couple of questions

[Swat1]

Hi everyone,

New here and this is my first post.

We are planning a large scale family vacation to Disney starting late November - early December 2007 (total of 12 days).

The basics:

There are ten of us altogether, my family of four (two adults and two teenage children coming from West Coast), my parents (two AARP age adults coming from Upstate NY), my brother's family (two adults two 6 - 8 age children coming from SE Virginia)

For the first seven days we will be staying at an all star vacation homes 6 bedroom home. On the seventh day we will be moving on to Disney property at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the last 5 days.

We expect to spend 6 days total going to Disney parks, which leads me to my first question.

While staying at AKL will we be allowed to just hang out at the resort without using a day of our 6 day park tickets?

We will start going to the Disney parks while staying at the off site house with some built in rest days and a Sea World day so in our last five days (really 3 days that are park worthy due to our check out for offsite and then check in to AKL we will probably not go to a park and then our last day check out we leave very early to catch our plane we will not go to a park). If we just wanted to hang out at the resort for like the day before we fly, etc that is what I'm asking above.

For the six days we are at Disney parks do we really need park hopper tickets or is it too ambitious and should we spend one day in each park and then use the last two ticket days to visit the two parks we want to go back to?

As of right now here is our tentative schedule:

November 28th, Wednesday - arrive in Orlando and check in to our off-site house.
November 29th, Thursday - First day of Disney
November 30th, Friday - Disney
December 1st, Saturday - Disney
December 2nd, Sunday - Rest
December 3rd, Monday - Sea World
December 4th, Tuesday - Late wakeup - Orlando (mini golf, shopping, Pirates Show, etc.)
December 5th, Wednesday - Check out of house (12 noon) and into AKL (3:00 p.m.) - Rest of day Disney
December 6th, Thursday - Disney
December 7th, Friday - Disney
December 8th, Saturday - hang out at AKL resort
December 9th, Sunday - Check out fly home

Does this seem like a good plan?

We haven't been to DW since I was 18 (20 yrs ago).

My kids have only been to DL so they are way excited even though they will be 16 and 17 respectively.

I'm also wondering if we should get the dining plan?

There is so much to plan for, it's hard to even know where to start:veryconfu

Thanks in advance,

Swat1*

 

[hrcollectibles]

First of all Welcome to the boards... You will find the information here very helpfull... I would reccomend getting the dining plan. I sued it in July and it was great.. Seeing that you will be going several daysI would recomend getting the park hoper option. That way you you can come and go as you please at the parks. remember to have fun

 

[Nemo14]

As far as getting the dining plan is concerned, you can only get that if you book a package (room + tickets at a WDW resort), and only for the days that you are staying at the resort. Given the fact that you're planning several Disney days before your AKL stay, I'm assuming you will already have your tickets.

Hope that helps

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

If you haven't bought your WDW tickets yet - consider doing the dining package with your AKL stay. While off property visit SeaWorld, DownTown Disney etc

 

[Monty]

Hi everyone,

New here and this is my first post.

We are planning a large scale family vacation to Disney starting late November - early December 2007 (total of 12 days).

The basics:

There are ten of us altogether, my family of four (two adults and two teenage children coming from West Coast), my parents (two AARP age adults coming from Upstate NY), my brother's family (two adults two 6 - 8 age children coming from SE Virginia)

For the first seven days we will be staying at an all star vacation homes 6 bedroom home. On the seventh day we will be moving on to Disney property at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the last 5 days.

We expect to spend 6 days total going to Disney parks, which leads me to my first question.

While staying at AKL will we be allowed to just hang out at the resort without using a day of our 6 day park tickets? Absolutely! The tickets can be used any time within 14 days of first use. You don't have to visit parks at all while staying at resorts... [obviously you will, but...]

We will start going to the Disney parks while staying at the off site house with some built in rest days and a Sea World day so in our last five days (really 3 days that are park worthy due to our check out for offsite and then check in to AKL we will probably not go to a park and then our last day check out we leave very early to catch our plane we will not go to a park). If we just wanted to hang out at the resort for like the day before we fly, etc that is what I'm asking above.

For the six days we are at Disney parks do we really need park hopper tickets or is it too ambitious and should we spend one day in each park and then use the last two ticket days to visit the two parks we want to go back to?

Park hopping is always a difficult decision. The question is whether you'll have had your fill at the end of the day at a park that closes earlier than others. With hopper tickets, you can just change parks and keep on having fun, without you can do other things...

As of right now here is our tentative schedule:

November 28th, Wednesday - arrive in Orlando and check in to our off-site house.
November 29th, Thursday - First day of Disney
November 30th, Friday - Disney
December 1st, Saturday - Disney
December 2nd, Sunday - Rest
December 3rd, Monday - Sea World
December 4th, Tuesday - Late wakeup - Orlando (mini golf, shopping, Pirates Show, etc.)
December 5th, Wednesday - Check out of house (12 noon) and into AKL (3:00 p.m.) - Rest of day Disney
December 6th, Thursday - Disney
December 7th, Friday - Disney
December 8th, Saturday - hang out at AKL resort
December 9th, Sunday - Check out fly home

Does this seem like a good plan?

I would suggest that your moving day [Dec 5th] be a day to relax and explore AKL. By the time you've packed, transferred, checked in and unpacked, you've lost a lot of that day. By the time you get to a park, you've 'lost' half a day's admission.

We haven't been to DW since I was 18 (20 yrs ago).

My kids have only been to DL so they are way excited even though they will be 16 and 17 respectively.

I'm also wondering if we should get the dining plan?

Dining plan won't really work with your plan. You have to have a package that includes room, tickets and DDP. Since you're getting six-day tickets and using three of the days before you check in, you would have to buy two different three-day tickets and that just doesn't make money-sense.

There is so much to plan for, it's hard to even know where to start:veryconfu

Thanks in advance,

Swat1*

Most answers interspersed above...

On the park-hopping, you can always add the hopper option any time while you're there, so if you find you have had enough of a particular park, go to a new park and stop at Guest Relations and they can add it on. That way if you can manage without, you've saved the extra cash. The downside is it'll cost the amount for a six-day ticket, regardless how many days you've already used.

 

[DisneyMarg]

Not only can you hang out at AKL, you can visit any of the resorts, and, since you have such a nice long time there, I recommend that you do that. I can easily entertain myself for a day visiting the different resorts with their own unique shopping, entertainment, and restaurants.

I also recommend the park hopper. You are already spending big $$ on this trip. You might as well add this on and eliminate one more thing to have to worry about. Park hopping is particularly useful for catching a parades or shows. You might have spent all day at Epcot but you want to see Wishes again or catch Fantasmic. You can easily do that with park hopper tickets.

Also, with a crowd that big, it makes it much simpler if you don't all have to agree on which park for which day. For example, you can agree to meet at the Biergarten for dinner, and everyone has the flexibility to spend the day in another park. With the variety in ages, you should build in as much flexibility as you can.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[Swat1]

Not only can you hang out at AKL, you can visit any of the resorts, and, since you have such a nice long time there, I recommend that you do that. I can easily entertain myself for a day visiting the different resorts with their own unique shopping, entertainment, and restaurants.

I also recommend the park hopper. You are already spending big $$ on this trip. You might as well add this on and eliminate one more thing to have to worry about. Park hopping is particularly useful for catching a parades or shows. You might have spent all day at Epcot but you want to see Wishes again or catch Fantasmic. You can easily do that with park hopper tickets.

Also, with a crowd that big, it makes it much simpler if you don't all have to agree on which park for which day. For example, you can agree to meet at the Biergarten for dinner, and everyone has the flexibility to spend the day in another park. With the variety in ages, you should build in as much flexibility as you can.

Welcome to the boards!

Excellent points, you should work for Disney, because you sold me on the park hopper tickets.

Swat1*

 

[bigorangeandy]

I would go to an 8 day ticket instead of 6. For a little over $4 per ticket you could get two more days, that way if the teenages wanted to go do a park one morning, they could and the cost would be almost nothing. Sounds like you have a really nice vaction planed.

 

[DisneyMarg]

Excellent points, you should work for Disney, because you sold me on the park hopper tickets.

Swat1*

Yes, I would LOVE to work for Disney!

I think you can add on days to your tickets after you get there, even after you have used some of your days, at the same price you would pay if you add 2 days now. Some other poster may have better info than me on this, but I think you can easily do that at your resort services desk. That way you could just add days to specific tickets that need more time. But I do agree that the cost is very low to add more days.

 

[DisneyMarg]

November 28th, Wednesday - arrive in Orlando and check in to our off-site house.
November 29th, Thursday - First day of Disney
November 30th, Friday - Disney
December 1st, Saturday - Disney
December 2nd, Sunday - Rest
December 3rd, Monday - Sea World
December 4th, Tuesday - Late wakeup - Orlando (mini golf, shopping, Pirates Show, etc.)
December 5th, Wednesday - Check out of house (12 noon) and into AKL (3:00 p.m.) - Rest of day Disney
December 6th, Thursday - Disney
December 7th, Friday - Disney
December 8th, Saturday - hang out at AKL resort
December 9th, Sunday - Check out fly home

I just noticed your schedule. I am SO jealous that you get so much time there. We think it's a luxury to get a whole week. We are usually just making a long weekend of it. How wonderful!!

If Nov 29th is Thanksgiving, you are planning to be in the parks on some very busy days. The years we have gone at Thanksgiving we have worked our schedule out to NOT be in the parks on Thurs, Fri, or Sat of that week. That said, you will just HAVE to go to Disney on Thursday, as that's the first day you're there. No one will be able to wait.

Here's what I'd suggest:
November 28th, Wednesday - arrive in Orlando and check in to off-site house.
November 29th, Thursday - First day of Disney
November 30th, Friday - Disney
December 1st, Saturday - Late wakeup - Orlando (mini golf, shopping, Pirates Show, etc.) (You'll be ready for a rest already as parks will be open late on Thurs and Fri)
December 2nd, Sunday - Sea World
December 3rd, Monday - Disney
December 4th, Tuesday - Disney
December 5th, Wednesday - Late wakeup. Wash clothes. Check out of house (12 noon) and into AKL (3:00 p.m.) - explore AKL, schedule dinner for 'Ohana at the Polynesian and after dinner tour the other resorts on the monorail.
December 6th, Thursday - Disney
December 7th, Friday - "non-park" Disney day at DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney, the hotel pool, etc This could also be another park day if some folks want to add a day to their tickets.
December 8th, Saturday - Disney (you will really want to end your trip with one last trip to the parks to repeat favorite attractions, pick up remaining souveniers, and have one last Dole Whip.)
December 9th, Sunday - Check out fly home

 

[slappy magoo]

I would go to an 8 day ticket instead of 6. For a little over $4 per ticket you could get two more days, that way if the teenages wanted to go do a park one morning, they could and the cost would be almost nothing. Sounds like you have a really nice vaction planed.

Second THAT emotion, it's so little $$$ to go from 6 days to 8 days, even if you don't use it at all, you won't really feel it.

And you'll definitely be happy you got the park hopper. What might possibly happen is that, instead of one or two parks you'll want to revisit, you'll have various attractions you want to revisit at ALL of the parks, and having the hoppers gives you the option of going all over the place. And if some of your party wants to split up and go to a different park during the day, you could still meet up at one park for dinner. Many more options for the money.


And while I won't deny your family a rest day, in my experience, Sunday tends to be a great day to visit Epcot. Might be different now with so many newer E-ticket rides (Test Track, Mission Space, Soarin'), but I find that most of the locals hit the Magic Kingdom on Sunday, and people staying at the resorts tend to be disbursed throughout all the parks, and there's a greater potential for local schools to have an "educational" field trip to Epcot during the week. At the very least make Saturday your Epcot day. Epcot just always seemed more empty on the weekends to me. Anyone else, feel free to school me if I'm wrong.

 

[Swat1]

If Nov 29th is Thanksgiving, you are planning to be in the parks on some very busy days. The years we have gone at Thanksgiving we have worked our schedule out to NOT be in the parks on Thurs, Fri, or Sat of that week. That said, you will just HAVE to go to Disney on Thursday, as that's the first day you're there. No one will be able to wait.

It's the week after Thanksgiving. We specifically planned it that way to avoid the Thanksgiving crowds. So, we should be ok.

Swat1*

 

[crazydaveh]

Here's what I'd suggest:
December 2nd, Sunday - Sea World

I'd wait on seeing Shamu for a weekday. You will get everything you need to get out of SeaWorld on a Monday. It's a great place, but that Sunday may be too crowded and you might not get to see it all. If you go on a Monday, you'll more likely do everything you want without a wait.

Last year, the crowd level on those two days was: (projections)
Sunday 26,000
Monday 11,000

Have fun. Yes, hang out at the resorts or play some mini golf. It's sometimes warm that time of year here in Orlando as well. You might be able to hang out at the pool.

 

[swimmom]

We didn't used to take too much advantage of our hopper option, but now we usually spend most of the day in one park and then go to another park that's open later.

You may want to consider Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on Sunday, December 2nd. You could still rest for most or the day and then head to the MK around 4:00 and stay until about 1:00 a.m. without using an admission. The snow on Main Street and all the shows are fun.

 

[Rob562]

On the park-hopping, you can always add the hopper option any time while you're there, so if you find you have had enough of a particular park, go to a new park and stop at Guest Relations and they can add it on. That way if you can manage without, you've saved the extra cash. The downside is it'll cost the amount for a six-day ticket, regardless how many days you've already used.

Actually, the Park Hopping feature is a set price ($45+tax, I think) no matter how many days are on your ticket. Same for the Water Parks & More option ($50+tax). The number of Water Park & More days you get for that price depends on the number of days on the ticket (ranging from 3-6 options), but it still costs the same.

The only ticket option that changes according to the ticket price is to add the No Expire option to a ticket. That ranges from $10-$155 depending on the # of days on the ticket.

-Rob

 

[Monty]

Actually, the Park Hopping feature is a set price ($45+tax, I think) no matter how many days are on your ticket. Same for the Water Parks & More option ($50+tax). The number of Water Park & More days you get for that price depends on the number of days on the ticket (ranging from 3-6 options), but it still costs the same.

The only ticket option that changes according to the ticket price is to add the No Expire option to a ticket. That ranges from $10-$155 depending on the # of days on the ticket.

-Rob

Well I'll be... Never noticed that it's the same rate regardless for hoppers and waterparks! Thanks!

I always looked at ticket prices based on the number of days I planned, so never paid attention... :brick:

I'll know from now on though

 

[hrmom26]

Actually, the Park Hopping feature is a set price ($45+tax, I think) no matter how many days are on your ticket. Same for the Water Parks & More option ($50+tax). The number of Water Park & More days you get for that price depends on the number of days on the ticket (ranging from 3-6 options), but it still costs the same.

The only ticket option that changes according to the ticket price is to add the No Expire option to a ticket. That ranges from $10-$155 depending on the # of days on the ticket.

-Rob

it may be true that the water park option and park hopper cost the same but a base ticket is much cheaper and for myself i am on a tight budget. the first time i went i got the park hopper option and never used it i was upset with myself i could have used that money elsewhere. but when going the second time i would have used it, so this is my thoughts if you are going for the first time or you haven't been in many years don't get the park hopper option you will want to explore each park fully but if you have been recently maybe think about it depending on your budget. you may use it. everything is a personal choice
as for the dinning plan go on-line and look at the menus for places you will eat.(www.allearsnet.com) add up a days worth of food and then compare it to the price of the plan. it is harder to decide on if the dinning plan will be good or not with a big group some of them may be on a tight budget and want to eat at counter service places and others may not so it is a toss up on if it will work.

 

[Ms. Tinkerbell]

For us we don't get the park hopper. We only get to WDW once a year, and we can easily spend the whole day at the same park and still not get enough/do enough/see everything. We are doing the dining plan though as I think it will be a great savings, and it'll be nice not having to worry about the budget for dining while we are there.
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[eroyee]

:wave: Get the park hopper. It will be worth it, trust me. we have gone to the park in the morning and it got so crowded by noon we went back to the room, hung out and went to another park later. Or, back to the same park. you may want to go to different parades or fireworks. As far as the dining plan, like someone said, check out the menus, add up what you would probably spend, and then see if you want it or not. Remember, you have to be certain places at certain times if you do the DDP. Plus, its hard to seat large groups sometimes. I highly recommend you get tickets for mickeys very merry christmas party. You should go to the resorts and check out all the christmas decorations and dont forget the Osborne lights at MGM. Have a magical family trip. that sounds so fun!!!:sohappy:

 

[Monty]

The OP is planning on using three days of their tickets before checking into a Disney resort. The Dining plan isn't really an option in that circumstance.

I'm fairly certain the tickets in a package that would include DDP can't be picked up until you check in for your package, so they'd have to get three-day tickets for the off-site portion of their stay and then another set of tickets for their package... A three-day hopper ticket is $252.41, a six-day is only $17.04 more... Do the math!

Adding $235.37 in ticket price just to add DDP for the WDW resort stay portion of their trip doesn't sound cost-effective any more.