Orlando - Recommendations for a Disney weekend - need specific help

I've read a few sites like mousesavers and looked around here. I'll be heading with family to Disney in late June. I should say, I'll be headed to Florida for a week and we'll have a weekend in Disney.

Right now, the itinerary is drive to Disney early AM on a Friday. We won't be staying there on a Thursday night, we already have plans. We'll likely get there at 10-11am. We will be leaving to go to the airport at 11am on Sunday.

We would like to stay on site. I'm told that Disney My Way might be best, but I'm not sure how the food would work if we are only there part of Friday and part of Sunday. Would we just get two days of meals? How do we handle places where meals cost extra for characters?

What's the best bet for a reasonable on site hotel? Should I get the meal plan?Is there a way to get on more rides? Any general advice? We'll be skipping the rental car and will be pretty much just on Disney. Thanks.

You've got a lot of questions mixed in there. I'll start to try to answer your questions, but it is difficult because there's not enough information.

Are there any children involved? If so, how old?
What parks are you interested in? There is no way you can do all 4 in 2 days in late June.
Don't bother with the meal plan. You don't have the time for a sit down meal and your best bet will be counter service, which is good and inexpensive (for Disney).
You will need a ticket for each day, and if you want to go to more than 1 park in a day, you'll have to add the park hopper option, which is $50 per ticket. Don't waste your money on a ticket for Sunday.
No way to get on more rides besides getting there for opening, or extra magic hours if you're on site, and getting fast passes as soon as you can.
What do you consider reasonable for a hotel? The parks you want to visit can also impact where you should stay.

In the time you have, and the time of year you're going, you will only be able to see a small fraction of what there is to offer. There aren't too many opportunities for extra magic hours on the weekends, so you're stuck with regular park closing times. You will probably get the most rides in first thing in the morning and late at night.

So, in your request list, you've mentioned getting on a lot of rides, eating with characters, and perhaps getting the dining plan. I think that's an awful lot for 1 3/4 days. IMHO, skip the sit down dining & character meals and concentrate on 1 or 2 parks (1 each day) to save the money on the park hopper option.

Then be ready to go back - because there's still a lot to experience :)

Oh, if I may suggest - www.disboards.com - is the FT of Disney. It's voluminous, but you'll probably get answers much faster there than you will here.

Mary2e raises some excellent points. From what you've said, you'll be starting at the parks around noon on Friday, will have all day Saturday, and then will have to head out Sunday morning. That gives you a whopping 1 1/2 days at the parks.

To be honest, my suggestion would be to stay at a resort like the Polynesian or the Yacht/Beach Clubs that have excellent pools. Enjoy your resort amenities on Friday, and maybe have a nice sit-down dinner that night. For Saturday, pick one theme park and concentrate on getting the most you can out of it. I can provide specific advice once you answer some of Mary's questions above...

Mary2e raises some excellent points. From what you've said, you'll be starting at the parks around noon on Friday, will have all day Saturday, and then will have to head out Sunday morning. That gives you a whopping 1 1/2 days at the parks.

To be honest, my suggestion would be to stay at a resort like the Polynesian or the Yacht/Beach Clubs that have excellent pools. Enjoy your resort amenities on Friday, and maybe have a nice sit-down dinner that night. For Saturday, pick one theme park and concentrate on getting the most you can out of it. I can provide specific advice once you answer some of Mary's questions above...

The only issue with this is that these hotels are not going to be reasonably priced. It sounds like the OP will have a car and that opens up the possibilities for them. In that short amount of time, avoid Disney transportation as it will take too long.

I have to agree with Mary2e on avoiding the meal plan. This will consume a lot of time. Consider the hotels in Downtown Disney as you get the perks of extra magic hours and you some have loyalty programs, like the Hilton.. You can get the points and it is still very convenient. I think that these hotels still require that you pay for parking at the park for the day, but not sure-Could be a factor... If that is an issue, go to Coronado Springs or Carib Beach, or even the Port Orleans properties for a little bit more affordable. They are not bad accomodations.

If there are little kids involved, do the Magic Kingdom, but get there early on Saturday AM. Friday is a bit of a gamble. If you are there by noon, then it is worth a day in the park. Depending on your interest. EPCOT would probably be my choice, but it depends on tastes and those who are in party.

I believe more info is necessary here.

Only 1 1/2 days.. Like other opinions here.. use your rental and park as close to the entrance gates as possible. $10 a day parking (last time I was there), but if you're splashing and dashing, you've gotta have the automobile.

Got kids.. go Animal Kingdom for half day, then Magic Kingdom full day. Just yourselves.. Epcot is geared for everyone's interest.. Reflection fireworks at night is worth waiting around for.

If you do decide on Hollywood Studios.. make sure Fantasmic is running that evening.. a good show, but only runs 3 or 4 times a week, and takes alot of time to hop over if you want to catch it.

Save coin but good value.. Fort Wilderness Cabins.. sleeps six.. runs $225 to $265 per night depending on the season.. Full kitchen.. but make sure you've got your vehicle, because its pretty spread out.

As for the meal plan.. 1 1/2 days.. don't do it.. pay as you go.. and don't intricately plan where to go at each park.. get a general sense of what you guys want to do.

Parking is now $14 a day at the parks, free if staying onsite.

Trying to do more than 1 park in a day for such a short stay is only going to be frustrating. You will burn up too much time in transit. Don't do the meal plan, IMO. You'll be running too much to take advantage.

You do know that park tickets will cost a fortune per day for a 2-day visit, I assume? Cost goes WAY down with longer stays.

If you want my advice (which no one ever takes, much to their regret later), put off WDW until you can go for 5 days minimum.

The Magic Kingdom is 107 acres. WDW is the size of Manhattan Island. How much of New York City could you see in 1.5 days in the 100-degree heat, walking most of the time?

Hey, I just came back, and after going more than 50 times over the years, mostly in the spring & fall, I totally forgot just how hot & humid it gets in the parks - and it's only early June.

If the Magic Kingdom is in your plans - stay at the Contemporary so you can walk back to the hotel.

If Epcot is in your plans, stay at the Yacht/Beach Clubs or the Swan/Dolphin if you want to use SPG points.

You CAN do most of 2 parks in the time you have if you concentrate on getting their early, going back to your room when it's sweltering, and heading back at night, at least on the second full day. The parks will be operating with late hours at the end of June and you should be able to get most of the stuff in without killing yourself.

Hey, I just came back, and after going more than 50 times over the years, mostly in the spring & fall, I totally forgot just how hot & humid it gets in the parks - and it's only early June.

If the Magic Kingdom is in your plans - stay at the Contemporary so you can walk back to the hotel.

If Epcot is in your plans, stay at the Yacht/Beach Clubs or the Swan/Dolphin if you want to use SPG points.

You CAN do most of 2 parks in the time you have if you concentrate on getting their early, going back to your room when it's sweltering, and heading back at night, at least on the second full day. The parks will be operating with late hours at the end of June and you should be able to get most of the stuff in without killing yourself.

50 times and you forgot how humid it gets?:D This is where longer stays help out.. break up your day with a couple of air conditioned meals during the sweltering heat, or a nice cool down snack, and you're on your way. There are rides where you can line up under shade, with fans blaring.. I like the fans that have the water running through it outside.. a moments' relief, but a world of difference.

Contemporary is nice, new, spacious, and convenient to Magic Kingdom, and the suites have great views of Theme Park and/or Lagoon. Opened just last year, so pretty much the resort worked out the kinks, and 100% revving to go..

50 times and you forgot how humid it gets?:D This is where longer stays help out.. break up your day with a couple of air conditioned meals during the sweltering heat, or a nice cool down snack, and you're on your way. There are rides where you can line up under shade, with fans blaring.. I like the fans that have the water running through it outside.. a moments' relief, but a world of difference.

Contemporary is nice, new, spacious, and convenient to Magic Kingdom, and the suites have great views of Theme Park and/or Lagoon. Opened just last year, so pretty much the resort worked out the kinks, and 100% revving to go..

I don't go in the summer :D

As well, the Contemporary Hotel was built when the park first opened in the early 70s, but has been refurbished many times over since.

What you are talking about is the Bay Lake Tower, which is a DVC property, and has suites. However, it's not such a great deal for the OP given what he wants to do.

We were there last summer, and it actually wasn't too bad.:D So long as there's plenty of days to be had throughout the parks.. lots of time to spend inside eating meals, or visiting pavilions.. we didn't think it was too hot or anything. By the time night rolls around, and fireworks/shows.. it turns out to be a really nice time during the summer.

You're right on the Bay Lake Tower.. So the old Contemporary Hotel was always over the monorail.. I never knew that.. the way the construction was looking in Oct 08, it looked like brand new construction.

Anything new down at DW, since last summer? I remember Toy Story 3D game ride to be the hot new attraction (Hollywood Studios).