Is Walt Disney World Resort Florida worth the expense...?

[toobusytoobusy]

Hi, much as the title says really! Just wondered if any of you have any experience of staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels in Florida and whether or not you think it's worth it?

Have been reading some reviews on Trip Advisor (always then wonder if it's worth reading them, they always confuse me!!) and can't help but think, is it worth the money it's going to cost? Have 3 children who will be 8, 6 and almost 3. Need to go in school holidays as I am a teacher. Have saved and can afford it still it seems soooooo expensive. Kind of wondering whether we would be better doing Euro Disney at Easter and then spending the money on a relaxing beach break somewhere.....

We have been as adults to Florida and did the whole park thing but that was before we had the boys. I remember the heat, the queues, the expensive food.... but overall that it was fab!

Grateful for all opinions.

Thanks!

Think it is worth it in a once-in-a-lifetime sort of way.

But, I'd wait until your dc are a few years older (especially the youngest). Maybe the exchange rates will have improved dramatically in a few years too, so you'll get more value for money. Exchange rates now are not good.

When I was young (12ish) we went to Florida and did Disney World - it was absolutely fantastic.

We didn't stay in a resort hotel though - had a hire car and stayed at a rental home about 20 mins away (with air con and pool) was really lovely - 2 hols in one - a good plan that worked for us was up really early - into Disney at 7am when it opened, stay till 11am when crowds arrive, lunch and the afternoon swimming/siesta/sunbathing, early tea and back to Disney for cooler, quieter evening and fireworks.

Ooooooooh it was really the best family holiday I've ever been on.

Not one to boast but, we are going in 8 weeks SQUEEEEEEEEELLLLL

we cant wait! (obviously)

We are hiring a house as we are going with the ils.

As far as i can gather the resort hotels are very expensive but you get lots of perks dont you???

ahh its just magical and fantastic.

Thanks for the replies so far.... Good point about the exchange rate, hadn't thought of that! It's hard to pick a time to go when it will suit all of their ages, I guess I wanted to go whilst the eldest was still young enough to be interested in the pure Disney bits. We are also going with extended family but would rather have hotel than a house so we all have a little space from each other (does that sound terrible?!).

You do get the perks with Disney, but just not convinced it is worth it but would save driving over there as you get all the transport but again have heard that that is packed in August. Oh what to do what to do!!

Have a great time meatntattypie!!!

It's fab Have been 3 times now and hoping to go back next year again, lol. DH was so sceptical about it the first time but has been converted, especially seeing just how much DD has loved it each and every time - she has been at the following ages: 2y4m, 4y2m and 7y4m. Next year she'll be 9y when we go all being well.

there is something for every age so she has enjoyed full days in parks every single time.

It's not cheap, but it is good fun IMO.

Not packed in August IME. have been in July and August every time and it really isn't bad at all. The busiest times for the Florida parks is Christmas and Easter. But when we have been in the summer we have had no problems at all, esp in the Disney parks - certiainly nowhere near as many queues as we have had on our visits to Disneyland Paris.

Yes! I've done FLorida and Paris. Paris was bloody awful and with what we spent in a weekend we could have done part of Florida.

We went to Disneyland California in March this year as a part of our holiday and it was fantastic. Hardly any queing (max wait time we had was 20 mins). We stayed at the Disney Hotel for the duration and it didn't work out that expensive at all, around £600 for 3 days 2 nights for 3 adults and 2 children.

I don't think it is as big as Florida but still as magical imo.

I think staying in a resort hotel is worth the expense. A day in the park is very tiring and hopping onto a bus and not having to drive is much more relaxing. The hotels are close to the parks to you can pop back for a rest in the day. Characters are often hanging around in the reception areas it is wonderful ! My favorite is Port Orleans (French) you can get a relaxing boat to down town disney. The staff will go out of their way to make the holiday fun. My dd had a small accident when we were staying in a resort hotel and they sent her presents bears and constantly checked she was happy and ok. The cleaning staff also leave towel animals fot the kids.

Have a great holiday.

We stayed at Disneys Port Orleans resort and would stay there again in a heart beat. It is expensive, however all of the 'little touches' make up for it (for example, Port Orleans resort is based on the 'deep south'/Missippee etc)and they have a regular 'Paddle boat' service that takes you to Downtown Disney. You also get extra hours in the park( which in the school holidays makes a REAL difference). All the perks that you get for staying 'on site' are worth the extra money.

We went at Easter- it was very busy but didn't negatively impact upon our holiday at all.

I am insanely jealous of anyone going to Disney.

X posts with RedZora!!

We are going for the second time next month. It is definately a fantastic holiday and your kids will love it, however I wouldn't stay in one of the resort hotels as I don't see the point in spending that much more money when the majority of the time spent there is to sleep only.

Disney is great, but I really wouldnt bother with the resort hotels. You can get decent and much cheaper apartment accommodation nearby - in Kissimee, on International Drive etc. Most of them have shuttle buses taking you to and from the Disney resorts, or you can hire a car (I personally wouldnt do Orlando without a car).

To be honest, Disney is fantastic fun, but there are other things to see and do in Orlando - Universal, water parks, shopping, lots of fun stiff for kids. I wouldnt want to go to Disney every day for a week or two weeks. Hellish!

All Disney parks are amazing, but no experience of their hotels, always stayed in villas. Thought I would add Legoland is opening in Autumn 2011 at the old Cypress Gardens site, google for info. So another theme park to add to the visit list, wonder what it will be like compared to Windsor? Bigger and better???!!!

totally agree with ooohbollocks ref Paris.
We went last year and although it was very nice (stayed in Davy Crockett ranch) I really objected to the prices there. We did 5 days at Disney (the park tickets were quite good value in the package and also the getting in an hour earlier was a huge plus) but the price of food and drink was outrageous and the staff in the parks were downright rude.

We normally go to 'the real disney' every year and stay in our villa there. Even if we didn't have our own place I doubt I'd stay in a disney hotel. Friends of ours did and said it was very expensive and very busy. The next time they went they stayed in a private villa. There are hundreds to choose from and you can get them from around 400 GBP per week which sleep up to 10. I know a few people who've gone with extended family and booked a few villas in the same street so they've had the privacy they wanted/needed.

If you have to go school holidays, I'd consider the October hols as in my opinion, a nicer time of year. We've done easter a lot (lovely weather but busy) summer twice which we will never do again as too hot and oct/nov a few times which we are doing again this year. Never done christmas though

I think the first time I went I was 7 (I am 34 now) and I think there was only one disney hotel but there was Fort Wilderness which is part of the Disney experience where you stay in a cabin (or you can take your own caravan) as a child it was magical and gives you a self-catering option.

We've been to Disney twice and loved it.

We've had a villa a couple of miles away and it was good to get right away from the hustle and bustle, but DH and ds1 are keen to stay in a Disney hotel next time.

That's if we can find one where the boys can sleep in a separate room. I am NOT sharing a room with the dss for two weeks.

Anyhoo. What I came on to say was, if you are going in the summer holidays, try and make it the last two weeks if you can, if heat bothers you at all.

Last year we went on 9th Aug for 2 weeks and I found it so unbearably hot and clammy it did spoil it a bit for me. DH and ds1 were ok but ds2 was also uncomfortable.

So although the last 2 weeks tend to get the rain showers in the PM, it's worth it as it cools down the air a lot.

Shodan look

thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/05/disney-to-build-2000-room-hotel-dubbed-disneys-art-of-animation-reso rt/

if you can wait until 2012

Oooooohhh!!!!

I likey the look of that!

Thanks, RedZora.

(As it happens it's 2012 we're looking at going again)

Any stuff that you buy in the Disney shops can also be sent to your hotel so you don't have to cart stuff round with you.

Agree about the fridge in the rooms too, means you can have a quick breakfast. I went to Disney when I was 16 and we stayed in a hotel on International Drive. It was fine but the travelling was a pain.

We are looking to go to Disney next year in May because of the Star Wars weekends and I have 2 sons who are Star Wars obsessed.

We are looking at all the hotels in Disney and the dining plans they do, plus the park opens earlier for guests, love the idea of popping back and having a swim.

This is a one off for us so we have been saving for 4 years (will be 5 next year) to pay for it. We want to have the full Disney experience for our children. They will be 5 and 8 when we go.

I am completely giddy about planning it, God knows what I will be like when I go

Hi ya, just found this thread. I would definitely try www.disboards.com for advice on planning a trip to WDW.

I've been twice, once off-site and once on-site and I preferred onsite just because you don't need a car, you can take the buses everywhere onsite and they are free. So you can have a nice drink in the evenings and not worry about who is driving!

WDW is HUGE, its the size of Greater Manchester, 4 major parks, 2 awesome waterparks, golf courses, Downtown Disney with great shops etc.

My favourite hotel onsite is the Port Orleans French Quarter, it has great rooms with fridges and lots of room, awesome pool and kiddie pool, great food court and a very family friend bar with a singer 4 times a week who does great jazz/blues songs and loves taking requests, especially from kids Plus you have the boat to Downtown Disney which is nice.

I think staying offsite can be ok too but we found it a bit isolating ourselves although we still loved it.

I'm a huge WDW fan and full of info (both useful and not!) about Orlando so feel free to ask

If you're thinking of booking a disney hotel then look into booking it directly. The US tend to charge per room, whereas if you book in the UK you get charged per person.

Of course if you get an all in package it may work out cheaper for 5 of you. There's only 2 of us so I book everything independantly when we go away and it's much cheaper!

Fizzylemonade I was out there for the Starwars weekend totally by accident and they where fantastic!!!

I have been to both Disney and non hotels.
We have said that when we have kids we will go again and stay in a disney hotel (been just a couple before)

The extra hours are worth it and you do get a different experience. Also with a car the traffic is horrible and some of the car parks are expensive so we missed out on some of the day feeling like commuters again like at home.

Also its worth looking at the family food delas they do, think its called Disney Dining Package and our friends with children say it does work out cheaper as when your in the parks its more expensive than outside.