Hello hoping I can pick your brains !

[RAS]

Any help appreciated even just bullet points. Totally last minute booked 12/12/21 - 23/12/21 . 2 adults & 2 kids 10&5. Am panicking as seems so much to try and plan in short time..Haven't got accom yet but looking at Fantasy World Resort for £1500 (2 bed town house). Seemed better value than staying on Disney in 1 room but am I missing a trick here, with priority etc. Visited previously when we didn't have kids & stayed in private villa (are the Champions Gate & Wyndham still rated highly?) and loved it but thinking now kids would like others to play with etc in clubs / pool.No park tickets booked yet and now seeing that you have to book a spot too, am I going to buy tickets I won't be able to use ! Cant see me doing hardcore multiple parks ( before kids did florida multiple parks Universal, Sea World, water parks etc ) with kids being young but would like to give them a good time so expect at least 4 or 5 park visits, is Disney only OK or should I factor in other parks too. No hire car yet but sent message to Andy recommended on forums to hopefully get us a good ( Know that nothing is going to be cheap !) Sorry for all questions but any help and logical steps laid out appreciated. Thank you

[Florida1972]

How exciting ! My number one tip would be not to overdo it with tickets. When we first went with our 2 children they were 5 years old and Disney tickets only would’ve been more than enough. Sorry, can’t really advise with the accommodation as we usually stay in a hotel on I-Drive or Hotel Plaza Blvd. Good luck with the planning 👍

[RAS]

Originally Posted by Florida1972

How exciting ! My number one tip would be not to overdo it with tickets. When we first went with our 2 children they were 5 years old and Disney tickets only would’ve been more than enough. Sorry, can’t really advise with the accommodation as we usually stay in a hotel on I-Drive or Hotel Plaza Blvd. Good luck with the planning 👍

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Thank you. Would love to do multiple Universal & Disney but realistically think could only do 4/5 days max at park out of 11 days we are there.

[YorkshireT]

As someone who has been maybe 25 times, and often stayed offsite, I think you would have the best experience, particularly with the young kids, onsite. It makes for a very different holiday.

[BevS97]

Although I haven’t been at Xmas, we have been in August which is very busy.

I’d stick to one set of parks. For us that would be Disney. But then we would visit more often. Frequent Shorter days in the parks are less stressful than a few long days.

We’d much rather go to a park for 3 hours and leave when everyone is tired. Then arrive early with the though. This is our only days at MK so we have to stay all day.

On-site vs off.
We like to be onsite as we love the feeling of being immersed in Disney. We like to get the buses and just love being there. The atmosphere with the Disney hotels is important to us. We do go offsite for shopping and eating.

However - on-site prices are currently crazy and you definitely get less space for your money. So I can certainly see why you might prefer a townhouse.


I’d have a think about a plan. If you are only going to do the parks for 4-5 days what will you do the other days ?

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by BevS97

Although I haven’t been at Xmas, we have been in August which is very busy.

I’d stick to one set of parks. For us that would be Disney. But then we would visit more often. Frequent Shorter days in the parks are less stressful than a few long days.

We’d much rather go to a park for 3 hours and leave when everyone is tired. Then arrive early with the though. This is our only days at MK so we have to stay all day.

On-site vs off.
We like to be onsite as we love the feeling of being immersed in Disney. We like to get the buses and just love being there. The atmosphere with the Disney hotels is important to us. We do go offsite for shopping and eating.

However - on-site prices are currently crazy and you definitely get less space for your money. So I can certainly see why you might prefer a townhouse.


I’d have a think about a plan. If you are only going to do the parks for 4-5 days what will you do the other days ?

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A DVC points rental for a 1 bed at OKW could be ideal. Would cost more of course, but money could be saved on a car etc.

[RAS]

Originally Posted by Florida1972

How exciting ! My number one tip would be not to overdo it with tickets. When we first went with our 2 children they were 5 years old and Disney tickets only would’ve been more than enough. Sorry, can’t really advise with the accommodation as we usually stay in a hotel on I-Drive or Hotel Plaza Blvd. Good luck with the planning 👍

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Thank you. Looking at cost of tickets ( think my heart stopped briefly !) and way that they are set up 7 days use over 2 weeks etc. Think I'd up my days in parks and 'drag' my kids round to get monies worth Maybe if I dose them up with enough candy they would be hyper enough

[RAS]

Originally Posted by BevS97

Although I haven’t been at Xmas, we have been in August which is very busy.

I’d stick to one set of parks. For us that would be Disney. But then we would visit more often. Frequent Shorter days in the parks are less stressful than a few long days.

We’d much rather go to a park for 3 hours and leave when everyone is tired. Then arrive early with the though. This is our only days at MK so we have to stay all day.

On-site vs off.
We like to be onsite as we love the feeling of being immersed in Disney. We like to get the buses and just love being there. The atmosphere with the Disney hotels is important to us. We do go offsite for shopping and eating.

However - on-site prices are currently crazy and you definitely get less space for your money. So I can certainly see why you might prefer a townhouse.


I’d have a think about a plan. If you are only going to do the parks for 4-5 days what will you do the other days ?

See more...

Thank you. Is there any Disney resorts which you recommended over others or is it just on what deals can be had.

[RAS]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

As someone who has been maybe 25 times, and often stayed offsite, I think you would have the best experience, particularly with the young kids, onsite. It makes for a very different holiday.

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25 times ! Think you know what your talking about then

[BevS97]

Originally Posted by RAS

Thank you. Is there any Disney resorts which you recommended over others or is it just on what deals can be had.

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They are all different, and I'd be loathe to recommend a specific one. The more you pay, the bigger the room and the closer to the parks (as a generalisation).
They are in 3 (4) price brackets

Value (All Stars / Pop Century / Art of Animation)

Moderates (Port Orleans / Caribbean Beach / Coronado Springs)

Deluxe / Deluxe Villas. Everything else.


The value rooms aren't very big, and I'm not a huge fan of the theming of the resorts, but they are very popular and I have no doubt you would have a great holiday.

If budget allows, I'd opt for a moderate, more greenery around the resort, a bigger room. Nicer pool areas.

The deluxes are fabulous, but the prices are silly. As YorkshireT mentioned, it is possible to rent points (from a timeshare owner) in order to stay in the deluxe villas (apartments) but I wouldn't recommend that for your first trip. There is enough to think about without making things more complicated.

First thing, Id suggest, look at some photos of the rooms and see how you feel about everyone sharing a room, and then look at your budget and see what you can afford.