Nov/Dec 2010 DDP planning help

[Samf1971]

We've decided it's definately WDW next year rather than the DLH at DLRP which was our alternative but we decided it was just too cold in Paris last year to suffer again!

So I've been tinkering with figures and looking at Pop for 2 weeks in December or going earlier and getting free DDP

anyhoo our main thing is probably to be able to see the parks trimmed up for Xmas as I've been at this time before and thought it was magical. The free DDP ends on 18th November, would we see much Xmas stuff at that time?? what kind of things would we miss out on?

The difference in cost between the "value" Pop with paid DDP and Port Orleans with the free DDP isn't too much but would we miss out going earlier?

I'm pricing up as a package with virgin flights, getting around £4.5k at the mo but not started trading the travel agents off yet so might get it cheaper (I don't want to book separately as just can't afford to pay for the flights all in one go)

 

[heatherbelle]

I'm sure I've read somewhere, that the Decs go up after Thanks giving. Which is Nov 25 2010.

So to see the decs, you need to go after that date i think.

I'll have a look around and see if I can find the old thread.

 

[Samf1971]

Thanks, that's kind of what I thought as we arrived the day after Thanksgiving one year to see Xmas, guess we'll probably end up paying for the DDP, though it seems quite good value

 

[heatherbelle]

Sam

I have just been over to all ears and found this for you.

This should help you plan.

http://allears.net/pl/events.htm

 

[gemmybear83]

If your going early December I would avoid staying at por or the all stars as that's when the pop warner tournament is held, and the kids are housed there. It sounds like a nightmare from the reviews on here!

Thomson/first choice are the only charters flying during the winter, first choice appears cheaper but also try portland direct (part of thomson) and travel city direct (part of virgin now)

Another alternative would to go early jan, we did that in 2008, and managed to see the decorations and Xmas parades at the beginning of the trip and the parks were really quiet!

 

[Samf1971]

Thanks I'll have a look at the allears site, not checked that one out yet.

Gemmy, just to clarify is that the Port Orleans or Pop Century? We're really wanting to fly Virgin (my son has Autism and I've heard really great reviews of their helping with boarding food etc) I've checked out Pop Century for December with the dining plan but if it's going to be mega busy with this tournament I may have to reconsider I'll have a look around for info about it. Is it a yearly thing? I wonder if they switch the accomodation about or is it mainly the value resorts. I'll also have a check about January, I'd not really given Jan much thought.

 

[gemmybear83]

Sorry I meant Port Orleans Riverside and All Star Sports!

We stayed at Pop in 2008 and loved it! I think its the perfect place for people with young kids.

Travel City Direct use Virgin flights (you can only do 14 nights though) lots of people have found them cheaper than Virgin Holidays

 

[cinderjenna]

I am trying to look for fly drives on travel city direct but getting no where!! Is it only package holidays now does anyone know? Or if I ring up will they have flight onlys and flydrives?

Thanks!

 

[igk]

We were there from 30th Oct - 6th Nov this year. It was interesting to observe the gradual overnight changes from Haloween to Christmas.
Each day from the 1st Nov Haloween stuff would disappear overnight, to be replaced by Xmas stuff. In DHS we noticed Xmas lights had been put up, but it was by no means finished by the time we left. I'd imagine by mid Nov the Xmas decs would all be up...

 

[RobinHood's merrymen]

We stopped going to DLP a few years ago for the same reason. Tooooo cold We also found it not that more expensive to do WDW, bearing in mind a 14 day holiday compared to a 4 of 5 day at DLRP.
We book for mid to end Nov. It happens to be one of the cheapest weeks on the calendar, the weather is good and the decs go up within a few days of the Halloween stuff coming down. We always ensure we can get to the MVMCP party too which has all the festive parades, decs etc. We did have to book a few days earlier this year (4/11) so that we got the DDP included but we'll still get the Christmas feel too.

Happy planning.