First Timer - Help Needed, Please!

[vkasal]

Hi Everyone!

We're planning to go to WDW for the first time between 12/22/01 through 12/29/01, family of 4 with a 13 year old boy and a 12 year old girl. I've been reading the board for the past few days and gotten a *lot* of information but I still have a few questions:

* Is it better (read: cheaper) to buy a package deal or to buy everything separately? We're looking at one of the disney plans (like Basic, Discovery, etc.) through a travel agent which includes our airfair, hotel, etc.

* We were also thinking of getting one of the plans that include meals. Again, is it cheaper to buy one of those plans or just bring money for our meals? Realize, though, that my son (13) eats everything in site, my daughter (12) is a nibbler and my hubby is like my son LOL

* What would everyone recommend as a "must see", since we'll be there during the holidays?

* What are everyone's recommendations for hotels - off or on site? I go back and forth with that one. Off-site is good for one reason because its cheaper and I can get a kidsuite - more room for us and them. On site is good because I get more Disney magic, but then I have sleeping arrangement issues.....

Obviously, I want to get the most from my money because I'm very budget-conscious (meaning I want to spend as little as possible but still have a good vacation). Christmastime probably wasn't the cheapest time to go, but we wanted to get out of Minnesota this year to someplace warm

Thank you in advance to everyone!
Vanessa

 

[castmbr]

I have always believed that purchasing everything separately is cheaper than a package. Unless you are planning on getting many of the small package perks, such as boat rentals, mini golf, etc. I would not get a package with meals unless all of you are big eaters. Especially if you stay in a "kid suite" where you could eat breakfasts in the room, snacks etc. The biggest must sees are the Candelight Processional and Osborne Family Lights. They are both awesome!

 

[vkasal]

Thank you for your input!!

I'm trying not to let all the planning get the best of me, so I appreciate your advise!!

 

[holycow]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents..lol
I think it is definately "cheaper" to plan your own trip...just takes a little more time, but the first 2 times we went to the world we bought a package...and really spent alot of money...When we finally sat down and figured it out we would have saved a bundle!
Live and learn!
The don't miss sights for that time of year is MGM studios the Osborne lights were spectacular to say the least! They have the city street where it "snows" and then you walk through the houses and there are just millions of lights....You are going at a wonderful time...everyone is extra nice cause it is the holidays and Holiday time at WDW is magical...
Now the hotel...I have mixed feelings too...Staying on site is wonderful and you can maximize your time spent while there and time is precious but if money is really the issue than staying off site is cost effective.
The food is really up to you, at most of the dinners we have found it is "all you can eat" (liberty tavern at Mk, at Epcot the Garden something is also that way...they are character dinners which is fun...but they will bring you all the food you want.
Have fun and just keep checking the mousesavers.com for discounts...I got one with 2 days notice!
Have a wonderful trip!
Holycow

 

[jdsm]

You should price a Disney package through a travel agency and then price the pieces yourself. (You can get most prices over the internet.) Compare which is cheaper. We went in January and I found that when I priced things seperately, it came out A LOT cheaper. Example: I did not need passes that included TL or BB because of going in January and having toddlers. Most Disney packages include tickets to all parks. Also consider a Disney club membership. We saved a good deal with it. Hope this helps!

112 days and counting!!!

 

[DisneyKidds]

As for packages - get a price, and then price everything out seperately. Generally you can do better on your own - but it is a little work and you don't know until you can compare. If the package includes airfare and you get a great contract rate thru the package it may work out.

As for meals - again, estimate what you will spend. What type of meals are you likely to eat? If you want a character breakfast every morning and a nice sit down dinner (ie Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, and the like) each day it will cost you on average $60 per day give or take (not including snacks) per adult, a little less for the kids. Include this in your sperately priced budget for comparing to the package. If you want to do quicker or cheaper meals (ie Prime Time Cafe, Sci Fi Drive In, counter service items, and the like) the meal addition to the package is probably not a good idea. I don't believe the package meals include counter service - but I could be wrong. For our honeymoon we had a package that included three meals a day. Our whole vacation revolved around when our next meal was. It was great - and we had some really wonderful meals - but you don't need to eat that much. You are probably considering a package with two mwals a day, and that would be plenty. We load up on a nice breakfast buffet in the am, and then dinner in the evening and we are fine.

Stay on site if you can afford it. Nuff said.

As far as must sees during Christmas - Candlelight Processional (if you get package meals make sure you can use one for Candlelight Processional dinner package), Osborne Lights, Grand Floridian lobby, Wilderness Lodge lobby, other hotels if you have the time.

Good luck planning.

 

[WorknFires]

I've gone the past several times on packages. The 1st time I bought it "sight unseen" (read - without comparing) off the internet. It was kinda pricey but we stayed at a deluxe hotel and had the food package and since it was in the summertime we did get use of the water parks too.
Now, our second trip was a package thru AAA. We had about the same amount of time at WDW stayed at a moderate resort and included the food package. (After having it the 1st time we wanted never to do without it again!) and a 4-day cruise on the Disney Wonder for only $300 more.
However, while we were there that time, we purchased into DVC so no more packages with food packages (at least when we're doing the DVC thing)
True enough you should price it out with a family of your size and mostly (can you tell I love food! ) pay attention to HOW you want to eat. If you prefer quick grab stuff, then yes, you are probably gonna come out a lot cheaper to price it seperately but if you want the full treatment of sit down meals including charactor meals (with the ability to eat a lot for your biggest eaters and enjoy the peace of sitting still for a few minutes that sit down meals provide) then having a package that includes a food plan will probably come out cheaper.
My guess is that with teenagers who are happiest to eat junk food on the run, you'll come out cheaper to piece it together and stay at the value resort because, hey, you're not gonna be in your room enough to care.
Have a great trip! oh and make sure your son see the extraterrorestrial alien encounter.

Cheryl

 

[vkasal]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I compared prices and it would end up being cheaper for us to go *without* a food package and we're staying at an off-site resort as well (the Caribe Royale). That hotel has more room and more beds for a decent price and everything I've read or heard about that particular hotel was favorable, so I feel good about that! When comparing it against ASMovies, where I was considering, it made more sense for my situation.

My husband is already taking "orders" for Mickey Ears for his friends at work LOL

Thank you again everyone - this board is a REAL big help! Now I just have to make it until December

 

[WorknFires]

Everyone has been raving about the wonderful deals they've been getting by using the codes found on www.mousesavers.com

Cheryl