Mom2micayla:
I've been checking out some hotel and passes package from getawaytoday, but I'll also look nto disney direct and Ares Travel as well. Thanks
Do you guys know if it's cheaper to book hotels and passes separately from different sources, or through one source (e.g. getawaytoday) ? I notice getawaytoday is abit cheaper in terms of packages, than if I were to purchase everything separately.
I've never booked a whole package through Ares so I can't honestly say if they are cheaper than getawaytoday. But as far as just basic tickets, they are cheaper through Ares. I've heard positive things about Ares & I know a lot of Dis'ers have used them so I'm assuming they are good.
I did book a DLR vacation package with getaway last year and had a lot of success with them. Very reasonable rates, no hotel taxes (which saves 15% right there!
) and great customer service. I was very happy with them.
As far as booked a package vs. everything individually, I think it totally depends. Last last 4 trips I've been on I've booked everything seperately. Mostly b/c I wanted a particular hotel that getawaytoday doesn't offer and b/c we already had annual passes. Our passes have expired now but I'm still booking everything seperately because of the hotel I want. I've gotten really spoiled and will only stay at a hotel within walking distance. A lot of getaway's hotels aren't that close and you have to take ART. Not a big deal at all if you're not traveling with kids/strollers, but we have 4 kids so it's too much of a pain in the rear to collapse, load, unload, etc 2 strollers and all our junk.
As to buying tickets, you can do it at any time. Just make sure that since you're going in Aug. that you get the regular 2007 tickets and not the "everyone plays for the kids price" ones, since they expire next month.
And a little tip on the fastpasses. If you get one and it says you can use it from, let's say, noon-1, if you accidentally are too busy to use it then it can be used after the times that it says. So if you realize you've missed that hour window, no big deal! Just go to the ride later in the day. They'll let in line as long as it's from the starting time of your return until the park closes.
A lot of people don't realize that. Also, fast passes are hooked onto a system. So if you're ticket is for Space Mountain and can be used from noon-1, you can't get another fast pass ticket until then for another ride. The only exception is the Roger Rabbit ride in Toon Town. That one is the only ride that's not linked to the sytem.
So you can get one for that ride even if your time hasn't came for another existing fastpass. Hope that's not too confusing.
