Another newbie planning FAR in advance...

[kctwinmommy]

I came up with the idea to take our kids to WDW in 2009 just a few days ago. I'm a very big planner, not necessarily every detail, but I like things done early, so I'm getting the jump on things now. I realize that things like times and rates can and will change, but I figure this gives me time to think things through and decide what we want to do. We'll be going in spring 2009, probably mid-May, with my then 5 1/2 year old twins (B&G) and my parents, whom my kids just love! I thought it would be nice to have another set of hands, or two, and they would enjoy going to WDW and seeing it through the eyes of their g-kids!

We already know we'll be staying a SOG since we're a military family. We stayed there when it was just the 2 of us, but that was 7 years ago. And no kids! But we really liked the hotel and the location, plus the price is great too.

However, there are a ton of other things that we don't know about. Character meals, rewards programs, tours, all those extra things, etc... One thing we are thinking about is getting the Visa C.C. that they have now. We always pay our c.c.'s off each month, so there's no worry about that. But I'm not sure if it's still anything that great. I hear that some aren't that thrilled with it. And how do you get points/rewards?? Do you have to transfer it to something else? And when?? I figure if we've got over 2 years to go, we can really earn some points...

I hope to learn some tips and ideas over the next couple years! TIA!

 

[DreaGirl]

Hi, I am new also. I am planning our trip for sometime in October and I thought that was early.

 

[Disney_Dreaming]

Hi, I'm also new and looking forward to our family trip in 2008.

 

[kctwinmommy]

Hi, I am new also. I am planning our trip for sometime in October and I thought that was early.

LOL! Yeah, I'm a very early planner. Plus, with 2 kids, I need to plan far in advance and save up for it. It will be their first major vacation. We haven't taken them anywhere really as of yet, being twins, it's just too hard sometimes. So this will be big. And now they're walking around saying they're going to "Mickey Mouse's castle!" LOL!!

 

[DreaGirl]

That's funny!

This will be our first "big" family vacation as DD is only 8 months old. We are waiting until she is on "real" food vs. baby food so it will be a little easier for use.

Right now we are leaning towards POR.

I understand about the twins. My good friend has twins and I see what she goes though.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Good Evening Everyone,

My family and I just returned from our trip the first week in December. This was only our second trip to WDW, but you have to plan everything. I suggest getting a couple of guide books and reading everything you can get you hands on, and keep reading the Disboards. I used the Passporter'd Guide to Walt Disney World, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, The Official Guide to WDW, The Official Guide to WDW Restaurants (or something like that) and we still missed a few things. We were there for 8 days, and pretty much got to do everything that we wanted to do. I called as soon as we got back, so that I could schedule another trip for December 2008 and the CM told me that they only book 499 days out, so I have to wait until July 2007. I also suggest that you book your trip as soon as possible, because with as many offers as there are available for WDW, you might just miss out. You can always change your reservation if a special comes around. I would also suggest using the Dining Plan if possible (not avail for SOG). Book any ADR's as soon as your reach the designated time is avail (right now it's 180 days prior to your arrival date)

Hope this helps. Please PM me if you would like any more info, I could go on all day (night)

PrincessSuzanne

 

[Plantlady]

The disney rewards have to be transfered to a rewards card... It's easy to do, just call them, and they will send you the reloadable rewards card.

But, once they're transfered, they expire quicker than if you just leave them attached to the credit card.

I don't remember what the rewards ratio is... something like every 100 dollars you charge, 1 dollar on your rewards card.

We ended up putting our Disney trip on the disney card (0% interest at the time) and got a rewards card to use at WDW.

 

[kctwinmommy]

Thanks for the info! I hope you had a good time, it certainly sounds like. I know it can be overwhelming cuz there's so much to plan and do. Right now I don't even know how long we'll go for and what exactly we'll do. Since my twins are only 3.5 now, I know they could have very different tastes in 2 years. Although something tells me my DD's love of Princesses will still be strong!

 

[kctwinmommy]

The disney rewards have to be transfered to a rewards card... It's easy to do, just call them, and they will send you the reloadable rewards card.

But, once they're transfered, they expire quicker than if you just leave them attached to the credit card.

I don't remember what the rewards ratio is... something like every 100 dollars you charge, 1 dollar on your rewards card.

We ended up putting our Disney trip on the disney card (0% interest at the time) and got a rewards card to use at WDW.

Thank you for explaining that more to me! I wasn't sure where to get the rewards card, but I have to call for it, huh? Is that through Visa then, or Disney parks? I did hear about them expiring, so we'll transfer them a few weeks before we go then. We usually charge about $20-30,000/year on our c.c's - so that would be nice.

BTW: where can you use the rewards? Shopping, dinning, anything?? I never even thought to ask exactly where you can use it.... thanks for all the info everyone!

 

[lennon2004]

I'm also hoping to go in 2009. That's why I'm here too, to learn.

 

[kctwinmommy]

I'm also hoping to go in 2009. That's why I'm here too, to learn.

Oh really, when?? And who are you going with??

 

[sweetascanbee]

We are also planning a 2009 trip. We have been to Disneyland several times but never WDW. We went to DL for our Honeymoon, and decided then that we would go to WDW for our 10th anniversary. WE went back to DL 3 more times after that...LOL

Now we are headed to 2009 for our anniversary trip

 

[lennon2004]

Oh really, when?? And who are you going with??

I'm afraid I don't have *that* many details yet. I'll be going with my boyfriend, and while I'd like to go around my birthday, I know it would be crowded then (July 3 is my birthday) so, one of the reasons I've been lurking around is to try and figure out the best time to go.

 

[kctwinmommy]

I'm afraid I don't have *that* many details yet. I'll be going with my boyfriend, and while I'd like to go around my birthday, I know it would be crowded then (July 3 is my birthday) so, one of the reasons I've been lurking around is to try and figure out the best time to go.

Ahhh... yeah, that would be very busy time! We're probably going mid-May, I think weather should be good and still not too crowded yet. Good luck planning your trip!

 

[eliza61]

Welcome All you newbies,
You've come to the right place, there are tons of information on this site and for the most part your fellow dissers are really nice and always willing to offer a helping mickey hand or ear. A few suggestions.

1. Take all advice (including mine) with a grain of salt. You will find a post on just about every thing. Classic battles such as: Values vs. moderates vs. deluxe snobs. Transportation nightmares from the resorts. DDP vs. no DDP, has the quality of food gone down since the ddp. etc, etc. There's no such thing as a WDW expert all we can give you are our experiences.

2. Make a plan, then make a back-up plan and then make a back up to the back up especially when traveling with kids. One thing I've learned after traveling with my kids for the last 10 years, expect the unexpected.

Have fun planning! check out www.wdwig.com for pictures of SoG and other resorts.

 

[kctwinmommy]

Welcome All you newbies,
You've come to the right place, there are tons of information on this site and for the most part your fellow dissers are really nice and always willing to offer a helping mickey hand or ear. A few suggestions.

1. Take all advice (including mine) with a grain of salt. You will find a post on just about every thing. Classic battles such as: Values vs. moderates vs. deluxe snobs. Transportation nightmares from the resorts. DDP vs. no DDP, has the quality of food gone down since the ddp. etc, etc. There's no such thing as a WDW expert all we can give you are our experiences.

2. Make a plan, then make a back-up plan and then make a back up to the back up especially when traveling with kids. One thing I've learned after traveling with my kids for the last 10 years, expect the unexpected.

Very true! I know from the several different message boards I belong to that opinions are always plenty to be found! Just take from them what helps you and seems to work. But it's nice to get them too.

And I was just talking with DH last night and told him I don't want to overschedule this trip. We'll make some plans, but not everything has to be written in stone.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[MOREMICKEY4ME]

Hello fellow NEWBIES...
I am planning a trip for my husband and I for the first week in December 2009.
We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge for a week. I can't wait to see everything in lights for myself. I have seen soooo many pictures of the resort, parks, and the Osbourne Lights, that I decided I need to see them live.

We are then going to bring the kids (then 18 yo dd, 17 yo dd, and 7 yo ds) in mid-October 2010. They will love the Halloween decorations and the Mickey Halloween Party. For this vacation we will most likely be staying at either the Beach Club or the Boardwalk. Still having major decision issues. I will decide when my husband and I go in 2009. We usually spend a day resort hopping.

I suggest getting the Disney Visa. We got it a few months ago and we already have a bunch of points. We, too pay off the cc every month, so it's like getting free goodies. I have also enrolled in paying a bunch of bills online with it. I would rather pay the cable, phone, electric, etc bills with the credit card and write a check to VIsa, instead of writing a bunch of little checks every month. Earning rewards AND saving on postage!!! BONUS!!!
The points can be held on the credit card for 5 years too!!!

 

[MOREMICKEY4ME]

I almost forgot to mention...
Booking 499 days out, I am getting a brain freeze trying to see when I can book the hotel for the first week in Dec 2009.....

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I almost forgot to mention...
Booking 499 days out, I am getting a brain freeze trying to see when I can book the hotel for the first week in Dec 2009.....

Well, since I am booking the second week of December 2008 (will never go first week again(Snotty,rude POP Warner kids)), they told me to call back on July 27, 2007, I would guess maybe around the same time in July 2008. Who knows policy could change between now and then.

I said that I wasn't going to plan everything, but I had 18 months so I ended up planning almost everything. Most of what I planned was our ADR's and MVMCP (a must at leat once), Candelight Processional, Fantasmic Dinner Package and which park to see on what day to try to avoid crowds (EMH) . Because my mother and I were using ECV's we had to do a little more planning especially of transportation.

Enjoy Planning, it really is a lot of fun. Watch for the specials on the Travel Channel, Food Network, and Discovery for programs on WDW and the Resorts, even though they are outdated, it adds to the excitement, so does all of the YOAMD's commercials (I still get teary eyed).

PrincessSuzanne

 

[MOREMICKEY4ME]

I will certainly try to avoid the POP Warner kids!!! I have read all the terrible posts too.
When their schedule comes out, I will adjust ours. I just want to see the Christmas lights with my husband, whether its the week after Thanksgiving or early Dec- doesn't matter to me!