general help!!

[sstan]

I am so confused!! We are planning a trip to Disney next 2/19 for a week. We have only stayed on property once before (Allstar Movie) and really would like to try to move up to a moderate resort on this trip. I know that everyone seems to have a diff take on which resort is best .. but any disney hotel is going to be great for us! The question is how do we get a room we can afford!

All the talk of codes, upgrades, discounts.. I don't know what to do!! Do I call wdw and make a reservation now.. do I wait closer to Feb? Some one said to book a value and hope to get upgraded! We are not AAA, Fl residents or anything else (my wife is a teacher I read one post there may be discounts there). I just need a general stategy to get a room we can afford! Any ideas??

Steve, Deb and Kyle (will celebrate his 11 birthday at Disney if we can find a room!!)

 

[rileyroosmom]

I would say if you know where you want to stay, you should just book it. IF any codes come out then you can apply it to your room. Don't get your hopes up for a code, there haven't been any general ones all year. As for upgrades from value to moderate, I have never heard of such a thing happening.

If your wife is a teacher, the Swan and Dolphin do offer teacher rates. You'd have to call to find out.

You might consider joing AAA if the savings justifies the membership. Again, you'd have to wait for AAA codes to be released to find out what the difference means.

Good luck!!!

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

You have picked a very busy week to go to WDW (President's Day week), so your chances of a great rate or an upgrade are rather slim.

Try this site for some good deals and tips:

www.mousesavers.com


You might also want to use a travel agent who specialzes in WDW bookings. That will save you a lot of anguish!

Have fun,

Bob

 

[mmeb144]

See if you can move your trip to earlier in February so that you will hit the value season rates. If you check in the last day of value season, the same rates will apply to the entire reservation. In 2006, value season ends on February 15, for that time frame. That would save you some money.

You may even be able to afford a moderate for that time frame. Try the CBR. That's my family's current favorite. I have a DS 13 and a DD 10.

Marie

 

[mmeb144]

Another thing is to check the packages at the Official Disney site. They may be able to save you some money on tickets and meals.

Marie

 

[byoung]

Also check out renting DVC points.

 

[sid]

this is sid from the DRC. everyone's been leaving good tips on trying to save a little here and there. the best tip that i give out scarcely is that whatever season you start your trip is what you'll pay for the entire stay. so, for example, you start off in Peak and it goes into Regular, you'll pay Peak for the entire stay. now, say you happen to catch the last day of Value, it'll be Value through whichever season you go into. enjoy.

 

[chatty]

Sid,
One time I hit the first day of our trip that was Peak and the following 7 days were considered Value, what I did was booked day 1 at a moderate and booked the other 7 days at a deluxe under the value pricing. Just live out of your suitcase for the one day and than the other reservation for the other 7 days were cheeper due to value pricing. I know for many with children this might be a pain but the money we saved was alot. The only drawback was the fact that I had to lay out for two deposits but again it was so worth the savings. Hope this helps and this was a Great point you brought up Sid. I Thank You for sharing with us..
Chatty

 

[sstan]

Thanks to everyone for the tips so far .. any are appreciated! Unfoutrunatly I can not move the dates.. besides the school calander (and the fact my wife is a teacher also) the airfair we got limited us to those dates .. special deal but only flies on sundays. I don't want to sound stupid but I do not understand the accronyms being used.. what is "DRC" and "DVC points" ? keep the tips comming!! thanks,
Steve

 

[Manon]

I would definilty become a AAA member, because that's a big discount! Last june we booked directly with Disney, and for our X-Mas trip we book with AAA and saved 300$
(Jan1-7)!