Just starting and soooo overwhelmed!

[annabelle004]

We are going the first full week in March. Three adults and one 2-year-old. I didn't want to stay at a value, but if there was a great deal and we could get 2 rooms we would consider it...if we stayed at a moderate or deluxe we would only get one room.
where do i start to look for deals on rooms (we must stay onsite)?
Also, I wanted to get 6 or 7 day tickets with the Park HOpper option. I can go to the disney store tomorrow if they still have 2005 prices, but when i go to the Disney site, I get a quote of $236/person not including taxes. According to another post on Disboards that listed the 2005 prices, the $236 price is about the same. Am I doing something wrong?
ANd I won't even get started on the meal plans! Geez! We haven't been since ds was born 2 years ago and there seemed to be better deals and great prices - but then again I guess money wasn't as tight!
Thanks so much for your help!

 

[EthansMom]

Check out http://www.mousesavers.com for information on room prices. If any of the adults has a AAA membership, that is one of the most reliable discounts available.

March is Peak Season so room prices are the highest of the entire year. If your schedule is flexible, you can save some decent money, by changing your vacation to Value Season. See here: http://www.mousesavers.com/seasondates2006.html

Check out http://www.ticketmania.com for discounted tickets. They are a reputable ticket discounter. You can also save quite a bit of money if you don't get the hopping option. If necessary, you pay extra to add "hopping" at Guest Relations at WDW.

In other words, you can plan to not park hop and then pay the difference if you find it absolutely necessary to hop. However, you'll pay the difference for the entire length of the ticket, not just for the remaining days.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[CathrynRose]

Dont be overwhelmed - you'll figure it all out!!!

BUT I completely understand where youre coming from. I know WDW like the back of my hand - I can plan a trip there like this **snap fingers** ....but this August my soon-to-be-husband and I are headed to VEGAS, and I havent a clue in the world where to stay, when to leave, where to eat, blah, blah, blah...so I get online to try and start looking and feel incredibly overwhelmed.

I keep telling myself, Ill have fun no matter how it's planned - so, that will sometimes calm me down! Good luck!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

We are going the first full week in March. Three adults and one 2-year-old. I didn't want to stay at a value, but if there was a great deal and we could get 2 rooms we would consider it...if we stayed at a moderate or deluxe we would only get one room. where do i start to look for deals on rooms (we must stay onsite)?

There haven't been any room-only codes for the general public lately. Disney is concentrating on selling packages instead. Unfortunately, the time for booking a package deal for stays thru March 8 has already passed. I doubt that Disney will come up with another offer that covers the same time period. You're best hope would be the AAA rate that Ethansmom mentioned. Since you're traveling during Peak Season, the AAA discount would be 15% off the rack rate (which is $115/night std location for Values). Also, be aware that a 3rd adult in a room means an additional cost. At value resorts, it's $10/night more.

Also, I wanted to get 6 or 7 day tickets with the Park HOpper option. I can go to the disney store tomorrow if they still have 2005 prices, but when i go to the Disney site, I get a quote of $236/person not including taxes. According to another post on Disboards that listed the 2005 prices, the $236 price is about the same. Am I doing something wrong?

According to another post on this board by a Disney Store CM, they will have 2005 prices thru 1/10/06. Don't confuse the Disney Store with DisneyWorld.com. They are not the same thing and aren't even owned by the same company. The Disney Store is owned by The Children's Place.

As far as prices on the DisneyWorld site vs. 2005 price quoted on the DIS, chances are that the DIS member quoted the price including tax whereas the DisneyWorld site doesn't. Since tax is 6.5% and ticket prices rose about 5.4%, this is probably where the discrepency lies. I'd try to get those passes at the Disney Store, but call first to make sure that they have the passes you want.

ANd I won't even get started on the meal plans!

Okay, maybe I shouldn't even go there. BUT...if you want the meal plan, don't even think about buying tickets. You need to buy a package to get the meal plan. Again, the best price that you'll get on a package for your stay will be thru AAA. There are no other discounts out there.

Geez! We haven't been since ds was born 2 years ago and there seemed to be better deals and great prices - but then again I guess money wasn't as tight!
Thanks so much for your help!

That's what happens when the economy improves and tourism recovers. WDW was packed to the gills during the fall and thru the holidays. Two years ago, the economy was in worse shape and people were still reluctant to travel. Disney needed to offer great deals to get people to visit. Not so much now. Good luck with your planning!

 

[cyndilou01]

If you are a Florida Resident they have discount rates out now that will save you some money...

 

[poohfriend]

How 'bout a one stop place to answer all your questions? Consider a travel agent to help with this trip It won't cost you any more and you'd have some help with the short time frame. YOU NEED TO PLAN DINING TIMES IMMEDIATELY as Disney now allows dining reservations 180 days in advance! You may still be able to get any sit-down meals planned before that last-minute crowd.

I just had a good experience with Small World (www.wdwvacations.com) and others here have talked about Dreams that sponsors this board.

I REALLY liked the MEAL PLAN. But as stated above there are no money savings with the tickets or room because it comes as a PACKAGE. (You have to buy at least one-day tickets for everyone listed in your room -- and they all have to purchase the meal plan for each night of your stay.) We saved money with the meal plan and ended up taking avantage of more character expereinces than we might have otherwise. BUT IF YOU WANT TO SAVE BIG $$ you could do mostly counter service.

Also, the moderate resorts are not that much more than the value, but offer a more roomy (no pun intended) stay. I didn't notice how many people were in your party..but if it's 5 you might try to score a room in Alligator Bayou, part of Port Orleans Riverside. You'll get two double beds and a trundle bed. This was a big $$ saver for our family last week.

Sounds like you have Disney expereince so You'd be able to let a TA know exactly what you want...give it a try. The price will be the same for you, but the help might be just what you need right now!