Trip Planning Ques. for 2003

[leaf44]

Disclaimer: If you are sick of telling people where they should stay, when they should go or answering other irritating trip planning questions, turn back now!!!!

*
*
*
*

Okay, I've been back from Disney for less than a month and already I am planning my next trip! I just wanted to ask a few questions that have come up as I started looking around.

1. I really loved staying at the Coronado Springs this time but I have realized we can stay for 4 days longer, at almost the same price, if we go to an All Star resort. I am really not a fan of these resorts, all the oversized stuff just doesn't appeal to me but if it means more Disney, I am all for it. My question, finally, is this, which of the All Stars do people like the best and why?

2. Next, I will have to go at value season in order to afford the trip, I was thinking of either Nov., Jan. or Feb. ( I will be a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding in Oct. so I am thinking Oct. and Sept. are out.) Which of these times is best for atmosphere, weather, crowds, attractions being open, ect.?

Now for a really random question, do the trees in Florida lose their leaves? Coming from New England, it would be nice to go somewhere with leaves while we have bare branches here. I know the palms and evergreens will still be green but I want leaves everywhere!

3. Also, if I went in Nov., does Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party always go until Nov. 1st.? Do you have to have a regular ticket to the MK or do you only need to buy the party ticket?


Thank you for any help you can give me!

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

From wht I know, Movies is the All Star Resort that people pick the most. Why? I can't answer that. I think that your best be will be January. (the last 2 weeks) As for the leaves, I haven't ever witnessed trees loosing leaves in FL. Mickey's NSSHP needs a separate "hard" ticket for admission to the party. The party does not always end on Nov. 1st. It usually ends the weekend after Halloween, unless it falls on the weekend.

 

[no2apprentice]

I've only stayed on WDW property once, at AKL, so this is not from personal experience. I seem to remember another thread on a similar question, and several people agreed that AS Music (I think) seemed to be a little lighter on kid traffic, and not quite as crowded. Maybe you'll get some confirmation on this as other people reply.

 

[meanmice]

Ok, here's my opinion.

All but twice I have gone to WDW in February and the weather is wonderful. I also went in April and May and it was a little hot, but not unbarable.
As far as the resorts go, I have stayed at the All Star Music and I absolutly loved it. I enjoyed the music that was pumped into the hotel area. When I went the All Star Movie had either just opened or was just about to open. My mom and I looked around and it didn't really thrill me. My mom and Dad stayed at the All Star Sports and had a good time, but after seeing all three, I would go with the Music, but I'm a big music person.
When it comes to the leaves in Florida, I have no clue, I am also from New England and don't remember from my past trips if there were leaves on the trees.
The attractions are usually open and the lines aren't very long. I have always had good luck. I must say that the last time that I was there we left the day before the Alladin ride opened. Just to give you some perspective on the last time that I was there.
Good luck on planning your trip. I am doing the same at the moment. I am taking my boyfriend to WDW for the first time and it is my first time without my parents. We are going in July/August so we have our fingers crossed. Question back to you, is it very hot at that time of year in WDW?

 

[sigsegv]

DW and I try to go around mid-to-late November. The weather is normally on the cooler-side-of-warm during the day and cool at night. We haven't experienced much rain then either. There's the Food and Wine Fest at Epcot and the Christmas decorations are up after Thanksgiving. (Make sure you go the week after or before Thranksgiving, not the week of Thanksgiving.) The crowds are fairly thin and quite managable. On the down side, the parks do close earlier and there are more rehabs during the Value Season. (Then again, there are lots of other things to do at WDW besides just the parks.)

DW and I (along with DBD (Dear Baby Daughter ) and DW's parents) are going down in January next year. I have been to WDW in January before (in '96), but I don't recall much beyond the weather being cool though nice.

-sig

 

[Ijones88]

:wave: In case you don't know about it, check out mousesavers.com for codes for cheaper hotel rates and when they're available. Sometimes you may get such a good deal on a moderate resort that it's worth it. We also have premium annual passes which has hotel discounts also and if you go at least 2 times in one year at least 3 days or so, it will save you a bunch on tix and hotel costs if you get a hotel discount.
As for the leaves....they pretty much all stay unless there is a bad freeze. I went to the Polynesian once after a bad freeze and everything(palm trees,etc) was brown....image the sight of that!!!

 

[leaf44]

Thanks everyone!

I know the whole tree question was weird but I have been looking at a lot of the pictures on the web, and noticing the dates they were taken. There seemed to be a lot of branches in the late fall, early winter months. I think I am just being picky though, I am a summer girl and I just tolerate the rest of the year, so if I travel somewhere in the winter, it better be warm and have leaves !

As for the resorts, I am thinking the All Star Music resort, as the giant Mighty Ducks mask at the All Star Movies resort is a little too sinister for me and I'm not much of a sports enthusiast.

I was hoping that MNSSHP would go until Nov. 1st next year, because then we could stay at the Best Western our first night (11/1) and not have to worry about not having a regular ticket to the parks. We could go to the party that night, then check in to the All Star on Nov. 2, so that our stay will be in value season.

It is sad that in calculating the cost of my 5 night stay at Coronado Springs this year and comparing it to an 8 night stay next year at the All Stars, the price is almost exactly the same. Sad but good! If I can go, its more time at Disney!

Meanmice: I am not sure about July/Aug but it was really, really hot at the beginning of Oct. when I was there, so I would imagine the summer months are a wee bit warm!

Ijones88: Thanks for the tip on MouseSavers, I'll have to check them out. I would love to convince my friend to stay at Coronado Springs again !

Thanks again everyone!

 

[jcmayid]

#1 - All Star Movies would be the one msot people pick. I think it is because it is the most Disney-ish of all the All-Stars. They have Woody and Buzz and stuff like that. The Music and Sports doesn't refer much to the Disney we all know.

#2 - Green leaves everywhere all year. Nothing here becomes bare at all. I went last February at the beginning of the month and it semmed that eveyr ride was a walk on. So this is what I would pick. OH YEAH, it was pretty chilly too.

#3 - You can check the dates for MNSSHP on Walt Disney's website.

Hope it helps.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

I think people pick the all star movies the most because it has the most disney magic. where else can you stay and look out your window to see a giant woody and buzz from toy story? Don't get me wrong, the other two are fine, its just that movies has more disney themed elements to it.
To anwser your second question, I've been to Disney in mid February twice and both times the crowds were low and the weather was wonderful (although not quite warm enough for swimming).
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[SamatBCV]

Just my opinions of course, but...

1. I only stayed at the AS Music once. It was lighter on kid traffic as was stated earlier, but I have to admit I really don't like the All Stars. I know a lot of people like them and price may mean you don't have a choice, but they just aren't the same. (You probably have already done this, but check on room rates at some of the other resorts, due to lower attendance I've seen the rates come down a lot on most of the Disney resorts lately.

2. I would pick November, although any of the three you mentioned should be good. I mention November cause it is my guess that it will be the warmest of the three. Having said that, I did go in February a few years ago and it was perfect (low to mid 70s) everyday, but the following week it got cold (for Florida anyway -- down in the 40s and 50s). We just got lucky.

3. Don't know.