quick trip help and advice

[Boski]

Hello Everyone,
Long time lurker, first time poster and I must say I have learned a ton from everyone. The amount of information on this site is, well, staggering. I'm looking for some help on planning a trip and had a few questions. Perhaps a bit of background fist. This will be our 3rd Disney family trip (I'm not counting when I went as a kid and was totally oblivious to how much it actually cost...ah those were the times). In 2010 we stayed 5 days at YC (early June) and loved every minute of it. In 2011 we stayed at PC (late April), 10 days, and loved every minute of it as well. The problem I face is we are trying to book a rather "last minute" trip. I've got the 2nd week of August off and when we started looking 1 and a half weeks ago pricing was more in lines of our budget for a deluxe resort (was eying BWI). Now today when we are ready to pull the trigger the prices for everything seem to have increased. Going on the trip will be myself, DW, DS x2 (ages 7 and 6). Our goal was to do a 7 day stay. Now it looks like we are stuck with a choice of either a reduced stay at a deluxe resort (really prefer a Epcot resort as we loved being able to walk to the park) or the full 7 day at a value (or moderate). We are lucky enough to have in our area non-stop flight to MCO via southwest. Our last time around we booked through Southwest Vacation packages. My questions are:

1) Is booking through Southwest for the entire trip the best idea? Or should I book the flight through them and tickets/resort through Disney?
2) If we book entirely through Southwest does that sort of rule us out of any pins, discounts, or perks Disney may throw our way before the trip?
3) Any chance of prices coming back down (please don't laugh). I understand there is probably no chance of flight prices going down but what about resort pricing?
4) Is it worth a phone call or two to Disney to talk to someone about well I don't know, any discounts, pins, etc.
5) Should we consider a moderate resort? In our head its either go all out or go economical, are we missing something?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Hello Everyone,
Long time lurker, first time poster and I must say I have learned a ton from everyone. The amount of information on this site is, well, staggering. I'm looking for some help on planning a trip and had a few questions. Perhaps a bit of background fist. This will be our 3rd Disney family trip (I'm not counting when I went as a kid and was totally oblivious to how much it actually cost...ah those were the times). In 2010 we stayed 5 days at YC (early June) and loved every minute of it. In 2011 we stayed at PC (late April), 10 days, and loved every minute of it as well. The problem I face is we are trying to book a rather "last minute" trip. I've got the 2nd week of August off and when we started looking 1 and a half weeks ago pricing was more in lines of our budget for a deluxe resort (was eying BWI). Now today when we are ready to pull the trigger the prices for everything seem to have increased. Going on the trip will be myself, DW, DS x2 (ages 7 and 6). Our goal was to do a 7 day stay. Now it looks like we are stuck with a choice of either a reduced stay at a deluxe resort (really prefer a Epcot resort as we loved being able to walk to the park) or the full 7 day at a value (or moderate). We are lucky enough to have in our area non-stop flight to MCO via southwest. Our last time around we booked through Southwest Vacation packages. My questions are:

1) Is booking through Southwest for the entire trip the best idea? Or should I book the flight through them and tickets/resort through Disney?
2) If we book entirely through Southwest does that sort of rule us out of any pins, discounts, or perks Disney may throw our way before the trip?
3) Any chance of prices coming back down (please don't laugh). I understand there is probably no chance of flight prices going down but what about resort pricing?
4) Is it worth a phone call or two to Disney to talk to someone about well I don't know, any discounts, pins, etc.
5) Should we consider a moderate resort? In our head its either go all out or go economical, are we missing something?

Thanks in advance!

Are you sure you were searching the same deal when the price changed? Just wondering because I have gone in before, seen a price, searched again and it changed dramatically because I hadn't searched through the Special Offer.

Did you search this offer below? (room only)

Stay in the middle of the magic and save up to 30% at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights August 15, 2012 through September 29, 2012. Book now for best availability!

Save up to 25% on stays at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights June 15, 2012 through August 14, 2012!

 

[sndral]

Agree w/ pp, you must click through the special offers blurb on the website, otherwise you will be quoted rack rate on the WDW website, note that they default you to rack rate even when you go through the special offers square if you chose a date outside of the range for the offer.
Be aware, since the offer has been around a bit (I assume) that your first choice of deluxe may not be available w/ the discount - so, as you want near Epcot/DHS, your choices are BWI, BC and YC - check prices on all 3, all lovely choices, I prefer YC/BC because of storm along bay (SAB) the awesome swimming complex those resorts share.
Another possibility is the Swan/Dolphin - no DME and no dinning plan, but you do get disney transportation to and from the parks and of course you can walk to Epcot/DHS and you get extra magic hours when you stay there as well - sometimes their prices are lower.
I personally book airfare on my own and my package through the website, although at times I've had to call - I always run the numbers before I call, there are so many options, I need to be clear as to what I want and how much I expect to pay before I call. You can always ask when you call if there are any pin codes attached to you or your spouse's names.
Regarding moderates, I've not stayed @ a value so can't really compare that option to a moderate, but I have stayed @ both CBR and POFQ - I like both resorts, CBR a bit more for the larger rooms, theme/grounds and main pool, POFQ for the boat to downtown Disney -

 

[notaclue]

You can always call WDW direct and ask if there is a pin attached to your name. I've read lots of posts that say they called and got lucky. You might also check Saratoga Springs and Old Key West to see if they might be cheaper than the other deluxes. Good luck.

 

[Boski]

Thanks for the help. I called to see if there was a pin attached to my name and nothing came up. I'm probably going to try and call back as the CM, who was extremely nice, said there was no specials and was trying to get me to book, and I never got the chance to explain to her that my wife's last name differs from mine and if she could check her name.

I was looking on the specials and I do not see the 25% off anywhere (accept AP holders). I do see the 30% but it's out of our date range (we are looking departing Aug 4,5, or 6 and return on Aug 10,11, or 12).

 

[Alabama Minnie]

It wouldn't hurt to do the numbers on staying at the Dolphin/Swan. It would be my choice if I didn't want to put the money into the Disney Epcot resorts and has the same benefits (except ME and the DDP). I would also not hesitate to stay there BEFORE booking a moderate.
SW had some great non-stop flight deals last week from were we live. Hope you got one of them!

 

[sndral]

Meanwhile do the tried and true ways to try to snag a pin code - sign up on the disney site and save a couple of vacations. Order the park maps/video. Then watch your email including your spam to see if disney emails you a pin code - read every email they send carefully.
You can always book what you are comfortable w/ now and then if you get a discount change/upgrade.

 

[Boski]

The way I've priced it out for the dates and resort we want, Southwest Vacations package (Air+tix+resort) comes in at $95 cheaper than if I do Southwest Air only + Disney (tix+resort). Now $95 when talking about a Disney vaca isn't a big amount but then again its not like a $5 difference. And if I do the SW Vacation its kinda a one stop shop so slightly easier to manage. Now the question is, which I think I know the answer to, is if I book the entire thing through SW will that rule me out of any Disney "perks" that may or may not be thrown my way down the line? Ex: pin, free dining, upgraded room, etc?

 

[jenlov]

You might consider getting a travel agent. I haven't done so (as I already have a PIN, did exactly what PP suggested about saving vacation offers in my account), but have read on here and other disney boards that Disney pays them a commission (you don't pay extra to use them), they know of "deals" sooner than the general public, and will work with you to try to get you the best price. It's something to think about. If you want to get free dining, you HAVE to book a package of hotel, dining, and tickets together at a WDW resort. I can tell you this, though....the next free dining event starts 9/30/12, so it would not include August at all. I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure any discount offers for early August are probably already expired for booking. My guess is that whatever offer you were pricing before probably expired by the time you looked again. Also, ticket prices just went up as well, so that could make a difference as well. For example, it went up so much that I saved about $400 by booking my trip a couple of days before they went up.
If you are wanting to use WDW transportation, you'll need to stay at their resorts or hotels. If you want to rent a car and are interested in getting a condo, my friend just went last week and stayed at Windsor Hills, which is about a mile from the gate. It was very reasonable (around $159/night for 3 bedroom). Staying on site is definitely easier, IMO.

 

[Tigger's ally]

You might also try and reserve a Studio through this web site.

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

For six nights at the boardwalk villas in the Epcot area, standard studio comes to $1131.00. That would give you the feel of a Deluxe for under $200 per night.

 

[mrsswat]

I would definitely look into renting a DVC studio as mentioned above. Your girls could sleep on the pull out sofa bed, then have room to play when the bed is in sofa mode. Those rooms also come withcoffee maker, fridge, AND microwave. Nice perks with kids. Just my two cents.