Scrap all of my other plans, it looks like August could be happening after all! Help?

[RoseBug]

I have just been doing our budgets and it looks like we can afford August after-all, but I still have some reservations.

I went in August a good few years ago, and it was unbearably hot - is this the norm? Hubby and I do not like the heat!

Will mid-week in August be as busy as mid-week Oct half term? How busy does it usually get in summer holidays?

Is £862 for 4 days/5 nights at the Cheyenne a good deal? Or £848 for Newport Bay Admirals floor for 3 nights/4 days (either way - we just need a bed for the first night as will get there late on the Monday). This is with 40% off. Not sure I want to risk it going up as any more expensive than this we simply cannot go!

I know the Dreams stuff is likely to go on after September, but I would be gutted to miss it if it didn't!

 

[RoseBug]

Also, does anyone still manage to book with a 10% deposit? I've heard some people recently say that's all they have had to pay. Would make it much nicer that way, as then if a deal does come up, and we can't upgrade - cancelling and re-booking may be a cheaper option!

 

[Ms Poppins]

Yes, you can still pay deposit by phoning the booking line - I was offered this last week when I called, and our holiday was with the new discount.

August is holidays for everywhere - so it is busy. We went last week of July last time and there were many things we didn't do - mostly because we've been many times before and knew we'd be back again. You've been before - and will no doubt go again, so you'll know yourself what to avoid queue wise. It will be a big difference to your recent trip, queue wise. But, it can be done with some planning and fast passes.

Weather wise, we had warm weather, but overcast with the threat of rain. It actually turned out to be perfect, as we had our shorts/t-shirts on, but did not have the blazing heat on us - we don't do heat very well either. Have a read through some of the trip reports for August to give you an idea of what to expect.

And don't take too long to decide where you want to stay - the highest discounts may not still be there if you leave it too long. Have you considered staying off-site for the first night? Our flight arrives late on our first day too. Originally we planned to stay off-site and then move the our Disney hotel the next day. However, the discount was more for a longer stay at HNY and we're now staying 3 nights, instead of the 2 with the off-site at the beginning. It works out cheaper that way. (although we are staying off-site on the last night, as we will be leaving Disney at 08:20 the next morning and I could not bear the thought of park tickets going to waste)

 

[Ware Bears]

I know the Dreams stuff is likely to go on after September, but I would be gutted to miss it if it didn't!

This is only my opinion but you can't tell me that Disney have spent all this money on a show that will only run until September? I think it will run for at least one more year, maybe only in the high summer season after this year but I can't believe that they would get imagineers in from California to design something that will only run for such a short time? Wishes ran for 3 years then Enchanted 3 years so I would be very surprised if Dreams doesn't do at least 2 years, if not more.

Of course, as I said only my opinion so don't hold me to it!

 

[Ms Poppins]

I think we might be getting mixed up with dates here.

The current brochure says the 20th Anniversary celebrations start from 1 April. It then says there will be late park opening from April to September. This is only because they need it to be dark for Dreams to work.

I can't see it anywhere that Dreams will only be on from April to September. It's just late park opening.

So, I too think Dreams will be on for the full Anniversary year

 

[DLPDreams]

Are you not getting shares now? As this may make the accom cheaper... at least for 2 nights? Also, you looked at APs, were they no good to bring accom rate down ?

I think over £800 for 3/4 nights is expensive for the Cheyenne imo but I suppose it is August. When we went end August all we got was one night free in the DLH so it wasn't cheap! (booked in June). BTW it was very hot the first 2 days but then turned cooler the last few days but that was then into early September.

If you get APs, you only need package with tickets for one adult (can do the room tax route for other adult and get DD's AP free).

Even with a family of 4, we have saved £170 on our accom in June and that is without savings while there....? . Then we have it for our next trip in November.

I guess if you think you will go back within the year after August it might be worth shares/AP route.... Wish we had done it earlier!

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

where do you buy shares from please and what are the advantages?? I just returned last week (doing the sun offer) I am going back to Disney in october and hope to do the sun offer again for next feb too .

 

[jothp]

We went for a couple of days last August. It was in the high twenties the whole time we were there but it wasn't unbearable and it was nice to be able to wander around without cardigans/jackets even after dark. The park was busy but we could get on the sort of rides you would want to do with DD with 20 minute queues or less even in the middle of the afternoon. As for the cost we have had to pay about £800 for four nights in the Sequoia lodge during June half term in the past (with 30% discount, 2 adults and 1 paying child) and that is low season so I think the prices you are being quoted are quite reasonable for August.

Disney Princess LW - look at this thread for info about shares.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2882963

 

[RoseBug]

Thank you for your replies. We have managed to find £420 today for DLP (when I say find, we sold our old car and had £100 left over from the sale, I had TOTALLY forgot that March and April were Council Tax and Water rates free, so had budgeted to pay for those, a friend has offered me £60 for my nursing chair (sad to see it go but it's so big and now DD has a princess bedroom instead of a nursery we have nowhere to put it!) and we had brought enough spends back from our last trip to pay for the flights! So things are looking comfortable!

Not sure what to do though! I need to do some serious research but don't have the time atm between marking, my mum being in hospital (thanks to all who asked on my trip report, it turned out it wasn't just pneumonia and things got pretty scary, involving emergency surgery! BUT she is on the mend now - huge phew!) and all the general day to day stuff.

But the options are:

3nights/4 days at Newport Bay; Admirals floor - £862 booked through Disney, staying offsite on the Monday.

3d/4n at Hotel New York - £890 booked through Expedia but needing to figure out best/cheapest way to add DD onto that. And hoping that a deal may come up before we go and us being able to cancel as Expedia says refundable? Does anyone know about this? Was also tempted to ring Disney and tell them I could book it cheaper through Expedia and could they better it (or even match it!)

Booking flights, and just saving and hoping we get a massively cheap deal (in my dreams for DLH!) in a sale in June/July time. Does anyone know if they ever sell out 2 months in advance?

We could stay at Cheyenne for 4 nights/5 days for £860 ish, but the first day we wouldn't get to the parks and I am thinking in August a pool would be good?!

We are still looking into the AP route or the Shareholders route... but not sure what the best way of figuring all of this out is?

My head hurts! Which isn't hard at the minute!

Thanks everyone!
xxx

 

[DLPDreams]

Bless you - it is hard work trying to work out the best route. Especially as every penny saved, is more to hopefully spend in the Park - which we all know isn't cheap.

I've done two trips and it's taken me all this time to get APs but I think what made me take the leap was having to now pay for DD1 which does get expensive!

I still think £800 plus for Cheyenne is expensive (Joth, SL is a better hotel, pool, location etc so I can see how you paid around that).

The HNY deal looks OK, you have stayed there before so know the hotel.

My DDs found it hard going in the heat end August but like I said we did get relief after first 2 days as it became overcast. Joth, you must have gone at a different time to us as we found the queues silly . But then to be fair, we were comparing it to the year before when we went September and almost walked on everything we wanted to do .

Re the weather though, you just can't tell. You can always take lot of breaks if it is hot and if you stay at a hotel nearby this will be easier (can use pool etc too).

I really can't see a deal of 40/50% for the DLH in August. They seem to keep 50% off for quieter times of which August doesn't feature but you just don't know - never say never where DLH is concerned .

PS - Really hope your Mum is looking up after her surgery .

PPS - Give this all to DH to sort out

 

[RoseBug]

Just re-looked at the HNY Expedia route - it's a no-go! Full amount payable upfront and doesn't include everything!

So there is now these options:

£912 for 3 nights/4 days Hotel New York
£848 for 3 nights/4 days Newport Bay - Admirals Floor
£769 for 3 nights/4 days Newport Bay - standard room

Or AP's which would cost £300 for the 3 of us (I think) so would then need to get a AP room rate of £500 or less for Admirals floor or better, or £400 or less for anywhere else! Not do-able I would guess?

 

[RoseBug]

I have ruled out Cheyenne, as it doesn't have a pool, and I am thinking if it does get massively hot Rose would love a pool, she is a real waterbaby (can swim better than me already - but that isn't hard! I just sink! ) so would be a real treat for her!

Because she is quite little anyway, we'd be taking lots of breaks, and would be hoping to book Auberge again, Cafe Mickey and will definitely do the shows this time! So hopefully we get a cool few days!

I wish I could give it all to hubby - we'd end up in Butlins!

Mam is doing much better - had been offered a weekend break at home, but her temp spiked again so she had to stay in. She is HOPING for a Wednesday discharge! Bless her!

Bless you - it is hard work trying to work out the best route. Especially as every penny saved, is more to hopefully spend in the Park - which we all know isn't cheap.

I've done two trips and it's taken me all this time to get APs but I think what made me take the leap was having to now pay for DD1 which does get expensive!

I still think £800 plus for Cheyenne is expensive (Joth, SL is a better hotel, pool, location etc so I can see how you paid around that).

The HNY deal looks OK, you have stayed there before so know the hotel.

My DDs found it hard going in the heat end August but like I said we did get relief after first 2 days as it became overcast. Joth, you must have gone at a different time to us as we found the queues silly . But then to be fair, we were comparing it to the year before when we went September and almost walked on everything we wanted to do .

Re the weather though, you just can't tell. You can always take lot of breaks if it is hot and if you stay at a hotel nearby this will be easier (can use pool etc too).

I really can't see a deal of 40/50% for the DLH in August. They seem to keep 50% off for quieter times of which August doesn't feature but you just don't know - never say never where DLH is concerned .

PS - Really hope your Mum is looking up after her surgery .

PPS - Give this all to DH to sort out

 

[jothp]

Remember that if the offer is still on through cemultiavantages then the cost is E300 for the 3 of you plus E20 joining fee which with the current exchange rate is only about £272. We were quoted £575 for a room for three nights in HNY but again we are going low season so August would probably be more expensive. You could phone and ask though so you have all the info. We only ended up buying APs because last August it was much cheaper to stay 2 nights offsite and buy the passes than any deal we could get onsite.