First timer, please help

[liberty2015]

Hi, hoping someone can help? Sorry bit of a long one.

We are looking to book our first WDW trip for last two weeks in October 2015. According to the Virgin brochure, if we book by 4th November 2014 we will get the free dining, which saves us £980. But I have been playing around with October 2014 prices on Virgin site for flights only and by lossing 2 days we save £1,039 plus a saving of £393 on room (£1,432 saving in total) Yet I cant book these till end Nov 2014. What should I do???

We are on a really tight budget, working every hour possible to achieve our dream holiday. But it feels impossible right now. Any advise would be great, thank you. Only other option is to go in August but we know the heat will be a nightmare (my daughter and I find UK summer to hot as it is )

Sorry more questions. Do Disney charge a fee to add additional days onto a reservation? Do they charge credit card fee?

Thanks very much xx

 

[liberty2015]

Yeah but there a lot of toll roads I mean a lot! It looked pretty much straight road but I don't drive so I don't tend to pay much attention to that sort of thing to be honest! I know you go over a huge river that has croc's in it my daughter was thrilled!

Thats good news, used to the nice toll roads in France. I watched a 'you tube' drive from International and that looked easy. Least we would have a car to use while there too. Feeling better about it now. Thanks

 

[TinkerBell43]

See a little research goes a long way, now go on the Disney website and look at the available hotels etc..don't forget the more expensive the hotel the better dining plan you get, however you still get your $200 Disney card no matter what accommodation you stay at and your tickets can be booked with them and then all you have to pay is your deposit which is about £50 per person. The Thomson flights you can wither pay in full or a deposit if you book at a Thomson shop however they add about £150 on if you just pay a deposit so it depends on what cash you have now!!! - I'm getting excited for you now!!! hey might even see you there is you go the same weeks as us LOL xx

 

[emma c]

Oooo I gotta wait til next year til I can start looking at deals for 2016. Sooo need to win euromillions tomorrow!

 

[liberty2015]

See a little research goes a long way, now go on the Disney website and look at the available hotels etc..don't forget the more expensive the hotel the better dining plan you get, however you still get your $200 Disney card no matter what accommodation you stay at and your tickets can be booked with them and then all you have to pay is your deposit which is about £50 per person. The Thomson flights you can wither pay in full or a deposit if you book at a Thomson shop however they add about £150 on if you just pay a deposit so it depends on what cash you have now!!! - I'm getting excited for you now!!! hey might even see you there is you go the same weeks as us LOL xx

Fingers crossed we should fly in day after you Thompson still looking like our best option. Have you booked transferes or are you renting a car? Car works out cheaper as would save on transport for seaworld and discovery cove but still bit unsure about driving there. Junctions look confusing. Maybe go for private taxi transfer. What would you recommend? Want to make sure I know excatly what we want before heading to travel agents.

What resort did you pick?

 

[liberty2015]

Oooo I gotta wait til next year til I can start looking at deals for 2016. Sooo need to win euromillions tomorrow!

I brought my first euromillions ticket a few weeks ago, desperate times!!

 

[TinkerBell43]

Morning....we are all lazy beggars so we are doing our own transfers as none of us want to drive as we like a little drinky poo's with our evening meals so we will be fully utilising the Disney transport .....we are staying on Saratoga springs as hotel rooms are not big enough for us all and it's cheaper to get apartments to be honest and with the DDP and $200 we got a good deal. We only have to pay for taxi's once in the resort for Universal as we did Discover Cove last time - which was fabulous by the way....cried buckets. Private taxi's are pretty reasonable we were having to get an 8 seater last time and most trips were costing us $60 return hence the reason why we opted for Disney this time!!! Excited.com

 

[liberty2015]

Your plans sounds amaing. I really like your idea for the relaxed transport, think hubby will agree with that too! Think I am having a bit of a fate timing push to get on and just book as our trip all depended on my job and just found out I got my (almost) promotion I have been chasing for 7 months. Makes the long nights well worth it

Sorry back to transport We would only need a small taxi so that sounds perfect. I would only taxi for outside resort and dosent sound to expensive at all. Heard some people mention taxi drivers take advantage and take the long route. Did you find that? As for discovery cove, the thought of seeing my daughters dream come true to swim with dolphins makes me want to cry already.

 

[TinkerBell43]

oo just went all goose-pimpley then....she will love it - one tip get there early so you get a morning swim with the dolphins and then you have the rest of the day to explore and don't eat beforehand as ALL food and drink is included in the price including beer and ice-cream.

We found the yellow cabs quite reasonable and the desks at Disney should have good firms to use and always ask them for a price up front. We touched lucky as we found a nice chap with a people carrier outside the parks who was licensed and him and his brother ran us everywhere for $30 each way....not sure if he will still be doing it but he was a lovely family guy and full of good tips
The transfer we had was from Orlando and it was about £140 return for the 8 of us and we booked before we went on line via emails etc - I've flown into Sanford before but years ago and they have shuttle buses to all the resorts similar to when you go to Paris (VEA) not sure if they still do them, but we are going to enquire nearer the time.

 

[emma c]

If you book with thompsons they do provide transport to hotel and back to airport for going home. Nice air con bus it's just they may have other stops at the disney hotels as well, I think we went to 5 other disney hotels but got to be noisy so I didt mind and only took few minutes extra!

Congrats on your promotion!

 

[liberty2015]

If you book with thompsons they do provide transport to hotel and back to airport for going home. Nice air con bus it's just they may have other stops at the disney hotels as well, I think we went to 5 other disney hotels but got to be noisy so I didt mind and only took few minutes extra!

Congrats on your promotion!

Thank you still smiling!

Will book our transfer with Thompson, thanks for advise. We are considering private taxi as its only extra £46 compared to coach. Yet car is only £53 more than coach, which gives us basically free transport to seaworld one day / Discovery Cove another day. So hard making choices. There all excellent options.

 

[liberty2015]

oo just went all goose-pimpley then....she will love it - one tip get there early so you get a morning swim with the dolphins and then you have the rest of the day to explore and don't eat beforehand as ALL food and drink is included in the price including beer and ice-cream.

We found the yellow cabs quite reasonable and the desks at Disney should have good firms to use and always ask them for a price up front. We touched lucky as we found a nice chap with a people carrier outside the parks who was licensed and him and his brother ran us everywhere for $30 each way....not sure if he will still be doing it but he was a lovely family guy and full of good tips
The transfer we had was from Orlando and it was about £140 return for the 8 of us and we booked before we went on line via emails etc - I've flown into Sanford before but years ago and they have shuttle buses to all the resorts similar to when you go to Paris (VEA) not sure if they still do them, but we are going to enquire nearer the time.

Thats a great price for a large transfer, we are only 3 people and its £154 return with Thomson. Think I need hubby to make decission on this one as I am useless. There are so many perfect choices.

 

[TinkerBell43]

Not a problem let me know if you need any more info - message me....it was 2 years ago so prices may have changed we are going to do some research next year as we have booked Disney and Flights separately as we wanted to know what were spending.....it's a minefiled but like I said last night don't get too stressed the planning is the start of the magic.....we can't wait for the dining reservations and the new fast past booking through my Disney experience which looks fab.... speak soon

 

[liberty2015]

Not a problem let me know if you need any more info - message me....it was 2 years ago so prices may have changed we are going to do some research next year as we have booked Disney and Flights separately as we wanted to know what were spending.....it's a minefiled but like I said last night don't get too stressed the planning is the start of the magic.....we can't wait for the dining reservations and the new fast past booking through my Disney experience which looks fab.... speak soon

Thanks Tinkerbell, enjoy your planning too

 

[liberty2015]

Sorry one more question.

When booking Disney Port Orleans Riverside, Royal Room. Has anyone got any tips on getting a quieter room? We are looking at Riverside rooms as they seem further from elevators and heavy traffic corridors. My daughter and I wake up at so much as a pin drop which is a nightmare when away. I have seen a map of room lay out but unsure if its upto date? I will book on the phone so wondering if anyone can suggest best way they dealt with this. Thank you

 

[emma c]

Don't know about royal rooms we stayed in the alligator section and it was really quite, and we was near car park but never heard much noise. To be fair was always soo tired after being at parks all day I was crashing out with kiddo by 8 most nights! Your best bet would properly to email the hotel and request a quite royal room?

 

[liberty2015]

Don't know about royal rooms we stayed in the alligator section and it was really quite, and we was near car park but never heard much noise. To be fair was always soo tired after being at parks all day I was crashing out with kiddo by 8 most nights! Your best bet would properly to email the hotel and request a quite royal room?

Thanks Emma, think I might book on the phone so maybe they can help. Didnt think about emailing direct, great idea.

 

[emma c]

Yeah I have read on here about few people doing that not sure if you get reply or they just note it on your booking but worth a try!

 

[liberty2015]

Just read the upgraded room is same price as moving to a delux resort. Based on what Tinkerbell43 said, about higher resort gets better meal plan. We can book a one bed Old Key west villa for cheaper than Royal room with meal plan upgrade.

Does anyone know how the Villas are layed out? Is it similar to hotels, ie: one apartment above another? Is there a better area to be in? Thanks

 

[emma c]

I have't but when I was pricing up the other night I did really like the look of there to be honest plus added space be nice I think the room I looked at had a balcony which be nice at night if you don't want go sleep when kiddo does you can sit on balcony having drink. Go on trip advisor and read reports?

 

[TinkerBell43]

Hiya if you go on trip advisor they havde room tips as part if their reviews...put in old key west an see....try saratoga sprjngs as well asxwhen we researched we found that resort to be a similar price....if you call disney to book mention your requirements an they will note it on your booking....october is quite in comparison to other times of the year so u are more likely to get your wishes..but in true disney style if it aint right when u get there they will fix it xx