First time WDW!!!

[Clare Marie]

I am Am planning to go to WDW next year in April. I have never booked a holiday before ( I have never even been on a plane and I am nearly 26).

I will be going with my bf and daughter who will be 7. We will not be needing flights as we will be driving from New Orleans. We are getting a flight from Manchester to New O the week earlier because my boyfriend has his heart set on wrestlemana 30!

So I have been on the DW site and it will cost £1700 for the 3 of us for 7 days at AOA in a little mermaid standard room!! This is without dining - hoping we can get some free dining when we book. If not will be and extra £400 for quick counter service.

my questions for you more experienced disney planners are-

How early do I need to book?

Do I need to Pay a deposit when I book? If so how much?

When do I need to have it all paid off?

Any tips for first timers to disney?

How much spending money would be efficient to take?

I could just ring up but I would much rather get some of your input.

I am so excited writing this, it becomes a bit more real )))))

Thanks in advance

Clare x

 

[anniedream]

Hey, I have never booked through WDW before, only travel agents, so I won't be of great help but £1700 for the 3 of you for 7 nights at AoA, without flights seems like a lot (or is it that you have included the flights?)
The earlier you book (I always feel) the more time you have to save. We have both booked 8 months in advance and saved all our money and booked to go 4 weeks before.
If you are definitely going April, bare in mind it will be Easter/Spring Break so be prepared for it to be BUSY.

 

[anniedream]

Usually you have to have it paid off 12 weeks before you go.
You will have so much fun planning & reading tips.
Enjoy planning & all the best

 

[MrRomance]

I am Am planning to go to WDW next year in April. I have never booked a holiday before ( I have never even been on a plane and I am nearly 26).

I will be going with my bf and daughter who will be 7. We will not be needing flights as we will be driving from New Orleans. We are getting a flight from Manchester to New O the week earlier because my boyfriend has his heart set on wrestlemana 30!

So I have been on the DW site and it will cost £1700 for the 3 of us for 7 days at AOA in a little mermaid standard room!! This is without dining - hoping we can get some free dining when we book. If not will be and extra £400 for quick counter service.

my questions for you more experienced disney planners are-

How early do I need to book?

If Disney follow their usual pattern, they will release their best deals this month (rumour has it, it's the 25th but that is just a rumour)That is usually when the offer free dining etc.

Do I need to Pay a deposit when I book? If so how much?

If you are booking through WDTC, you will need to pay a deposit, it varies depending on when you book, but tends to be £50 per person

When do I need to have it all paid off?

You will need to pay your balance 12 weeks before you travel

Any tips for first timers to disney?

My top tip for first timers is don't try to do everything in one trip. Unless you want to come home exhausted and needing another holiday, just do your research and make sure you do all of your must do things.

How much spending money would be efficient to take?

If you took £5000 you could easily spend it, if you took £2000, you'd be fine. It is worth noting that Disney have no offered free dining on value resorts in recent times. You usually get the quick service plan if you book a moderate and the full dining plan if you book a deluxe. So if you don't have dining, you will need to allow more spends for that

I could just ring up but I would much rather get some of your input.

I am so excited writing this, it becomes a bit more real )))))

Thanks in advance

Clare x

I have tried to answer your questions in your post, but some things you should consider is whether it is better to upgrade to a moderate for free dining or pay for dining. I have found that usually, if you add dining on to the value resorts OOP, it's cheaper to upgrade the hotel and get it for free because the dining for your party costs more than the upgrade, so watch out for that.

 

[OhanaSam]

£1700 definitely sounds like a lot, we're only paying 3,300 for 2 weeks including flights, Port Orleans FQ , park tickets and dining plan

You do have to pay a deposit, it's £50 pp for just hotel pr £150 pp if flights are included I think.

 

[khibs]

£1700 sounds very high unless its over Easter school holidays in which case the price could be right!! We've usually paid 3,300 incl flights, dining and park tickets at a moderate resort for 2 adults and one child. I'd search around abit before you book. Also if you are going over Easter then free dining won't be offered. You'll little girl will love it though and it will be worth every penny! For a week in disney with the dining plan id say £800 would be adequate, without dining prob £1500 depending on how much alcohol your likely to drink and toys you'll buy though!

 

[scoobydooby]

That price must include ultimate tickets for all of you. I just priced a random 7 days in April 2014 for AoA, two adults and one child and its coming up at £1,555 including tickets. I'd wait and see if any dining deals come out this month before booking.

 

[Clare Marie]

Thank you every one for all your detailed replies.

The dates I'm planning on going are 9th April till the 16th April. They are in the Easter holidays. Can't be changed as I don't want to take lol girl through term time and wrestlemania is in the holidays.

The flights are NOT included in the price. I will definitely be looking for cheaper prices. I don't want to change the resort we stay in, I am quite looking forwards to stay in the little mermaid room, as will be my daughter- she loves The little mermaid.

Can anyone suggest any travel agents that they have used and the price has been less than it is on the Walt disney site?

Thank you

 

[Tony Toon]

I always book through WDW via quidco and get cash back (they're really good at paying out so far) although I know that some people do CompleteOrlando who are very often cheaper even when you factor in cashback/gift cards etc. As folks have said there will hopefully be offers posted soon giving free DDP & perhaps gift cards. We booked a bit on the late side this year for us but still have free QSDP as well as a $100 Disney gift card. DD & DS were able to book earlier and got the full DDP (at OKW and AKL) with $250 gift cards. Flights for us this year have been a bit dearer than in the past but hey......we're going

Mrs TT

 

[khibs]

I always use to find travelcity direct quite cheap but would then take it to my local travel agent to beat the price!! They have so far never offered free dining over Easter in the UK as it is one of the most popular time in WDW.

 

[Clare Marie]

Thanks for replies, think I will just book directly with disney, the price will not be an issue, n I'm sure worth every penny.

Is there any where I can get a price list for the gift shops etc trying to budget how much spends and want to make sure I take enough.

 

[queendisney]

Is there any where I can get a price list for the gift shops etc trying to budget how much spends and want to make sure I take enough.

you could look at the US Walt Disney site, and clicking on store. That will give you some sort of indication of prices of theme park and resort merchandise. But believe me once you get inside the World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney your budget will go out the window You can also buy discounted items in the Disney Store at the Premium Outlets. Its a bit hit or miss on whats on sale but you can pick up some great bargins.

 

[wayneg]

Others are helping with the resort so I wanted to mention the driving.
Is driving the approx 10 hours something you want to do? or is it you think its cheaper than flying down?

I am going from Orlando to Boston this August, approx 1300 miles and 24 hours straight drive, fuel would be around £125 plus a one way drop off fee of £325, total £450. I got one way flights instead for £60pp (£180 for 3) incl luggage.
Would love to do the drive but decided cost was too high.

Not looked into One way fee for your route(or are you driving back to New Orleans?) check out all costs involved.

 

[khibs]

The toys and stuffed teddies etc are cheaper than over here, but the disney clothes are very expensive. We buy her princess dresses from disney store before we leave, in the parks they are very expensive you can get two in UK for the price of one there!!

 

[crabbie1]

The toys and stuffed teddies etc are cheaper than over here, but the disney clothes are very expensive. We buy her princess dresses from disney store before we leave, in the parks they are very expensive you can get two in UK for the price of one there!!

I agree. Normally I have a bit of a spend but at day 7 I hv bought a charm bracelet and 2 pens. I am waiting to go to prime outlets to check out what is there. There are 4 mugs some coffee a bag and sweat jacket iv listed but thts all this time. Bought $2300 between us for spends and still have $2145 left. Mind u after a pair of UGGS yankee candle and sketchers there will probably be a big hole