When to book?

[kaia739]

My boyfriend and I plan to go to Disney World this mid-August (2008). I'm under the impression that mid-August is value season (but perhaps I'm misinformed)!

We've been quoted a price that seems to me to be excessive - well over $2000 for a moderate resort, plus the Magic Your Way + Dining. I've seen advertisements for $2000 for a family of four (although this may not include Magic Your Way tickets), and we're only two! Nonetheless, I'm wondering if maybe it feels so expensive because I'm booking way too early, and none of the deals are out yet!

If this is in fact the case, could someone perhaps tell me what they believe the best time to book is?

In the summer we'll both be new University graduates and we can't afford a costly vacation - but I'm dying to go to WDW before I enter 'the real adult world'! Lol!

Thanks for any help you guys can provide!
- K

 

[highland3]

It's never too early to book!

Over $2000 for a week at a moderate, with the MYW and dining options is not that far-fetched. The dining adds a lot. Try figuring out how much you would normally want to spend for meals each day, add it up for the week and then compare it to the cost of adding the Disney Dining Plan. It works out well for some, but not so good for others.

Talk to a Disney Travel Specialist and see what they can come up with. They really can't come up with better prices than you can get on your own, but they may come up with a discount code you don't know about.

 

[Atlantis]

Hi - I always book in early summer and keep checking in in July/early Aug for our end of August trips once they announce the last summer/Sept deals. We have gone 3 times in August and have always been able to get a better deal. The past summer we were 3 adults at CBR with free dining and 7-day park hopper with water parks for around $1900 August 23-Sept.1.

 

[SeanK]

If you really want to keep costs down then stay at a value resort, you’re not going to spend much time in the hotel room on your first trip to Disney. So paying for the extra $$$$'s for a moderate resort i think is just a waist of money.

I would like to warn you that Orlando gets very hot in August, You’re looking at a normal high of 90-92. Now i find that very hot and with a lot of walking i know i peronaly will not enjoy Disney, so i avoid disney during these hot and busy months.

take a look at this link: http://www.orlando-weather.us/orlandoweatherinaugust.html it will give you the temp for August on avg.

If i can recommend i would look at going sometime between Jan - May, normally the crowds are low and it's very nice (25 to 30 in temp) weather Plus Disney will release promotion codes for these times as it's a little slower, you can take a look at http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneypackages.htm for information on Jan/feb


I hope this helps, if you have any questions please feel free to ask

 

[bunnyfoo]

I wouldn't go for the dining plan myself. I just don't eat that much food and when it's hot and humid and I'm doing a lot of walking - I really don't want that much weighing me down. On the other hand, I guess it's a good way to try out different types of apetizers/entrees.

 

[kaia739]

Thanks everyone for your opinions and answers!

Just a few questions that came up when I was reading your replies:

- Is it really not worth it to stay in a moderate resort on our first vacation? I was planning on it for two main reasons: 1) We're adults, and the value resorts seem a bit more aimed towards children, and 2) I figured that because there's so many people, the transportation to Disney would be lousy (although maybe with the money saved, we can take taxis)!

Any thoughts? I really don't know what I'm talking about, so I could be completely and utterly off!

- Second, any additional comments on the dining plan for my situation? Are we better to not tie ourselves down to food commitments? I just felt like if we do anything fancier than counter-service at Disney restaurants, we'd be spending more than we would on the dining plan.

Again though, I know very little!

Thanks for your help and all your replies! I suppose it's time to get my head off of Disney and back to studying for neuroscience (oh boy)!

- K

 

[SeanK]

Hi again,

I know a lot of adults that go to Disney 3 or 4 times a year. They stay at the value hotels and love it. You got to think about it for a minute.

If it's your first trip there, your more then likey going to be up for 8 or 9 am and not back until 10 or 11 pm. So your really only going to sleep there and why spend a lot of money on that? I find the transportation to these hotels are plentiful, you will not need to take any taxis.. The bus system at Disney is one of the best one i have ever seen! They know if a hotel is sold out that they need to put more buses on.... trust me you will not have a problem with that!

I love the dining plan mostly because when i go it's free or included with the package price. We went on our honeymoon last year and after all was said and done we would of saved 100.00 or more if we went with the Dining plan. It's a great deal!!!! 1 counter server, 1 table service and 1 snack very nice!!

Thanks everyone for your opinions and answers!

Just a few questions that came up when I was reading your replies:

- Is it really not worth it to stay in a moderate resort on our first vacation? I was planning on it for two main reasons: 1) We're adults, and the value resorts seem a bit more aimed towards children, and 2) I figured that because there's so many people, the transportation to Disney would be lousy (although maybe with the money saved, we can take taxis)!

Any thoughts? I really don't know what I'm talking about, so I could be completely and utterly off!

- Second, any additional comments on the dining plan for my situation? Are we better to not tie ourselves down to food commitments? I just felt like if we do anything fancier than counter-service at Disney restaurants, we'd be spending more than we would on the dining plan.

Again though, I know very little!

Thanks for your help and all your replies! I suppose it's time to get my head off of Disney and back to studying for neuroscience (oh boy)!

- K

 

[perfectparanoia]

I have stayed at both moderate and value resoirts and the rooms are not very different IMHO.

If you are looking to avoid children, you are probably out of luck either way. My best 'quiet' experience was actually at Pop Century when we asked for a very far away room when we checked in. We were virtually alone in our building (it was awesome!).

However, I am probably the wrong person to ask since I am now a DVCer since the moderates weren't nice enough for my liking.

However, if you want somewhere nice to stay that is more affordable, try renting points from a DVCer. They can still get you the dining plan (if that is what you want) and the cost for the tickets is actually cheaper through online brokers. If you went for a week at he Boardwalk in a standard view room, it would take 107 points. Points are rented usually at 5-11 dollars a point.

So (in USD)

Tickets (MYW Base 7 day) $222x2=$444
Dining (8 days when staying 7 nights) $37.99x7x2+tax=$563.77
Points (107) $5x107=$535 $11x107=$1177

Total: $1542.77-$2184.7
Total Moderate: $2380.62 (from disney site)
Total Value: $1855.90 (from disney site)

Personally, for my first trip, I would do no dining and stay in a Value resort if you are trying to save some cash.

The trip they talk about for a family of four does not include dining (unless it is free dining) and them staying in one room in value season.

You really just have to crunch the numbers.

 

[kaia739]

Thanks! I'll have to look into value resorts then as well!

As for the renting of points from DVCers... I looked into it briefly, but I got a bit scared. I was worried that because of my extreme lack of knowledge, I might be taken advantage of. In addition, on the DVC board, you'd see someone advertise points, and they'd have 20 reply messages with people saying 'pick me'! Is there some other way to do it, other than try and get picked first and trust that person? Or is there any tips to avoid these problems?

Thanks for all your opinions!

 

[sheilag]

Hi - someone wrote:
>>>>Talk to a Disney Travel Specialist and see what they can come up with. They really can't come up with better prices than you can get on your own, but they may come up with a discount code you don't know about.>>>>

True about the discount codes, but not really true about the better prices. Depends on your Disney Travel Specialist! I personally know of one company that monitors rates after a client has booked, and if a special comes up, they automatically check whether it will apply to the client. One of my friends saved $300 on a special she hadn't even heard about - she learned about it when the agent called her on her cell. (She was on a ski-hill - but didn't mind one bit - the saving of $300 after booking she did care about.)

As for the value vs. moderate debate, you're staying at Disney - so generally, they'll all be clean and comfortable spots. With a value, you have to keep in mind they're HUGE! Pop Century has almost 3000 rooms spread out over 10 buildings (and they're adding more) - which means, getting off your bus once you're back to the hotel can still leave you with a 15-20 min walk (depending how fast you can go at the end of the day) to get back to your room. You may have a long walk to the pools and/or food court as well. Staying at a preferred room location wll ease things for value stays. But, values are smaller rooms, less amenities, no on-site restaurants, etc. compared to moderates. Consider what you get for the extra money and decide whether it's worth it for your family. (BTW, think of the kinda hotel your family likes to stay in normally. A value might be comparable to a nice Motel6 or maybe a La Quinta. A moderate might be comparable to a nicer Holiday Inn.)

As for seasons, August and September are great - hot, but great. My family just returned from a late Sept. trip - crowds were light, and we took advantage of the "free dining" promotion that had been on for that time (had to book earlier in year). I was able to use the "bounce back" to book free dining again next year same time.

Have fun planning!