Need Help with budget trip Holiday '07

[kymommie]

Hello there!

I am planning a trip to WDW for the week before Christmas. I really need to save as much money as possible.
In the past, We have stayed at All-Star Music, Port Orleans-Riverside and Fort Wilderness in our camper.
I have always booked directly through the Disney World website. Is this the best/cheapest/safest way?
I recently subscribed to the Mousesavers newsletter and have checked out a few websites someone gave me, but I feel kind of lost.
I know it is early, but I like to have a plan. That will make it easier to know what kind of $ situation I am getting into, and be able to plan accordingly.

I have seen that there are discount sites like undercover tourist, etc... to get tickets. If I do, are they safe? Do they expire within so many days from ordering them? Do they just mail me tickets?

Is it cheaper to get our room through Disney or are there other websites I should check out for that too? We hope to stay at one of the value resorts.

Also, If we use other services to book our stay & play options, do we still get the benefits of staying on property.....like extra magic hours, using their buses, etc....

I know this may seem like I am ignorant, but I am really clueless as I have always taken the easy way out and booked through their website.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Especially the $ saving kind.

If we get to go, it will be me, my husband and our two daughters.
This will be their suprise Christmas present.



Thanks so much,
Miranda


I posted this on the budget board and plan to post on the tips board as well.

 

[weeluvdisney]

(sorry my capital letters don't work) i am no expert at this but i'll try to help. we have been twice. the first time we went into this blind, did no research, and booked thru a travel agent referred by a friend. it was ok but cost us so much more. we went again a 2nd time this past may. i had found these boards in feb 2006 and found so much helpful info. we booked a room only with disney and got an aaa discount on the room (it was a pretty big savings). you have to check when you book to see if there is such a thing at the time. also, doing it this way you dont have to get trip ins and can cancel i believe up to 7 or maybe even less days before arrival and not lose anything. i think they charged me a one night dep when i booked. as long as you stay on property you can use the bus service and do emh and all that. we got our tickets from ticket mania who was the cheapest at the time and did it thru the mousesavers news letter. we had no problem with their service. i've seen alot of happy people on here also that used undercovertourist. we saved alot of money doing everything seperate and it didnt take much effort. a phone call to disney to book, ordered tickets thru ticket mania on the internet and had them mailed to me and we drove so we could have our car and save money that way. next time i will do it the same way no doubt, the difference in price was amazing and if something had come up and i had to cancel i wouldnt lose the trip ins $$. hope this helps.

 

[CindeBella]

We planning to be there the week of Christmas this year. I subscribe to mousesavers newsletter, it's the only way to get the discounted price from undercovertourist.com.. click on the link from the newsletter. I have used them every time like a charm. I order the tickets a few weeks in advance.

Sometimes there are resort codes or you can use AAA. My husband gets a Gov't discount so we stay at Swan or Dolphin... we absolutely love both. This year they were offering a rate at $129 a night which was unbelievable. The rate was last minute and available to everyone. Here is a link to the page.. keep an eye on good discounts. If you find a lower price throughout the year they will match it. Swan/Dolphin also has the extra magic hour and you are able to send packages to your hotel. They have excellent restaurants and the BEST beds. They offer discounts to nurses and teachers as well.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resort.htm

We are surprising our 3 children and won't tell them until we wake them to leave. We begin purchasing Disney Dollars before hand for the children and family will give them some also for Christmas. We started saving change in our Disney fund jar.
You have a good amount of time to begin budgeting. Start by purchasing/setting aside the money for the things you know you will need. If you make reservations for character meals, set the amount aside at that time. Same for hotel, tickets, etc.

I hope all of this helps

 

[shelemm]

WELL, i suppose if you REALLY want to save money then getting a motel room off site is vastly cheaper than staying on site.

When I went last year in March, I couldn't find anything less than $177 on site (despite searching every discount tip I could find on this board) and found a motel right near the front entrance for $39 on Priceline.

 

[mmeb144]

Staying offsite would help your budget. I would avoid whatever park has EMH that day. That will keep your personal crowd meter down in the "Happy Family" category.

I'm planning a Grand Gathering for that same week this year. My brother is the only one who hasn't committed, yet. It's tough to be budget minded and do WDW.

You can eat a couple meals in your room each day. If you do that, try to stay on site because that will make it easier to get back and forth to your room. You could buy the refillable mugs and definitely get your money's worth. (Plus a cool souvie to use at home.)

Marie

 

[kymommie]

There are two other families who are thinking of going with us at this time.

We thought we'd like to book our trip in February, if possible.

I saw something somewhere about a Grand Gathering or something like that with Peter Pan. I don't remember where I read about it, but it seemed neat.

Anyone know anything about it?


Thanks,
Miranda

 

[AlicynWonderland]

Hi, Miranda...I did the Wishes Fireworks Boat Ride with my Grand Gathering two years ago...HIGHLY recommend it!

There's a fantastic dessert party before the boat leaves with all sorts of Nestle Toll House cookies, desserts and fruit trays...and beverages too. Captain Hook and Smee walked around and played with the kids. Think they had two party boats that probably hold about 30 people each so it wasn't swarmed with people there either.

Boat leaves with a Pirate cast member leading the group in song and jokes, etc. Then the awesome fireworks display with the Wishes music track clearly audible from the boats speakers.

When the boat returns to dock Peter Pan is waiting for you on the pier for pictures and gave the kids a peter pan book. Only down side of this was the crazy gnats swarming us on the pier.

Everyone in the group loved this event and it was one of the more affordable grand gatherings..don't remember the exact price but want to say @$17-20 each. It is a fun memory.

 

[bgirl29]

We have used dreamsunlimited.com in the past and they will watch for any discounts that come out in the future for you and then apply them to your account. You can book room only or packages thru them.

 

[Perditamarie]

What a great surprise -- can you keep such a secret for almost a year!!!

I think you are smart to book as soon as you can -- December seems to be a very popular time. We went 06 in mid-Dec and it was clear the house of mouse was going to be quite full the week before/during Christmas. I would book a room w/CRO --during the year they can apply discounts via codes, AAA, etc to an existing reservation, and you can always cancel if something comes along. What I have heard about folks that use TA's is that you don't own your reservation, the TA does, so changes/requests need to go thru TA. I also think that because Dec. is becoming so busy, there may not be many discounts offered -- reading these boards to get ready for our trip seemed like there was just a scramble for availability. You can book room only or a package w/tickets and/or dining. I think there is a ticket special now for packages, but not sure if that is applicable for your dates or plans. Regarding ticket sellers, I think if Mousesavers says it's legitimate it is ..same for sites recommended by the Unofficial Guide, but I haven't used any myself.

There is also a kots (keeper of the secret) thread on the Family Board ( I think) for those springing surprise trips on their lucky families and their ideas for maximizing the surprise. There are a lot of posts, so that should give some good ideas too.

Happy planning..you are going to have a great year getting ready for this magnificent surprise---make sure the other families don't spill the beans!