Visiting in July/August 2019 from the UK

S

scritchell

Active Member
Hello Everyone,

I am a single father who is looking at taking a 3 week trip to Walt Disney World from the UK, in the summer of 2019 (July/August) (my son will be 7 at the time of travel)
It will be the trip of a lifetime so i am writing to ask if anyone has any tips/money saving advice
I don't drive so will have to rely on public transport to travel in and around the area
In the 3 week stay we will look to stay within the Disney Resort, probably the Sports or Music Hotels, and would like to visit:

Sea World
Universal Studios
Kennedy Space Center
and of course Walt Disney World

Is 3 weeks too much or just right?
Could i do all the above within 2 weeks or should i stick with 3 weeks?

Does anyone else recommend anywhere else to visit whilst we are there?

Is it worthwhile buying the WDW food package?

I have heard about the Kids Eat free cards etc, do they qualify for any places within the WDW resort?
How far is travel between WDW and the places I've stated above, how could i get there, cost etc
Also how far is International drive, again how would i get there, cost etc

All your advice would be greatly appreciated

Also, as I will be new to WDW (we have only visited Disneyland Paris in 2017) any other advice/info would be superb.

thank you all so much

Scott x
 
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S

scritchell

Active Member
Original Poster
yensid67 said:
Hey Scott...It's great to hear you will be spending 3 weeks with your 7 yr old son! What a great Dad you must be! I waaant to chime in and give my advice/recommendations.
#1 HOTEL: In order to save some money since you will be here for 3 weeks, I would suggest staying OFF PROPERTY. It will be cheaper and depending on where you stay they usually have shuttles to ALL the major parks, definitely all the one's you are going to! I would suggest The Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista(clarionlbv.com) Pillow top mattresses, microwave, frig, coffee maker and safe in each room. Restaurant, convenience store, deli, bar/grille, 2 pools and a kids Splash Zone. Free Shuttles to the parks. The hotel is decent and will save you hundreds of dollars over 3 weeks! That's extra money to spoil your son! The hotel is 10 minutes from Disney Springs(its so close that you could walk to Disney if you wanted) I booked 8 days WITH Buffet Breakfast each morning for $528! Send me a message if you want to BOOK The Clarion and I will give you the sites I used to get that price! IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WOULD RENT A CAR...that would give you more freedom to go to the places that you want and the ability to do what you want, when you want and for how long you want! I would suggest while at Sea World to take the Penguins behind the scenes tour, I think your son would like that, you get to interact and touch a penguin! Universal advice: I would just get a ticket for Islands of Adventure since the studios side is basically thrill rides that he wouldn't be tall enough for! That will save you some money too!

Tickets: If you gave us how many days at each park you are planning, that will help us better to guide you to the best ticket prices! We got 3 Day WDW for $297.95(adult). Sea World $117.14 INLCUDES ALL DAY DINING!!!! Penguin tour $63.90. International Drive has a lot of different things to offer...I Drive 360 includes Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Aquarium and the Coca-Cola Eye(400 ft Observations Wheel)

I hope this helps, if you need any other info on the things I mentioned, start a conversation with me and I can help ya more...I try not to give out my websites I use in the public forum! I will help you in any way I can...I am not a travel agent I just like to help others go to Disney! I have PLANNED 5 trips for friends in the past and hope I can help you and your son get to Disney and save some money along the way! -Will
Click to expand...

Hi, Thank for for the info
Firstly, we was thinking of staying on site to take advantage of the 'EMH' as I am looking to book through the Disney website
I don't drive so a car is unfortunately a no.
I haven't yet worked out how many days we would be at each park etc, all I know is I want to do everything in the 3 weeks :-)

Anything you could advise more on, would be great

Thank you again

Regards

Scott
 
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dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
scritchell said:
So the Uber option, I wouldn't have to pay the driver direct? Would I still tip the driver with cash or would that be done via the app too?
Click to expand...

With Uber/Lyft you setup a payment method with your account, and pay directly through the app. You have the option to add a tip within the app, or you can obviously hand your driver cash if you prefer.

scritchell said:
As for the food package, I wasn't going to pay for it, as I have heard similar feedback regarding the credit system etc....Am I right in saying we get a breakfast and a lunch or dinner, but if its a points system, if we had some left over we could technically use them for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on the same day?
Click to expand...

With the DDP, you get a certain number of credits. If you choose to use them all on a single day by doing nothing but eating from sunup to sundown, that is your choice. You would just then need to pay out of pocket for the rest of your meals. If you get the table service dining plan, this really comes into play as some table service meals required 2 credits.

scritchell said:
Character Dining - Is this something that I would be charged, as I know at DLP it was very expensive
Click to expand...

It is a meal, just like any other. You need to pay for the meal, and they are all buffets. You can see the price range on the appropriate pages here -> http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining.htm The price will vary based upon the meal (dinner is most expensive) and some times of the year will cost more than others. No dining at WDW is cheap, I think even most counter service adult meals are now in the $12-15 range. All the current prices for food are listed on the menu pages I just linked to so you can get a better idea of what exactly it will cost you.
 
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S

scritchell

Active Member
Original Poster
dreamfinder said:
With Uber/Lyft you setup a payment method with your account, and pay directly through the app. You have the option to add a tip within the app, or you can obviously hand your driver cash if you prefer.



With the DDP, you get a certain number of credits. If you choose to use them all on a single day by doing nothing but eating from sunup to sundown, that is your choice. You would just then need to pay out of pocket for the rest of your meals. If you get the table service dining plan, this really comes into play as some table service meals required 2 credits.



It is a meal, just like any other. You need to pay for the meal, and they are all buffets. You can see the price range on the appropriate pages here -> http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining.htm The price will vary based upon the meal (dinner is most expensive) and some times of the year will cost more than others. No dining at WDW is cheap, I think even most counter service adult meals are now in the $12-15 range. All the current prices for food are listed on the menu pages I just linked to so you can get a better idea of what exactly it will cost you.
Click to expand...

Thanks
So the character dining cant be used with the DDP credits?
 
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dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
scritchell said:
Thanks
So the character dining cant be used with the DDP credits?
Click to expand...

It depends on the DDP you have. If you have a TS DDP, then yes, you can use the DDP credits. The link I provided tells you exactly how many credits any given TS location takes. If you do the CS DDP, then you cannot use those credits for character dining.
 
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S

scritchell

Active Member
Original Poster
dreamfinder said:
It depends on the DDP you have. If you have a TS DDP, then yes, you can use the DDP credits. The link I provided tells you exactly how many credits any given TS location takes. If you do the CS DDP, then you cannot use those credits for character dining.
Click to expand...
Ok, Thank you, It would only be a CS one as I'd only have the DDP if it was free
 
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yensid67

yensid67

Well-Known Member
scritchell said:
Hi, Thank for for the info
Firstly, we was thinking of staying on site to take advantage of the 'EMH' as I am looking to book through the Disney website
I don't drive so a car is unfortunately a no.
I haven't yet worked out how many days we would be at each park etc, all I know is I want to do everything in the 3 weeks :)

Anything you could advise more on, would be great

Thank you again

Regards

Scott
Click to expand...

MY OPINION:
EMH: You will be there for 3 weeks, do you think you will really NEED EMH? Is it worth paying the high price of a hotel on Property just to get 1 HOUR in the parks, when you will have 21 days!? I looked at tickets for your trip through Disney here is what I found(although it may be different from what you find):
8 days(2 days per park) and Water Parks(2 each) Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach is $1124.64 I am assuming you will not get anything more than 8 day ticket since you will be doing other parks and attractions!?
CAR: Since you don't drive, I would suggest in order of preference: Uber or Taxi. For Kennedy Space Center, I would ask someone on here to post the site where you would go to find a coach trip!
Since you want to stay on Property: I would suggest Art of Animation for your stay. It has excellently themed areas such as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Cars. (imaging your 7 yr old would be interested in Cars area.) I know a post said about Pirate Miniature Gold on International Drive, BUT Disney has Miniature Golf on property as well as 2 Water Parks.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS: If I were you I would plan something that you cannot do in the UK...like take an AIR BOAT RIDE? Like the one post said, The US is a vast place and hold some gorgeous landscape. IF you could swing it, I would see other parts of the US...The Grand Canyon is always a spectacular natural wonder to see in person, Washington DC(?) Or maybe go to Disneyland in California for a week. That way you have experienced each of the US Parks! That would be interesting for your son to see the difference in the parks, but a great way to show him THE ORIGINAL...don't forget to tell him about the light above the fire station. (if ya don't know ask) Then you can hope over to California Adventure for some Cars Land !

How many days do you think I would need to cover everything in WDW, Universal, Sea World etc as a rough guide?
I would do 2 days each at Disney total 8 days, depending on what parks you want. 1 day at Universal and 1 day at Sea World. Universal and Sea World both have water parks too, but since you won't have a car and Disney has 2 water parks, why add the extra expense!?

CHARACTER MEAL: I would only do IF your son or you are interested in seeing a certain character. We did this on our last trip at the Crystal Place for Winnie the Pooh and Friends. While it was nice to get some personal time with each character, I didn't get the chance to eat my monies worth of food.

Scott, you have come to the right place for all your information needs. YOU WILL GET A LOT OF INFO~DO NOT BECOME OVEWHELMED! Get a plan of what parks you want to see, how many days for each park, figure where you want to stay and plan for traveling expenses and you should have a great plan. Then, if you need any advice just ask. we are all friends here and will help another with suggestions or advice!
 
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yensid67

yensid67

Well-Known Member
Hey Scott I just did a search for Art or Animation and Value Sports hotels. Art of Animation is Family Suites $365/ night the only Standard Room they have is The Little Mermaid $97/night. Sports has Standard Room for $97, BUT they get booked up VERY QUICKLY! I would suggest at least get your hotel and tickets tacked down as soon as you can! then plane the rrest of the vacation!
 
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S

scritchell

Active Member
Original Poster
Hi,
Thanks for all the help and info
I’ve found a site that was $200 for me and my son with travel
I think the site was grey sky line or something similar
 
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yensid67

yensid67

Well-Known Member
Good for you! Here is more info on WHAT you need to do WHEN and COST(undercovertourist.com)...
7 Day WDW(822.91), Sea World with Dining(234.28), Universal 3 day(525.24) = $1582.43
Also here is a list of WHAT and WHEN's...
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Ready to Go!

I priced out your tickets and hotel(Movies) using this years prices all through Undercovertourist.com:
-Tickets(EXCLUDING Kennedy) Total $1582.43(7 day WDW, Sea World/All Day Dining), 3 day Universal)
-Hotel(All Star Movies) August 1-14 2018- 2086.46
-Grand Total- 3648.87
 
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yensid67

yensid67

Well-Known Member
I would assume...it is an established bus service in many larger cities! I just found Kennedy Space Center on TRIP ADVISOR
Kennedy Space Center Tour
Includes roundtrip transportation from the Orlando attractions area, admission tickets to Kennedy Space Center, Driver-guide assistance and complimentary welcome meet and greet by an Astronaut.
1 Adult x $97.99|1 Child x $92.99=$190.98 tax/fees included

That's the prices I found here in the US, you may have a different pricing! But using undercovertoursit.com(if you can get it) would be a one stop shopping for your tickets and hotel(Kennedy would have to be bought through TRIP ADVISOR)
 
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yensid67

yensid67

Well-Known Member
I just checked prices of another OFF PROPERTY hotel that will still get you to all the parks you want to go to...

TRIP ADVISOR: The Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista (close to Disney Springs-10 minute walk, 5 minute drive) 14 days- $1180.66(you can get breakfast added for $8.50 per person/per day)
MY WEBSITE THAT I USE: $1198.79 WITH BREAKFAST
So you can see what a difference it is staying off property. You could save around $1000.00! Just letting you know your options! The Clarion Lake Buena Vista(clarionlbv.com) is a decent hotel, I stay there everytime I go! Why pay a lot of money for a hotel room that you will not be in 95% of the day!? That's how I look at it. As long as it is a decent hotel, I won't stay in a dive no matter how cheap! Read an earlier post about the amenities on here! If ya have any questions ask! Sorry for the many posts, I am working to find the best prices I can so you have the info If you need any more info let me know!
 
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Gurt

Gurt

Well-Known Member
scritchell said:
Hi,

Thank you for the info...please do not apologise for the long post, it is all very helpful

So the Uber option, I wouldn't have to pay the driver direct? Would I still tip the driver with cash or would that be done via the app too?

As for the food package, I wasn't going to pay for it, as I have heard similar feedback regarding the credit system etc....Am I right in saying we get a breakfast and a lunch or dinner, but if its a points system, if we had some left over we could technically use them for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on the same day?

Character Dining - Is this something that I would be charged, as I know at DLP it was very expensive

I'd be interested in taking a look at your planning spread sheet if you would be willing to share?

Again, thank you so much for the info

Scott
Click to expand...

Hi Scott sorry for the delay, I think all your questions in this post have been answered but I am happy to attach my spreadsheet, as I said it looks like a military plan but it is just a place to have all the info I need for the day i.e. fastpass times, dining reservation numbers, park hours and also which ride direction we will navigate in, if a ride has a long wait we just skip it and move on to the next ride, I keep a copy in the hotel room but each day I take a picture of the days activities and have it as my phone screen saver so I can just quickly refer to it rather than having to dig a hard copy out of the bag every half hour.
DP Pg1.png
DP Pg2.png
 
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