WDW trip is paid for!! YEAH!!!!

[thelittlemermaid]

I made our final payment to AAA on June 1st and it finally just hit me...when should I expect everything from Disney?

Everyone here is so excited about going, I think DH and I are more excited then DS and DD. LOL!!

I have already started thinking about saving up, after this trip of course, for our next time back. I figured the next trip being in 2006, that way it will give us awhile to save up. DS would like to stay in the AKL, on the Savannah side, he loves animals and wants to own his own zoo. LOL!!!

For those who have started saving for a next trip that is a couple of years away, how do you judge what the price of the resort will be? As of right now our experince with going through AAA has been wonderful. But I would also like to figure out, without AAA, if it would cheaper for me just to get everything separte.

Any advice from the experinced DIS for a rookie trip planner, any and all advice would be apperciated.

TIA!!!!

 

[Nanu57v]

From this year to next year it looks like the resorts went up about 5 dollars.

Sometimes packages can be cheaper, other times doing it separately is cheaper. You should get quotes and compare. On our honeymoon a AAA package was much cheaper than anything i could come up with, but on our last trip using an AP rate was the best.

 

[momof2OH]

I would suggest pricing it both ways too. I do know your DS will love the AKL w/ a savannah view, especially since he loves animals. My DS is very much into animals (giraffes mainly) and loves that resort.

I also noticed that your from Bucyrus. My grandfather does the Bratwurst Fest down there in Aug every year. He takes photos and puts them in buttons and key chains. Anyhow...have fun on this trip and saving for the next.

 

[HenDuck]

Well, first of all, congratulations on paying off your vacation! Ain't it a great feeling?

I have just started to plan my 12/05 DL trip. I over-budget everything, just to be on the safe side. I figure a 5% increase in park tickets is probably more than enough wriggle room.

I also do a budget with a "high" and "low" figure for each item, such as air, room , food, car, etc. That way I have a range that I can shoot for. As it gets closer to the trip and I get my reservations set and tickets bought, I adjust the budget.

I alway deliberately over-budget for food, because that is a must on vacation! If we eat well, we are usually happy campers.

Congrats again and have fun at WDW and planning your next trip!

 

[dsnycrzy]

I mailed out the money orders to the hotel to pay that in full. Bought all our tickets from Paramount, bought and printed out our sea world tickets. I just counted all the kids $50 in disney dollars (5 kids all together) and with about $700 saved and 2 months before we go (I can save another $500 before we leave). I'm doing the happy dance.
Our train tickets were bought months ago

Wow if I can only pay for time to speed up

 

[ceecee]

The first year we went we got a quote from AAA which was almost double what we ended up paying by buying everything seperately. Price the hotel, tickets, etc. then price a few package deals and see how you do. With the Fairytale pkg last a year and this year's dreammaker pkg. we have really gotten some good deals. The Ulitimate hoppers are spoiling us though.

 

[IMISSDISNEY]

Congratulations on getting it all paid off. I think thats wonderful. I hope you have a great trip

 

[mad4themouse]

Isn't it a great feeling to know that you'll come back from vacation and you won't have that huge bill to pay?!!!! Congratulations on being able to do it!!

Disney just announced their rates for 2005, so you can expect rates for 2006 to come out around the end of May next year. Passes usually go up in price 2 to 3 times in a 2-year period. Each increase amounts to about $2 per day, with the last increase being as high as $2.75 on a one-day pass for an adult.

In general, it is usually less expensive to book hotel and passes separately than doing a package. That's what I would budget for. However, there's always the possibility that you'll get a great package deal that costs less than booking the parts.

 

[CheapMom]

One big savings for us when paying for the separate components vs. a package is the park passes. In 7 days at wdw we go to the parks only 3-4 days. We would be too exhausted doing 7 days straight of water parks or park hopping. In the packages I think you get passes for every day and that is expensive.

Have a great time on your trip- I know what you mean about the parents being more excited than the kids- DH and I feel so blessed to be able to do this for our kids.

 

[tmli]

I'm glad your trip is paid for...it's a great feeling!!

I just wanted to say I love the picture of your children, they are beautiful. Your ds is very handsome and you dd is breathtaking!!

 

[thelittlemermaid]

Thank you to everyone!! Finding this website has made the planning of our trip alot easier.

Since DH and I have never been to WDW before, his parents never wanted to go and mine couldn't afford it, we decied we were not going to do that to our children.

My in laws think we are crazy for going. My father in law doesn't see what is so great about it. This is the same person who would have much rather build his garage then to take his son to his swimming lessons. Is it just me, or back then did he have his priorities in the wrong place??? My mom would have loved to have went to WDW, she loved Donald Duck, but she was the only one working. Back then, or even now as far as I'm concearned, teachers didn't make alot of money. Oh well that is the past.

This trip was a spur of the moment thing. We are celebrating 2 birthdays and a anniversary on this trip. Plus being our very first family vaca. In the last 5 years we have been through alot, my grandpa commited suicide, then DD being born with DS, then me loosing my mom three months later, then the next month finding out that DD has a hole in her heart. Thankfully the hole has been closing up nicley on it's own. I'm just happy to be getting away from around here, to bad we have to come back. LOL!!!

tmli... Thank you for your kind words about my kids!! But don't let the picture fool you, they might look like angels, that's only because they are hiding their horns. LOL!!

Since everything is paid when should all the stuff come from Disney? Or I guess my question should be, what will come from Disney? Since we are staying on site when we check in, will that be when we get our tickets to the parks? I can't wait to get this trip started, that way I will know how things work a little better. LOL!!!

Thanks again to everyone, especially mad4themouse!!!

 

[Steve Hurley]

Congratulations...can you pay for mine now!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL