Disney questions...

[Quo]

I'm planning a Disney World (Orlando) trip next spring. My family wants to stay on-site. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay, or for a good disney travel agent?

TIA!

[Woundup]

I am a self proclaimed Disney World expert Quo. I can probably help you with any questions you have, except for the travel agent because I always plan my own trips. I have been goiing to Disney World at least once a year for the last 10 years and my fiance has be going at least once a year for the last 20+ years.

As far as hotel goes it really depends on what you want to spend for a hotel and the cost really depends on what time of year you go. Disneys value resorts (POP Century, All-star)can be nice especially if you are on a budget.

Disneys moderate resorts in my opinion are not much better as far a amenities go but can be a little quiter in regards to room noise.

If you are really looking to break the bank their deluxe hotels are incredible. Great locations to the parks (Beach and Yacht club, Boardwalk hotel) puts you within a boat ride or even walking distance of Epcot and MGM studios. The Polynesian Grand Floridian and Contemporary all make use of the monorail to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Plus the hotel pools are much larger and usually more decorated compared to the above hotel categories.

Hope this helps. If you have anymore questions regarding the hotels or anything else please feel free to ask.

[Crankbait]

I am also a huge Disney Vacaction freak, although I focus on SoCal as I grew up down the freeway from the park. Even though, I would reccomend the following resources to you my friend as they focus on both locations:

http://www.miceage.com/

http://www.mousesavers.com/

http://www.mouseplanet.com/

http://www.laughingplace.com/

I love going to a Disney Theme Park!

[Quo]

sweet! thanks guys.

We're going next srping. Group of 14 (4 rooms), probably mid-range on the budget. The most frustrating thing so far is that Disney hasn't released their friggin rates for 2008 and won't until July...

I agree Woundup... the moderates don't seem to be offering all that much more for your money than the budget ones. The decision seems to be right now whether to go big and stay at a nice place or go as cheap as we can on the rooms and save the cash for the park. It'd be pretty sweet to stay on the Monorail line or at the Wilderness Lodge or something, but dang if it isn't pricey... What's your favorite place to stay down there? and when you say you plan your own trips do you mean you use the disney website? How do you make your reservations?

And Crank, thanks for the links man! Good to find some decent resources. Disney on the net can be so overwhelming...

[Woundup]

These are also some good sites.

http://www.disboards.com/
Mainly a everything Disney forum.

http://www.intercot.com/default.asp
Alot of useful info and they even have menus for most restaurants in Disney World. In case you want to plan everything right down to your meals.

[Woundup]

My personally preference is either the Beach club or the Polynesian if I am really not all that concerned with the money. I have also stayed on a budget at times and stayed at the Pop century resort far better in my opinion over All-star in the value category. I have stayed at Port Orleans which was pretty nice in the moderates, Carribean beach is not much better then the values, and I have also stayed at Coronado Springs ( for about 30 mins) The service was terrible and the rooms were just not very clean.

The deluxe hotels are great as I stated before the rooms are a bit larger, the locations of them are close to the parks (except Wilderness lodge and Animal Kingdom lodge) and the pools are larger then other hotels on property and usually much more decorative. But if you are like most families you are going for the time in the parks not the hotel. So I would ask yourself where will you be spending most of your time Parks or hotel? If it's the parks it's probably not worth the extra cost for a deluxe hotel, If it's the hotel then they can offer far more in regards to luxury and relaxation.

As far as me planning myself I do some stuff online and some stuff by phone. Booking rooms is usually better to do by phone because you can put in your preferences for location and anything else you may need. Tickets I have done both ways, neither really matters which way you do it.

If you are going to need a rental car I would look at Alamo first because they always seem to be far cheaper at Orlando International then any other company, and if you are a member at Costco or Bj's be sure to check out their rental car deals they can save you alot. Also the mousesavers.com site that Crank posted can give you great tips on how to save money in Disney world

Anything else let me know. I am not sure if I am answering your questions to full extent because I am trying to keep my posts as short as possible.

[Woundup]

Oh yeah, as far as hotel costs go for 2008. I believe that Disney usually raises prices about 10% each year. Not complete sure on that but I will try and findout for you.

Plus, my soon to be wife and I are planning on going sometime around March next year if we end up down there at the same time maybe we will see each other. We could wear some pregamelobby stuff. LOL

[Serren]

If you have any friends or family who work in the Military, they get a HUGE discount on tickets. My dad always gets mine for me, and last year we got 5 day park hopper passes for less then a hundred each for the adults. You cant beat that!

[Crankbait]

yeah that mousesavers link will break all those discounts down for you and their blackout dates.

[Quo]

wow, awesome! I'll look into that. My wife's Dad is retired military...