Help with dates

[hollyferry]

Hi everyone,
First time poster My sister in laws visit the disboards all the time (though i don't know either of their user names-if you see this hi Jess & Sheila!), so this is the first place I came to.
We want to book a vacation for next year for our kids for Christmas. Here are my issues:
-It would be probably until December before I could pay my trip in it's entirety. Would that be an issue for booking? Last time we went we stayed offsite and I bought my tickets from the Disney Store and we stayed off-site. This time we are looking to stay onsite and get the meal service-the one with the 2 walk-up services and a snack.
-I know I am cheap, but we want to go before 4/9/12. That is my daughter's 3rd birthday-and we want to go prior to that to save on not getting her a ticket & the dining plan. What would be the best time of the following: the 3rd week of February through the week of 4/1/11. We would get there on Sunday and leave Saturday morning. (5 days in the park, 6 nights)
-Any suggestions on getting any kind of discounts?
Thanks in advance!!

 

[Karbase8]

Ok, I am not sure how you are planning to pay through cash or credit card, but what I did was, I booked directly through Disney, I received an offer through the mail from Disney Chase Visa for signing up for the free vacation dvd planning that comes through Disney. The Chase Disney Visa offers 0% to pay off your trip in 6 months. They do require a minimal deposit when you initially book your trip through Disney, however they gave me time to put the remaining amount on the credit card which was 6 weeks prior to my trip, I now have 6 months to pay off the trip at 0% interest. Also, they also offered me a 200 dollar Disney Gift Card, but this is only offered through the Disney Credit Card offer that is sent through the mail not on Disney's website, they only offer a 50 dollar Gift card or 25. If you pay the balance in cash I do believe it would need to be mailed in 6 weeks prior to your trip. You can also try booking through a travel agent that might require cash payments or increment payments and maybe they would offer free dining or other discounts on flight or something else that may save. I don't know if December is a peak time for Disney or not I guess depending on what week you go.

 

[Karbase8]

Ok sorry didn't realize you said 3rd week of February up until 4/1/11, it's probably a nice time to go, your daughter being under 3 will be a great bargain hopefully. My only advice is find out when Easter is this year and DO NOT GO the week of spring break in my opinion. I was there one day last year during spring break and they closed Magic Kingdom because it was filled to capacity and even minor rides had 90 min-2 hours waits in Epcot other parks. Spring Break would be the week before Easter. I would also avoid any other holiday such as President's Day. I am sure there are off peak weeks there and we were there in March and we had nice 70-80 degree weather, a little cooler at night and the only drawback was the crowds. But late February-early March may be nice with little crowds if you can go on an off peak week. Disney is pricey no matter how you look at it but I think your daughter being under 3 that is a saving and the dining plan is some savings. I actually started a coin jar when I booked my trip for spending money, I am up to about 200 dollars and I have the 200 dollar gift card so every little bit helps and I have the dining plan.