Completely Off Topic...booking Disney for the fam. Any suggestions?

Need advice from experienced Disney go-ers. There's so much info out there, my head is spinning! Thinking about going middle of June or sometime over the summer (extra hot, I know), but it is the easiest time for my husband and I to co-ordinate our time off. 

 What is your opinion? On the resort or off?

Is driving worth it? Does it really save big $$$ ?

Should I book from the Disney website or go through a travel agent?

If I stay on resort, any suggestions as to where (reasonable $ please).

 

Help please....and thanks! 

I got married in Florida two years ago.  We drove down.  It was just the two of us. We actually stayed at a holiday inn and of course had our car and drove to Disney. I looked at he on site resorts but they were really expensive. Much cheaper to stay off site and get a rental car. Then you can drive wherever you want, when you want. The magic kingdom is awesome. I had never been and at 45 years old was like a little kid. Would love to go again. If you drive, it is a very long drive. We did it over a few days as we had two weeks. I wouldn't drive again. You'll have a blast whichever way you decide.

Thanks for the advice.  There is so much to think about!

We are actually going in September - off season - for the second time. We did a value resort last time and had free dining and it was amazing!

This time we are goin for a moderate and hoping for free dining as well. We have booked through Disney directly and already booked the character dining.

So excited!!! If you want any tips or have any questions send me a note - I love to talk Disney!!

Thanks Cindy. Because I am a teacher, we can only go during peek vacation times.  I think at this point we are thinking about a condo rental. Lots of great deals that way.  Congrats on your vacation!  Enjoy.

So exciting!

We stayed at the Bahama bay resort, not a far drive at all.  Full kitchen 2 bedrooms laundry in your room (not coin either) We bought groceries started every morning off with a great meal, had lots of snacks and food for the evenings when we got back, on the off days we swam in one of the many pools! We bought our tickets from Walmart just down the road from the resort they are cheapest there.

Magic Kingdom and Epcot were full days for us (we were at Magic Kingdom for New Years Eve so that was an 8am to 3am day!)

The other two can be done in less time which is nice too.

Have fun!! We love it there and will be going back for Christmas this year! tell Mickey we said hi!!!!

Ohh and do you have little girls, there is a great Barber shop and they do princess hair do's for alot cheaper than the boutique at magic kingdom and the kids feel like a million bucks!!

ohh I could post forever, I am so excited for you, lol

I have 2 girls with (5 and 7) with gorgeous, long, blonde hair (which they did not get from mommy-as I have thin, chin length, brown hair- go figure).  They would die for something like that!  Thanks for the tip.

Hi There,

we went a few years ago, stayed right at the resort, people that stay at the resort get to enter certain parks early or stay later, we also purchased the meal plan and I pre booked alot of the restaurants we did the dinner with the princesses, breakfast with Lilo and stitch, we also had breakfast with Pooh and the gang, my daughter had a blast. We flew out of Detroit and it was cheaper then driving, this was all booked (except for the meals) through a travel agent. We went in November and were told it was one of the best times to go off season I guess.

 

Sharon

I have been to Disney a few times and once with little kids....The last time we went we actually flew from Buffalo.  It was much cheaper....In addition we rented a car and also stayed off resort in a condo.

I guess it really depends on how much time you have and how much money you want to spend.  I find staying in a condo a little cheaper, because you can make your own meals.  That is if you're in to doing that.  And, we took our lunches and snacks as well. We would have a knapsack that "dad" got to carry all through the park.

There is so much to see in Disney and do you plan to see all of it.  We were there for a week with 4 kids ranging from 4 - 12 and we went to Disney almost every day except one day we had a pool day.

I hope you have fun!

 

Liz

Hey there,

As someone who works in the travel industry i will have to advocate for a travel agent to book....reason being you are covered with TICO...booking direct you are not.

There is NO additional costs involved booking with an agent and can usually book in CAD $$.  Character dining, and much more can still be booked with an agent.

There are a lot of flight and Disney packages that are affordable, though some people to prefer to drive....just keep in mind the length, but if you make a roadtrip out of it and stop along the way there are some amazing places to see.

If you looking for the full experience and want value, stay where most Canadians do on the VALUE resorts...the POP CENTURY is a really popular one with Canadians.

Also Canadian tour operators (through TA...will usually get park passes a lil' cheaper)

with you wanting summer you will want to get the Park Hopper with Waterpark Option....if you buy with EXPIRY....you will also get the tickets cheaper than without expiry.

Goodluck!