Planning a trip to WDW and am looking for tips/money saving ideas....

[Lachesis00]

We're hoping to go to WDW in August. Right now it's up in the air thanks to my coworker who may or may not be going to India (her sister may or may not be getting married in August... a arranged marriage).
I won't know for sure until July but I thought Id start saving, bargin hunting now.... If we can not go in August, we will go over Christmas break.
Anyways... I am going to start planning and hope we can go. Flying from Alaska right now we're looking at $650.00 per person.
I checked out the Disney site and for the cheapest onsite hotel it was $5000.00 (ok like $4998.00) for 8 days with the gold pass.
We will not be driving (small town Alaskans... too chicken to drive) and so we'd want a offsite hotel (any suggestions?) that has a shuttle to WDW. When I was planning DL 3 years ago they had off site hotels to stay in, this doesn't seem to be the case w/WDW on the Disney site.
Are tips and tricks for getting tickets cheaper? I really wanted to stay onsite with the platium package but that was over $10,000- $14,000 for 8 days.... and that is NOT in my budget.... I want the best trip possible for the cheapest price (who doesn't?!)
Are there places other then the Disney site to buy tickets/passes?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from people.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Hi Rachel in Alaska. Hubby and I lived in Anchorage AK for 3 years!! He was stationed at Elmendorf AFB. I sure do miss it there.

Anyway....I'm not sure what the gold pass is, but maybe you should forget that and just try booking a room only reservation. Since you're looking to stay for 8 days and 7 nights, I would go with one of the value resorts. Go to www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com and go to the WDW link and look at the resorts from there.
As for getting tickets other places other than Disney, try www.ticketmania.com and see what you can find. There's one other, but I can't remember the web address right now. I would also go to www.wdwig.com and go to the restaurants link and look over the menus and get a food budget in your head. Also visit www.ourlaughingplace.com and go to the resorts link and then go to the TRANSPORTATION WIZARD link. It will help you get around the resort without a car. It will tell you the best way to get from one place to another whether it be by boat, monorail, walking, or bus.
I hope this gets you started. If you have any other questions PM me or email me at Serenity_1991@yahoo.com and I'll do the best I can to help you.

Take care and have fun planning!!

~~~Denise

Also visit www.mousesavers.com There are some AWESOME tips on that site. You can find all kinds of codes for hotel rooms that will save you tons of money. You can find the codes by clicking on Walt Disney World and then clicking on the Disney Resort link. HAVE FUN!!

 

[Lachesis00]

Wow THANKS!! Thats some GREAT help to get me started.... I wanted to go in August, just to get out of Alaska (Im in SE Alaska, landlocked, so we can not drive anywhere).

In my job it wouldn't be as easy to go around Christmas or even in January. I am trying to make it so my son misses the least amount of days so thats why I picked August (good for myself and him).

What would you say on average a weeks stay would be?? I think we're looking at close to $7,000 if we stay onsite. Im still looking for offsite places too...

Im hoping prices drop some (hey I can wish can't I?) LOL

 

[DisneyBrat]

Hey Rachel,

We are going first 2 weeks in Dec First let me tell you that the *Packages* cost ALOT more than booking things yourself. If you start reading the boards and seeing ways to save you WILL cut your trip cost ALOTTTTTTTTTT... I bought a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Disney by Bob Shlinger. GREAT BOOK! Look on the Boards for what is called CODES they will give you a special code for room discounts. Right now it's too early for Dec codes seems they are up to July at this point.. Go ahead and book your room where you want to stay and then call back and get the lower rate after you get a code There is also a cool website with an Airline cheapest fair locater WWW.SIDESTEP.COM Do some research for Tickets this can save you alot too. Is your husband active or retired military? If so there are SUPER RATES for the military. We are, and are staying at the Contemporary for $95 per night.... I have been surfing rates offsite for 4 nights while we go to seaworld/universal and found a Ramada for $45 inc a continental breakfast. GOOD LUCK in your search for bargains... Email me if you have any questions I have been bargain hunting for ALONG time now

Lew
LEWnMARKnVA@aol.com

 

[Sharby]

Some very good advice here already. You can save hundreds - if not thousands - by researching and planning and 'doing it yourself'.

You'll also find (like many of us on this board did) that all this planning becomes a hobby unto itself! Do I hear an Amen! for this statement out there?

 

[maggiew]

Take a look at http://www.mousesavers.com

That was how I got a lot of my information.

If you do not have a car, I would stay on site, or at least the downtown disney hotels ( http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com ). The other offsite hotels have shuttles that only work a few times per day.

I think the price you were quoted was WAYYYY too much. We went in Dec last year (value season) and paid approximately:

Hotel - Port Orleans Riverside (a moderate) = $79/night x 8 nights = $632 (pre tax)
Tickets = annual passes 2 adults & 2 kids = $1300
Meals = I don't have a good figure, we went to probably one character meal/sit down meal per day = $150/day (overestimate)

Maggie

 

[beansmom]

AMEN!!! Sistuh, ah hear ya preachin'!

Rachel, please do keep in mind that the heat in August is going to be UNnnn-bearable. Now, I live in Texas and when I go on vacation in the summer, I'm thinking 'get someplace cooler'.

BUT, as was said above, try booking the room separately. I think you will find it much cheaper. Also check out the DTD hotels...the Courtyard is nice and offers some of the same perks as on-site.

Check out the above sites and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save.

 

[Sarangel]

Another possibility that works for some, is to rent points from a DVC member to get deluxe accomodations at the equivelent of moderate rates (you can then save additional $$ by cooking your own meals & doing laundry in the room).

August is very hot & humid, so if you go then, be careful.

Sarangel

 

[Lachesis00]

Wow some excellent advice!!

I am bummed b/c my job is "time consistant" meaning I can never take Christmas off. I could go 2 weeks before, but then my son would miss 2 weeks of school.

I am thinking now August is not a good idea. What about October? November looks good. We have 2 holidays (veterans day and Thanksgiving). we're landlocked, so we can't just jump in the car and go for a drive, making the waiting to go on a trip horrible.... LOL

Yeah I was "staying" at the cheapest hotel listed on the disney site. I about had a cardiac because it was tripled what we paid 2 years ago in late March for Disneyland (through the same site).


You will see me hanging around a lot between now and whenever we go As I want the best possible deals. Oct/November just seems sooo far away (but at the same time I don't think I could handle the heat (Im a true alaskan, anything over 70 kills me).


So if you had a to pick a month would you shoot for mid-november Is the weather nice?

 

[DiznEeyore]

Rachel: I *knew* I recognized that username from the old FM boards! I was "Travsmom" there. Small world!

You asked about November. That's a lovely time to visit WDW -- the weather is mild, but you should still be able to swim (esp. being from a colder climate -- being from MI we had no trouble swimming in Dec. or Feb.). And you shouldn't hit bad crowds unless you visit right around Thanksgiving.

HTH a little!

 

[Lachesis00]

Wow hi!! It was probably you who directed me to this board over 2 years ago to plan for Disneyland and Im back again *lol*. Im going to PM you

"Lachesis" and "Rachel" together normally mean it's me *lol*

 

[beansmom]

Rachel: I *knew* I recognized that username from the old FM boards! I was "Travsmom" there. Small world

I was, am and always will be "Beansmom". I sure do miss FM's! Gotta go to fractured.

Anyway, Rachel. I would NOT recommend October because it is a more expensive 'season' with the Food & Wine festival going on. I would suggest Thanksgiving time--maybe the week after. The decorations are beautiful and it's a nice time weather wise...warmer days (70ish) and cool evenings. We loved it.

AND during that time, you can get a standard view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge for $179...much cheaper than the rates in August which is peak season.

 

[Lachesis00]

Wow it's like a fun family reunion!! (((waving to Bean's Mom))) How cool

I am looking at Nov 6th-16th (although we probably won't get there until the 7th) as Joey has 1/2 days off and one "holiday". And that will minimize his time off school.
For *me* it's no problem... I will have over 200 hours of leave saved up


Anything special in November? I wish I could go closer to Christmas but that just isn't going to happen

 

[mmeb144]

Maybe you should check the room only reservations on the disney site. The All-stars usually go for less that $100/night. My family is staying at the CBR (Caribbean Beach Resort) in June for only $94/night. I got a code through mousesavers.com.

 

[Lachesis00]

ahhh I had no codes and with the gold pass I was looking at close to $5000 for 8 days.

It looks like it's better (for us) not to do the package deals.

 

[tink2dw]

How to get started Planning a WDW Vacation!!

As you have the time now I would buy,or go to the Library and start reading WDW Guide books,to get Oriented and study the maps of the parks.

Right Now you can start deciding what are the things that are "must do's" and "must
see's." and decide the length of your trip.

Then decide on the tickets you will need here. http://www.mousesavers.com/tickets.html

To keep an EYE on All the discounts for on-site and off-site resorts check here often and sign up for the MouseSavers.com newsletter to get all the best news.
http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html

For Air fares sign up at all the Airline Web sites that fly out of your airport that fly to Orlando or MCO in airline speak. Then Check Expedia,Travelocity for airline deals. Also check out the Transporation Board air,car deals.
http://www.disboards.com/

Start a WDW change jar to save for your trip.[there are many tips here on this board!!]

Also you can decide where you will want to eat and start making plans to make your food budget and check the Priority Seatings Calculator to know when you can
make PS's some are as far out as 730 Days.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.../dispscalc.html

Also to help decide where to eat you can find menu's at Deb's wdw site,this works 2 ways to see where to eat what,and how much it costs, to finalize the food budget.
http://www.wdwig.com/menu/menus.htm

IMPORTANT TIP: To keep all this info in one place,here is a computer Disney Vacation Planner. It will print each day on a seperate sheet. Also check the pull down menu'sat the top for loads of info!!
http://www.intercot.com/planner/default.asp

Well,this should get you start on a thousand more Questions!! So,don't be shy! Ask away!! The kind members here will share what they know! So,check back often!!

tink2dw

 

[Lachesis00]

Oh you guys ROCK!!! this just tickles me pink!! thank you!

 

[tink2dw]

I wanted to Add that Alaska Ailines has recently announced a nonstop flight From Seattle to Orlando. So,that should help.

But if it doesn't then check Southwest Airlines from Seattle[airline code-SEA] to Orlando[MCO]

Sign up for Air-miles at the Alaska Airlines website and the email,then you will be one of the first to know about their airfare sales.

Good Luck with your planning!! WDW is so different than a trip to DL,you will learn a whole new Disney laungage here at the DIS!!

tink2dw

 

[Lachesis00]

Thanks Im already signed up as it's the only carrier out of Juneau. Alaska Air isn't flying yet but when it is Im checking out prices Do any of their sister carriers fly (where I can get Alaska air miles?)


To be honest, none of us enjoyed DL. After one day we honestly could say we were done Im hoping for a much better experience at DW.

 

[Sarangel]

To be honest, none of us enjoyed DL. After one day we honestly could say we were done

Before my DH discovered Pin Trading, that was the case for us too

Don't worry, you'll find WDW a whole different experience than DL. First there's the 4 parks (figure a day each to get a good feel for each), then there are the 2 water parks (though in Nov. you may have only one - figure another day), add in DisneyQuest (another day), Cirque du Soleil and the Adventurers Club on Pleasure Island (an evening each) and that'll pretty much kill off your 10-ish days. It's *very* different from Disneyland.

Sarangel