I have a few questions re: planning a surprise vacation...

[CinRell]

I wasn't sure where this subject best fit so I figured I"d put it here and hope to get replies.

I've posted before that I'm planning a surprise disney vacation for my family to present to them next Xmas.

The trip will be September, 2008 (I think).. I need it to be during value season .. would like the weather to be warm... I know the parks are virtually empty during this time of year.. the only down side is the rain.

I had my heart set on staying on-site. Nobody in my family ever has and I know they'd love it. However, we'd have to do value as this vacation has to be as cheap as possible.

My family: me (31), my mom, my sister and her husband (40s), my niece (at the time of the trip she will be a month shy of 5), and my nephew, who, at the time of the trip will be 20 months old.

I priced through AAA and staying in 2 rooms for 7 nights including dining and park hopper tickets would be a total of: $2,323.86.

Not bad!

However in reading these threads, I became curious about getting one condo we can all stay in. This would be about $85 a night. Then 13% tax added on that and a $200 refundable damage deposit.

Now I'm trying to see what the best savings is... Is there parking fees for disney? Do windsor hills condos offer shuttles?

Where is the best place to purchase tickets .. hoppers.. if you DON"T stay on-site?

Can you purchase the dining plan if you don't stay on site?


We will drive.. but with so many of us, I assumed we could fit in the van but with the amount of luggage needed with 2 little ones... we may have to drive the van and a car (yeeks!)... which is a pain but.. do-able I suppose. Mom and sis refuse to fly.

Any advice? Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

no disney dinning if you are offsite.

tickets
www.ticketmaina.com

other savers including tickets
www.mousesavers.com

parking is $10 per DAY - so you can park all day for $10 just save your receipt.

remember you are staying in a condo with a kitchen - so you can save quite a bit by having meals there.

one way to do this - is take an ice chest with you - fill it with foods you prepared.

for a week or two before hand instead of just making enough food for one meal - double or triple it. then freeze it.

if you don't like that - pot pies are pretty cheap - just put them in the oven - and go swimming at your condo.

I like the fruits and vegetables better in Florida - they are fresher and bigger.

 

[FLParadisevilla]

OOOohhh how exciting a surprise trip!! September is a good time to go all the kids are back in School and it should not be too busy!

Keep in mind if you rent a home or townhome, they sometimes offer things for kids like... our home has 4 strollers 2 umbrella ones and 2 that are bigger, Pack and Play, High Chair. So that would be things you would not have to pack and take with you.

They also offer you the opportunity to put the kids to bed and still hang out by a pool or in a spa with the adults. Just a bit more space.

This sounds like so much fun to plan a surprise trip!! Lucky you! Enjoy!
If you want to look at some homes
www.indiancreekflorida.com

 

[CinRell]

I'm really sad about the no dining.... this throws a bit of a wrench into my plans... if they do offer free dining and I'm booked at a home then I lose. I was *really* excited about my family experiencing some of the disney restaurants I know they'd never do because of the cost...

Then again with 2 little ones it might be best not to.. .oh wow this is confusing.

I need to calculate the costs.

The one appeal to me is that I can now get non expiring tickets in case the trip and constant "parking" is "too much" for the kids. we can take a day or two off. We can also take a day and drive to a beach...

I like the idea of a private pool VERY much. My niece would LOVE that!

I also like the idea of a high chair and stroller being there for us to use. That's a really nice bonus.

I'm torn but beginning to lean more toward an off-site condo or town home. How I wish my family could experience on-site staying but actually.. a home is more their style...

 

[spiceycat]

I took my brother and his family plus mother - on my dime - very, very expensive - we stayed at POR (DL then).

came back home and a month later purchased DVC over the phone... (this was a great deal at time - because it included free tickets)

you might consider renting a DVC reservation. but only for 5 days - Sun-thurs (leaving Fri morning). You don't want Fri or Sat stay at a DVC resort using a member's points - much too expensive.

it has its bad side - no free dinning.

although you can buy the dinning at a DVC resort without getting the park tickets.

 

[FLParadisevilla]

You can really get some good bargains with the homes. Some have Disney Themed rooms! some have Internet, game rooms, spas, the pool and spa's are screened in so there are no bugs all over the place. The pool can be heated!
They have pool floats, all the towels, linens, full kitchen, washer and dryer... the list can go on and on with ammenities. Its something to look into it may not be the way you want to go but then again.... you may decide its a perfect way to go.
The parking is not bad at the parks and the time of year your looking at going it should be even better!

I love surprises this sounds like so much fun for you!

 

[5mins2disney]

I was just there with our kids in September, we thought it was still pretty darn hot and humid. I would target late September if you can, early Sept was still pretty hot and humid for our tastes.


Karen is right about the amenities though...and honestly, you're going to save a lot more $$ staying offsite than the dining plan would ever compensate for. It's probably cheaper to stay offsite, eat breakfast and lunch at home, and then just splurge for the occasional dinner in a WDW restaurant..that's what we do and it works out just great! Our kids don't want to get up, and have to go "out" to a restaurant just to eat breakfast and such anyhow, and for lunch we carry snacks into the parks with us in soft sided coolers. (Our home actually provides the coolers and strollers for guests to take along with them for exactly this purpose!).

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Yay! A surprise trip - how fun! I know because I have one planned for my kids this April. Their birthdays fall on 4/14 and 4/15 - a weekend! We will go to Disney for a long weekend. I'm paying and including BF and his mom so it has to be super cheap. Here is what my plan is:

Renting a home from someone on the Dis - 3 nights at the price of 2 at a mod. We will have 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a private pool, a kitchen to make breakfast, a washer and dryer, etc. OH yeah, and an x-box (my DS will NEVER go to bed)! Windsorhillsrent.com is a great place to start

Tickets - sign up for mousesavers newsletter and each month on the 15th you will get a link to what I have found to be the most inexpensive tickets. I will purchase through them and add no expiration so we can have a large portion of another trip paid for.

Food - from my calculations (and we have stayed on site before and have eaten at alot of the restaurants), we can do just about the same without the dining plan and we won't have to worry about credits, etc.

We are flying from NJ but I was able to get $59 each way a week ago by using farecast. I took their info (which amounted to $69 each way) and booked at the individual airlines sites to save the additional $10 each way.

Car rental - still processing that one. BF has offered to cover and reserve that - phew!

Best of luck!!! I hope some of this helps a bit.

 

[CinRell]

Thank you! You've all helped so much ! Keep those suggestions coming! And I'd love to hear more about homes you have rented or that you rent out. Feel free to PM me.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

With that many people and 2 kids I also have to tell you the off-site is going to be so much more comfortable for everyone. We would never stay onsite because it is too stressful for us. The pros for us:
- Kids can go to bed and we don't have to worry about disturbing them while we take a dip with a glass of wine or watch a movie.
- The 1st full day and last full day we don't do WDW - we enjoy the sun, pool, maybe shop a bit. And the last day the kids relax while I do laundry, pack and unwind. It is a vacation after all and my kids like some famly lounging around time outside in the sun.
- Kitchen is a huge plus with little ones, dishwasher for sippy cups/bottles, place to make snacks/sandwiches for the parks. Save $$$$$ by eating even a couple meals at home.
- Privacy and Room - This trip we rented a townhome in Windsor Hills, last time it was a full home in Indian Creek - either way, we love that we each have a bedroom and private bathroom. We are taking my 30 year old sister with us this time and we are so happy with the townhome set-up because it has a main floor master, in addition to the upstairs master, each with ensuites and the kids even have an ensuite too!
- And the quality of home you can get is amazing, some renters really have amazing homes that you want to live in - plasmas, higher end furnishings, newer homes.

The townhome I rented was $950 pool heat and taxes in for the week. I found a mousesavers code for a minivan for $205 for the same week.

Good Luck!

 

[CinRell]

I'm working out the math and it seems 7 nights offsite would be about 700-1000

Tickets would be $1,293.20... not with tax. That's through AAA which mousesavers recommended. That's for 6 days.

No dining so that's about $2,300 with tax etc..

The price AAA gave me for 2 value... with tax.. same # of nights.. is $2,323....

And that is WITH dining..

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[mbb]

Okay..
I need the numbers in front of me..

With AAA:
$2300 for the 5 of you (plus your nephew - he's free )
Park Tickets - 6 day base, expiring? Or Hopper, expiring, with Water parks?
Dining - included (gets you one CS, 1 TS and 1 snack/day)
you'll use ME, so no car..but it's all Disney, all week
2 rooms at a Value...

Doing it yourself :
$700-$900 for a condo/townhome/villa
Park Tickets - have a look right here...
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm
Dining: You'll need to budget groceries for breakfast, we eat out in the Parks - lunch is always cheaper - and home for suppers...which are barbeques..YMMV
Car/Van rental...September...you're looking in the $250 range for a minivan.
A whole bunch of space, washer dryer..and everyhitng else..

You're probably going to spend the same...

that's a tough one..
can you do both??

that's what we like to do!

Let us know!

 

[spiceycat]

I misspell the site I send you to - try this one
http://www.ticketmania.com/

so $1,019 - 6 day tickets - 4 adult & 1 child

do you mind bidding - then try this site
www.skyauction.com - the condo have not been as plentifully as years pass - but there are a few. the closer you can wait the better of your chances of getting a nice place for minimum cost.

so make another reservation just in case your skyauction doesn't work.

be prepared for skyauction so plan on arriving Fri, Sat or Sun -

right now - getting a home & away special -

your bid up to $200 (you could get it for less) +$195 (rci fee) + $20 (sa fee) = $415

right now these have 2-bedrooms (not the greatest - but close by) have availability this September
Bryan's Spanish Cove
Orbit one Vacation
Silver Lake
Village at Summer bay - this one only if the others are gone
Westgate Villa - now I hate the sales force here - but there are ways to avoid them.

so tickets - $1,025 (mailed to you)
condo - $415 (might be less)
rental van - $250 (might be more)
grocery - $200 (will probably be less - could be more)

that total is $1,890.

 

[spiceycat]

there is also - ready, set, go has the same availability plus Celebration world resort and Cypress Pointe - which is pretty nice in 2-bedroom also.

 

[novdisneydreams]

I'm surprised at your total from AAA - on the Disney website I've been putting in dates for this September - 2 adults, 2 kids , Value, Park Hoppers & Dining and have been getting around 2350.00. Of course both of our kids have to be paid for, but I'm surprised at the rate that you were given for TWO rooms and an extra adult! Is AAA usually that much cheaper? How do you get a quote from them? Can you get it online or do you have to call? Thanks

 

[5mins2disney]

Yay! A surprise trip - how fun! I know because I have one planned for my kids this April. Their birthdays fall on 4/14 and 4/15 - a weekend! We will go to Disney for a long weekend. I'm paying and including BF and his mom so it has to be super cheap. Here is what my plan is:

Renting a home from someone on the Dis - 3 nights at the price of 2 at a mod. We will have 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a private pool, a kitchen to make breakfast, a washer and dryer, etc. OH yeah, and an x-box (my DS will NEVER go to bed)! Windsorhillsrent.com is a great place to start

Tickets - sign up for mousesavers newsletter and each month on the 15th you will get a link to what I have found to be the most inexpensive tickets. I will purchase through them and add no expiration so we can have a large portion of another trip paid for.

Food - from my calculations (and we have stayed on site before and have eaten at alot of the restaurants), we can do just about the same without the dining plan and we won't have to worry about credits, etc.

We are flying from NJ but I was able to get $59 each way a week ago by using farecast. I took their info (which amounted to $69 each way) and booked at the individual airlines sites to save the additional $10 each way.

Car rental - still processing that one. BF has offered to cover and reserve that - phew!

Best of luck!!! I hope some of this helps a bit.

Try priceline.com for the rental car... I have never paid more than $25/day for a full size / premium car when we're in Disney using this service! (With in airport pickup). Hint: when you arrive, have the group pickup the luggage while the person who reserved the car goes to stand in the rental car line and get the car. By the time the rental car processing is done you should have your luggage, took us 2 trips to figure this one out! Saves time rather than getting all the luggage...THEN waiting in the long lines for the rental car!

 

[spiceycat]

I'm surprised at your total from AAA - on the Disney website I've been putting in dates for this September - 2 adults, 2 kids , Value, Park Hoppers & Dining and have been getting around 2350.00. Of course both of our kids have to be paid for, but I'm surprised at the rate that you were given for TWO rooms and an extra adult! Is AAA usually that much cheaper? How do you get a quote from them? Can you get it online or do you have to call? Thanks

you can generally get a 10% to 20% discount with AAA on the rooms. You need to belong to AAA to get their discount.

you can call AAA or Disney.

 

[CinRell]

nov I emailed them for a quote... I thought that price was great too! PM me if you want me to email you exactly what the price was that they gave for each room etc...

Ok.. I am glad I'm planning this far ahead I have my work cut out for me. $400 for a condo sounds GREAT... I was starting to have my heart set on a dis'rs home though... which is why I put the amount I did (around $1000) .. unfortunately budget will run this trip as honestly I have no right spending this kind of money.

My one thing tearing me back and forth is the dining thing. We could shop for $200 at the most... however, I really want to do some character meals with my family.. REALLY bad. And boma.. and le cellier.. I know I can cut those things out but considering that I've only been to my favorite place on earth 2 times in the past 13 years.. and my family hasn't in that long.. it's so hard NOT to!

You are all so much help! *hugs*

Oh.. and had to add.. my sis has her own van we won't have to rent. Only down side is I don't know that all of us will fit so we might do the van and my car... coming from cleveland. So that car rental $ will likely be gas $...

 

[RichNKatHolly]

nov I emailed them for a quote... I thought that price was great too! PM me if you want me to email you exactly what the price was that they gave for each room etc...

Ok.. I am glad I'm planning this far ahead I have my work cut out for me. $400 for a condo sounds GREAT... I was starting to have my heart set on a dis'rs home though... which is why I put the amount I did (around $1000) .. unfortunately budget will run this trip as honestly I have no right spending this kind of money.

My one thing tearing me back and forth is the dining thing. We could shop for $200 at the most... however, I really want to do some character meals with my family.. REALLY bad. And boma.. and le cellier.. I know I can cut those things out but considering that I've only been to my favorite place on earth 2 times in the past 13 years.. and my family hasn't in that long.. it's so hard NOT to!

You are all so much help! *hugs*

Oh.. and had to add.. my sis has her own van we won't have to rent. Only down side is I don't know that all of us will fit so we might do the van and my car... coming from cleveland. So that car rental $ will likely be gas $...

I hear ya! It is so easy to get caught up on all the great things to do and all the fabulous ways to SPEND MORE MONEY!! I just found 2 $50 cakes that I MUST order for the kid's birthdays.

You know, if you do the condo thing, you could all pack pretty light as you will be able to do laundry there, and they may already have alot of the baby items there (such as a highchair, babyseat, etc.). It would be great if you could all fit in the van.

Best of luck and please keep us posted on how your plans progress!!!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Try priceline.com for the rental car... I have never paid more than $25/day for a full size / premium car when we're in Disney using this service! (With in airport pickup). Hint: when you arrive, have the group pickup the luggage while the person who reserved the car goes to stand in the rental car line and get the car. By the time the rental car processing is done you should have your luggage, took us 2 trips to figure this one out! Saves time rather than getting all the luggage...THEN waiting in the long lines for the rental car!

Thanks 5mins! I've just passed your info on to BF who is in charge of the car! I'm also hoping to not check any bags as we are only staying 3 nights and your wonderful home as a w/d! Yay!!