Disney novice please help

[Chase121698]

HI,

This is my first post so please forgive the rambling. We want to go to disney when the kids get out of school (may). We are a family of 4.(Twins 5yr olds) We want to got cheap of course and stay on site. I know we need to stay at one of the moderate restorts, not interested in camping. Where do we get the tickets cheap? We want to go for 3 days I think. Would 3 day tickets include water parks? Is there any code or anything to get the moderate resorts cheaper? We will be driving also from NC. I know that this time of year will be crowded but we want to go to the water parks. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[DNBois]

I may not be able to help you out with the tickets since my husband and I usually have APs but I believe you can get either a 3 or 4 day park hopper pass (w/o water parks) or park hopper plus (with waterparks). There are plenty of posts and threads to show you where you can obtain discounted passes as I am not certain.
As for the room, you may be able to get a good deal - we went last May and got a $94 rate (without tax) a night at the Carribbean Beach with a "preferred" view and that was the best we have done. Just keep checking on these boards as well as on www.allearnsnet.com for any codes and such. Since they posted codes up until 4/17/04 a few weeks ago, I would assume that new codes will be coming out shortly for May. You could always book the room, put one nights deposit down and then call back with any applicable codes and you should be fine.
Hope that helps - good luck!

 

[ceecee]

If you want to go cheaper...try the All Star Movies. Our 5 yr old DD LOVED it and never wants to stay anywhere else. I think the rooms would be plenty big for you, since they are still so young. You may want to buy the waterpark tickets seperately from your hoppers if you only plan on doing that once. I don't think there are 3 day plus anyway.

 

[Ellester]

Go to www.mousesavers.com and sign up for the free newsletter. There are often special ticket deals only available to newsletter subscribers. I think I've seen 3 day hoppers with 1+ on them from time to time. You will have to have a Parkhopper plus to use the waterparks (or a separate one day ticket, regular passes don't include the water parks). I agree that you would be fine in a value resort, the rooms at the moderates are not that much bigger and the beds are the same size. The mousesavers site also has links to various ticket brokers so you can compare prices. You will have so much fun with 5 year olds! What a great age to go to WDW! May is usually not too busy. Most of the summer traffic doesn't start until June.

~Ellen

 

[powellrj]

gotta second mousesavers.com. She can guide you through the codes and ticket options. Make sure you sign up for the montly newsletter that comes out on the 15th of every month. Many times there are newsletter only specials that you won't want to miss out on!! Good luck!

 

[jaross]

I use mousesavers for the hotel codes as well. I've done great on there from $69 at all stars to $109 at AKL! (Those are my best deals.)

All stars worked fine for us. The rooms are a little smaller but, it's still on site and has the Disney Magic (a must for me).

There are three day hoppers, but I haven't seen anything with the water parks. Another option... I believe you can book a length of stay or ultimate hopper if you stay on site. It gives you access to all the parks, waterparks and downtown disney from the day you check in until the end of the day you check out. At least that's the way it was last time I did that.

Overall, there are not alot of good deals on the park tickets. You just need to decide the best option for your family.

You'll find tons of good ideas on this board and on mousesavers. It's saved me hundreds of dollars every trip.

Chris

 

[momsully]

You might also consider renting points from a DVC member and stay in a studio room at a Deluxe Resort. That time of year is 10 points a night (Sun - Thurs) and at the going rate of $10/point that would be $100 a night. There is no tax if you rent from a member.

 

[mom2alix]

A little more info on the post above....

The DVC studios also include a microwave and mini fridge which can help with the food budget if you do some meals/snacks in your room. You also get FREE access to washer dryers in the building.

What's the catch? You give up daily housekeeping. They do trash pickup/towel exchange on day 4. Bottom line, you get to stay in a villa in a more deluxe resort for about the same price as a moderate resort. It just depends on what is most important to you about your stay. Some people must have maid service every day and others would rather make (or not make) their own beds.

 

[DisneyBill]

Lots of good advice above. One more thing, if you're going in late May or June and want to stay on site, you need to get those reservations made. Especially if you plan to rent from a DVC member for a studio room. Also, you've ordered the WDW planning video, right?