Planning to go to WDW for the MNSSHP

Cogworthfangal85

Cogworthfangal85

New Member
I'm hoping to go to WDW for the Halloween party with my mom sometime in late September/early October, based on if I get down to goal weight (doable, but not sure how long it'll take). I've got a few questions.

First, even though I've got an aunt in Orlando, I'm debating if we should stay on property. Thoughts on this and favorite resorts?

Second, Dining plan-is it available for people staying off property? Some stuff I've heard indicates yes, some stuff says only if you're staying on property.

Third, should we use a travel agent that specializes in Disney trips? I know that some ADRs are hard to get, like Be Our Guest restaurant, and I really want to eat there for dinner. I've heard travel agents can get the hard to get ADRs for their clients. I don't mind not eating in the peak times for certain restaurants.

Forth, I want to do 7-10 days, my mom, not so much. She's thinking about 5 days or so. She goes there a bit with her job as a tour director with middle and high school students. I don't want to do Park Hopper, she does. What's the best medium between them? I was hoping to do a couple days in Epcot, one each in AK and HS, and a non Halloween Party day in MK, with the party day, us spending the pre-party hours either in Downtown Disney or getting ready or both.

I'm also hoping to time the trip so that the Epcot Food and Wine Party and the Halloween Party are going on at the same time.

Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you.
 
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LucyK

LucyK

Well-Known Member
1) Even if FP+ is already in full effect by that time frame, as an onsite guest you'll get to pick your FP+ 60 days before them, giving you an advantage over others. Plus you have free(!) transportation to all parks. I prefer to stay onsite because of the whole bubble concept, it's just easier and more magical IMO. My favorite resort is Port Orleans French Quarter, the smallest of moderate resorts. More often than not it's excluded from Free Dining and others discounted offers, so a discount is important, go to its sister resort Port Orleans Riverside. Both offer great bus service, pools with slides (all moderates do) and are closer to EPCOT. Oh, the ferry to DTD is pretty great too!

2) the Dining Plan, in all its forms, is only available to onsite guests as part of a package deal, meaning room reservations plus tickets. You can buy a ticket with less days than the amount of days you're staying but you need at least a three-day ticket to book a package.

3) Using a TA is a very personal opinion. Some people love it, others don't. What I can tell you is that anyone can book BoG, Cinderella's Royal Table or any other special event and TAs don't have special access to those reservations, if you plan your time right and be persistent, you can get an ADR for Bog with no trouble at all. The secret is to call right at your 180 day mark and be flexible with times, which you've already said you are.

4) I can't help with the last one much because I tend to agree that more is better in this particular case and I usually do 10 days (and I'll be doing 12 next time). I also didn't do Hoppers but with FP+ it's something I'm considering. How about a compromise with 7 days? That way you get 1 day at MK plus a party day, 2 EPCOT days, 1 1/2 day at AK and 1 day at DHS (I LOVE AK and I always recommend more than 1 day there, you can either go on your arrival day depending on the time you get there or choose another day to do the half day).

Food and Wine goes from September to November so a late September or October trip is your best chance to do both. October gives you a mild weather and less chance of rain but September will give you better (lower) crowds with bigger chances of rain.
 
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luv

luv

Well-Known Member
Cogworthfangal85 said:
First, even though I've got an aunt in Orlando, I'm debating if we should stay on property. Thoughts on this and favorite resorts?
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That's up to you. Find out how long it takes to get to the parks from the house and if you're willing to spend that much time traveling. If you plan to take mid-day breaks and it takes an hour each way, that can suck up a huge part of your day! If Auntie lives in Celebration or Hunter's Creek, it's a no-brainer...if she lives in St. Cloud, you might want to think twice.

Second, Dining plan-is it available for people staying off property? Some stuff I've heard indicates yes, some stuff says only if you're staying on property.
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You need to stay in their hotel if you want a dining plan. If you want a free dining plan, be prepared to pay extra for the room.

They sometimes run deals for AP people that let you add a dining plan to a room-only reservation with an AP rate, but obviously not a Free Dining plan (have to pay extra for the room if you want the food for free.) I don't know if your mom or aunt have an AP they could use for that or even how it works...a Disney-specific TA would, though. :)

Disney food is no better than food in any of the many chain restaurants around Disney. If you aren't staying in a Disney hotel and will be passing other restaurants, anyway, you'll save a lot of money eating elsewhere.
. Third, should we use a travel agent that specializes in Disney trips? I know that some ADRs are hard to get, like Be Our Guest restaurant, and I really want to eat there for dinner. I've heard travel agents can get the hard to get ADRs for their clients. I don't mind not eating in the peak times for certain restaurants.
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I don't know if they can get you hard-to-get dining reservations, but if you decide to stay in a Disney hotel, I would absolutely use a Disney-specific TA. You won't need one if you stay with your aunt, though. :)
I don't want to do Park Hopper, she does. What's the best medium between them?
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There really isn't much room to compromise there. You either hop or you don't hop, lol. The Park Hopper option is about $60 no matter how many days you use it. $60 if you hop for one day, $60 if you hop for ten. So, you could get that option, hop for a few days with mom and then not hop the other days...if you wanted. :)
 
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smk

smk

Well-Known Member
We have not gone with Hoppers for several years. I have been thinking our next trip, which could be in a few years, we will need hoppers. Going with adults only, not so much, contemplating taking our grandson?, I think we will need hoppers to make the best choice if one park gets too crowded, we can switch it up and leave.
 
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Cogworthfangal85

Cogworthfangal85

New Member
Original Poster
Depending on if I can get mom to agree, which I think I can do, definitely staying on property, getting Dining plan, ADRs. As for hotels, I'm debating between Port Orleans French Quarter and Wilderness Lodge. Given that I want to do a Character meal one morning at Chef Mickey's, I just need to figure which hotel is closer to that. Park Hopper-I don't think we'll need it if we spend 7 days there and we spend the morning of the party day at Downtown Disney. My costume is going to be Abby from NCIS...but instead of the usual black shirt I use, I'll do something Disney related. Like I said...I've figured it out with your help. Now, the three most important things are: getting to goal weight and a: convincing mom to stay on property and wearing a Halloween costume to the party.
 
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luv

luv

Well-Known Member
WL is closer to the Contemporary (where Chef Mickey's is) I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor. It's just the matter of a few minutes, really. But you wanted to know, so there you go. :)

I'm not going to get between you and dear old mom, but remember that some adults just don't want to dress up for Halloween. It isn't that they really want to and just need encouragement. They just don't feel like doing it. So, don't take it personally if she doesn't. But don't let it stop you from having your Halloween fun, either. :)
 
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