Planning a Disney trip - basic questions

[Anonymous]

We stayed in Bay Lake Tower (at Contemporary) suite with 2 kids. It was expensive but worth it - a short walk to MK (the park kids were most interested in), and had transportation to everything else. We rolled out of bed downstairs for Chef Mickey character breakfasts. We could see nightly fireworks from our balcony. It's definitely not a must do, but we wanted to splurge. As my kids get older, we may consider staying further away at an offsite property but for right now this works for us.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Basically it comes down to

A) Plenty of space (multiple rooms or large suite)

B) Location (resort is walking distance to parks like Contemporary/Magic Kingdom or Beach Club/Epcot OR has awesome views like the Savanna at Animal Kingdom)

C) Reasonable price (less than $1000/night)


OP gets to pick 2.
She has to decide which two are most important for HER family. That might not be what is most important to other posters' families.

Love this! So true.

I am amazed people spend $1000 a night just for hotel for Disney. You can easily get a decent hotel room for $125-200, if not less. Once she goes, she'll realize it is so spread out that you still need transportation and basing your hotel off the theme park transportation is not worthwhile.

The thing about the Disney hotels though, is that the ones with the park walkabilty/monorail, etc. also have other desirable amenities not found at the moderate and value hotels. Things like multiple on site restuarants, indoor hallways (instead of the motel-like set up with outdoor walkways), fitness centers, etc.
I agree though that I can't spend that much per night on a room!

Not all the deluxe hotels cost as much as the contemporary. Check out the Wilderness Lodge. That is very close to the Magic Kingdom and SO much cheaper!

Right, but it's not walking distance-you have to take a boat. And right now it's undergoing some MAJOR construction. I'm not sure if it still will be this summer when OP wants to go.

Very little is walking distance. Epcot and Magic Kingdom are accessible by monorail but otherwise you are taking transportation to get places. Its not worth paying a premium to shave off 15-20 minutes of transportation time.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You can save a ton of cash by renting a house off property. Look around the area of Celebration. It has grocery stores, restaurants and easy access to Disney. You can save yourself a boatload by eating a real meal at the house, instead of $15 chicken nuggets.

This 3 bedroom is $87 per night:
https://www.vrbo.com/193887

There isn't a lot of traffic. The only thing that I don't like about staying off property is paying $20/day for parking. Car rentals at the airport are cheap too. I got a car for $15/day last time I was there.

It's all about the type of vacation you want. Yes, this may save money but I'd never do this because this doesn't sound fun to me. I rather wait a year or two and save up some more money so we could have the ease of staying on property, enjoying a Disney hotel and the convenience and perks and not having to cook!

Being held captive by the mouse seems like a bad vacation, but to each their own. There are real restaurants nearby. Some might want a break from Mickey's overpriced fast food.

You can stay in a value hotel for $100-150 and be on property. We'll never stay on property again as we prefer the nearby restaurants. I get the first time you want to stay on property but then you learn real quickly that even the McDonalds on property (even being vegetarian and never eating there) is far better than the Disney food..

Once again... WHERE ARE YOU EATING? Are you sure you are going to Disney World????

We ate the hotel - this time it was at the Caribbean. Horrible. We ate one cold, gross meal the first day, and then went back for breakfast which turned out to be a nightmare and walked out with all the food drama.

Yes, I'm sure it was Disney. We were just there. Did several counter service at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios and all were bad to horrible. The mac and cheese was the absolute worst. We did one sit down at MK and it was ok, but it was $50+ for two basic meals and a kids meal. Last time we went to Port Orleans and it gave us the runs on several days. We have in the past gone to Epcot and the Japanese place was lousy for the price and the Middle Eastern was horrible with cold, dry food. Not one good meal on two trips. If Disney Cruises can do high quality meals, even at counter service, I don't get how Disney World can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically it comes down to

A) Plenty of space (multiple rooms or large suite)

B) Location (resort is walking distance to parks like Contemporary/Magic Kingdom or Beach Club/Epcot OR has awesome views like the Savanna at Animal Kingdom)

C) Reasonable price (less than $1000/night)


OP gets to pick 2.
She has to decide which two are most important for HER family. That might not be what is most important to other posters' families.

Love this! So true.

I am amazed people spend $1000 a night just for hotel for Disney. You can easily get a decent hotel room for $125-200, if not less. Once she goes, she'll realize it is so spread out that you still need transportation and basing your hotel off the theme park transportation is not worthwhile.

The thing about the Disney hotels though, is that the ones with the park walkabilty/monorail, etc. also have other desirable amenities not found at the moderate and value hotels. Things like multiple on site restuarants, indoor hallways (instead of the motel-like set up with outdoor walkways), fitness centers, etc.
I agree though that I can't spend that much per night on a room!

Not all the deluxe hotels cost as much as the contemporary. Check out the Wilderness Lodge. That is very close to the Magic Kingdom and SO much cheaper!

Right, but it's not walking distance-you have to take a boat. And right now it's undergoing some MAJOR construction. I'm not sure if it still will be this summer when OP wants to go.

Just stayed there and it is barely under construction. Thy are building villas on the water. I stayed facing the conference structure and it was not a problem at all even with a napping toddler. The boats come constantly even in the off season and was a great location. It's almost as good as being at the contemporary but a better theme and sooo much cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly, to each their own. I HATE leaving the Disney bubble. Ruins the trip for me. I choose not to be a hater. I'm not too cool for school. Yes, Disney food is expensive, but it would be too at any resort. Fast food? Never ate it there.

Disney parks offer mostly fast food. Epcot is the rare gem. I've been to Disney literally hundreds of times. We used to live there, and had season passes. There are no more than 4 or 5 restaurants in the parks I've never experienced. Did you eat most of your food in the resorts?

I've eaten at both many resorts. I find eve the quick service a step above. I do agree Epcot is a gem!