[MitchInVA]

First, I'm very glad I stumbled across this site. Searching the forum has been very informative, and has helped me with a few decisions already. I have also ordered the vacation planning package and DVD from Disney but have not yet received them.

My wife and I will be visiting WDW in May 2004 with our two daughters, ages 2 and 4.

We have narrowed the timing down to the 1st or 2nd week of May 2004, so it's time to start booking! We will be there for 5 days (4 nights.)

Regarding hotels, we have more-or-less decided on the Polynesian. The other top choice was Animal Kingdom Lodge, but my 4-year old is obsessed with Hawaii and we figured this would give her a little taste of the tropics. Also, the convenience of the monorail seems like a big plus for quick trips back to the hotel (e.g., for naptime - mine, if not the kids'!)

Question #1: To concierge or not?

With the packages we are considering, the cost of concierge-level service is about $90 extra per night. I know this gets us "comfy robes," continental breakfast and other food, and some other goodies. The ability to stuff pockets with bagels before heading off to the parks seems like a good thing, but what else? I know the rooms are no different, but are the views any better? Is there easier/better beach access? Also, I've heard people say the concierges helped with "PSs" - what's a PS and why might we need one?

Q#2: Transport to/from the airport?

Does WDW provide shuttle service to/from the airport, or do we need to use a private company? Also, for a family of four, would a shuttle be more affordable/convenient than a private car or cab? Does the concierge arrange this, or do we do it on our own?

Q#3: Is it really a beach?

OK, I know it's a man-made lagoon, but we've heard the beach is a nice feature. Do people swim in the lagoon, or is it more for sitting around and watching the nighttime light show? I assume the pool is more swimmer-friendly, but am not sure. And for early May travel, would one expect to have warm enough weather for swimming anyway? And if we get a lagoon-view room at the Polynesian, preferably one with a balcony, will we be able to watch the show from the comfort of our room?

Q#4: Wing it, or develop an itinerary?

We've been told by many people that planning every hour of the trip is essential. Do most people do this, or is winging it advisable with two young children? It seems that we will mostly be at shows and doing "kid stuff" rather than waiting in line for rides, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

Q#5 If we do go with a concierge-level room, does that increase our odds of getting breakfast with a princess?

Q#6 Park Hopper or not?

With two children, I expect we will spend most of our time in the Magic Kingdom and will likely visit the Animal Kingdom. I would also like to visit Epcot, but don't know about the others... does it make sense to get a Park Hopper ticket or would we be better off with something else?

Whew ... that's all I've got for now ... sorry that not all are strictly resort-related; I didn't see a "general questions" forum. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Dana]

Welcome to DC.!!

I can help with a few of the question, but not all of them

#2 the transportation.

WDW doesn not have thier own tranportation but I highly reccomend you taking TiffanyTown Cars. They are a sponsor of this site and I have used them twice now. They will be waiting at baggage claim for you party and will take you directly from the airport to your resort...not waiting other than for your bags. It will cost about $85 for a round trip. If you get a Passporter Guide book from your local book store (I highly reccomend doing this), you will also save $8 for having it with you when you get picked up. There is a coupon in the back of the book. The driver just looks at it and it doesn't have to be removed.

#3 beach or not?
It is a beach and a beautiful one to boot..don't go in the water however.

#4 to plan or not?
You should try and plan at least one meal a day and make a Priority Seating for it. I do not reccomend "winging it" but you can make loose plans by making a list of attractions that are a must see for each person in hte family and go from there. It's not wise to go in there with no knowledge of the layout and stand there helplessly with a guide map. Go in that jungle prepared. Anotehr reason to buy the Passporter...has colored maps of each park.

Park Hopper?
I would go for the park hopper. You're kids will love the other parks..maybe not Epcot, but you never know. Some kids love it. You could try it for a half a day and then go check out MGM for the other half. You are going to be there for five days and I can't see you spending 5 days in just MK and AK. Ak can been seen by 3pm if you go at the park open. MGM has Muppets 3D, Playhouse Disney and toher great shows the kids will enjoy. Just leave yourself with some options and purchase your tickets before you go...costs less.

Sorry all the info I personally have, but I am certain someone else will have much more. Hang in there and welcome again.

[GrumpyDad]

First off, welcome to the site, these folks are great here.

I can lend my opinion to a couple of your questions.

#2) Transportation, I cannot begin to recommend Tiffeny Towncars enough. The trip to and from the airport was always a hassle in the past, based on input from this site we used Tiffeny and it was an outstanding addition to our vacation.

#4) Wing it or not, we develop an overall itenerary, the things we really want to do, but then just like planning for war, once the action begins we leave ourselves open for spur of the moment changes. This last visit we did plan one meal with Priority Seating and that was really nice, but for the way our family works any more planning then that would be a waste :).

#6) Park Hoppers, a total yes from our crowd. The freedom to come and go as you please, plus the discount for a length of stay pass makes them perfect. We tend to spend half days at the parks, 1/2 day at one, rest stop at the room for lunch, 1/2 day at another park. Plus, if you get to a park and find it is too crowded you have the option of heading to one of the other parks instead.

Enjoy,
-harry

[rlander]

Welcome to Disney Central!!! You will get lots of great advice on this site!!! I noticed you said you have 2 daughters. You need to eat breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle at MK. The princesses will treat your girls like royalty.

A word of warning!!!:!: It is hard to get priority seating for this meal. Check out this site for some good advice.

http://pscalculator.net/pscrt.shtml

This priority seating must be booked 90 days prior to your date. Since you said you are going in early May, you will need to book this in early February!!!! Plan now!!!!

[tinkerbell]

Welcome to DC !! I am looking forward to getting to know you and to hearing all about your trip when you return :)

the poly is a great resort !! last time we stayed there our DGD were just a bit older then your kids. they loved story time in the lobby.

I agree with GrumpyDad about tiffany towncars and I vote also you get the park hoppers / ultimate park hoppers.

I dont believe there is anything that increases you chance of getting a princess breakfast ..but they do a wonderful charactor breakfast at O'hana's

again ..welcome to disneycentral glad to have you aboard !

[SnazzyCMB]

Welcome to DC Mitch,
I'm pretty new also, and I've found this site to be very informative and friendly, hopefully, you'll find the same. I'm going to attempt to answer what I can for you, and I'm sure someone will come along and have the rest of the answers for you.
1. concierge-n/a for myself..never did the concierge thing. But, PS stand for priority seating, it's disney-speak for reservations. You don't need concierge to get PS for the the different restaurants, but I think that they can make the arrangements for you if you want. It's not necessary though. PS, however, is usually necessary for quite a few table service restaurants, so be sure to plan where you want to eat and make arrangements ahead of time.
2. you have to arrange your own transportation from the airport to your resort, unless you booked a package that includes it. you can do the MEARS shuttle, which is basically a bus, but, they charge per person. for a family of 4, you might be better off with a cab or private car, because they charge by the carload, not the # of people.
3. In past years, I have seen people swimming in the lagoon, but personally (and especially if I had kids!) I would NOT step foot in that water!! I'm sure it must not be that bad, but just looking at it makes me kinda leary. I'd stick with the pools, they are usually clean, most have a fun theme, and are heated.
4. This is the most important, and I think most DCers would agree with me- PLAN PLAN PLAN, and when you've planned it all out, PLAN it some more!!:p
I know that it seems like you could wing it with children and just stick to the kiddie stuff, but you really need to get the most out of your vacation, and planning is KEY. It can be overwhelming if you don't have a plan, there is just SO much to see and do and you might not enjoy it as much if you are just winging it. And, you'd be surprised, a lot of kids actually end up liking some attractions, shows, or rides that you might not expect them to. Almost everything in WDW is kid friendly, except maybe some things at epcot, and of course, PI.
5. again, i don't know about the concierge thing, but you have 2 choices for breakfast with princesses, Norway in EPCOT and Cinderella's castle in MK. You need to make a PS for either one. my last trip, we went in September, and tried to make a PS for Cinderella's table 3 months in advance, and still were not able to make it, it was booked that far in advance! I don't know if the EPCOT one is as popular, but either way, book fast!
6. If you book a disney package at a wdw resort, you should get the ultimate hopper ticket, which is fantastic, but it's only good for the length of your stay. regular hoppers allow you to save any unused days. I've never booked tickets a la carte. I found the ultimate hopper to be great. and AK and MK may have MORE for kids, but MGM has some great live shows, an AMAZING fireworks show (fantasmic), as well as fun attractions that young kids might like. You should definitely check it out. The hoppers allow you to come and go as you please, which is really nice, especially if you plan on eating in any of the parks, even if you're not spending the whole day there.
Ok, I hope that answers some questions for you. And just a disclaimer, this is all in my opinion. It's not necessarily fact, and someone may come along and disagree entirely, or point out something that I've made a mistake with. Just keep your mind open, think about your family, and the needs of everyone in your party. It's your first time there, it'll be soo magical! Make sure you take the time to enjoy it and enjoy watching your daughters faces when they see mickey and minnie and everyone else! You'll never forget it:)

[BuzzLightyear]

I just wanted ad my 2-cents from my last 2 trips. Though its just repeating whats already been said.

Develop an itenary - YES !!

And use Tiffany towncar they are great!!

Planning is half the fun!!

Have a great trip!!!

[tinkerbell]

oh I forgot to say that I think May is a wonderful month to go.
we use to always go in May.

and if you need a night out .. the neverland club at the poly was the girls favorite of all the babysitting/kids clubs at the resorts

http://www.angelfire.com/me/tinkrbel/poly1.html

[DisneyTeacher]

Welcome to DC, I am happy to hear you have searched the forum and have picked up several tips.

You are going to have such a wonderful time showing the "World" to your 2 daughters. We took our 5 year old for the first time last summer and it was so much fun seeing it all through his eyes.

I think you need a very basic plan of what park you are going to each morning and what park you are going to after your mid-day break (if you are taking one). We always know what park(s) we are going to each day and where we are eating lunch and dinner, after that we wing it. You can't plan every hour and still take the time to soak up the magic. Have an idea of the attractions you want to hit but you won't be able to plan the exact order you do all of them. You won't know what your DD's favorite rides are going to be until you get there. They will want to ride some rides over and over, other rides you think they may like might not be a big hit.

Take some time to watch the parades and meet a few characters. Make sure you ride in the front of the monorail with the driver, remember to ask for a license if you ride in the front.

I like to options of a Length of Stay pass, I think it is called an Ultimate Park Hopper now. If plan to be in the parks each day it is worth it because it basically includes admission to all parks, including the water parks, and Pleasure Island. The 5 day park hopper is really nice too, any unused days are good forever.

[preidel24]

Well I think I can help with the concierge question. We stayed in concierge our last trip (at the Beach Club). They took care of all my planning I just told them what PS's I wanted and they were able to accomodate all of them. They help me with a welcome basket for my sons. I paid for the Pal Mickey, autograph and penny press books but it was loaded with candy, pens, chips etc.. it was awesome. The first night we were there when we returned there was a table set with linens and silver and an anniversary treat for my DH and I (a white chocolate Mickey with choc. covered strawberries). They also surprised my son with a birthday cake, balloons, steamers and horns. We were able to book last minute PS's through them. The food was good and grabbing breakfast in the morn was convenient. They now offer beer and that seems to have please a lot of people. As for the extra money you won't recoup the x-tra money you spend for concierge on the food. But I'd do it again in a heart beat just for the convenience. My kids are 15, 13 and 9 all boys. They really enjoyed concierge and if I had to pick what I liked best it would be in this order

1 private checkin no waiting in line
2. Conceirge staff they greet you and make you feel so special
3. Availablity of quick snack and sodas
4. Special present they left for the kids all week, glossy photos that were autographed, pins, candy treats

If these things aren't important to you it might not be worth your money.

Hopper passes I'd get the hopper passes too.

Like Buzz said planning is half the fun

Last, you will love the Polynesian. It is the resort we stayed at the first time we took our DS's to WDW. It is truly beautiful and they have two of the best eateries Ohana's and Kona Cafe (you have to try the Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe it incredible). They also have Capt Cook's that's open 24 hours and you can get bagels, muffins, hot dogs, hamburgers things of that nature and it's inexpensive. The Poly is the favorite resort of many DC members as you will find out soon.

Have a wonderful trip and fun time planning.

Paula

[iluvwdw]

First of all, AWESOME CHOICE of resort! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!! We stayed at the Poly last month and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. We only stayed there 2 nights in December 03...we loved it so much we are staying 7 or 8 nights this December!!!! December is also now our favorite time of year to go...

1 - Personally, I don't think you need to concierge at all. Some people like the convenience of having snacks on hand for a lot of the hours in the day, but I don't think it's necessary. $90 is a lot extra to pay for each night, especially when you have kids 4 & 2 that won't eat much. It will be MUCH MUCH cheaper for you guys to snack at the 24 hour snack shop they have on site!!!!! And you have more variety of foods there...Yes, the concierge staff CAN make PS's for you, but you could do that yourself (or have your Disney travel agent do this for you, if you are using one) It is not worth the $360 extra to get the concierge...JMHO

2 - As for Transportation, I always get a rental car. DH HATES having to depend SOLELY on WDW transportation. Although the 2 nights we stayed at the Poly, we really only used the monorail and I have to tell you, IT WAS GREAT! We have a 2 year old and it was SO convenient. We stayed in Tahiti Longhouse, which is literally right next to the Ticketing and Transportation Center...where you have to go to get to MK or Epcot! You can get the EXPRESS monorail to MK here...you won't have to stop anywhere! And you could also get the RESORT MONORAIL right at the GREAT CEREMONIAL HOUSE, which will take you to GRAND FLORIDIAN, CONTEMPORARY and last but not least THE MAGIC KINGDOM. We loved the convenience of the monorail, but we got the rental car so we could go where we wanted and not have to worry about the busses...we always do this, and will probably continue to do so. It is quicker to get from place to place...you won't have to get on and off busses, and with folding baby carriages, carrying diaper backs, 2 young children and your own stuff, it might be more convenient. And MAY not cost THAT much more than Tiffany Town Car (but it WILL cost you more, no doubt...)

3 - Yes, the Poly has a great beach!!! We didn't experience it during our stay, but we had a Castle View right on the beach and it was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! When we go back in December, we plan to watch the fireworks from the beach one night! ;)

4 - Hmmm...wing it or develop an itinerary??? I would have to say you should have SOME sort of plan. You should plan on at least one priority seating per day (this way, you are not waiting an hour for a table at a sit down restaurant!) I also think that you should decide which parks you want to do in one day. With a park hopper or Ultimate Park Hopper, you can jump from park to park all day long...it's GREAT!!!
To plan, I suggest getting a guidebook or two (or ten, like some of us do!!!) Here are some great ones:
- UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WDW - about 3 inches thick, has GREAT info and it is NOT written by Disney, so it will give you all points of view
- PASSPORTER - awesome book, with color photos of all the parks (I think that is new for 2004), and also journaling pages with pockets for you to hold tickets, itineraries, etc.
- BIRNBAUM'S WDW 2004..this one IS written by Disney, so it puts a good spin on ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING...I do love the colorful way the book is layed out though....

5 - I don't think the Concierge level will guarantee breakfast at CRT! It is a VERY hard ressie to get...I got it in December and I felt like I won a mini-lottery!!! You HAVE to be on the phone starting at 6:45AM EASTERN TIME...and start dialing that phone. The UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WDW gives great tips on how to get this ressie. When the phone lines open at EXACTLY 7AM EST, you have to be on hold for a Cast Member...if you are on hold for more than 5 minutes, chances are that the reservations are GONE for that day and you will have to try again the next morning. I hear GREAT alternatives are 1600 PARK FARE in the Grand Floridian and also the Princess Breakfast in Norway...so there will still be chances to have a meal with the Princesses..maybe not in the castle though!

6 - Park Hopper DEFINITELY...you might opt to get the ULTIMATE PARK HOPPER if you plan on going to any water parks, Pleasure Island (will be hard to do with a 4 year old and a 2 year old in tow) or even Disney Quest. If you don't plan to go to any of these places, regular Park Hoppers might be your best bet...:whistle:

Let us know how else we can help you with your vacation plans. We love talking about Disney and will help you in any way we possibly can! :)

[preidel24]

Originally posted by iluvwdw

5 - I don't think the Concierge level will guarantee breakfast at CRT! It is a VERY hard ressie to get...I got it in December and I felt like I won a mini-lottery!!! You HAVE to be on the phone starting at 6:45AM EASTERN TIME...and start dialing that phone. The UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WDW gives great tips on how to get this ressie. When the phone lines open at EXACTLY 7AM EST, you have to be on hold for a Cast Member...if you are on hold for more than 5 minutes, chances are that the reservations are GONE for that day and you will have to try again the next morning. I hear GREAT alternatives are 1600 PARK FARE in the Grand Floridian and also the Princess Breakfast in Norway...so there will still be chances to have a meal with the Princesses..maybe not in the castle though!

Kim is right they can't guarantee that they can get the reservation for you. Everyone we met on our last trip was able to get their PS for CRT's and another family for Illuminations (like us) but there isn't a bonifide guarantee just for booking concierge. Like I said it purely personal taste. I didn't mean to insinuate that - I was basing it on my personal information.

I liked it because it was a treat from our normal vacation stay at WDW and they didn't disappoint me I felt 100% pampered.

That's whats so great about DC, varying information on many WDW services, resorts, restuarants ect... having many different views helps all keep up on whats available and happening at WDW.

Sorry if my post was unclear - I edited in hopes of making it better understandable.

Paula

[MitchInVA]

Thank you for all the replies. Great information!

Okay, we will plan -- at least a little bit! ;)

The PSCalculator is very helpful. I guess we'll be fighting for a breakfast reservation soon - and maybe some dinner reservations too! I didn't know about the Epcot character breakfast - that's a great tip.

The Passporter book was mentioned a couple of times. Apparently Mouseketrips (a site that has been recommended in this forum) gives a free copy of the book if you order your vacation package through them. Just thought I'd pass that on, in case anyone is thinking about ordering from them.

A few more questions, if you don't mind:


Regarding the buildings at the Polynesian, my understanding is that if we pick the concierge service then we will be in a particular building. What are the other buildings like? Any major differences or disadvantages? I like the idea of being not-too-far from the monorail, but it's not essential if there are better places to be. Also, how difficult is it to get the resort to honor a request for a top-floor room with a balcony? (We will probably get the lagoon view, and certainly wouldn't mind a view of the castle in the distance!)

With Tiffany Towncars, would we use our own carseats or do they provide them for the children? I assume we will be using our carseats on the airplane - is this correct? We have not flown with the girls before.

Strollers - I've read a few threads here and it seems more economical (and time saving) to bring our own. However, given how much we'll be taking already (not to mention taking home), the idea of dragging these along is not appealing. Can cheap little umbrella strollers be purchased at WDW for a reasonable price? If not, we might bite-the-bullet and spend the $15/day on a double stroller rental ... speaking of which, can stroller rentals be arranged at the resorts, or only at the parks?

Thanks again ... I keep thinking, 'If I can just get us to the hotel, the rest will be so easy ... ' :laugh

[Willbegone]

MitchS-
Welcome to DC! This place is sooooo addicting and everyone is so nice and helpful. On the stroller issue I never saw any for sell but if I'm not mistake Tiffany will make a stop on the way to your resort. Maybe you could stop at a store and buy one then. I'm not sure if they limit where you stop but that is just a suggestion. We took our umbrella stroller for our then 2 year old and it was great. Light enough to fold and carry onto the bus and I wouldn't have been out any major $$ if I lost it. Have a great time and ask away we LOVE to answer questions and I learn alot myself when others ask questions!

[Dana]

You can request a car seat from Tiffany's when booking your reservation. I don't think you need a car seat on the airplane for your two year old, but check when you book your trip to be sure. I know I didn't use one when my daughter was three, but cannot remember if you need one a two or not.

With all of the extra things you have to bring, I would just rent a double stroller from WDW for hte girls. You older one is definately going to need it too. You only have to rent one once a day even if you "hop" parks. Just keep your receipt and show it to the next park. You get a Disney dollar for returning them, but I'm not certain on the prices of the doubles. My DD is 9 nad I can't remember how much the singles cost me, but she used one up until she was six. It's easier to keep track of them in the parks and it gives their poor little legs a break from all of that walking.