What would you do? Take trip B4 DD2's birthday or wait & pay?

[frannn]

I would love to see all the new things that will come to WDW in May of this year (for DL 50th). DD2 will be 3 on 9/30. DH has to choose his vacation at the end of the prior year, and he choose March & Oct (we compromised). He would rather go in March, but I want to wait till Oct (he also took more time in Oct). How much more will it cost me to go when my DD is 3? We will most likely get her an AP, and we will probably do CRT breakfast, CP lunch, and CM dinner. Other meals we usually share and/or get her something anyway, so that's not really too much additional either way. We may opt to go to MNSSHP. I don't want to pick a different month, because we can't/won't go in the summer, or around a major holiday, and just barely missed a hurricane on our 9/04 trip. I'll probably look at the new pkgs because I would have loved to try the dining plan, but will 99% go with a AP discounted AS resort room. The crappiest part of this whole dilemma is that she would only have turned 3 a week/week and a 1/2 before our trip.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

With March being "peak" season and October being "regular" season, you'll save money on the room by waiting until October. This can help to offset the cost of your DD's AP. How much it helps will depend on where you stay and how long you stay.

My personal preference would be to wait until October. The crowds will not be as dense as March (Easter & Spring Break), the weather should be warm and you'll have MNSSHP to do as well.

It's too bad that your DH's vacation time doesn't correspond to your DD's birthday. You could have celebrated in WDW and you wouldn't have to buy her a pass.

 

[KristiKelly]

Is there anyway at all that your DH can switch his vacation by one week so that you could arrive on 9/29? If they turn 3 while there, they will not have to pay. I agree with October, it's a great time, weather is usually nice, Food & Wine Fest. is at EPCOT, MNSSHP - my favorite time to go.

 

[zippehsmom]

I would try and get there at least one day before her third birthday, if it is possible. We are doing just that in December. WE arrive 12/17 and DD2 turns 3 12/19.

zippehsmom

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

Nobody will know that she turned 3 unless you volunteer the information. My DD passed for two at Disneyland CA. for months, no one ever gave us a second look.

 

[frannn]

the first week of any month-I do the accounting for a small company and we pay commissions by the 15th of each month. Also, as much as it pains me to pay more for DD2 the first week or so that she's 3, I don't think I'd feel comfortable trying to pass her off as 2. To begin with, she's already very tall and sturdy, plus mommy's guilt would ruin part of the fun. I used to do the reward programs, but stopped last year. Now I wish I had put all my Xmas purchases through Mypoints! I'll try to rack up a couple points when shopping for office supplies.....and use the points for a RFC cert or something.
Thanks for all the opinions- keep 'em coming!

 

[mbethel]

So, if you arrive before the child turns 3 you don't have to have a child's ticket the whole time? I have some friends going right around their daughter's 3rd birthday. Grandma said she'd foot the bill for the child's ticket, but maybe she won't have to?

 

[donnajon]

Hey Frannn,
Our daughters have the exact same birthday. Mine will also turn 3 on 9/30. I was wondering if you got there before the birthday you don't have to pay. Y'all have just confirmed a birthday weekend at WDW (and hopefully MNSSHP on 9/30 too!) I have a DS8 and a DD5 and we will just have to leave after school on 9/29 and miss that friday at school. I don't think they'd mind.

 

[Ellester]

So, if you arrive before the child turns 3 you don't have to have a child's ticket the whole time? I have some friends going right around their daughter's 3rd birthday. Grandma said she'd foot the bill for the child's ticket, but maybe she won't have to?

The policy seems to be that the age the child is when you get there is the age you use for the whole trip. So, yes, a child would have free admission if they turned three during the trip. Same goes if your child turns 10, you would still buy them a 3-9 child ticket and it's still good when they turn 10 as long as one day is used. If you don't use all the days and it is a nonexpiring ticket, you can use it whenever later. I used a "junior" ticket that they don't even sell anymore in 2002. The first day was used in 1981 when I was 12, it was still a valid ticket for me even though I was 33 when I used it!