Any Suggestions..

[Newfie2000]

Hi everyone! I am fairly new to the Dis but am having an awesome time "lurking" and learning! I seem to somehow have the knack for shutting down threads though and have no idea why? Perhaps it's because I'm new? Have I done anything wrong?

Anyway I have a very particular question and I'm really hoping you all will consider it and give me some great feedback! We are planning an 8 day WDW stay in Feb. 2007. DH and I have been twice previously but this time we are going with my SIL and BIL. I might add that they are also our best friends, we are very, very close to them. Our age brackets are from 33-44! There will be no kids, just us adults. My SIL is planning to become pregnant next year and has always dreamed of going to Disney before getting pregnant and asked us to join them in their trip. We are just thrilled to do so!

Well, I really want to make this trip special for them... because it is the first time and because with the upcoming baby plans I know it will be a while before they can go back. And also this is the first big trip they have taken since married 8 years ago.

I am not real Disney experienced and know that I also have tons to learn ... but you guys are pros! Maybe you can help? What can we do to make this awesome for them?

(I should also mention... money is an object, I won't lie and say it isn't but we are planning on staying onsite and although we will budget in some areas we are ready to splurge in others!)

 

[Unregistered]

Regarding going to Disney on a budget, I have a couple of thoughts. First, is your timeline fairly fixed? If not, think about going in early December or in the first half of January, for a couple of reasons. (l) the crowds are smaller and (2) the prices of accomodations are lower. An additional reason to go in early December is that very little in the way of attractions is closed down because although the crowds are some of the smallest of the year, it is a time sandwiched between two holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and everything is beautifully decorated for the holidays.
The second suggestion would be to look into renting a house. You can get a house at a slow time of year for under $100.00 per night. Although by sharing a room you can get a motel room cheaper, you would not have the advantage of (1) being able to get away from it all for a time (2) being able to save substantial money on food, and (3) have your own swimming pool (almost all rental houses have private screened pools), and most important (4) each couple would have a separate bedroom, thus, privacy.
I am planning trip #25 for December 2006, and have stayed on and off site.
A motel choice none of the guidebooks reccommends which we often used, was Days Suites on US 192. You can rent a suite with bedroom (2 queens, full kitchen, large bathroom, and living room with double size Murphy bed and TVs in bedroom and living room. Additionally, the bedroom has large mirrored sink and vanity to facilitate several people getting ready at the same time.
All of this for little more than the typical budget motel. They used to have great bargains if you reserved two or three months ahead of time. I have not stayed there since 2003, but it was clean and well kept at that time.
That said, off season you can sometimes get a value room on site at WDW for $79.00/night, and there is something so special about staying in the middle of the magic.
Hope this is the most magical of holidays for the four of you. We did an adults only trip (7 of us) two years ago, and it was a blast.
Mary W.