My husband and I (both 25) and another couple (22 and 28) will be going to Disney World next year in October. I am in the early stages of planning and need all the help I can possibly get! I am looking at value resorts (1 room for each couple) but if we could get a discount at a value or moderate resort that would be great!! How do I find discounts this early in advance? How about dining discounts? When is the best time to book?? I don't know how early in advance to do anything???!!! Please, someone offer their expert advise
Welcome
to the DIS. The first thing I would do is try to decide what days you want to go, then go to the Disney website and see if the type of rooms you want are available. You minght want to consider staying in a Family Suite at the All Star Music resort (they are usually a little cheaper than 2 standard rooms, and most are in a preferred location), so you will still have 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms, but you will also have a kitchenette, but be close together.
Now, if one of you has
AAA you can see if there are any AAA rooms available at the resort of your choice if you want to book a room only, right now that is the only discount available so far, the other discounts won't come out until next year around August. There is no discount on dining unless someone in the party has an Annual Pass, then you are eligible for the Disney Dining Experience card which give you a 20% discount at most Disney restaurants.
Book as soon as you know when you want to go, the earlier the better, if you don't have AAA, you can still book a room, so that you have one just in case, and if a code becomes available, then you can switch it. I say switch it, because the code can't be applied to the room you have unless that type of room is available when the codes are released.
There is also the
Disney Dining Plan, and there are 2 options that will be offered next year. I am using the basic plan which offers one Counter Service meal, one snack and one Table Service meal for each night of your stay, you can use those in any combination you want to. We only use this on our longer trips when we will be doing alot of Character meals. I don't find it comes in handy for short trips when we just want to eat and run. the Deluxe plan I don't really understand, because it won't work for my family and is too expensive.
I recommend getting a Passporter's Guide to Walt Disney World, this book has more than you need in info, plus place to write your plans, maps, and pockets for each day of your trip. The one for 2008 comes out next month. I would also recommend getting the new The Complete Walt Disney World, it tells alot more than some of the others and it is great reading when you have read all of the other guides to death.
I hope I haven't confused you. Please PM me if you have other questions, and if you can't PM me, I can Pm you so you can ask your questions.
Suzanne
