Help Me Plan My Next Trip - Please??

[My 2 princesses]

So, I want to take advantage of the 40% off code I receieved So I really have to book soon. I was wondering what the crowd level is like end of August - say August 23rd to 29th? Trying not to take DD out of school this time.

Also, I am planning on using my Airmiles for park tickets. What if we get the 3 day base ticket, how much is it to upgrade to a 5 day when we get there? I have enough points for the 5 days, but if is is cheaper to just pay the difference, I might as well save the miles for something else (or the next trip, lol).

TIA

 

[dancin Disney style]

The crowds are not that bad at that time because the kids in the US go back to school around then. The main negative is the heat and humidity but we've been there 3 times at the end of August and it's bearable as long as you are expecting it. I have meet people there that didn't realize how hot it would be and I think it ruined their vacation. Plus, we only go to the parks in the morning or evening. We are long past the all day commando park touring. We try to make rope drop and then stay until lunch. We then go back to the resort and either relax by the pool or nap in the room. Then around dinner time we head back to the parks. It really cools down in the evening.

I've also used my AM to get park tickets. To see what you will need to pay just look up the gate price of a 3 day and a 5 day. The difference is what you will pay. BUT, make sure you enter a park at least once before you make the upgrade. That way the ticket is used and will be valued at gate price, not at what AM may have payed for it. As far as which ticket to get from AM that is really your call. Personally, I would get the 5 day and then upgrade it to a 10 day with the no expire option. Then save it for a future trip. In my book that gives you the best value for your AM's.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I just realized I had the gate prices right here.

3 day adult....gate $212
5 day adult....gate $222

If those were my only options I would save the AM and pay the $10.

 

[My 2 princesses]

Thanks for the response. We were there last year in September, so I do know how hot it can get. I am more concerned about the crowd levels due to school being on holidays. Last year we took DD out of school, but since she will be in a new school this year, we don't want to take her out early so early in the school year.

Yeah, sounds like I should save the airmiles. We wil be buying 1 park ticket to get the dining option though even that I'm not sure as we are not big eaters and can probably get away with just paying out of pocket for Quick service meals. Now if free dining comes out, then we may go for that instead.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I will never pay for the DDP. If it's free then I'll take it happily.

It is just WAAAY to much food plus with now having to pay the tip OOP. No thanks.

Just to give you an idea, since you say you are not a big eater, you can eat for as little as $50 per day. That would be a family of 4. On our last stay I made it my mission to make the entire trip cost as little as possible. We had groceries in our room to cover breakfast almost everyday and half of our lunches. We had dinner out everynight, including some TS meals. Our total for food was $900 for 4 people on a 15 night vacation.


The crowds are really not that bad around the dates you mentioned. It will be busy but if you plan your days it will be fine. The longest I can remember waiting at that time was about 40 minutes.