<p>Good post Chedva. Glad that you had a great time! </p>
<p>I agree with you about Disney not giving anything away, but their meal plan is a good deal for those who want an entree and dessert. I feel the main purpose of their meal plan is to keep people on Disney property. This way Disney guests spend their dollars eating at Disney, not the surrounding area, and they might be more likely to spend more money at Disney because they have not gone off Disney premises, at least not for meals. </p>
<p>I agree with you about staying on Disney property. We also have stayed at the value hotels, but last time we were there we stayed at the Coronado Springs as well. I have to admit that we really enjoyed the Coronado much more than the value hotels. I did not think that it would matter to me if I stayed at a value hotel vs. the Coronado, and frankly the only reason we stayed there was that we were upgraded to that hotel (long story). I enjoyed my vacations when we stayed at the value hotels, but the Coronado resort did make our vacation much more enjoyable.</p>
<p>I started to write a post but it was getting out of hand so I turned it into a three part pm! We are a nutty Disney family and have gone every year since 1993. So I put down some general tips along with my thoughts on each park’s attractions based on your kids being older. Feel free to pm me with questions (although you’ve had lots of others offer that already!) As dramatica said - it’s truly a magical place and you will experience the ultimate in customer service.</p>
<p>QUOTE: “So what does keep drawing up all back to Disney?”</p>
<p>Because, its the happiest place on earth!! </p>
<p>Or, as DD is constantly reminding DH and I - “we are going to the happiest place on earth, so do you think we can all get along and not fight???”</p>
<p>Made a quick stop at AAA today at lunch to just “see” what some $$$ figures might be - ouch!!! MORE than I expected! For 5 of us for 4 days was still $3400-ish --and that’s with no flight $$ yet!</p>
<p>I’m feeling a little depressed now… :(</p>
<p>Not abandoning the idea, but definitely going to have to refigure some costs doing it on my own, staying outside of the park or something. No can do $5000 for a trip…!!!</p>
<p>Have you considered staying at any of the Downtown Disney properites? They are not owned by Disney, but they are on the property and have transportation. There is a Courtyard by Marriot, and an all suites hotel (Lake Buena Vista Suites, maybe?) and a few more, with refrigerators and microwaves so you can eat breakfast there. The prices are cheaper, and being close to Downtown Disney is a lot of fun at night.</p>
<p>Try the Swan and the Dolphin hotels, they are in the EPCOT area but are not Disney owned. I think one is a Sheraton and the other a Westin hotel.
You can get AAA discount there as well as discounts if you are a nurse or a teacher.</p>
<p>One thing about using Disney transportation, it is kind of complicated if you want to move between parks, or go to one park for a day and then have dinner in another area. Esp. if you are not staying on the monorail. We went once without a car and twice with, and found having the car was a timesaver because we wanted to hop around. And we used it to go to the grocery before going to the hotel to buy a case of bottled water, snacks, and some breakfast food that didn’t require refrigeration (but one year we bought a styrofoam cooler and ice). So we saved some $ on breakfast, snacks, and drinks in the parks, which helped cover the car.</p>
<p>Everyone wore a waist pack when we went to the parks with a bottle of water, snack, and small paperback book in case we end up standing in line.</p>
<p>Second the vote for dinner at Boma way back on the thread! Assume you know that you need to make dinner reservations well ahead of time. We usually ate pretty early - - our group was tired and hungry by 5:30 most nights.</p>
<p>Unlike many posters, my kids found Universal to be “meh” (their word). They are not big movie/tv consumers, maybe that is why. They love Epcot (science and social studies are their interests, so that makes sense), and like Animal Kingdom. The Space Center was also a hit. Magic Kingdom was interesting once, but they aren’t interested in going back.</p>
<p>aBasket, we only stayed 3 days each time we went. We didn’t get to do everything, but it controlled the cost. Disney is VERY good at separating you from your money.</p>
Wait and see what the next offer, if any is. Currently they have the 4 days, 3 free option (which wasn’t the best fit for us cause we didn’t know if we could stay a week). I certainly could be wrong, but I’ve got to believe with the economy that Disney will suffer too and perhaps another offer that better suits with come up.</p>
<ol>
<li>Yes, check out other properties. I didn’t know about Downtown Disney and the free transportation - that helps alot cause transportation will definitely be a problem. We will not rent a car. I am a little confused on the location of things - Downtown Disney, Lake Buena Vista , etc. I saw that Springhill Suites (which would work well with our family of 5) is a Disney "good neighbor hotel " - whatever that means - and we can get hotel for about $100 a night + free breakfast. But I don’t know about transportation yet.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Any other suggestions of off-site hotels w/transportation appreciated. (although I don’t understand how we would get around during the day once we are to a park - if we want to park hop…SO many issues to consider!!!)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Wait for another time. Though with the age of my kids, that is not a good option. </p></li>
<li><p>Seriously consider another family vacation all together. To someplace else. I’ve got to believe we can have a very nice vacation somewhere else for 4-5 days for less than the thousands this is turning out to be.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>barbara - the Courtyard has been gone for awhile. My dad and I went last February and he’s a Marriott rewards member, so we looked into it and found it wasn’t there!</p>
<p>I’m only a senior in hs, but I’m kind of just a little bit completely obsessed with Disney. We ended up staying off-property and it was just not the same - ESPECIALLY if you don’t want to rent a car! There’s a family suite at one of the All-Stars that’s supposed to be a pretty good deal. Or just get 2 rooms at a Disney “value” resort. </p>
<p>Also, I believe the end of August is “value season”, so if your kids are still out of school see if prices dip then.</p>
<p>Is the problem with price that you are too early in booking? I don’t know. We never fly bc we find it too pricey. I have an idea. Is there a grandparent or another relative that could join you and split the cost on a second room at one of their value hotels? We went once with my FIL and it created fabulous memories for all of us. I am so glad that he went with us. We are 4 people so the hotel arrangements are a lot easier for us. As far as breakfast, honestly a box of cereal in the room with some milk is all you need. If I were you, I’d pack 2 boxes of cereal in a more empty suitcase, knowing that I did not have a car, just to save on breakfast costs! I would splurge and overpay for the milk in the hotel.</p>
<p>It was actually cheaper to get two rooms at the Value Resort than 1 family suite at the Value Music Resort. And two bathrooms is better than 1 :)</p>
<p>End of August doesn’t work - my two still in regular school start around Aug. 23rd.</p>
<p>I believe it! When we went with my FIL we took 2 rooms. I don’t remember the price, but I sure do know that my DH kept checking on price to make sure that we got the price possible.</p>
<p>Lake Buena Vista is a town incorporated by Disney as a city. A number of the hotels in the “Downtown Disney” area have a relationship with Disney and participate in the Disney transportation system. What this means is that there is more transportation resources available to and from the hotel. Transportation can be a pain and sparse from hotels that are not associated with Disney so keep this in mind as you continue to “research” your options. Do not give up just yet. </p>
<p>I just realized that there are five of you. This means that you will not be able to stay in the value resorts at Disney because it is limited to 4 in a room. Those would run around $115 a night during June. You cannot get around the 4 in a rooom rule because Disney issues id’s for everyone and you will need them to take advantage of the transporation and other disney perks. So if you are planning on getting just one room, those are out of the question. However, if you leave hubby at home, then it would be workable! (Just kidding about leaving him at home!)</p>
<p>Anyhow, since it seems that you are a AAA member, get the Florida Tour Book from AAA and look at all the hotels in the Lake Buena Vista area. That is where you will find the hotels that have access to the Disney transportation. You should be able to find some hotel choices for less than $100/night. Keep looking at Disney’s own site because something may open up for less than what you have been quoted. Disney is not doing well, so who knows it may work out.</p>
<p>Remember too that a lot of the ‘off-property’ hotels will run shuttles to the Parks. They may not be as convenient as you’d like but it would save the car charge + parking. </p>
<p>So funny because leaving my husband at home was almost a consideration - he actually said he’d STAY home but we convinced him to come - now I think he was actually warming up to the idea!!!</p>
<p>abasket- When we went last Feb I was shocked at how expensive it was. I remember the shock of buying the park tickets. My husband did not even want to know! I think it was one of the most expensive 3 day vacations we have ever gone on and we have traveled quite a bit.
We were already in Florida for another occasion and we had never been to Disneyworld. I figured it was our one chance to all go together. I doubt we would go again.
We stayed onsite but it was a splurge. By using my membership rewards points I didn’t pay cash but just seeing the dollar amount was shocking.
One tip on renting a car. We were in Florida for a week and needed a car. When I first started looking the prices were high. I kept waiting. I ended up booking the car two days before we left. By that time the price had dropped drastically. I had no fear that the Orlando area rent a car places would run out of cars. I knew we would find something so it did not hurt to wait.
My son was leaving the day before we did. He took the Disney Express bus to the airport. My only complaint was he had to be ready quite a bit earlier for the bus then he would have if we had driven him.</p>
<p>i don’t know if this has been mentioned – check out the cabins in fort wilderness - can easily fit your family – and they have a kitchen so you can save on some meals – its the cheapest way to stay on disney property and have a full kitchen. no one wants to cook on vacation – but you can pick up prepared meals at goodings (supermarket right near disney village) and even just a few meals (esp. breakfasts) not in a restaurant can save a lot of money.</p>
<p>I would disagree with the cabins in Ft. Wilderness being of sufficient size for a family of 5. When we stayed there, there was one bedroom with a double bed and twin size bunks, Plus a pull out sofa and a murphy drop down bed. For our family, 3 adults and two children 2 and 6 yo it was simply too small and too tight. With all beds/pullouts/drop downs occupied there was no room to move. YMMV.</p>