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Post by Jodi on Jul 17, 2006 22:37:09 GMT -5
DH actually asked me to post this one! We are in the "thinking" stages of going to Walt Disney World - maybe Thanksgiving, maybe Xmas, Spring break, or summer LOL!! We actually went there for our honeymoon, and always swore we'd go back... but 17 years later ;D
So, keeping in mind that Ryan is 8 and pretty mobile, what do you all suggest? Have any of you stayed at the Dolphin or Swan hotels? What about other on-site hotels? We want to know the good, bad, and the ugly (put that one in for you, Bob).
Thanks!
Jodi
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Post by Jessie on Jul 18, 2006 6:26:32 GMT -5
The cheaper the hotel on WDW properties, the smaller the rooms. I can't remember the exact names, but the Sports/Music/?? themed ones are the cheapest, but small.
The Boardwalk is nice, but a little too uppity for me (that's saying ALOT because I am a hotel snob!). Port Orleans is very nice, very middle of the road, we've stayed there twice.
However, my favorite is The Wilderness Lodge. Beautiful, cozy, nice atmosphere, good size rooms, fun restaurant.
My friends have stayed at the Dolphin a couple of times and loved it.
There, that's my 2 cents on the hotels!
The last time I went, we did the 4 days on land, 3 days at sea package and that was very cool to do the cruise part of it as well. We went in November (right after hurricane season) and there were no lines to speak of at the parks. It did get pretty chilly at night, but it was a great time to go.
Jessie
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Post by mommygwen on Jul 18, 2006 12:04:57 GMT -5
We stayed at Dolphin. It seemed close enough to stuff. The rooms were OK size. Very plain. Next door Yacht Club and Nantucket hotels were nicer and had GREAT water play areas. The water play areas were supposed to be for these hotels only, but they said they are pretty flexible if it's not crowded. Dolphin and Swan have a pool and hot tubs. Since it was cold (Feb.) I took the kids into the hot tub at Dolphin(big hot tub but not a pool). The thing that cracked me up was the sign at the hot tub that says it's not for children..?..?..it's Disney World. I checked the water temp. with the staff. before taking the kids in.
The kids loved the boat ride to the attractions, and the Disney Town (it's free) because the the water fountains you can run through. Child care at Dolphin was great. Greg with Ds and Jonathan with cerebral Palsy didn't phase them or make them charge more ($10 per kid per hour. The regular price 5 years ago). We just took one hour for ourselves for a thingytail. :DHee Hee. OK. A glass of wine and a beer.
The thing that took me a bit to get used to was doing thing the Disney way. I raise these kids and have figured out wheelchairs and buses and transport etc.around town. But I had to yield to the Disney method. Once I did it was easier.
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Post by wrblack on Jul 18, 2006 13:26:30 GMT -5
But of course.
1st. Don't go!
2nd. If you can't follow 1st, then, take my wife, please.
3rd. Good guidebooks and web sites abound, useful for planning. But anything you really need to know, ask Lynn (email lynnlb at earthlink dot net)
Oh, and if you should indeed persist in this folly, then I hope Ryan, at least, has a great time!
Cheers,
Bob
ps My pockets aren't anywhere near deep enough for the Swan and Dolphin. We stayed at Port Orleans back when the part we stayed at was called Dixie Landing (what happened there, not politically correct?). Three years later we stayed at All Star Sports when we couldn't get into All Star Movies. And last month we stayed at Pop Century, Robert is already asking to go back. But check with Lynn about the benefits vs. costs of the various resorts.
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Post by momofrussell on Jul 18, 2006 14:13:20 GMT -5
LMAO... I was waiting for Bob to weigh in here!!! I am WAITING patiently for a decent tax return next year... we should do ok... because I am bound and determined to go to FL and WDW. I will not be staying AT WDW though... this is the place I want to stay here... www.enclavesuites.com/. I like this place because it has more then one nice pool and a kitchen (true suite) and if I stay here for a week I need this but at a good rate. Staying at WDW I think would break my budget bank  HAVE FUN!!! A. |
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Post by CC on Jul 18, 2006 14:47:33 GMT -5
We have been twice at Christmas/New Years time and if you are not one for crowds not a good time to go. Disney is always lots of people but certain times of years it is packed. Last time we went New Years Eve by noon the Magic Kingdom was actually closed off as it was full. Crowds for us weren't an issue but for some they are so just thought I would mention that. We have stayed at the Boardwalk the year they first opened and it was a lovely place, you could take a boat over to Epcot from there and all the other parks you needed to take the bus, unless you have your own car. One year we stayed at the Caribbean and we enjoyed that place also. Only way to get around from there too was the bus or again car if you have one. Last time we stayed at the Contemporary and we just loved it there. Monorail (sp?) runs right through so very easy access to the Magic Kingdom. There is also a very nice walking path right from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom its that close. Now most I guess wouldn't want to walk any more then they do at all the parks but our guy just loves walking so it worked out nice for us. Chef Mickey is right at the Contemporary which is a great place to have a meal with the Disney Characters. From our room there we open the curtain and the view was the Castle and fireworks every night along with a lite up water parade in the lake outside our hotel. One nice thing if you stay in one of the park hotels you can get extra hours at the parks less all the crowd ;D If you go to this link I think you can find a list of most the resorts in the area. disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortOverview?id=ResortOverviewPageI also found this site to be a GREAT help in planning our vacation disney.go.com/home/today/index.htmlWe are booked for our fourth trip there this Dec/Jan but may have to postpone not sure yet BUT again we will be staying at the Contemporary we enjoyed it that much ;D If you go have a BLAST, Chris would tell you it truly is Magical CC ~ |
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Post by meghans_mom on Jul 18, 2006 15:19:53 GMT -5
I liked the Port Orleans very much..and their restaurant was very good as i recall too....we wanted to stay at the Wilderness Lodge at the time but it was booked, so we just had lunch there..that's the place I would recommend, but it's more $$ than port orleans. it's pretty cool too.
have fun! laurie
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Post by MB on Jul 18, 2006 20:23:52 GMT -5
Port Orleans was fine. Rooms are clean, no amenities like really fluffy towels or robes. But, you are rarely at the hotel. We requested a room close to the bus stop because we knew our guy with Ds tires easily and we wanted him to use his energy in the park, not walkting to the bus.
The Port Orleans busses, at the time, were the very last in every line for every event so more walking.
I would go to guest relations just inside the magic kingdom and ask for a pass so that your child can stay as long as possible at the park. You will need to have the child with Ds with you and it would help if your ped. wrote a note on letterhead that the Ds makes it hard for your child to stand for long periods of time - which in our case was absolutely true.
At first they were not going to issue the pass. I looked at my husband and said, "Let's pack up and go home." We then simply walked away to discuss abandoning the vacation. The guest service rep came out of the office and started chasing us down apologizing. She issued the pass. We really were going to just leave and fly home. There was no way he would have lasted more than a few hours which meant going on one, maybe two rides.
The pass allows you to go to the front of the line for some rides/attractions and there is a roped off section for the mainstreet parade so you do not have to arrive hours early to get a good view.
The other thing I suggest is making a laminated tag. All of the UPS Mail It type stores carry them. They cost from $1 - $3 dollars. With a #10 point font, you can type up scads of info including emergency numbers, flights, hotels etc... You then cut the info to fit inside the tag and the store laminates itl. The laminating takes about 30 seconds. If your child becomes lost, it is very easy for you to be reunited.
Laminating the tag and then pinning it near the pocket has worked best for us. Laminating protects the tag from any accidents and it can be worn on a swimsuit.
Hope this helps.
mb
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Post by mommygwen on Jul 18, 2006 21:00:00 GMT -5
A friend whose daughter can't walk far loved the contemporary for the ease of getting on the monorail.
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Post by Jodi on Jul 18, 2006 21:24:15 GMT -5
We were looking into the Swan and Dolphin hotels because we have points built up and can probably stay there for free ;D ;D ;D. Did I ever mention that hubby is a stay-at-home dad... has been for the last 3+ years? Yet another reason this trip has been postponed!! I was looking into airfare - holy toledo!! I could save about $400 if I drive to Vegas and then fly from there. Hey, I'm cheap . Thanks for the responses! What about dining? I would love to do one of those character dining things, but here in California they are very pricey for a buffet style (bet they serve hot dogs LOL). Did I mention that I'm cheap? But I WANT the BEST!!! ;D Mommygwen - did you see the "thingytail" in your post - I'm still cracking up... now about those drinks... sounds nice! If you think of anything else... please please post! Thanks!! Jodi |
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Post by Jessie on Jul 19, 2006 10:26:17 GMT -5
Hmmm, don't know if there is any place cheap to eat on WDW properties. The restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge is very fun. Chef Mickey's is fun too and they do the character meals there. FYI - as soon as you know the dates you are going to be going, make sure to make your reservation for the character lunch or dinner, they fill up REALLY quickly. I think they start taking reservations like 6 months in advance - can't remember the exact amount of time - but for Cinderella's Castle, you have to book it that far in advance.
One place the I LOVE to eat at is in Downtown Disney on the boat . . . ummm, what the heck is the name of that place? Anyway, it's pricey, but they have awesome seafood there. Fulton's Crab House - that's it!
Remember, if you are not too hung up on staying at a Disney resort (although it sounds like you are going to get a good deal there), there is always Give Kids the World Resort that is right next to the Disney properties - you would just need to get a local organization to sponsor/recommend sending Ryan. You get free lodging, free car, free meals on site and free tickets to all area locations.
Jessie
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Post by SuziF on Jul 19, 2006 15:11:49 GMT -5
Swan & Dolphin are great for proximity to MGM & the back entrance to Epcot (right by the Beach & Yacht Club) Amenities are deffinately better at the Beach & Yacht as far as waterslides & stuff.
If you want to eat at the character meals book now. Minimum is a month in advance for those.Same for the holiday smorgasboard dinner if you're going in that season. We had a great time & less crowds the time we went Thanksgiving weekend. They're just putting up the holiday decorations & Santa Mickey is already out for photos + the holiday meal & the lights are on in the MGM Osborne display plus all the holiday ornaments & stuff were fully in stock & just out . (We snuck a model monorail train home for the kids that they wanted badly) Definately take documentation for the passes at guest relations.
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Post by mommygwen on Jul 19, 2006 16:40:07 GMT -5
We ate breakfast at the beach or yacht club. The characters were there, no reservations needed and tolerable price. And the kids let me sit and enjoy a carafe of coffee. We paid $6.00  for a hot dog at some point during our stay. It made quite an impression on me. And bring some bottles for water that you can fill at the sink in your room. Yes I saw thingytail when I previewed my entry. It makes me crack up too.  ;D |
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Post by PaigesMom on Jul 19, 2006 18:01:40 GMT -5
We actually just got back from WDW at the end of May - went the week before Memorial Day. We went to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom - it was the first time for both kids - Paige is six. Our time was fabulous. The Disney Cast Members were nothing but knowledgable and firendly. We requested a guest assistance card for Fast Pass entry and also vision accomodations during shows and never got a look or a glance from anyone, including other patrons. The kids loved everything - Paige screamed at Micky's Philharmagic show (it's 3D) until she realized nothing would really hit her!! Fireworks were awesome as well as the parade.
We stayed at Disney's Old Key West. It is a Disney Member Resort, but also accepts reservations from other non members if they are not full. The resort is huge, it's immaculate, the room was a one bedroom, had a pull out queen sleeper and kitchen (which we didn't use once but the refrigerator), in room laundry washer and dryer, and a huge bathroom.
We mostly ate at reasonably priced restaurants for all meals.
Debbie
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for a hot dog at some point during our stay. It made quite an impression on me. And bring some bottles for water that you can fill at the sink in your room.
;D