First time to Disney World

[RHMH]

Hello, this is my first post on here and this also will be our first visit to Disney World!

We are planning on going from the 5th-12th January 2013. We are a family of 4 and I've received a quote from a travel agent for $3500 AUD for accommodation (room only) and 4 day park hopper tickets (including water parks) for the CBR.

I can't look this far in advance on the Disney website but this seems quite expensive (is it?). Allears.net (sorry I can't post the direct link being a newbie) shows that the most I would have paid this year at the same time is $179 per night and going by the Disney website the tickets should be $1483.56. Total being $2736.56. Am I forgetting anything to include or is the quote of $3.5K overpriced? I realise that the prices may go up next year but this is quite a big difference.

Also...

Is it worth having water park tickets for a January visit? I read that Blizzard Beach will be closed. Is it better to wait and see and buy Typhoon Lagoon tickets on the day if the weather is suitable?

We don't have much flexibility in the dates but it looks like the Marathon will be on the same time? Will this be too much of a problem?


Sorry for the mammoth first post!

Hello Friends - I would agree with a couple of Diser's about talking to a cast member at WDW. I can not advise you about what to do because our first trip did not cost to much since we are from Texas. As for you, you have to really plan carefully because of budget, time and AIRFARE. The only thing I can advise you to do is frequently get on Dis Board and ask question. If I were traveling from Australia, I would probably freak out over the cost of the whole trip.

Would it be cheaper to go to Hong Kong Disney or Tokyo Disney? Just asking, I don't know.

No matter which Disney you plan to visit, you will have a Magical Vacation.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

I apologize Solana....

 

[supersally]

Thankyou so much everyone for the amazing advice and warm welcome

There is so much to look at and plan, I actually didn't realise Disney World was so massive until I started researching a few weeks ago .

I've contacted my travel agent and I'm pretty sure we will book this part of our trip on our own, using the Disney website as she can't beat the prices. Will have to wait a little closer to the date to start locking things in though!

If I were traveling from Australia, I would probably freak out over the cost of the whole trip.

Would it be cheaper to go to Hong Kong Disney or Tokyo Disney? Just asking, I don't know.

I am freaking out about the cost of the trip you are right . We are travelling around the US for 6 weeks (with two young children) and Disney is probably the part we are looking forward to the most. We have been to Euro Disney but want the kids to see the 'real deal' at WDW.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Hi from a neighbour (kiwi). We have been to WDW twice before and are going back again the same time as you. It is always more expensive for us. We just don't get the discounts that they get (US, Canada and UK visitors).

I've done loads of research. I know some kiwis and aussies use Dreams Unlimited. I haven't yet as our travel agent is a good friend so we like to use her. To cut your costs have you thought of staying at Pop Century? We really enjoy there and have been twice before in January and really enjoyed the pools etc.

I strongly recommend you get Park Hoppers. You (like us) are travelling a long way to visit, make the most of it and have the option to move onto another park if one park is too busy etc. We will always have the option.

Like you, we will be away for a good amount of time (8 weeks) and include 2 cruises. Have a fantastic time. Any questions, fire away.

 

[kdawg8762]

This is why i always say Park Hoppers are the way to go if you are going for a week or more, and always if you can't come often or have so far to come, like you. In any park you might run into a ride or attraction you just love (for me it was RNR 10 years ago). With PH, i was able to go back a few times and then hit another park. Also, being a first timer, you might love everything, and hit everything (not wanting to miss something) so you finish off all but 2 or 3 things (say at DHS the RNR and TT are big lines by the time you get to them), PH allows you to go back at RD, hit the few things you missed, then move on to another park. I am actually surprised some would say don't. You are coming half way around the world and it would make sense, that sense it is not a lot more money for PH (pittly compared to what you are already going to spend) for you to not have the freedom to hop back to something.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Welcome! This board is a great source of information - all the advice on here helped me plan our most amazing first trip!

Disney usually has some type of discount (room only or free dining) in early January. Here is a link to the mousesavers website that lists the historical discounts to kind of give you an idea. http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#2012

Although, if you're going over the marathon weekend the discounts may be blacked out. But if you're flexible you may be able to get a great deal!

Just keep checking the disney site - sign up so you have a chance of getting a discount code sent to you. And check the dis often. If there's a discount to be had, you'll hear about it here first!

Oh - and I wouldn't buy PH or WP option until I was there and needed them. It might be too cold for WPs, or maybe your kids are too tired to be hopping. You can always add them later if you need them. We didn't PH on our first trip and we were fine. I scheduled quite a bit of our dining at resorts so we didn't need to travel to another park to eat. Maybe next time, now that we know our way around the world and have our favs, I would PH.

 

[RHMH]

Thankyou so much everyone for the amazing advice and warm welcome

There is so much to look at and plan, I actually didn't realise Disney World was so massive until I started researching a few weeks ago .

I've contacted my travel agent and I'm pretty sure we will book this part of our trip on our own, using the Disney website as she can't beat the prices. Will have to wait a little closer to the date to start locking things in though!




I am freaking out about the cost of the trip you are right . We are travelling around the US for 6 weeks (with two young children) and Disney is probably the part we are looking forward to the most. We have been to Euro Disney but want the kids to see the 'real deal' at WDW.

RHMH here again - OHHH!!! by the way, if you have the time don't forget to view the You Tube Video and read our trip report.

 

[solana131]

I apologize Solana....

Oh gosh, no apology necessary Its all good.

Thankyou so much everyone for the amazing advice and warm welcome

There is so much to look at and plan, I actually didn't realise Disney World was so massive until I started researching a few weeks ago .

I've contacted my travel agent and I'm pretty sure we will book this part of our trip on our own, using the Disney website as she can't beat the prices. Will have to wait a little closer to the date to start locking things in though!
I am freaking out about the cost of the trip you are right . We are travelling around the US for 6 weeks (with two young children) and Disney is probably the part we are looking forward to the most. We have been to Euro Disney but want the kids to see the 'real deal' at WDW.

You are going to have such an amazing time. It doesn't matter how you do it our what kind of tickets you get. Just remember, there is no way you can fully prepare yourself for what is about to happen to you. I started planning 342 days before our trip and I still had so much to learn...still do. But it was an amazing trip and I can't wait to go back and learn more. There are lots and lots of things we missed either due to rehabs and closures (they do alot of those that time of year) or my poor planning, or a tired little guy. I just tried to see what we could see and make note of what I want to see next time...whenever that might be.

So excited for you! It is just such a magical place. Enjoy all the planning

 

[laceemouse]

Thanks, but its all good. I take everything on here with a grain of salt. I think sometimes people that go every year, or lots of times anyway lose sight of how first timers tour the parks. And how overwhelming it can be on first timers. I just thought adding the park hoppers would give us more options and we could just go with the flow. Not worry so much about weather and times and meals. But it is for sure more money and that is something to consider. With young kids sometimes it is not possible to stay at one park all day.

All I can say is you need to really think about not having to worry about meals. You really, really need to book table service meals ahead of time. If you don't you will not get seating at the popular places and may have trouble getting in to eat anyplace at all. I am a travel agent (it should never cost more to use one, Disney pays us a commission, our prices are the same as the ones on the website) and the main reasons to use one are we help people plan which park/which day in advance and book meals for each day. You can research all of this yourself, of course, but don't just show up thinking you can hop around and get a table where ever you want to eat when you feel like eating. I see people being turned away without ADRs all the time.

To the OP, you need more than 4 park days, say 6 or even 8. I can live without hoppers picking a park for each day and booking my sit down meal at that park. It will most likely be too cold to do a water park in January, save money and don't buy that.

Most likely prices will change and there will be some "deal" for next January. If you book yourself keep looking for any deals that come out.