Another newbie

[MonkersMama]

Hi all!!

This board is great, I've been lurking for a while, but I decided it's time to get with the program!! DH and I are tentatively planning a vacation for DS's 4th b-day the week of November 4 - 9, 2007. This gives us 17 more weeks to save up and plan. DH and I have both been to WDW many many times individually, but this will also be our first trip together. I'm so excited!

Anyway, I'm really looking for tips to do this on a fairly tight budget and ideas to celebrate DSs b-day in an extra special way (of course a trip to WDW is special, but you know what I mean.

Cheers!
MonkersMama (Julie)

 

[TaraPA]

Welcome!!

You will find many useful tips on the boards on how to go to WDW on a budget. Be sure to sign up for the monthly newsletter at www.mousesavers.com - there is a link in the newsletter to a site through Undercover Tourist where you can get good deals on theme park admission tickets. Someone else posted that Dreams Unlimited also has great deals on theme park tickets. Watch the codes/rates sections here on the DISboards for deals on Disney Resorts. If there's a discount, you'll know about it here first! Sign up for every hotel & airline reward program you can, they really do add up. I'm fortunate that DH travels every week for work, so we can fly free, cash in Hilton points for park tickets (Marriott no longer offers this reward option ), and use Starwood Hotel points for free stays at the Swan & Dolphin.

Don't wait until the last minute to make your Disney resort reservations - even just 3 years ago I could call CRO 3 weeks ahead & get a room - that does not seem to be the case anymore. A lot of Disney Resorts are booked solid months & months in advance, which can be frustrating if you wait too long.

Most of all - enjoy!!!

 

[Mickeys_n_me]

Hi all!!

Anyway, I'm really looking for tips to do this on a fairly tight budget and ideas to celebrate DSs b-day in an extra special way (of course a trip to WDW is special, but you know what I mean.

Cheers!
MonkersMama (Julie)

Be sure to pick up a birthday button at Guest relations in city hall on main street the day of his birthday. The Cast members will give him extra special attention when they notice the button. Also you may get a surprise or two when eating (complimentary cupcake or something similair)

 

[vanillarum]

Welcome to the Dis !!

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Birthday buttons are key. It's also a good idea to tell your booking agent that it's his bday.

As for some cost cutting tips, if you can, pack snacks to go with you for breakfast. Just cutting breakfast out saves you a nice chunk of change at the resorts. Also, for a special dinner, a way to extend your food budget is to book a buffet dinner at an earlier slot. Then just grab a couple snacks around the park during the day. This saves money and gets you your money's worth on the buffets (which can be higher, but when they basically replace two meals, they aren't bad at all).

 

[Sabrina90744]

to the Dis!!

 

[hockeybabe]

Welcome to the DIS!

I agree with Epcot82Guy, bringing breakfast can be a real savings, and a real time saver, too. Especially if you have a cereal kid, it works great. If you are staying at a moderate or deluxe resort, you get a small refrigerator in your room. The gift shops all have milk and juice jugs available (cost more than the grocery store but less than breakfast in the restaurant). I loved getting the first shower in the morning, getting the kids started on breakfast, and then getting my hair, etc. ready. When we left the room in the morning, we headed straight to the parks, and didn't have to be struggling to get the kids to eat while they were distracted by the parks and the excitement of everything going on around them.

Splitting meals is another good option. You can do this at CS restaurants as well as TS (non-buffet). Also, lunch menus can be less expensive than dinner menus, so often we will have our "big meal" for lunch and CS fare for dinner. That way we get the afternoon to walk the big one off, and sleep better at night with a more moderate-sized meal in our tummies. Check out the menus at www.allearsnet.com.

You can also bring your own snacks (or any food) and drinks into the park, so if your DS would be just as happy with granola bars or pop tarts or whatever for a snack, bring them. They can't be in glass containers, but can be in a soft sided cooler if you need to keep them cool. Locker rentals are $5 /day and are transferable, so if you go to one park in the morning, and another park in the afternoon, you don't have to pay twice, just show your receipt.

As far as the birthday, make sure they note it on your reservation. Our CM offered us a "magical moment" with a signed card of our character choice and ballons in the room. Not sure if they still do that, but it's worth asking for. And get the birthday buttons from every park each day of your stay. Parade characters stop and say happy birthday (or shake his hand and make big motions about it if non-talking, like one of the green soldiers from Toy Story stopped, pointed at my sons button, and then saluted him until he stood up and saluted back). CMs are trained to look for these buttons and go out of their way to say happy birthday. We told every host/hostess and waitstaff at the restaurants we ate at, too.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[MonkersMama]

Thanks for all the hot tips! I can't believe the wealth of info on this board!!

 

[LISAMWDW]

Welcome!

 

[CaptHook34]

Welcome

 

[Space Mountaineers]

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[byoung]

Welcome to the DIS!!!