Weighing up our options...

[Wills Mom]

We had originally planned on not going back to WDW until our kids were a bit bigger (which is a while away considering DS2 has yet to be born!!) So after talking about it DH said I could look into booking DLRP for 4 or 5 nights later next year (Sept/Oct time) but once I looked into the complete price I realised that for a little extra we could (if I timed the booking right) do WDW with the two boys. Now DH has said he'll "think about it" so of course to me thats almost a yes and I've been looking up flights for the past hour - I realise that Sept/Oct flights won't be showing up yet so just wondering a couple of things. When will they be available to book? And is there a time of year when airlines have sales for that time of year? For our last trip I got a great sale price with VA but its more than double that with them at the minute for the latest dates I can book. I'm not fussy who we fly with really so any advice is welcome.
Another question. We would be staying offsite in a hotel, which would be our first time with kids in a hotel. We would probably book car hire for at least part of our time there if not for the duration. So my question is have you guys any recommendations of off site hotels that are near WDW so driving back and forth wouldn't take an age and if so, what sites have you found best to book through? I've booked everything separately before but have read about some fantastic deals some of you guys have gotten so if this trip is going to be a reality I need to make it as pocket friendly for DH as possible. I have no qualms about getting my Disney fix from DLRP but when the price for WDW seem so similar I can't help but thinking that the money from a DLRP trip would be better off kept til we can afford a WDW trip even if that means waiting til winter 2015 - though I was really hoping to go while DS2 is under 1 and DS1 is under 3. I'm waffling now

 

[sugerfreesteve]

We booked through charter travel for Feb are at CBR with dp and tickets for 2 adults for 3600 so I'm sure they can do you a deal. They were offering soom good deals on hotels in the DTD area which means good access to the Disney buses as well.

 

[flortlebap]

Waffle away, the rest of us do

I completely agree about putting the DLRP cost towards WDW - it just doesn't have the same appeal and it's really expensive. DH won't even think about going to DLRP now.

The DTD hotels are obviously the closest non Disney owned hotels, but IMO they're a Disney price but without the perks. I would personally go for a villa, but people are positive about Floridays or Rosen Pointe for the cheap cost of accommodation.

 

[Wills Mom]

Thanks for the tips guys! I've been obsessively trying to price flights since yesterday and everything seems to be way more than the prices I was getting originally. We probably wouldn't be going until November 2014 or looking even at February 2015 so I suppose I'm best off to leave flight quotations well enough alone until those dates actually become available to book, otherwise I'll drive myself mad lol. Have found some decently priced hotels near WDW so thats encouraging. Now just to wait til the flights come out....patience is not my strong point!!

 

[PJB71]

Sorry I can't help with prices for that time of year but I just wanted to say if you can then go for it

We have taken all of our DDS when they were all around 9months of age and there now nearly 17, 14, and 2, it's magical for them at any age IMO

 

[Wills Mom]

Sorry I can't help with prices for that time of year but I just wanted to say if you can then go for it

We have taken all of our DDS when they were all around 9months of age and there now nearly 17, 14, and 2, it's magical for them at any age IMO

I totally think you're right! I'm after getting a great quote for indirect flights, car hire, hotel accom and ultimate tickets. Have emailed it to DH lol and hoping for a semi positive response later Hes really negative about bringing the boys on a flight that long with them being under 3 and under 1 but I'm adamant that we should go again before DS1 turns 3! Hopefully I'll get my way

 

[Julia Ann]

i have done the same before, priced up DLPR and thought "blimey not much extra to go the real Disney" I'd much rather wait for a Florida holiday - go for it - good luck on the flights, i'm a package holiday girl so can't help you there

 

[Wills Mom]

i have done the same before, priced up DLPR and thought "blimey not much extra to go the real Disney" I'd much rather wait for a Florida holiday - go for it - good luck on the flights, i'm a package holiday girl so can't help you there

Its crazy money for DLRP when you think of the difference in a few days at DLRP vs two weeks at WDW! The flights are the killer, if they werent so expensive we could go much more often!! Strangely enough I just got a way cheaper quote from a package holiday!!
Would LOVE to go in Nov so to see Xmas decorations but I'll take what I can get

 

[tinks_1989]

Its crazy money for DLRP when you think of the difference in a few days at DLRP vs two weeks at WDW! The flights are the killer, if they werent so expensive we could go much more often!! Strangely enough I just got a way cheaper quote from a package holiday!! Would LOVE to go in Nov so to see Xmas decorations but I'll take what I can get

DLP can be done really cheap. You just have to take your time planning when to go how to go and where to stay just like WDW.

We have been to DLP for less then £500 for 5 nights for the 3 of us. Staying on site, direct flight, tickets.

 

[Wills Mom]

DLP can be done really cheap. You just have to take your time planning when to go how to go and where to stay just like WDW.

We have been to DLP for less then £500 for 5 nights for the 3 of us. Staying on site, direct flight, tickets.

Wow I would love to get it that reasonable! Flights for Ireland are a real killer, there is no competition so prices can be as high as they choose! I priced loads of different times of year as we are not tied to a time in any way and cheapest its coming in at for direct flights, 3 nights onsite and tickets (no transfers or food included) is ¬1200! I reckon its not going to happen at that price, I would just keep thinking that saving a bit extra would mean more time away in our happy place. I have DH drove mad, he has said that every time I mention WDW from now on he will push back our dates by another SIX months!!! I'll be keeping schtum for the next while!!

 

[BudgieMama]

DLP can be done really cheap. You just have to take your time planning when to go how to go and where to stay just like WDW.

We have been to DLP for less then £500 for 5 nights for the 3 of us. Staying on site, direct flight, tickets.

I keep pricing up various DLRP trips for me and DH... but the accommodation on site looks crazily expensive. I don't know if that's because we could only ever travel out of school time, but it was pricing up stupidly expensive (more per night than our time at SSR!)

Must keep looking... must keep looking...

 

[tinks_1989]

Wow I would love to get it that reasonable! Flights for Ireland are a real killer, there is no competition so prices can be as high as they choose! I priced loads of different times of year as we are not tied to a time in any way and cheapest its coming in at for direct flights, 3 nights onsite and tickets (no transfers or food included) is ¬1200! I reckon its not going to happen at that price, I would just keep thinking that saving a bit extra would mean more time away in our happy place. I have DH drove mad, he has said that every time I mention WDW from now on he will push back our dates by another SIX months!!! I'll be keeping schtum for the next while!!

Wow. Personally having done both with DD now I would just save even if it took twice as long to save I would go to WDW. Lol and I actually loveDLP x

 

[tinkerpea]

Can't help with prices but just wanted to say that we have looked at DLP and totally agree that for that little bit more you can do disney world,which always then makes me think I'm wasting my money on 3 days when I could have 2 wks!!

I'd rather stay off site with no DDP, and budget my meals then spend the money on Paris for quarter of the time!

I hope you guys can make it work for you, as I LOVED going with my babies!

Have been when oldest was 4 months, then for his 1st bday and every other yr after that,

The twins 1st trip was at 15 months "perfect age" and every other yr after that. I'd love to re- wind time and have some if those moments back

 

[Wills Mom]

Wow. Personally having done both with DD now I would just save even if it took twice as long to save I would go to WDW. Lol and I actually loveDLP x

My whole idea behind DLRP was that its closer so I'd be able to convince DH to go as the flight isnt long but at the prices I'm getting its just not worst the trade off! Pity

 

[Wills Mom]

Can't help with prices but just wanted to say that we have looked at DLP and totally agree that for that little bit more you can do disney world,which always then makes me think I'm wasting my money on 3 days when I could have 2 wks!!

I'd rather stay off site with no DDP, and budget my meals then spend the money on Paris for quarter of the time!

I hope you guys can make it work for you, as I LOVED going with my babies!

Have been when oldest was 4 months, then for his 1st bday and every other yr after that,

The twins 1st trip was at 15 months "perfect age" and every other yr after that. I'd love to re- wind time and have some if those moments back

Yeah DS was that "perfect age" when we went. I'm MAD to go back when the Xmas decorations are up! But I'll take whatever I can get! I doubt we'll be staying onsite but closeby is better than nothing! We'd be purely WDW focused so no other tickets needed and if the two boys were under 3 its even more appealing!! We'd only be paying for eldest DSs flights really! As I was trying to point out to DH, trips will only get more and more expensive as the boys gets bigger so why shouldnt we take advantage now!! Have to laugh cause its almost like I'm trying to.convince myself at this point lol!!

 

[flortlebap]

Actually with kids so young DLP might not be a bad idea. It's less overwhelming and you wouldn't have to worry about the heat, plus everything is walking distance.

 

[Laurafoster]

We just went when DD was 3.5 and DS was 11 months. Mostly we just did Disney parks and went at the kids pace. We did what they wanted to do, and often went back for an early night when they wanted one. Flight was exhausting but it honestly was one of the best trips ever.

I do see the appeal with DLRP with it being so close but i begrudge their prices so my choice would always be WDW if it was realistic.