New to this site - need help planning my trip

I am planning a trip for the only time that I can get off, the month of July. It is for 2 adults and 1 child, possibly 2.

I was looking at discounted Kissimmee hotels so I would be close to Disney since that is where we really want to spend most of our 16 days. Neither of us drive so I needed shuttle service and I really wanted it to be free. The rating on most Kissimmee hotels weren%26#39;t that hot unless you spent $100 or more per night.

So I thought if I am going to spend $100 a night why not get a Disney value resort for $100 a night and stay on their property. That is what I did, but now I have a million questions because I think I took on more than what I can afford.

From all the postings I read, it seems like everything in Disney costs twice as much. Are the prices that much higher? Will meals cost that much more. Last year I stayed on International Drive and was able to buy groceries because the room that I was in had a micro and frig. I didn%26#39;t go to Disney because the cost of the shuttles. We did Sea World, Universal, Islands of Adventure, Wet %26amp; Wild, the shuttles for those parks were free.

The Disney hotels don%26#39;t offer microwaves. You can get a frig at a charge per night which I am going to do, but I need a grocery store or supermarket that I can get to without a car. Any suggestions on buying groceries while on Disney property will help.

Since I am staying on Disney property, Pop Century, I am paying more for a hotel than what I expected, so I have to cut corners in other places. I really need to find a way to have breakfast and lunch in the room. Breakfast is easy with a frig, just have cereal and milk, but lunch items are another thing.

If I can find a way to get to a supermarket I can purchase coldcuts and make sandwiches for lunch. Then I only have to worry about the cost of dinner.

I also have a question about Pop Century. Are there any 24 hour stores, for example, McDonalds close to it so we can buy something after the parks, we plan on staying late. I was reading somewhere that there was a 24-hour McDonald%26#39;s close to All Star Movie.

How is Pop Century - is it better than the All Stars? Should I change to one of the All Star resorts. Which is better for a 6 year old?

Any advice is appreciated.

New to this site - need help planning my trip

There is a convenience store at the Hess Station at Downtown Disney, where you could pick up some items. You can take the Disney transportation to DTD and then walk across the street. I don%26#39;t know how their selection of lunch meat is since I haven%26#39;t purchased it there, but you can also pick up grocery items at any Disney Vacation Club resort (although it%26#39;s a little more expensive than the local grocery, it%26#39;s not much more-I was just at one in January and priced items on and off property). Between those two options, you should have breakfast and lunch covered easily. Make sure you bring some kind of clips or ziplock bags for chips, as the humidity here will make them stale quickly if they aren%26#39;t closed well, and you don%26#39;t want to get any bugs in the food.

If you can%26#39;t afford the Disney Dining Plan, I recommend sticking with counter service restaurants for your meals. The portions are a good size and the food is good. There are menus for all the Disney restaurants, with prices, on allearsnet.com under dining. That should help you make decisions regarding your food budget. Most restaurants also offer child menu choices at lower prices, which will also help. I go to Disney frequently, and eating in the room is one way I cut corners if I%26#39;m trying to stretch the budget.

There is a McDonalds between Blizzard Beach and All Star Resort. I don%26#39;t particularly like McDonalds food, so I haven%26#39;t eaten there to know what the hours are. However, I have heard from some of my co-workers that McDonalds food costs more on property than it does at off property McDonalds. There is also a McDonalds at Downtown Disney, between the Marketplace and Pleasure Island.

Are you taking the Magical Express from the airport or other transportation? If you are taking other transportaton, you might be able to arrange a trip to the grocery store on the way in for supplies. Or, you can take a taxi from DTD to the nearest grocery (the Winn Dixie is about 2 miles from DTD) which would be the shortest cab fare.

It is possible to do Disney on a budget. Just try to get as much pricing info as you can before you go, and make a realistic budget. You will really be happy that you made the decision to stay on property and Pop Century is a really nice resort. Have a great trip!

New to this site - need help planning my trip

One of the downsides on staying on-site is being a captive audience to Disney retail. While the best prices in groceries are in places like WalMart, well away from Disney, you can walk to a small grocery store just across SR535 at the end of Hotel Blvd in the Crossroads shopping plaza. They have lots of stuff suitable for quick lunches. There are also a number of resturants there, including a waffle house type place, TGI Friday%26#39;s and a number of others.

You might also consider the Grovesnor Resort in Disney Village. If you stay away from from 4th of July week, the price is at the top of your range, but the location would be great. Easy walking distance to DTD and Crossroads. No car required. The pool area won%26#39;t be as elaborate, and the rooms are basic, but you also won%26#39;t be as isolated as you%26#39;ll be at a Disney resort. Maybe split the stay between the two? Just a thought.

2for Disney,

Fla4Fun and Tourmaline covered just about everything so I%26#39;ll answer your question about the value resort. In my opinion you made the right choice with the Pop Century as it is the best of the three for a 6 year old so not to worry about that!

Also want to add, we filled up a small suitcase with cereal, peanut butter and jelly, crackers and snacks from home which helps some and then purchashed milk from the small grocery store at the Yacht and Beach Club which is located right outside Epcot.

Before you go any further. You are creating a lot of issues. And you will find a lot of people have a lot of views. All we can do is give you more ideas and possible more confused.

first you do not drive. what I will suggest is just suggestions but may help you budgetwise.

Fisrt half of vacation stay on disney property and use meal plan. you can not eat even at outside restaurants for what the plan cost. It is a very good for budgetting. It is up to you whether you will need the hopper STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT. the plus will again up to you.

For the second half of vacation find you a hotel close to Univeral and seaworld that will offer the free transportation. I found The Howard Johnson on Hawiian Court - free continental breakfast and free transportation. Take a taxi from disney resort to hotel.