Booking stress - calming wisdom welcome!

[Nommi]

I'm beginning to stress out bit...

We are a year out and as we are in the UK, we were thinking its a good time to look at booking flights etc. I was orginally looking at doing a DIY, booking hotel through Disney and Flights through Virgin... however Disney is only letting us have the free dining IF we buy park tickets, and we will have our APs. Plus Virgin flight prices aren't out just yet.

Virgin are charging about £4000/$6300 for flights, POFQ for 3 weeks and free dining (QSDP) as a package deal. We paid £2400/$3800 this year for flights, POFQ for 2 weeks and QSDP and this seems so much more for an extra week and no tickets!!

I cant figure out whetehr this is a good price, or should I wait it out?

Will the AP/Wedding discount give me any better offers? and how on earth would we factor the complimentary night into this?!?

Would really appreciate any wonderful wisdom... or calming words...

 

[neener3]

I'm not from the UK (Canada), but I can offer some advice based on what we've done!

Our wedding is February 15th, and the AP rates for our time still aren't out yet. You CAN reserve your rooms and then when the AP rates come out, change 'em.

We just thought that was a bit of a hassle, especially when Free Dining came out. We wanted it signed, sealed, and delivered, you know? So we booked for Free Dining, and are giving the extra passes away (our moms could use the helping hand). They can be assigned to anyone, just ask when you check in that they not be applied to your card. OR you can keep them for a future trip. From what I understand, they don't expire (although with Disney this could change at any time).

Basically, we (ahem, I....) worked out historical AP rates vs. Free Dining vs. the room discount for our time. The room discount ended halfway through our trip, but if we got Free Dining it extended through the whole stay.

Still with me? My fiance isn't. His eyes just glaze over whenever I start rambling about it and goes "yes dear..."

The complimentary nights can be anywhere on Disney property (we're staying at AKL). We originally booked our stay, then when we definitely had one comp night, they booked it for us, and I called to cut a night off of our other resort. We're now looking at doing that again, since we have enough for 2 comp nights now. Free dining CANNOT be attached to your comp night. In fact, I'm not positive that any dining can. It still worked out for us though (AKL is $551 for our comp night if we had booked it ourselves!).

Oh, and the wedding discount is NOT great. Our guests did waaaaaayyyy better on free dining.

I hope that didn't confuse you more!

 

[Nommi]

This makes perfect sense! I'm thinking booking direct through Disney is probably the best option, as we have more control over cutting nights (if need be) and we really want free dining!

I'd be too scared to wait for AP discounts! Thanks so much for your help. You are not far from your date at all, you must be very excited!

 

[princesswendy720]

You don't have to buy a long ticket to get free dining..you can buy just a 2 day pass and use the APs. Everyone in the room has to be on the same ticket options. You're likely saving much more on free dining than you're paying for the 2 day passes. And as someone suggested, you can gift them to a guest.

 

[lea007]

Hi

Just to give you an idea we are from the uk and have booked flights through virgin. We waited till they had a sale on for the time period we wanted. We are going next may and have paid £400.79 per adult return. Have been watching for ages on flights.

We have just booked at coronado springs and for the four nights it cost us £440. I'm waiting till the Ap discounts come out later next year then will probably change our booking to a better hotel (if we have any spare cash left). Disney have said that you can amend your booking or add discount on at a later stage.

We then have the cost of the wedding pavillion etc. But it gives you some sort of idea on cost. Hold out for a sale on those flights. We have only just booked our wedding and its less than eight months away.