Hi there I've been a long time lurker of DIS for fun, but this is my very first post! I'm planning a trip on my own for the first time (yay), and I'm realizing how overwhelming this all is... help!! Looking for any advice or tips you expert trip planners can offer... as everything is currently super tentative with our plans, I'm open to any and all suggestions!
Some Background: We live in California, and though we frequent Disneyland regularly, our hearts are in really in the World . DH and I took our last trip in summer 2012 with my family when we were in college... I know that SO much has changed since then! Fast forward to now, we're 4 years married with a 10 month old DS and so excited to show him this magical place.
We'll be taking this trip with my Disney-loving SIL and her fam of 4. I totally lucked out - my SIL is my best friend, and our kiddos get to grow up together! She has a 2.5 y/o DD, and a 9 month old DS (the boys are 1 month apart).
Trip Details:
- March 2020, I'm thinking the first week but we're very flexible
- 7 days, 6 nights
- In total: 4 of us adults, and 3 kiddos
- DS will be almost 2 y/o (taking advantage of the free ticket AND flight ), and my niece/nephew will be 3.5 y/o and almost 2 y/o
- We have a timeshare, and are looking at booking a 2-bedroom unit at the Sheraton Vistana Resort, BUT I am having FOMO of all the fun and perks of staying at a Disney resort, so thinking twice about this
ALL THE QUESTIONS!
1) Anyone who has traveled with multiple families - would you recommend staying in 2 different studio hotel rooms, or staying all together in a multiple bedroom condo? Like I said, love my in-laws (and we were actually roommates before we were all married), BUT... we also like our space. Especially with the kids. Anyone have serious feelings either way?
2) Anyone that has stayed at Sheraton Vistana Resort - would you recommend? How difficult is transportation? Or does anyone have an alternative amazing suggestion of a timeshare-type off-site resort or condo?
3) How worth it is it to stay in a Disney resort?? Based on my calculations, it looks like its a $1000 difference in total cost for each of our families (regardless of whether we stayed in 2 rooms or one big one). Are there any cost-saving benefits to staying on-site that I'm missing? Anything I can use to convince my budget savvy DH that it's the only choice?? Obviously there's fun benefits like EMH and FP+, but looking for $$$ saving perks.
4) When is the best time to begin the booking process - if we were to stay at a Disney resort? I'm having a hard time keeping up with when FP+ and dining reservations can be made... is it 180 days in advance?
5) Anyone know of any specials that go on for travel dates between Feb-March? I know we'll miss out on free dining... but is there anything else I'm missing?
Feel free to chime in on anything, really! Just excited and a little overwhelmed and anxious and all these feelings. Thanks in advance for any info you can share or suggest
Some Background: We live in California, and though we frequent Disneyland regularly, our hearts are in really in the World . DH and I took our last trip in summer 2012 with my family when we were in college... I know that SO much has changed since then! Fast forward to now, we're 4 years married with a 10 month old DS and so excited to show him this magical place.
We'll be taking this trip with my Disney-loving SIL and her fam of 4. I totally lucked out - my SIL is my best friend, and our kiddos get to grow up together! She has a 2.5 y/o DD, and a 9 month old DS (the boys are 1 month apart).
Trip Details:
- March 2020, I'm thinking the first week but we're very flexible
- 7 days, 6 nights
- In total: 4 of us adults, and 3 kiddos
- DS will be almost 2 y/o (taking advantage of the free ticket AND flight ), and my niece/nephew will be 3.5 y/o and almost 2 y/o
- We have a timeshare, and are looking at booking a 2-bedroom unit at the Sheraton Vistana Resort, BUT I am having FOMO of all the fun and perks of staying at a Disney resort, so thinking twice about this
ALL THE QUESTIONS!
1) Anyone who has traveled with multiple families - would you recommend staying in 2 different studio hotel rooms, or staying all together in a multiple bedroom condo? Like I said, love my in-laws (and we were actually roommates before we were all married), BUT... we also like our space. Especially with the kids. Anyone have serious feelings either way?
2) Anyone that has stayed at Sheraton Vistana Resort - would you recommend? How difficult is transportation? Or does anyone have an alternative amazing suggestion of a timeshare-type off-site resort or condo?
3) How worth it is it to stay in a Disney resort?? Based on my calculations, it looks like its a $1000 difference in total cost for each of our families (regardless of whether we stayed in 2 rooms or one big one). Are there any cost-saving benefits to staying on-site that I'm missing? Anything I can use to convince my budget savvy DH that it's the only choice?? Obviously there's fun benefits like EMH and FP+, but looking for $$$ saving perks.
4) When is the best time to begin the booking process - if we were to stay at a Disney resort? I'm having a hard time keeping up with when FP+ and dining reservations can be made... is it 180 days in advance?
5) Anyone know of any specials that go on for travel dates between Feb-March? I know we'll miss out on free dining... but is there anything else I'm missing?
Feel free to chime in on anything, really! Just excited and a little overwhelmed and anxious and all these feelings. Thanks in advance for any info you can share or suggest