We are first timers to WDW, need help with our Honeymoon

[*Nessa*]

Hi

I need help planning our WDW honeymoon and I though this would be the best place to come, we have been to DL 3 times and most of the other Disney properties but never WDW .

I’m in Australia and we are booking our own trip not going through an agent, so we have no one to ask question too and as much as I adore all things Disney, the email responses we have been getting back from customer service are stock standard and never answer the questions properly, which is really disappointing. So hopefully one of you ladies maybe able to help

1) Is the best place to book Disney the Disney site itself? Or do you have another travel site recommendation?

2) We are thinking of staying 12 nights at WDW (6 in a resort & 6 in a villa) then maybe the 4 day Cruise. Would this have to be separate bookings as I can’t work out how to add 2 accommodations & the cruise to the Disney quote?

3) Hotel wise we were hoping for 6 nights on the 12th or 14th floor of the Disney Contemporary hotel & 6 nights at either Old Key West Resort or Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (prob whichever is cheaper), would these been good choices?

4) We are hoping to set up a honeymoon registry but I know we can’t till we book and I was wondering if the Celebration add on’s can be put on the registry? Also can items from the Disney florist (like the welcome baskets) be put on the honeymoon registry?

5) With the Disney Cruise would you recommend the 3 or 4 nights? Neither of us have ever been on a cruise before and I am a little nervous about it , at the same time I don’t want to feel silly when we get there and think should have stayed 4 nights what was I nervous about !

6) We are in the US from around the 19th Nov till about the 23/24th December 09 - would it be best to go straight to WDW? or come at a different time during these dates? Are the rates that are released now likely to change much? Or should we wait a little longer to book?

Any help or thoughs would be great, thanks

 

[tiggersam00]

*Nessa* Hi

I need help planning our WDW honeymoon and I though this would be the best place to come, we have been to DL 3 times and most of the other Disney properties but never WDW .

I’m in Australia and we are booking our own trip not going through an agent, so we have no one to ask question too and as much as I adore all things Disney, the email responses we have been getting back from customer service are stock standard and never answer the questions properly, which is really disappointing. So hopefully one of you ladies maybe able to help

1) Is the best place to book Disney the Disney site itself? Or do you have another travel site recommendation?

2) We are thinking of staying 12 nights at WDW (6 in a resort & 6 in a villa) then maybe the 4 day Cruise. Would this have to be separate bookings as I can’t work out how to add 2 accommodations & the cruise to the Disney quote?

3) Hotel wise we were hoping for 6 nights on the 12th or 14th floor of the Disney Contemporary hotel & 6 nights at either Old Key West Resort or Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (prob whichever is cheaper), would these been good choices?

4) We are hoping to set up a honeymoon registry but I know we can’t till we book and I was wondering if the Celebration add on’s can be put on the registry? Also can items from the Disney florist (like the welcome baskets) be put on the honeymoon registry?

5) With the Disney Cruise would you recommend the 3 or 4 nights? Neither of us have ever been on a cruise before and I am a little nervous about it , at the same time I don’t want to feel silly when we get there and think should have stayed 4 nights what was I nervous about !

6) We are in the US from around the 19th Nov till about the 23/24th December 09 - would it be best to go straight to WDW? or come at a different time during these dates? Are the rates that are released now likely to change much? Or should we wait a little longer to book?

Any help or thoughs would be great, thanks

First off, congrats! Disney world is a great vacation spot, and an even better honeymoon spot ! Let's see if I can help you out at all, feel free to PM me if you have any other questions
1) I like to book through the WDW website, but check out http://www.mousesavers.com for discounts, they usually have current room and package discount codes, maybe you'll find one that applies during your trip.

2) I think they would have to be seperate bookings, but calling WDW may be the best way to book it, they may be able to do it as 1 res.

3) Everyone on here has a favorite hotel (or 2, or 3 ) so it is all subjective. I like both of those choices, and I think you will not wrong with any Disney deluxe hotel. My personal fave's are the Poly and the Animal Kingdom Lodge (I'm trying the Wilderness Lodge in August and can't wait though). Every hotel has different amenities, so find one to your taste and you'll do great

4) I don't know about celebration add ons or disney florist stuff, but I know one bride on here kept adding $$ to her registry (like a savings account for her trip) so you could spend it on the florist or celebration add ons once you get to WDW

5) Go for 4!

6) I would try to avoid Thanksgiving week here (Nov 26th in 2009) because it can be VERY VERY VERY crowded. If you have to ocme during that time then I would book asap because most hotels are completely booked. The 3 weeks after Thanksgiving (but Before Christmas) are usually the slowest times to go to WDW so enjoy them!

HTH

 

[Lynn5700]

Saratoga Springs is a beautiful resort and very romantic so that is a great choice. I would pick Poly over contemporary but that is just me.

As for the cruise we did a 4 night and that was our first cruise and loved it. If you are nervous then maybe do the 3 night.

 

[dallastxcpa]

You know as many days as you are planning on being at Disney it might be worth either yourself or DF getting an annual pass. This way you could get the AP discount if available on the hotel and the Tables in Wonderland card which will give you 20% off at many table service restaurants.

You also get other discounts with the AP. such as 10% off at World of Disney.

 

[*Nessa*]

You know as many days as you are planning on being at Disney it might be worth either yourself or DF getting an annual pass. This way you could get the AP discount if available on the hotel and the Tables in Wonderland card which will give you 20% off at many table service restaurants.

You also get other discounts with the AP. such as 10% off at World of Disney.

Oooh that sounds really good, do you know if you are allowed to buy AP's if you don't live in the USA? that would also give me a really good excuse to go back just before our 1 year anniversary

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I don't see why you couldn't purchase AP even if you aren't a resident of the US. Just remember that APs purchased at WDW can only be used at WDW and not at Disneyland. I would suggest getting APs if you are staying longer than 7 days.

As far as the cruise, I would go on a four day cruise. My DF's first cruise was a 7 day cruise and he loved it! You won't even realize that you are on a ship!

I saw your ticker that said your wedding is 9 months or so away, what is your wedding day? I'm getting married on Oct. 17!

 

[*Nessa*]

I don't see why you couldn't purchase AP even if you aren't a resident of the US. Just remember that APs purchased at WDW can only be used at WDW and not at Disneyland. I would suggest getting APs if you are staying longer than 7 days.

As far as the cruise, I would go on a four day cruise. My DF's first cruise was a 7 day cruise and he loved it! You won't even realize that you are on a ship!

I saw your ticker that said your wedding is 9 months or so away, what is your wedding day? I'm getting married on Oct. 17!

We are getting married on the 14th November in Australia, we had originally planned to have a WDW wedding but have had to change our plans 10 months out. We had hoped to have a small escape vow renewal (probably just the two of us) 10 days later (around the 24th Nov) in WDW, but we are just waiting on the Disney ok

I do have just one other question on AP’s I was thinking it might be better to buy it sooner rather than later as I have heard that you get access to special offers etc and that would give us about 9 months to see if DH got an email offer for something special.

But DH is saying wait till almost the time we go (Nov), that way if ever the chance to go back comes up we would have his AP till Nov 2010?

I am not sure which is the better option ?

 

[ITmickey]

Hi!
The AP lasts for one year after it is activated, not bought. They send you vouchers that you have to redeem when you are in the parks, and start using them, so you could buy them sooner, and activate them when you are over there.

I'm also a foreign guest, and that is the way it worked for us, there may be different rules for US citizens

However, if you do get the 'escape' vow renewal @ disney, the price of the package includes the AP.

HTH!

 

[*Nessa*]

Hi!
The AP lasts for one year after it is activated, not bought. They send you vouchers that you have to redeem when you are in the parks, and start using them, so you could buy them sooner, and activate them when you are over there.
HTH!

That sounds perfect, thanks