left after work one evening around 5 and made it to Dothan around 10. Only around 5 hours the next day and driver is not wiped out
One thing no one has mentioned
There are some kind of classes you can sign the kids up for & save a good deal of money on tickets. Maybe the Youth Education Series? I don't have the link anymore or would post it. A friend of mine (family of 6) said he saved about $1,200 doing that. Might be worth the research.
And I've stayed at a cheap resort (All Star something), offsite (Embassy Suites), & Shades of Green (must have certain military affiliations). I liked the Embassy best (wife wouldn't ride the shuttle buses anyway).
There are some kind of classes you can sign the kids up for & save a good deal of money on tickets. Maybe the Youth Education Series? I don't have the link anymore or would post it. A friend of mine (family of 6) said he saved about $1,200 doing that. Might be worth the research.
And I've stayed at a cheap resort (All Star something), offsite (Embassy Suites), & Shades of Green (must have certain military affiliations). I liked the Embassy best (wife wouldn't ride the shuttle buses anyway).
Is this what you are referring to?
http://www.disneyyouth.com/our-prog...s,interests-applied-sciences,ages-high-school
Admittedly, I'm lazy right now and haven't compared the prices to see actual savings, but it seems reasonable.
http://www.disneyyouth.com/our-prog...s,interests-applied-sciences,ages-high-school
Admittedly, I'm lazy right now and haven't compared the prices to see actual savings, but it seems reasonable.
Figure out how much you want to spend on the kids souvenirs and purchase Disney gift cards for that amount. Once the card is empty, souvenir shopping is done. Also, save souvenir shopping for later in the trip. Many of the shops carry the same items and most stuff can be found in Downtown Disney. By the end of the trip, you'll know what trinket the kids can't live without. If your kids are young, buy Disney products before the trip then have them magically appear in your hotel room while you are in the park. The kids will love getting special gifts from Mickey, Cinderella or whoever. Take those flavored drink powders for water bottles. The water in the park has distinct flavor that some may not like. Don't spend money on water. Most snack counters and quick service restaurants will give you a free cup of ice water. Take a pocket charger or extra battery for you cellphone. The Disney World apps are good but will eat your cellphone battery. Pack lots of hand sanitizer. Use it often.
Good advice on saving with driving and breaking it up. My fiancee and I usually stay in Ocala, Florida at the Hilton. It is pretty cheap, paid the same for cheap *** hotels to go to football games. But Ocala is much closer to Disney World, a little over an hour to get there. We like to get up about 8-9 and get to Disney early for a good evening in the Magic Kingdom while being well rested. It really depends on preference and availability with work.
We plan on purchasing DVC once we have all of our stuff in order within a couple of years. Would like to get the new property going up at the Grand Floridian as our "home" resort. Typically I wouldn't fool with a timeshare thing but Disney does it as well as it can be done.
We plan on purchasing DVC once we have all of our stuff in order within a couple of years. Would like to get the new property going up at the Grand Floridian as our "home" resort. Typically I wouldn't fool with a timeshare thing but Disney does it as well as it can be done.