Hello and Help

[gerra]

Hello everyone. A friend of mine told me about this site years ago but I have never had the need to get on and register although oddly enough I have directed many of people here to get advice and to look around.

Now however I am in an odd position. I am trying to put together a short trip to Disney World, for me and one other person. But this is on incredibly short notice.
I am talking like a matter of weeks. And I have nothing and am not sure where to start.

The second part of my problem comes in that I am not rich. Thus I turn to you oh Gurus of the Mouse, for advice or even just a wake up call telling me that there is no way in the world I can pull this off.


I guess some details might help.
2 adults no kids
would need to fly down there
prefer to stay on property (was thinking like pop century or something I was told that tends to be cheaper)
Just a couple of days maybe 3ish
If we have to, we can eat peanut butter every night.

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Steve

 

[lovetoscrap]

Do you have exact dates in mind or are you flexible within a certain range?

Do you have a budget in mind? Knowing how much you are limited to spending can help us to tell you if you are realistic or not.

Pop Century and the All Star Resorts are the Value Resorts and will be your cheapest options for accommodations. Have you gone to the WDW website and played with their booking site? You can get the exact information that you need for cost of room and tickets (and airfare, but you may find it cheaper to book separately) there without having to actually commit to a reservation. You can also call them and talk to someone there that should be very helpful in pricing the different discount options for you.

Check out our wdwinfo.com site and mousesavers.com for information on discounts. Depending on your dates (part of the reason I asked that above) you may be able to get FREE Dining-- so no eating PB&J!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneypackages.htm#general

Transportation to and from the airport is free with Magical Express to all guests staying onsite.

 

[gerra]

As far as the dates. Any time between November 15 and end of January.

Budget? I dunno. I am trying to figure out how much realistically I will need to come up with.

And wow thanks for the rapid response.

-Steve

 

[lovetoscrap]

With that date range I would look at either the first of December or even better after the first week of Jan. Disney prices are based on the expected crowds. Jan. is a very slow time so the room prices will be at their lowest, and of course low crowds make for less time waiting in line.

The week of Thanksgiving and from right before Christmas until New Years are BUSY, and the most expensive times to go.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

As far as the dates. Any time between November 15 and end of January.

Budget? I dunno. I am trying to figure out how much realistically I will need to come up with.

And wow thanks for the rapid response.

-Steve

lovetoscrap had some great advice. Just keep on researching here.

 

[gerra]

Ok so if I am looking at things right,

2 adults, value resorts, checking in Jan 10 and out 14 (wish it could be longer but not sure I have the budget), with meal plans.... Is about 1300.


That seem about right?

 

[Metro West]

 

[lovetoscrap]

Ok so if I am looking at things right,

2 adults, value resorts, checking in Jan 10 and out 14 (wish it could be longer but not sure I have the budget), with meal plans.... Is about 1300.


That seem about right?

Is that with the meal plan Free with the Free dining discount?

What type of tickets?

And does it include airfare?

 

[gerra]

Ok its 1428.26 for the package as shown on Disney Site.

Staying at the Music resort.
5 Day park Hopper
Preferred Room ( what ever that is)
Magic Your Way + Dinning

No flight and no ground transportation.

Thanks again.

-Steve

 

[njmom47]

Have you signed up for emails from any of the travel deal sites?

 

[lovetoscrap]

Ok its 1428.26 for the package as shown on Disney Site.

Staying at the Music resort.
5 Day park Hopper
Preferred Room ( what ever that is)
Magic Your Way + Dinning

No flight and no ground transportation.

Thanks again.

-Steve

You don't need Preferred Room if budget is a concern. You probably also won't need a 5 day park hopper since you are flying in and out, you probably won't have time to really get your money's worth on a ticket for your arrival and leaving day. Use that to go to Down Town Disney (free!) and look around your resort. Unless you get a very early flight in and/or a very late flight out then change the tickets to 3 days. I would also get rid of the Hopper option-- just plan to only visit 3 of the 4 parks. Hopping takes a lot of your time. You can spend up to 3 hours getting from one park to another.

The Dining should be free-- but it won't show up that way when you try to book it online-- I think you have to call WDW to get that pricing. So price it without the dining for now and you will have a fairly accurate idea of the price. Then when you want to book call and tell them you want Free Dining.


A note on Free Dining-- When staying at a Value Resort you get the Quick Service plan free-- that is the "fast food" version. You can pay extra to upgrade to the regular dining plan that will allow you to have the table service "sit down" meals. But with your limited budget and time I would just stick with the free quick service.

So, now you have saved by cutting the Preferred room, cut the Hopping off the tickets and dropped 2 days off of them, and aren't factoring in the COST of the dining plan since you should be able to get it free-- you may now have enough to stay another night or two (and add back a day or two on the tickets!)

 

[gerra]

So with out the park hopper option are you limited to just Epcot? Or how does that work?

Thanks
-Steve

 

[lovetoscrap]

There are 4 parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios

Without the hopper you would only be able to go to ONE park each day. You can go to the same park each day or go to a different one each day. You can leave and then go back to that same park later in the day. You just can't go to more than one park a day. So in 3 days you could go to Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. But you couldn't go to Magic Kingdom in the morning and then to Epcot in the evening. You have to stay at one park each day.

I generally recommend that it takes 2 days to see Epcot, 1-2 days to see Magic Kingdom and 3/4 of a day each for Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. In a 3-4 day trip you are not going to be able to see and do everything. Since budget is a concern I would just pick 2 or 3 parks that are your top priority and plan to spend a full day at each of them. If you like Thrill rides then you might want to go to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. If you really want to see the World Showcase of Epcot and ride all the rides then maybe plan on 2 days at Epcot and one day at Magic Kingdom.

But by the time you leave a park, get to the bus stop, wait for a bus, get to the 2nd park, get your bags checked in security, get through the gates etc, it can sometimes be 2-3 hours from the time you left one park to when you actually get in and start enjoying the next one. Not worth it if you are limited by time and budget.

 

[gerra]

Great information. Thanks so much. I am starting to get this figured out.
Not quite ready to book. But you have been an amazing help.

-Steve

 

[pkondz]

I'm going to jump in here (working nights so just found your post).
First of all
Secondly, you are getting some excellent advice from lovetoscrap and I agree with pretty much everything. A few extra tidbits then:
1. Go to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Disney World. It'll answer a lot of your questions and give you some great tips.
2. You can't book the free dining over the internet... you'll have to call Disney.
3. If you think you might need the park hopper option... don't get it. You can always add it on later (at the parks) for exactly the same cost. So unless you're sure you'll need 'em, dump 'em!