Combining 40% off pin w/ military tix Way too long, I'm sorry.

[2girlsR2good]

Please help me figure out if this makes sense and/or sounds like the great deal I'm trying to convince DH that it is.

Last year we stayed at Shades of Green with DH's dad who hosted us and bought our 2 kids (but not our) tickets. Fabulous time! Between airfare, our tickets, rental car (we flew to Tampa to stay w/ in-laws for a few days first), food, etc. we spent a fair amount.

My dad is also retired military and also lives 2 hours away from WDW in Jacksonville. I (actually, my 4 year old daughter) received the 40% off pincode in an email and have put together this plan:

Drive to J'ville for Thanksgiving with my 2 5 year olds, without DH (long story, he has a Chandler Bing thing about Thanksgiving and we "celebrate" by decorating the house and yard for Christmas and eating out, just the four of us). On Sunday, the kids, grandparents and I drive to Orlando, pick DH up at airport and check into Port Orleans French Quarter.

Grandad will already have all the vouchers for our tickets and his free one that he got at the base in Mayport. We all go to the MK, have a great time. The next morning the grandparents say they are done and head home. DH and I have a great time for another 4 days, then drive home.

Total cost: $502 for the room for 5 nights, taxes included with the PIN code. Grandparents will get their own room for the one night they say they are staying. They can use military discount for the room. Tickets (we'll reimburse Grandad) $400.

This seems like a great deal. We need to put a deposit on the room, but we can get it back. DH thinks that I can "do better" if I keep at it. He is used to me finding incredible deals for everything on the web. I think this is as good as I am going to do.

The idea of seeing the Christmas decorations while we're there and smaller crowds thrills me. We can't afford a deluxe, but we loved the quiet of Shades of Green last year.

What do you think? Did I pick the right resort for a family with two 5 year olds? Is this as good a deal as I think it is?

thank you for any thoughts!

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

You have a 40% off code and VERY discounted tickets. You are not going to find a better deal. It just doesn't get any better than that.

POFQ is a nice small moderate, it is the smallest of the moderates as far as walking distances between locations within the resort. That is a great feature with 2 little ones.

It sounds like you have a great budget trip planned. If you have not booked it yet- it is time. Codes have limited availability and you do not want to lose out. (IF for some reason something better comes along you do have until the 45day mark to cancel and re-book if you need to. But that is highly unlikely.)

Have fun!!!!

 

[dogodisney]

You have a 40% off code and VERY discounted tickets. You are not going to find a better deal. It just doesn't get any better than that.
POFQ is a nice small moderate, it is the smallest of the moderates as far as walking distances between locations within the resort. That is a great feature with 2 little ones.

It sounds like you have a great budget trip planned. If you have not booked it yet- it is time. Codes have limited availability and you do not want to lose out. (IF for some reason something better comes along you do have until the 45day mark to cancel and re-book if you need to. But that is highly unlikely.)

Have fun!!!!

THAT IS SO TRUE!
We are military and I was able to convince my DH to go this year. We were not planning on returning to WDW until maybe 2011. This is too much of a good deal to pass up. We went for Free Dining in Sept. but this is a better deal!

 

[monkeybug]

We are using the Military room rate too, awesome deal!
What about having the person who is getting you the tickets use the military deal to get your room at 40% off, and you can save your pin code for a future trip? Or maybe it expires? I don't actually know that much about the whole code thing, I just know that we are allowed to book up to three rooms with the Military deal.

 

[connorsmomma]

I'm not sure how to post a new thread, so I'm just hoping someone can help me here!

I found a page that told me that military, retired included, have discounts this year. My husband is retired recently, but cannot go to DW with us--it will be my son and I with some other family. Can I show my dependent ID and receive the discounted tickets at the window? If so, would I need something to prove he was active in 2008?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

 

[2girlsR2good]

Thanks everyone! I talked to DH again and booked it! We're going Nov 29 to Dec 5th, the week after Thanksgiving. Decorations should be up and crowds manageable, yippee!

The reason I didn't do the military 40% or Shades of Green is that my parents (dad is retired Army) don't want to go for as long as we do. Also, I was afraid that at the last minute they wouldn't let me reimburse them for the room and I just didn't want to get into that fight with them, kwim? This way it is all on my credit card and if they don't let us pay for our tickets, then I will pay for their room to even it out!

We're not telling the girls (two 5 year olds) until close to when we go just in case something happens so that we can't go.

Thanks again!

Connorsmama--there are some good threads about the military offer in several spots. You've probably found one of them by now, but if not, let me know.