tips for honeymoon.....

[kariktn]

We are planning our honeymoon for next August, and are totally lost on where to start. We would like to stay at a deluxe hotel, probably WL, because it's not as expensive, also we are planning on staying for 10 days. My question is, do we add on an extra plan to the dreammaker? (silver, gold, or platinum?) Do we book honeymoon suite, or normal king room, what tours, restaurants, etc.
We are an outgoing couple and like to do and see everything. We don't have to have a sit down meal three times a day, and we would love to cut corners any way we can. Any info tips etc. about resorts, food, prices, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch

 

[safetymom]

What type of a budget do you have? Is there certain must do things for you and your future husband? If you provide more information I am sure you will get lots of help planning.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I personally wouldn't even book the dreammaker. I don't know if it's available for that far out yet.

If it were, and you still want the package, I wouldn't bother with the add ons. It's a lot of money, and you can usually make out better on your own. BUT, if you're still interested in packages, they have honeymoon packages. I believe you'd book the dream maker package, and then request the romance add on.

As for tours, restaurant booking, etc.....there's only a few things you can book now. The Spirit of Aloha dinner show, and The Hoop Dee Doo Revue dinner show are the only things restaurants you can book now. All other restaurants and tours can only be booked 90 days from the date you want to book them.

Your first step to save money is to visit http://www.mousesavers.com

I'm planning my honeymoon and would LOVE to help you out further. Check your private messages. I sent you one!

 

[joats]

We spent our honeymoon at WL last year and it was amazing. However, we spent a lot more than I would have had I been a DIS member prior to the honeymoon. I think that I could now do it a lot cheaper and have the exact same experience.

We did get the (gold?) food plan and we felt we lost a lot of money and were constantly trying to eat our monies worth to the point of feeling sick. This trip, we won't be doing any food plan.

However, we did take advantage of the boats and mini-golf, spa treatments, tours, etc. that we probably wouldn't have done as often w/out the plan.

If you are staying longer than a week. It might be logical to look into an Annual Pass. I believe it would be cheaper for you. (didn't know about AP's last oct).

At the WL we stayed in the Honeymoon Suite which is on the concierge floor. If you plan on staying in a room on this floor, keep in mind you can eat for "free". They offer breakfast muffins, bagels, etc. and food and drink throughout the day. We didn't get much use out of the concierge food as we had so many meals to use on our plan.

While we opted not to get the "Honeymoon Package" as we felt we would be paying an extra 1,000+ for prearrival planning (which we did ourselves) and a few extra pins and dodads. But I must say this...Disney made us feel as if we purchased that package. We did get perks (ex: champagne delivered to the room) and congratulations by almost every cast/staff member. They really pulled out all the stops!

What helped us the most was getting travel books on WDW and picking what places and things that were "must see" for us. Some were things we never had heard about prior.

Most of all, you can get amazing tips and advice on things to see and do at Disney on these boards.

Sorry this post is so long! Congratulations! and best of luck with your planning. Any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Joats

 

[kariktn]

Our budget is around $6000hopefully. We could give and take if we need to. Thanks for all the replies, keep them coming.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by kariktn
We are planning our honeymoon for next August, and are totally lost on where to start. We would like to stay at a deluxe hotel, probably WL, because it's not as expensive, also we are planning on staying for 10 days.

First off, get an annual pass if you think you will be going to the park everyday. If you want a deluxe hotel for less money, look into Swan/Dolphin. They have some great king rooms and suites. They are owned by Westin and Sheraton hotels. That's why they are cheaper than the other Disney deluxes, but they are definitely awesome and the Epcot location is the best. They offer some great discounts. You would be by MGM and the Boardwalk as well as Epcot. Other nice Epcot resorts are Beach/Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn. I'd skip the package unless there's a really good deal.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

First thing first....stay away from packages. I did one 2 years ago and I lost money because I didn't research it enough. I ate buffets while on the package and each "wish" ran about $32 back then so I lost quite a bit of money. We did do spa treatments and the Hoop Dee Doo, so we got our monies worth there.

As someone else said visit www.mousesavers.com

That is the best place to start with codes and savings. If I would have known about that site 2 years ago, I could have knocked well over $1000 off our last trip. Try sharing meals when at Disney. Each of you do a good breakfast and good lunch, and then for dinner share a meal. People do it all the time in Disney and they really don't mind. As I look back, DH(Dear Husband or Disney Husband) and I could have saved about $20 a meal had we shared a few dinners. That's like an extra $80 we could have had for other things.

It's your honeymoon and you deserve the best, but you don't have to go broke doing so. I love the Allstars and I would only trade them for one other hotel and that's the Shades of Green. DH is not military any longer, so we can't stay there anymore. So many places you can go to do some research. Right here on the DIS is one of the best places!

Also visit:
www.ourlaughingplace.com
www.wdwig.com
www.disneyworld.com
along with
www.mousesavers.com

Those are some great sites, especially mousesavers.

Best to you,
Denise

 

[jeank74]

this is just my experience from my honeymoon in Oct 2002.

we did get the Silvery plan of Dream Maker, which was called the Discovery Magic Package. It was 4 nights 5 days for us. $1700 inclusive. We stayed at the Polyenesian, due to the closure of Caribbean Beach and we received an option of $10 extra per night for the upgrade.... lucky us.

just like what Triggerlover91 mentioned, you need to do a research in order to get your money well spent. So we did lots of sit-down meals for dinner, and we had a great time at the world.

We love the package and will do it again.

hope it helps.

Jean

 

[mickey'sbud]

Wow what wonderful suggestions!!! But, remember this is your honeymoon. Leave yourself plenty of TIME: Time to relax, time to do nothing, time to love. A wedding can be very stressful and tiring. So my biggest suggestion is to schedule "nothing" somewhere in your schedule. Then relax, do nothing, take time for loving each other ... alot!!!!

I know this didn't answer what you asked, but it is a suggestion I hope you will consider....

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

First of all congratulations!!! You're going to have a great honeymoon.

Second - go to the bookstore and buy "Walt Disney World for Couples" by the Perlmutters. We love it - it will rate all of the resorts for their romance factor as well as all the restaurants, rides, spas, tours, honeymoon packages, etc.

We have gotten the book twice and have really enjoyed it. Now I do also have other books like the Passporter and Unofficial guide to Disney but we're fanatics.

Good luck!!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there.. congrats on your upcoming wedding.

Concierge is perfect for honeymooners... a quick breakfast is available to you in the lounge up til 10:30am ~in case you sleep in

Desserts and cordials in the evenings... you can take something back to the room with you

Hot and cold appetizers at dinner hour.. should you be around and drinks and snacks during the day.

At WL your room would be on the key access only 7th floor and the concierge will help with all your plans.

Concierge would definately fit in your budget of 6000.00

>>^..^<<

 

[lentesta]

Hey Kariktn,

Congratulations. My brother and future sis-in-law, also both Unofficial Guide researchers, are spending their 10-day honeymoon at the Polynesian next January. With the winter discount, their hotel and park passes came to just under $2,800, including tax.

Assuming you can get a similar discount, $6,000 should certainly be able to cover hotel, park admission, airfare and meals. I'd avoid any other kind of package other than room+passes. As others have noted, it's very difficult to use every single thing in a package, and you end up paying for things you don't use.

I think the Poly is a nice resort for a honeymoon. If you're looking to save some money on the resort, Swilphil's suggestion of the Swan/Dolphin is good, too.

Hope this helps. Have a great time!

Sincerely,

Len

 

[kariktn]

We have decided against getting an add-on plan. Our next decision is where to stay. We like the WL, because it has the honeymoon suite, and is not as expensive as other resorts. We really like the Poly, but it seems soooo expensive. Do they have honeymoon suites? How much would they run in value season?

 

[justhat]

We're getting married in June and when we were at the GF over NYE, we asked to see one of their honeymoon suites, since that's where my fiancé has always wanted to stay. We were shown one of the honeymoon suites on the 2nd floor of the main building and were not all that impressed. We were staying in a lagoon view room in Sago Cay and we were on the end of the building, directly facing MK with no obstructions. The honeymoon suite, however, was so much further away since it was in the main building and you had to look past the quiet pool, marina, and through the trees before you could see the lagoon and MK was so far in the distance. It did have what they called a jacuzzi tub, but it was no larger than a regular bathtub, just with some jets added. We weren't able to see one of the turret honeymoon rooms, but were told they have a lagoon view that includes the Poly. Since we wouldn't be getting anything extra, we booked a regular concierge to save $30/night, especially if a good AP rate comes out by then. So I guess my point is, see if the hoenymoon suite at WL has a better view or something extra that the regular concierge rooms don't have before you spend the extra money on it. It might be better to get a regular concierge room if you'll get all the same perks, since you'll save some money that you can use towards nicer meals, souvenirs, etc. that will make your honeymoon even more special.

 

[Disney Dee]

I would stay at the swan/dolphin. They are gorgous, and very romantic for a honeymoon! You are close to the Epcot, MGM,(the ferry ride to and from can be very romantic at night) and the view is beautiful! My second pick would be YC/BC, also very romantic at night.

 

[Chazman]

CONGRATS!!!!

Something a little different; if u haven't thought of it already!

Get the Mickey/Minnie wedding headgear!

U won't believe the magical things that will happen!!