Can you help me plan a trip?

[Whistle]

Hello all! I would love to have help planning a trip to WDW for me and my 2 boys (who would be 12 and 9). I was looking into going May 27th until June 2 (that time frame). We could possibly go later in June if it matters price wise.

I would like to fly us there. I believe I can do this for $450.00

I was looking into staying at a value resort (Pop Century?) . . . I don't think we need the water park tix as we could stay a day at the pool/downtown Disney and to save money.

How cheaply can you book this/plan this? Basically, I would like to try and do a vacation for $1600.00 but I don't know if this is feasible. What magic can you recommend?

Thanks for your help

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

There is a current promotion being offered for stays through June 3 if you book at least five nights. Here is the info from mousesavers.com:

FREE Gift Card with Jan-June 2010 Packages
With this special offer, get a FREE Disney Gift Card when you book a full-price Walt Disney World vacation package (including accommodations and tickets) for a minimum of 5 nights/5 days between 1/3/10-6/3/10 (some dates are not available, and rooms are limited and subject to availability).

Stay at a Disney Value resort and get a $300 Disney Gift Card with your 5-night or longer vacation package.
Stay at a Disney Moderate resort and get a $500 Disney Gift Card with your 5-night or longer vacation package.
Stay at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resort and get a $750 Disney Gift Card with your 5-night or longer vacation package.
The Disney Gift Card can be used for almost anything at Walt Disney World, including souvenirs, tours, spa treatments, watercraft rental, gratuities, alcoholic beverages or meals.

You can add the Quick Service Dining Plan, the regular Dining Plan or the Deluxe Dining Plan to this package.

The package includes standard Magic Your Way Base Tickets. You can pay extra to upgrade them with the Park Hopper, Water Parks & More and/or No Expiration option(s) if you choose.

This offer cannot be applied to the Premium or Platinum packages or to "split stays" (for example, 2 nights at one hotel, 3 nights at another).

Note that if you need only a 4-day ticket and you have an non-discounted package, it may be worthwhile to switch to this package (which requires a minimum of a 5-day ticket) because the cost of that extra day on your ticket is low compared with the value of the gift card.

Also note that if you've already booked the "7 Nights for the Price of 4" or "7 Nights for the Price of 5" package (now discontinued) and are staying at least 7 nights, it is a better deal than this new offer. If you have one of those packages with only a 6-night stay in a Value resort, the new package may be a better deal.

You must book this special package by 3/27/10.

Rates for Pop through June 3 are $105 for weekdays and $120 for weekends. June 4 starts summer season (and the gift card promotion is not valid).

I priced a package on the Disney website. A standard room at Pop from May 27 through June 2 with 6-day base MYW tickets (no hopping, no water parks) is 1452.16. You can add the dining plan if you'd like - you would pay $42 for you and your 12 year old per night for the standard plan and about $12 per night for your 9 year old. That includes one table service meal and one counter service meal per night of your stay, plus one snack per person per day. Or you can add the quick service dining plan or just pay out of pocket for your meals. You would get a $300 gift card that you could use for souveniers or meals, but I'd expect you would spend more than $300 for six days of meals at WDW.

This price assumes your 9 year old is still 9 at the time fo the trip. If he is ten, you pay the adult price for tickets and the dining plan if you get it.

 

[cglaura]

Sign up for any email alerts/newsletters from any airlines you think you might be flying.

For example, I always fly Spirit, so when their deal came out I knew right away and was able to get $88 round trip flights, normally $210.

For us, it is less expensive to pay out of pocket vs. the dining plan. It is myself and dd17, so we wind up splitting alot of meals, or sometimes I just get an appetizer instead of an Entree. It depends on you & your kids eating habits.

There are menus here, with prices, so you can get an idea:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

And on the Restaurant board there are alot of pictures to show portion sizes:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=127

We generally drink water at meals (free). But we do that anyway regardless of where we are. Water/soda are around $2.50, so if you bring your own bottle, or just buy one early on and fill up at the fountains the rest of the day, that could save some $$. We use crystal light single serve packets, so no issue of funky fountain taste (if that is a concern...).

If you decide to go the route of doing a room only reservation and getting park tickets on your own, sign up for Mousesavers dot com newsletters. You can get a decent deal on MYW tickets, park hoppers, etc from their special link to Undercovertourist.