Disney Vacation Questions - Battle Creek,MI

Good Morning A.!

We go to Disney every year (are vacation club members), so we have been well over 20 times now. Here is my advice to you.

1) If you can swing it, the moderate is going to be SO much nicer. You will definitely see a difference in the quality of the room/experience of the trip. Disney does make it worth your while to pay a little more per room. The rooms will be bigger at a moderate resort and it will be a lot more laid back than a value.

2/3) Do NOT book a room only reservation. Buy it all as a package. The tickets aren't any cheaper how you buy them, so just have it included. It will make it easier because your tickets will be put on your room key. This way you only have to carry your room key through the park and not a pass and a room key. The Disney dining plan is well worth your money. For instance, we are headed to O'Hana for dinner when we go in 3 weeks. Dinner alone there will cost approximately $40 a person. That is what the meal plan costs for the whole day. However, instead of spending $40 and only getting dinner, you will get lunch and a snack included (which usually costs about $20 total). So think of it as getting $20 worth of free food every day of your stay. It adds up fast!!! Make sure you get the BASIC DINING PLAN. Anything else will be way too much food and not worth it. Plus, the more sit down meals you have, the less time you have to do the parks. With the dining plan, book your reservations for restaurants now and then you know where you will be eating what night and can plan the rest of your trip accordingly. If you don't make reservations now, you may not be able to get in to any sit down restaurants.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to PM me. I LOVE talking Disney with people and constantly am helping friends/neighbors with their trips. Have fun!

I have been to Disney more times than I cant count and just recent took my children for the first time. I cant remember if you have to bus everywhere from Caribbean or not but if you can boat or monirail it is worth the extra money in my opinion. Also, we priced every way possible to go this last time and it was a lot cheaper to get the tickets with a package. We had never done the dining plan before either and I would not go back with out it. We did the deluxe package and to be honest I would probably just do the package with snacks, counter service and sit down dinner. If you have any other questions or want more info message me.

I am in the midst of planning my first to Disneyworld (been to land many times). The best moderate resort I found was port orleans french quarter. It is the smallest resorts/hotel which I liked after everything all day being big. It is newly renovated and the only moderate with queen sized beds. The value resorts seem to 'loud' for me, as in the theme (not volume). I wanted my resort to be serene as disney can be after a long day.

We are doing tickets and a dining plan. Just cannot decide on which dining plan. We like the idea of the quick service, but if you factor in that package plus the two table services we do want to hit (character dining), then it is less expensive to do the regular dining plan.

Keep a look out for discounts, call the reservations line for a pin (discount)which are sometimes connected to your name.

Also, there are many message boards to the planning of Disney, I like disboards.com. You can ask these questions and get so many answers, or just search the boards for more inforamtion.

I just finished planning my first Disney Trip. I think everyone has covered the room stuff. If you want to do the dining plan, you will need to get the tickets through Disney. Only DVC members or Annual Passholders can do it without the package.

For dining, look at the menu prices and see what you would spend. For us, we went with it so it is all prepaid and we are set. Also, I made our reservations for either before the park or for an early dinner after our rest at the resort so we won't be leaving for anything. No matter what you decide it will be an amazing Disney trip since Disney is magical.

here's how we do Disney.
Stay at a value resort. you don't spend much time in your rooms, they have everything you need (multiple pools, food court, games, etc) The busses (although fuller) run WAY more often than at the other resorts as well, which makes it nice.
I get the Magic your way park hopper with water park option. it is expensive, but it is so nice to be able to do whatever you want, when you want. Orlando is in an area that can get alot of rain and be VERY hot. its nice to be able to start out at a park, then decide its too hot, lets go to the waterpark for a bit. Its also nice to not be tied to one park, for instance if you go to Hollywood studios, and the rain rolls in, its not a very rain friendly park. Epcot on the other hand, has most of its attractions inside, so you could leave the one and go the other.
I also get the food plan. its nice to pay it all in advance (other than tips) and be able to spoil yourself! The bigger dining plan is WAY TOO MUCH food! so if you decide to take advantage of this plan, I would go to the super nice restaurants that use 2 food options at least twice, or you'll end up wasting a meal or two...guaranteed! Keep in mind that you get an appetizer, entree and dessert at each dining session for each person 3 times a day! Its almost impossible to eat all that! so when you weigh out what you get against what you pay....its a steal!
If you get a dining plan....make your food reservations TODAY! you can always switch it out later, and they are very helpful, but you can almost plan our Disney route with where you want to eat and the reservations fill up fast.
We've done Disney several times...if you have other questions let me know! ____@____.com
Also....if you are a AAA member...book with them! They always seem to have a partner deal with Disney that will save you money