So much to organize.

[warriorboy648]

I haven't been to Disney in 7 years and now my head is spinning trying to plan an August vacation for 7. Maybe ignorance is bliss. I have to make a room reservation, but the flights aren't even out yet. So I have a room booked for the day before and after my original dates in case I need to be flexible. Now I have to figure out regular passes, park hoppers or AP's

Do I do the DDP or and AP with DDE or OOP??? (Of course I had to learn all the abbreviations also.)

There are so many choices and I am not sure whether I have even chosen the best place to stay...

I just never realized how much to do. I am obsessed and loving every minut of the planning and of course my family thinks I am nuts. After all I have 7 months.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I would put myself in overdrive, because it took me 15 months for me to plan a trip for three adults, and I made several changes to my reservation before I was happy with it. We went at a slower time of year also.

Have fun and don't work to hard

PrincessSuzanne

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I haven't been to Disney in 7 years and now my head is spinning trying to plan an August vacation for 7. Maybe ignorance is bliss. I have to make a room reservation, but the flights aren't even out yet. So I have a room booked for the day before and after my original dates in case I need to be flexible. Now I have to figure out regular passes, park hoppers or AP's

Do I do the DDP or and AP with DDE or OOP??? (Of course I had to learn all the abbreviations also.)

There are so many choices and I am not sure whether I have even chosen the best place to stay...

I just never realized how much to do. I am obsessed and loving every minut of the planning and of course my family thinks I am nuts. After all I have 7 months.

There is a lot of planning involved. But, if you spend some time on these boards, that will help you prioritize quite a bit and get ideas for what to do, where to go and when.

I know that my DH and I have found the the Passporter organizer book the most useful when organizing any of our WDW trips. We've gotten ours at Barnes and Noble Bookstore. I know they have a website: www.passporter.com too.

To help guide you better, maybe you can provide us with some details. Who will be going, what time of year, are there certain parts of Disney that some of you just don't want to miss, what types of food you're into, what types of accomodations you prefer, etc. These would help in narrowing down your options.

As for food, I would never go without a dining plan and making reservations for just about everything (counter services excluded, of course). It saves on a lot of headaches. Also, you can always change reservations, but at least you have places to eat and set times before even arriving.

It will all work out. Try not to stress. Have fun with the planning!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I know what you mean. We booked our flight and hotel 2 weeks ago. Last week I spent 2 hours on the phone (LD) making all my reservations. Now I'm reading this site and others to make sure I don't miss out on anything while we are there. It is soooo much work but I'm sure it will be sooo much fun.

 

[byoung]

AP is great if going over 10 days, or doing more trips. Saves us a lot.
The DDP is great, also saves you a lot.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Even though we (DH and me) aren't going until December, so technically can't make ADR, we have redone our list of where we want to eat and when more times than I can count. I think we finally have the best schedule of places and times down, but there are a lot of months left before the summer is here and I can officially call them in. I'm sure we'll change them again!

 

[medicgirl911]

I think planning is half the fun, and don't worry my family thinks I am crazy too!!!!! But when you get to the parks and you have so much fun, they usually appreciate it!

 

[warriorboy648]

To help guide you better, maybe you can provide us with some details. Who will be going, what time of year, are there certain parts of Disney that some of you just don't want to miss, what types of food you're into, what types of accomodations you prefer, etc. These would help in narrowing down your options.

As for food, I would never go without a dining plan and making reservations for just about everything (counter services excluded, of course). It saves on a lot of headaches. Also, you can always change reservations, but at least you have places to eat and set times before even arriving.

It will all work out. Try not to stress. Have fun with the planning!

There are 7 of us going in August, myself, DH, 3 teen sons and an 8 and 7 year old. Our dates are flexible, but I have to be at work on the 27th. We will go t all the parks, but mostly MK and Epcot. The plan is to swim or go to water park during most of the day an.d do parks early am and in the evening

I have a plan A and plan B and everyday I change my mind.

Plan A is staying Aug.12 -23rd at the Dolphin for $149/night/room (need 2 rooms). I was going to buy an AP and get the DDE. We would do TS 5 or 6 times and do CS the rest. Haven't been in 7 years and last time the kids were little and we didn't do any sit down meals.

Plan B is staying same dates at the CSR for 11 nights at a cost of $3100.00.
I would then purchase the DDP fro $2400.00 and pig out. The hope is that there will be free dining and would save the $$$. Of course I was told that I probably can't get free dining at CSR.

So, what do you think. They will probaby be close to the same cost in the end????

 

[warriorboy648]

Even though we (DH and me) aren't going until December, so technically can't make ADR, we have redone our list of where we want to eat and when more times than I can count. I think we finally have the best schedule of places and times down, but there are a lot of months left before the summer is here and I can officially call them in. I'm sure we'll change them again!

Can you hare where you think you will be dining. That is the next big job for me to do. I think I can make reservations in Feb..

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Can you hare where you think you will be dining. That is the next big job for me to do. I think I can make reservations in Feb..

I am not sure what you are asking, but will be glad to respond when you clarify.

For ideas of places we've selected to go, in case that helps, feel free to check out my pre-trip report posting.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

There are 7 of us going in August, myself, DH, 3 teen sons and an 8 and 7 year old. Our dates are flexible, but I have to be at work on the 27th. We will go t all the parks, but mostly MK and Epcot. The plan is to swim or go to water park during most of the day an.d do parks early am and in the evening

I have a plan A and plan B and everyday I change my mind.

Plan A is staying Aug.12 -23rd at the Dolphin for $149/night/room (need 2 rooms). I was going to buy an AP and get the DDE. We would do TS 5 or 6 times and do CS the rest. Haven't been in 7 years and last time the kids were little and we didn't do any sit down meals.

Plan B is staying same dates at the CSR for 11 nights at a cost of $3100.00.
I would then purchase the DDP fro $2400.00 and pig out. The hope is that there will be free dining and would save the $$$. Of course I was told that I probably can't get free dining at CSR.

So, what do you think. They will probaby be close to the same cost in the end????

I think you're plan to do the resort pool or waterpark during the mid-day each day is perfect. On our trips during July, that's what we've done and it really has helped us to enjoy everything we want to, while working around the heat factor. We would see the parks during hopefully the cooler times of day, and be in water when the sun was at its strongest. Good choice!

As for the resorts, is money the only reason you would choose one over the other? What are you looking for in a resort? I haven't stayed at either of the ones you're considering, but heard great things about both. As for the dining plan, the first time, we did the package that allowed for breakfast, lunch and dinner (different package names back then). The last time, we opted for the basic dining package, because we found that three full meals a day were way too much, especially if you want to enjoy little treats throughout the day. We've found that one table, one counter and a snack has been more than sufficient. A lot of times, our snacks were used for little things like bagels, muffins or pastries which we sometimes used as our breakfasts. Also, we found it cheaper to pay out of pocket for some of our meals that were on the lower cost end with that plan, then if we had a plan that gave us three meals a day.

I think it depends on how much you think you and your crew will want to eat.

I hope this all helps. If you can afford it, go all out on everything you can and enjoy! It is WDW after all.

 

[warriorboy648]

I am not sure what you are asking, but will be glad to respond when you clarify.

For ideas of places we've selected to go, in case that helps, feel free to check out my pre-trip report posting.

I was using my son's sticky keyboard!!!
I was hoping you could tell me where you had decided to make your reservations. Where is your pretrip posting? Thanks

( I just found it!!!)

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I was using my son's sticky keyboard!!!
I was hoping you could tell me where you had decided to make your reservations. Where is your pretrip posting? Thanks

( I just found it!!!)

I'm assuming when you mentioned, "I just found it!!!" that you are referring to my pre-trip report info. If you weren't and are still trying to figure out how to see it, just click on the links found at the bottom of my signatuare.

 

[warriorboy648]

AP is great if going over 10 days, or doing more trips. Saves us a lot.
The DDP is great, also saves you a lot.

Hi, we are now planning on going for 14 days. I was debating buying the 10 day park hopper plus or getting an AP pass. With the AP, I assume you can still hop from park to park. Do I have to pay out of pocket for the water parks?
The premium passes seem very expensive. Does anyone have a recommendation on what I should do or what they have done for a longer stay?

Thanks

 

[byoung]

Hi, we are now planninh on going for 14 days. I was debating buying the 10 day park hopper plus or getting an AP pass. With the AP, I assue you can still hop from park to park. Do I have to pay out of pocket for the water parks?
The premium passes seem very expensive. Does anyone have a recommendation on what I should do or what they have done for a longer stay?

Thanks

Yes you can park hop with the AP. Yes you have to pay for the water parks unless you purchase the premium pass.
I'm a DVC member The AP discount is a great perk for us.
If you are thinking of returning within a year the AP will save you more.
Whatever you decide have a great vacation.