Disney World for First Timers

We are thinking of going to Disney with our 6 and 9 year olds. What is the opinion of those of you who have stayed on the property vs off site. Is it worth the money to stay on the property. Which of the extras did you see that you could have skipped, universal, magic kingdom etc.. thanks

Disney World for First Timers

I love onsite, but it depends on how many people I have going. If I%26#39;m going to need more than two rooms or a suite, I%26#39;ll choose a rental house or condo offsite. Worth it? It is to me IF: I%26#39;m flying (Magical Express); I%26#39;m doing Disney only (free transportation within the World); and I need no more than two rooms. Extra Magic Hours allows you to enjoy the parks when ONLY Disney resort guests are there; smaller crowds.

Disney World for First Timers

I believe strongly in vacation rentals as a great alternative to hotels. In fact, I sell them for a living. That being said, I think everyone should stay on Disney property at least once...

...with a 6 and 9 year old, and as first timers, I wouldn%26#39;t skip Magic Kingdom.

We did offsite our first few visits, once we stayed onsite we will not visit disney parks without being onsite. Can%26#39;t comment on Universal, we have way too much fun still in disney to venture out to Universal.

It is so much easier and the kids like not having to drive in the car to get somewhere.

Being your kids ages they probably would even like a value resort. When they get older they might not like the characters as much. The only bad part about a value is no pool slide. If you are visiting a waterpark anyway you don%26#39;t need a pool slide. Nothing compares to them.

Don%26#39;t forget about Fort Wilderness. It%26#39;s great and onsite. We always stayed there when our 4 kids were younger. They loved being able to run around the campground. You can take the boat right to Magic Kingdom.

Now that they%26#39;re older their favorite is Yacht and Beach Club properties. Since they no longer need their parents to watch them they love the convenience of being able to walk to Epcot and take a boat to Hollywood Studios.

This trip we%26#39;re staying at Hilton Grand Vacation Club because we don%26#39;t have any young kids (the newborn won%26#39;t care where we stay!), But when the grandbaby gets older it%26#39;s back to the Disney resorts onsite. It%26#39;s so great to be able to come and go as you please when you have children.

My family didn%26#39;t go to Universal until they were in their teens. We couldn%26#39;t pull them away from Disney.

They call it Magic Kingdom because it truly is magical!

... Hip waders on... HERE COMES JOKELADY!

I suggest if this is your first time there... do the Disney hotels. I personally like the Value resorts like Pop Century as it is $82.00 a night and it is so darn cute with lots of eye candy for the kids. Not to mention all the neat shaped pools, on site Disney store, arcade, cafeteria with Mickey mouse shaped waffles, playground etc. I cannot justify paying several hundred dollars a night for a place to sleep. We averaged about 6 hours a night at the hotel. Oh I almost forgot the Disney Express and the free busing from the Disney resorts to the parks and downtown Disney, great savings!

Now that we have been to Disney a gazillion times, we stay at VRBO%26#39;s. We find they are great value and we get the use of a whole resort plus our own private pool for the same price of a Disney value resort hotel. We love Windsor Hills as it is closest to Disney gates and it is very new. They have great amenities!

You will find lots of advice here for your trip. Lots of very smart Disney folk on here!

Jokelady

Hi there

after reading your reply to this lady i thought i might ask you for any tips for our trip in feb 2010, travelling to the usa for the first time with my partner ( we are both mid 40) and my daughter 21 and son 15, we will be going to LA also but not the disney parks, we will go to san diego and to mexico and to vegas and san francisco, not in that order though.

I had made my mind up that we would stay in LA and do all the disney and universal parks there but everyone keeps telling us that the florida parks are better.

Could you please suggest one of the accomodation types that you mentioned that may have 2 bedrooms and we had planned on staying there for 7 nights, do you think that will be enough to go to all the parks including universal and to the kennedy space centre and a tour of the everglades one day?

also i really want to go to seaworld, should i go there or in san diego?

Any of your advice would be greatly appreciated

regards

deanne davies

melbourne australia

I love the feeling when you step into a disney hotel. But for me i dont think you can beat your own private villa on a gated community. With your own pool and large bedrooms. It gives you lots of space and privacy which i love.I love villas.

Ditto :)

First Time + kids = Stay on Site, it%26#39;s worth it IMO

There is a very nice offer right now, Buy 4 Get 3 Free, that could make it more affordable and enjoyable ( I always like saving $ )

www.wdwinfo.com/disneypackages.htm

Hello DEEJOHN

I am a little torn for you here. I think your idea to come and visit the western part of USA is a good idea too. Although I am a little partial to Florida (LOVE IT!) I also LOVE San Francisco.

I guess it all depends what you hope to accomplish. In the West yo get a lot of adult entertainment with such destinations as LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, San Fran. If you are dragging small children, you would want to do the theme parks. If you go as adults, you can take in a lot of scenery such as the beaches, Hollywood walk of stars, Rodeo drive, Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz, casinos, Hoover Dam, to name just a few.

If you are coming with Walt Disney in mind, then Florida is the way to go by far. I like Disneyland don%26#39;t get me wrong but I truly LOVE Disneyworld.

There is a lot more to do in Florida besides Disney as well. Cocoa Beach, Clearwater, dolphin cruises, fishing, Kennedy Space centre, gator tours, all the theme parks and water parks to name just a few.

Both ends of USA offer you some exceptional things to do. However, you must also take the weather into account when you come. Depending on the time of year, one coast might be better then the other.

If you are going to LA you won%26#39;t find as many VRBO%26#39;s that are cheap. Hotels seem to be the better way to go. If you go to Florida, Disney resorts and VRBO%26#39;s are everywhere and prices are competitive and amenities wonderful. vrbo.com is a great site to view private homes, townhomes, condo%26#39;s for rent in gated communities with every bell and whistle imagineable. We are partial to Windsor Hills as it is a very nice resort. You could spend your whole vacation there and never set foot in a theme park.

No matter what you chose, there are forums on tripadvisor to have your questions answered.

Good luck and enjoy your stay in USA. Come back reaaaaaaaaal soon!

Jokelady