NEED HELP... how do I even BEGIN to figure out the best deal for our WDW trip? (long)

[laurajetter]

I started out on these boards back in 2004, the year of our last WDW trip. I found out soooo much helpful info including fun tidbits that made our visit so much more fulfilling! The trouble is, I only focused on the fun stuff to do while touring, the best strategies, etc., nothing having to do with getting the best deals on accomodations/tickets.

All we've ever done is to go through a travel agent and get some kind of package deal that includes hotel accomodations, park hoppers, and maybe 1 or 2 other perks, like La Nouba tix & certain WDW tours, for example. But I see Disers talking about codes, dining plans, AAA rates, etc. so now I don't know if going through a TA is the best plan of attack. Problem is, I don't know where to start in my quest to get a good deal, and all the possibilities are making my head spin!

Can someone hold my hand and tell me how to begin? I DO know that we would want the flexibility of having a park hopper. We're interested in either Caribbean Beach Resort or the Polynesian. Well, the Polynesian is more of a dream after we saw the prices, but perhaps with some kind of package deal it might be better? One can only hope. We might want to do 1 or 2 tours, and we enjoy dining at the various themed-restaurants throughout Disney. Here are some things I'm wondering about, but feel free to add any other info that may be helpful. Thank you so much!

1. CODES What exactly are codes? Who gives them out, where do people find them, and what do you do with them, just apply them the standard hotel rates you see on the Disney resort web pages or are they in addition to already discounted packages? We want to go sometime between February and end of May 2008; when would codes come out for that time frame? If you make reservations and then you notice a code you want to use, can you apply it to the existing reservation?

2. ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGES The kind we always got were outlined in a brochure that our travel agent would show us. Are these good deals, or would experienced Disers think you could do much better than those? In 2004, we got a Dream Makers Package with the Silver Plan Add-On; I don't know how it works now, but I'm curious if we're better off trying to put something together ourselves.

3. TRAVEL AGENCIES What are the pros and cons to planning Disney vacation through a TA? Would you do it?

4. AAA We are AAA members... are their discounts pretty good in comparison to other ways to save? Do you just go through the AAA website?

5. DINING PLANS What exactly are dining plans and are they separate from hotel packages or used in conjunction with them? (My head is starting to spin again! )

6. OTHER WAYS TO SAVE? Are there other methods of getting discounts that I haven't mentioned that maybe I don't know about?

7. IF YOU WERE JUST BEGINNING TO PLAN A WDW TRIP, HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT IT? What would you start looking at first in terms of getting a deal? Is there a certain order for how to put this together? I'm just so overwhelmed at the prospect of possibly doing this all myself and wondering whether it would end up being any better than a package I could get through a TA anyway. If it is possible to a deeper discount, I'm all for learning the ins and outs!

I know I've posed a TON of questions, and I really appreciate any info you care to share... thanks so much!

Laura

 

[Palendat]

Go to www.mousesavers.com for ALL the answers to those questions and more, in an easy to find layout!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

I second that idea. Mousesavers also has a newsletter (email form) that you can sign up for. It's the best "savings" site their is.

 

[laurajetter]

ok, thanks!

 

[MEK]

Since you are an AAA member you can always start with a trip quote from one of their agents. Mousesavers will tell you what the typical room discount is according to the season you plan to travel.

If you decide you are happy with the AAA price, you can book the trip. A good AAA agent will apply any new public codes that are released after your trip is booked.

There are a lot of posters on this board who don't like using a AAA agent. My AAA agent is very good. When free dining was released she had all the packages pulled for that time frame and changed everyone over to the free dining automatically (if they wanted it).

You have to really pay attention to these boards to know when codes are released. It can be time consuming. If you miss a few weeks you can miss a good code. For example, I missed the bounce back promotion last November. It I had read these boards I would have know it BEFORE my Nov trip was over.

Try picing out a trip through an agent, try doing it youself. Be flexible with dates and sit back and enjoy the fun!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Laura, it can be overwhelming! I like to be the trip planner around here! So, I do the Disney trips myself. I try to pick a week that is in the Value Season before I go any further. Then (on the WDW website) plug in some days and get prices for 2 or 3 potential resorts. Also, I go to Continental.com and start checking airfare rates. We have a Visa that gives us airfare miles, so when the rates for the time I pick drop a little I go ahead and apply the miles and secure our air travel.
I myself am a little unsure about the code thing! I am not sure,but I think-for example- of I go ahead now and book our Jan. trip, then the codes come out I can call back and redo that. IF not, I need correcting now, before I do it! I have only planned one or two trips close enough that the codes and rates where already published.
We did the DDP in Dec. and it was worth it for us. We got appetizers and desserts/snacks we normally would not have gotten. We also enjoyed the tip and taxes already being taken care of.
I take care of the room and airfare first. Then depending on your payment method, you can call a few weeks before you leave and order your theme park tickets. Unless you want to pay for it all at once. But, if there is a certain rest., like Cinderella's castle you know you want to go to, try and book it ASAP. I think it's 180 days out you can reserve it, and if not chances after you get there are slim!
Definitely get the Park Hopper. It's worth it and takes a lot of stress off trying to plan every minute because it gives you some versatility! Hope this helps! The folks here have given us some great tips and insights we knew nothing about.
One more thing!- If you don't have either the Birnbaum's WDW book, or the PassPorter, you need to get it! Lot's of neat info. and stuff you need in there!

 

[probono]

Subscribing to this thread - lots of good questions/answers!! I am in the planning stages and am trying to pin my hubby down on dates. My parents will be coming with us and of course our 3 kiddos - 4 years old. We're now looking at December. We think we'd love the DDP - the tips included is a great feature.

Not sure about park hoppers with three 4-year olds. One park a day may be plenty for us.

Mari

 

[OhMari]

Subscribing to this thread - lots of good questions/answers!! I am in the planning stages and am trying to pin my hubby down on dates. My parents will be coming with us and of course our 3 kiddos - 4 years old. We're now looking at December. We think we'd love the DDP - the tips included is a great feature.

Not sure about park hoppers with three 4-year olds. One park a day may be plenty for us.

Mari

I had to respond, I have the same name.
The DDP is worth it, if you are willing to schedule your ADR's around your parks. If you can stick to one park and get your ADR for that park day, then you really don't need a park hopper tickets. Remember you can use your credits at resorts resturants. You can be at MGM and take the boat to the Boardwalk area and eat at Spoodles, or Beaches & Creme, ESPN, Cape May Buffet. You can also walk out of Epcot and go to the Boardwalk area for these same resturants.

At the MK, you can get on the mono-rail and eat at the Poly, The Contemporary or The Floridian, or take a boat over to Wilderness Campground and eat over there.

CodesYou found this thread-This has to be the most up to date thread that you will find to let you know if a code comes out, for when you want to go to WDW. You can always make your ressie now, and add the code later. But if you want a package, your room-only will need to be cancelled and you get your deposit back. Then you start all over. I did this last year. I made my ressie 8 months out and I had no problem booking our room package with DDP.

To the OP-If you have the time, planning your vacation yourself is half the fun of actually going on your trip to WDW.

I think you can reserve your rooms for 2008 and by August, the prices for a WDW package comes out. Last year the Dining plan went up $1.00 a day. I think the Dining Plan is $38.99 per person per day. Plus as of 2008, gratuity will not be included on the DDP.

Your Travel Agent can do all this calling for you, if you do not have the time.

 

[probono]

Thank you so much for responding, Mari. LOL. My name is actually Marifrances (Pronounced Mary - are you Mary also?).

I'm really going to work on my DH to book for December as I don't want to pay for tips one month later - I think the price per day is great for the DDP.

I have a reservation on hold right now with Disney (myself). I think I will also LOVE the planning by myself. I am a mother of triplets, but it's all for them, so I will have a ball doing the ADR's and all that good stuff and I will make the time. I love these boards - so glad I found them.

Thanks again. Crossing my fingers for a code...Mari