First timers plan august trip -- help - The DIS Discussion Forums

dexter007 · 11-10-2012, 03:12 PM

Hey Guys,

This is going to be our first time to Disney.
We went through a travel agent who is a close family friend, and was able to match Disney price.

So far for the 2 adult and 2 six year olds with everything but flight were at about $4200. Thats staying at one of the moderate beach resorts.

Can anyone give us any assistance with Promos for the middle of August.
Or any suggestions,

THANKS

Sue M · 11-10-2012, 04:32 PM

Is your travel agent at all familiar with WDW travel? There are promos that do come out for August from Disney. Your TA has to watch for them, then apply it to your reservation. It is important to book the promo as soon as they come out. There is usually free dining or room discount. TA will have to do the Disney Math to see which one would be better for you.

When they come out with a promo, only a limited amount of rooms are released for each promo, and when they're booked, that's it. Which is why it's important to book right away. Most Disney Specialized TAs are on the phone for their clients the moment the Disney booking lines open to get the deals for their clients.

Mousesavers.com has a chart of historical discounts, when they were released, and for what dates. So you can get an idea of past releases.

You've come to the right place, do lots of research, people on this board have lots of experience. Get a good tour book. I like WDW, The Unofficial Guide.

Diamondintheruff · 11-10-2012, 10:06 PM

I second the unofficial guide book.

I also second using an experienced disney TA. Friends are great but an experienced disney TA is the only friend I would be looking at to book my disney trip.

Check out the mousesavers site as they list the deals/discounts for each year.

I also suggest you check out trip reports to get ideas for your own trip. Ideally I would look for a trip report from august last year from a family that had kids around the same age as yours.

darwinsrule · 11-11-2012, 02:34 PM

Still early for the most part for offers for next summer. We have done three August trips to WDW, and booked next August yesterday. The first trip was a family escape with our girls after my MIL passed away in 2009. We booked in it in early June and went down the last week of August with free dining. It was AWESOME. Hence why we keep going back.

I want to say that we booked the other trips around February-ish. We didn't do WDW last summer so my memory is a bit foggy. The free dining (FD) offer is one of those offers people wait for and if you search the boards you will find lots of info on it. It does have the potential to save you $$$ but you have to do the math to see if it works in your situation. It may not work with your vacation dates either.

$4700 doesn't sound out of line for what you are planning. There are ways to save money (we fly out of Buffalo which usually saves us 1k). Only reason we booked for August 2013 was the fact that DW got a discount PIN for next summer which made the pricing on the room too good to pass up ($214 a night for AoA)

sweetcanadian · 11-12-2012, 01:47 AM

We went this past august. For 3 adults (son is in that category) we paid about 3400 total with 6 days of tickets, staying at CSR. We also got free dining, depending on what dates your trip is you may be able to get the free dining if they offer it next year. I think it came out around this time or early december last year.

Glennie5 · 11-13-2012, 01:28 PM

The free dining is usually offered for the end of August - I want to say the last 2weeks but I could be wrong about that. We went the end of August in 2011 with free dining and loved it! The free dining for Aug 2012 came out in March.

KandyM · 11-14-2012, 06:51 AM

Actually, the free dining for Canadians for August 2012 came out in August 2011. I was so excited about that because I was hoping for the same thing this year , but no luck. In March the 2012 free dining for August was expanded to include US visitors.

darwinsrule · 11-14-2012, 08:38 AM

The other thing to keep in mind are dining reservations. You can start making ADR's 180 days out. It may seem strange but start reviewing where you want to eat now. 180 days out will be in Feb (depending on your dates). Some of the restaurants fill up quick, including some of the more popular character meals.

CKCruising · 11-14-2012, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexter007

Hey Guys,

This is going to be our first time to Disney.
We went through a travel agent who is a close family friend, and was able to match Disney price.

So far for the 2 adult and 2 six year olds with everything but flight were at about $4200. Thats staying at one of the moderate beach resorts.

Can anyone give us any assistance with Promos for the middle of August.
Or any suggestions,

THANKS

$4200 seems a bit high. Does that already include the dining plan?

I just looked...A Std. View at CBR for August 10-17 runs 2600 including Park Tickets. The dining plan will set you back another 1K.

11-10-2012, 03:12 PM	#1
dexter007 Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 2	First timers plan august trip -- help Hey Guys, This is going to be our first time to Disney. We went through a travel agent who is a close family friend, and was able to match Disney price. So far for the 2 adult and 2 six year olds with everything but flight were at about $4200. Thats staying at one of the moderate beach resorts. Can anyone give us any assistance with Promos for the middle of August. Or any suggestions, THANKS

11-10-2012, 04:32 PM	#2
Sue M DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: B.C. Posts: 7,445	Is your travel agent at all familiar with WDW travel? There are promos that do come out for August from Disney. Your TA has to watch for them, then apply it to your reservation. It is important to book the promo as soon as they come out. There is usually free dining or room discount. TA will have to do the Disney Math to see which one would be better for you. When they come out with a promo, only a limited amount of rooms are released for each promo, and when they're booked, that's it. Which is why it's important to book right away. Most Disney Specialized TAs are on the phone for their clients the moment the Disney booking lines open to get the deals for their clients. Mousesavers.com has a chart of historical discounts, when they were released, and for what dates. So you can get an idea of past releases. You've come to the right place, do lots of research, people on this board have lots of experience. Get a good tour book. I like WDW, The Unofficial Guide. __________________ Past Trips: Aug 2003 WDW Marriott Courtyard, [B]Aug 2005 [/BSeaWorld, Universal, Busch Gardens Hilton Garden Inn, ]Aug 2007 WDW CBR, Jan 2008WDW WL, Aug 2008St. Pete Beach, Universal-HRH, Sea Workd & Aquatica- Hyatt Place & Doubletree, Jan 2009WDW AKL, Aug 2009Key West Sheraton Suites, Cocoa Beach Hampton Inn, & WDW POR/WL, Jan 2010WDW Poly, Jan 2011WDW POR, Aug 2011WDW POR/BC CL, Jan 2012WDW WL, Aug 2012AKL CL, Jan. 2013POFQ Next trip GF & YC Aug 2013

11-10-2012, 10:06 PM	#3
Diamondintheruff Thinks she saw a flash! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,662	I second the unofficial guide book. I also second using an experienced disney TA. Friends are great but an experienced disney TA is the only friend I would be looking at to book my disney trip. Check out the mousesavers site as they list the deals/discounts for each year. I also suggest you check out trip reports to get ideas for your own trip. Ideally I would look for a trip report from august last year from a family that had kids around the same age as yours. __________________ Precious Gem of a Weekend Report http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2323431 Gem of a Birthday-My 40th with Dh @ AKL http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2149477 Gem of a Trip-quality,clarity,color and"Cut that out!"http://www.disboards.com/showthread....0#post25752950 2013 Jan Offsite, 2012 Aug POR, 2010 July CSR, 2009 Oct CSR MNSSHP Weekend Adult Getaway!2009 April AKL 40th B-Day Trip with Dh only! 2008 August POR,2007Aug ASMu Family Suite, 1997 Off-site,1996 Disneymoon@Disney Institute,92,91,87,85,84 Off-site,84-78 Fort Wilderness Campground

11-11-2012, 02:34 PM	#4
darwinsrule Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 341	Still early for the most part for offers for next summer. We have done three August trips to WDW, and booked next August yesterday. The first trip was a family escape with our girls after my MIL passed away in 2009. We booked in it in early June and went down the last week of August with free dining. It was AWESOME. Hence why we keep going back. I want to say that we booked the other trips around February-ish. We didn't do WDW last summer so my memory is a bit foggy. The free dining (FD) offer is one of those offers people wait for and if you search the boards you will find lots of info on it. It does have the potential to save you $$$ but you have to do the math to see if it works in your situation. It may not work with your vacation dates either. $4700 doesn't sound out of line for what you are planning. There are ways to save money (we fly out of Buffalo which usually saves us 1k). Only reason we booked for August 2013 was the fact that DW got a discount PIN for next summer which made the pricing on the room too good to pass up ($214 a night for AoA) __________________ ______________ Aug '09 - Animal Kingdom Lodge Aug '10 - Wilderness Lodge Aug '10 Disney Wonder May '11 - POFQ Aug '11 Yacht Club Aug '11 Disney Dream (B2B) March '13 Disney Fantasy August '13 AoA Me DW DD8 DD4

11-12-2012, 01:47 AM	#5
sweetcanadian Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 119	We went this past august. For 3 adults (son is in that category) we paid about 3400 total with 6 days of tickets, staying at CSR. We also got free dining, depending on what dates your trip is you may be able to get the free dining if they offer it next year. I think it came out around this time or early december last year. __________________

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11-13-2012, 01:28 PM	#6
Glennie5 DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 532	The free dining is usually offered for the end of August - I want to say the last 2weeks but I could be wrong about that. We went the end of August in 2011 with free dining and loved it! The free dining for Aug 2012 came out in March. __________________ (ME) (DH) (DS) (DD) (DD)(Charlie) 2013 May(Port Orleans Riverside),2011 Dec.(All Star Movies), 2011 Aug.(Port Orleans Riverside), 2011 May(Port Orleans Riverside), 2010 May(Port Orleans Riverside), 2009 Feb.(All Star Sports)&(Port Orleans Riverside), 2008 Sept.(Port Orleans Riverside)&(Caribbean Beach), 2008 Jan.(Port Orleans Riverside), 2007 May(Port Orleans Riverside) 2007 March(Port Orleans Riverside), 2006 Oct.(Off Site) 2006 March(Fort Wilderness Cabins), 2005 May(Off Site), 2003 Feb.(Off Site),

11-14-2012, 06:51 AM	#7
KandyM Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 167	Actually, the free dining for Canadians for August 2012 came out in August 2011. I was so excited about that because I was hoping for the same thing this year , but no luck. In March the 2012 free dining for August was expanded to include US visitors.

11-14-2012, 08:38 AM	#8
darwinsrule Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 341	The other thing to keep in mind are dining reservations. You can start making ADR's 180 days out. It may seem strange but start reviewing where you want to eat now. 180 days out will be in Feb (depending on your dates). Some of the restaurants fill up quick, including some of the more popular character meals. __________________ ______________ Aug '09 - Animal Kingdom Lodge Aug '10 - Wilderness Lodge Aug '10 Disney Wonder May '11 - POFQ Aug '11 Yacht Club Aug '11 Disney Dream (B2B) March '13 Disney Fantasy August '13 AoA Me DW DD8 DD4

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