Cant decide, need help!

[Nicnic]

We last went to WDW October 2013 and had 15 wonderful nights at the beach club and free dining.

Our next trip was supposed to be October 2016, every 3 years is our rule.

BUT.......

As usual, I look at disney every day!!!! And found a good flight price for October this year. Even upgrading to PE on return is only £400 for the 4 of us and by the time you minus of the extra bag we always manage to bring back and the £100 to book seats, it's a bargain I think.

I've missed free dining, might get lucky with a USA offer but that doesn't bother me, I'm quite excited of the thought of not having to rush to be somewhere for dinner every night and be able to just eat when we like and maybe just QS.

My concern is, it's only 11 nights going 29 October back to the UK 10 November. For me that's fine, less holidays used but we have DD 12 and will miss the first week back after half term, (DD4 would have started nursery by then too) which she would of anyway as we usually go this time of year ( half term plus first school week) but she will also miss 2 days of the next week too. This does not bother DD as I've asked her and you can imagine an 12yo deciding between Disney or school!

So that's all good, but we can't get the Beach Club for the full 11 nights, Expedia had the Yacht but we wouldn't be able to book hotel till July and could end up with neither. Disney US may bring out offers but DH is not keen on staying anywhere else, we've stayed PoP and POFQ, looked at CBR but he didn't like it. We would do POP again to keep cost down but it's not really what we want. Plus kids will not share a bed!

We could book via disney UK and pay a deposit but can only get it for 7 nights so we would need to move for the other 4, not a major problem but moving from BC will be hard! Again not what we want, and with going a year early, our spending money will be less.

But it's a trip to Disney, and any sacrifice is worth it? Right?! We can just afford it, putting hotel on CC and paying it off when we get back.

So your probably thinking what's my issue!

We could go next May and maybe get free dining again and get the BC for the full 2 weeks, Dd would still have a week out of school but the price of flights may be a lot more that I have found for this October, and we love Halloween in disney and we would be there for the 1st mvmcp which I've always wanted to see. But May would give us more time to save, have more spends, (we love to shop) and give us lighter and longer nights.

What to do.

DH is no use, go when you want, I'm not bothered is his reply every time I bring it up, so I've come to my fellow understanders for guidance!

Oh and our next visit after this one will be 2018 with all our close friends and kids about 11 of us!

I know I need to decide for myself, but what would you do?

We could also take a little trip to DLP this year if we don't go in October! I'm obsessed!!

Thanks for reading.

 

[Kath2003]

I'd wait until I could afford it comfortably, so October would be out of the running for me. Can't enjoy myself knowing that it would be tight, and it would take the fun out of planning. Disney isn't going anywhere so relax, take the time and save for the holiday you really want.

 

[scoobydooby]

Personally I would never put any part of a holiday, including spending money, on a credit card I have to know everything is paid for before I get to the airport hotel. So for me I would definitely wait. Sorry not trying to be a Debbie Downer but what if you need your CC fro some other emergency before you've paid off the hotel? On a more cheerful note I took my DD is May this year for 10 nights, without the DDP. By far the shortest trip we have ever taken but it was plenty long enough for just the two of us. We did it some TS places but less than we would with our boys and I loved the freedom not having the DDP offered us. POR has a pull down bed so if one of your children is small they could sleep on that and not have to share. It's way cheaper than the Beach Club too. I have stayed at both resorts and apart from Stormalong Bay and proximity to Epcot (big deals I know!!!), I actually much prefer POR.

 

[wayneg]

My choice would be cut costs, stay & eat offsite do as cheaply as poss and get back to Orlando ASAP but if you are set on Onsite(as many are) then save up and do the trip how you want without worrying about how you will pay, The last thing anyone should do is pay for a holiday by credit card and pay later.
Thankfully our trips are just as enjoyable onsite or offsite but I fully understand not everyone is the same.
£400 is a lot for upgrading flights if keeping costs down, limit your luggage and don't pay for seats and you have saved £400, I have never paid for sitting together in over 100 trips abroad, only once split up.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

If you can do the trip in October for cheaper and not put on your credit card then I would go in October, especially with those great flight prices October is a lovely time to go as you said.

Perhaps look into renting DVC points for a few nights or look at business class rooms at CSR. The pool there is ideal for kids, my DD loved it. Also with the breakfast and snacks,drinks at night you will spend less on food.

 

[Nicnic]

Thanks for the input. Still undecided, plus just heard that Potc will probably be closed October and that's one of our favourite rides. Not a deal breaker tho.

I agree putting holidays on Cc is not the best way to go but as its short notice we've got the airfare and the hotel will be paid off with the monthly amount we would have been saving. And DH organises the spends.

I think I will miss free dining as we do a lot of character meals and I'm not paying oop for them in October and sit down meals. But DD3 hated the characters in 2013 and is still not too keen on them so that's not a great big deal if we don't do them, we can see them in the parks. Plus the freedom to eat when we want is appealing for October but I don't know if a better deal would be available for May with free dining? Probably pay more for the hotel in May to get the 'free' dining than I would for October as there's free nights at the moment. Swings and roundabouts!!

I'll end up not going at all at this rate. I also priced DLP, oh my how expensive! £1200 for 4 nights at Sequoia Lodge plus transport and spends! Only if a flash sale came up would I be booking for DLP!

I am usually so well planned, booking 18 months in advance and this is killing me!

Thanks again.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I think you're talking yourself out of it

 

[wifey]

Have you considered AoA purely for the room size/ sleeping options of you really need more sleeping space? Or maybe look at POR they have a pull down bed in the Alligator Bayou section. Try ringing the WDTC direct and see if they can get you the dates you want for the accommodation you have chosen they should have some dates with you wanting to go in over a year. Try ringing them on 0800 1690 730 after all it never hurts to ask and it's an 0800 number so the call is not costing you much the great CMs will be happy to assist you if they can don't be shy they can help you work out your pricing options and see which resort is better for your budget and length of stay.

 

[dixonsontour]

Does it have to be disney?

I think the problem with booking a 'lesser' disney trip when you have had a full on onsite stay with dining is it may seem the poor relation.

We really weren't supposed to be going in 2014 but I had the itch!

After several just disney onsite trips we booked flights at a great price with Thomson 7 weeks before we went.

We paid just over £400 for a week at Cabana bay (fantastic hotel) and just did Universal (tickets are so much cheaper than disney!) and MNSSHP.

Eating wise we ate cheaply mostly offsite.

We had a fantastic holiday, so much so DD was keen to redo rather than disney in 2015!

 

[hopex]

The same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago... We went last year so even though i was thinking about going back, none of my family were. We were planning on trying somewhere new but i found a good flight price at the beginning of September and i've managed to persuade my boyfriend! We're staying onsite for the first time but missed the free dining as we only decided two weeks ago :/ I was wondering if we should wait until next year for free dining but once i had the idea in my head, I didn't think i could wait :/ I'm indecisive so probably not very good at advice, but I think the main factors for me would be whether you wanted the dining plan and if you'd rather go for the full two weeks, rather than just 11 days. However, we have always eaten quite cheaply offsite, and it gives you an opportunity to try things you wouldn't be able to get in Disney. I hope you're able to make a decision!

 

[Nicnic]

So we've made our decision and it's going to be next May!

We talked it over and reality struck. Haha.

As much as I'm going to miss going for Halloween and being there for the Xmas party, I'm excited to be going in May for the longer park hours and lighter nights. Plus I get to go 5 months earlier than planned! Wonder how the weather will compare, hotter I would imagine? Our possible dates are May 20th or 27th, school half term is late next year!

So bring on April to get the hotel booked. It's probably going to cost a bit more than October but we've got longer to save and it will be exactly what we want, 2 weeks at the BC with free dining hopefully!

Thanks for all your advice, I knew I could count on disboards.

 

[Kath2003]

Sounds like a really sensible idea. We also like traveling in the spring as it gives us something to look forward to all winter. You can use Xmas as a way to get your children bits they want or need for the trip, too, to make it the run up to the trip more exciting!