To book or not to book that is the question?!

[christinasmum]

Hi, I have been lurking for some time but am about to look at booking for this year and thought I would come out of lurkdom to ask for some help.

We need to go in August due to work/school have found a a price which is 14 nights at Saratoga Resort, plus 14 day park ticket plus regular DDP for approx £2k, for 2 adults and 1 child. I am trying to convince my dear husband that this is a good deal but the reality is I'm not 100% sure...

I have looked at quite a few websites and travel agents, I know the flights will be expensive but thought if I could get accomodation booked that would be something!

Flight wise the best I can do is approx £1760 flying 3rd August with US Airways with one stop, anyway must stop babbling. My questions to anyone that would be kind enough to help are:

Is it worth booking at that price? How likely am I to get cheaper flights?

Many thanks in anticipation!

 

[wayneg]

Welcome to DISboards, much better posting than lurking

The Deal with OKW or SSR on Disney.co.uk is a great offer. £100/night instead of the usual £192/night and free Dining. We did it last August for the 1st time, our food bill averaged $151/night so a big saving.

You can stay and dine offsite cheaper but only if you get a great deal on the hotel and use vouchers and eat at cheaper places.
Even with all our experience with offsite I still think the OKW/SSR deal is the best deal going. They are good quality rooms/resorts and the food is high quality.

Flights, they are higher than I have ever paid for August(we want 4th-29th) many were waiting for the Xmas/New Year sales hoping for them to be reduced, there weren't so I know a lot have booked this past week and paid OTT. For indirect I want under £500pp never paid more than £400 before.
Your choice if you want to pay it but I am waiting.

Happy planning.

 

[cinderjenna]

I am still nervously waiting and praying that they will go down for Sep! i hoped the new year would bring some decent sales but my flights have gone up from £410 to £450
It has reassured me that your still waiting though wayne as you seem to be the expert!! i dont know how long I can hold off for though, I just want them booked!! Whats the likelyhood they will go down again now or will they just go up up up?

Jenna x

 

[wayneg]

Sept is low season, there should be offers, not as easy for August but I am still hopeful. I can book free flights to NYC using Virgin Airmiles but it means going from London then getting an internal US flight, can do that for about £350 each including Premium on return leg but so much hassle would prefer an indirect from Manchester. Not as easy as it used to be predicting flight prices.

christinasmum, if you have not seen my thread from August theres a link here, it has pics of all the food we ate on the DDP, you will have to skip thru the 1st few pages, they are all to do with leaving, flights and hotel. I think the food pics start around page 8. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2249674

 

[christinasmum]

Thanks so much for the replies, that was what I was sort of telling myself, will book the hotel etc and hold my nerve for the flights! How long do you plan to hold out for?

Last year was our first year in Florida, and we only went as I got such a good deal (off site villa)and I knew my daughter would enjoy it, I must confess to going with inner thoughts of "Just do it for the child and can have a proper holiday next year!"

I was so wrong we all loved it and I can see why people would go time and time again, me who has never set foot in a Disney shop or watched a whole Disney DVD has been Disneyfied!! The thought of staying at a Disney hotel would have been traumatizing to me and now I cannot wait

Now that leads me to my next question, should I go for SSR or OKW??

I understand that the OKW has larger rooms plus 2 beds, but are either of them within walking distance to DTD or anywhere?

Thanks again for your help

 

[wayneg]

Difficult to advise how long to hold on, I have always booked by Xmas before so new territory, I just can't belive they will stay at the current prices right thru til August but I could be wrong(hope not)

Before our 1st trip 16 years ago I didn't want to visit America, no interest in Disney, hated rides & theme parks. I did not expect to enjoy the holiday. Now after 23 trips I can't get there enough, will go on any ride in the world (and enjoy it) and talk to 6ft mice, dogs, rabbits..... Florida sends you insane

OKW or SSR gets asked a lot, you are correct OKW has 2 beds in the room, SSR 1 bed and a sofa bed. that was the deciding factor for us, preferred having 2 beds so went for OKW, older resort but larger rooms. There is a free boat service to DTD from both resorts, SSR is within walking distance. I guess OKW is but I wouldn't in August. We considered SSR to try somewhere different this August but I think we will book OKW again we enjoyed it there.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

And OKW are having a programme of room refurbishment starting soon...more chance of a better room maybe?

 

[heatherbelle]

I've stayed at OKW and really liked. Although I much prefer the pool at SSR, as it was really warm.

What about a week in each

 

[wayneg]

I've stayed at OKW and really liked. Although I much prefer the pool at SSR, as it was really warm.

What about a week in each

Thats one thing I don't like, a pool too warm, I like to go in a pool to cool off, had a couple of pools in Florida thats been too warm.

Can't do a week in each with free DDP, would have to buy 2 lots of tix unfortunately.

 

[christinasmum]

Well I took the plunge and went for OKW, the two beds and larger space did it for me.

Now all I have to sort is the small matter of flights. I'm sure something we come up (fingers and all else crossed),

Know we could fly into Tampa, anywhere else I could try??

Wayne- Reading your report has really made me look forward to the food, and planning ADRs etc..

Thanks again

 

[wayneg]

Well done making a choice. I want to book flights 1st but longer it goes on I might have to book hotel 1st.

There will be lots of us there in August, nearer the time I will arrange 1 or 2 DISmeets, even a pool party has been discussed for 1 evening. Hope you will get to at least 1 of them.

I am looking at either MCO or Tampa but will consider Miami also, Miami was available a few month back from London for £400pp. I might live to regret not booking along with those that did. I also had chance of Biz class Lon~Mco via Canada for £1050pp Would prefer Manchester.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Hooray! OKW!

 

[dennyboy1]

same dilemma here - just got the flights up at £2600 for august via gatwick for 4 adults and 1 child - we've got the YC booked (but not yet paid for) - I dont wether to bite the bullet and book the flights and maybe off-set the cost by moving hotels to OKW? - decisions, decisions....