Vacation Planning question

[Frugal McDougall]

FYI I'm a first-timer here. To that end, I have previously posted the questions below on Clark Howard's board and was directed here. So, anyone who can help, please advise.

Thank you in advance. Email: joshnmitch@yahoo.com

I have been to the Disneyworld homepage and read other solicitations about packages to D'world, but I'd like the real scoop on how to get the best deals for the best package on a 5 - 6 day trip for a family of 4 (2 adults, 11 and 8) to Disneyworld. I'm interested in staying on the premesis and would like nice, but not extravagant, accommodations.

Questions:

- Do I always have to buy a complete deal or can I get a la carte. For instance, pay my own plane fare, but get the tickets and lodging in a package?

- How much advance purchase will get you the most bang for the buck?

- When is the best time, taking everything including weather, into consideration?

- Including incidentals (meals and everything not included in the package(s)), how much am I looking at if I go in the off-season if I want to do it right?

Thanks

 

[boysmom5150]

this is a pay site but it has great info on all the above question

www.tourguidemike.com

happy planning!

 

[Frugal McDougall]

Thanks. I just applied for a quote on the Disboard so at least I'll have an idea. I'm just starting the planning so I have a long way to go. Thanks again

 

[lazidazi07]

The best thing to do is to pick up The UnOfficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It answers all your questions above. I read mine like a Bible! It really helped me plan this trip all on my own (my first trip without parents!) It can really help you sort everything out. MouseSavers.com is a great place to find discounts on rooms, etc and tips to save money.

 

[gonemousin']

The Unofficial Guide to WDW is terrific - highly recommend it.

To answer a couple of your questions...
Yes, you can do WDW anyway you want - you can buy a package with room/tix/air or you can buy your own air and just buy a room/tix package (you'd be more apt to find cheaper airfare on your own - rarely is WDW's airfare cheaper, but every once in awhile folks report getting a good deal). You can also purchase the dining plan as part of your package if you prefer prepaid meals (it's roughly $40/night/person for 10 yrs and up, $10/night/person for 3-9yrs) and gives you a counter service meal, a table service meal, and snack per person multiplied by the number of nights of your stay. You can go without a package and reserve a room and buy your park admission separately. If you do a room only reservation (no package), you'll be more apt to get a discount on your nightly room rate, however you can't add on the dining plan (dining plan can only be had with a package - paying rack rates). If you book a package through a AAA travel agent, you can get the AAA room discount applied to your package - this is usually the only way to book a package without paying the full hotel rate. Clear as mud?! It's a confusing world at first!!

Best time to go...hmm...my typical answer is "anytime school is in session"! September is typically the most empty time to visit (beginning the week after Labor Day). October and November are nice - somewhat lighter crowds, except the week of Thanksgiving. The week after Thanksgiving until right before Christmas is also a wonderful time (great weather, parks decorated for the holidays). Christmas to New Years typically has record crowds (school is out). January through early February are also quieter times to visit. President's Day through late April are very busy - crowds die off the last week of April and pick back up again around Memorial Day...and remain busy throughout the summer...usually calming down again by the second/third week in August. Obviously the less crowded times typically equate to less expensive hotel rates. Mousesavers.com is an excellent resource for explaining the WDW seasons and price differences - Mary even offers some good feedback on the different hotel classifications (value/moderate/deluxe).

Purchasing in advance doesn't really save you much. The earlier you book, the more apt you'll get the resort/category you have your heart set on. I believe if you purchase a package, you'll usually be able to lock in the hotel/ticket prices to be grandfathered out of any price increases (I'm trying to remember if this is still true)...but that's really the only other benefit I can think of for booking early.

You can get package quotes right from disneyworld.com. They usually run some sort of promo. The current one is free dining - I predict another one will come out after bookings are done for free dining (late June/early July?). If you can go off season, the crowds will be lighter (shorter wait times for the rides/attractions) and of course the nightly room rate would be cheaper.

Hope that helps a little...I'm sure you're still lost in the sea of planning, but rest assured it DOES take a bit of research and planning to equal a magical trip, so you're heading down the right path.

And, most importantly... to the DISboards!!