Disney Trip Feb 2011-Any suggestions
 

Hi there!
I'm planning a trip to WDW/Harry Potter World in Feb 2011, with me, and my friend (both 20y/o females) and was just wondering if you guys had any suggestions, tips or tricks or knowledge of discounts. Here's the current plan:

-5 days, 4 nights (day 1 arrival, day 2: hp during the day, epcot/dhs evening day 3: magic kingdom. day 4: animal kingdom. day 5: departure)
-We're looking to do a character breakfast at the Crystal Palace, would you advice doing it on the morning of the magic kingdom, or previous to visiting the animal kingdom.

-Staying at one of the value resorts
-Using the "Quick-Service" Meal plan
-4 days admission to the Disney parks w/park hopper plan

-It works out to around $1500.00 each for the whole trip, with shopping money worked in, and flights from expedia. The value resort, park tix, and meal plans booked through disney.

Any suggestions or recommendations? How much shopping money (for souviners) would you recommend?

Thanks!
Katt

Also, for that schedule, should we stick with 5 days, or should we up it to 4?

-On arrival and departure days, should we plan to go to the parks at all? Or should we only get a 3 day pass into the parks? and stick to Downtown Disney/Disney Boardwalk those days

You're all in your 20's? I'd consider a day at Islands of Adventure...it's well worth it!

Here are a couple of websites that you should frequent while planning your trip to WDW - disboards.com and mousesavers.com It is too early to know if there will be any discounts available for your trip, but if you keep up with these websites, you will find out quickly. You should go to disneyworld.com and register. You may also want to request a free trip planning DVD. By registering on the Disney website, you may receive a pin code (via e-mail or snail mail) which will offer possible discounts for your trip.

I would recommend going to the Crystal Palace the morning of your visit to the Magic Kingdom. You can actually make a dining reservation as early as 8:05 a.m., enter the Magic Kingdom early and walk down Main Street virtually alone. You will be finished with breakfast just as the park is opening and you are already inside. FYI -- You will have to pay out of pocket for breakfast at the Crystal Palace, as it is not covered by the Quick Dining Service plan. CP is a Table Service restaurant

I don't think you need an entire day for the Animal Kingdom. You could do another park that day - Disney Studios would work.

If you have four day hoppers, you could definitely go into a park on the day of arrival.

I'll try to help..

....>>>Also, for that schedule, should we stick with 5 days, or should we up it to 4?<<<<<

What does that mean?


1. obviously whether you go to parks on arrival/departure days depends on exactly WHEN you arrive or leave but generally if we arrive before noon we 'might' go to a park and on departure day we usually go to a park if we're leaving in the evening (after 5pm).

2. Definitely book you Crystal Palace Breakfast for the day you're in the Magic Kingdom (don't travel to a park just for a meal especially for a short stay). I'd recommend late morning 10.45-11am if possible so that you can enjoy the park in the morning when it's quieter, shorter lines. We usually have an early lunch at Crystal Palace @11.30am and this works perfectly for us (none of us are hungry at breakfast/early).

3. do you really want a meal plan? Would you eat a lot of fast food? My impression of the 20 year old females that I know is that they eat like birds and wouldn't warrant paying for a meal plan.. especially if you're adding in a character breakfast.

4. you sound like you want to save money so if you want to spend time on the boardwalk/ downtown disney or at you hotel pool it makes sense to do these things on arrival departure days and save money on park tickets.

5. We've stayed on site mainly when our kids were small but now that we know our way around we tend to stay off site (off disney property) as it's cheaper. the Lake Buena Vista area is very close to Downtown Disney and you can use the Disney shuttles (from DD) or hotel shuttles.
We save $100 a night this way but we usually get a car now to be more flexible.

6. if you're going in Feb avoid Presidents week as it's the busiest week in Feb.

Harry Potter is NOT at Disney World...it is at Universal's Islands of Adventure. As gingersmom stated, I think you might be happier spending your vacation there.
If you stay at one of the three on site resorts at Universal you get express entry to the attractions by showing your room key.

Awesome!
Lots of information...but to clarify some things, I do know that HP world is located in Universal, we've looked at the rest of the Universal Park, and decided that we'd rather spend time at Disney.

-Sassycat:
Also the : "I'll try to help..

....>>>Also, for that schedule, should we stick with 5 days, or should we up it to 4?<<<<<

What does that mean?"

that was supposed to say should we up the trip to 6 days, 5 days of park tix, to have more time to explore the parks & all.

Also: I'm not really sure what this means "3. do you really want a meal plan? Would you eat a lot of fast food? My impression of the 20 year old females that I know is that they eat like birds and wouldn't warrant paying for a meal plan.. especially if you're adding in a character breakfast."

-I've read a lot about Disney having healthier foods/meals, and that if we were to eat in the parks every day (which we would end up doing anyway) it's cheaper to use a meal plan.

Thanks for everything!

If you plan on going to Universal one of your days, I would say to up your stay to six days.

I still think the meal plan is expensive if you're opting to add on a character breakfast. The meal plan seems to say it MAY save you up to 20 %....
If you intend to eat 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks per day. Lots of people comment that they don't use their snacks ... there goes your 20% savings.

If you're paying for a character meal ON TOP of the meal plan you won't save anything but you'll be very full!

Bottom line..Even if you're eating in the parks every day I think it's generally cheaper to pay as you go.

I am also planning on bringing ziploc containers/bags into the parks with us, so that we can get meals/snacks to bring back to the hotel for night snacking, departure day snacking, and the day at universal snacking.
The quick service works out to $30 a day/person, and if we were to eat lunch, dinner and a snack (maybe 2, as a snack qualifies as 1 ice cream bar, or 1 apple, etc) it works out to
close to $35-40/person/day.

Thanks1

You will enjoy both parks at Universal enough to spend an entire day. You won't have enough time to do EPCOT justice the evening of that day. I agree that if you can afford to go an extra day, you should do so.

Early February before Daytona 500 is low season and bargains are available. Confirm that you can rebook your reservation if better prices are offered. Frequently Disney offers incentives after the holidays for pre-spring break stays.

Universal always has deals during February. Check their web site in early January.

I have been to Disney and Universal many times and I would say you definitely want to do 6 days if you can. I personally cannot go to Orlando less than 10 just because there is so much to see. But if I only had a short amount of time I might be able to fit everything into 6 days. You could definitely do only Disney in the 6 days. If I were you I would skip Epcot or just give it one morning. I find most young people (I'm 28) find it somewhat boring. I like it myself but I still usually just give it a few hours as it's mostly just exploring shops.

Have any of you been there before? The best way to maximize your time at Disney is to know when to hit which rides. I'm sure you've become familiar with the Fastpass. Use that as much as you can. Always be holding a fastpass ticket so you can skip lines.

First thing in the morning hit the major rides like Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad (not all in the same park so depends where you are). Thopse rides tend to get long lines, so does Buzz Lightyear and all of the kiddie rides which are still fun to do :) So hit as many as you can in the morning and during parades. Also, if you can eat at non-typical times you'll maximize time to get on rides while most other people eat.

As for your hotel. It definitely is way cheaper to stay off sit but for such a short trip I would definitely stay in a Disney hotel for better and frequent access to the parks and the extra time you get in the park as a Disney hotel guest.

The meal plan is a tough one. I think it does depend on how much you eat. If you are not a light eater then I think you will get your moneys worth. What is really the cheap way to go is to make your own lunches in your hotel room and take them to the park. We always buy lunch meat, buns, etc and then we only have to pay for a cheap breakfast item like cereal and a supper. But if you don't have a fridge in your hotel or want to go to the trouble of hitting a grocery store the first day then skip it.

If you are only doing one day at Universal then I would only get a 1 park pass and stick to the Potter park. For a first timer it's near impossible to do both parks in one day without wasting a ton of time and missing a lot.

Have a fabulous time! It truly is the happiest place on earth :)