New and need help desparately

[tomcat2]

HI, Cat here Tom is at work.... Anywho, trying to plan 10th wedding anniversary trip to WDW and need help. First off, is planning the trip through the disney website the best deal? 2nd, how do you get registered to receive discount codes? The only time we have stayed on site was at Disney Paris for our honeymoon and we used a travel agency in Spain (where we were living at the time) to book the trip. Since we are planning to go to WDW this time how do I go about planning a wonderful 4 night trip for the 1st week of december? Will I get a better deal if I go through a travel agency? Trip is for December 3-December 7th (anniversary on 4th). ANy help and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Disney history
1982 WDW 1st time
1994 Disney Land 1st time
1994 WDW 2nd time
1997 Disney Land 2nd time
1998 Disney Paris stayed at Sequoia Lodge
2001 (?) Disney Tokyo and Disney Sea
2003 WDW 3rd time

 

[indigoxtreme]

Dreams Unlimited is a sponsor here on the Boards Here is their link. I think they would be your best bet They will keep an eye out for deals etc and the boards has a watch section for discounts etc and the announce it on the welcome page as well.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/packages/index.htm#boards-top-packages

 

[adell557]

HI, Cat here Tom is at work.... Anywho, trying to plan 10th wedding anniversary trip to WDW and need help. First off, is planning the trip through the disney website the best deal? 2nd, how do you get registered to receive discount codes? The only time we have stayed on site was at Disney Paris for our honeymoon and we used a travel agency in Spain (where we were living at the time) to book the trip. Since we are planning to go to WDW this time how do I go about planning a wonderful 4 night trip for the 1st week of december? Will I get a better deal if I go through a travel agency? Trip is for December 3-December 7th (anniversary on 4th). ANy help and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Disney history
1982 WDW 1st time
1994 Disney Land 1st time
1994 WDW 2nd time
1997 Disney Land 2nd time
1998 Disney Paris stayed at Sequoia Lodge
2001 (?) Disney Tokyo and Disney Sea
2003 WDW 3rd time

Discount codes are random, they get your name from registering for disney related things, i.e. the disney site, planning dvd, and disney visa. You can't just sign up and get one.

You might want to register on the disney site, order the free planning dvd to help with your trip and get yourself in the running to get one you never know

 

[Goofy4]

First off, is planning the trip through the disney website the best deal?

I haven't seen a report of anyone getting a deal through the website that could not be obtained by calling in.

Also, if you make your reservations via the website and then call in, they are limited in the types of changes that can be made without first canceling and re-booking. For example, if you wanted to apply a code found after booking on the web site, they would not be able to do that (at least, that was my experience) without re-booking.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Hi & Welcome to the boards... We all try and figure out how some get codes and some dont... My suggestion is to order a vacationing dvd from the website. My sister has never been there and when she ordered the dvd she started to get emails for discounts... Its a mystery that no one really knows the answer too...

Anywho; congrats on ur upcoming trip... As the pp stated DU is a sponser on the boards and are highly recommened by many people. If there is no specials going on for the time you book w/ them they will look for codes to save you money when and if something does come out. The quote they give you will usually be the same as the Disney site as well but disney wont tell you about discounts unless you ask.

The best advise I can give you is keep looking on the boards. There is a section for codes and when someone knows something they usually post away. Keep an eye out & I am sure you will see something...

Usually the week that you are going in was low crowds but have been known to get high at times due to Live w/Regis & Kelly's Christmas show... No matter what dont let it discourage you from planning a wonderful trip. There are ways to have a blast and I am sure you will!

Again, welcome to the boards & enjoy posting and planning for ur upcoming trip!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

First call Disney and order the vacation planning DVD (I've heard that some are getting discount codes from ordering). You might also want to pick up a good book (I love the passporter) to help you plan. If you are an AAA member, you may also get a discount on the room through them. With the new Magic Your Way (MYW) tickets, the more days you stay, the cheaper it is (for tickets) each day. You'll have to decide if you will park hop (i.e., go to more than one park each day). We generally don't...but were AP (annual passholders) so it doesn't matter for us.

IF you decide to go 2 times within 365 days an AP may be your best bet...it is for us (and makes it easier to justify going when we find a good air fare!)

Some folks love the disney dining plan....we don't personally participate in it. Allearsnet.com has ALL of the menus for each of the places to eat on property so go there, pick what you like and make those reservations (up to 180 days in advance).

Have fun! We've been ~25 times (or more) and love going. I generally don't use a travel agent for Disney (though I do for cruises and international travel). I can tell you that the folks at dreams unlimited are very nice.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

That's a great time of year to go to WDW. Great prices, low crowds, great decor.

I've never gone through a travel agency myself, and I think I get the best deals going. On the other hand, if you find a good travel agency, they will find the same discounts without you having to do much. Just like the one who sponsors this site.

I don't know of any place to really register to get discount codes per say, but this site has a news blip each day that lists codes, and Mousesavers ahs a newslatter that lists codes (they do have a special link for discounted tickets, but the discount is not huge.)

On the other hand, one of the best 'discounts' going now is to book the dining plan. If you are doing a honeymoon, I think it's the way to go. You do still have to pay for tips and alcohol, but the bulk of your meal is prepaid, and you can order anything you want off the menu (pretty much: almost any entree and dessert). There are very few exceptions. If you book the Dining plan, you pretty much have to get your tickets and stuff thorugh them, but it may be worthwhile. I haven't found an AP to be the best deal for my family in the last few years, but that may be differnet for another family.

Doing 'Disney math' can get fairly complicated: look at the price of your hotel, calculate meal costs, and park tickets for thenumber of days you want to go and the features you may want.

For a honeymoon, you may want to look at the 'wedding' info stuff. I think you'll find quite a bit of overlap between the kinds of things you wnat to do, and the kinds of things Disney offers for weddings. I'm not positive what kind of wedding info theDIS offers (IT might be great, I don't know) buyt I happen to know that the mousesavers page has added a wedding ideas section.

If you want romantic, consider a splurge at the Grand Floridian, complete with a meal at Victoria and Alberts, and maybe afireworks cruise. If that's not in your budget, then a meal at the Cali Grill is very nice. I think NO MATTER WHAT - CALL to book your trip, and TELL WDW that you are planning an anniversary and want help making it special. Anyone can dine at Cali Grill, but if you have a Disney coordinator help you, you'll get the best view and maybe some extra magic.

Any of the Deluxe resrts would be great for the kind of trip you describe, but if that's not in your budget, I'd pick POFQ, CSR, maybe CBR, or maybe the Magnolia Bend side of POR (Though POR is personally my least favorite moderate resort, it does have a romantic aspect). I'd steer clear of the values myself, but if I had to pick among them I'd pick ASMu.

 

[tomcat2]

Thank all you for the help...I will call immediately for the DVD. We were actually thinking about staying at the POFQ but haven't really decided so anybody with experience feel free to tell. I will keep popping in ion this site for more info...thanks again Disney lovers!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi and welcome!!

This may help you get started. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

Be sure to look into an AAA discount; it's a fairly easy way to save some money.

 

[Goofy4]

Just noticed this video at msnbc.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23244801#23244801

 

[drcandon]

DW and I are going a few days later then you are. The first weekend in December can get busy at MK because of them taping the Christmas parade, but usuallu the other parks are unaffected. I have heard that doing MMCP on the same day/weekend as the taping is horrible, but they only let in 20K people before the cut off, so I am not sure about that one..maybe someone else on this board can help.

For Anniversary celebrations - and if you can swing it (cost) staying concierge level at the Poly, GF or CR is a great alternative.

Just as a warning the next week the POP warner kids come trouping in..however after the fiasco last year I understand Disney and the organization themsleves have them on a very tight leash.

 

[Aliceacc]

What happened last year?

 

[drcandon]

What happened last year?

Hi..There are several links and threads on this board about the incident. But, in a nutshell two "parties" from different chearleading groups got into a knock down drag out fist fight in the middle of the night at one of the value resorts. The group(s) that were involved were "escorted" off Disney property in the middle of the night after the altercation. I guess the police were involved etc etc. It made the Orlando papers for two reason, one the embarassement for Disney and Pop Warner and the second reason was the groups actually tried to get their money refunded..duhhh.

Anyway, before the question is asked the POP warner kids only stay at the value resorts like the POP ones. Very rarely do they overflow into the moderates. And they don't affect the parks too much since they are doing the cheeleading stuff during the day. I undertsntad the only affect they have is on the Disney Transpo at nights in selected parks...and unfortunatly they also cause Disney Studios to be basically shut down after 7pm one night. And nope their schedule is not out yet...

 

[pepe of ohio]

Hi and welcome!!

This may help you get started. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

Be sure to look into an AAA discount; it's a fairly easy way to save some money.

We've done WDW 40 times and never used a TA, we just figure what we want and are going to use and call CRO. The quoted poster is correct, AAA discount, when we can't get an AP discount or pin code, we use the AAA 10% discount, it isn't much but everything helps and you have AAA service for the year.

As I said, we've gone alot and to us the resort makes the trip, we spend alot of time in and around the pool. That being said, we really like the Wilderness Lodge, theming, decor, layout, landscape and all under one roof with inside halls. The other consideration is location, we spend alot of time in the MK and that's a boat ride away. It's also easy to boat to CR and catch the monorail to EPCOT, or then take the boat to DHS. It's more money, value season here is great, and I believe the first 2 weeks of December are value season. The decorations in the lobby will take your breath away. The EWP each light on the lake is great, boat to FW for a change of pace and the area around the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay lake says Disney to us.

When you get the video, check out the WL, so peaceful, relaxed and as with all deluxes, a USA under the door weekdays is like being home. We do not like the dining plan, too much scheduling and being on time to eat 8 months from now wouldn't work for us. Each resort has plenty of dining choices and a call the day before can easily snag a seat, counter services aren't bad either and like I said, we don't know from one day to another what we want do scheduling a meal plan is out for us. We found the meals on property are huge, we split meals alot, and in the heat and on vacation we eat less plus we do a grocery stop en route to the world and load up on drinks, alcohol, snacks and sandwich fixing. We like lunch around the pool and its a huge money saver, drinks on property will kill you but the refillable mug is a bargain. Either way, there are grocery deliveries that can be had to your resort, alot use gardengrocer, 12 buck fee , I think the minimum is 50 bucks and you type in for alcohol and they deliver.

Hope you have a good one no matter where you pick you won't go wrong but do check WL on the video and do a cost comparison and remember location is key.

 

[Metro West]