First timer - how is this for a budget?

[parkgirl]

I agree chose either Disney or Universal if you want to make your budget go further. Especially if only going for a week. I have been for 5 days before so 7 nights is fine - you just need to remember to give you time to enjoy it and not pack too much in.

[sammykitten]

I'd agree, a week at Universal onsite would be great - Cabana Bay or the newer onsite hotels there have good options for families too.

[LadyFromage]

Same as the others. A week with both parks just won’t cut it.

Factor in the jet lag. Your kids will be up at 4am and ready for bed at 5pm!

[DisneyFoodie]

Originally Posted by jasminej

Thanks for the replies. Husband can only get one week at Easter and doesn’t want to go for two weeks in summer.

Kids v into Harry Potter hence wanting to go to Universal.

People do go for just a week so it must be doable?

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Hello, we have gone for a week and it is doable for us because we go at a very quiet time with cheap flights (September) are a 20s-30s age childless couple that has been before and we race around at top speed, stay onsite at a Disney deluxe on monorail or Epcot resorts and when we do universal we do one day with express passes. That costs around £8k for 2 people for a week at the quietest time.

We have a baby due in August and planning to book a trip next March and it will be a very different trip! MUCH slower, no universal, 10 days, we know we won’t see everything. I am budgeting around £10-12k and hope to stay in yacht club and fly premium.

Hope this helps show how one week is doable but in specific circumstances!

[Lisa29]

Admittedly I can only look at this year, so at such short notice flights will be more expensive, but travelling Man - MCO, Saturday to Saturday (over Easter, coming back day after Good Friday) and flight costs, without seat selection, is £4665. The Friday only had indirect flights.

Unfortunately, over Easter, I don't think a budget of £5000 is doable I'm afraid. I also agree with the majority of posters that one week for your first time and trying to fit in so much is not doable.

[3disneykids]

I am going for 3 weeks and choose not to do both theme parks due to the price of tickets. I would choose 1 or the other I would pay Disney ticket prices for a longer holiday. Like others have said a longer stay would be better. I have a family of 5 and you are looking at £2000 for tickets alone to Disney.

[Minnie18]

Sorry but I have to agree with the above posts one week for the two parks would be a waste of money. If I were you I would wait till next year and go for 2/3 weeks.

[Beth_Disney]

We went for a week at Easter (2016) and then flew to Dallas for a week. 2 adults, 2nd trip to WDW - would I go for a week again? Probably not! Our next trip will be 3 weeks as we can take things at a much more leisurely pace for not much more money.

We flew indirect via JFK, stayed on site at All Star Sports, paid extra for the dining plan, had 1 night at Hard Rock Hotel to make use of the express passes, desert parties for a good view of the fireworks at MK and did rope drop until close at the 4 Disney Parks and 2 Universal Parks. We were absolutely shattered by the time we flew to Dallas. I think a week is doable but we did pay for little extras to make it easier, as did staying on site at both parks.

[Ben1993]

I've been for a week more often than 2 weeks, it's perfectly doable, but I have to agree it's either/or with Disney and Universal if just a week, especially at a super busy time like Easter.

Maybe stay on-site at Universal or I-drive and just a day at Magic Kingdom would suit you this time? The day at MK will be expensive but it will give you a taste for a future 2 week WDW trip if you enjoy it. A week at Uni would give you a lot of time to take it easy as well, use the pool, go shopping etc. I'd say you'd save a fortune on eating out on I-drive compared to Disney as well

Lots to consider 😎

[allymc316]

Last year was our first time doing Disney and universal with 2 children. I had been to Florida 2 times before but only did universal but never went to disney.

We went for 21 nights and as it was a once in a lifetime Disney trip naturally we are looking at going back in 2020 for 4 weeks this time!

In all honesty as first timers we completely underestimated the sheer size of Disney alone. I had done all my research, did my adr and fast passes and had what I thought was a good plan. A few days in magic kingdom and move onto the next one with hotel days in between. However we quickly realised we could easily spend close to a week in each park. We felt like we rushed and missed lots of things like the parades and some rides due to timings and that was just Disney.

If you only have one week, as a first timer I would not recommend on my opinion attempting to do Disney and Universal. If you have avid Harry Potter fans I would plan my trip around that and stay on I-Drive which would be cheaper than a universal hotel and only do Volcano Bay, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. That in itself will be a very busy week.

Keep the Disney stuff for your second trip, as there will always be a second and a third...

Yes as you say people go for a single week, but they have more than likely been numerous times and know exactly the few things they want to revisit, alternatively they also could first timers who may be making a mistake by underestimating. I learned that to truely appreciate Disney, you need time to just walk around and look at all the little details and not just be rushing from fast pass to fast pass.

Anyway whatever you decide have a great trip and remember to plan. ADR’s need booked 180 days out and fast pass is 60 days if your onsite and 30 days if your offsite if you decide on Disney.

We’re all here for help and support. The knowledge on here is invaluable and I myself spent most of the last two years on here learning a few tip and tricks!

Sorry for the long post!