Best Deals

[CORT91]

I need some advise on how to get the best booking deals. This will be my families first trip to Disney World. There are 2 adults and 2 children over the age of 3. We want to stay for 5 nights (would like to stay in a nice resort). Also, I am thinking we will do the delux meals. I am open to any suggestions.

 

[francie57]

Deciding on where to stay depends on what price range you want to be in. I can't tell you anything about a value/mod. We have been to basically every deluxe and have no complaints about any of them. We have been staying for years now at the BWV since we love the Epcot area. You can save if Disney is running any type of special for the time frame you are looking for. We use AAA and get a good discount through them. We have only used the regular dining plan and that is still a lot of food each day. Just know that by using the deluxe plan you will be spending a lot of time each day at sit down meals and getting to and from them. Beside the amount of food each day, that would be the biggest consideration in doing the deluxe. Also, if you don't plan on doing the hopper option on your tickets you are limited to making two adrs in the same park for each day (unless you do one at a resort). It all seems overwhelming to begin - just read about each resort on this site or allears and then you have to decide how much you want to spend and that could possibly eliminate some resorts.

 

[Missytara]

My first trip, I went through a travel agent. Definately helped - once you get the hang of it, it is easier to wind your way through the system yourself.

 

[NUguyinCrew]

Try http://www.smallworldvacations.com/

My family has gone with them before and its a big help if you dont have the time or all the info to plan for Disney. They tend to be a few bucks cheaper than plannning it on your own too. You will be assigned a personal rep to help you plan everything you want to get done during your vacation. Last time I used them there was no service charge either for all the help.

 

[mjp12831]

On making the decision to go to WDW! and joining the boards. We went last year for the first time, so know what you are feeling.

For the best deal, you can get an agent (we have one and book through AAA), but the agent often wont know a whole lot more than you can find out. I've rebooked my upcoming July trip twice (actually the agent has), but both times it was after I notified her of a new discount. The agent doesnt save you any money over what you can book directly (from my experience).

So, to get the best deal out there, watch this board and visit the WDW website on the specials page (link in top right corner of page when you first get to the site).

My suggestions:
Use WDW website to give you a ballpark of what your trip will cost (put in dates, resort, ticket and dining options)
AAA will give you a small discount off of what you can book with WDW if you are a member with them.
Once you book, you put down a $200 deposit - you can then rebook later if a better deal comes out as long as you havent paid for the entire trip without losing any of your deposit.
Call WDW and speak with a CM to get quotes on the existing specials.
If traveling before 8/14 - you can still use the current specials that are advertised on the WDW site (either the gift card or the % off promo). Both are pretty good promos.
Disney Visa just gave out a code to cardholders where kids up to 9 get free tickets and free qsdp - I think if you pick up that card you can use that discount (have to pay with the Disney Visa - which also gives you reward dollars)
continue to watch WDW site for specials - they may add more for after 8/14 when the current ones expire.
Sign up with a logon on WDW site and price and save some trips - some have suggested that this is helpful in getting personal codes (mailed or emailed to you) that only you can use.

 

[Trekker]

Any of us at Dreams Unlimited Travel would be pleased to assist you making this a magical First Walt Disney World vacation.

 

[mjp12831]

I need some advise on how to get the best booking deals. This will be my families first trip to Disney World. There are 2 adults and 2 children over the age of 3. We want to stay for 5 nights (would like to stay in a nice resort). Also, I am thinking we will do the delux meals. I am open to any suggestions.

With a family of 4 you have tons of resort options (we have 5 and then it gets limited) - see the resort thread on this board and you can get a good feel for them. We stayed at a mod (POFQ) last year and it was plenty "nice", your decision on resort should just be a function of your budget vs how much value you assign to the different room amenities.

If you are considering a 5 night stay, also get prices for 6 and 7 just to see the difference - incremental cost of adding days to the tickets gets VERY small, with current % off room promo, it might be able to extend your stay for short money.

We did deluxe last year - it was great, especially for a first trip to be able to use the two snacks AND to be able to have the flexibility to skip breakfast (use snack) and use the extra ts credit for a 2ts place (CRT, HBD with fantasmic, Yachtsman, Mickey's backyard bbq, Spirit of Aloha). This being said, we are doing regualr dp this year because we arent repeating these 2ts meals AND having to make reservations for ts lunches kind of tied you up in the middle of each day whereas using the CS gives you the flexibility to not be tied to an ADR.