Planing a Trip for the first time to WDW

vigliottec

vigliottec

Member
Iv been to WDW many times before, but my father was always the one to plan everything. While in high school and college we could only go when i wasn't in school so we always went the last week in August. Now i can afford to go and i know there are better times to go than August. So my questions are:

1. When do you think the best time to go is?
2. When is the cheapest time to go?
3. I've always stayed in the park, what are your feelings on outside of the park?

i like the idea of Star Wars week and it would be great if it lined up with the free meal plan. :)
 
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mousefreak

mousefreak

Well-Known Member
Welcome!
We have gone in September/October because it's typically cooler and the resort hotels are the cheapest. Good chance going in September you'll get Free Dining, too!
We've stayed off-site once and the was at the Hilton DTD. It's a nice hotel, but doesn't have that "magical pixie dust" feeling as being at a WDW resort.
 
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Mr Toad

Mr Toad

Well-Known Member
The best time to go is the most convenient time for YOU to go. For me it's June/July/August. It's hot but due to kids being out of school and my job, summer is best for me. We just deal with it. I haven't stayed off site sine the early 90s lol!
 
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ShookieJones

ShookieJones

We need time for things to happen.
If you're talking about going during Star Wars weekends that would be in May (and I think early June).
May is a great time to go that was our time to go before my daughter started going to high school, it's too close to her finals and she's not the best student in the world. Now we go in September, it's still early enough in the year as they're not dug in to deep.

Anyway what I was getting at before getting into my life story is ----Star Wars weekends line up with the month of May which is a great time to go.
 
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bethymouse

bethymouse

Well-Known Member
Stay on site!
Don't do summers- way too hot and crowded! I just couldn't enjoy it last time ( June 2013).
Make your dining reservations 180 days ahead of time!
Easter/Spring Break/ Thanksgiving/Christmas are all nice, but can be crowded. I think I could handle the crowds, just not the crowds/heat combined!:eek:
Go in January, February, September.;) Watch for refurbs/closures though during winter months.;)
Welcome and enjoy!:D
 
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randyrut

randyrut

Active Member
We have gone in February, August, and September. I would presonally recommend September, as the crowds are almost non-existant. The longest we would have to wait is 15 minutes for a ride anywhere. The heat is still bad, but not as bad as the summer. Feb was great too, but the crowds were way worse than we anticipated.

Advice if you can afford it....stay at a monorail resort as it cute down on all the travel time. Get the deluxe dining plan. Not so much for the food (although we love it), but just for the sanity break. You get 3 sit down meals and after an hour of AC and being waited on, you feel like you can go go go again. And make sure you do your dining reservations 180 days out to make sure you get what you want.

If you are on a budget, these probably wont work for you. Just stating what we do to make the best of our trips. Hope you have a great time!
 
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vigliottec

vigliottec

Member
Original Poster
Last time we went we got the deluxe dinning and it was great but by day 5 we were sick of food. we even paired up the dinning points to go to the signature places. I had some of the best food in my life and i ate way too much.

Last time i went we booked the aloha dinner which got canceled :(. so this time i figure id give it another shot.

I would love to stay in any of the monorail hotels but i just cant justify it, i come back to the hotel to sleep and that's it.
 
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boilerpicc

boilerpicc

Well-Known Member
My pick for time is September, but avoid the weekend before Labor Day. That weekend gets decently crowded. Starting on Labor Day though, it empties out. The lines are short! The only ride that we ever even bother to fast pass is Toy Story Mania, and that is only because waiting a half an hour seems long comparatively. The weather will be hot, but not July hot. It also doesn't rain as much as it does during the summer. The only downfall is that the parks are not open as long as they are during the summer.

For off-site versus on, I will always go on. We normally fly down and do Disney transport all the way. I love the fact that I don't have to rent a car at all. It just feels more magical to be completely immersed. For resorts, I would probably pick Port Orleans Riverside myself. That's where we always end up if we are doing a moderate. I like it because it has boat service to downtown disney, so there is a transport option other than the bus. There was also a good piano playing guy in the lobby lounge last time I was there. That was nice to come back to when the parks were closed by 9 or 10.
 
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sxeensweet

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
We love inbetween Thanksgiving and Christmas say early December. Cheapest prices for rooms, not crowded , not steaming hot, and the best of all seeing it durning the holiday time is just magical!!! Do not go Thanksgiving Week or Christmas Week!! Most expensive prices and wayyy to crowded! We like fall too Oct/Nov but prices are a little more than early Dec due to the Food and Wine Festival etc. :)
 
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vigliottec

vigliottec

Member
Original Poster
OK so i guess its a toss up between September, early December, and mid spring(May). personally i like the heat so i don't think id go in December.

now the next big question is what is the better value, 30% off a resort or free dinning?
 
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vigliottec

vigliottec

Member
Original Poster
OK,
Moderate resort is normally $200ish per night so discount would be $60 less per night.
The meal plan is about $59 per person per night so for 4 people that's $236 per night.

so the reason i ask the question is it seems to me the meal plan is a better savings but i see a lot of people say the hotel is a better deal, am i missing something?


** i'm an engineer i don't mind doing the math, its fun!
 
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Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
vigliottec said:
OK,
Moderate resort is normally 200ish per night so discount would be $60 less per night.
The meal plan is about $59 per person per night so for 4 people that's $236 per night.

so the reason i ask the question is it seems to me the meal plan is a better savings but i see a lot of people say the hotel is a better deal, am i missing something?
Click to expand...
With 4 people dining is the way to go!
 
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