2 trips, what the best way for tickets?

[bigbabyblues]

DH and I are planning a trip in August. We were going to get the dining package and 4-day hoppers. Today, he said he'd like to go in November instead, but I'm trying to decide if we can possibly afford two trips. The Nov trip would be the week after DS's 5th birthday, how better to celebrate? DH wants to go without the kids, but I don't know about doing that right after his bday. I can't figure out the best way, and I'm having trouble getting the numbers.

Trip 1
DH and I, no kids. Staying at Pop for 4 nights (value season), planned to get 4-day hoppers with the dining package.

Trip 2
DH, me, ds then 5, and ds then 2. We would stay at a value resort, and I'm looking at 11/28-12/3, so 5 nights during value season. We all have 1-day UPH tickets that they gave us from Hurricane Jeanne, so one day is taken care of. Would like to do MVMCP. A package with the dining option was $1503.01 for this trip, rack rates, from Disney's site. Thought we may be able to do a little better, but I don't know.

How much is realistic for food? Last trip we had $140 a day, but we did a character meal each day, sometimes two. We won't have to do that many again, but the kids do like a couple.

Would it be better to change our August trip to a 7-day no expiring ticket, and can I add no exp to a package? That way, DH and I would already have our tickets for the Nov trip, and we'd just have to buy 1 3-day hopper for the 5 yo? What about an AP? Would that make more sense? I can't seem to find a price for an AP online, and I have no idea where to get one. We can drive each trip, although DH would prefer to fly with the kids. He has FF miles for 2 tickets, but right now I'm just trying to see if it's even possible to do both trips.

Thanks for any help and input. DH doesn't think it's remotely possible, I'd like to at least find out. We don't want to stay offiste, so value resorts are the option.

 

[KristiKelly]

If you're doing 2 trips, you might want to look into Annual Passes. They are a little more expensive but they are good for an entire year. Also, with the AP you can sometimes get good discounts on hotel rooms & you would also be eligible for the Disney Dining Experience (DDE) card for $50. This card gives a 20% disc. at many restaurants in WDW. Here's a link about the DDE with a list of participating restaurants. Also visit Mousesavers.com & wdwig.com for more info on APs & DDE.

 

[disneymom3]

The APs are Adult $395 and childrens $336 before tax. That is from the Disney site. I was just researching this idea the other night. Sign up at mousesavers for the newsletter and you will get access to some links with savings on passes.

For your package rate, you are looking at $300 per day for essentially three people. That seems rather high for a value resort. With the APs it is fairly likely that you could get a good room rate or some codes may very well come out.

As I understand it, you have to buy at least one days MYW tickets in order to qualify for the dining package, so take that into consideration for your November trip. And they can be the nonexpiration ones. For instance you could buy a 10 day nonexpiring pass for you and DH and qualify for the dining plan the first trip, but then if you use those leftover days for the second trip, then you have to add at least one more day passes to get the dining plan that trip.

As for the tickets, you are definitely better off buying longer days stays. The difference between the 5 day and 7 day is like $9 as I recall. I don't think that buying two sets of expiring will be cheaper than one set of nonexpiring. Make sense?

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks for the replies and the help! I didn't think it was cheaper to buy two sets of tickets for DH and I either, but I wasn't sure.

I guess it probably doesn't matter now anyway, he's against doing two trips, and wants to skip August and go in November with or without the kids, up to me. I was really looking forward to a trip for just the two of us, but we'll have to see. If I can save for the second trip without telling him, then he'll give in.

Thanks again!