Going to Disney World end of April

[DT4K]

I'm taking my wife and kids (ages 1, 4, 7, 10) for about 10 days 4/28 - 5/8.
We'd like to stay in a Disney resort for at least part of the time. Probably Port Orleans Riverside because it's the only one we can afford that will accomodate all 6 of us.

We are getting the 7 day passes because I get a decent discount from my employer and it doesn't cost any more than the 5 day passes. We're just getting the basic passes because I don't think we need the hopper option and with only going to a water park once, it isn't worth the extra money for the Plus options (water parks, pleasure island, etc.) I'll probably be getting free tickets for Sea World because my cousin works there. He's a trainer and gets to work with and swim with the whales.

Here is what we are thinking:
Magic Kingdom: 2 days
Epcot: 1 day
Disney/MGM Studios: 1 day
Animal Kingdom: 1 day
One of the water parks: 1 day
Sea World: 1 day

With all of the above, we'll have 2 days free. We thought we would split them so we would have 3 days at parks, 1 day rest, 2 days at parks, 1 day rest, 2 days at parks.

Any advice, opinions, tips, or hints on vacationing with kids in Orlando would be appreciated?

Things I'm debating:
Whether it's worth the money to stay at a Disney hotel?
If not, where is a good place to stay?
Whether we should rent a car for the whole time, part of the time, or not at all?
What should we do on the non-park days?
Trip to the beach?
Which one?
Any other things we shouldn't miss?

 

[Futher]

Skip Epcot... pretty worthless. Go to Universal instead....

 

[Stark]

buy this.

i did when we went last year and it really helped.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Futher
Skip Epcot... pretty worthless. Go to Universal instead....

Is Universal very good for younger kids?
I'm sure my 10 year old and probably my 7 year old would love it, but I'm worried my 4 year old wouldn't have anything to do.
Plus, that's another extra $200 or so.
Going to Epcot doesn't cost us anything really because the 7 day pass is going to cost me about the same as a 4 or 5 day pass.

 

[ShowdOWN]

you probably want to set some time aside also for the attractions and shopping that the international strip has to offer.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. Both are better than Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Advantages of staying in a Disney hotel...more shuttles to and from the Disney parks, if you buy stuff in the parks, they'll send it back to your room so you don't have to carry it, the places are themed and fun for kids.
Disadvantages: I don't think they have shuttles to the other places like Sea World...don't know for sure though. A bit more expensive, even the value places like All Star Movies, Music or Sports are more expensive than many outside places.

If you stay off the resort, I highly recommend the Maingate East hotel. It's one mile from the main gate of Disney, has shuttles to all the Disney parks, the rooms are very nice. I've stayed there twice. Plus, there's an awesome Italian steak restaurant across the street called Pacino's.
Edit: Here's the link to the web site for Maingate East..it's called Seralago now..used to be Holiday Inn

 

[aplefka]

Epcott was pretty interesting to me, but I was 10 when I went. Overall, I was very disappointed with Disneyworld compared to Disneyland. I got so lucky as to go to land one year and world the next (via some business trip thing my aunt had) and it was a pretty big bummer for the most part.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: ShowdOWN
you probably want to set some time aside also for the attractions and shopping that the international strip has to offer.

What's that and what fun things are there to do there?
We aren't really into shopping, other than getting the kids souvenirs.

 

[nageov3t]

Epcot is great, but yeah, not with kids.

I didn't like it that much when I went there with my parents as a kid, but I went back a couple years ago with some friends and we had a great time at Epcot, basically just eating and drinking 🙂