Disney with my little brothers..

I'm 19 years old and I have 2 younger brothers who are dying to go Disney World. With two busy parents, I'm considering driving down there from NY this summer to rid them of the responsibility (But I'll be honest, I'm pretty excited for Disney myself.) I also want to maybe make a few more stops (Colonial Williamsburg, The Everglades, Washington D.C., etc) along the way. I need some advice on a few things. Firstly, my father and I are currently looking to get me a new car, and I'm keeping the trip in mind. What's a good road trip car? Also, I need some tips on keeping us within a budget. We definitely plan on camping and packing bag lunches and all that, but some more advice would be appreciated. I need to find some way to save enough of our money for those expensive park tickets. And what other things should I consider taking my brothers to see? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

If you or the kids are in to fishing, you should stop at the Bass Pro Shop in Norfolk,Virginia.

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

OK, the first thing you have to realize is how far the Everglades are off your route. Including a side trip there would increase your one-way driving distance from just over 2750 miles to well over 4000 miles, adding at least two more days (and the attendant expense) to your trip. Washington, DC is within reason, but even Williamsburg is starting to get a little iffy. With Washington in the picture, you can relatively easily include Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Grand Canyon. An alternative, more northern route would include Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a stretch along the old Oregon Trail, a spectacular drive through the Colorado Rockies on I-70, and Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. It would help especially if your brothers were old enough to help navigate, rather than being so young that they require a non-stop baby sitter.

As for what kind of car, get whatever you're comfortable driving. Even a mid-sized sedan should be more than adequate for 3 people on a trip of this duration. There are quite a few hints for saving money here and some other hints along with general budget considerations here. Where you should be taking your brothers is really up to them. Get them involved in the planning. Get a map out, mark your general route out and back and start having a look at what's along their that appeals to you.

AZBuck

I think Buck wrote as if you are heading to Disneyland in California, but If I've read correctly, I think you would actually be going to Disneyworld Orlando?

Haha, yep. I'm driving from New York to Florida, not New York to California.

Yeah, I'm currently in the process of planning a trip to take my grandsons to Disneyland, so I have that on my brain. In your case, then, the Everglades is in play. Now since you've listed one historical site and one natural setting, let's see what else there is of those types of attractions along the way. You could probably make the drive from New York City (or are you somewhere else?) to Orlando in two days, But to that you'll have to add any time you take to visit places, like Washington and Williamsburg. Other options include Jamestown and Yorktown (both are near Williamsburg), Charleston, SC (take the ferry from Patriots Point out to Fort Sumter), and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. You can see some on the way down and some on the way back. While in Florida, it would still be too long a drive (600 miles round trip) to get to the Everglades and back in a day from Orlando, but the Kennedy Space Center is a very easy day trip

AZBuck

Thanks! I definitely think I'm going to drive that extra 600 miles for the Everglades. I hear it's worth it. And I think they'd like to go to the Space Center as well.

Anyone else have some advice for me?

You may have already thought about some of these things, but I thought I would throw in my two cents anyway.

First, GOOD LUCK! You are a brave soul to make this trip with your young brothers. But it sounds like a fun trip. You should have a lot of fun.

Second, what are your plans for lodging while you are the parks? I know you will want to say on a budget, and that usually means staying off the property. If that is what you want to do then I would consider one of the extended stay types of hotels - the ones with kitchens in them. You may find that being able to cook in is more affordable than a cheeper hotel and eating out all the time. And I'm sure there are campgrounds in the area as well - I know you mentioned that.

I would also do some research on the many lodging choices that are on the property. Most are expensive, but they try to make more affordable options available as well. There is a sports themed hotel that is a bit like a Motel 6. And that may be in your price range. There is also a campground on the property, but I think that fills up fast. If you are interested in that, then you should book it as soon as you can. People who stay on the property can use the free busses to get to and from the parks. Or you can drive to each park and skip the parking fees. That may turn out to be better for your budget.

Third, how old are your brothers? You may consider a day at Universal Studios if they are old enough. It is usually easy to find coupons that give great discounts for their two parks. And there are more "exciting" rides to choose from - meaning roller coasters, etc. And don't forget that Disney also has water parks - that may be a nice change of pace as well.

I think it's great you want to do this for and with your brothers. If you have a responsible friend who can pay her own way, I suggest you consider taking a friend along to help out. (If it's OK with your parents, that is.) Just a thought. It will make it easier to keep an eye on your younger brothers and deal with other things, too.

We stayed at the All-Star Sports within Disneyworld when we were there. I thought it was wonderful....definitely not Motel 6-like at all. Cute decor. Nice amenities. And inexpensive eating options as well in a nice big food court-like area. We compared the price of staying there to staying in an off-site hotel and commuting to the parks each day. We found that once you paid for parking, we weren't saving much at all. And if you stay in Disneyworld itself, you can enter selected parks before everybody else. This allows you a chance to get on the most popular rides before the biggest crowds get there. If you can budget it in, it's well worth it to stay in the park, imho.

I agree that Universal is worth a visit, too. They have some awesome rides!

Sorry about that. I wasnt trying to make it sound like the All Star Resort was a bad place at all. I guess comparing it to a Motel 6 was my way of saying that it was more basic accomidations than some of the luxury hotels on the property and therefore more affordable. I know many people who overlook the option of staying on the property because they think it is all too expensive and I wanted you to know there are affordable options as well. I have never stayed there myself, but I know several people who have and they all liked it.

And I agree that it would be a good idea to have a friend come along as well. An extra set of eyes is always nice to help keep an eye on your brothers and it would also mean that you wouldn't have to do all the driving yourself.

Heck, I don't even consider Motel 6 bad places. They're just not fancy. :) But we're all different and that's why we love to have so many people offering opinions here. It gives people many options from diverse perspectives.

I've just never been one to want to spend much extra for lodging. I sleep, shower, and go. As long as it's clean, that's all I need.

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Originally Posted by Kaitlyn

I'm 19 years old and I have 2 younger brothers who are dying to go Disney World. With two busy parents, I'm considering driving down there from NY this summer to rid them of the responsibility (But I'll be honest, I'm pretty excited for Disney myself.) I also want to maybe make a few more stops (Colonial Williamsburg, The Everglades, Washington D.C., etc) along the way. I need some advice on a few things. Firstly, my father and I are currently looking to get me a new car, and I'm keeping the trip in mind. What's a good road trip car? Also, I need some tips on keeping us within a budget. We definitely plan on camping and packing bag lunches and all that, but some more advice would be appreciated. I need to find some way to save enough of our money for those expensive park tickets. And what other things should I consider taking my brothers to see? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

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I wouldn't buy a car with one road trip in mind. I assume you're going to own the car for years and years; you should choose a car that suits your everyday lifestyle, and if you need something different for one trip, rent it.

How old are your brothers?

We took our girls to Col. Williamsburg when they were (I think) 4 and 7. They were a little young, but they enjoyed it. It's kind of surprising that the historical area is sort of "blended in" with modern living arrangements. Some people just wander down the street taking in the old stuff, but most people buy the tickets so they can go into the houses and talk to the costumed guides. You'll start on the end of town with the Governer's mansion (the tour is sort of arranged with that building as a starting point), and you can go into as many or as few buildings as you choose. I can't remember the names of the houses we visited, but we saw what was supposed to be a wealthy lawyer's home (and his gardens, cooking houses, etc. in the backyard), the jail, a couple shops (print shop and gun maker). We ate in one of the old-fashioned taverns, and it was a rip-off. My kids had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sodas; so much for authentic! The single thing we enjoyed most, though, was the church; it isn't a part of Colonial Williamsburg, but the history in that place was fascinating! Williamsburg has more pancake houses than anywhere else I've ever been. I can't remember where we stayed, so it must not've been memorable, and we've been three times! I love the Pfaltzgraff outlet; I bought so much stoneware to match my pattern, and it was like 80% off the cost at home!

While you're in Willliamsburg, consider visiting Busch Gardens. I love-love-love Disney, but this theme park is better. Great coasters (Darkastle is wonderful) and very clean.

Washington DC is great for kids. The museums are wonderful (and paid by your tax dollars), and the zoo is part of the museum system. Driving is difficult and parking is incredibly expensive, so use the Metro. Expect LOTS of walking if you're going to all the memorials (which, of course, you must!). DC is not really the safest place to visit, so camping is out for that portion of the trip! Plus I don't think there are any campgrounds in the vicinity of the things you'll expect to see. We stayed in a suite at the Residence Inn on Vermont Ave (won it on Priceline, $50/night, which included a full breakfast the next morning -- food is VERY expensive in DC), and we had a kitchen.

Within reason, Disney can be as expensive or as inexpensive as you choose to make it. Onsite is great because you can park your car and use their transportation, which is efficient and faster than your own car (don't underestimate how large Disney is).

I have to agree with AZBuck that the Everglades are a looong way out of your way (are you the only driver?), while lower South Carolina and Georgia offer swamps that are almost as interesting. I'd suggest a stop in Savannah. Most boys would love the ghost tours, and there are so many cool things to see and do: Tybee Island, the Marine Science Center, historical houses, horse-drawn carriages, the Wolf preserve, Pirate tours. You can see hidden tunnels in churches, which runaway slaves used as part of the Underground Railroad as they headed North. The historical district is PACKED in the summer though. If you do not stay in the historical district, it's impossible to get a parking place; not difficult, impossible! If you stay out of town, consider taking a taxi into town to avoid the parking. Literally, we drove around for 45 minutes and NEVER found a place. We camped at the KOA campground once, and it was the second-worst camping experience of my life (Sesquicentennial State Park wins top honors because they had no fire rings, but loads of bees); of course, I might just think that because the police came through in the middle of the night searching tents looking for some criminal who'd run through the place. The second time, we stayed in the Hilton on Bay Street, which was wonderful because we were close enough to walk to everything.

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Originally Posted by Judy

Heck, I don't even consider Motel 6 bad places. They're just not fancy. :) But we're all different and that's why we love to have so many people offering opinions here. It gives people many options from diverse perspectives.

I've just never been one to want to spend much extra for lodging. I sleep, shower, and go. As long as it's clean, that's all I need.

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When my husband's company's paying the bill, we stay in some really nice places: 5 star resorts right on the beach, great golf courses, etc. When we're paying the bill ourselves, we choose much more frugally. We LOVE the cabins in the South Carolina state parks, and they're really budget! I've actually never stayed at a Motel 6, but I've stayed at plenty of Day's Inns and Red Roof Inns. I guess they're pretty much the same. I've also stayed in hostels, which are wonderful and have some positives that hotels don't offer!

While I won't spend my own money to pay for fancy furniture and nice bathrooms (why would I pay $$$$ to rent these things for one night?), I will often pay more to stay in a location that's very convenient to the places we plan to visit. Time is money, and if we stay close enough that we don't have to use our car, find parking (maybe pay for parking), etc, then it's money well spent.

And sometimes we split our stay between a really cheap location and a more expensive/convenient location.

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Originally Posted by Judy

We stayed at the All-Star Sports within Disneyworld when we were there. I thought it was wonderful....definitely not Motel 6-like at all. Cute decor. Nice amenities. And inexpensive eating options as well in a nice big food court-like area. We compared the price of staying there to staying in an off-site hotel and commuting to the parks each day. We found that once you paid for parking, we weren't saving much at all. And if you stay in Disneyworld itself, you can enter selected parks before everybody else. This allows you a chance to get on the most popular rides before the biggest crowds get there. If you can budget it in, it's well worth it to stay in the park, imho.

I agree that Universal is worth a visit, too. They have some awesome rides!

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Yep, you have to look at ALL the benefits of staying onsite at Disney. In this case, it's not all about a bed and a shower -- the early entry mornings, the transportation, and the extra hours in the evenings (do they still do that?) are worth a great deal!

We've never been to Universal, but we're going in July! And since we're talking about budgets, I'll throw in that I have two free hotel nights from last summer's Docker's Father's Day promotion (I'm paying for two additional nights), and I have two free Universal tickets from MyCokeRewards (since we're a family of four, I'll have to buy two more tickets), and I have Disney tickets left over from a previous trip.

I wish I could tag along. I love theme parks. I would love to work at a Disney or Universal or 6 Flags, whatever. I could live on Main Street USA. :)

Enjoy!

I'm definitely feeling a LOT more informed. Now, I just have to consider all of my options and figure out a plan.

My brothers are 10 and 12. I took them to the Disney website and they really seemed to want to stay at the All Star Resort. I can definitely fit it in my budget, and I think it will be great to take advantage of their transportation and parking. As for Williamsburg, we're all really excited. We were there once a long time ago and remember loving it. Maybe we'll make our way to Yorktown as well. We have also been to Busch Gardens, and that would be great, but it might be adding a bit too much to our budget. We've also decided to cut Washington D.C. off the list. It will put a big unnecessary strain on our budget that we don't need. Besides, we were there not too long ago.

As for bringing a friend, I'll definitely be considering that. It would be nice to have an extra driver and kid-wrangler. I'll just have to find someone crazy enough to do it. Gah!

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. And don't be shy, keep it coming!

Ahhh.....Disney. Now you're talking about my absolute area of expertise!! :))

We just returned from a two week trip to Coronado Springs, but have stayed at All-Star Movies, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Fort Wilderness on previous trips.

First recommendation, and this is one that you absolutely cannot miss: Go and read all you can at another message board dedicated to Disney: Disboards. IMO, it's the absolute end-all-be-all of Disney information.

Second, consider purchasing The Unofficial Guide to Disney World (2008 edition)

Third, exactly when are you planning to go? If you can push the Disney portion of your trip to the end of August, you might be able to coincide with the time that they begin offering the dining plan for free! More details on that at Disboards.com. Just search for "free dining."

4. One of the best tips that I've ever received and that I give to everyone is this: When you're staying on Disney property, AVOID the extra magic hours parks at all costs. They are invariably the most crowded parks on those days, and your experiences at other parks will be far superior. In September, we did this (again), and couldn't believe the crowd differentials.

5. If you're going in July, it's gonna be unbelievably busy no matter what. Lines for headline attractions can easily top 90 minutes at that time of year. At Touring Plans.com , you can subscribe to a service (very cheap) that will allow you to plan your trip right down to the last detail so that you can maximize your time spent enjoying the things you want to see while minimizing your waits in line. It sort of goes against the laid back style of most true "road trips," but effectively planning your Disney portion of the vacation will make things significantly more pleasurable for you! Not planning can leave you feeling very overwhelmed by the place!

Enjoy......and please don't hesitate to PM me either here or over on Disboards (same user name there!). I could talk Disney all day long.......

Oh yeah, one other thing....

The All-Stars are great. You can't go wrong with any of them.

But I'd really recommend that you look closely at Pop Century, another value priced resort. The reason is simple. All three of the All-Star Resorts share bus service. Pop Century has their own dedicated buses. Although Pop is a huge resort, it can make a pretty significant difference, particularly at the end of the day when the Parks are all closing.

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Originally Posted by Kaitlyn

As for bringing a friend, I'll definitely be considering that. It would be nice to have an extra driver and kid-wrangler. I'll just have to find someone crazy enough to do it. Gah!

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It's not just a matter of convenience -- it's a saftey issue. You really shouldn't drive all that far yourself. A relief driver is a necessity!

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Originally Posted by metsno1

4. One of the best tips that I've ever received and that I give to everyone is this: When you're staying on Disney property, AVOID the extra magic hours parks at all costs. They are invariably the most crowded parks on those days, and your experiences at other parks will be far superior. In September, we did this (again), and couldn't believe the crowd differentials.

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I'd agree with this . . . with a twist. Go to the early entry park to take advantage of the benefits . . . then hop over to another park around 10:00 when it gets busy. This gives you the best of both worlds.
There's really no time when Disney's not crowded. If you go during the summer, it takes effort to avoid the crowds; however, if you go during the "off season" -- well, there's really not an off season anymore -- they close the parks early and don't run as many parades, so you're gettting fewer hours at Disney. It just depends upon which way you want to do it.

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I'd agree with this . . . with a twist. Go to the early entry park to take advantage of the benefits . . . then hop over to another park around 10:00 when it gets busy. This gives you the best of both worlds.

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That's what we did and when I compare all we packed in compared to other people I know, I think this made a big difference.

I also agree that "The Unofficial Guide" is a great resource. That's what I used to plan our trip. But that was before the days of the internet...at least before MY internet experience started as we went in '95...so places like Disboards may give one as much help as the book these days.

The idea of jumping from one park to the other is a good one for many people! It might work out great for you!

It was a little more difficult for us to do, unfortunately. Once our girls get "settled" in one park, they never want to leave it!! And I think I'm just biased against the Disney transportation system, efficient though it may be. It can take as much as an hour to transfer from one park to another, including lines, waits for the monorail/busses/etc. Just something to keep in mind.

Oh yeah, plus we're not early risers! Those 8 AM admission times were killers for us!!

Yeah, we're definitely not morning people either!

And I think I've convinced my older brother to come along. That should make this all a lot easier!