Last minute trip to Disney - please help with hotel and park options

[Anonymous]

We are down in Florida visiting family and decided to squeeze in a two day, one night side trip to Disney on Tuesday/Wednesday. Lots of hotel options per Expedia and many are greatly reduced. Right now I'm looking at Disney Wilderness Lodge and Coronado Springs Resort - has anyone stayed at either?

Also, we will arrive mid morning Tuesday so which park should we choose for less than a full day? Kids are 12 and 7. We want to do Magic Kingdom on Wednesday. What is the Hollywood Studios like? Also does Epcot have anything appealing for that age bracket? We have done Animal Kingdom and don't feel the need to go back. We thought about Universal Studios but think my son might not be ready for the Harry Potter stuff. Another idea is one day at one of the water parks. Anyone have a preference between Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach?

[Anonymous]

My kids love Epcot.

[Anonymous]

We took ds at 12 and he really enjoyed Epcot. We ended up going back.

We stayed at Coronado Springs and liked it.

[Anonymous]

I'd stay at one of the cheaper hotels. You are just going overnight and will barely be in the room. Not worth the extra money.

[Anonymous]

Wilderness Lodge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay at one of the cheaper hotels. You are just going overnight and will barely be in the room. Not worth the extra money.

Can you recommend one? They all look the same to me and they look a bit further from the parks than the ones I was thinking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay at one of the cheaper hotels. You are just going overnight and will barely be in the room. Not worth the extra money.

Can you recommend one? They all look the same to me and they look a bit further from the parks than the ones I was thinking about.

Not the pp you quoted. IIRC they are further than the Coronado. There are buses but I think you get to the parks quicker from the Coronado.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay at one of the cheaper hotels. You are just going overnight and will barely be in the room. Not worth the extra money.

Can you recommend one? They all look the same to me and they look a bit further from the parks than the ones I was thinking about.

They are all basically the same. You get free parking so you can drive to the parks or take the shuttle. Art of Animation is the new one but usually full.

[Anonymous]

Wilderness Lodge is a short boat ride to the Magic Kingdom which can be nice - having to deal with parking at the TTC at the beginning and end of the day is one of the least fun parts of Disney to me. Coronado Springs is further away over towards Animal Kingdom, but still not a long drive to the TTC. Both are nice, the Wilderness Lodge is more impressive when you walk in, but you can't go wrong with either.

Hollywood Studios has some Star Wars themed attractions (ride, meet & greet, etc) right now but with a half day you're going to have a hard time getting fast passes on any of the major rides (Toy Story, Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror). Epcot has Soarin' and Test Track and my kids like doing the Agent P scavenger hunt, though that might be a bit young for your 12 year old.

Personally the thought of a half day at either of the water parks on Tuesday and then Wed in the Magic Kingdom sounds great. I'd probably pick Wilderness Lodge and then take a boat ride or two to watch the MK fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian on Tuesday night.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at Coronado springs and really liked it. Much nicer than the port Orleans "swamp" themed hotel and also better the carribean beach hotel. Just nicer decor and liked the Mayan pool.
That said, the PP has a point when she/he said you won't be in the room much, so if price is an issue, cheaper will be fine. I think the magic kingdom will be crowded; Hollywood studios will have stuff for the kids more so than epcot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay at one of the cheaper hotels. You are just going overnight and will barely be in the room. Not worth the extra money.

I wouldn't even bother staying on site at a Disney hotel bc it's too short of a stay. You're not going to have a chance to enjoy the hotel's amenities (really nice pools/water slides for example) and the other perk is the early opportunity to book FPs. You might be able to take advantage of extended hours by staying on site, but check the calendar bc it changes.

[Anonymous]

For a one night stay, just pick an all star and save yourself money. They're fine. Our favorite ride in all of Disney World is Toy Story Midway Mania in Hollywood Studios (actually more of a game than ride). You're too late to get advanced fast passes for it, but if you go late, the line isn't terrible (note that late at night, it will say the wait is 45 minutes or more to deter ppl, but it's more like 10-15 minutes).

Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller coaster a great too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a one night stay, just pick an all star and save yourself money. They're fine. Our favorite ride in all of Disney World is Toy Story Midway Mania in Hollywood Studios (actually more of a game than ride). You're too late to get advanced fast passes for it, but if you go late, the line isn't terrible (note that late at night, it will say the wait is 45 minutes or more to deter ppl, but it's more like 10-15 minutes).

Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller coaster a great too.

So wait, how early do you have to get these Fast Passes? We haven't been to Disney for 3+ years...

[Anonymous]

We are from Florida and used to make last minute trips all the time. Stay at the park, but choose a cheaper hotel. Do Disney one day and Universal the next. Or do Universal and a water park.

[Anonymous]

I thought the toy story ride was in Magic Kingdom, the one with the lasers right?

Also, it is not too late to get fast passes, we weng during winter break, when the park was at capacity, and we were able to get fast passes for a couple of rides by going to the fastpass stations at the park. You will be able to get some for some rides.