Early planning....gotta figure this stuff out!

[mudnuri]

I'm doing some early research for our November trip in 2005...yes- 2005!

DH and I both had today off, so we did some serious "planning" We've been tossing around the idea of a land/sea package, however we cabboshed that.

Now, what Im looking at is November 27-Dec 3 (the 27th begins Value season)......

I can get the AS's for $61.60 a night with AAA (before taxes) or a Moderate- CBR, POR, for 106.40 Or splurge way up there, with AKL for 169.15
369.60 AS total
638.40 Mod Total
1014.90 AKL/WL Total


what my plan is, to get a 5 day park hopper, as Sunday and Saturday are travel days, so we wont need hoppers. These will run me....$980

We'll need flights from BDL or MHT to MCO, but I cant even check on those now. We usually drive, but since we'll be pulling the DD's out of school AGAIN, I'd rather fly this time, be back on Saturday, and ready for school on Monday!

Rental car- do I need one? No? How do I get from MCO to WDW?

Grocery stop? Should we do one? uughh

Is it important in November to stay at a hotel with a cool pool? is it too cold to swim then?

We stayed at asmovies in April, and loved it...should just do it again, and save the money for treats??

OH OH OH what am I doing!! I gotta go get the unofficail 05 guide...geez....

DH says I'm crazy, I'm beginning to agree.....14 months away and I'm planning like this...geez! It's a disease I say!

HELP!
Brandy

 

[hockey mom]

To early to plan- that's crazy talk.

Book your hotel now and start paying, and that way if an even better code than AAA comes out you will have extra cash. If ASM is where you stayed last time bump it up to a moderate this trip.

I would think you will be swimming with no problem in November.

Grocery stop- yes

We used a limo last trip and a roundtrip was around $160 but there are cheaper options.

 

[bettyann29]

Too early to plan?? I say never!! We are not going until March 2006.. YES I did say 2006 and I have already started planning!!

 

[wasabi girl]

Is there such a thing as "too early to plan"? Im trying to figure out our PS for a Dec 2005 trip....

Good luck. rental cars are a good idea, then you don't have to depend on the busses. There are a few different options to get from MCO to WDW. I haven't used them but I'm sure somewhere on these boards you can find all the info you will need to plan a great trip.

 

[jann1033]

someone had a good idea whichi am passing on..they got a rental only for the airport trips, cost something like $30 each way which i am planning on, well "was" as at this moment in time subject to change, husband wants to drive again... ( third time he has changed his mind so wish he would "plan" !

 

[MECH8T7]

...nay...

I'm waiting for DCL to release their 2006 dates so I can book a 7 day cruise for March 2006!!!

 

[pjlla]

Just two quick comments....

#1... If you are considering flying from MHT you must be a New England neighbor! Howdy neighbor! (Is BDL Bradley?)


#2. Regarding the groceries.... if you really want to have a few things in the room for snacks/bkfst, considering mailing a box to the hotel a few days before your arrive time or using netgrocer.com or something like that. Mailing a box worked great for us!

HTH......................P

 

[Strings]

It's never too early to plan. I have my room only ressie at CS for 12/05. I don't feel the need for a rental when staying OP. We use a towncar service with a grocery stop. It is much superior to Mears, and the grocery stop invaluable to us. FL Tours is a sponser, and I have used Tiffany.

 

[mudnuri]

#1... If you are considering flying from MHT you must be a New England neighbor! Howdy neighbor! (Is BDL Bradley?)

We are! Southern VT, just across the river from Keene/Walpole, NH...either Bradley or Manchester is going to work. if we go MHT, we generally stay at the Marriott on South Willow, they let us park the truck there free (AND KEEP THE KEYS WITH US!) and have a free shuttle

If we do Bradley, we stay at the Bradley International Inn, park free, BUT LEAVE THEM OUR KEYS and DH hates that!

Usually we can fly out of MHT cheaper, but its way to soon to see prices etc.

#2. Regarding the groceries.... if you really want to have a few things in the room for snacks/bkfst, considering mailing a box to the hotel a few days before your arrive time or using netgrocer.com or something like that. Mailing a box worked great for us!

didnt even think of mailing a box! My brother works for UPS, so we ship stuff for greatly discounted rates...

When we went in April, we just brought way to much snacks etc.. didnt really save me any money, but we had the truck, so room wasnt an issue!

Thanks again everyone! It looks like we're going to be moving up in resorts...looking at the historical rates with codes etc.. for November, our chances look pretty good ....I may end up booking a Value and AKL, then cancelling one when codes come out

Brandy

 

[sarahsmom73]

Too early to plan?! Me thinks not! In fact we are planning a family Christmas 2005 at WDW.... I made a deposit over the weekend for the Beach Club.... No other famliy memebrs knows I have done this...(TEEE HEEE!)

I am also making this years Christmas gifts trip related.. I have sweatshirts, Unofficial guides, ornaments, disney dollars etc....

Planning is so much fun!

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

Too early to plan?? NO way...we're going in Nov. 2005, too! I'm glad to hear that the November weather is OK for swimming

 

[punkin]

It's OK for swimming if you happen to be from Maine, but I always found it too cold for me. I like bathtub temps. Unless you hit a warm spell, it will be a little chilly for swimming

 

[SusanD]

I am of the firm opinion that planning is one of the most exciting parts of the trip. It is a way to enjoy yourself before you arrive. You can read the books, watch the WDW planning video, discuss touring options. The possibilities are endless.

People who don't plan just enjoy themselves for the time they are there. Advanced planners can relish all the time until the trip as well.

Planners rule!

 

[sarahsmom73]

AMEN to that!

 

[pjlla]

Originally posted by punkin
It's OK for swimming if you happen to be from Maine, but I always found it too cold for me. I like bathtub temps. Unless you hit a warm spell, it will be a little chilly for swimming

Since we are from NH and most of the pools are heated, we had no problem swimming in January... on two different trips.....P

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Never too early! We're planning trips Dec 04, Oct 05, May 06 & Jan 08! Time goes by so fast, need to plan soon

We rented cars for a day on both ends of the trip and it came out much cheaper than limo service or Mears. Alamo has a rental counter in DTD and they will drive you back to your hotel. Dollar has one in the Dolphin. I liked having our own car and stopping for how ever long we wanted.

 

[mudnuri]

We rented cars for a day on both ends of the trip and it came out much cheaper than limo service or Mears. Alamo has a rental counter in DTD and they will drive you back to your hotel. Dollar has one in the Dolphin. I liked having our own car and stopping for how ever long we wanted.

Thats an excellent tip! And I did not know that Alamo will bring you to your resort...EXCELLENT! I could check in with the kids, and send DH to DTD to drop off the car...oh boy this is a good one! I'm gonna go check on the price now

Thanks
Brandy

 

[Maddle]

I haven't done this myself, but have read of others who have....

If you are looking at flying out of BDL, take a look at air fares into Tampa. There have been some AMAZING low fares, and it is possible they will have those again. If you are going to rent a car anyway, the drive from Tampa to Disney is not too bad, and could save you a small fortune.

Maddle