https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 02:43:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2407201 Sat, 02 Jan 2016 12:29:09 +0000 808love 2407201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: you can buy one ahead of time through the online Disney store (if staying in a non-band hotel) and use the same one for multiple trips. Each time you stay at a Disney resort, you can opt to get a new free one with your stay. My husband used his ticket card last year. My daughter and I used bands. This year we are staying at a D resort so I requested everyone get a band from the hotel this year. </p> <p>-Once you make Disney hotel reservations, you can go to magic bands on My Disney Experience and pick out your colors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2407105 Sat, 02 Jan 2016 08:59:54 +0000 KatieBklyn 2407105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've stayed at Saratoga Springs, the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian, and they were all fantastic. If money is no issue, I'd stay at the GF or the Polynesian on the concierge level - the rooms are more expensive but they have snacks and drinks there all day so you can eat a free breakfast, take a few bottles of water along for the day, and if you come back for pool time in the afternoon, there's enough food for a light lunch. Then if your kids sack out early, you or your spouse can run to the lounge and bring back a glass of wine or some dessert. And being so close to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot is unbeatable!</p> <p>I also loved the kitchen part of Saratoga Springs - so much easier and cheaper to make breakfast and coffee yourself before heading out for the day. If your kids are bike riding age, you can rent bikes and ride to Disney Springs on protected (walking and biking) paths. It takes a longer time to get to the parks, but it may be worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2407094 Sat, 02 Jan 2016 08:44:03 +0000 looch 2407094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Ha, figures! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2407079 Sat, 02 Jan 2016 08:21:23 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2407079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I confirmed with a friend they are good for multiple trips but once activated only have like a two year life span. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2407072 Sat, 02 Jan 2016 07:53:52 +0000 looch 2407072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: Just to clarify, do you have to purchase one magic band per trip, or can you buy one and use it for multiple trips? I understand you need one per person.</p> <p>Oh, and get the photopass. It's great for some family photos, they have special areas where you'll get shots free of other people walking in them, which is awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2406937 Fri, 01 Jan 2016 21:50:09 +0000 Phillybaby2013 2406937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I didn't see when you were going. Don't stress too much. Get what you can now and then the last 2 weeks before stuff opens up. I had to adjust a bunch of ours for our group of 8 and got everything we wanted. Even hard to get ones like Be Our Guest and Chef Mickey's will pop up. Download the My Disney Experience app. It is really easy to search reservations and it will give you wait times, park hours, maps, and more for while you're there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2406907 Fri, 01 Jan 2016 21:08:54 +0000 erinpye 2406907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: when we went in July, it's a HUGE high season over the 4th, and we were able to always get dinner reservations the day before. One thing we couldn't get while we were there, that you do need to get in advance, are fast passes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2406873 Fri, 01 Jan 2016 20:05:43 +0000 winniebee 2406873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Phillybaby2013: Thanks! I'm a little worried about meals because we are going in 2 months (just decided to do this!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2406406 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:48:07 +0000 Phillybaby2013 2406406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I've never done a deluxe resort but we've done Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach (both mods) and we prefer Coronado of those 2. Our recent trip in October we did All Star Sports and I had nothing bad to say about it and would stay again. We had no issue with the busses, room was clean, nice pool, great theming for kids. Yea, staying on the monorail line would be nice but you can mange just fine without it. They recently added monitors at the bus stops that show the expected times of the next park bus. That was helpful. </p> <p>You don't pay for magic bands if you're staying on site (you CAN buy fancy ones with characters on them). They are your room key, park tickets, Photopass card and debit card all in one. Super convenient. Weird at first to wear bc I'm not used to wearing anything around my wrist but it didn't bother me. You can reuse them or get new ones next time around if you wanted a different color or something. </p> <p>Definitely book your dining close to 180 days out if you can. It can be stressful but worth it to not have to worry about getting good ressies later. Allears.net &amp; disboards.com have a ton of info and lots of good dining reviews and food pictures. </p> <p>I'm kind of a Disney fanatic and crazy trip planner person if you have any questions or need help. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/3#post-2406388 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:48:55 +0000 erinpye 2406388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We stayed in a condo at Saratoga Springs and it was fine. FIL and MIL stayed at the Grand Floridian and it was gorgeous. I'd want to stay there next time! Definitely stay on the property- the transportation makes it SO worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2406338 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 21:28:10 +0000 808love 2406338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: If you're staying off property, save $ by ordering on a Disney Store free shipping day. If you are on property, you get them free.<br /> I went back and forth on the cost last year since we stayed off site. I ended up getting one for LO and one for me but not for DH. I would recommend at least for LO because it's cute for them to put their bracelet on the MIckey when they enter the fast passes. If going 5 days or so, it's kind of worth it! :) I'm glad I did and am excited to be staying on property this year and we all can have them, with the extra hotel perks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2406301 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 20:32:39 +0000 regberadaisy 2406301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SleepyMonkey: I'm not in NYC so flights in general down South are pretty pricey! Especially x4!@T.H.O.U.: haha I will definitely pick your brain. DH has talked SO much about cocoa beach to me that I really want to visit. His Nieves live in Melbourne now with their mom. So in an ideal world we could day trip to visit them or have them come meet us and stay with us on the beach for a few days too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405830 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 12:10:17 +0000 Miss Ariel 2405830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: nothing that crazy happened to us! But since there are other options, that I haven't tried I'd rather not go back. </p> <p>Our trip actually isn't till next December so nothing is booked yet. But I'm hoping the new Disney princess, Monana, makes an appearance at the Polynesian then too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405804 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:51:31 +0000 cat620 2405804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Miss Ariel: I've heard the food isn't great at Chef Mickey's. I even read a complaint where someone said there were birds flying overhead and were pooping on everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405800 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:50:36 +0000 cat620 2405800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Miss Ariel: You and I have similar taste in restaurants! We did Tusker House twice in the past for breakfast, but we schedule it late like you do, so we also get to try the lunch buffet when they switch the food over. I love how the characters are in safari costumes. It's so cute!</p> <p>We got reservations at Be Our Guest for this trip. I haven't tried it yet, but I know people that love it. </p> <p>I also scheduled breakfast at Ohana for this trip, since we'll be staying at the Polynesian. I prefer character meals over waiting in line to see characters at the park. It's less stressful to have them come to you in a relaxed restaurant setting. I'm hoping my 2.5 year old isn't scared of them!</p> <p>Other restaurants I like are Biergarten at Epcot, Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom and Yak and Yeti at Animal Kingdom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405781 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:37:08 +0000 Miss Ariel 2405781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: last time we did chef Mickey and while the experience was good I was disappointed with the food. Tusker house seems like one where both the food and experience should be worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405778 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:34:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2405778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Miss Ariel: Agree, we did the Character Buffet for lunch at Tusker House and it was great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405777 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:33:44 +0000 Miss Ariel 2405777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: lunch at Tusker house at ak, which is a character meal with Mickey. It would try to book at 10:30 for breakfast prices, but use it as an early lunch.</p> <p>Breakfast or lunch at be our guest at mk.</p> <p>Dinner for either sushi or the French bistro in Epcot or maybe both. I'd have to look up the actually breakfast names.</p> <p>Breakfast at Ohana at Polynesian which is a character meal with LILO and stitch.</p> <p>For the rest I'd just do quick service since I think scheduling too much can get overwhelming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405711 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:54:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2405711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yes, I believe they can be reused. Its also part of the annual pass program so I'm assuming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405710 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:54:10 +0000 looch 2405710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Can they be reused? Like if we buy them once, can we use them on another trip in a year?</p> <p>We're dorks, my husband and I wear our passes on a lanyard pouch, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405706 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:51:18 +0000 winniebee 2405706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: you've already helped so much! all your suggestions are great. I probably just need to spend a day (while at work, haha) laying it all out : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405704 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:49:37 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2405704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: will let you know how it goes! I'm so excited! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405700 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:47:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2405700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: What days are you doing each park? I'd be happy to look for you? Group of 3 or Group of 4?</p> <p>Our favorite for WDW is Belle's castle. Mostly because its sit down at reasonable prices. You order and they bring the food to your table (open seating, you pick a table). Its hard to get reservations, so if you can grab a slot for that, I would start there and then cancel if you decide to do something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405699 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:46:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2405699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: We haven't used them yet. The cards from your tickets will still work as FastPass, you just have to dig out your card to swipe it rather than using your band. For an adult I can see the value in loading it up with money or if you're on a meal plan. But they are $13/band if you want to buy ($20 for the character bands). So for a family of 3/4 its a pretty high unnecessary cost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405688 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:43:09 +0000 looch 2405688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Are the magic bands worth it? Is it something that really adds to the trip? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405685 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:42:32 +0000 winniebee 2405685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Miss Ariel: what restaurants? I'm a little overwhelmed b/c we just moved into our new house and I won't have time to research as I want for a trip in 2 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405678 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:40:14 +0000 Miss Ariel 2405678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: every since we decided on a hotel with my inlaws on Christmas I've been obsessively reading easywdw. Even though our trip isn't till December I've already decided on the restaurants I want to book. Ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405677 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:40:13 +0000 cat620 2405677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Miss Ariel: We are driving down to Disney, so we'll have our car with us. We want to take the monorail to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and then drive ourselves to the other parks, since we don't have the patience to wait for the buses. Plus, it will be difficult to get a double stroller on and off the bus.</p> <p>I'm glad to hear you liked the resort! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405674 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:37:46 +0000 Miss Ariel 2405674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: I thought it was great! I grew up in California going to Disneyland, but this was my first time at Disney world. It was really convenient for the luau and it was neat seeing stitch in the lobby. But while it was nice being on the monorail, it seemed like the bus service, which you had to take some places was really slow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recommend-the-best-disney-world-resort/page/2#post-2405668 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:34:33 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2405668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: flights from NY are actually really cheap right now because oil prices are so low!. Less than $200 per person for a direct which I believe is less than park tickets for 3 days. </p>