New in central PA - planning stages with bunch of questions

[bwatlas]

My parents would like to take the 4 families to WDW next year. We are
Self 40 and DD 15
Bro, SIL, (mid 30's) son 5
Sis, BIL, (late 30's) sons 3 and 5
and parents - retired
So, we're gathering information. I stumbled across this board by accident (yup, took the poll) and know these are a wealth of information, as I belong to a board for my cruise in March that has been nothing but tons of help at getting questions answered. After reading and lurking, figured it was time to come out and say hi!
Now, what is the best way to start planning my WDW vacation? We got some pricing, and some ideas.
Is it best to try and make arrangements yourself, use an online TA, or a local TA (not that I know any local TA's anyway). Am comfortable with online TA as this is how my cruise is scheduled.
My personal preferences are the Wilderness cabins or Pop Century as for where to stay, but I am only one vote in above mentioned group.
June, is this a bad month to choose? My DD will be 16 at time of trip and working on senior project in fall of 2009, her jr year, and cannot miss school. Are we crazy for wanting to do early June?
We (parents, self, bro and sis) were last to WDW in 1986, so I am aware that there have been a few changes made over the years. But, now being a mother, and wanting everything just so, and having to over plan everything, I want to be sure we get the best pricing to get there.
Thanks for all and any information!
Brenda

 

[dobball23]

My parents would like to take the 4 families to WDW next year. We are
Self 40 and DD 15
Bro, SIL, (mid 30's) son 5
Sis, BIL, (late 30's) sons 3 and 5
and parents - retired
So, we're gathering information. I stumbled across this board by accident (yup, took the poll) and know these are a wealth of information, as I belong to a board for my cruise in March that has been nothing but tons of help at getting questions answered. After reading and lurking, figured it was time to come out and say hi!
Now, what is the best way to start planning my WDW vacation? We got some pricing, and some ideas.
Is it best to try and make arrangements yourself, use an online TA, or a local TA (not that I know any local TA's anyway). Am comfortable with online TA as this is how my cruise is scheduled.
My personal preferences are the Wilderness cabins or Pop Century as for where to stay, but I am only one vote in above mentioned group.
June, is this a bad month to choose? My DD will be 16 at time of trip and working on senior project in fall of 2009, her jr year, and cannot miss school. Are we crazy for wanting to do early June?
We (parents, self, bro and sis) were last to WDW in 1986, so I am aware that there have been a few changes made over the years. But, now being a mother, and wanting everything just so, and having to over plan everything, I want to be sure we get the best pricing to get there.
Thanks for all and any information!
Brenda

Where are you from in Central PA? I live in Lewisburg.

 

[bwatlas]

Far away, LOL.. MILTON!

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

Come on I am from Williamsport! Small World! I do not have much advice for you trip since I am worrying about our upcoming trip with my parents. But I want to wish you and your whole family a great trip!

And Good Luck to DD on the project!

 

[bwatlas]

Come on I am from Williamsport! Small World! I do not have much advice for you trip since I am worrying about our upcoming trip with my parents. But I want to wish you and your whole family a great trip!


On your quote, yes, I too, (don't know if it's same reason or not) am worried about upcoming trip, also. We 'children' are so diverse and different in our lives, that we each have our own, um, thoughts of how things should be done. So, to put us all in Fla. for a week, out of our personal homes, is really going to be interesting.
So i do wish you luck, also.
Yes, her senior project, they have school out for a day, but yet all the jrs have to attend, so it is a bit of a big deal, and she needs it to graduate in 2011 (am i getting old?)

 

[sunshine43]

Hi....Poconos checking in here and planning a January '09 trip to disney.

I was going to book it thru Disney, but now I am going to spend 60 dollars to join AAA and save mega bucks on the trip.

Just call your local AAA and they will give you the details.

robin

 

[bwatlas]

Thanks Robin
Already have AAA, thanks. But, their pricing is more expensive, and less informative, than my online TA.
Also, love the poconos and camelbeach! More trips there than WDW, sorry to say. Along with Wolf Lodge

 

[sunshine43]

Brenda, who is your online TA?

I am about 20 minutes from Camelbeach and Great Wolf

robin

 

[eeyore29]

Hello, neighbors! Lehigh Valley checking in here! Welcome to the DIS, Brenda!

Here's my 2 cents: we always just book thru Disney directly, it's not hard with all the advice you can find here. Maybe someone else can let you know if it's better to use a TA with the size of your group. With that many people in your party, I'd suggest finding out how much time people plan to stay at the hotel and/or enjoying its amenities, then you can decide whether to do value or deluxe or something in between. Also try to guage whether they want to spend less than $100/nite or $200-400 (or more)/nite for just the hotel (not including park tickets, food, and souvenirs). Everyone's got their own preferences and pre-conceived notions of what Disney is, so you'll find good and bad things about every hotel. You'll read both the good and the bad around here, so you've just gotta use your judgment for your group's situtation. The way I think of it is, a not-so-great week at Disney is still a MILLION times better than a not-so-bad week at work. We always go with a lighter state of mind and we're never disappointed, we're on vacation after all!

Good luck with your planning and have a great trip! You've definitely come to the right place to get some advice. On this site there's lots of useful & unbiased info back in the main part of the site (before you get to the message boards). There's also a few great books you could pick up at that local book store, too. ENJOY!

 

[kar0066]

Hello from Allentown!

I booked my Disney trip in January of this year on my own thru the Disney Website. I am going again early December of this year. This time I compared AAA prices with the website. My trip will be two days longer and $150 cheaper.

In January I stayed at Pop Century. This time I am staying at All Star Movies.
Both times the prices are for a preferred room and off-season.

Good luck!!

 

[bwatlas]

Sunshine and eeyore-
using TA from this board advertisement, and her pricing was better than when I went directly onto the disney site and her pricing includes the 'park hopper' tickets for our trip, too. dreams unlimited travel, I think it's called. Again, found it on this site, and to date best pricing I've found.
Parents are footing the bill for all, so it's what their budget will allow. Although the Pop Century is what I like, too.
And yes, agree that bad day in Fla. would be better than good day in PA. I think we're a somewhat dysfunctional family, and my parents have this dream that we're one big happy unit and they aren't dealing with reality at times. I'm not terribly excited to go, but will do it, as it's their dream. I just hope the do realize, (and yes, I've given my opinion), it isn't my dream, but I will participate with a smile on my face as long as I can, and bite my tounge, which will be terribly swollen by weeks end, I'm sure.
I'm still rather curious as to how this will turn out.
As for opinions on different things from everybody, yes, I know that they are their opinions. Something that they didn't like or prefer on something, might be something I'm interested in.
So, thanks for the votes of confidence, and helpful tips
Brenda

 

[Metro West]

 

[Lugh]

As a note on choosing to go in June....

Two things to keep in mind. It's busy, and it's hot.

Really, June isn't the best time to go. We prefer March and October (and December for the Xmas decorations, when we can swing it!). But, real life unfortunately trumps ideal vacation plans.

Look into all the various suggestions for making the most of your trip. You'll need to maximize a lot of them to, IMHO, get your money's worth during peak times (but, I hate crowds, so take with a grain of salt). Go to the park as early as you can (and take advantage of Extra Magic Hours). Go back to the resort in the early afternoon, and hit the pool, or cool off in the room (napping is also a good idea, if you want to be awake for Illuminations/Fantasmic/etc.). Head back to the park in the late afternoon/early evening. Make sure you have Advanced Dining Reservations for as many of your meals as you can manage, as you're unlikely to get into a sit-down restaurant without them.

Have fun!

 

[bwatlas]

As a note on choosing to go in June....

Two things to keep in mind. It's busy, and it's hot.

Really, June isn't the best time to go. We prefer March and October (and December for the Xmas decorations, when we can swing it!). But, real life unfortunately trumps ideal vacation plans.

Look into all the various suggestions for making the most of your trip. You'll need to maximize a lot of them to, IMHO, get your money's worth during peak times (but, I hate crowds, so take with a grain of salt). Go to the park as early as you can (and take advantage of Extra Magic Hours). Go back to the resort in the early afternoon, and hit the pool, or cool off in the room (napping is also a good idea, if you want to be awake for Illuminations/Fantasmic/etc.). Head back to the park in the late afternoon/early evening. Make sure you have Advanced Dining Reservations for as many of your meals as you can manage, as you're unlikely to get into a sit-down restaurant without them.

Have fun!

Those are, for the most part, my plans. Napping and 'bonding' time with my 3yo nephew. After all, I am the 'elder' in the group, lol. It's a lot of different 'personalities' coming together, too. I work in highway construction, so summer is a bad time for me. However, I am the parent of a high schooler, who has a senior project to work on to graduate, so I feel stuck there, too. When is a good time for 11 people to all be able to get time off together to honor mimi and pappy's dream? None.. but for most June seems to be mutually agreeable time to be able to go.
Trust me, I'm NOT a crowd person either , so you'll find me napping with nephew if I have any say in the matter!