Where do I start???

[skimom]

Gosh - lots and lots of info here, but I'm feeling kinda overwhelmed! We're planning a trip to Disney during spring break next year. Is it too early to book reservations?

Dh and I will be travelling with our 4 kids (ages 2 1/2 - 11) - my dad and stepmom will be joining us 2 days after we get there.

We're thinking of spending 1 day at Universal, then 5 days at the Disney parks. We'll most likely be spending most of our time at the 4 big parks, and skipping the water parks, etc.

Would our best bet be to book the resort by itself and skip the packages? From what I can tell, the basic package doesn't offer too much, but when I compared prices (tickets and resort separately vs. the package deal), the package deal was a lot more. What am I missing here???

I really want this to be a special time for our kids, as we've never had a "real" vacation before - most of the time we just visit family and maybe do a fun thing or two (Sea World, the zoo....). And most likely, the opportunity for a "real" vacation won't happen again for a while!

All advice is appreciated!

Wendy

 

[Gary M]

Wendy, welcome to the DIS boards. The first couple of times DW and I went to WDW we booked packages through a travel agent. We didn't know about discounts and paid more than we should have for the extra bells and whistles. Some discount packages are best for certain situations, but just keep an eye on these boards and www.mousesavers.com for discount codes.

I would suggest you know what your budget is for a room and reserve the room at that rate. If a discount comes along, then you can decide whether to go ahead and get a savings on your booked room or upgrade to a different resort at their discounted rate, that falls within your budget.

www.allearsnet.com is another WDW site that has great information.

 

[skimom]

Thanks, Gary!

I was looking at the mousesavers site, and I noticed "peak" rates for the value/moderate resorts are from Feb17 - Apr16. Does that mean when we go on spring break it will be really crowded (more so than summer?). From what I've read in a Disney guide, it's just as crowded either way. And we're thinking crowded and 13 degrees cooler is a little better than crowded and sweltering hot!

Wendy

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Spring break will definitely be crowded but don't let that bother you if that is the only time you can go. Get to the park of your choice early, if it is Early Morning Hour you may want to use it....this is for Disney resort guests only.
If you skip the Early Morning park make sure you get to the park you want right at opening. You can get a lot done early in the morning. By using Fast Passes you will be able to do even more in less time.
Keep reading these boards for tips and ideas.

 

[Tess]

It's typically more crowded at spring break than summer (at least earlier in summer, e.g., late spring to early summer). We've been in August before and found crowds less than June, but it was much, much rainier. Spring break is very crowded although it should be cooler, although with the heat, there's no guarantee! Good planning makes the crowd situation manageable--although, in a first time situation--spring break will be overwhelming, too.

As to your question regarding booking--I'd book at a resort that struck my fancy and suited the pocketbook now. If you wait much longer, you may not be able to book you preference for spring break time. You should then wait and watch for any possible discounts that might apply to your reservation(s). Spring break is not famous for plentiful discounts, but you should keep your eye open anyway.

Package deals are rarely a good deal for the consumer. If they were, it wouldn't make much sense for Disney to offer them since its goal is to make money. You are almost always better off purchasing your tickets separately from your room (or even adding length of stay passes later or at check-in provided you will use all of the features--DQ, BB/TL, PI, etc.).

A good many people on the DIS do the gold or silver add-ons, but personally, I couldn't eat that many meals in a day to make it worthwhile. Some people can and do because they are willing to sacrifice park time to slow down and enjoy a less frenetic pace. In that instance, those could be beneficial--again, if you're going to take full advantage of the features. For a first-time experience, I would bet you will be more awed by Disney and want to experience the parks and food options with more emphasis on experiencing the parks.

A WDW vacation, and more specifically the planning, can be overwhelming. You're doing the right thing--research, plan, make decisions, list your priorities and then tailor your vacation to fulfill those things most important to you and your family. Keep lists, take notes, and read, read, read. Then head on vacation, take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the trip! Too many people forget to enjoy the experience and get too caught up in worrying that they aren't going to do/see something they had on their lists. Go on vacation knowing you can't possibly see/do it all the first time. This will free your mind to enjoy the trip and you can always come back again! Lord knows, most of us have!