May/June 2008

[PaulDavid's mom]

I hope someone can help me here and if not, can point me in the right direction. I have been on these boards for quite some time, and we're FINALLY planning a trip to Disney World! It will be myself, my boyfriend, our son (will be 6) and our niece (will be 5). Also boyfriend's parents want to come along. And his aunt and uncle and cousin's (all adults) will be joining us. So a total of 11 people. We were thinking about staying at the All Star resorts. We're planning for 6 or 7 days.
I don't know where to begin! lol. I'm going to drive myself crazy. When should I book room? Do I pay in full or do they have a payment plan? Do I go through AAA or not? How can I get the discount room codes? Ahhh.

Help please!

 

[helenk]

You can book your rooms now, the rates for 2008 are not available so your quote would be based on the 2007 rates and of course would be subject to change.
To book this far in advance you would have to either go through a travel agent or call WDW, you can not book on line. If you book a room only reservation, the deposit is the cost of one night stay (for each room), if you book a package, the room and tickets or room tickets and dining, a deposit of $200 for each room is required. When you book a package, the final payment is due 45 days before your arrival date, if you book a room only, you do not have the pay the balance until the day you arrive.
I believe you can send periodic payments if you book yourself or on line, if you book a package on line or through WDW you can actually make payments on line. You can not make payments on line with a room only reservation. I am not sure how you would make periodic payments if you book through a travel agent.
I would get together with all parties and take a look at your resort options, if you are all happy with AllStar then I would make my reservations.
As it gets closer to your trip keep an eye out for deals offered by Disney, if you have AAA they offer 15% or 20% off the full price of the resorts. Once you have made your reservations and a deal comes out, you can apply the discount to your exisiting reservation, if discount rooms are available.

 

[OhMari]

Hey,
I was in you shoes last fall. I made my room only reservations, but I had to wait for package prices to come out in July of 06 for my ressies for April of 07. Of course the price of packages went up.
If you do not want to do a package deal-then get your tickets now. Do you get the mousesavers newsletter, if you don't I can forward you mine. She actually has a deal going on right now before the end of the year. I predict that ticket prices will go up at least 3 times before May 08.

If you want to go the package route, then you have to sit tight. Booking 9 months in advance-you pretty much get all your requests.

The DIS has a travel sponsor, I hear they are great to work with. Dreams Unlimited. Just click on any of their banners.

Happy planning- you learn something new every day.

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

Thank you both for the responses! I feel like my head is spinning because everyone is looking at ME for answers. Yikes! I think we are going to go through a travel agent and book a package. It's just hard to get everything organized. BF parents and aunt/uncle live in WI with us and his cousins live in MN so it's a little harder with them. I'll have to email all ideas over to them. I just needed to know where to start with all this. I know it will be worth it, but I just feel overwhelmed.