Help with my 2016 trip planning?

[EmmieSue]

Okay so, I've started planning a Disney world trip with my parents and my sister (4 adults) for 2016. Right now this is what we are thinking:

Hotel: Pop Century
Dates: 11/26-12/3
Dining: Out of pocket. We sat down and went through meals and estimated about $800 for a food budget, but we are bumping that up to $1000 and whatever doesn't get spent can be used toward other things. (souvenirs and such) Food budget does include tips and such as well at table service.

Picked this time because various sites are saying this is one of the quietest times to go. Obviously that weekend will most likely still be packed with the thanksgiving crowd, but then crowd calenders show it getting much lower after Sunday. Also we're hoping to do some of the Christmas things.

Originally we were thinking September, but I don't know. Is September better than November? We aren't interested in the food and wine festival. September would allow us free dining IF they offer it and such. But would this really save us money or would we be better off just adding a possible room discount? Our meal budget includes a few table service, so to get those included we would have to stay moderate which seems like a waste of money on its own. Plus you have my parents who tend to share meals when we go to places, so they would most likely share at a quick service the majority of the time and sometimes my sister and I just order from the kids menus.

Any opinions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Take into account money savings, Disney Christmas stuff, weather, crowds, and all that please.

Also, Travel Agents...should we use one? Honestly I was leaning toward one to make things a little less stressful, but do you have a better chance getting ADRs with them or on your own? What about Fastpass+? I would be pretty upset if they messed something up with either of those...I've heard people say it is wrong to only use a TA for part of your trip. So any advice on TAs would be great too.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TXDisney]

If money might be an issue I suggest booking it with just paying the $200 down payment then pay as you go. At pop century it shouldn't be too expensive. I will say I highly recommend the food and wine festival. Even if you're not a drinker the good is great and cheaper then a table service a day. I always recommend when planning to do 2 MK days and 2 Epcot days then do the 2 other parks and other stuff the rest of the days. Get ur advance dining right when available 180 days out. And fast passes 60 days out. Guarantees you what you want. You can always cancel your reservations. Have fun!!!

 

[belledream]

That's a loooong trip! I'm sure you meant 11/3, not 12/3 right? $800 isn't gonna cut it!

September crowds will be lower than October. We enjoy going in September, but you definitely won't see Christmas stuff during that time. F&W will begin sometime in the month, so EPCOT may be a little more crowded than usual. I think what it affects most is resort availability in the EPCOT area, but since you're doing Pop, you would be fine.

As for the dining plan, the person who can give you the best answer is you. It works for some people who want to order anything and everything when they eat. For others, it makes them order food/drinks that they wouldn't normally get - thus jacking up the bill and tip artificially. It does sound like between sharing meals and ordering from the kid's menu, the dining plan may not be your best bet. However, room discounts at Value resorts aren't as substantial and they would be at Mod/Deluxe.

Weather in Sept. can be volatile. I believe the rain dies down in Oct/Nov. Coupled with really wanting to see Christmas stuff, sounds like you should just go for Oct/Nov. Enjoy the sights and sounds, an extra 20 minute wait isn't going to break your trip.

And as for TAs, I don't know about getting better reservations and stuff, but I personally like planning my own trip. It's fun and helps with the wait.

 

[EmmieSue]

If money might be an issue I suggest booking it with just paying the $200 down payment then pay as you go. At pop century it shouldn't be too expensive. I will say I highly recommend the food and wine festival. Even if you're not a drinker the good is great and cheaper then a table service a day. I always recommend when planning to do 2 MK days and 2 Epcot days then do the 2 other parks and other stuff the rest of the days. Get ur advance dining right when available 180 days out. And fast passes 60 days out. Guarantees you what you want. You can always cancel your reservations. Have fun!!!

We are too picky for the food and wine festival. My dad would be the only one who would eat anything from it and even then he really doesn't eat much. xD We also are apparently in the minority as we basically hate Epcot...Our favorites are MK and AK. But thank you! We are planning to pay as we go and we already have a list of ADRs to make once it is finally time. xD

That's a loooong trip! I'm sure you meant 11/3, not 12/3 right? $800 isn't gonna cut it!

Actually I completely messed up those dates. I meant 11/26-12/3. That's what I get for writing things when I just wake up, but boy do I wish I could do that trip. xD

 

[belledream]

Actually I completely messed up those dates. I meant 11/26-12/3. That's what I get for writing things when I just wake up, but boy do I wish I could do that trip. xD

Haha! Don't we all. Well then, most of my post still stands. Just replace Oct/Nov with Nov/Dec.

 

[EmmieSue]

Haha! Don't we all. Well then, most of my post still stands. Just replace Oct/Nov with Nov/Dec.

Thanks for the input! That was basically my thinking with the TAs right now as well. I love planning Disney trips, but I've never actually had to deal with actually doing it myself since my older sister is normally the one organizing our trips. Her and her family won't be joining us for this one, so I am the one doing it all. xD

We also do values for a different reason than most I assume...we do it because they have more of a Disney theme to them. Since we are hardly ever in the room anyway, the decorations outweigh everything else. Someday I am going to do AKL though.

Plus going in November gives us a bit extra time to save and such. Still leaning toward keeping the dates we have then.

 

[belledream]

Thanks for the input! That was basically my thinking with the TAs right now as well. I love planning Disney trips, but I've never actually had to deal with actually doing it myself since my older sister is normally the one organizing our trips. Her and her family won't be joining us for this one, so I am the one doing it all. xD

We also do values for a different reason than most I assume...we do it because they have more of a Disney theme to them. Since we are hardly ever in the room anyway, the decorations outweigh everything else. Someday I am going to do AKL though.

Plus going in November gives us a bit extra time to save and such. Still leaning toward keeping the dates we have then.

I totally feel you on everything! My mom always planned everything and once I started going without fam, I definitely learned to appreciate everything she did for us - cause it's a lot!

And I am definitely a value junkie at the moment...I LOVE seeing Disney everywhere and I LOVE being able to spend more time in the World by staying in values! When we have kids, we'll definitely go deluxe at some point, but for now, like you, we are always at the parks and just pass out at night.

Happy planning!

 

[Tinkerkelle]

I love planning Disney trips, but I've never actually had to deal with actually doing it myself since my older sister is normally the one organizing our trips. Her and her family won't be joining us for this one, so I am the one doing it all. xD

Planning's the best part. I love it too and am so glad my husband just lets me get on with it. I show him what I've done and share pictures, menus and things to keep him in the loop. We had every intention of going value on our first trip with the boys but in the UK you get a $200 gift card and free DDP if you stay moderate or deluxe (for 2016 they're throwing in memory maker too) so we stayed CBR as it had the pirate theming and my boys just loved it. We're staying CR this year as we got a great deal on a Garden Wing room. Staying at WDW is fab no matter where you are and every resort has it's own charm.

We always go in October as we get 2 weeks school holidays then and, compared to Easter, Summer and Christmas, things are a bit quieter. The Halloween offerings are fab and the F&W festival is fun but I would love to go at Christmas - touring the resorts to see the decorations, MVMCP, the park decorations... As a teacher, though, I can't see my boss being too responsive for a request for 2 weeks leave in early December and I don't know how I would cope with the Christmas crowds and the Christmas prices!

My husband's aunt was over last year around the dates you're talking about and she found the weather to be fine and really enjoyed the beginnings of the Christmas season. Enjoy your planning!