anyone here work for disney in florida?
 

we are looking to setup a disney/florida trip and I know I have spoken to a few of you over the years that have or do work for disney. I am looking for the least inexpensive way of doing this. Any tips or hints?

No problem, just book directly with Disney. You'll spend lots. J/K.SmileWavy

I work for the Mouse in Burbank. I can make a few calls next week to my fellow Disnoids in FL when I get back from my Tech Scout in Utah this week. How many in your family? When do you want to go? Staying off property is usually much cheaper, but they do have deals at the Park. Check out Disney.com first and poke around and see what you find. Also, look at ticket prices to the Park and try travelocity, and the other travel sites.

Our family's going in a few weeks. 2 adults, 1 child, 1 under 2 (no charge for anything, flies free on our laps). Child rates for food and park admission. We're flying Southwest from Buffalo, 7 nights on site (ft. wilderness cabins), park hopper passes and dining for all 7 days, taxes, the whole deal under $3700 CDN. I know everyone's budget is different, but I think that's in incredible value. Last year we also went, stayed on site at one of the cheap places (all-star resorts) and both kids were free (except plane ticket for the eldest) and the whole thing was just under $3K CDN, all taxes included. We spent about $70 cash last time, and that was almost all just tips.

I don't know how much you save by staying off-site, but the convenience of staying on site is worth a few hundred $$ to me. Might be different if you're driving to FL, but I'm guessing from WI you're not.

talk to bell... I swear that man has his own room there he is there so much....

Just my 2 cents worth (thats 5 cents in Disney bucks) is that the place is way over rated..........sorta like saying you're going to McDonalds for the quality of food.

It's what now $85-90 admission per person just to get in, add to that $$$$ food once your inside, you have 1 hours waits in line for rides, and you have all the crowds to fight. Plus you still have a hotel bill.....

I'd much rather take a trip to Mexico or another Beach, learn about different cultures and discover new foods, stay at an all inclusives for $69-79 per person a night for room food and drinks, and soak up the diversity of different cultures.

Or, you can go to the safe and predictable mouse land...The McDonalds of vacations.

I just got back from exploring Mayan ruins in Akumal Mexico (fly into Cancun drive an hour south), Cozumel Island Mexico is Cheap, so is Belize, Costa Rica was fun, and don't forget about the island of Roatan off of Honduras. New Zealand is fantatic, and even Hawaii is cheap as is the Florida Keys. Just some different options. I figure about $150-200 a day per person for room food and fun. Heck even Cruises are dirt cheap compared to Disney.


Cheap Caribbean

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Rusty.......I think you did it wrong.....imo of course, all the things you mention are specifically things to which there is a solution......

1.......Stay on property, if dealing with a budget I suggest "pop century" it's newer and nicer than the other value resorts, expect noisy families and a more congested areas at any of the value resorts.....
Personally port orleans riverside (a moderate resort) is the nicest resort....I've stay at all but a few of the resorts over the past 2 years.....the grand floridian didn't impress me unless you're on concierge level....

2........Disney has a great transpotation system, don't drive your car.....buses go from each resort to each park and back, about every 20 minutes until past closing and they're free.....

3......Get the meal plan......it'll cost about 40 per person per day (not counting tip)....you'll get a counter service, a dinner service, and a snack credit, on average you'll spend about 50-90 per day for each adult if you pay cash......plus everything is atatched to your room key.....room/parks/meals etc...there is a more expensive meal option but is WAY too much food to realistically eat and you'll end up wasting credits....you can't walk up to a sit down restaraunt and get a table......it won't happen so don't chance it...especially for more than 2 people.....

4......Make dinner reservations as soon as you can.....people plan way ahead and its nearly impossible to get into the good spots on short notice (a few months ahead)......

5......Get park hoppers......this way your days are flexible and you can spend 1/2 day at a park, this will keep the kids from overload.....we usually plan our parks according to dinner reservations....

6.....Fast passes.....use them, love them......you can get one at the entrance of every ride, this will make you not to have to wait the hour to ride, you'll max wait will only be 10 minutes as you'll go to the "front of the line".......
All wait times are posted, 30 minutes is a short line for any of the "big" rides.....I believe you can only get one every couple of hours, so don't get one if there's a moderate wait....

7.......You can get a good discount with AAA sometimes, so ask when you call the mouse, sometimes cheaper, sometimes not.....

in my opinion, the only way to do disney is this.....

Stay on property.....
Get the meal plan (and make reservations).....
Park hoppers....
If flying into orlando use "the magical express"......they'll take your bags right to your resort and a comfy bus ride from the airport....no need to rent a car or deal with cabs.....
And plan ahead....

Being local now we have anual passes and are there regularly, let me know where you'll be on a particular sat/sun and maybe we can grab a beer.......
fyi there is alcohol everywhere on property......EXCEPT the magic kingdom :)

absolute best value is to 'rent points' from a vacation club member. it's risky but if you find someone you know it's a bargain.

we are doing 8 nights at the animal kingdom lodge next month for about $120/night. and that is a MUCH MUCH nicer room than even the mid level disney hotels (port orleans for example) and with a 'savanah view' ie we get to see giraffes from our balcony.

mickey food is absolutely the worst on the planet but they surely do rides and attractions right.

oh and mickey will pick us up at the airport in orlando and get our bags for us (we don't have to wait for them) as well as take us back when we leave.

no extra charge for this.

agree with above staying off property is a wasted vacation.

Never be ashamed to ask for free upgrades. (They do happen)

Utilize Disney's online check-in. You can check in 10 days prior to your arrival. (you will have your room keys in less than 2 minutes and won't have to wait in a long line)

The thing about disney food is......I've had good and bad.....
Mostly good, you have to keep in mind the sheer volume they are serving, but there are certainly good table services there......
Tappan edo (habachi in japan/epcot)
Rose and crown (uk/epcot)
Biergarten (buffet germany/epcot)
BOMA (animal kingdom lodge, african buffet....best on property imo..)

If you're kids are young do at least one charachter breakfast/dinner......

And listen to tinkerbell......she is not only the disney master.....she's the wifey :D

I disagree. No doubt it's definitely not gourmet in any of the regular restaurants (at least none that you'd take your kids to), but most of the table service buffets have some decent food. One side (piri piri broccoli at Crystal Palace at MK) was so good we asked for the recipe - they apparently have recipe cards available for all the dishes. The counter service (i.e. fast food style) restaurants are hit and miss, though mostly miss. You'll learn quickly what's good and what isn't. The Mickey waffles are a huge hit with kids, much less so with adults.

The "magical express" is indeed easy, but ridiculously slow. We waited in line at the airport for over an hour for our bus. There were at least 2 full flights of people waiting for them, and it was probably 5-10 minutes between buses at least. Despite the fact that it's free, we might just take a taxi this time, depending on how much it's expected to be. Getting back to the airport, however is much more efficient.

Christien I wonder were you there during peak season? Seems like we had opposite experiences.

LOL...classic.

My wife and I and 3 boys would be going . probably 3 days at most as beach vacations are more our style. We want to go once before the boys get too old. We plan on going during spring break time. Hugh I can pm exact dates if you like. Thanks for your time

Oh and i can't drive as we have a maximum of 8 days we can be away. the kids need to be back at school and I need to run the business as well or all the fellow pelicans and PCA'rs won't get their exhaust.

Sleep in your car, eat out of the dumpsters and jump the fence to get in.

I should qualify my statements. I have NO interest in going but the family does so I would like to do this and split the vacation between there and the beach so as cheap as possible

No, I would never go during peak season. Last year we were there 2nd week in February. Feb. 15 was our last day there, and the first day of a peak season - the difference between the 14th and 15th was unreal - double the crowds, line waits jumped from 25 min. to 1:15. This time we're going 2nd week in Dec. which, believe it or not, is off-peak.

Then I would definitely recommend staying on-site and using the park transportation system.

My wife also had little interest in going last time (her first time in decades) and was, to a degree, going because of my interest. This time she's exactly the opposite - she's ridiculously excited to go. So maybe you'll find it's way more fun than you're expecting!

I have been to Land 3 times & World once. Either as or with kids, of course. On our last trip, the fat sows in the motorized scooters who were able to jump the line were the last straw. I will only return when I am drooling & I can ride one of them too.

Ian