DIY? Package? AP discounts? Argh!

[FelineVintage]

I am in the preliminary stages of planning my second solo trip. My dates are looking like end of March for two weeks so that it's slightly off season, I'm restricted to uni holiday dates being a mature student and I don't think my excitement will allow me to wait until September next year to go!

Last time, in May 2014 did a package for flight and hotel, stayed off site then later booked my car hire after getting over myself and realising I would be just fine driving on the other side of the road.

This time I think my budget will be a little more so could potentially stay on site but I still want to get the best possible deal. I'm just not sure the best way to go about it.

I am considering getting the annual pass and then holding out to see if I can get a decent room discount on site, probably in one of the value resorts because I still want to get some bang for my buck. Am I too close to Easter and/or spring break for this to possibly happen? Obviously booking through the US site for this.

I will be starting to book things in about a months time I think, depending on what prices things are coming up as. I want to book ASAp but don't want to do myself out of any deals if I leave it a little longer.

Any and all advice welcome!

 

[BadPinkTink]

if you are doing a solo trip, have you thought about going to Disney California? Its very doable as a solo DIY trip, depending on your time, you could do 1 week at Disney and I week somewhere else, LA, San Fran, San Diago, the possibilities are endless.

I use www.skyscanner.com for flights. For hotels at Disney I stay off site at a good neighbour hotel I found the hotel list on the official Disney website and found one which suited my needs.

I use www.supershuttle.com to get to / from Disney to LAX

 

[FelineVintage]

I am definitely going to Florida, I may get to Cali one day but for now WDW and Universal are where it's at. I will be hiring a car because it works for me for many different reasons, some of them health related. I don't really see why Cali would be any different to Florida in all honesty as far as planning and booking goes.

Going solo is a non-issue really, I moved to New Zealand and back solo so a two week holiday is just another day for me!

 

[Elise79]

I am not sure the extra cost of an AP will be worth for a discount in a value. As you normally only get an extra 5% off the general public rate.

You can book room only through a US TA and they will get the best deal possible for you as they check as when discounts are released and if possible automatically apply it - I personally use DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com and can't fault the service.

With booking through the US the deposit on room only is fully refundable until 5 days before check in with the balance due at check in. You can pay more at any time and that would be refundable to if you cancelled before the 5 days.

I think for 14 nights you will be better on room only through US and then buying a UK 14 day ticket.

 

[FelineVintage]

To add, with the AP, it wouldn't exclusively be for a room discount, other factors would be other perks like store discounts and free parking, plus the potential to do another holiday within a year without the expense of buying another 14 day pass or similar.

I thought that the room discount would potentially be up to 20% depending on what they release but do you think my dates are too close to high season for this to be a possibility?

I shall certainly check out your recommendation though!

 

[wilma-bride]

You would get free parking if you were staying on site anyway.

 

[FelineVintage]

Of course! If nothing else posting has reminded me of this.

 

[Elise79]

To add, with the AP, it wouldn't exclusively be for a room discount, other factors would be other perks like store discounts and free parking, plus the potential to do another holiday within a year without the expense of buying another 14 day pass or similar.

I thought that the room discount would potentially be up to 20% depending on what they release but do you think my dates are too close to high season for this to be a possibility?

I shall certainly check out your recommendation though!

If you are thinking of a second trip in the year that makes the AP a good option.

On the room discounts you can get AP discounts of up to about 20% with an AP however there are usually public discounts covering the same times and they will only be about 5% less and don't have the expense of having to buy an AP.