Any other Dec 14 /Jan 15 planners getting antsy??

[LisaAJ]

Am struggling big time holding out for flights, DCL, WDW packages to be released!! It's so much closer now than when I started planning this trip 18 months ago but I can't wait any more!!!!!

I need to book something, lol! I think it might be because I am worried DH will change his mind!!

 

[craxyfox]

I'll join myself to the club! It felt like forever wishing I could buy tickets and make definite plans, but now in just 2 months everything will finally starting rolling and bookings will be made eep!

I've been tracking flight fares for the past year to see trends for dec prices
and yea I get that feeling! worried that something will try to budge it's way into my perfectly planned dates and I have to refrain from growling at my family whenever they bring up Dec '14

 

[LisaAJ]

I've been tracking flight fares for the past year to see trends for dec prices

Me too!! Sad really, lol.

 

[Tashinwdw]

When I first read these posts I thought it was for travel this dec and next Jan. I thought you were all rather calm as I am freaking out about flights for next september, once I posted I realised my mistake and had to edit *duh*
Hope some great deals come out soon for us all.

 

[LisaAJ]

Lol, I wish Tash!! Sadly we SHOULD have been going this Dec/Jan but had to postpone, firstly due to money issues but mostly due to the HP Expansion!! We desperately want to visit the finished product!! Good luck in finding good flights

 

[LisaAJ]

So excited!!! DCL is releasing sail dates for the first half of 2015 tomorrow. I get to book something!!!!!!

How sad am I?! LOL

 

[FireflyFi]

I should add myself here. Since January this year I've been planning a trip back to WDW for end of October / start of November 2014. Then, PAX Aus was announced for 31 October to 2 November 2014. I cannot miss PAX. And I can't just move the trip forward a few days, because then I run into Thanksgiving. So I'm thinking instead of going into the US at the end of November, and spending the first two weeks of December at the world.

Now, this all happened in October, which means all the research I had done earlier this year on October / November prices is useless. Good people who have been researching December already, what have you found?? I'm thinking flights may be expensive, but maybe only on the way back. I haven't set dates down yet (I'm currently on my trip to Japan, so am just a little busy lol) but I'm thinking last week of November out of Australia, fly back at around the end of the second week of December...?

 

[craxyfox]

hi Fireflyfi! I've been tracking early December prices for the past year (based on syd-orlando) and they were pretty good at the beginning of the year (good old book-early advice) from as low as $1300 return and roughly $1000-1300 one-way back to aus
After about the 11th Dec, prices for the flight back skyrockets , maybe other people might have found better deals

but now my plans have also changed and will have to look at bumping my dates earlier to the end of November (eep thanksgiving )

originally it was going to be wdw -> quick stopover somewhere/Tennessee -> Maui , now I'm afraid it'll have to be reversed! So I'd love to know what end of November prices are like too!

 

[LisaAJ]

We are going Christmas so our flights are scary :-/
End if Nov - early Dec seems pretty good according to Skyscanner.

 

[Brisbanemum]

I'm joining you in here too

We have booked a Disney Cruise for 14th Dec on the Magic and I'm waiting very impatiently for the flights to open and for DisneyWorld to add the January dates!! Our plan is 1 week cruise, 2 weeks Orlando and 2 weeks DisneyWorld

I'm starting to get a little scared as the Aussie dollar is only getting about US85cents now and apparently it is going to go down further The last trip we did to the States we had the exchange rate of $1 for $1 so out money lasted the distance. Now we may have to rethink our original 5 week plan if it gets too low????? Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that

 

[LisaAJ]

Hi Brisbanemum!

Your plans sound amazing!! I'd love to do 2 weeks DisneyWorld but our finances don't allow for it all
We are doing 5 days NYC, 5 days Orlando, 7 nts WDW, 4 nt cruise and 3 nts Universal for WWOHP.

My last US trip the dollar was at 50c so anything above that is a bonus!! We bought $10k USD while the dollar was at 96c so that lessens the impact a bit!

 

[craxyfox]

I hope everyone's planning is going smoothly and that we all find great airfares in the near future!

Today I got confirmation for my very first night in wdw at akv going through the initial stages of excitement/can't-believe-this-is-happening
the first step was the scariest but I don't think I know scared until I start booking flights lol

 

[Tashinwdw]

I hope everyone's planning is going smoothly and that we all find great airfares in the near future!

Today I got confirmation for my very first night in wdw at akv going through the initial stages of excitement/can't-believe-this-is-happening
the first step was the scariest but I don't think I know scared until I start booking flights lol

AKV looks really nice, it will be a wonderful stay. If we cannot get 3 nights at BLT then our next choice is AKV. Dont be scared, just enjoy

 

[craxyfox]

Yes I can't wait! Wasn't able to get a value room because I left it too late -smackhead- but now I'm quite excited to get a decent view : the resort looks so beautifully themed, if it weren't so far from MK I would probably choose to just stay there

I'm finding it hard finding points for my BLT stay, especially it taking up the biggest portion of the trip, it's a bit scary locking it in but after that I'll be super relieved

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Yes I can't wait! Wasn't able to get a value room because I left it too late -smackhead- but now I'm quite excited to get a decent view : the resort looks so beautifully themed, if it weren't so far from MK I would probably choose to just stay there I'm finding it hard finding points for my BLT stay, especially it taking up the biggest portion of the trip, it's a bit scary locking it in but after that I'll be super relieved

I stayed at AKV (Jambo House) and thought it was the most wonderful hotel I've ever stayed in.

I did a split stay BWV and AKV, and while I liked BWV, it was no competition for AKV. One day I think I'd like to stay at the Wilderness Lodge, but other than that, it's AKV all the way.

The lobby was so grand and well-designed and the grounds were beautiful. We loved going out to the camp fire to roast marshmallows and getting to sit in the big wooden rocking chairs.

We had a standard view room booked, but for some reason we got a savannah view. I still haven't worked out if it was an upgrade, or if that room was classed as 'standard' due to looking straight down onto some sort of animal pen. Either way, it was amazing. I couldn't wait to get back to our room each day, or wake up in the morning, and look what animals were outside. I went thinking I would be happy without a savannah view, but I do think it made the stay as special as it was. If these rooms are within your budget, book one It's definitely worth it.

I didn't find the whole transport thing an issue at all. In fact I much preferred AKV's transportation system to BWV's.

 

[craxyfox]

Wanderlust I agree about the lobby! And I haven't even been there yet! but all the photos I've seen look amazing, especially at Christmas time

Now you have me rethinking my BLT stay! I'm planning to spend most of my time/stay out late at MK and probably Epcot and thought it could be convenient with the various transport options close by

 

[WanderlustNZ]

How many days in total do you have in WDW?

If I had a short stay (say under 1 week), I would probably pick location over theming as you will only really be in your resort to sleep.

But if you have longer and a bit of spare time to enjoy the resorts, I would seriously consider one of the more beautifully themed resorts like Animal Kingdom or Wilderness Lodge.

It was such a lovely feeling returning to AKV at the end of each day. The pool was lovely and the restaurants were good.

The buses from AKV to Magic Kingdom and DTD did have to travel a relatively long distance, but they came frequently and didn't seem that bad after experiencing the awful buses and boats at BWV. It probably helps a bit that Animal Kingdom ended up being my favourite park and Blizzard Beach my favourite waterpark, and both were so close.

In saying that, BLT does have one of the best locations of all the resorts for walking and the monorail. I can see how it appeals to people.

Good luck getting exactly what you want

 

[craxyfox]

I'm staying for 9 nights with 6 days at the parks, which is really short
hopefully for future trips I'll be lucky enough to slow down the pace and choose somewhere I can relax and not just sleep in

For now I'll just have to settle with a little touring of the other resorts and soak in their Christmas spirit

 

[FireflyFi]

I hope everyone's planning is going smoothly and that we all find great airfares in the near future!

Today I got confirmation for my very first night in wdw at akv going through the initial stages of excitement/can't-believe-this-is-happening
the first step was the scariest but I don't think I know scared until I start booking flights lol

I've booked in a studio at BCV for 10 nights originally wanted BWV but couldn't find anyone willing to give up their points at the 11th month mark. According to a couple of the DVC rental places, they were getting incredible demand for rental requests and everyone wanted start of December.

And I'm like you, deep in flight price watching mode lol when I tell people not familiar with DVC that I've booked accommodation but not flights they look at me like I'm crazy hehe

 

[craxyfox]

congrats for getting your reservation
I did notice that there's a shortage in supply of points, a quick peek into the dvc forum and many of the owners wanted to snag that first week of December.I totally get that, but it meant less/more expensive points for me lol BLT theme park view was sold out for my dates and part of my stay has to be wait listed, oh my fingers have never been this crossed!

And I've been asked if I've booked flights yet but in our cases accommodation almost basically determines our trip haha we're fine