need WDW budgeting help

[firecracker11976]

anybody good with budgeting I have a problem with trying to figure out what to do about our trip....
go our original days and have the DxDDP and check in on 3/4 and check out 3/8 or let DH leave on the 8th and us go from the 3-9...we would have to switch to DDP and have more cs obviously..BUT if I researched right will save us 500+ and the GC! What to do??? We wre park hopping but we wouldn't be able to with the 4/3 deal. My girls have never been and we wer already going to be celerating two birthdays while there. I am just so confused. If it weren't for the 500 I would not do it at all. That is just a large chunk of change! ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! please help...oh and to make sure i understand if DH leaves on sunday we can use his CS if needed right even though he isn't there?

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

anybody good with budgeting I have a problem with trying to figure out what to do about our trip....
go our original days and have the DxDDP and check in on 3/4 and check out 3/8 or let DH leave on the 8th and us go from the 3-9...we would have to switch to DDP and have more cs obviously..BUT if I researched right will save us 500+ and the GC! What to do??? We wre park hopping but we wouldn't be able to with the 4/3 deal. My girls have never been and we wer already going to be celerating two birthdays while there. I am just so confused. If it weren't for the 500 I would not do it at all. That is just a large chunk of change! ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! please help...oh and to make sure i understand if DH leaves on sunday we can use his CS if needed right even though he isn't there?

If you are not staying for 7 nights, the 4/3 deal may not be the best for you, depending on where you are staying. There are other codes out that might be better...SZX for packages with the DDP can be applied to stays between 1/4-4/2/2009. Maybe you could let us know if the children are both under 10 and what resort you're booking? Having that information helps when trying to compare package prices.

 

[an_evans]

If I am reading this right you could have more days for less money, The only other difference you would be switching to regular dining and base tickets?

On a longer trip you don't have to hop and I think you would still really enjoy the dining plan. You would also have your husbands remaining dining credits.

I think you should go for it!

 

[firecracker11976]

3 adults will be going and 3 children (8 and under) We are staying at ASM in a suite. the only ressies my dds have asked for are CRT, Cape May breakfast and Princess Breakfast at Epcot..the rest are all selfish on my part If this helps any let me know. I guess it may be cheaper to do two rooms and get rid of one when DH leaves too...I don't know. I HATE math

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Some things that you may need to be aware of:

1. The only Value Resort rooms that can accommodate more than 4 people are the ASMu Family Suites. The only way that you would be able to get 2 rooms and drop one when your DH leaves would be if the youngest child is in a portable crib.
2. The only Moderate Resort that can accommodate 5 people is POR. Some of their rooms have trundle beds that can comfortably fit a small child. However, there are no moderates that sleep 6. So, Moderates are out.
3. If you decide to get two rooms, anyone who is in the room your DH is in will have the DDP for only those days that the room is occupied. When he checks out, their dining credits expire at midnight. So, you would need to have him in a room by himself in order for those who remain behind to maintain their dining credits. Again, that leaves 5 people in the other room. So, unless the youngest is in a portable crib, this won't work.

As I see it, one of your options is to try to get a Family Suite using the 4/3 deal. You would be only getting one free night out of it and you would be paying the rack rate for those nights. The rack rate for ASMu Family Suites during Peak Season (2/16-4/3/2008) is $285/$305 (weeknight/weekend night). You would also save $3 per ticket (the difference between a 5-day base pass and a 6-day pass). Total savings would be around $300, plus you would get a $200 GC at check in.

Another option would be to try for the suite using the SZX code (MYW package w/DDP). I'm not sure if the suites are included in this discount code, so you might need to book 2 rooms instead. The package discount does not include any ticket discounts, nor any gift card at check in. Normal rack rates for single rooms during Peak Season is $119/$129 for a std. room. The discounted cost is $74 Sun-Thurs., so for 2 rooms for 5 nights, you would realize a savings of about $450.

So, there's a difference of about $50 between the two discounts. If it were me, I would try to book the 4/3 at a suite if possible. If nothing is available for your dates, then try for a suite using the SZX code. If SZX cannot be used for suites or none are available, look into booking 2 rooms using that code.