Princess' First Trip - Help!!

[Rutt]

Good afternoon all,
So we are beginning to plan our Princess' first trip to the world, and while we are still a ways out, we have some big decisions to make and some conundrums to solve. We want this to be super special for our girl but not alienate the boys either. We are also travelling with two other families. The children's ages break down this way

Us: DS (13), DS (9), DD (2, will turn 3 while we are there)
Family 2: DS (15), DD (11), DS (2) (all on their first visit)
Family 3: DD (4) (first visit)

As you can see, quite the age gaps.
Budget wise we'd be looking at Value/ Moderate, cant afford Deluxe. For the other two families, moderate may even be high but we're willing to help them out. We usually go during free dining and stay Value.

My preference is the Royal Guest rooms at POR, but wondering if that resort would be as much fun and as Disneyish for the guys. My wife likes ASMu but again, I worry about the boys.

Also wondering about different super princess things to do. CRT is out as wife is not a big fan.

I'm hoping the expertise of the boards will help make me the awesomest dad ever ( to all three, but mainly to her this time).

 

[1stWDW96']

Sounds like, keep in mind I don't have children but have traveled to WDW with multiple families. Any resort with pools and monorail access will do you good. You don't want to rely on buses with that large of a group. The monorails make it easier to not only move a large party but if smaller groups go out on their own it will be easier to track everyone. (IE, meet at (x) monorail station.) Everybody loves a pool. I see Poly as an excellent place for such a large group. With your princess you could quickly take a monorail to the Crystal Palace for a meet and greet breakfast. The value resorts like pop and art are also very nice for accommodating large groups with a vast age difference, it's just the buses with large parties conundrum.

 

[Rutt]

Sounds like, keep in mind I don't have children but have traveled to WDW with multiple families. Any resort with pools and monorail access will do you good. You don't want to rely on buses with that large of a group. The monorails make it easier to not only move a large party but if smaller groups go out on their own it will be easier to track everyone. (IE, meet at (x) monorail station.) Everybody loves a pool. I see Poly as an excellent place for such a large group. With your princess you could quickly take a monorail to the Crystal Palace for a meet and greet breakfast. The value resorts like pop and art are also very nice for accommodating large groups with a vast age difference, it's just the buses with large parties conundrum.

I would love to stay at one of the monorail resorts and we could afford it, however the other two families may not.

 

[1stWDW96']

I would love to stay at one of the monorail resorts and we could afford it, however the other two families may not.

Understood. Personally I would make it easy on everybody and stay at Pop-century. Its relatively inexpensive and if you have all of your family together that should make it more special than Disney itself ever could. Pop-century has plenty of pools. and you can walk to the Art of Animation. Just walking around the two resorts alone offers a very wide range of themes and stuff to look at. The restaurants are nice as well as the stores. And even though bus travel isn't as nice as monorail travel, the bus lines aren't too long and neither is the travel time. I would stay together and enjoy your family time together at WDW. I went one time with many of my aunts and uncles and cousins. It was great.

 

[Rutt]

Understood. Personally I would make it easy on everybody and stay at Pop-century. Its relatively inexpensive and if you have all of your family together that should make it more special than Disney itself ever could. Pop-century has plenty of pools. and you can walk to the Art of Animation. Just walking around the two resorts alone offers a very wide range of themes and stuff to look at. The restaurants are nice as well as the stores. And even though bus travel isn't as nice as monorail travel, the bus lines aren't too long and neither is the travel time. I would stay together and enjoy your family time together at WDW. I went one time with many of my aunts and uncles and cousins. It was great.

Pop Century sounds like a nice compromise. I was actually just discussing us staying at AoA in the Lion King suites.

 

[1stWDW96']

Pop Century sounds like a nice compromise. I was actually just discussing us staying at AoA in the Lion King suites.

The only difference between the two besides the themes, is that the AoA buildings appear to have interior access to the rooms where Pop has exterior access. The next time I go I really think I'm going to flip a coin to decide between the two.

 

[Figgy1]

I would love to stay at one of the monorail resorts and we could afford it, however the other two families may not.

Have you checked into the cost of renting points. Or with that large a group renting a house off site and then renting a van for getting around. You'd also be saving money by eating in every morning.

 

[RachelP6877]

Rent a car you can get anywhere in 10 min or less

 

[BraveLikeMerida]

Have you tried Akershus in Epcot? It is similar in feel to CRT, but a bit cheaper and it has different types of food (I am not sure what your wife's primary complaint about CRT is). On our last trip we did both, but I don't think I would do that again since the experiences are too similar. But it is really efficient to meet so many princesses in one place-- it saves a lot of time waiting in lines.

 

[TheOrangeBird01]

Just a reminder, the rooms in the values have double beds (not the suites in AoA though). You may be able to fit one of the younger children in a bed with you or your wife, but I think the room will be a little squishy with the the five of you. I recommend POR because the rooms have a pull down bed that would be perfect for your 9 year old or 2 year old to sleep on.

 

[Rutt]

Have you checked into the cost of renting points. Or with that large a group renting a house off site and then renting a van for getting around. You'd also be saving money by eating in every morning.

Im actually looking into points as we speak although getting one of the bigger suites is looking pretty costly. As its our first trip with DD, offsite is out

 

[Rutt]

Have you tried Akershus in Epcot? It is similar in feel to CRT, but a bit cheaper and it has different types of food (I am not sure what your wife's primary complaint about CRT is). On our last trip we did both, but I don't think I would do that again since the experiences are too similar. But it is really efficient to meet so many princesses in one place-- it saves a lot of time waiting in lines.

I think she just didn't feel the value was there. Especially for two credits.
Akershus looks nice, lots of princesses

Has anyone done the tea party at GF?
Recommend? Avoid?

 

[Figgy1]

Im actually looking into points as we speak although getting one of the bigger suites is looking pretty costly. As its our first trip with DD, offsite is out

I get that. I'm lucky, I have boys who tour commando style so we see almost none of where we sleep. The houses and condos we've rented have been quite lovely Just remember with that large a group renting vehicles still may be the way to best get around.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

I would say to stay at either AoA or ASMu so you can get a family suite. Both of these places offers regular rooms as well, so each family can decide what fits their needs and budget best.

One of our absolute favorite princess experiences was 1900 Park Fare for dinner. We met Cinderella, Prince Charming, the evil stepsisters and Lady Tremaine. I think this would be a good fit for your family based on the varying ages with the kids. The evil stepsisters were trying to get a proposal from one of our guy friends who happened to be with us. (Could be fun for your older boys!) Prince Charming kissed my daughters hand and asked my older DD to dance! You don't see at lot of princesses (we do Akershus for that), but this one was a lot of fun and we highly recommend it. PS - the food is buffet and was quite good.

 

[PinnySmart]

I would say that the price of renting points is usually only comparable when you are already planning on staying in a full priced upper end moderate or any deluxe accommodations. Even with the deluxe discount you may be better of renting from Disney. It really depends on the season. Renting points really doesn't compare price wise to value accommodations including the value suites.

 

[Rutt]

I get that. I'm lucky, I have boys who tour commando style so we see almost none of where we sleep. The houses and condos we've rented have been quite lovely Just remember with that large a group renting vehicles still may be the way to best get around.

When we've gone with the two boys, it's been pretty similar. Most of the time we were at the parks, and when we weren't as long as there was a pool they were happy. I think I'm more worried about this than anyone else is right now, but I want it to be just right

I would say to stay at either AoA or ASMu so you can get a family suite. Both of these places offers regular rooms as well, so each family can decide what fits their needs and budget best.

ASMu holds special meaning to my DW. We were staying there when we found out we were pregnant with our princess. Well, when we first got the idea we might be. She still has the rose petal I picked up for her in her Iphone case.

One of our absolute favorite princess experiences was 1900 Park Fare for dinner. We met Cinderella, Prince Charming, the evil stepsisters and Lady Tremaine. I think this would be a good fit for your family based on the varying ages with the kids. The evil stepsisters were trying to get a proposal from one of our guy friends who happened to be with us. (Could be fun for your older boys!) Prince Charming kissed my daughters hand and asked my older DD to dance! You don't see at lot of princesses (we do Akershus for that), but this one was a lot of fun and we highly recommend it. PS - the food is buffet and was quite good.

We did it for breakfast on our first trip. The boys absolutely loved the Mad Hatter and I got to meet Mary. Made my entire trip. Winnie the Pooh scaring the bejesus out of my wife was pretty awesome too. I'd love to try their dinner buffet.

I would say that the price of renting points is usually only comparable when you are already planning on staying in a full priced upper end moderate or any deluxe accommodations. Even with the deluxe discount you may be better of renting from Disney. It really depends on the season. Renting points really doesn't compare price wise to value accommodations including the value suites.

We rented points and stayed at the AKL last January. Loved it, but it honestly didn't feel as Disney as the All Stars did. That being said, we are entertaining the thought of getting the Grand Villa and just paying for it ourselves, while allowing the others to just pay for their dining plan and park tickets. I've also wanted to stay in the GV at Jambo. We'd have to shorten our trip (from 14 days to 8) to afford it, but it would be a dream come true for me. I think our DD would love the animals too.