Help! I feel sooooo overwhelmed! Thanks so much!

[airbornearmywife]

Hi,

well, as you can prob tell from my user name- my hubby is in the ARMY- he is gone alot b/c of his job (this is his second long deployment since 9/11) & just called me to say he wants us to go on our honeymoon to disney (it only took 4 years to get the honeymoon )

I am feeling so overwhelmed in planning the trip-
We are planning on flying (from Nashville to Orlando)
We will be there from Aug 11-Aug 14 (monday-thursday)

I am trying to save as much money as possible- but still have fun. All help is totally appreciated!!

here are my questions so far :
1. i have been looking into renting a car- dollar looks the best so far (130 something with a free upgrade) is that a good deal?

2. Also, Would it be better to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott at WDW (because they have the dollar rental site & pretty cheap rates) or to stay at the Contemporary with the military rates??

3. Is buying the food vouchers really a good deal? I was thinking that i buy 3-4 and my hubby and I share. It will probably be so hot we will want to share anyway.

4. what all can we bring into the park with us- snacks? water bottels? etc.... like i said, I am trying to be cheap

5. what is the least ammount i can budget to spend on a trip for 2 for 4 days? i know that we should eat out someplace nice once- what is the nicest place that is the most reasonable budget wise???

6. Any hints or tips for people who have never been there before- where are the best places for adults to go? how about getting to the front of the line faster? are there any books i should buy?


Please help!! I want this to be the well deserved romantic relaxing vacation for my hubby. Thanks

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Welcome to the DIS and have fun planning!

The only thing I can comment about is where to stay. You need to call SOG TODAY if you want to stay at Contemporary(CR) through the SOG prices. http://www.armymwr.com/shades/index.html
I imagine they are full, and the waiting list may be closed. They book a year out. BUT, don't despair, ask for overflow rates to the Disney resorts. We have done this too. In fact, we are staying at Caribbean Beach, through overflow rates, for $84 over Thanksgiving. We do have CR for $95(rate for 04-06 going up to $101 after our May visit), this cost depends on rank. We also got WL(woodsview) for $119 a year and a half ago through overflow. We have stayed at the Marriott years ago(before discovering these boards and mousesavers site ), and it just does not compare to being in a Disney resort, IMHO! If you want a particular resort and Contemporary list is closed, be sure to ask the overflow rates for specific resorts as they may only quote you one or 2 otherwise.
Hope you have a great trip, you deserve too!

 

[poohangel]

Last year we went in april, we stayed about 5 nights in a hotel with a kitchen (did not use anything but freezer for water next day) for a good price from hotelkingdom.com. If I could find a good price for onsite with mil. discounts I would.

We took about 700.00 with us, but returned home with about 150.00 of it, we ate at sci-fi for lunch and split it. We also ate at the flame tree bbq (did not split here). At Epcot we just ate around the world, fish and chips Uk (yuck) pastries, alot of diff. treats. And at MK we ate at Cinderella Castle (biggest eating expense of the trip. But we had a window seat for the fireworks, so it was worth every penny.

So we ate at good places, but did not buy a lot of souv., keychains, picture frames, and pressed pennies, stuff of that sort.

Go and have a great time!!

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Dear Army Wife,

I hope I can help with some of this. We all have so little chance to thank not just the military who secure us, but the families that sacrifice for the cause. You DESERVE a Disney vacation....

My wife isn't military, but she's Army Corps so we have some of the same discount opportunites as you. Your husband's rating will have a lot to do with whether I'd suggest Shades of Green (SOG) or not. The Shades of Green resort is a nice place, but it's closed for refurbishment right now. The Contemporary has a great location and you'll probably get a mind-boggling price depending on your military grade, but getting in there in August is going to be hard. They tend to be booked a year in advance. However, they will try to work with you. We were offered the All Star Resorts one year, in fact.

But if they're having the good deals at the Courtyard DTD, that's an adaquet hotel, and a great location. It's situated great for DTD and Pleasure Island. If you all like the nightlife, this can be a major advantage. It's a tough call. The Contemporary (if you could even get in there) in the older wings is a glorified motel. But the location, along with the main building themings, is pretty neat.

If money is a concern, consider Priceline. Getting a really nice hotel that may be outside the park can save money if you'll have a car.

Renting a car: $130 isn't bad, you might however be able to do better. $32 a day can be beat. As for getting a resort that has your rental car company within, I've never seen the advantage to that. Maybe someone else can shed light. I'd consider shopping around, seeing if you can find something closer to $100 for four days.

I've never done the voucher thing, but there's lots of chatter here about them. I'm sure someone will chime in. Some swear by them, others won't touch them. Listen to both sides of the debate before buying them.

Snacks, etc. in the park: We've gone in with full meals. I don't think Disney really looks to keep you from bringing in snacks, etc. Water bottles are very much allowed, and a major savings when you consider bottled water is a rich man's game and you need lots of water in the parks. A cheap suggestion (you'll hear about this a lot in this board): Brita filtered water bottles. They're $8 at Walmart (and can be obtained at other stores). The Florida water is terrible (in mine and others opinions). These bottles have built-in filter (that can be changed) that takes out the bad taste. We each carry one and water problems are solved.

An example of what we've carried into the parks with us on a recent trip: Two sandwiches in a small cooler-sleeve (kept them fresh for about four hours), an eight pack of cheese crackers, several granola bars, two Brita Bottles, half a large bag of Doritos, and a bunch of other stuff I've since forgot. Our palmcorder still weighed more than the backpack. GET A GOOD BACKPACK. But you can save some money if you eat breakfast in the hotel, carry lunch and snacks, and carry water. Then you can have a light dinner somewhere in the World (counter service is all over, obviously much cheaper than sitdown).

Budget: we usually go for about 7 days/6 nights average. We've spent as much as $3,500. We did a one week trip to years ago for $900. So there is no "cheap," but there is definately ways to cut expense without kiling yourself.

Our rule (a general rule that goes up and down with finances) is to figure the hotel, transportation, and tickets, then allow $100 per day. If we want to go fancy tomorrow, we cut today.

Here's an idea for a four day budget:

Hotel $60 per night = 240$
Car for 4 day, we'll use your 230$
Park tickets (figure $50 each per day) = $300 for three days
Water Park one day ($30 each) = $60

So right now, you're at $770. From there, how much food do you need, do you like some drinks, etc?

If this were my trip, based on what I like to do, it would look like this:

$50 worth of groceries in the room (if you don't get a small refrigerator, just get a cooler at Walmart for five bucks and change the ice morning and night). This would include a loaf of bread, luncheon meat, some cereal, milk, and juice, and some snack stuff like granola bars and crackers.

Because I like a few drinks, $20 for a case of decent beer, $10 for a jug of Almedan for DW.

I'd allow $30 a day for both of us to eat dinner, then bump that to $100 the day I want to do something nice (sitdown meal).

Finally, I personally like going to either Citiwalk and Jimmy Buffet's Margarittaville, or Pleasure Island for a night. These require tickets and booze costs. Call that about an $80 evening.

Finally, with a rental car I'd allow twenty bucks for gas. That should cover you.

Total budget: $1120.

How can you cut this down if need be? Search for a cheaper car, spend one day less in the parks and do some of the free stuff (there's plenty, such as Downtown DIsney and resort hopping), cut food budget even more (hell, eat hot dogs for dinner).

But the best way to cut it: look at your hotel. There are those who won't do an inexpensive hotel, as it takes away "the Magic." I respectfully disagree. The more time you spend in the parks (milk those park tickets), the more the hotel becomes a place to sleep. If you have a car, you can go the priceline route and save twenty bucks a day. Or, if you DO get into the contemporary, why not bag the car? You'll still need transporation from hotel to Airport, but that would cut your transportation costs in half, plus kill the need for gas.

In my case, I'd rather have the car and get the cheaper hotel.

As for restaurants, tips, and guide books: First, it's difficult to ask what restaurant is the best for the budget. There are SO many.

A double suggestion: First, eat your "nice meal" in Epcot. By far, the best eating in the parks is there. Where else can you choose between French food in France, German food in Germany, or Mexican overlooking an Aztec Volcano?

Second, the day you want a nice meal, make it lunch. Lunch is less expensive than dinner, and you get as much food. After lunch, take a mid-day break (always a good idea), pick up your dinner food then so it stays refrigerated longer, then bring it back with you for the cooler night session.

Here's a link that will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about dining in the word:

http://wdwig.com/dining.htm

Finally, tips for planning is easy. First, get a Passporter. Best friend you'll ever have. Or get the Unauthorized Guide to Disney. Better yet, get them both. To save money (if you really want to skimp), get them both used at Amazon. You can always find last year's books for cheap, and quite frankly, as a first timer, lasts year's books are probably adaquet for you.

I hope that all helps. Disney CAN be done on a budget, and done great. I'm in business for myself as a computer consultant. We have years where cash is coming out our ears, and it's fun to eat at a different restaurant morning, noon, and night, while sleeping at the Poly and taking the monorail every morning. However, I've had trips where money isn't flowing, and using the above plan was just as fun.

Pat

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

One more thing, utilize the Fastpass system to get to the front of the line AND if you stay in a WDW resort, use Early entry then leave that park around 1, take a swim at your resort, then go to another park ! Parking is free for Disney resort guests, about $7(?) for others. The Passporter IS a great book , but check all all the forums here too!
Be on the lookout for a military offer from Disney too. Seaworld has offered free tickets to all military and WDW is expected to announce an offer soon. If not, get your tickets tax free and cheaper at you post or at SOG(CR wing right now).

 

[lap1031]

If you haven't already called about the Contemporary I'd try now because I just called this week and got the last week of August and there wasn't even a waiting list. Good Luck!

 

[kayeandjim00]

Pat_Elliot gave you a lot of EXCELLENT advice and I just wanted to chime in on the rental car. We have a compact car from National for 9 days for $168.00 so I think you can do MUCH better on that try http://www.mousesavers.com and go to the Walt Disney World page and from there to the rental cars. She has every code and discount imaginable for the various companies and it can save you considerable money. Hope this is helpful and that you and your husband have a magical first trip to WDW. Be warned though, WDW is ADDICTIVE!

 

[house_of_princesses]

This is your honeymoon!! Four years later, doesn't matter, your DH says it's time to honeymoon! You have received some great advice here and will receive more, I'm sure. I just wanted to say, this trip if for both of you. Enjoy it! If it's a once in a lifetime event, (and honeymoons typically are!), splurge on something nice for the two of you. Whatever may tickle your fancies! A thought about the rental car... if you're staying on site, is it cheaper to take the WDW transfer? Or for that great beginning to a great trip, Happy Limo towncar? I really don't know what any of this costs. Take a deep breath, and have fun!

 

[tink2dw]

How to get started Planning a WDW Vacation!!
Now you can start deciding what are the things that are "must do's" and "must see's." and decide the length of your trip.

Then decide on the tickets you will need here.
http://www.mousesavers.com/tickets.html

To keep an EYE on All the discounts for on-site and off-site resorts check here often and sign up for the MouseSavers.com newsletter to get all the best news.
http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html

For Air fares sign up at all the Airline Web sites that fly out of your airport that fly to Orlando or MCO in airline speak. Then Check Expedia,Travelocity for airline deals. Also check out the Transporation Board air,car deals.
http://www.disboards.com/

Start a WDW change jar to save for your trip.[there are many tips here on this
board!!]

Also you can decide where you will want to eat and start making plans to make your food budget and check the Priority Seatings Calculator to know when you can make PS's some are as far out as 730 Days.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm

Also to help decide where to eat you can find menu's at Deb's wdw site,this works 2 ways to see where to eat what,and how much it costs, to finalize the food budget.
http://www.wdwig.com/menu/menus.htm

To keep all this info in one place,here is a computer Disney Vacation Planner. It will print each day on a seperate sheet. Also check the pull down menu'sat the top for loads of info!!
http://www.intercot.com/planner/default.asp

Well,this should get you start on a thousand more Questions!! So,don't be shy! Ask away!! The kind members here will share what they know! So,check back often!!

tink2dw

 

[Mustangdi]

Armywife
I sent you a PM, you can e-mail me back or send
a PM. Diane

 

[LindaB]

This should help you. Disney just announced their Armed Forces Salute offering a free 5 day pass for military and the option to purchase additional 5 day passes for up to 5 family members and friends. They are also offering 40% off hotel rack rates and discounts on Disney cruises.

Check out http://www.mousesavers.com/military.html

 

[madge]

airbornearmywife! I recignize your screen name from the Grocery tips board at mycoupons...what a small world! You will get a lot of excellent advice from this board--I would look into the military salute-that seems to have the best value for tickets. the SoG rate at the Contemporary might be the cheapest as far as the rooms go...at any rate, happy planning!