December 2005 Info, Code, Dining, & Special Package Watch! :)

[ZaxMickey]

Hey. We (Me,DH,DS2) are arriving Dec 20-27. As of right now we have res for POP and 7 day Hopper passes. We booked thru Expedia and according to the Disneybooking, we got a better rate and airfare. I just found this site after booking and wish that I would have done more research before purchasing. They (Expedia) didn't offer the dining plan. Can I get this added on when I arrive?

 

[magicmato]

The dining is $35/day for adults and $10/day for 3-9.

It is based on your nights of stay, so if you stay 3 nights and 4 days, you get 3 table service meals, 3 counter service meals and 3 snacks per person on the plan.

 

[shirley 38]

Hi we will be going in December from the 7th to the 15th. Now I am wondering I am already booked at the Beach Club with the Best Rates Program. $224.00 a night standard room which is a saving of $560.00.

I am an annual passholder and also have the dining card which gives you 20% off all your food.

Really confused as which would be the best way to go.

 

[ZaxMickey]

Just got off of the phone with Expedia and apparently I can't add the Dining Plan to my stay because I didn't book directly with Disney. This doesn't sound right. Any advise?

 

[daisy_77]

Pixie dust for us that we all get free dining...or at least something free!

 

[tink2020]

ZaxMickey...

Unfortunately, that does sound like it may be right. Even AP holders, etc and other people who book THROUGH Disney aren't able to add it on without getting a Magic Your Way package from the Disney travel company. I have heard of some with travel agents getting the deal, but it is my impression that travel agents use the DTC but just another "section" of the website, essentially.

You may want to see how much it would be (as I'm sure there are fees) to cancel your trip through expedia. Since you said it was cheaper through the disney website anyway, PLUS any money you might save if you went with the dining plan.... it may still end up being cheaper for you.

Good luck, and you have certainly come to teh right place now for all the answers. Usually much better than this one even!

 

[Dislifer]

Does anyone out there really think that they would offer a discount for the peak holiday season????? I'm going 12/23 to 1/1 ... I WOULD LOVE TO GET ANY CODE/DISCOUNT/FREE DINING...ANYTHING....but I would be sooo surprised if they offered anything during these dates. I'd be jumping for joy
When does WDW announce these offers and what would I do???? Just call them up and say "I want to apply such and such code to my ressies????
Thanks for everyone's help...this board is the best!

 

[ZaxMickey]

Thanks tink2020. I thought of doing just that, canceling my res with Expedia and going with Disney directly. I will let you all know what I come up with. Going to call them this morning and see what kind of fee I have to pay. The thing that is great, I payed for an insurance per say, allowing me to cancel without heavy fees if any. It was 70bucks total. So I might just loose 70.

 

[The6ofUs]

Zax, let us know what happens. From the things I've read on other boards, I think I'd stay away from travel sites and travel agents because in order to make any changes, the agent would have to call. You don't have any control over your reservations. I know they can be helpful, but I wouldn't want to give up the control. Hope this makes sense!

 

[ZaxMickey]

Makes sense most definately. Thanks.

 

[Hugpug]

I am going Dec 11 tru 18 2005 Got a Best Rate at POFQ and hoping it goes lower yet even though its not to bad $109.00 water view Plus Tax. Thats 45.00 a night off when figture the tax. Going to Party Dec.13 Can't wait to make all my ADR's Still working on them while I wait for CP packages to be posted and the 90 day window to come up.

 

[bsusanmb]

Tried to book 14 days, which is the max Disney could do one one ressie over the phone (even with AP rate). On-line will only allow 10 days. So now I have to book twice. I got best rate for 12/7-12/17 at POR of $109 for king bed water view.
I checked out every other option for the first 4 nights and got a really great rate for Saratoga Springs deluxe studio - I think the total was $888. Might go with this, or the GF concierge to "live it up".
Couldn't get anything at AKL or WL. I will keep checking though.
Waiting for Southwest to start accepting Dec ressies.
Love Disney in December - go every year - so beautiful.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

I'd like to get anything, also. Dec 7-13 at POP. Please and thanks!

 

[slcollins619]

If anyone out there can help, it will be much appreciated! We are planning to go down X-mas day and stay the week. I know that its the holidays, but it is the only vacation that my gets. I am trying desperately to find some discounts or something to help us out. The cheapest that I have been able to do right now is thru Disney. I dont belong to any clubs or have any reward c.c.'s. Can anyone help me out????????Please for the sake of my , , they will just die if they dont get to go!!!!!

 

[cobbler]

Honestly slcollins619, they don't offer any discounts over the holiday season. That is their prime season and any discounts you would see would be before Christmas day.

 

[kenziesmom]

If anyone out there can help, it will be much appreciated! We are planning to go down X-mas day and stay the week. I know that its the holidays, but it is the only vacation that my gets. I am trying desperately to find some discounts or something to help us out. The cheapest that I have been able to do right now is thru Disney. I dont belong to any clubs or have any reward c.c.'s. Can anyone help me out????????Please for the sake of my , , they will just die if they dont get to go!!!!!

We joined AAA this year just for our WDW trip and saved about $400. The price of AAA was only $49. They will also book your trip, but we didn't use their travel services. We booked through Small World (using our AAA) and saved even more $$$. Also, our TA with Small World will continue to check for other discounts. Good luck!!

 

[J and R's mom]

If anyone out there can help, it will be much appreciated! We are planning to go down X-mas day and stay the week. I know that its the holidays, but it is the only vacation that my gets. I am trying desperately to find some discounts or something to help us out. The cheapest that I have been able to do right now is thru Disney. I dont belong to any clubs or have any reward c.c.'s. Can anyone help me out????????Please for the sake of my , , they will just die if they dont get to go!!!!!

Have you considered (or heard of) renting vacations points from a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member? Although I don't have any points to rent out to you, there is a DIS board dedicated to doing this. See this link: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29 There are also many threads on the other DVC boards dedicated to renting points and how it works.

You could rent a studio or one bedroom for a decent price AND get larger rooms than any regular hotel room on site. The studios come with kitchenettes and the 1brs come with a full kitchen and a washer/dryer.

Here's link to WDW's website where you can look at the various DVC resorts and floorplans and amenities. (Just scroll down the page once you click on the link) http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...sting?id=DisneyVacationClubResortsListingPage

I just called and only Old Key West (OKW) and Saratoga Springs (SSR) have both room types available right now for 12/25-12/30. You could always book these rooms and be put on a waitlist for the other three resorts. The average price per point is renting at around $10/point.

Here are some costs for 12/25-12/30 (keep in mind, you won't have to pay taxes or anything so the agreed upon price per point is all you pay):

OKW (largest rooms of all DVC resorts) 5 nights
studio 75 points @ $10/pt = $750
1br 150 points @ $10/pt = $1500

SSR (newest DVC resort) 5 nights
studio 85 points @ $10/pt = $850
1br 180 points @ $10/pt = $1800

I did not include Friday and Saturday nights in the totals because the points per night more than double on the weekends and might blow the budget, but they can definitely be done.

Keep in mind, some folks might even agree to rent their points for less, you never know.

Good luck and I hope that you find a way to get to Disney. No matter which method you use, don't wait much longer to reserve rooms. That's a busy time of year.

 

[Gramgwen]

I am fairly new to all of this.....but I did obtain a code for our last trip (last week). Didn't realize I should be checking for other times of the year! I will catch on eventually

We had such a great time that we are already planning on our December 2006 trip. Any suggestions or what to watch for would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

 

[kima86]

My DH & I go every year right after Thanksgiving (this year 11/25 - 11/27 staying at in laws; 11/28 - 12/2 at Pop Century). We've already booked through AAA and received a 20% discount off room rate of $77, paying only $61 a night. Would still love to see about other codes and discount offers, though!

 

[mgpan]

I have already reserved under AAA with both AS and CGW reservations. As August approaches, I too am hopeful something better will come along other than Best Rate. Not currently holding an AP, I will not gamble with the extra cost for a discount that may or may not be there when I check on-line.

We are hoping for extension of the free dining plan, phone-in AP rates, etc., otherwise we may re-evaluate and opt for a later (much later in fact) trip.

Fingers crossed and good luck to us all.