First time planning Disney...NEED HELP!

[cluelyss18]

Hello everyone! I have been to Disney before as a kid, but its been 11 years. This will be my first time planning and booking myself and I am a penny-pincher. So any tips out there are welcomed. I have a few questions...

Has anyone ever booked a resort through price line? If so, how did it work?

What is a pin? and how do I get one?

Are there any sites (other than mousesavers) that give deep discounts on hotels?

Is the dining plan really worth it? I've tried researching the menus to see if it is, but I got lost.

Any ideas on saving money would be great.....
I will be searching the boards for the rest of the night...
Thanks in advance

 

[Turk February]

The best way to try to get a pin (there are no guarantees, it's random) is to create an account on disneyparks.com, create some vacation packages and save the offers, and order the planning dvd. Keep your eyes open in your email for anything from Disney Destinations, those emails sometimes have pins in them.

Mousesavers is the best way to get really good discounts on WDW area hotels.

The dining plan is only worth it if you think it is. How many people? What type of meals do you like? Do you just want to eat quick service meals (counter), or do you want sit-down table service too? The Plus dining plan, which is 1 quick service meal, 1 table service meal and 1 snack per day is about $45 per person for each night of your trip. There are other levels, and AllEars.net has a good breakdown. That's a decision only you can make, based on your preferences.

Good luck!

 

[vicki_c]

You can only get the dining plan with a Disney package (room and tickets booked through Disney or a TA like AAA, Dreams Unlimited, many others).

Priceline / Expedia / Travelocity reservations for Disney resorts are room only bookings so you can't add dining.

 

[cluelyss18]

I checked my e-mail yesterday and it appears they sent me a pin code. I don't know what to do with it though.

 

[TinkWink]

Slightly off-topic, but I've seen it mentioned in this way before, as Turk did.

Why do some people call the "regular" dining plan the "Plus Dining Plan"? I guess it's because it's Magic Your Way Plus Dining? But it's also MYW Plus QS or Plus DxDP. It totally confused me a few times, and I thought it had been renamed! But I think people are just reading it that way.

Just didn't want a noob to get confused, i.e. if they were talking to a CM.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

If your email is a pin code there is a link that you can hit and it will take you to a screen with options to book your vacation with the special rate that is only for you and your family (ie nontransferrable). It will allow you to price different hotels and packages through this link. If you are working with a TA they can book the hotel using your pin for you.

 

[vicki_c]

Slightly off-topic, but I've seen it mentioned in this way before, as Turk did.

Why do some people call the "regular" dining plan the "Plus Dining Plan"? I guess it's because it's Magic Your Way Plus Dining? But it's also MYW Plus QS or Plus DxDP. It totally confused me a few times, and I thought it had been renamed! But I think people are just reading it that way.

Just didn't want a noob to get confused, i.e. if they were talking to a CM.

I think Disney is actually referring to it that way now - the regular plan as the "plus" plan. I have seen numerous posts where it was referred to that way by CMs, I believe. Seems like it started about 6 months or so ago. I agree - it is confusing because I thought the same when I first started seeing it - that "plus" sounded more like an upgraded plan - like deluxe.

Personally, I go with quick-service, basic & deluxe!

 

[vicki_c]

I checked my e-mail yesterday and it appears they sent me a pin code. I don't know what to do with it though.

Or call on the phone with the code should work, as well as the PP's suggestions online.

 

[cluelyss18]

Just didn't want a noob to get confused, i.e. if they were talking to a CM.

What the heck is a CM?

 

[Emyturtle]

well, shoot! looks like I've wasted a couple of PINs before. I had no idea what they were -- or that they were just for me. I figured it was a promotion for the masses. Geez!

 

[Turk February]

What the heck is a CM?

CM = Cast Member = Disney name for Employee