Hello All ....

[AngelBabyJana]

Hello All! I'm new to this board (have been reading it for several weeks), and I have learned so much from all the tips, restaurant reviews, etc... We purchased several Disney books, but they don't even come close to giving this kind of info.

Here is my question: We are planning our very first trip to Disney in May of 2009 - I called to reserve a room and was told that the packages come out this summer with the 2009 rates - is it better to wait until then to reserve everything? Or go ahead and reserve the room now and then upgrade to the package (we want dining included) this summer? Do we have to worry about the hotel getting booked up? (We want to stay at Pop Century - actually we let the kids pick the hotel). Or am I just starting to plan to early?

I am driving my family insane by reading everything about Disney that I can find - this is such an AWESOME board - I even had hubby on here last night looking at food pics, lol.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone.

 

[stopher1]

Hello All! I'm new to this board (have been reading it for several weeks), and I have learned so much from all the tips, restaurant reviews, etc... We purchased several Disney books, but they don't even come close to giving this kind of info.

Here is my question: We are planning our very first trip to Disney in May of 2009 - I called to reserve a room and was told that the packages come out this summer with the 2009 rates - is it better to wait until then to reserve everything? Or go ahead and reserve the room now and then upgrade to the package (we want dining included) this summer? Do we have to worry about the hotel getting booked up? (We want to stay at Pop Century - actually we let the kids pick the hotel). Or am I just starting to plan to early?
QUOTE]

WELCOME!!

Currently you can only book on-site rooms through Dec. 31st. Disney will open up a new ressie window probably sometime in August, so in order to stay at POP, you have no choice but to wait until summertime. POP is a nice choice (our kids enjoyed it when we stayed there a few yrs back). Based on your signature, though, you won't all be able to be in the same room at POP - you'll need two rooms...OR you could get a family suite that'll sleep 6 over at All Star Music.

Have fun in your planning and preparations!

 

[Jrabbit910]

Hi Jana,

Welcome to the boards!! As you already said this is a great place to learn lots of great tips, its a great place to make friends & plan trips! There is a big ongoing list for 2009 vacationers.. (we are one of them). I posted the link for you to add ur name... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1725802

Its so exciting planning your first trip! Your going to have a blast...

As far as I know you can book A room-only reservation 500 days in advance. The deposit will be equal to one night's stay at the current rates (rates will most likely increase for 2009 so the rate will change). You can convert it to a package once the 2009 package dates and rates are released, which should hopefully be somtime in August.

Dont worry about driving your family insane it comes w/ planning a Disney Vacation My DH wants to kill me!

Have a blast posting away and have a better time planning your first DISNEY VACATION!!!

Jessica

 

[AngelBabyJana]

Hello to you both, and thank you for the "welcome."

Jrabbit910: thank you for the link - I will definitely be adding our names to the list - its great to see others going in 2009 (and they are just as excited as I am! lol)

I called DW this morning (just to be sure) and they said that you can reserve "rooms only" up until Sept of 2009, with a one nights deposit per room - she told me that I could upgrade to the package with dining & tickets in July/August of this year, then it will be a $200 deposit per room, and they would refund the 1st deposit at that time

Anyway, I am just excited to start planning it all. Hubby will just have to deal with me talking about this non-stop, lol.

stopher1: No, we won't all be staying in one room - my sister & her kids are going as well - so there will be 10 of us total, so we will be getting 3 rooms at POP.

Thank you both for responding!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Personally, I think it's a bit early to worry about it. May is not a super busy time of year, so you should be fine with waiting until packages come out. Until package prices come out, you won't know what the best deal is anyhow.

 

[AngelBabyJana]

Personally, I think it's a bit early to worry about it. May is not a super busy time of year, so you should be fine with waiting until packages come out. Until package prices come out, you won't know what the best deal is anyhow.

Very true .... you have a good point. I think we will hold off and see what kind of package deal we can get. We need to look into it more - could save us alot of money in the long run.

I had just heard that Disney hotels book up fast ... so that scared me (thinking we may not get what we want - three rooms next to each other) - yet I don't want to rush into anything, then wish that we would have waited.

Glad to hear that May is not a super busy time - we wanted to go before kids get out of school for the summer.

Thank you for your input!

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

 

[Metro West]

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[Aliceacc]

HI and welcome!!

I can totally sympathize; I know WAY more than my family wants to hear!! Fortunately for me, my sister is also taking her family for the first time this summer (though in July, not August.) So we've been comparing notes on everything from restaurants to fanny packs to pins to our current discussion-- misting fans.

One basic idea: invest in a binder (mine's red) and start collecting info there. That way when you read an "Aha!!" tip, you can print it up and put it there. I have all my confirmation numbers (flight, resort, dining reservations), the info on the meal plan, and a bazillion other things there. (And, yes, I read it a lot, just because it's fun to do.) But I can indulge my obsession without making my family nuts.

Have fun, and be sure to ask any questions as they come up!

 

[byoung]

Glad to have you here on the DIS!!!

 

[jimmalru80]

Hello and welcome aboard!!

 

[Bakett]

Hello.

 

[AngelBabyJana]

HI and welcome!!

I can totally sympathize; I know WAY more than my family wants to hear!! Fortunately for me, my sister is also taking her family for the first time this summer (though in July, not August.) So we've been comparing notes on everything from restaurants to fanny packs to pins to our current discussion-- misting fans.

One basic idea: invest in a binder (mine's red) and start collecting info there. That way when you read an "Aha!!" tip, you can print it up and put it there. I have all my confirmation numbers (flight, resort, dining reservations), the info on the meal plan, and a bazillion other things there. (And, yes, I read it a lot, just because it's fun to do.) But I can indulge my obsession without making my family nuts.

Have fun, and be sure to ask any questions as they come up!

Thank you all for the "welcome."

I love the binder idea. I need to start doing this since my sister & I will be getting together to compare notes as we plan (we will be going in a big group). It will help to have everything in one place. It is fun having someone to plan with though. Enjoy the planning phase with your sister - too bad the two of you can't go at the same time.

I read on this board that some of the "worst mistakes made" was traveling with extended family. I'll admit that I am a little concerned about this (actually I was concerned before I read that). Everyone in our family is really happy about going - our extended family are NOT big into Disney, they are just going along since they have never been. Not that I mind, I just hope that it goes better than our trip to SeaWorld/Fiesta Texas last summer.