Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Where should we stay? At Disney or off campus? Kids are 5 and 3. Would like to get a reasonably priced suite so we don't have to go to bed when the kids do.

I have no specific recommendation, but when I've been, staying on campus with easy park access was the way to go.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Where should we stay? At Disney or off campus? Kids are 5 and 3. Would like to get a reasonably priced suite so we don't have to go to bed when the kids do.

this was the advice we got- early in the afternoon at the parks you start to see kids breaking down into fits. this is how you tell the people that are on campus from those off- the off stay and are beat up- the on campus go back and the kids nap of swim-

also, after wine at dinner, on campus you get in a bus or monorail, off campus you get in your car and drive through the scary Orlando traffic.

Last time we were there we stayed near the part where Old Key West is. You can walk to Epcot which is nice if you go to the light show at night.

[barely_legal]

Originally Posted by Adder

I have no specific recommendation, but when I've been, staying on campus with easy park access was the way to go.

I just got back from spending 4 days at Disney during the busiest time of the year, so my opinion is colored by that fact, but stay on campus. We don't have kids but we were traveling with family members that have a "difficult" 9 year old and they stayed at a non-Disney hotel and regretted it. We stayed at a Disney Resort and had a great time, despite being surrounded by rugrats. Leave the park mid-day and take a nap or a rest, or let the kids play in the pool, and then go back in the late afternoon/early evening to finish doing whatever you missed in the morning. And if somebody in your family has asthma or a related breathing disorder, take a current prescription and an inhaler to Guest Services and you can get a pass for up to 6 people to use Fast Pass on every ride, and the "handicapped" entrance for the attractions that don't have FastPass. I also highly recommend buying the "Unofficial Guide to Disney."

And if you stay at Port Orleans French Quarter, leave the kids in the room after they fall asleep, head to the bar, and have a truffle martini or three.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Where should we stay? At Disney or off campus? Kids are 5 and 3. Would like to get a reasonably priced suite so we don't have to go to bed when the kids do.

If you can get in by any means, stay at Shades of Green, the resort for military personnel and their families. It is the best deal at Disney by far.

It has been a long time since we have been, but when our kids were that age, we had a good stay at what is now the Saratoga Springs Resort area - it was near Disney Downtown, so Dad or the au pair could be sent out for an errand, and if we were leaving the kids for a while or if the au pair was off to party, there were some things within walking distance. It was one vacation where bringing our childcare with us was the biggest plus. Childcare alternatives around Disney always made us uneasy, where with other resorts we've felt comfortable with the resort's babysitters or program.

If you are true park-o-philes, though, the handful of disney resorts clustered right around the magic kingdom (Polynesian Resort, Floridian, Shades of Green, etc.) get special early access and some other benes, and are what the hard-core do. Polynesian was good for families; Floridian is more grown-up oriented but had a good character breakfast, and, as I said, Shades of Green is what you really want.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Adder

I have no specific recommendation, but when I've been, staying on campus with easy park access was the way to go.

This. The Contemporary, I think is where Mickey comes to your breakfast.

A while back at Universal, I got the VIP treatment where you have a personal tour guide who takes you to the front of every line, explains how things works and tells you all the best cars for every ride.

If you're part of the .0001% that's the way to go.

[soup sandwich]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

this was the advice we got- early in the afternoon at the parks you start to see kids breaking down into fits. this is how you tell the people that are on campus from those off- the off stay and are beat up- the on campus go back and the kids nap of swim-

also, after wine at dinner, on campus you get in a bus or monorail, off campus you get in your car and drive through the scary Orlando traffic.

Last time we were there we stayed near the part where Old Key West is. You can walk to Epcot which is nice if you go to the light show at night.

We (two adults, four kids, one grandmother) have always stayed off-campus. We've done this mostly because we've always had at least one kid who still naps and unless you are willing to rent a suite, this can be a real hassle.

Even though we've stayed off-campus, we've always done the "arrive early AM/leave early PM for swimming and naps/return to parks in the evening" routine with little hassle.

Others have mentioned the benefits of staying on campus, and to these I'd add that the Disney transportation system is quite good (transport from airport to hotel also) so you do not need to rent a car. There are also extended park hours for those who stay on-campus (although guidebooks, such as the Unofficial Guide, encourage you to stay away from the crowds found in the extended hours parks).

We've always enjoyed having our own pool at a rented house and liked saving a few dollars by staying off-campus. But that being said, now that our youngest no longer naps, I'm trying to convince my wife to stay at the Polynesian for our next trip.

I second the recommendation of reading the Unofficial Guide. I also recommend using the Tour Guide Mike website to plan out your itinerary. Costs about $20. You will see so much more stuff if you plan things out ahead of time.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

This. The Contemporary, I think is where Mickey comes to your breakfast.

A while back at Universal, I got the VIP treatment where you have a personal tour guide who takes you to the front of every line, explains how things works and tells you all the best cars for every ride.

If you're part of the .0001% that's the way to go.

2 as to Universal VIP. and there are 2 levels of VIP- one is in a group of up to like 20, maybe. They will take you to cuts on each ride, but the group has no choice. We took a VIP- family only ($$$$$$) and were able to ride things over and over at our choice.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Where should we stay? At Disney or off campus? Kids are 5 and 3. Would like to get a reasonably priced suite so we don't have to go to bed when the kids do.

Stay on property, as others have mentioned. You can probably get two connecting rooms at some of the less expensive resorts for what a suite would cost at the more spendy ones.

The family suites at Art of Animation or All-Star Music look promising, but I haven't stayed in one yet. The cabins at Fort Wilderness might work too. The Animal Kingdom Villas are amazing, and have real live animals right outside.

Don't get a car. Use Disney transport.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

2 as to Universal VIP. and there are 2 levels of VIP- one is in a group of up to like 20, maybe. They will take you to cuts on each ride, but the group has no choice. We took a VIP- family only ($$$$$$) and were able to ride things over and over at our choice.

At Universal, if you stay on property, your room key allows you to cut all lines and ride over and over.

With children 3 and 5, the only thing to do at Universal is the Dr. Suess area.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by bold_n_brazen

At Universal, if you stay on property, your room key allows you to cut all lines and ride over and over.

With children 3 and 5, the only thing to do at Universal is the Dr. Suess area.

no shit? damn, we should have gotten a fake room if nothing else.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Where should we stay? At Disney or off campus? Kids are 5 and 3. Would like to get a reasonably priced suite so we don't have to go to bed when the kids do.

I have nothing to add, except (unlike Flower) I am sorry.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)

I have nothing to add, except (unlike Flower) I am sorry.

Why? It's being paid for by someone else.

Anyway, thanks to all (most?) for the advice. Are the water parks on property? If it's warm enough that's definitely something we want to do.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Why? It's being paid for by someone else.

Anyway, thanks to all (most?) for the advice. Are the water parks on property? If it's warm enough that's definitely something we want to do.

Yes, water parks are on property.

The Brazenette used to prefer the resort pools. The water parks overwhelmed her.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

2 as to Universal VIP. and there are 2 levels of VIP- one is in a group of up to like 20, maybe. They will take you to cuts on each ride, but the group has no choice. We took a VIP- family only ($$$$$$) and were able to ride things over and over at our choice.

Mine was true VIP. Family only.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by bold_n_brazen

At Universal, if you stay on property, your room key allows you to cut all lines and ride over and over.

With children 3 and 5, the only thing to do at Universal is the Dr. Suess area.

This is true I am sorry for jacking the thread. Universal is definitely for older kids.