Finding the best price for a staying on Disney

[Blaze12]

I am starting to plan a trip to WDW around Halloween for 2005. I know, it is really early, but I was wondering how to find good deals on resort/hotels on Disney property??? I am new to all this! We go every year with my mom because she has a convention there and just stay in her hotel, but we have never stayed there before by ourselfs so I dont know where to begin. We will have an 18 month old and a 3 1/2 year old with us as well, so if anyone can suggest places that are nice for little ones, that would be great!! I figured if I started to plan early, I can watch for deals and get the best prices!

Cant wait to hear your responses!!

 

[zakatak]

Hello Blaze!

With the little ones, I would suggest All Stars Movies or Pop Century... nice and bright, lots for kids, nice pools, great food courts, and cheap rates . For Halloween 2005, that would be regular season (most of October). Rates would run between rack rate of about $109 preferred (without code or AP) to maybe $79ish with a code. Any discount codes that would come out would be posted here (on the Resort Board) and at www.mousesavers.com . I would start looking sometime at the beginning of summer 2005.

It is never too early to plan. You will learn invaluable information on this website! You'll be a pro by the time you go down there.

Good luck!

You can check out the accomodations (All Star Movies, Pop Century or any other resorts) at www.wdwig.com .

 

[westjones]

If you have AAA, make sure you call and check on the rate with the AAA discount (if you don't have an AP--those are usually better I think). The website doesn't have a place for you to enter the AAA card to get a discount, but you an get it over the phone for most times other than Christmas/Holiday time.

DJ

 

[tink2dw]

How to get started Planning a WDW Vacation!!
In the mean time.....

To start reading all the Walt Disney World guide books your library carries new or old. Ask which are the favorite ones that other DIS members like.

Then you can start deciding what are the things that are "must do's" and "must see's." and decide the length of your trip.

Then decide on the tickets you will need here.
http://www.mousesavers.com/tickets.html

To keep an EYE on All the discounts for on-site and off-site resorts check here often and sign up for the MouseSavers.com newsletter to get all the best news.
http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html

For Air fares sign up at all the Airline Web sites that fly out of your airport, that fly to Orlando or MCO in airline speak. Then Check Expedia,Travelocity for airline deals. Also check out the Transporation Board air,car deals.
http://www.disboards.com/

Start a WDW change jar to save for your trip.[there are many tips here on this board!!]

Also you can decide where you will want to eat and start making plans to make your food budget and check the Priority Seatings Calculator to know when you can make PS's some are as far out as 730 Days.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm

Also to help decide where to eat you can find menu's at Deb's wdw site,this works 2 ways to see where to eat what,and how much it costs, to finalize the food budget.
http://www.wdwig.com/menu/menus.htm

To keep all this info in one place,here is a computer Disney Vacation Planner. It will print each day on a seperate sheet. Also check the pull down menu'sat the top for loads of info!!
http://www.intercot.com/planner/default.asp

Water Plan
The water in Florida smells and tastes like sulfer!! WDW sells bottled water for $2.50 each for a small bottle!!That can be a real budget buster!! SO a Water Plan in necessary. Here are some of the solutions That have been posted

1. Buy water filtering Britta Sports bottles.

2. If you Drive bring cases of your Favorite bottled water from home

3. Flying, Buy bottled water at Walmart near All Stars.

4. Send cases of your Favorite bottled water to your WDW Resort


Well,this should get you start on a thousand more Questions!! So,don't be shy! Ask away!! The kind members here will share what they know! So,check back often!!

tink2dw

 

[Blaze12]

WOW!! Thanks for all that information!!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering, I think I remember reading somewhere about counters here on the board to count down for you when to call for your PS. Or am I mistaken??

 

[Blaze12]

Also, would I just go through the "budge board" section to search for the money saving tips that others have used???

 

[dolphincrazy]

Originally posted by Blaze12
Also, would I just go through the "budge board" section to search for the money saving tips that others have used???

Hello Blaze
I spend most of my time on the budget board, there are some
awesome ideas over there and they are all really helpful people
if you want budget, you'll definately find that board very helpful.
Maryann

 

[Poorman]

As a DVC member I always suggest renting from a member. If you just rent from Sun-Thurs. night it would be about $90.00 per night for a standard view studio at the Boardwalk. This is a little better than a room at the All Stars. If you want to stay a full 7 days I would plan my trip to be at the BWV at the end and stay at The value or mod first. The weekends are about double for the room.Good luck.


PS this is how I became a member, I rented points after someone on the budget board clued me in. Best move I ever made.

 

[pamluvsdisney]

sorry. my mistake.

 

[Blaze12]

Originally posted by Poorman
As a DVC member I always suggest renting from a member. If you just rent from Sun-Thurs. night it would be about $90.00 per night for a standard view studio at the Boardwalk. This is a little better than a room at the All Stars. If you want to stay a full 7 days I would plan my trip to be at the BWV at the end and stay at The value or mod first. The weekends are about double for the room.Good luck.


PS this is how I became a member, I rented points after someone on the budget board clued me in. Best move I ever made.

How can I find out more about this??? I would definately be interested in it.

 

[Poorman]

Go to the DVC rent trade board. Just read the FAQs on DVC.

Rich

 

[Tigger1]

Why would a DVC member rent a studio for $90 a night? I thought the going rate was $10 per point. Most seasons a studio is about 13 point per night.

Tigger

 

[BrotherBear]

A studio standard view rents for 9 points a night (Sun - Thur) at BWV in the month of October. 9 * $10 = $90.

It completely dependfs on the time of year you are traveling and if you need a Fri or Sat night. These nights are usually twice as expensive.

The DVC rent / trade board will explain wverything.

 

[momsully]

Don't forget that the price you agree upon with a member if you rent points is the final price. There is no tax on that so it can often be a better deal when compared to many of the moderates.

 

[studog]

I think though if you rent from someone on the DVC board and you get hosed...you're out $$$$. I'd recommend Ebay. At least that way if you get hosd, your are covered under Ebays policy.

Ken

 

[Jon99]

We will be staying at the VWL in a studio the week before Easter through a rental and the total cost for the 7 nights will be $1400, compared to the estimated cost of $3500 it would have cost if we went directly thru WDW.. Add on another $120 if we want daily maid service..

 

[Poorman]

Originally posted by studog
I think though if you rent from someone on the DVC board and you get hosed...you're out $$$$. I'd recommend Ebay. At least that way if you get hosd, your are covered under Ebays policy.

Ken

Wow , I don't think that Ebay would be any safer , I think they have a limit. Also most of the people that frequent the DVC board are regulars,especially the renters. I would check references,and make some calls to those references. I can only remember one instance where a renter had proplems while renting points and I think that was a misunderstanding. But you know what, if you feel like you would get "hosed" renting points ,don't do it. A lot of people do rent points and when the get back from their stay in a DVC property,they know they just got a great deal. To each their own.

 

[Puffy2]

You can sign up for email alerts for when the following page changes:
http://www.orlandotripplanner.com/alerts/alerts.html
It's a page that has a lot of discount info for Orlando (including Disney resorts)

 

[Blaze12]

Thanks for all the information everyone!! I never thought about the DVC. If I did a search on ebay, would I search for Disney Vacation club???

 

[BrotherBear]

The ebay search would be DVC ... however I have found that ebay prices are generally MORE than the standard $10 per pt that the DIS boards rent out. If this is something you are interested in, you really should go to the DVC rent / trade board and read for a while. The deals are amazing for what you get.

Just to let you know, I used to search for mad for the best hotel prices on-site. (hard work) Then I rented points from a DVC owner here from the board. (much easier but still a little stressed) Then we bought into DVC and now our room reservations are fast, easy, and no stress at all. Once you stay in a one bedroom with full kitchen, W/D, balcony etc. it is very hard to go back to a hotel room (just my own opinion)

You have 1-1/2 years to plan, so it looks like you have plenty of time to research. Have fun!