Disney World Vacays

Jim&Jaime · February 2012

So, I've got it in my head to take DS to DW for his 4th birthday at the end of October.

Am I crazy?

Where should we stay?

Anything I should know?

Is there a better time of year?

Are the Halloween events fun?

Are the dining packages a good idea?

la79al · February 2012

Definitely not crazy

Depends on your budget (we love Pop Century)

Disboards.com

October is fine

The Halloween party is kind of expensive but fun. I went with my sister before kids but would LOVE to take my girls to it (but we're going in January this time)

Allears.net will have info on dining packages. From what I am hearing, they are beginning to not really be all that great. Kind of depends on how you plan to eat though. If you will want a sit down meal everyday and don't mind planning around a dining reservation, then you might want to look into the dining plan.

p1nklemonade · February 2012

october is a great month weather wise and it shouldn't be super crowded either. we like port orleans french quarter, which is a moderate level resort. last time we did the dining package, and we liked it. they have different kinds, we did the sit down/quick serve/one snack per day one. we didn't have any kids with us though, so i don't know if it would be worth it to pay for a kid to have the dining package if they're not a big eater, etc., so you would need to think about that.

Jim&Jaime · February 2012

la79al:
Depends on your budget (we love Pop Century)

I can't get a good pic online, are the value resorts built with doors to the outside? Like a motel, or do all doors open to a main hallway inside?

smokenbogey · February 2012

I've never been there yet but they are opening a brand new resort ,supposed to open in May called Art of Animation,is a Value resort,looks pretty nice and they are going to have family suites.We are thinking of going in October of 2013.If u didn't want to stay at one of the Disney resorts,i heard really good things about a resort right outside Disney,offers shuttles there called Worldquest resorts,very reasonable and they are really nice rooms.My brother in law and family have been in October and they said it was awesome,weather was perfect.

LillyGrrl · February 2012

Am I crazy?

No, we've gone every year since DD was a year old...she just turned three. We're going again next year and the year after, and the year after...you get the point. I've been to DIsney probably 10 times both with and without my kid. It's fun no matter what. HOWEVER, if this is going to be your ONLY trip to Disney ever I would wait until your child is closer to 7 to go. That's the perfect age, they can ride every ride, they still believe in the magic of it and they are more independent.

Where should we stay?

Depends on your budget- I like the moderates because the folks that are staying there are usually young families rather than tourists

Anything I should know?

Be prepared for overstimulation, build in non-park days to keep your child from overloading. I suggest at least 6 days- with two non-park days that are not the days you are leaving and coming. Additionally, I would do MK last since once he gets a taste of that he won't want go to any other park. If that's okay with you then fine don't bother with parkhoppers or anything like that.

Is there a better time of year?

We always go either Early Dec, Mid and late January and early Feb (I suggest if you want to go when it's still hot go in mid to late september because everyone is back in school but you will still be able to swim. We like going in the winter months personally. I would avoid any and all school holidays and long weekends.

Are the Halloween events fun?

Yeah Mickey's Very Scary Halloween I think goes on in the month of October, pretty much the entire month. I wouldn't go on Halloween though it would be a zoo.

Are the dining packages a good idea?

Absolutely, totally worth it.

Paigeo · February 2012

We just booked a reservation at Disney for the 1st week in December. DD will be 4.5. I think age 4 is a perfect time to go. We chose the Wilderness Lodge. I really wanted a hotel with a balcony and interior hallways. Plus it supposedly has good Christmas decorations. October sounds like a good time to go. It was our 2nd choice. We opted not to do the dining plan. The kids menu choices seem really limited and I don't want to have to make a ton of reservations and overly schedule the trip. Or I should say DH doesn't! He much prefers a go with the flow vacation style. I also recommend checking out the disboards and touringplans.com.

shopgirl78 · February 2012

Def no crazy, its an awesome age to go.

We have stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside and are staying at the Polynesian next month. It really depends on what you want to spend: they have value, moderate and deluxe hotels (and villas). PO was a moderate and the Poly is a deluxe. The deluxe's generally are on the monorail (easier to get to the park) and have a character meal (well some).

Tons but I can't post it all : ) Get fast passes. We love the meal plan. Book your meals early, etc

We went in August and it was HOT but I don't think the crowds were that bad. I hate my children missing school esp for a vacay, so we dont go during the year. We are going for Spring Break this year.

Don't know.

We like them!

la79al · February 2012

Jim&Jaime:
la79al:

Depends on your budget (we love Pop Century)

I can't get a good pic online, are the value resorts built with doors to the outside? Like a motel, or do all doors open to a main hallway inside?

Yes, exactly like a motel, with doors opening to the outside. We have always requested a first floor room and have always gotten one. We don't mind the value resorts because we are park open to park close types and only come to the room to crash for a few hours at night usually anyhow. Even when I went with my mom and sister, we stayed at Pop and spent some downtime at the resort and still had a lot of fun.

momtoRaegan041008 · February 2012

wdwmagic.com

Wally3 · February 2012

Jim&Jaime:

So, I've got it in my head to take DS to DW for his 4th birthday at the end of October.

Am I crazy?

No it is the perfect age. And October isn't that crowded and still warmish usually. Take him to a character dinner. We went to Chef Mickey's and it was wonderful. DS had a blast.

Where should we stay? Depends on your budget. They have 3 categories value, moderate, and deluxe. If I had an unlimited budget I would stay at the tree houses or at the contempory or Polynesion. If you are on a buget I would go value over moderate - they are cheaper and both are just a room motel style. The value are more over done and cartoony which DS at 3 loved. I would recommend the Pop Century or the New Art of Animation hotel -It was under construction and should open in May.

Anything I should know?

Relax, plan a few things but be open to changing your plan. If ds is in a stroller plan time to have him get out and run around - there are playground type areas in all the parks and at the hotels. The Big Dig at Animal Kingdom is amazing. Be ready to take him out of 3D/4D shows sometimes children freak out in those.

Is there a better time of year?I think October is a great time - not to crowded still warm but not hot. Epcot will be crowded with the Food and Wine Festival but that isn't wherre you want to go with a 4 yr old anyway.

Are the Halloween events fun? Mickey's Not so Scary Halowwen Party good for preschool age and not scary.

Are the dining packages a good idea? I think so if you are flying in and not renting a car. You get a good amount of food and a good variety. If you are making reservations - which you should if you want sit down or chacter meals, I think you can make them 6 months out just double check and make sure your dining plan is taken at the resturant.

I love Disney have I wonderful time

Jim&Jaime · February 2012

Wally3:
Jim&Jaime:

Where should we stay? Depends on your budget. They have 3 categories value, moderate, and deluxe. If I had an unlimited budget I would stay at the tree houses or at the contempory or Polynesion. If you are on a buget I would go value over moderate - they are cheaper and both are just a room motel style. The value are more over done and cartoony which DS at 3 loved. I would recommend the Pop Century or the New Art of Animation hotel -It was under construction and should open in May.

I love Disney have I wonderful time

Are you saying either go all in at a Deluxe resort, or save and go for value, but skip the whole moderate class?

LillyGrrl · February 2012

I would so not recommend value over a moderate because the folks that stay at value are IMHO are mostly foreign tourists looking for cheap accommodations. I disagree entirely that value and moderate aren't much different, certainly the class of folks that stay at the moderates are much better than those that stay in the value, typically (and no offense to those of you that stay at value hotels there, I just would never).

I would suggest a nice moderate/deluxe and there are other deluxe hotels that are not necessarily monarail which are less expensive than say Grand Floridian, Contemporary or Polynesian (like Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge).

My personal preference is for Port Orleans Riverside or Caribbean Beach if you go with a moderate. If you go with a deluxe I would recommend Saratoga Springs or AKL since neither are on the monarail so they would be less expensive. And whatever you do stay the heck away from the All-Star Value Resorts.

Jim&Jaime · February 2012

LillyGrrl:

I would so not recommend value over a moderate because the folks that stay at value are IMHO are mostly foreign tourists looking for cheap accommodations. I disagree entirely that value and moderate aren't much different, certainly the class of folks that stay at the moderates are much better than those that stay in the value, typically (and no offense to those of you that stay at value hotels there, I just would never).

I would suggest a nice moderate/deluxe and there are other deluxe hotels that are not necessarily monarail which are less expensive than say Grand Floridian, Contemporary or Polynesian (like Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge).

My personal preference is for Port Orleans Riverside or Caribbean Beach if you go with a moderate. If you go with a deluxe I would recommend Saratoga Springs or AKL since neither are on the monarail so they would be less expensive. And whatever you do stay the heck away from the All-Star Value Resorts.

I love your honesty. Thank you!

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