Trip Planning for a young couple

[iamkevski]

Hi Everyone!
I'm new here to posting, but not new to browsing the forums for info on attractions at wdw. I love reading the posts on this board, and I finally am at a point where I am in the planning stages of a trip to wdw with my girlfriend. We have been waiting for the perfect time to go for almost two years now, and we have decided that we will be going in may or june. I can't wait!!

Anyway, I was wondering if you could give me some tips on the best way to plan the trip. Should I go through disney? a travel agent? do it on my own through the web?

I've never booked a disney trip before, even though I've been there over 5 times with my family over the years when I was younger.

Anyway, we're both 22 years old, and we're obsessed with disney world, and we want to be able to hit all four parks and downtown disney (maybe cirque de soleil too). I was thinking making it a 5 day trip with a 4 day hopper pass, but I'm not sure what resort we should stay in and what the best way to book is. Any tips would be most welcome. I really appreciate it! Thanks for keeping the dis boards such a great resource.

 

[spiceycat]

if you need help then use the travel agent that a sponsor here.
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/index.html
they use to be really good about getting the best discount prices for you.

I would do it myself...

go sign up for www.mousesavers.com - emails.
she will send you a couple of ticket brokers that have excellent prices.
I would get the 10 day with no expiry!!! you will be back... park hopping?

since this is your first trip on your own - I think I would go with Pop Century -save the money for another trip....that is if you plan on staying onsite

that say - there is a benefit to getting your tickets with your room - you can also add the dinning.....

 

[iamkevski]

Thanks for the response. I would love to do it myself, and I think i will. I really appreciate the link to mousesavers and the suggestion for unlimited expiration tickets. Yes, we'll be going every year (hopefully) and that would be a perfect solution, even though it's more up front. We are moving to new york city in may, and it's just a short flight from there on jet blue, at ~70 dollars one way, so it's perfect!

I was wondering, if you knew anything about the AAA discounts, and how good they were? I'm a member of AAA, and I'd love to take advantage of any savings there. Also, do I have to book through AAA to get the AAA discounts? Thanks again for all the help!

 

[byoung]

Rent from a DVC member. Also when you are there check out the DVC.

 

[spiceycat]

no you can book directly though Disney with your AAA discount - they are surpose to ask for you number - but most of the time they don't.... 10 to 20% off the room rack rates for the values.

I would also get the prices for room only - then room with tickets and the dinning plan. the dinning plan is a great bargin...but you have to get the tickets with it...

now if you do byoung suggestions and go with a DVC resort - (just don't stay on the weekends) then you can get the dinning plan without the tickets buy only after April 1.

that say - sometime the value resort are cheaper than the DVC resort even when renting a reservation from a DVC member.

off season - $79 - AAA + taxes = $70.47
OKW would be $80.
OKW would be a studio - so you could eat some meals here.

but if you intend to be in the parks from dawn to night - then the value are a great choice.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

A few simple tips

1) Set some type of a budget and then look at what will work for you. (there is a big range in prices for resort accomodations from the Values to the Deluxe)
2) Decide what kind of people you are and keep that in mind. Are you the type that will be at the parks from open to close, or will you be heading back to the resort mid afternoon for a break (we will be doing that this July with our 16 month old son)