Need some help

[vacation247]

We are planning a trip at the end of aug. last week...
should we book a place now or wait for deals?
best place for family of 3 w/1 child=age 6
This just seems so overwhelming~I need some expert help..where to go..where to stay..so on and so forth

 

[heartbeeps]

it depends on a lot of things like your budget, # days, etc.

here's what I did since it's been 14+ years since my last visit:

Purchased a good guide book on Disney (i.e., I started with the Unofficial guide to Disney). Read what it says about each resort and selected a resort from each category level (value, moderate, deluxe).

Priced a "room only" (which means no package) at each of my resort choices for 5 nights in regular season -
- All Stars Music (value) - first 2 nights
- Port Orleans Riverside (moderate) - family members staying here
- Animal Kingdom Lodge (deluxe) - last 3 nights

Re-read the section of the guide on each of my choices to determine if a standard room was adequate or if I'd need to upgrade. I only upgraded the AKL room (to Savannah) since that's a special treat. Our stay at AS Mu will be standard and our family's stay at POR will also be std. view (not pool). I based this on the fact that those at POR will not be in the room much and will not care if they have an obstructed view of the pool (or better) so I didn't want to waste money there. For ASMu all I cared about was a quiet room to rest so I didn't need a preferred room location close to the main bldg.

After that, I "crunched" the #s to see how much more I'd have to pay for a moderate over a value and then a deluxe over a moderate. Then I made a "tentative" decision of what resort I wanted to book based on what I could afford using the online room-only rates as my guide.

Next I thought about how many days we'd be there and how many parks we'd visit in that time. We'd visit 2 parks in 3 days so decided on a 1 day "base tix" since we wouldn't use the water park or hop between parks. Besides we had leftover tickets from 1994 (and I knew where they were) so we'd use these leftover tix for the other days.

Next I reviewed info about Disney's dining Plan (DDP). Since I was paying for others, I decided I wanted to make sure they were eating so I added the Disney dining plan to everyone's package ($37.99 per person per day). If we weren't going as a group, I'd probably pass on it and skip dining onsight at table service restaurants every night. Added the DDP $$$ to the room only rates I calculated.

For me, there was no deciding about insurance ($140/couple - total; kids are free when the couple buys it). I took it! Some buy it; some don't. I take it for a few reasons (i.e., elderly parents, health issues, peace of mind). Add insurance price in to the cost if you want it. Added the insurance $$$ to the room-only + DDP rates I calculated.

I looked at staying off-site the 1st night because we have an evening arrival & I didn't want to spend a lot of money "just to sleep on day 1" (at the airport the cheapest hotel I could get was $102/night). I compared that to what I could get on property (Value resorts less than $100/night and I'd be ON PROPERTY and ready to go for my first full day at Disney so I chose to split my day and do 2 days at a value resort before moving up to a deluxe resort (as a special treat for my DH's birthday). (Typically, I'd be hard pressed to upgrade to a moderate but this is a special occasion so I'm breaking the bank.)

as soon as I figured these things out, I contacted my AAA office (they offer a discount that is often as good as or sometimes even better than rates that are later announced). I got a discounted rate over what I saw on Disney's web site so I booked the trip with AAA, knowing I could change my AAA rate for a different rate if a better one came out before final payment was due (45 days out). This was I KNOW I have the room I want in the resort I want and don't have to worry about Disney selling out that resort or room level as I've already got mine booked.

hope this helps and good luck. (Next lesson - awhile down the road - planning your dining reservations based on what park you'll be at which day!)

 

[vacation247]

thanks for taking the time to help...will continue on this journey

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

Although you will probably get a room and tickets, you will be limited on your ADR's for TS restaurants.

I would count back the number of days and stop at 90 - so that you can make your adr's ASAP. Are you planning on the DDP?

It seems that free dining may have started in late August last year --- but I don't know for sure.

Other than that, I wouldn't count on too many "deals" that time of year.

 

[Aliceacc]

We'll be there from the 13th to the 19th

I haven't been to WDW since 1990, so I started this thread for other newbies like me: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

Tell us more about your budget and what you think you want...you'll get lots of fast recommendations. You'll want to get going on reservations, so that you'll have a better range of choices.

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

We are planning a trip at the end of aug. last week...
should we book a place now or wait for deals?
best place for family of 3 w/1 child=age 6
This just seems so overwhelming~I need some expert help..where to go..where to stay..so on and so forth

Why not use a Disney Specialist Travel Agent - they are great in helping plan your vacation when it is overwhelming. You can PM for more info if you are interested.

Good Luck!

 

[cheerforchelsea]

With a 6 year old you can stay at most any level of resort (value, moderate, deluxe) and the 6 year old will LOVE them all. IT is really hot in August so you will want to stay in a Disney resort so you can catch a bus back to the room mid-day for a swim or just to rest. (I travel with a 7 year old and by mid day she is ready to cool off and swim for a little bit) Our favorite value resort is POP and favorite moderate is CBR - but the themed pool at CBR is being refurbished so keep that in mind if you go value. Pick up Birnbaums Guide to Disney at your local bookstore - it is a GREAT planning tool. Have a WONDERFUL trip!!

 

[Native NYer]

You probably decide how much you want to spend on your room and then look at resorts that fall into your price range. I think a 6 year old will enjoy any of the Disney resorts.

 

[Rylee]

We are planning a trip at the end of aug. last week...
should we book a place now or wait for deals?
best place for family of 3 w/1 child=age 6
This just seems so overwhelming~I need some expert help..where to go..where to stay..so on and so forth

Hi,

Some things to consider...

Driving or flying?

How long will you be staying?

Accommodations - Will you be staying at a Disney Resort or off-site?
I always recommend staying at a Disney Resort, lots of perks and very convenient. Disney has 3 different resort categories and also has "seasons" to determine cost. During August - Value Resorts start at $82 per night, Moderate Resorts start a $149 and Deluxe Resort start at $225. Weekend and/or holidays could be higher priced.

We have only stayed at the Deluxe and values resorts and I've loved all of them! It just depends on what you want and what you want to spend. (Moderates don't work for my family of 7.)

If you have AAA, you can receive a discount.

Also, for the last 3 years, Disney has offered free dining to guest staying at their resorts beginning at the end of August, into Sept. There is no guarantee this will be offered to the general public this year, but you might want to keep watching for it to become available. Booking a room will not guarantee it, you would need the discount code to have it applied to your reservation. (You can book now, to make sure you get the resort of your choice and call and allpy the dining code at a later date, if it is available.)

Food -
Disney Dining Plan (DP). If you choose to stay at a Disney Resort, you can book a package including dining. Adults are $38 and children are $10, times (X) the number of nights you are staying. So, for 2 adults and 1 child, the cost would be appoximately $86 times (X) your number of nights. (Tip is not included.) Each person receives 1 Table Service (TS), 1 Counter Service (CS) & 1 snack credit for each night of your stay.

If you are content eating at CS restaurants, the DP might not be right for you.

You can read menus and prices at the allearsnet site.

DP or not, if you would like to dine in any of the TS restaurants, (especially at the time of year you will be visiting, since free dining has already been offered to certain groups of people) you will need to make Advance Dining Reservations (ADR) or you may not get in, this includes character meals. You can make ADR's 180 days within your arrival date.

Tickets -
Magic Your Way tickets, get cheaper per day, the more days you purchase, extreme discounts after the 4TH day, base tickets allow entrance to 1 park per day. Hopper passes allow you to visit different parks on the same day. Hoppers are a one time fee of $45 per person. I don't think hoppers are necessary, especially for first-time visitors, and hopping takes time traveling around, but the do provide more freedom, especially for dining purposes. (if you don't purchase the hopper option, you will need to schedule ARD's in or near the park you are visiting on a given day.) Water Park and More options includes admission to the Water Parks, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest, etc. I think this option is a one time fee of $50 per person. (If you plan to visit a water park only once during your stay, buying a seperate admission to the water park is cheaper then the add-on option.)

After you've made you reservations, and possibly a few ADR's, RELAX...

Look over the attractions and pick a few "must-see-and-do's" for your family in each park. Check park hours, special events, parade, fireworks and show times. (Don't miss Fantasmic at the Studios.) Learn how to use Fast Passes. You will need a loose plan to follow... MK on Monday, ADR at Chef Mickey's at 6 pm, Epcot on Tuesday, ADR at Coral Reef at 6:30, Illuminations (nightly show) at 9pm, etc.

My family likes to get to the parks early, and use fast passes to see our "must" list. We usually take a break in the afternoon and return to our resort for a swim, and then return to the parks for dinner and the nightly attractions.

And... after all this planning... don't be afraid to throw out your "plans" and just discover the magic at your own pace!

Any questions, just ask.

Have a magical trip!