Who do you use to book your Walt Disney World Holiday and a few other questions!

[waydownunder]

Hi All

My Hubby and I have just booked flights to Orlando fom 8th Septemer to 23rd September 2017 with Air New Zealand as they had a good deal going so we decided lets just do it. We have been to Disneyland twice and I have always just booked everything on line myself but finding WDW a bit daunting. Who do you guys use to book your accommodation and park tickets ect?

The plan at the moment is:
10 day WDW tickets (non park hoppers)
1 day Universal Studios (mainly for the wizarding world of harry potter)
1 day Florida Mall (I admit it I am a big kid and just love American Girl so gotta get a doll and a few accessories)
1 day outlet shopping

So do you think we should split our stay and just stay at WDW for the 10 day ticket period and stay off site for the other 4 nights?

We will not have a car so relying on taxi's ect to get around.

Any tips or help you can give me would be greatly appreciated as WDW planning seems very scary at the moment.

Thanks

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Sorry we just book direct with WDW online for accommodation (normally for one of their discount deals - keep a watch on their website) unless we get a deal we can't resist from a third party discount supplier (also online). With a hotel booking we normally request disney express at least one way depending on where we head next. Were you planning on hiring a car? If staying on site at WDW getting up to universal, the mall and outlets will be difficult. I guess now Uber makes it a bit cheaper but those destinations are not close to WDW. You may want to consider staying at the universal/mall end of town for that cluster of days. if staying off site factor in car parking costs each day. WDW and Universal tix can be bought through places like Undercover Tourist for a bit of a discount and for WDW can be linked to your magic bands if you are sraying onsite. once you have tix and set up a My Disney Experience on WDW and are in the appropriate time frame you can book restaurants and fast pass+ rides.

 

[ColinA]

for the shopping and Universal part I would maybe hire a car for a few days. It is very spread out.

 

[BecBennett]

You've got plenty of time to research, so don't fret

Personally I generally book everything myself, because I like to look into every little detail, however Dreams Unlimited do pretty good quotes, and it's all customisable. Plus if any specials come up after you've booked they let you know and you can change things around.

I highly recommend renting a car, especially for Universal and shopping. It's so convenient knowing that there's transport waiting for you, when and where you want it, plus it takes so much less time to get around than public transport. Also the roads around Disney World are incredibly easy to navigate. Usually I'm the navigator and my husband is the driver and it's easy as pie, however even when we swap, and I'm the driver and the navigator gets distracted looking out the window, or checking facebook it's just as easy to follow the massive street signs everywhere.

 

[waydownunder]

Thanks for your input. I have decided to stay offsite for the first 4 nights of our trip and do 10 nights at WDW, so just have to find accomodation offsite for those first few days.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We book everything ourselves and hire a car to get around. As others have pointed out, WDW to UO is a fair stretch and it works out cheaper to hire a car rather than do taxis/shuttles. Not sure how it works out with Uber around.
We also will stay at Universal on-site if it's a busy period for the perks.

A split stay is great if you're planning on seeing other things in Orlando other than Disney.

Like Wendy, I do get my tix from Undercover Tourist. They've always been a good way to save a few dollars off the gate pricing.


About the only thing to make sure you don't miss is your 180-day food dining date. If you are staying onsite and want to experience the Disney restaurants, you'll want to make sure that you get your booking in right on the date. Once you've figured out where you're eating and looked at the Extra Magic Hour schedule, your tour plans kinda falls in place.
You're also there during the Food and Wine Festival....so you may want to factor that into your dining plans.

Have fun! Sounds like an awesome trip at a good time to visit. Most of us that have visited during September also book in for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party experience. Something else to consider.

 

[waydownunder]

YES definitely planning to do the halloween party, is it OK to do with no kids?
Hubby bluntly refuses to drive over there so no car for us.
Don't know much about the Food and Wine Festival, How does it work?
Is it worth waiting to see if there will be free dining next year or just go ahead and book as if I wait to see if there is free dining I will miss my 180 day dining booking date and would hate to miss out on a reservation waiting for the free dining bookings to open

Sorry for all the questions but I am totally confused with how it all works so please be patient with me.

 

[ColinA]

Hubby bluntly refuses to drive over there so no car for us.

Why don't you do the driving. My DW does sometimes. It is easy.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sorry for all the questions but I am totally confused with how it all works so please be patient with me.

Ask away! That's how we all learnt about planning for WDW in the first place. We all had other Dis-sers help us out to begin with. And there is no need to apologise.

YES definitely planning to do the halloween party, is it OK to do with no kids?

Yes! You just get to be a kid yourself.

Hubby bluntly refuses to drive over there so no car for us.

If hubby doesn't want to drive, what about you?
For me, the hardest bit about driving in the US is getting out of the hire car parking lot. Once you're on the road, you just drive with the rest of the traffic. I find the US drivers to be much more polite than Melbourne drivers.
(And yes, I do drive when I'm in the US. I've had to....if hubby is on a work trip.)

Is it worth waiting to see if there will be free dining next year or just go ahead and book as if I wait to see if there is free dining I will miss my 180 day dining booking date and would hate to miss out on a reservation waiting for the free dining bookings to open

Booking a WDW vacation (or any American booking) - now - "locks" you in to the MOST you will pay for the vacation. It generally gets cheaper from that point.

If you decide to go with an American travel agent for booking your WDW vacation, the good ones will actually set up pre-arrangements with you so that they know what you want and jump on the discount when it comes out....if that's the discount that works best for you. If you do it yourself, you just have to check the Dis to see when the chatter starts up. If you're watching the chatter, when the discounts come through, you just have to ring (or go online) and make changes to your booking to the lower rate.

You can also book your dining 180 days out. If you are staying onsite, you can book at 180+10 days out. (Note: If you stay onsite, you can book all your ADRs at the 180+10 days out for the entire duration of your stay. If you're staying offsite, you'll have to call each day when the 180 day mark comes round to book in....especially if you're after popular restaurants.)
Remember - you can book most of your dining and cancel them at a later time (if FD isn't offered). You just have to take note of which ones Disney charge a booking fee for in advance or make sure you cancel by the 45 day mark to avoid incurring cancellation fees.

Don't know much about the Food and Wine Festival, How does it work?

Food and Wine is held at Epcot. It usually goes for about 2 months. There are at least 20 - 25 booths set up, each one generally representing a different country. At each booth, there will be a selection of snacks/food and wine offered for a price. If you are on a dining plan, the information will be available on each booth (and also available online in advance) as to which of the items can be used as part of your snack credit.
You can also pay cash for the items your get or buy a F&W card and preload $ on it. Personally, I like the F&W card system. It comes with a twisty thing that you can wear around your wrist and it means I don't carry cash. It also means that I can set my budget and not overspend!!

You can also book in for some of the special foodie events. They might seem pricey...but if there is a particular celebrity chef or event you want to go see, they could be worth it. Tastings of the food and wine do generally get included in these events. Be aware...the events book out fast.

There's usually whole threads on the Dis dedicated towards F&W, including pictures of the food items.

Might be worth checking this one out?
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/

 

[waydownunder]

Thanks so much PrincessInOZ. So this is where I am at so far.
Arrive Orlando 7.00pm Friday 8th September 2017 - Swim at resort pool and citywalk for dinner
4 nights Cabana Bay at Universal
3 day park to park tickets
Saturday 9th EE Universal Studios then leave early lunchtime/early afternoon to go to Orlando International Premium Outlets
Sunday 10th EE Universal Studios then leave early lunchtime/early afternoon to go to Florida Mall (American Girl)
Monday 11th EE Universal then stay all day
Tuesday 12th Move to Disney All Star Movies for rest of stay -10 day one park per day pass and 1 Halloween Party.

I have planned half park days for the Saturday and Sunday as once we get to WDW it is going to be full on so this is probably our only chance to get some shopping in (that's not Disney) and thought better to do mornings in the parks instead of shopping in the mornings then parks in the afternoons then we can use the early entry.

Still working on WDW part of trip.

Any comments or suggestions would be great.

 

[Montanabel]

YES definitely planning to do the halloween party, is it OK to do with no kids?
Hubby bluntly refuses to drive over there so no car for us.
Don't know much about the Food and Wine Festival, How does it work?
Is it worth waiting to see if there will be free dining next year or just go ahead and book as if I wait to see if there is free dining I will miss my 180 day dining booking date and would hate to miss out on a reservation waiting for the free dining bookings to open

Hello waydownunder

J

 

[Montanabel]

Hello waydownunder

Just to add my two cents, we went to Disneyworld this year, 4 September until 18 September, so kind of similar timeframe to yourself. We booked our accommodation/tickets directly with Disneyworld as soon as we knew our dates and then when the dinning reservations opened up, booked away. Later when free dining was announced and we saw we were staying in the eligible period we changed our booking to free dining package - it was very easy.

This year the free dining package was released on 25 April at 6pm (AEST) and I was ready to change the booking as soon as it went live. It is VERY popular so I would recommend if you are interested in this package and are doing the booking yourself, be ready to book as soon as it goes live.

As for getting around, if driving isn't for you, have you considered Uber? Super easy to arrange, the drivers pick you up very quickly and is much cheaper than taxis. We used it in three different cities when in the USA and found it a great way of getting around (when we didn't have a car).[/QUOTE]

 

[Kangarucci]

Daughter there at the moment and used Uber to get from Disney Springs to Port Canaveral as well as to Universal and surrounds. Very reasonable and cheaper than town car to Port Canaveral. They were not comfortable to drive, (young adults).

 

[ilanakan]

We did a split stay in 2013, staying 8 nights on site in Disney, 4 nights at Renaissance at SeaWorld and 4 nights at Hard Rock Hotel. We did the shopping scene in Orlando, and got around with public transport and taxis. I found it to be cheaper than renting a car, and we just couldn't be bothered driving. The advantage of staying on site in Universal is that you have early access to Harry Potter world and also fast passes on most of the rides at both parks.
You wrote that you have only one day planned at Universal. If you want to see all of the Harry Potter areas, you will need a park to park hopper ticket, as they are located in the two Universal parks.
I found that it was cheapest and quite easy to book everything online myself.
Saying that, I found a new travel agency in the states that I am thinking to use for our next trip to Disney. They book the Disney trip, Hotel, book your adr's (some you need to book 180 days ahead of time because they get booked out, like BOG), they follow specials and apply them to your reservations, like free dining, for example... - It's called Destinations to Travel, and the owner has a great blog worth while having a peek at (http://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/).- you could contact them and see what they have to offer.

 

[lifepaused]

I booked through Escape Travel. I managed to get return flights from Perth to Orlando for $1750 return on emerants. Staying st All Star Sports for 9 days with 7 day disney world pass, then heading over to cabanna bay for the remainder to do universal, including Halloween Horror Nights. Just finished booking my Dinner reservations which took a bit of research of where to eat.

DW 2003

 

[MickeysBelle]

For our WDW accommodation and tickets we book through the Walt Disney world website ourselves.
If a special comes out for our dates it is easy to change the booking.
We used to use a US Disney specialist travel agent but found it easier and quicker to just do it ourselves.
We've bought our universal tickets from the universal website direct.

We've never done a split stay, we just use cabs to get around. However, next time we are thinking of hiring a car for the convenience. Cab fare from Disney to universal was about $40 including tip one way. Florida mall is a lot more.

 

[lifepaused]

For our WDW accommodation and tickets we book through the Walt Disney world website ourselves.
If a special comes out for our dates it is easy to change the booking.
We used to use a US Disney specialist travel agent but found it easier and quicker to just do it ourselves.
We've bought our universal tickets from the universal website direct.

We've never done a split stay, we just use cabs to get around. However, next time we are thinking of hiring a car for the convenience. Cab fare from Disney to universal was about $40 including tip one way. Florida mall is a lot more.

we will be using uber. Some prices I have are
all star Sports to Cabana Bay Beach Resort $20
Cabana bay to airport $30
This is the cheapest option.

 

[MickeysBelle]

we will be using uber. Some prices I have are
all star Sports to Cabana Bay Beach Resort $20
Cabana bay to airport $30
This is the cheapest option.

Uber definitely sounds a lot cheaper than cabs.

 

[waydownunder]

Hi All,

Thanks for all your advice. I have booked 4 nights at Loews Royal Pacific Resort and brought 3 day park to park tickets direct from universal site. I have also booked 11 nights at POP Century and brought 10 day 1 park per day tickets through WDW site. I will add park hoppers once there if we need them. Also pre-purchased Memory Maker. All our dining is booked I am just waiting for the dessert parties/dining packages to become available, Star Wars Dessert Party for hubby and Rivers of lights dining at Tusker House. I feel really lucky to have scored Be Our Guest and Cinderella's Royal Table bookings and have also booked Minnie's Halloween Dine at Hollywood and Vine. Finally feel like i'm getting somewhere with my planning.
Thanks Agin fo all your suggestions you are great

 

[Tashinwdw]

We went in 2014 and did a split stay, wdw and cabana bay, this was mostly due to in 2012 we went to WDW for 8 nights and found that we just didn't fit enough in and the kids would get grumpy and I would get cranky because I knew (went years before kids) there was so much more to see and do. In the end I had to put my hands up in the air and go with the flow and accept we just would not see and do everything that WDW had to offer. Luckily my DH (who had never wanted to go and hated traveling) decided that we would come back but this time for longer, so we planned a bigger trip in 2014, this included 1 week at cabana bay - we loved it there, they have movies by the pool each night, and loved the lazy river, we found the whole stay excellent and look forward to going back and staying there, it was the kids favourite place to stay.

We did 4 weeks in WDW (but that included a 4 night disney cruise in the middle) We travelled with 4 young teens and tweens so it was a bit different but found that they got tired easier and wanted more rest time, we made it every third day was a rest day where we had nothing planned at all - we ended up doing some stuff on those days but it was nice to know we could do nothing if we wanted too. The kids enjoyed days just lazing around the hotel or a quick trip to the shops. I think its really important to have those rest days. It made a big difference to our holiday.

I booked everything myself online except for the cruise. First trip we had the free dining which was amazing - the time of year you are going it will be very likely that it will be available. the second time we went we booked our accomm through DVC points which made it affordable for us to stay as long as we did - plus with 6 of use we needed a villa which gave us a kitched so we could get groceries delivered which also kept costs down. We didn't do the dining plan then because it didn't come free, but DH has said that next visit we will purchase that because it was just more convenient.

There are so many hints and discounts for things available on the internet, just keep searching and reading different forums and you will be amazed how you can find some tricks to lessen the stress and expense of your WDW holiday.

Highly recommend the halloweeen party, went both trips and second time only 2 kids wanted to go, they preferred hanging out at the pool relaxing, I took the older girls and myself and we had a blast. I would go without kids - much more fun - and I was the one out of all of us going, 'come on - lets line up for trick a treat - or look another trick or treat post' haha

When we stayed at cabana bay we did the outlets, sea world, discovery cove (highly recommend - best day ever!) It was cheaper to get taxi's etc around at that area of town than when staying on Disney property.

I have not stayed at the All stars but one of our down days was spent resort hopping and we stopped and had a look around, it looked nice, it was busy but not horrible busy if you get what I mean. As far as I am concerned its a Disney holiday and nothing beats that.

Now my children are all doing HSC etc we have put our Disney holidays on hold - waiting for the new lands to open - we now spend our holidays cruising, but I cant wait to get back there, you will have an amazing time.