Second Trip Needs Expert Advice!

[cooderbrown]

We made our first trip to Disney in OCT. 2001 for our sons 5th birthday...We stayed "no-holds-barred" at Wilderness Lodge - Courtyard View (obviously, post 9/11 rooms were affordable), and lived it up. We planned everything through the Disney website which I found to be fantastic - one click or phone call and I lined up the entire itinerary as I thought of it...it was truly a vacation of a lifetime for any "kid at heart".

Fast forward to April 2004 we are(want) to return for out daughters 5th birthday - while I'd like to repeat the memories of the 2001 trip - surprisingly (snicker) rates have gone up (I think about $300-$400 for the same length of stay)...

Here's where I need the expert advice:
1 - Can I get a less expensive room than posted at a deluxe resort?
2 - Is there a primer anywhere on how to do this?
3 - Does anyone have any advice they'ed like to offer?

I'm currently overwhelmed with the amount of information there is out there...any help in narrowing that would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks! CB

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

The first thing I would do is check with Dreams Unlimited, right here on this site.
Also, check www.mousesavers.com for codes
www.wdwig.com for other information.

 

[mad4themouse]

In general, you will find that the official Disney website is a good place to get your planning started but their prices will not be competitive.

Pricing your vacation components separately will usually be less expensive than purchasing a package. One exception would be the recent Fairy Tale Package (FTP). However, packages often include things that you may not even use during your visit.

Hotel, passes and transportation will be among your biggest expenses. A few hints to reduce costs by purchasing the components yourself:

1. Book your room when you know your dates. This will give you an idea of what your maximum costs will be for accomodations. If you use a travel agency like Dreams Unlimited, they will check often for better rates and discount codes for you. If you do it on your own, you can modify your reservations yourself.
2. Buy Park Hopper Passes in advance thru an online ticket broker. The UPH (also known as a length of stay pass) is only good during your stay and even if you decide not to visit the parks, you will be paying for it. Leftover days on Park Hopper passes never expire.
3. Keep an eye on airfares to MCO from your city. When you see a good rate for the flights you want, book them. Good prices can disappear within hours. Many airlines will offer vouchers for the difference in price if the costs go down for your flights after you have booked them. An added advantage to booking your own flights is that you get to pick your flight times. Whenever I booked through a package, I always got the less-desireable times and indirect flights. For a RCL cruise, my DH and I were placed on a 20-seater propeller plane from Philly to BWI in order to catch a jet to Orlando! That was the last time that I purchased airfare thru a package deal!
4. If you're staying in Disney and only visiting WDW, do not rent a car. Transportation via towncar from airport to resort is less expensive and very convenient. Most towncar services will even allow you a 1/2 hour grocery stop on your way to your hotel. If there are 4 or more in your party, it can actually be less expensive than taking a Mears bus.
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   Good Luck! I compared the pricing for my next vacation on Disney's site (using the Dream Maker Package) vs. booking the same hotel and buying PHPs instead. I'm saving over $600 for our family of 4 for a 7-night vacation by doing it separately. And if any room-only codes come out for my stay, the difference could be even greater.

 

[Minky]

Hi!

First off, keep your eyes out for Passholder Discounts at that time. I believe they always issue them for that time of year and the savings can be up to 50% off rack rates, and only one person in your party needs to have it to get the discount. Sometimes its worth getting just for that, AND you dont have to have it when you book, just when you check in...just tell them that youre one
PASsholder discounts are generally the best out there. You can also ask about an INVITATIONAL UPGRADE...they are not allwed to tell you about this, you have to ASK, but if there is one for that time you can get bumped from value to moderate, moderate to deluxe, for the price of your original resort.
Hope this helps

 

[Lisa P.]

Bear in mind that, for Disney's deluxe hotels, April falls during a higher price season than October.

During Easter spring breaks, Disney is not likely to offer any discounts. Easter Sunday is April 11, 2004. So April 2-18, 2004 will be very crowded at the parks. Disney will probably charge high rack rates during that time. Hopefully, your DD's birthday falls later in April!

 

[cooderbrown]

I didn't even think about Easter coinciding with her birthday(4/20) - or the fact that it will be a busy time.

I really hate to reschedule since we didn't for my son's birthday in the post wake of 9/11.

I will probably sign up for a moderate/then ask for the invitational upgrade. I don't know.

Thanks for the great tips, and keep them coming!

: )

 

[hygienejean]

Have you thought about renting points from a DVC member. You can find out about it right here on the DIS under DVC,and then to the rent/trade board. There are guidlines posted there so you are given the ins and outs of it. We did it this past May and had a wonderful experience and save tons of money! If you stay Sun thru Thurs you can really save.

We went to the Boardwalk Villas, stayed in a 2 bedroom that Disney charges $705 per night and got it for a little over $300 per night. that split between my parents and my family was a little over $150 per night with NO TAXES! AND we had valet parking.

We are going again in 2004 and will most definitely do it again. It is a great way to stay somewhere with caviar taste on a beer budget.

If you have any questions about my experience I would be more than happy to help you

Jean

 

[cooderbrown]

That really rocks, thanks. I'll check it out.

One question regarding that though - How do packages fit in to such a scenario?

Or - Are they not possible with such room trickery?

I don't understand the relationship between rooms/packages/tix...

Example...

In a Perfect World (I know, I know):
We'd stay at Wild. Lodge/Prince and Princess Package (fairly new)/incl. Park Hopper Tix for the length of stay.

NOW - how would that scenario play out with a DVC rental instead?
Could it all be duplicated?

Lastly -
The help in this thread has been amazing - thank you all. All I'm trying to do is come close to duplicating the experience my boy had when we went for his 5th...No small task...there are things that probably we won't be able too [The first day when we got to the MK our first stop was Crystal Palace for lunch - where he was made Chef-Of-The-Day - jeez it only got better as the trip went on]...but to try is the key! Just wish we were made of more MONEY!

Thanks again. CB

 

[hygienejean]

Hi CB,
When you rent DVC you need to purchase everything separately.....which actually will probably be cheaper than a package. You can get tickets thru Disney or a ticket broker.(I think someone posted the name of one above...?) If you have a one or two bedroom you will have a nice sized kitchen and livingroom. We had a lot of breakfasts here and some quick luches & dinners. This saved us a lot of time and money. Some people who stay at DVC properties never cook a thing either....it is really up to you. We liked it too to reheat those huge portions that we got to take home from the restaraunts!

You are in luck b/c the Wilderness lodge has the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge which is a DVC property. I think they are right next to the main hotel..thhey have their own pool but the main pool is just a short walk away.

I have found packages not to be very good deals for me in the past so I stay away from them. (However the Fairytale package that was available in the spring was a good deal!) You may like the conveinence part of a package....It REALLY is not a pain getting things separately..REALLY! and look where you can stay and look at the fabulous price!

April is high point time for DVC too...it may be a little more expensivethan what I told you for that time...but Disney prices will be MUCH higher too...I can pretty much guarantee that!

Oh and we ate at the CRYSTAL Palace too and it was GREAT. I hear Chef Mickey's is really good too!

Jean

 

[cooderbrown]

Crystal Palace - we tried a different Character meal every day...Chef Mickeys was where we went for Dinner on his birthday---also did one at MGM (can't remember the name), Donalds Breakfastosaurus, and Cinderellas Castle.

But the Crystal Palace on our first day was definately the stage setter. It was really nice.

We also did a birthday cruise which we will absolutely do again - the kids went bonkers.

Mom and Dad really liked Tarzan Rocks and were surprised it wasn't recommended more...one neat hint (if you have kids) is to sit about a third of the way up in the first row after the aisle. Durinng the performance the skaters skate through the aisle - one female stopped and gave our daughter a hug - I took a picture that had it been in focus would have been EXCELLENT.

We also ran into the wife of the man that runs the Monorail - so our son got to pilot that.

Wilderness Lodge was wonderful because our kids ages sort of dictated that most of our time was spent at magic kingdom - so it was always a boat ride away.

Again - this was post 9/11 and disney had discounts for business. I'd trade the whole trip for not living in fear for my kids futures - but that's the way life is now.

My question, again, because I still can't figure it out - could I do this all "ala carte" then call disney and say I'd like a Prince and Princess Package (seating at different places, surprises, etc)? Or does anyone know if packages are attached to reservations?

Thanks again - a whole heckuva lot. CB

 

[cooderbrown]

Crystal Palace - we tried a different Character meal every day...Chef Mickeys was where we went for Dinner on his birthday---also did one at MGM (can't remember the name), Donalds Breakfastosaurus, and Cinderellas Castle.

But the Crystal Palace on our first day was definately the stage setter. It was really nice.

We also did a birthday cruise which we will absolutely do again - the kids went bonkers.

Mom and Dad really liked Tarzan Rocks and were surprised it wasn't recommended more...one neat hint (if you have kids) is to sit about a third of the way up in the first row after the aisle. Durinng the performance the skaters skate through the aisle - one female stopped and gave our daughter a hug - I took a picture that had it been in focus would have been EXCELLENT.

We also ran into the wife of the man that runs the Monorail - so our son got to pilot that.

Wilderness Lodge was wonderful because our kids ages sort of dictated that most of our time was spent at magic kingdom - so it was always a boat ride away.

Again - this was post 9/11 and disney had discounts for business. I'd trade the whole trip for not living in fear for my kids futures - but that's the way life is now.

My question, again, because I still can't figure it out - could I do this all "ala carte" then call disney and say I'd like a Prince and Princess Package (seating at different places, surprises, etc)? Or does anyone know if packages are attached to reservations? Or did you answer it by saying that everything HAS to be bought sep. meaning a "package" after the fact isn't possible?

Heck - maybe the package isnt that big a deaal anyway...

Thanks again - a whole heckuva lot. CB

 

[hygienejean]

I believe everything has to be reserved separately. I don't think you can add the price/princess thing. If it is just dining that you are concerned about, you can make your own ressies by just calling 407-w-disney. they have to be made so far in advance though. Have you checked Deb Will's site(ALL EARS)? It is EXCELLENT! You can see menus here and you can find out how far ahead to book. I can't remember if it is 60 days or 90 days...........Also Deb's site can show you photos of all the resorts plus inside the rooms. It really helped me plan my last trip and I will certainly use it again for next year. I also like Tour Guide Mike. You have to pay a small fee to use the vacation planner but I think it's worth it. He gives lots of inside tips plus he will e-mail you when it is time to make ressies...........

Jean