- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Messages
- 1,395
We live in OR and just bought DVC last year. We usually switch off between DL and WDW, but from now on we will be going to WDW! 
We would always buy an AP and get two trips out of it. We especially like the discount for AP's with DVC! (Hope they continue that one!)
We also have a mileage visa that gives us a $50 companion fare every year. We even bought our DVC with the visa and got a free ticket out of the deal.
We usually get airfare for $203-$280 to Orlando. It actually cost us more to fly to Southern CA this past summer. I am set up on Travelocity and some other sites and they keep me posted on the best airfares.
At some point, we may use our DVC for DL, but probably not for awhile. We rented out our points when we first bought and paid cash for DL with a Senior discount. (We brought my mom with us) We usually get a really great rate with an AP discount, but they were not available last summer.
You will get many different opinions on dining. We are not huge eaters (well, two of us are not! DH could eat his way through the World, even though he doesn't look like it! )
We always rent a car and stop and get groceries on our way to the Hotel. It saves money and time. We do at least one Character meal, but we pick and choose our meals out carefully. I think we are going to try DME and a grocery delivery next time to save some money.
We haven't really had a problem with getting dining ressies, but we always go in August. It is not the busiest time of year. We like the Rainforest Cafe and that place can get pretty busy. I belong to MyPoints.com and earn GC's for RFC every year. You can make your dining ressies pretty far in advance if you want to, but we like to play it by ear most of the time.
So there is a few tips and tricks from this West Coaster! Hope it is helpful!
One more thing that we do is take a late flight to Orlando, so we arrive in the AM. We started taking our son to WDW when he was six and he has always been a great traveler!
If we get a little tired in the middle of the day on the day we arrive, we might take a two hour nap and be all refreshed for an evening at the MK! 
We would always buy an AP and get two trips out of it. We especially like the discount for AP's with DVC! (Hope they continue that one!)We also have a mileage visa that gives us a $50 companion fare every year. We even bought our DVC with the visa and got a free ticket out of the deal.
We usually get airfare for $203-$280 to Orlando. It actually cost us more to fly to Southern CA this past summer. I am set up on Travelocity and some other sites and they keep me posted on the best airfares.
At some point, we may use our DVC for DL, but probably not for awhile. We rented out our points when we first bought and paid cash for DL with a Senior discount. (We brought my mom with us) We usually get a really great rate with an AP discount, but they were not available last summer.
You will get many different opinions on dining. We are not huge eaters (well, two of us are not! DH could eat his way through the World, even though he doesn't look like it! )
We always rent a car and stop and get groceries on our way to the Hotel. It saves money and time. We do at least one Character meal, but we pick and choose our meals out carefully. I think we are going to try DME and a grocery delivery next time to save some money. We haven't really had a problem with getting dining ressies, but we always go in August. It is not the busiest time of year. We like the Rainforest Cafe and that place can get pretty busy. I belong to MyPoints.com and earn GC's for RFC every year. You can make your dining ressies pretty far in advance if you want to, but we like to play it by ear most of the time.
So there is a few tips and tricks from this West Coaster! Hope it is helpful!
One more thing that we do is take a late flight to Orlando, so we arrive in the AM. We started taking our son to WDW when he was six and he has always been a great traveler!
If we get a little tired in the middle of the day on the day we arrive, we might take a two hour nap and be all refreshed for an evening at the MK! 
