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I REALLY hate to admit this.... the wife has decreed it's time for the family to make the pilgrimage to Disneyworld.

Any suggestions for where to stay, how to endure, etc. etc. etc.? I'd rather not spend the entire college fund on this one, so any helpful ideas would be appreciated.

Fortunately, this should be a one-time deal. Next year, it's off to the Caribbean (hopefully!)

We stay at the Embassy Suites. They run shuttles back and forth to the park. It normally isn't that much more expensive than some of the other hotels, plus you get seperation from the Keets with the two rooms, free drinks from 4-7 and free full breakfast. Not a bad deal.

we stayed at
www.tropicalpalms.com
Nice little cottages, and fairly cheap. Close to everything. Only 5 min to Disney.

We had a 2 bedroom cottage w/ a loft for 2 sleeping. Family friendly

We stay on property at Port Orleans French Quarter. I like the convenience. Depending on your plans they are running a special now 7nights plus tix for family of 4 for 1500. Not a bad deal if you were wanting to stay on property.

i have who goes every year, sometimes twice a year, and rents a house in the area and then takes the shuttles in. says it is half the price of staying on site.

We stay on site.....makes things a lot easier.

Also helps to do the beer tour at the World Showcase every day.

Sidew13 wrote:we stayed at
www.tropicalpalms.com
Nice little cottages, and fairly cheap. Close to everything. Only 5 min to Disney.

We had a 2 bedroom cottage w/ a loft for 2 sleeping. Family friendly

It was so nice.

I've done both. It really depends on your preferences. Less money, more room off property. On property, convenient, nicely themed.

OceanCityGirl wrote:I've done both. It really depends on your preferences. Less money, more room off property. On property, convenient, nicely themed.

Either way Disney is still gonna get ALL of your money

We have stayed on premises and off....for convience, staying on property is sooo much easier with the Disney buses.

We usually stay at one of the budget properties....you aren't in your room that much and I think the rooms start at $74.

Just have FUN!

We went last Easter and rented a house. It is half the price, you have your own enclosed pool, you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for all of your meals and you can get away from the crowds. We have the same house booked for Easter 2006. It was about 10 minutes from Disney. If you want more info, PM me.

Find a place on site so you can shuttle back and forth. Deffintly check out EPCOT. This will give you a chance to drink around the world

Be ready for lines and just be patient. To make for the most succsesfull vacation. Successful, meaning your kids having a good time. You'll have to do alot of things that arent really geared towards you.

There are a few cool things worth checking out for yourself though. Rocknrollar coaster and Tower of Terror in MGM are cool. Space Mountain and Piarates of the Carribian in the Magic Kingdom are must do's. Then in EPCOT there is Test Track , Mission Space, and World Showcase. WS is where you drink around the world.

As for the rides your kids can not or dont want to go on, make sure to ask an attendant about "child swap". This is where one parent waits in an area while the other goes on the ride. Then afterwards you swap positions. This saves the time of waiting in line a second time.

Also ask about "fast pass". If there is more then 20k in the park that day and you have the money, it is really worth it.

If your kids are old enough to behave themselves in the hotel , the adults in the crowd can go enjoy the night at Pleasure Island. It is a bunch of clubs set up in one little area. You pay one price and that gets you in all the clubs.

Should you be thinking about coming out Universal's CityWalk, PM me. I am an entertainer for Universal and am always up for a few margaritas after work.

To save your collage fund I would offer you tickets to my park, but if your kids are under 10 Ill say Disney is the better bet. We are more geared for the adult and teenage crowd. Disney is more for making those speical child hood memories that will last a lifetime.

Call ahead and see what thier current regulations on coolers are. I know alot of parks no longer allow coolers ( security reasons ). But if you can take a small one, pack sandwichs and water. Your average lunch is going to be $6.00 per burger/ $2.50 for bottled water. If you can not take coolers still take the bottled water.

All you have to do is throw it in the freezer the night before and carry it your cargo pockets during the day. Just remember to let a little out of the bottle before you put it in the freezer

Prices at all parks have risen dramaticly. So if you are going to be staying a few days be sure to ask about multi day passes or even annual passes. I know at Universal it is actaully cheaper to buy an Annual Powerpass then it is to buy a two park-two day pass. Go figure. By the way, you can not do all of Disney in a day. Espiecialy with kids. If you are on limited time look at map and figure out what is most important. Trying to rush and fit it all in only makes for a very un magical day.

If you are planning on getting off property stop at a gas station or restuant and pick up a coupon magazine. There are discounts for all the touristy type places all up and down I-Drive. Of coarse if you stay on site Disney keep in mind they do everything possible to keep you on site.

Most importantly remember, its a vacation. I can not tell you how many tourist I see down here spending all thier time bickering at each other. A theme park vacation can be a hectic thing. Long lines, other cultures that can be a little more pushy then you are use to, a ride may shut down after waiting for a long time. Just take it as it comes and go with the flow. If family members are getting agitated at each other maybe a time out is called for. The boys go this way and the girls go that way and meet up at a certain time. Just do your best to relax and have fun.

Hi,

I worked at Disney world for 8 yers so let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to help.

Jerry

Hey all,

The response to my orginal post is really, really appreciated. Have to say it's pretty cool being able to throw something out there and have a bunch of nice people say helpful things.

Anyway, thanks again, and if somebody's got some more to say, just keep it coming!

If you're kids are young, it is VERY much worth the extra money to stay on the monorail line. As soon as they start to melt down (and they WILL melt down) you can be back at the hotel in 10 min from magic kindom and 20 min from Epcot.

My son is 12 and last year we left the monorail line and stayed at the Coronado springs. I enjoyed it a lot. Great pool (with poolside bar!)beautiful grounds, and in my opinion pretty good bus service to the parks. He was more interested in the water parks and this hotel is close to them.

My advice is to figure out what your family will be doing most (water parks, magic kindom, golf) and then pick a resort near there.

You can get a lot of feedback on your chosen hotel by checking it out on tripadvisor.com---the 2nd best website on the net after Buffettnews!

Depends on your kids ages. When ours were in the 7-10yo range we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter. We got a room right by the pool/hot tub. Then when the kids were asleep we would get a drink and sit in the hot tub and be able to see our front door. We would take turns peeking in on the kids. Bus service was good and we would go back to the room in the afternoon to take a swim in a nice pool and maybe grab a short nap. That's the perk to staying on property.

Check out Buena Vista Suites in LBV... right up the road from the rat, free transport and... I think... continental eats in the AM.

Plus, it's an affordable suite, so you can have a *little* privacy.

krusin1 wrote:I REALLY hate to admit this.... the wife has decreed it's time for the family to make the pilgrimage to Disneyworld.

Any suggestions for where to stay, how to endure, etc. etc. etc.? I'd rather not spend the entire college fund on this one, so any helpful ideas would be appreciated.

Fortunately, this should be a one-time deal. Next year, it's off to the Caribbean (hopefully!)

I'm willing to offer my services to listen to the traumatic ordeal upon your return.... kinda like a one person support group if necessary.

iuparrothead wrote:

krusin1 wrote:I REALLY hate to admit this.... the wife has decreed it's time for the family to make the pilgrimage to Disneyworld.

Any suggestions for where to stay, how to endure, etc. etc. etc.? I'd rather not spend the entire college fund on this one, so any helpful ideas would be appreciated.

Fortunately, this should be a one-time deal. Next year, it's off to the Caribbean (hopefully!)

I'm willing to offer my services to listen to the traumatic ordeal upon your return.... kinda like a one person support group if necessary.

That is VERY, VERY generous. Ya know, this thing will probably end up being kind of fun, and we'll get some good memories out of it.

Almost as important, I'll probably also end up with some National Lampoonish family stories - Just the thing to bring up in about ten years when darling daughter brings home her first real boyfriend.

Of course, can't help hoping one of the stories involves me in the family truckster while Christie Brinkley pulls alongside in a red Ferrari - even if she is a little more... mature... now than she was back then.

If anything cool/exciting/embarassing/disastrously funny really does happen on this little fieldtrip, I'll let ya know.