Best Price For WDW

[mermaid&cinderella]

We have been to WDW every year for the past 3 years and I always pay way too much, usually over $6000 for 3 people. I have always booked through a travel agent b/c I felt it was easier to get the air/park tickets & dining all together. We want to go again this year but we are already doing a few other trips this year (one really big one) so I want to save a bit on the WDW trip. Anyone have any tips on doing that?
Thanks

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

The 4/3 offer has been extended into August. That's a big value depending on the resort that you choose. Then the offer below is for spring, just to give you some idea of prices. HTH.


-----
FREE US $500 Disney Gift Card*
when you purchase this 5-Night/6-Day vacation package that includes room and Theme Park tickets.

US $594 per adult, based on adult double occupancy in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. For stays most Sun.–Thurs. nights 3/1/09 – 3/9/09 and 3/12/09 – 4/16/09. Includes most Spring Breaks!

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. One Park per day. Tickets must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Offer is nontransferable.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

We want to go in September so the 4/3 won't work for us.
I just hate paying so much and I keep reading people getting codes for 40% off and other great prices and I always pay so much, dh hates that. He thinks its too much and for that amount of money you can go somewhere really nice and he is right!

 

[redrosesix]

Since you can book either the spring deal or 4/3 deal just as cheaply yourself, you can do it that way, all with 1 call to Disney -- they can also add the DDP at that time.

Then check the transportation board, or start a thread looking for cheap flights for your dates. Dis members over on the Transportation Board just love to track down cheap airfare.

You may have to re-adjust your reservation date, depending on what prices and dates you can get for your flights.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Since you can book either the spring deal or 4/3 deal just as cheaply yourself, you can do it that way, all with 1 call to Disney -- they can also add the DDP at that time.

Then check the transportation board, or start a thread looking for cheap flights for your dates. Dis members over on the Transportation Board just love to track down cheap airfare.

You may have to re-adjust your reservation date, depending on what prices and dates you can get for your flights.

But with the dollar I would rather book Cdn b/c if I book directly through Disney I have to pay in US funds and right now that is a huge difference. I actually went on there the other day and for the 3 of us, no air, it was over $4500. Then add air to that, I am back up at $6000

 

[redrosesix]

But with the dollar I would rather book Cdn b/c if I book directly through Disney I have to pay in US funds and right now that is a huge difference. I actually went on there the other day and for the 3 of us, no air, it was over $4500. Then add air to that, I am back up at $6000

Based on what I've been reading on Dis, many of the veterans expect the 4/3 deal to be extended, or that there will be something at least as good since the fall is usually slower than the summer. Also, since you don't have to pay until 45 days before your reservation, you are free to pay when the exchange rate is best.

Which resort are you trying to book at?

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Based on what I've been reading on Dis, many of the veterans expect the 4/3 deal to be extended, or that there will be something at least as good since the fall is usually slower than the summer. Also, since you don't have to pay until 45 days before your reservation, you are free to pay when the exchange rate is best.

Which resort are you trying to book at?

I hope the veterans are right

We always stay at POLY, so I quoted on POLY again. I might try CBR but I know dh will complain that we are not on the MK monorail, I too might complain when we are there...LOL

I was also hoping for free dining but then thought I'd like to try the deluxe dining (we always get basic) so I would love a room rate discount instead of free dining!

 

[joech]

We have been to WDW every year for the past 3 years and I always pay way too much, usually over $6000 for 3 people. I have always booked through a travel agent b/c I felt it was easier to get the air/park tickets & dining all together. We want to go again this year but we are already doing a few other trips this year (one really big one) so I want to save a bit on the WDW trip. Anyone have any tips on doing that?
Thanks

Why not consider buy into DVC. One of our major expense was the resort cost since we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for the 1st 2 trips in 2007 and both our kids love the place. Our bill from AKL for Christmas 2007 for 2 weeks was over $5000 alone and that was still under the old pricing system. If you like to stay at the deluxe and plan on going every year or every other year, DVC might be for you and save you money in the long run.

 

[MikeyNS]

I just priced out a week long trip in April for friends on westjetvacations and they had a week at Port Orleans, with flights and 7 day tickets (no meals) for $1900 taxes in from Halifax. Not too shabby at all.

 

[Hoogy]

If you get free dining I think you can pay the difference b/w regular dining and deluxe dining and upgrade to that.
Where do you usually fly from?

 

[redrosesix]

I just priced out a week long trip in April for friends on westjetvacations and they had a week at Port Orleans, with flights and 7 day tickets (no meals) for $1900 taxes in from Halifax. Not too shabby at all.

That's an awesome deal -- must include the 4/3 deal? How many people?

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

DH would not go for the DVC. He is hoping dd will get tired of going soon so we don't have to go
We usually fly out of Pearson, yes I know its expensive but it is convenience. Not sure of DH would go for flying out of Buffalo!

 

[usetheforceluke]

But with the dollar I would rather book Cdn b/c if I book directly through Disney I have to pay in US funds and right now that is a huge difference.

I'm not sure that I understand this. It's not cheaper in CAD, in fact it's more expensive once you factor in stuff like credit card fees and conversions.

Also, you've made a number of references/variations on "DH wouldn't like it". From my point of view, this makes it extremely hard to offer up any solutions to make a trip less expensive. If I was dealing with it, I'd just bite the bullet and book it.

Jim.

 

[granolacruncher11]

If you have CAA you can get a 10-15% room discount and then fly from buffalo, that is where the big savings come in. US flights just don't have the taxes that we do, plus it is so much easier going through customs. If it was me I would go for the free dining and I would definately fly out of Buffalo.

 

[tjbaggott]

Are you able to drive to a U.S. Airport to catch a flight from there?
Before we decided to drive, we had made plans to drive to Syracus and fly out from there. Air tickets from Ottawa to Orlando would have been between $500.00 and $600.00 each (there are 6 of us). Flying out of Syracus, would have been $250.00 each and even when the exchange rate was factored in, it was a HUGE savings that made the 3 hour drive to SYR worth it! Something to consider.

 

[LSmith]

Well you would save a lot of money by booking in September if they offer free dining and NOT adding the deluxe dining. Having had the basic dining plan a number of times I can't imagine wanting to upgrade. The basic dining plan is a ton of food especially in September in that heat.

Also, if you leave dh home, fly out of Buffalo and stay in a moderate you will save even more money .

 

[Northstar]

But with the dollar I would rather book Cdn b/c if I book directly through Disney I have to pay in US funds and right now that is a huge difference. I actually went on there the other day and for the 3 of us, no air, it was over $4500. Then add air to that, I am back up at $6000

Well, no matter where you book it, you're going to have to cope with the exchange rate. Your travel agent quotes you a price in Canadian dollars, but he or she has to factor in the exchange rate, too.

But on a more helpful note...

Visit www.mousesavers.com regularly. Sign up for their monthly e-newsletter.

Explore any rewards programs you have... look for possible deals on park tickets, airfare, etc.

Book by phone with Disney. When you're almost ready to conclude and give them your CC number, say, "I was hoping to get a better price. Can you find any discounts for that package that might help me?" (I've gotten a 40% off deal on room-only just by asking if they couldn't give me a better price)

After you book, keep checking the Disboards and Mousesavers to see if any better deals come out. If they do, call and see if they can apply them to your reservation. If they say, "Sorry, that deal is for new reservations only," hang up, call again and try to book your package for your dates as a new reservation. If you can, then cancel your old reservation. (Memorize your cancel-without-penalty date before you try this!)

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Well you would save a lot of money by booking in September if they offer free dining and NOT adding the deluxe dining. Having had the basic dining plan a number of times I can't imagine wanting to upgrade. The basic dining plan is a ton of food especially in September in that heat.

Also, if you leave dh home, fly out of Buffalo and stay in a moderate you will save even more money .

I should leave dh at home

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Thanks Northstar

I think I like to know what the Cdn amount is up front as opposed to booking in US$$ and then seeing the credit card bill after the fact with the exchange, but regardless will likely be the same at the end.

Great ideas, thanks!

 

[B-Ride]

If you book now with Disney you only have to pay the deposit. My hope would be the CDN$ will improve by the time you have to pay the balance (45 days from travel date). If you book with a CDN agent you are getting a price based on the currently miserable value of the CDN$. Of course it is a gamble either way.

If you are travelling in September you are outside the window for the current 4/3 deal (the best deal I have seen in many years for this time of year) but I would almost guarantee there will be a deal for September.

Traditionally there are no deals for June and July and here Disney is running one of their best deals ever. Add to that the fact that September has been Free Dining time for at least the last 3 years and I would say you are almost 100% guaranteed to see either Free Dining or an extension of the 4/3 deal.

Keep your eye on the disboards and mousesavers for a deal to be announced in either the 1st or 2nd week of April.