Any keen, experienced planners willing to help?

[seobaina]

Hi guys

Wondering (and hoping) there are some keen, experienced planners willing to give me a hand with a trip I'm planning. I've been several times before but I'm looking into a couple of new options, etc on this one and would appreciate any help or advice.

We (4 adults) are looking at going to WDW next April / May. Here's the basic info....

4 friends, all in 30s (one 40). 3 women, one man (no couples). All been before. Two based in Bristol, two in Chester area. Looking to fly from Manchester (or Bristol) direct to Orlando (don't mind if it's sanford or mco). Could do london but ONLY if it saved a lot cause otherwise paying out again for travel etc. Oh direct flights only - i'd fly either but the others wouldn't.

We want to go for 2 1/2 weeks (17/18 nights pref). Happy to do flights or fly-drive (or package if awesome deal). Hoping to do a week off-site for Universal, Sea World, etc (Maybe in a villa?). Then week/10 days in Disney hotel.

In the past we've booked to stay just in Disney and we've booked flights and accom seperately. I work for Disney so I can get up to 50% off hotel rooms...hence reason we normally stay on site. We'd like to stay in something like POFQ (moderate level hotel). Would love to stay at one of the higher ones but can't afford it. However, I've read some info on renting DVC points and I'm wondering if this would be similar/cheaper than renting two disney rooms(even with discount)? If we use discount I can't get dining plan included...didn't matter last time just thought it'd be worth noting in case I get any helpers.

Anyway, we are on a TIGHT budget so we need to do the best we can for the cheapest we can. We don't have to go in school holiday time (actually easier not too), so we were looking at last week April OR all in may.

So far flight wise (which is all I've looked at) I can get £463ish 29th to may 17th or £473ish 27th to 14th/15th May. Cheapest brochure etc deal I can get (flight and accom) is £1064ish each - which seems high compared to seperate booking.

So...can anyone help offer advice with accomodation? Packages? Flights? etc? Can anyone help explain DVC renting? Should we be booking flights now? We could prob afford flights now OR package deposit but couldn't afford the whole lot yet...we'd have to do that in a few stages.

Any help REALLY appreciated.

Thanks
Seo

 

[DFD]

Hi guys

Wondering (and hoping) there are some keen, experienced planners willing to give me a hand with a trip I'm planning. I've been several times before but I'm looking into a couple of new options, etc on this one and would appreciate any help or advice.

We (4 adults) are looking at going to WDW next April / May. Here's the basic info....

4 friends, all in 30s (one 40). 3 women, one man (no couples). All been before. Two based in Bristol, two in Chester area. Looking to fly from Manchester (or Bristol) direct to Orlando (don't mind if it's sanford or mco). Could do london but ONLY if it saved a lot cause otherwise paying out again for travel etc. Oh direct flights only - i'd fly either but the others wouldn't.

We want to go for 2 1/2 weeks (17/18 nights pref). Happy to do flights or fly-drive (or package if awesome deal). Hoping to do a week off-site for Universal, Sea World, etc (Maybe in a villa?). Then week/10 days in Disney hotel.

In the past we've booked to stay just in Disney and we've booked flights and accom seperately. I work for Disney so I can get up to 50% off hotel rooms...hence reason we normally stay on site. We'd like to stay in something like POFQ (moderate level hotel). Would love to stay at one of the higher ones but can't afford it. However, I've read some info on renting DVC points and I'm wondering if this would be similar/cheaper than renting two disney rooms(even with discount)? If we use discount I can't get dining plan included...didn't matter last time just thought it'd be worth noting in case I get any helpers.

Anyway, we are on a TIGHT budget so we need to do the best we can for the cheapest we can. We don't have to go in school holiday time (actually easier not too), so we were looking at last week April OR all in may.

So far flight wise (which is all I've looked at) I can get £463ish 29th to may 17th or £473ish 27th to 14th/15th May. Cheapest brochure etc deal I can get (flight and accom) is £1064ish each - which seems high compared to seperate booking.

So...can anyone help offer advice with accomodation? Packages? Flights? etc? Can anyone help explain DVC renting? Should we be booking flights now? We could prob afford flights now OR package deposit but couldn't afford the whole lot yet...we'd have to do that in a few stages.

Any help REALLY appreciated.

Thanks
Seo

commenting on the "Stateside Part" ~

DVC points renting... you can get between $8 - $11 a point and a studio around April/May may varies. Like April and May falls on magic season and a Studio at OKW/BWV would be about 13 points on Sun to Thurs and 23 points on Friday and Saturday so for the sake of argument.. if you get it for $10 a point you are looking at $130 a night/$230 night..

last Nov. using the CM discount we were able to get a 2 bedroom BLT villa for $1698 for 3 nights with that for we paid $566 a night for a 2 bedroom.

My suggestion would be do the ASMU Family suites on CM discount which gives you 2 rooms with a kitchenette and 2 bathrooms... a full size bed 2 twin and a full size sofa pull up(or a twin this part am not positie about but it will accomodate 5 bodies)

 

[Kath2003]

You could save a LOT of money the first week using public transport and staying in the I-Drive area. We got a nice 3* hotel for under £50 which was a 10-minute walk from Universal and a 10-minute ($2) bus ride from Sea World. It wasn't the Ritz, but it was very pleasant. Doing this could save you enough for the Deluxe Disney hotel you want later in your trip.

If you want details on public transport options, let me know - I've used public transport for my last 4 trips and am consistently very impressed by it

 

[seobaina]

last Nov. using the CM discount we were able to get a 2 bedroom BLT villa for $1698 for 3 nights with that for we paid $566 a night for a 2 bedroom.

I didn't know you could rent the villas - partic with discount.

My suggestion would be do the ASMU Family suites on CM discount which gives you 2 rooms with a kitchenette and 2 bathrooms... a full size bed 2 twin and a full size sofa pull up(or a twin this part am not positie about but it will accomodate 5 bodies)

Which are the ASMU villas? Never looked into it cause I didn't even know you could rent point let alone get discount til recently.

Btw, THANK YOU for the advice and help

 

[DFD]

I didn't know you could rent the villas - partic with discount.



Which are the ASMU villas? Never looked into it cause I didn't even know you could rent point let alone get discount til recently.

Btw, THANK YOU for the advice and help

Yes... you can use CM discount with the BLT from Studio to 2 bedroom have not seen a grand villa... everytime we use CM discount the one regular offered is SSR, OKW, BLT and AKL, the cheapest being SSR, OKW,AKL,BCV (sometimes for studio openes up) and BLT...

ASMU Family suites are located at All Star Music Value resort... the sad part is being a CM as you know the 2011 booking does not open till Jan. 1st of 2011. You might wanna try and call and maybe they willgive a rough estimate.

NP... glad to help if there's anything else just PM me...

 

[WiganTony]

Hi,

Have a look at my post here regarding AA flight prices which seem to be quite good. Hopefully you may get a decent price for your dates.

 

[m1ckeymouse]

Hi

Have you tried checking flight prices through Kelkoo? I am getting some good prices for earlier next year through emailflights too. Deffinately worth a try.

 

[seobaina]

Thanks guys for all your help. Just booked flights £452 direct for April 29th to may 17th.

 

[DFD]

Thanks guys for all your help. Just booked flights £452 direct for April 29th to may 17th.