Total newbie...august 2014 trip?

[missnic07]

If you leave the booking until the free dining comes out you will find that it may work out about the same cost to book a moderate resort. The values don't normally come with free dining. So basically if you take into account how much you would spend on food and soft drinks staying at a value you would prob be better off upgrading to a moderate

Brilliant, thanks for the tip x

 

[darthtatty]

keep an eye on here for news of free dining. Theres quite a few of us waiting-people have said around the 25th of this month. So im waiting until the end of the month.
usually, you need to book room and tickets together to get the free dining.
As someone mentioned, the free dining isnt always offered at the value resorts. sometimes its worth staying at a moderate resort, just to get the free dining. If free dining isnt offered, then dont worry too much about buying the dining plan. we find it doesnt work for us but if its free we'll use it.
Check all the prices out when they come out and then post on here if you need help.
many people will help out

I think theres cheaper places to buy tickets eg attractions tickets direct and a few others.

happy planning.

 

[missnic07]

keep an eye on here for news of free dining. Theres quite a few of us waiting-people have said around the 25th of this month. So im waiting until the end of the month.
usually, you need to book room and tickets together to get the free dining.
As someone mentioned, the free dining isnt always offered at the value resorts. sometimes its worth staying at a moderate resort, just to get the free dining. If free dining isnt offered, then dont worry too much about buying the dining plan. we find it doesnt work for us but if its free we'll use it.
Check all the prices out when they come out and then post on here if you need help.
many people will help out

I think theres cheaper places to buy tickets eg attractions tickets direct and a few others.

happy planning.

Yeah I'm definitely going to hold off until it comes out

Also, if I book the room/dining/tickets altogether at the end of this month can I cancel at a later date or not?

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Just wanted to say 'hello' Nicola

I am a teacher and waiting with fingers crossed for free dining. Hoping to get Old Key West with a Studio for myself and hubby, then a 2 bed villa for my mum, dad, brother, SIL, niece and nephew.

We always look after August 10th (or roundabouts) as that is the start of Value season (unless it changed - our last trip was 2011).

When we went for our wedding we spent the first five nights at Pop - it is a great fun resort!

 

[missnic07]

Just wanted to say 'hello' Nicola

I am a teacher and waiting with fingers crossed for free dining. Hoping to get Old Key West with a Studio for myself and hubby, then a 2 bed villa for my mum, dad, brother, SIL, niece and nephew.

We always look after August 10th (or roundabouts) as that is the start of Value season (unless it changed - our last trip was 2011).

When we went for our wedding we spent the first five nights at Pop - it is a great fun resort!

Thanks for the reply! I'm looking for around August the 15th til the 29th. How do you find the crowds/heat at that time of year?

I was looking on Aerlingus at flights and they're insanely expensive. Of course they only have flights for this August, as next years aren't out yet.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

It definitely is hot and humid, but as others have said, the storms take some of the humidity out in the afternoon.

We employ the strategy of being at the parks early, having a break in the heat of the afternoon, then heading back again for late afternoon into the evening. It's great because summer opening hours make it easy to do that!

The crowds are also manageable if you do that and make use of Fastpass where possible (though this might be changing with Fastpass plus - nobody knows much for certain at the moment).

 

[orangetiggs]

We got married on sept 2nd out there in full wedding attire and morning suits and it wasnt that hot

Its a great time to go out there

 

[missnic07]

It definitely is hot and humid, but as others have said, the storms take some of the humidity out in the afternoon.

We employ the strategy of being at the parks early, having a break in the heat of the afternoon, then heading back again for late afternoon into the evening. It's great because summer opening hours make it easy to do that!

The crowds are also manageable if you do that and make use of Fastpass where possible (though this might be changing with Fastpass plus - nobody knows much for certain at the moment).

Great tip! And the afternoons would be a great time to use the hotel pool too.

We got married on sept 2nd out there in full wedding attire and morning suits and it wasnt that hot

Its a great time to go out there

Wow I bet that was amazing! Congrats!
Good to know that it's a good time to go

So I was thinking (this trip is all I've thought about the last couple of days lol), if I don't book flights through disney will I be able to use the ME or not? Or is that only if you book you're flights through them?

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

If you stay on site you can use Magical Express as long as you fly (direct or indirect) to Orlando International

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

I didn't fully answer your question - I meant no matter who you book your flights with

BTW, I'm another Disney bride - August 17th 2009. We're going to celebrate our 5th anniversary there next year - it has flown past so quickly!

 

[missnic07]

I didn't fully answer your question - I meant no matter who you book your flights with

BTW, I'm another Disney bride - August 17th 2009. We're going to celebrate our 5th anniversary there next year - it has flown past so quickly!

How magical! Congrats to you also

So say I booked my flight through Aerlingus and my hotel (pop) through Complete Orlando, I'd still be able to use the Magical Express?
Lol thanks for your patience with me

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Yes Our first trip together in 2006 was a package through Virgin and we had a hire car so didn't use ME. For our wedding trip, when we booked flights separately, we did use ME

 

[missnic07]

Yes Our first trip together in 2006 was a package through Virgin and we had a hire car so didn't use ME. For our wedding trip, when we booked flights separately, we did use ME

Thanks! I was worried I'd only be able to use it if I booked a package through Disney. So that's good to know

 

[missnic07]

Another Q...if free dining comes out and I book with that, then a room discount comes out can I get that added? Or can u only have 1 discount? Thanks

 

[Neesy228]

Another Q...if free dining comes out and I book with that, then a room discount comes out can I get that added? Or can u only have 1 discount? Thanks

Just one discount, you are unable to stack.

 

[missnic07]

Just one discount, you are unable to stack.

Ah that's a shame. Thanks

 

[missnic07]

Is this the book that people talk about? There's a couple on eBay and i don't want to get the wrong one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Unoff...0843021703?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item460ba43587