fingers crossed

[martinrmn]

Well, decision made. Looks like we are going to spend a week on I-Drive then a week at Saratoga resort. Cashed in the Tesco vouchers, £1100 off the cost. Will double check in work tomorrow about leave then book tomorrow. Now the planning starts. I have already looked at Disney web sites but if anyone has any tips please let me know. Its been 2 years since we last went. This year we are not going to Universal or Islands, only Disney and shopping. Three of us will be going in December, me, the boss Donna and soon to be 12 year old John.

 

[jtlover]

Have fun planning

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Happy Planning. December is a lovely time to go all the Xmas decs will be out. The only bit of advice I can really give, and this may sound really daft, is to make sure you take woolly hats, gloves and a thick coat as it can be FREEZING in the evening !!!

When we went over Xmas/New Year I bought us all black woolly hats and sewed on fabric WDW badges and every time we wore them we got loads and loads of compliments and were constantly asked where we got them from.

 

[martinrmn]

Thanks for the tips. Yes we found the weather very changeable since we first started going. We have always gone in December, cheaper and for the Christmas feeling. The last two holidays we found the weather much colder compared to the first few times we went when I wore a vest at Mickeys Christmas party!

 

[WiganTony]

Just a word of caution - if you are planning to book your accommodation and tickets as a package with Disney, it may not be possible to start using your Disney tickets when you first arrive if staying off-site as they may be linked to the start date for your accommodation.

I have read on a number of forums about people having this problem - in some cases they have been able to start using their tickets a few days before their check-in date, but very rarely a whole week beforehand.

However, if you book your accommodation and tickets separately (or stay at Disney for your first week), you shouldn't have this problem.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

Hi I too am saving TEsco Vouchers and plan to use them next year, Can I just ask who did you price your holiday up with?? I wanted 10 days at Disney first then 7 days I drive. Did you book with Virgin using Tesco vouchers??

 

[bex7583]

yesi m interested also about the tesco vouchers i only just got a club card and they sent me a catalouge with various things to use the vouchers on

 

[martinrmn]

To be fair, we always use Tesco vouchers. We have not booked yet as I am awaiting the vouchers in the post. We tend not to book until the vouchers are in my hand, Virgin stipulate the vouchers must be with them within 3 days of booking. I tend to get the envelope ready and once confirmed with Virgin post that day, first class recorded delivery.

Virgin offer some very good deals and I do tend to price several Disney hotels. We book I-Drive first as Disney is a lovely way to finish the holiday and it gives us chance to shop in our first week.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

I have opted into the tesco xmas saver so dont get my annual vouchers until November I have been saving for longer and will have nearly £1000 to put towards the holiday. when did you stop saving and receieve the vouchers??? also do you save the usual way i.e. receive the vouchers quarterly but via online method.

I only ask because I tried to redeem a few of the vouchers last month at the start of the double voucher exchange and was told I couldnt exchange until my vouchers were sent out which wasnt until NOvember. This got me thinking if I want to use some for our hols next week I would have to wait until Nov 2013 arrgghhh think i should opt out of the christmas saver scheme

 

[martinrmn]

I have opted into the tesco xmas saver so dont get my annual vouchers until November I have been saving for longer and will have nearly £1000 to put towards the holiday. when did you stop saving and receieve the vouchers??? also do you save the usual way i.e. receive the vouchers quarterly but via online method.

I only ask because I tried to redeem a few of the vouchers last month at the start of the double voucher exchange and was told I couldnt exchange until my vouchers were sent out which wasnt until NOvember. This got me thinking if I want to use some for our hols next week I would have to wait until Nov 2013 arrgghhh think i should opt out of the christmas saver scheme

I have been saving these since last year and received them every quarter through the post. This way we can redeem them as and when we decide to go. My only 2 complaints are that they are now only worth 3 times the face value and only valid for USA and Caribbean. Still a good deal though.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

I have been saving these since last year and received them every quarter through the post. This way we can redeem them as and when we decide to go. My only 2 complaints are that they are now only worth 3 times the face value and only valid for USA and Caribbean. Still a good deal though.

Thanks Martin good to know someone else is an avid Tesco clubcard point saver.

 

[laura_<3]

Happy Planning

 

[martinrmn]

Just tried to book Saratoga Springs with Virgin only to find out its fully booked for our dates. We have to look at alternatives which mean more expense. Now considering 7 nights at Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando and 7 at Wilderness Lodge or Old Key West.

 

[zippy99]

Before you use all your vouchers - double check you are getting a deal:

I looked at our August Dates 4 adults with VH (flights & 14 nights at Pointe Orlando) is £5607 - so could be £4607 with vouchers

Yet if I booked direct virigin flights and the hotel with Monarch the cost is £3882 (potentially an additional £330 less if I used my club card vouchers on my regular shopping and put that money towards the balance)

I am not sure of you exact dates but try using WDW or Complete Orlando to price up your holiday to make sure that you are getting a deal By using your vouchers. If I was using your vouchers above I would be losing out!

I know you are planning a split stay so the difference may not be so much but calling a neutral like Complete Orlando (who give almost DIY prices with comfort of a package) could be a good way of checking your Virgin price.

 

[martinrmn]

Thanks, will try that and see what price I can get.

 

[martinrmn]

Before you use all your vouchers - double check you are getting a deal:

I looked at our August Dates 4 adults with VH (flights & 14 nights at Pointe Orlando) is £5607 - so could be £4607 with vouchers

Yet if I booked direct virigin flights and the hotel with Monarch the cost is £3882 (potentially an additional £330 less if I used my club card vouchers on my regular shopping and put that money towards the balance)

I am not sure of you exact dates but try using WDW or Complete Orlando to price up your holiday to make sure that you are getting a deal By using your vouchers. If I was using your vouchers above I would be losing out!

I know you are planning a split stay so the difference may not be so much but calling a neutral like Complete Orlando (who give almost DIY prices with comfort of a package) could be a good way of checking your Virgin price.

Just priced up both, ouch! Unfortunately a bit more expensive than using Virgin with Tesco tickets. Worth trying though as it gives me an idea of prices with other agents. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

Can Tesco clubcards be used with Cosmos holidays to Florida

 

[martinrmn]

Can Tesco clubcards be used with Cosmos holidays to Florida

Not sure about that, only ever used Virgin. Check the Tesco clubcard site and they may have info there.

 

[crabbie1]

Something I have never understand is tesco vouchers and florida hols and how it works.
For OP how can wilderness lodge be cheaper than SSR I find that bizarre especially with VH
Its interesting to see that people still get good deals with VH as they have been 2-3000 more everytime Iv got a quote and thats with thier discount.
Did you price up flights with Virgin atlantic and then price the disney hotel up with disney direct or another TA to compare?
December is a great time to go and flights are normally cheaper.
Anyway good luck with searching its all part of the fun and you have to go with the pricemyour happy with

 

[london75]

I've posted this before but it's worth mentioning again, we use Tesco on mundane things like dry cleaning, car breakdown cover and meals out which are still 4x face value.

The equivalent saved then comes of the holiday price (only by keeping score in my head rather than in reality but I suppose you could keep the cash in an account if you are disciplined).

We used Tesco on VH once and even using the other fiddle of booking a holiday for 1 including villa accomodation with vouchers and all the other flights direct with Virgin, it was still a bit of a rip off in hindsight.