Help us get to Disney next summer!!

[Hoosier Mom]

Don't mean to be dense, but when I check mousesavers and see the promo for the free dining, then how do I take advantage of it? Will Disney's website automatically offer it to me?

I wonder if I can take advantage and book the free dining promo for a trip in 2006?

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Originally posted by Hoosier Mom
Don't mean to be dense, but when I check mousesavers and see the promo for the free dining, then how do I take advantage of it? Will Disney's website automatically offer it to me?

I wonder if I can take advantage and book the free dining promo for a trip in 2006?

The free dining promo was for stays between August 21 and October 4, 2005. It had to be booked by 7/3/2005. There's no way of know if Disney will offer the same deal again or when they will do it. Unfortunately, you could not have used the code to book for 2006 but maybe there will be a similar offer next summer.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Thanks! I'll look for it next July.

 

[EmmaAndQuinnsMommy]

Can we get a few more details please?
Specific dates that you are available or are you flexible?
What are the must haves...dining vs. non dining, have to stay at the same resort, length of stay, preference of travel - fly/drive...

Going on what you have posted and the basics that Disney tends to run some kind of special end of August/Sept/October I would shoot for that time frame. Work it into the value season as rates will be better. Basic info - Aug 21 - Aug 28 at POR regular room 2 adults, 3 children with 5 day hopper passes comes in just shy of $3500 with dining plan (would go down to $2400 if free dining promo ran again) - would still need to book flights but closer to your 3k budget without any discounts yet - so it is definitely within reach. I would book early to lock in at least your basic price and make nec. changes later when the real deals start coming out. Remember you can change your reservation up to the 45 day out payoff day. I feel that by booking it early and making payments it doesn't hurt as bad as 1 big bill. Keep your budget the same but do a little at a time. Look into ways to make $$$ to designate only towards Disney - your daily $2.00 coffee, buying meals at work, have a yard sale, ask for DD as gifts, rebates, coupons, etc. When you wish upon a star...

Can someone explain about payments to me? I want to make my reservation soon, through AAA, but I don't understand how the payments work? I am planning to pay most of the trip things when I get my income tax return. I know I need to pay deposit of one nights stay or something, but if I book through AAA, do I have to then start making some payments now and if so, how do they come up with your payment amounts?

TIA!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

You can book 15 months out from your trip date. Wether you book through a TA such as AAA or call disney direct or book online with WDW you have to put down a $200 deposit (we were on a package dep. might be different on room only ressie). You will receive a confirmation in the mail listing out days, people, passes if purchased, etc. all your information with a total minus the deposit. You can then send in whatever amount you want - weekly, monthly, however you want to budget it up to the 45 day mark prior to arrival date - I would not PAY OFF the trip until the 45 day mark so that it would leave you open to make changes - so I would leave even a $100.00 balance for this purpose. However if you don't want to make payments, after the deposit you can wait till the 45 day time and just make 1 final payment. By the 45 day mark it must be paid in full - no changes on ressie w/o penalties now. After you book and put down a deposit, you will receive an envelope with package confirmation that you could mail payments in to WDW directly. I was also able to make CC payments through my TA prior to the 45 day mark as well which worked out better for me as I wanted to rack up as many points on our disney visa prior to the trip. The payments worked out great because if I had extra money I was able to make a payment then and there instead of the money ending up going towards something else. I also do this with souvenier money too - go buy disney dollars as these can only be spent at a Disney place or Disneyworld/land.

 

[keishashadow]

quote: Value Season @ Value Resort; can't beat the price. If your heart is set on more upscale accomodations, rent points from a DVC member for a studio Villa, you could actually cook some of your meals

I thought this too at 1st but, with 5 people would need 2 rooms at values or need to go to moderate resorts....

I misread post, thought youngest child was under age of 3 - it's my understanding that it's okay for 5 @ a Value Resort if youngest is in a crib (of course, I'm just going by what friends have told me they've done, assumed it was okay - 5 in a Value would be a tight fit?). Perhaps someone else with personal experience could clarify this?

Although we don't plan on using the ME, I can't see WDW discontinuing the program anytime soon - they get a "captive audience", most of whom won't go offsite to eat, etc.

 

[mafibisha]

Don't do a package (unless you can get the free dining or other discount).
Join AAA so you can at least get a room-only discount (if nothing better comes along).

Does anyone know what happesn if you have a AAA discount, and then codes are released? I seriously doubt if they allow both,right?

 

[KAG Mom]

I would suggest staying offsite also. We stayed at a three bedroom in Cypress Point in July and loved it. It was our first time offsite, so I was a little unsure if I would like it or not. However, there was seven of us, and we just couldn't afford two rooms, even a value resort. We also saved money by eating breakfast in the room. We took snacks into the parks along with water bottles. I am now planning a trip for Christmas, but it is just my two daughters and myself, so we will be staying onsite. Good luck to you!

 

[Janice B]

I have CAA (same as AAA). If disney offers any codes for rooms only they are usually better than what you get from CAA (if you have a room only already book, you just call disney and they give you the better rate.), no you dont get both. I'm not sure about the 45 day to have a trip paid off or the $200 deposit. However I just booked our room for August 2006 (pop century) and I only had to put a one night deposit . I pay the balance off at the time of check in and I have 5 days before I arrive to cancel my reservation and still get my deposit back. We are a family of 3 and we stay at the value resorts. I would not recommend staying at a value for a family of 5. I would suggest staying off site as well. If staying on site is must. Then maybe consider booking your room know using a AAA discount (if you have it) and try saving as much as you can and keep your eyes on the disney boards for discounts. If you need to, you an cancel later on.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

See I knew you guys would come through for us!! There is a light (shaped like Mickey) at the end of the tunnel! Our kids have already come up with their own plan... they would like any birthday gifts donated to the Disney fund in "memory" of their birthday. We can "remember" their birthdays at Disney and have a special "Birthday dinner" for each of them (and then they can say the celebrated their birthdays at Disney! (I'll give them kudos for creative thinking!) We ALL save pennies and all other pocket change. Even our DD 2 gives us pennies she finds on the ground, you'd be surprised what she finds! (and yes we watch for choking hazards!) My DS found 6 dollers in the road a few days ago and put it in the Disney decorated jar! I joined Pinecone and a couple other survey sites that pay for surveys... already made 10.00! Our plan is to drive anyhow... my father was a truck driver so it just comes naturally to me. My father lives about half way so we don't need to pay for lodging on the road... let's just hope these gas prices relax a bit!

Our dates can't be as flexible as we would like... our only open window is between Aug 13 - 27 next summer... both of our jobs and school (My husband has gone back) Plus we take care of our 85 year old grandmother and severely disabled father in law... these are some of the only days that we will have "free" help available to us that we won't have to pay for (i.e. visiting nurse... etc) We do have a week available in July, but that is only 7 days (not enough time to drive and relax!) plus too many "family" things going on that month...

Our last trip was the first time we had been "alone" as a little family in about 3 years for longer than 24 hours... long story. But you know it's needed whenyou ask your DS 11 what he's most looking forward to before you go and his answer is having his parents all to himself!

So thanks for the pixie dust all... and keep them coming! we can collectively keep our fingers crossed for that free dining plan again!!!

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

is there a website that I could visit to find out info on Cypress Point... would be interested in checking it out...

I would suggest staying offsite also. We stayed at a three bedroom in Cypress Point in July and loved it. It was our first time offsite, so I was a little unsure if I would like it or not. However, there was seven of us, and we just couldn't afford two rooms, even a value resort. We also saved money by eating breakfast in the room. We took snacks into the parks along with water bottles. I am now planning a trip for Christmas, but it is just my two daughters and myself, so we will be staying onsite. Good luck to you!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Does anyone know what happesn if you have a AAA discount, and then codes are released? I seriously doubt if they allow both,right?

You are correct it is 1 or the other but in the case of promo's like free dining sometimes it is worth it to forfeit 1 over the other. You have to do the math and see what works better for your group.

 

[EthansMom]

is there a website that I could visit to find out info on Cypress Point... would be interested in checking it out...

Try here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._Sunterra_Cypress_Pointe-Orlando_Florida.html

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would go with one room at POR (its actually cheaper than two value rooms). Its less space but your three year old can sleep on the trundle bed and you should be fine. Hope for free dining, but plan on not having it. Then if it comes out you'll have that much more "fun" money. Keep saving that change when we cashed in ours last July (day before the trip) we were shocked to find out we had over $800 in it.