disney advice needed, long - wwyd

wwyd in this situation...

We are trying to go to Disney for cheap. But this would be to celebrate our 5 year anniversary and DD's 3rd birthday. She has never been to disney before and DH and I have never been there together. The last time either of us went was over 13 years ago.

Anyway, disney is a 3.5 hr drive from the house we would be staying at... so even if we left the house at 9am we wouldn't get to disney until after noon... however if we left the parks around 7:30/8 which is when my daughter will probably crash anyway, we could get home by 11ish.

Should we spend 1 or 2 nights at disney? Should we spend 1 or 2 days at the park? Should it be two different parks or the same park, twice?

Could we go, show up, spend the day at the hotel and maybe downtown disney or other free sights and then the next day spend it entirely at magic kingdom and then go home from there? Is it ok to go to the park on the day you are checking out? If we added a second night at a hotel (doubt we can afford this), do we go to the parks on a day we arrive or the day we are going to check out.

It's more like will there be enough to do for free from noon to nightfall on the first night and then is it ok to check out and go to the park all day long before driving home? can magic kingdom be done in 1 day?

Also they say buffet restaurants are free for kids? at least the ones under 3? which is the best to eat at when NOT in a park.

Re: disney advice needed, long - wwyd

I just reread your original post.

Yes, there is plenty to do for free or cheap. On arrival day, I would visit Downtown Disney and hang out at the pool. After a good night's rest, you should go to Magic kingdom at rope drop. After spending all day at the park, you could drive home but we are usually exhausted after a long day at Disney. It is definitely doable though. I would probably leave before dinner and get dinner on the drive home. DH and I don't like to drive too late.

Message edited 3/12/2015 6:23:28 PM.

disney advice needed, long - wwyd

I would do what Bridex said. On arrival day don't do the park. There is nothing worse than arriving at a park mid-day IMO. Lines are long, it's already crowded, and just not a good way to start the day.

It's $100 a day to go to the MK (actually a bit more now I think), so I would spend the entire there to get my $300 worth to be honest! You can find dirt cheap hotels near Disney. They won't be THE nicest, but they are cheap. Like $50 a night. You will have to pay for parking at the parks for not staying on site though, I think $18 a day.

Message edited 3/12/2015 9:06:36 PM.

disney advice needed, long - wwyd

i would get up, drive to disney- get there noon or so. there is plenty of free/cheap stuff to do for the afternoon! swim in the resort pool, walk around downtown disney, ride around on the disney buses and check out other dsney resorts... then maybe do one of the resort character buffets for dinner- Chef Mickeys is at the contemporary and has mickey, minnie, goofy, pluto,donald- or 1900 Park Faire has Cinderella and the step sisters at dinner time. then get up and go to Magic kingdom at rope drop ( park opening) and do MK all day. i don't know that i would want to drive 3.5 hours after walking around the parks all day- you'll be EXHAUSTED!! so i would either stay another night at the disney resort (some of the disney "value" resorts can be around $100 or so a night, which isn't bad and they are clean/decent), or drive a little bit out and get a cheaper (but still decent) hotel for the night. then drive the rest of the way home in the morning. i just know i wouldn't want to drive 3.5 hours after spending 10-12 hours walking around in the sun

disney advice needed, long - wwyd

I personally would do 2 days at the parks. I have done it twice and it was great, but we didn't have the drive. We got to the MK one day at like 3:00 and it was fine - we stayed until like 11. Your DD would love Hollywood Studios - they have Disney Jr. stuff, Little Mermaid and Frozen. I honestly don't think there is any way of doing Disney cheap, but you can stay at a cheap hotel off property and save some money that way. Also try to eat outside of the parks. It is a lot of money but DD will have a blast! And when did she turn 3? DD1 turned 3 in june and when we went to Disneyland in Oct we were able to say she was under 3, so she was free to get in and eat at the buffets. Just bring her in in a stroller and no one will question you.

Re: disney advice needed, long - wwyd

Leave the house at 6 am.
Get there around 10 after stops.
Stay all day. Kid naps in stroller. Do fireworks & light parade.
Stay in a cheap hotel one night. Tell them in advance you will do a late check in.
Swim in pool next AM & go home at your leisure.

If you can afford another night, drive day before & do pools the day before.
Def stay off property (hotels are half the price & nicer).
Downtown Disney is nice to see, but not a must.