Hello I'm looking for advice (first timer)

[Carrie_Cat]

Hello everybody

I'm normally found on the DLP board but I'm looking for some advice on planning a trip to WDW and I know you are all really knowledgable (I've lurked enough )

I was planning to start looking at 2012 with free dining but I'm wondering if it's possible to go this October for 2 weeks (our dates are 1/10-15/10) cost wise

We are 2 adults and would be going from CDG. I've got flights showing with AA from CDG-MCO for 1326€/1170£ for 2 return which I think is good.

Where would be the best place to look for a hotel and tickets ? Can we use the UK site ? I'm English and do have a UK postal address if needed.

If a package for a fly drive or a flight/hotel exists cheap from London we could do that also.

We would like to visit MK-Epcot-AK and Harry Potter at Universal. Busch Gardens sounds fun too but we are not bothered at all about water parks

OH loves driving so we thought about hiring a car and seeing other things in the area. What would be the best hire car company or are they much of a muchness ?

We would not be looking for a dining plan unless it's free and if we had a car we could eat anywhere in the evening and eat lunch wherever we found ourselves so that shouldn't be a huge cost.

So I guess I'm asking if it's possible to do for around 3000€/2650£ (that's our budget this year) for 2 including flights, tickets,car hire and accomodation or if we should wait until next year when we would have 5000€ for that holiday

Thank you very much in advance for your time and help

 

[wayneg]

Hi, welcome

You can go on Disney.co.uk and get some prices for hotels, I believe you can book on there from France.

Free dining & discounting for this year has ended now on Disney.co.uk
To give you an example of difference if you book now or wait for next year
1st-15th Oct OKW 2x 14 day tix £3,296 (no food)

1-15th Oct 2012 including Old Key West, 2 x 14 day tix & free Dining would cost £2,185 add your flight cost £1170 and you have a total of £3,335 but then you would have car hire of approx £200 any other tickets you wanted and tips etc. approx £4k-£4.5k total on initial pricing.

You could stay in a value resort(again cheaper booking early for 2012) incl tix for Total Price £1,281 but no food included. Add food and you will be getting upto OKW (or SSR) prices(2012)

If you are having a car you could stay offsite cheaper but many prefer onsite (we don't mind, all down to price for us) Offsite hotel rooms start from about £25/night. If you do go for this year that would probably the best route, you should get nearer your budget for this year.

For packages you would have to go on the various websites and price up.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Thank you for your reply

I'll go and look at the UK site and crunch numbers. I looked at Virgin but it doesn't seem too flexible.

I liked the sound of OKW and I know that OH would never go to one of the music/sport themed hotels so the values are out.

2012 has to booked by the end of July to have free dining plus the discount if I've understood it right, does it all have to be paid by then or do you pay a deposit and pay the rest up to 30 days before travel ?

 

[wayneg]

No rush to book next years free dining, the offer is available until 30th Nov and likely to be extended thru til March again unless the economy picks up. Full details of the offer here http://wdtc.disneyinternational.com/Special-Offers.asp?ID=8

The 45% off OKW is saying it expires end of July but again IMO it will be extended.
http://wdtc.disneyinternational.com/Special-Offers.asp?ID=6

If you are sure thats what you want then book now, its only a deposit of £50pp balance is due 8 weeks before departure.

 

[Sunset_Princess]

We would love to stay on site but as we like to go each year we cant afford to save that much that quickly hehe

This year we are staying off site but on Disney Property so are really close to everything. We booked through Travel City Direct and got 17 nights for two plus direct flights and transfers for £2200. This is not including food. Car hire was about £200 extra.

I really depends how long you can wait to go and if you REALLY want to stay on site.

 

[The_Bruce]

I'm just going to add a (HUGE) post script to SP's post...

I've only ever stayed one night in a WDW hotel and it was cool but the prices for food without the dining plan thing kinda blew me away (we stayed in Port Orleans for my birthday for the night and ate breakfast in the food hall thingy).

I can honestly say that I didn't feel I was missing out on anything staying in another hotel - we stayed in the Best Western (not the best, I'm sure, but damn cheap, clean, great service and an AMAZING view (saw all of the parks and all of the fireworks from our balcony )!) and - as well as having quick (10 mins) walk from Crossroads shopping/eating place (literally just outside Dis property with some great places to chow down (at wonderfully reasonable prices!)) and the same to DTD (not something that you're going to get at ANY WDW resort) - they provided hourly, completely free, buses to all parks (the water parks did have buses but there was only one in the morning and one which brought you back at closing time - but we never went and didn't stay the day) and you could arrange travel through the concierge (if that's the right guy ) to anywhere else for a decent price (or try your luck with a taxi). We only had about a 15/20 min ride to all the Universal attractions too! Oh, if you missed a bus, that 10 mins walk to DTD is really helpful as you can get a bus to all WDW resorts and parks from there too!

We always look at Disney hotels - we know that they're that bit more special than any other hotel (don't bombard me with posts about how amazing they are, please!) - but for what you pay just for a room (where you sleep and dress - nothing much more, really - especially if there's just the two of you and no kids) in a resort with a little added Disney magic, it's not worth it when you can save hundreds - or, sometimes, thousands - of pounds and eat in all kinds of awesome places, rent a car and see some sights, go check out an American Football game (or sport of your choice, provided you go in their season), do the whole Alligator/Beach or Space Centre tour or just buy a whole bunch of goodies staying in another hotel instead!

I would advise, however, staying away from International Drive and looking at Lake Buena Vista - there are loads of hotels, some good prices and, as I said, great access to everything you could possibly want to do! The prices are so good, sometimes, that you could even go this year on your preferred budget!

Good luck finding your dream holiday and, whatever you do, have a great time!

 

[The_Bruce]

Oh, another thing, we've talked to some folks about the dining plan thingy (they weren't happy and got stung on some things, apparently) - just be careful with 'free' dining, read all of the small print and be sure that you know what the different kinds of restaurants are (quick service, waiter service, etc.) and exactly what your dining plan entitlements are!

It's horrible to be a cynic, especially about Disney, but don't ever forget that they're trying to make money and if you read something wrong it's not their fault!

I'm sure there are loads of resources on DisBoards to help you with dining plans etc. too, so check them out

Have fun!