Earliest date to look for hotel bargains

[ncbyrne]

DH and I are planning a 11 day (10 nights) trip for Sept 8-18, 2004. It's just the two of us and we'd like to split it up. 4-3-3 nights. I'm thinking off-off site for 4 nights, then one of the DD hotels for the next 3 nights, and ending with 3 nights onsite (not All-Stars). It's still 14 months away, but what is the earliest I can start looking for great hotel/resort bargains? I want to surprise my husband, and give him the details for Christmas this year.

 

[safetymom]

For the onsite rooms you could book now. When codes come out you could apply them to your reservation. I would suggest you change the order of your stay though. I wouldn't do a value after a Deluxe. Do the value first then the deluxe and I think you will enjoy it more.

For the other hotels I would start looking around the first of the year. But even then that is a little far out to know if they are any bargains being offered.

 

[blessedby3]

I have to agree with safetymom. Save the deluxe for last. We stayed for 7 nights at the Contemporary in April in the tower facing the MK. We left and were stopping half way home to spend the night at a nice hotel, but after staying at a Deluxe Disney Resort, I felt like we were slumming it at the "regular Hotel". It was almost painful. Save the best for last and you will go out with a feeling of being so pampered!! Hope you have a great time planning your vacation!!

 

[house_of_princesses]

I'm just curious; why would you change rooms? Just for change of scenery? Is there some advantage to this? I don't think I would want to move every three or four days, the incentives would have to be huge!!

 

[ncbyrne]

We (DH and I, no kids) change rooms for two reasons. First of all, we can extend our vacation time by staying at less expensive rooms for part of the trip. And second, because we like having different scenery and utilizing the different options at each resort/hotel. We only buy the 5 day park hopper plus tickets, but vacation for two weeks. While we are staying off WDW property at typical chain motels, we visit the WDW parks, and water parks and Universal and/or Sea World. Since we do all the parks commando style (getting there at opening, staying till close) we are at the hotel only to sleep on those days. I know that we have to pay the parking fees this way, but we'd rather take advantage of all that the resorts have to offer when staying onsite. Plus we never completely unpack, and for the most part, live out of suitcases, so it's not a big deal to move. On moving day, we check our luggage into our resort early in the morning. Then spend that day touring all the WDW resorts, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at a different resort for each meal - usually starting the day at Boardwalk, ending at Fort Wilderness. We also use all of the WDW transportation that day too - monorail, boats, busses - which is fun in itself.

 

[house_of_princesses]

WOW!! Can I have some of your energy??!!

 

[tink2dw]

My Advice is to check out www.MouseSavers.com now and often. Get aquainted with the hotels on her site and get to know the prices so you can see a bargain and jump on it!! Then watch MouseSavers for codes and bargains!!