Family Vacation - Starting to Plan

[pmsmith2032]

I am just beginning to research a possible vacation to Disney World this summer (probably mid June) and am looking for advice. Ideally we'd like to spend two or three days in Disney World (various parks) and 5 or 6 days at a beach location somewhere in Florida. We have two kids and aren't opposed to driving (from Illinois). We visited approximately 8 years ago and stayed outside the park. Any advice on discount plans, where to stay, places to see, sites to research, etc are greatly appreciated

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Does this sound like a feasible plan?

Not really, no. I'd never recommend less than six nights at WDW unless you've been a gazillion times. I'd personally cut out the "beach" part of your trip entirely. For a family your age, you'd have a much better beach vacation on a separate trip to Ocean City or Hilton Head.

Also, you sure you want to drive?

 

[pmsmith2032]

Two thing. Yes, we're sure we want to drive as we did when we took our daughter 8 years ago. This gives us more flexibility to be able to see other things/go other pleaces. To be honest, three days will be more than enough for us. Neither my wife nor I are huge Disney fans (no offense) and we were very fed up with a lot of the rude people we encountered last trip. Plus the heat at the time of year (only time we can go as my wife is a teacher) will make three days more than sufficient.

 

[KaliSplash]

Going back to an earlier question you asked. Yes, you can spend one day at Magic Kingdom, one day at Epcot and one day at the Studious or and Animal Kingdom without a parkhopper. there is NO ticket you can buy that would include Disney AND Universal.

 

[pmsmith2032]

Sorry about that. I was thinking of Hollywood Studios. Thanks for the response!

 

[KaliSplash]

Sorry about that. I was thinking of Hollywood Studios. Thanks for the response!

Sure. Have fun!

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

IMO, three days is not going to be enough to enjoy your time at WDW. I've done the drive from Tampa to Chicago a few times and it usually takes at least a day to get caught up on rest (and that's with my wife and I taking turns driving). Driving all the way down just to do three days is going to be tough; you will be so rushed/tired that you won't be able to enjoy any of the parks.

As Captain said, I'd throw out going to a beach...but if you absolutely must go to a beach while you're down here...Daytona or Cocoa Beach are probably the closest.

 

[MickeyMomV]

I think it depends if your park days just that, park days. If you plan on hitting a park the day you arrive I would advise against it, you need time to decompress from the dive. If, on arrival day you plan on relaxing, hitting the pool, and having a nice dinner with starting on the parks the next day, I think you would be ok.

For some people spending a couple of days in the world is more than enough. There are those on the boards, myself included, who would rather fly down (we are from Michigan) and enjoy as much time as the job allows in the bubble. Just like there are people who can spend hours/days at the beach. Myself, after 10 minutes in the sand I'm board to death and need to move on to something else.

On a different topic. You said your son is into sports, don't forget about the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Check their calendar and see if they have anything going on while you are down there! .

 

[dis365]

For a cheap stay on property stay at All Star Sports or Pop Century which is newer and only a little bit more. For a great moderate place stay at Port Orleans French Quarters. The theme is good but not very disney. But the resort itself is small so easy to get around

 

[KikoKea]

Just checking....are you military or DOD? There are great options, if so.

 

[kparn]

Here are some points to "ponder"


June is "peak season" anywhere on the panhandle. A condo at the beach will cost more than a value or moderate at Disney during June. What mountains are you referring to? East Tennessee? Ozarks? I've lived in Pensacola and I'm originally from Huntsville, Alabama so I know the geography well. Have you considered two separate trips in June? Disney, Beach, and Mountains are completely different. Southwest flies pretty cheap from Midway to Orlando and they're always having sales. (my husband is from the Chicago area) As a teacher, your wife can get discounts for Swan and Dolphin Hotels. She can also receive car rental discounts. Here's a suggestion: Base your vacation from the World. Book a week where you can find the best deal. Use a Disney Specialist to help you receive the best discounts. (before we were DVC members, we always booked through Small World Vacations) There are several to choose from and their services are free. Whether you drive or fly (can always use a rental) take a day and drive to Daytona Beach. It's only 60-70 miles from the World. The summer days are longest in June and you can spend a day at the beach without spending a fortune. I travel to Disney 3-4 times yearly and I travel to the beach 3-4 times yearly as well. 4 days on the Panhandle in June is not cheaper than 3 days at Disney. The most expensive places on the Panhandle are Seaside, Destin, and Sandestin. The cheapest are older places in Gulf Shores, Alabama and older places in Fort Walton. Panama City will be crawling in June. The quietest and most relaxing (MHO) is anywhere in Perdido Key. These places are give or take an hour, about 6 hours from Disney. The closest and cheapest beach resort area to Disney is Daytona on the east coast. However, as one person previously posted...the sugary, white sand is only on the panhandle. Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, and Siesta Key are on the west coast and south of Orlando. Of those places... Siesta Key is the prettiest but you have two children to consider. Research all those places, ask your children what they most want to do and go from there. I'm a planner and I have 3 grown children now in their 20s. I've done the long drives to-and-from Orlando AND to-and-from Chicago. I've flown to both cities too. Southwest is great to work with families. Flying is so much easier...the cost is not more(if you fly SW) when you factor in gasoline, hotel night or 2 along the way, car maintenance check up before trip etc. And baggage is still free on SW. No, I'm not employed by SW, but they have excellent customer service.

 

[cdeev8690]

Just a note : I'm seriously mourning the demise of "No Expiration". I live in the North East and my parents bought my sister and I, about a decade ago, a 10-day Park Hopper No Expiration pass to WDW. We would make short trips every year or so and we made it last at least 5-7 years. Although the option wasn't available on Disney's website anymore, I bought two 7-day Park Hopper No Expiration passes a couple of years ago through AAA and I still have days left on it. I've made two 5-6 day trips since purchasing them (I usually take a day to go to Universal , and this September I used my MNSSHP as park entry) and I still have about 3 days left over

I mentioned previously that I won't be making a trip for another few years, but that won't stop me from planning. I bit the bullet and opened a Disney Vacation Savings Account with my goal date being sometime in the summer of 2019 (lord help me). I've heard mixed reviews from some but I am a fan of trying things for myself before forming an opinion. Being a young, underpaid adult, I have not really been able to afford to stay in any other location other than the Value Resorts, nothing wrong with them but I've had enough of staring dreamily at the Grand Floridian from the ferry. So, I'm hoping with my DVA (and the advice from you wonderful people), I'll be able to go big in 2019, without bankrupting myself in the process. I'd like to go for at least a week, knowing my visit will involve the Food & Wine Festival/beginning of the Christmas season and new expansions opening (fingers crossed). My trip date honestly depends on the construction status of Star Wars, Toy Story Land, and Universal's Nintendo themed park. I love seeing the old parks, the old rides, the sites you're familiar with but I can't rationalize the prices for seeing the same things I've seen the last ~5 years (New Fantasyland is not enough, although Mine Train and Be Our Guest are both lovely). I'm not the best at saving my pennies and i wanted my vacation fund to be separate from my regular savings account so I wouldn't be tempted to transfer money impulsively. It also offers me a place to put my Disney Dream Reward Dollars from my Visa card.

I'm excited to see what the next few years bring and what wisdom I can learn along the way from you all!