I like to mitigate the sticker shock by spreading the payments out. Once I book (room only), I figure out how much per month I have to pay to be PIF a couple of months before the trip and just work it into our monthly budget.
I had our room only for April PIF around the 1st of the year, and now DH will never get hit with the full amount.
We booked so late this time around that I don't know it would matter. It's not really the hotel part that is a huge deal anyways, it's everything together. Our airfare's already paid, so that's a chunk of it, and I think we're probably going to buy our park tickets in advance this time (tax free on base). It's the food that gets to him, but it's a better deal for us to pay out of pocket.
Josh at EasyWDW updated his April crowd calendar. I looked only at my dates (4/12-4/19) but I do see that the overall resort crowd levels on Monday and Tuesday (4/15 and 4/16) bumped up from a 5 to a 6. I haven't seen a similar move from Touring Plans. Here's the current easyWDW calendar.
http://www.easywdw.com/april13-v3.jpg
Yeah...I'm not too concerned about it. This was the only week we could go and bring along my sister. I think that once you're booked, it's not worth it to pay too close of attention to the crowd calendars, unless you really think you'll switch. Yeah...which park recommendations can be helpful, but ultimately the way you tour will make more of a difference.
I'm much more concerned about how Fastpass+ may affect our touring.
we're early birds, up by 6:00 a.m. people. I can't imagine not getting to a park at rope drop. I would have anxiety!
That's kind of why we've settled on our Rope Drop + Midday break plan. My eyes pop open first thing in the morning, then I'm super jittery until we make it out the door. Also, with a 2 year old, the concept of sleeping in is completely foreign anyways. Nap time is a more reasonable expectation and even then I'm happy to finally have someone to explore the resort with while DH naps!
I am so bummed.....i've posted before about DH's lack of Disney Love and how he just tunes out when I (try to) talk about it, but this morning as I was going on about how excited I am that it's just 2 months away, he asked me not to talk about it with him anymore because it ruins his mood and his stomach just plummets when I bring it up because all he thinks about is how he doesn't want to fly.
GMAFB! it's a measly 3 hour flight, not like jumping out of a plane or something!
He spoke to his dr. last time he was there and she said she'd call him in a prescription for Xanax or something the week before he goes but jeez, suck it up already. I'm deathly afraid to fly too but guess what? I put the flight part out of my mind until the time comes, then I'm a wreck for a few days, then I fly and am over it. I don't let it dampen my enthusiasm for the trip months and months before hand. UGH! I'm a big fan of not worrying about things in advance
It's ok. My DH loves Disney, and doesn't mind flying, but he still doesn't want to talk about our trip.
A quick question for my April friends - we got our ME package recently (really early, wowsa) but today I found out our flight home has changed. I know I have to call to change it, which I will tomorrow, but they won't send a new package will they? We can just use the old one even though it has the wrong flight info, right?
No, they shouldn't send a new package. You do need to be signed up for the correct return trip, but it doesn't really change anything on your end. Other than when your pick up time is.
Already on the list, but didn't have hotel. Just booked ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE for our April 19-29 trip!!
So excited!! Thank goodness for the AP discount. Pool view, but heck we will just be happy to get to experience our first deluxe.
We did Pool View at AKL on our honeymoon and LOVED it!
I doubt you'll be disappointed.
Booked an ADR for the Aloha show at Poly for Wednesday night!!!! We got Category 1 so hopefully we will have good seats. We are going to the 5:15 show....do you think we could tour the resort and watch the fireworks afterwards from there? Or is that a strict no-no?
No. We've done it. Some of the repeat Polynesian guests frown on it, but Disney doesn't care (they probably encourage it). In general, the Poly guests get most upset if they think people are taking away the beach chairs from them, but obviously they have no way of proving where everyone on the beach is staying, so it's really up to you.
ETA: Don't forget about the Water Pageant. I think it passes the Poly at 9pm (it depends on the fireworks schedule) so it's something else to be on the beach to see.
Nope!!
You got half right......
I entered them all into that dining plan spreadsheet calculator thingy, and Boma came out cheapest at $72, followed by Be our Guest at $76. Of course, who knows what we'll order at BoG....the others are easy b/c they're all buffets. Next cheapest after that was Tusker House lunch.
That's exactly what I was going to say.
Be Our Guest being more flexible is precisely why you should pay out of pocket, unless of course every single person plans to order a soda, the steak, and a dessert (around $37). In which case, paying OOP for Tusker House would be a better choice.
I suggest for that particular meal you look at the menu and try to get a general idea of what people will order.
Keep in mind that the dining plan isn't all or nothing. You could use credits for part of the meal, and pay out of pocket for the rest. It does make it a little more complicated, so it kind of depends on how much effort you want to put into getting a good value.
Then when he picks a 2nd paper out and it says like "World", he might be like 
He's intelligent but sometimes lacking in the common sense dept., so who knows, lol.
