Anniversary trip to Disney..
Apr 23rd, 2001 | 05:19 PM
#1
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Anniversary trip to Disney..
My husband and I are going to celebrate our 5th anniversary in Oct. and I am planning a surprise getaway for us for 5 days.We love adventure, rides , sun and golf...Are there any inclusive resorts that are wonderful on the Disney properties?? Or can someone suggest a wonderful hotel on the property that isn't toooo expensive?Should I plan on renting a car for other places to go see... We like a little night life but are not into the bar scene. Thanks for any help....
Apr 24th, 2001 | 05:17 AM
#2
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Disney doesn't do inclusive hotels but you can purchase an all encompassing package plan. It would include room, meals, tickets to park and activities. The name of this plan changes from time to time but the last time I was researching I bleive it was called the Disney Magic Grand Plan. For better info check out the wdwinfo.com and wdwig.com websites. More info on Disney than should be legally allowed.
My personal favorite for a hotel on the property is the Beach Club. Yacht Club also shares the same facilities. It has a pool that is amazing, good service, nice restaurants and a convenient location to Epcot, MGM and the Boardwalk area. Rates vary depending upon the time of year. The cheapest we've gotten is $180 night but it can go as high as $300.
Other full service hotels are the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge and they just opened the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I've stayed at the Boardwalk Villas (timeshare - condo like places). The one bedrooms have a jacuzzi, full kitchen. Its a very nice place. The other side of the facility is the Boardwalk Inn. Also very pretty. I've also stayed at the Contemporary which I liked for convenience reasons with the kids but for a romantic getaway it would be lacking. Beach Club or Boardwalk would be better picks. Can't comment on Polynesian or Grand Floridian as have only toured but never stayed. Same for Wilderness Lodge.
As for nightlife - I haven't been to Pleasure Island but I have been to Citywalk at Universal. I particularly enjoyed Pat O'Brien's dualing piano thing. But Disney does the same at the Boardwalk.
Enjoy your trip and best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together.
Check out those websites - you'll get all the info you need and more.
The moderate hotels at Disney are glorified motels. Very lovely but still motelish in terms of service.
The decision to rent a car or not used to depend upon whether or not you planned to stay on property or venture out to other parts of Orlando. Disney provides complete transportation so a car was never really necessary. However, my sister just returned from there yesterday and commented on how long the waits were for buses due to the recent number of layoffs by WDW. They ended up using their car to get to places within Disney. I personally always use my car because I don't want to wait for the bus.
My husband was very impressed with the golf there. But prepare to pay.
My personal favorite for a hotel on the property is the Beach Club. Yacht Club also shares the same facilities. It has a pool that is amazing, good service, nice restaurants and a convenient location to Epcot, MGM and the Boardwalk area. Rates vary depending upon the time of year. The cheapest we've gotten is $180 night but it can go as high as $300.
Other full service hotels are the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge and they just opened the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I've stayed at the Boardwalk Villas (timeshare - condo like places). The one bedrooms have a jacuzzi, full kitchen. Its a very nice place. The other side of the facility is the Boardwalk Inn. Also very pretty. I've also stayed at the Contemporary which I liked for convenience reasons with the kids but for a romantic getaway it would be lacking. Beach Club or Boardwalk would be better picks. Can't comment on Polynesian or Grand Floridian as have only toured but never stayed. Same for Wilderness Lodge.
As for nightlife - I haven't been to Pleasure Island but I have been to Citywalk at Universal. I particularly enjoyed Pat O'Brien's dualing piano thing. But Disney does the same at the Boardwalk.
Enjoy your trip and best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together.
Check out those websites - you'll get all the info you need and more.
The moderate hotels at Disney are glorified motels. Very lovely but still motelish in terms of service.
The decision to rent a car or not used to depend upon whether or not you planned to stay on property or venture out to other parts of Orlando. Disney provides complete transportation so a car was never really necessary. However, my sister just returned from there yesterday and commented on how long the waits were for buses due to the recent number of layoffs by WDW. They ended up using their car to get to places within Disney. I personally always use my car because I don't want to wait for the bus.
My husband was very impressed with the golf there. But prepare to pay.
Apr 25th, 2001 | 07:19 PM
#3
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we've heard the Contemporary is noisy because the monorail pulls right up to it. We've stayed off-property at the Homewood Suites in Kissimmee which is one mile from disney and were extremely pleased. October is a great off-season time to come and still good weather. I would check websites and books and really do your homework because that time of year there are true bargains to be found.
Apr 26th, 2001 | 07:38 AM
#4
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Sherry-
What a wonderful surprise for your anniversary! It is a perfect time of year for the trip, too. Our children are now 13 and 15. We have averaged about 1 trip a year to Disney World, even before they were born. I no longer need the maps. ;-)
The posting above re: wdwig.com and the other hotels is absolutely accurate. Do check the web site out.
The first thing that I would do is obtain a Disney Club Card. Check out Disneyclub.com or the Disney Stores. It is about $40, I think, for two years. You can get 10% discounts on hotels at certain times, and October is probably one of those times. (It has been over the past 15 years) Also, you can obtain discounts on admissions to the Parks. Do the math to see if your savings will cover the cost of membership. I think that it will. I find the current DisneyClub web site less than adequate, however. Discounts are available, too, at certain stores at the Disney Marketplace. See wdwig.com for specifics.
If I were to plan a (romantic) Disney trip, I'd stay at the Polynesian Resort. From the moment you step onto the grounds, the sound of running water and the lush greenery transports you to the South Sees. Rereading this, no I'm not employed by Disney. If you do decide on the Polynesian, stay in one of the Long Houses close to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). While you may need to walk a little longer to the Main Ceremonial Hall (Lobby) and the Main Pool (there is a smaller, quiet pool in the area) you are better off walking to the TTC to catch the monorail to Epcot, (then walk out the “back door” of Epcot to Beach Club/Yacht Club and Boardwalk Resorts). Otherwise, you must take the monorail from the Lobby, past the Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, and the Contemporary Hotel to the TTC, and then change for the Epcot monorail.
Another hotel we've stayed at is Dixie Landings, which they've rolled into the Port Orleans resort. I think they call Dixie Riverside now. The rooms are nice. What I liked was that they have a cafeteria style food area for meals. That worked out great for us for breakfast. You can waste a lot amount of time waiting for table service. Not that the service is bad- things just take time. Then spend your time at the parks or water parks for the rest of the day. The bus service is OK. My husband is a type A and it drove him crazy, but if you’re not in a big rush they should be OK. I understand that Disney is trying to do something about spreading the busses around the property a little better. There is a water shuttle from Port Orleans/Riverside to the Disney Marketplace/Pleasure Island. Takes a little while, but is nice. We’ve had nice meals at Portobello Yacht Club (Northern Italian food) between the MarketPlace and Pleasure Island.
You probably will do better $$ wise booking hotel and admissions separately. If you stay on the property, and/or have the Disney Club card you can book restaurants 60 days in advance. IMHO, France is one of the nicest restaurants on the property, and is where we have celebrated our daughters birthdays (usually falls during our trip)(check wdwig for restaurant updates and other opinions).
I could go on, but… If you’d like, contact me directly and I’d be glad to answer specific questions.
Enjoy, and happy anniversary!/ cel
What a wonderful surprise for your anniversary! It is a perfect time of year for the trip, too. Our children are now 13 and 15. We have averaged about 1 trip a year to Disney World, even before they were born. I no longer need the maps. ;-)
The posting above re: wdwig.com and the other hotels is absolutely accurate. Do check the web site out.
The first thing that I would do is obtain a Disney Club Card. Check out Disneyclub.com or the Disney Stores. It is about $40, I think, for two years. You can get 10% discounts on hotels at certain times, and October is probably one of those times. (It has been over the past 15 years) Also, you can obtain discounts on admissions to the Parks. Do the math to see if your savings will cover the cost of membership. I think that it will. I find the current DisneyClub web site less than adequate, however. Discounts are available, too, at certain stores at the Disney Marketplace. See wdwig.com for specifics.
If I were to plan a (romantic) Disney trip, I'd stay at the Polynesian Resort. From the moment you step onto the grounds, the sound of running water and the lush greenery transports you to the South Sees. Rereading this, no I'm not employed by Disney. If you do decide on the Polynesian, stay in one of the Long Houses close to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). While you may need to walk a little longer to the Main Ceremonial Hall (Lobby) and the Main Pool (there is a smaller, quiet pool in the area) you are better off walking to the TTC to catch the monorail to Epcot, (then walk out the “back door” of Epcot to Beach Club/Yacht Club and Boardwalk Resorts). Otherwise, you must take the monorail from the Lobby, past the Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, and the Contemporary Hotel to the TTC, and then change for the Epcot monorail.
Another hotel we've stayed at is Dixie Landings, which they've rolled into the Port Orleans resort. I think they call Dixie Riverside now. The rooms are nice. What I liked was that they have a cafeteria style food area for meals. That worked out great for us for breakfast. You can waste a lot amount of time waiting for table service. Not that the service is bad- things just take time. Then spend your time at the parks or water parks for the rest of the day. The bus service is OK. My husband is a type A and it drove him crazy, but if you’re not in a big rush they should be OK. I understand that Disney is trying to do something about spreading the busses around the property a little better. There is a water shuttle from Port Orleans/Riverside to the Disney Marketplace/Pleasure Island. Takes a little while, but is nice. We’ve had nice meals at Portobello Yacht Club (Northern Italian food) between the MarketPlace and Pleasure Island.
You probably will do better $$ wise booking hotel and admissions separately. If you stay on the property, and/or have the Disney Club card you can book restaurants 60 days in advance. IMHO, France is one of the nicest restaurants on the property, and is where we have celebrated our daughters birthdays (usually falls during our trip)(check wdwig for restaurant updates and other opinions).
I could go on, but… If you’d like, contact me directly and I’d be glad to answer specific questions.
Enjoy, and happy anniversary!/ cel
May 3rd, 2001 | 01:17 PM
#5
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Posts: n/a
Fall should be great. We did our 25th anniversary there a couple of years ago and had a fine time via a package we got through USAir Vacations. We met quite a few visitors from England and Scotland and the conversations and fellowship added to our stay. Certainly take advantage of the Club card and by all means check out the packages. For us, the air, rental car, admissions, lodging etc was better via the package than if we booked separately. Have a great time.
