Hellobee Boards

@looch: Yes, we wont be staying on property so we will just do FastPass through our tickets. Or maybe buy the bands if DH wants so splurge.

@winniebee: We are going in April and staying at the Hilton resort thats across the street from Disney Springs (new name for Downtown Disney). They are a disney affiliated hotel so we will get the extra magic hours and can walk across the street to get disney shuttle.

@T.H.O.U.: haha I'm coming to you when we finally get the kids to Disney! Hopefully within the next 3 years.

@T.H.O.U.: realistically, for the full Disney world experience for 2 adults, and 2 kids, for say 3 1/2 park days. What do you think is a number I should aim to budget for? Not considering airfare which frankly is the biggest thing for us from NY. When we do Disney it will be a week long half Disney, half beach trip.

We stayed at animal kingdom a couple years ago and that was really neat to see the animals right outside your window. The pool is awesome too. But it is pretty far from all the parks except AK. We are staying at the Contemporary in a couple weeks because of the convenience factor - you can walk to MK! Which for us, is huge since we have a double stroller and two small kids. It doesn't really have a fun "theme" though. I know @sorrycharlie stayed at the Polynesian a month or two ago.

@regberadaisy: Four days, you would figure about $1,200 for tickets. You could add park hopper (change parks mid day) but I've never seen that as a "must have" to justify the cost. When we go we try to do it as cheap as possible since we try to budget to go every 2 years or so. Which is also why we dont stay on property. I think you can find normal hotel prices again unless you really just want the disney experience. In the park, we budget to eat breakfast before going into the park, one meal a sit down meal and one meal we bring in (PBJ sandwiches) and then we bring little snacks and budget to buy a novelty snack (ice cream or popcorn). I think I would budget around $150/day for that (kinda guessing here). Unless you did a larger character meal which are around $50/pp. I will even buy a few souvenirs ahead of the trip and hide them in the backpack to give to the kids instead of purchasing on property. The same glow stick wand from the Target Dollar section will save me $10 at the park!

Last time we went, we actually stayed in a condo at Cocoa Beach and drove over for day trips to Disney. It was kinda a lot though. But we were able to have a condo (with kitchen) on the beach.

@winniebee: I second the Disney Food Blog, but the wdwprepschool site is also helpful. She breaks down the pros and cons of every restaurant in each theme park. Here's the link to restaurants at Magic Kingdom: http://wdwprepschool.com/pros-and-cons-of-all-magic-kingdom-restaurants/

@T.H.O.U.: We do it like you do! Stay off property, buy stuff in advance, bring lunch in, etc.

I still think we get a lot out of the Disney experience this way.

@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.

@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!

@T.H.O.U.: Are the magic bands worth it? Is it something that really adds to the trip?

@winniebee: What days are you doing each park? I'd be happy to look for you? Group of 3 or Group of 4?

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.

@looch: Yes, I believe they can be reused. Its also part of the annual pass program so I'm assuming.

@Miss Ariel: Agree, we did the Character Buffet for lunch at Tusker House and it was great!

@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!

We got reservations at Be Our Guest for this trip. I haven't tried it yet, but I know people that love it.

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!

Other restaurants I like are Biergarten at Epcot, Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom and Yak and Yeti at Animal Kingdom.

@aprild: nothing that crazy happened to us! But since there are other options, that I haven't tried I'd rather not go back.

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!

@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.
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.