Need Help Filling in the Blanks/Advice- Been a long time Sept 2020 Trip

T

Tooning

Member
Hello All,

First I want to say I will appreciate any help to my questions and advice. Also just some reaffirmations lol. I haven't posted or responded in awhile but I've always been around the site and its where I come for news first. I really appreciate this site. Using the calculator already for my trip for when to book restaurants, fastpasses etc.

It's been close to 8 years since the last time I was there and I just booked my flights tonight. Its's going to be my son's first "real" trip(He was just a baby when we were there and he still had a blast and have some great pics so it was totally worth it) and my daughters first trip to Disney period. Went went quite a bit for a long time before we had kids, I still have helped plan a lot of other peoples trips(When I could) and still have a huge love of Disney including following along as best I can. But admittedly not going has made me not follow a long quite like I used to as its hard sometimes. I also have not spoiled any of the new stuff on YouTube (Oh yeah that was hard lol). We are also going with friends

Ok so to the point. (As I'm typing on comes the "They are only little once DisneyWorld Commercial Geez). First I am Canadian so Canadian help for some stuff may be required (Although I know you guys know everything WHICH IS FREAKING AWESOME). For Booking rooms they (Almost) always do deals but the last set of deals didn't go until September . Any ideas/thoughts on when September/Fall deals for rooms are going to happen? For deals, if I remember correctly, they used to be 25% off for value 35% for moderate and Plus for better hotels. I don't think they are that good anymore but still want to get a deal if possible. Also used to be deals for free dining plan and sometimes but rarely ticket deals with room bookings. Our preference is the most money off our rooms. Perhaps this deal is just for Canadians but with the Canadian dollar hurting any savings is huge. Perhaps it is Feb 26? That is when the current deal on the website is over.

As for Park tickets they almost always have a 25% off ticket discount for Canadian (Oh yeah that hasn't mocked me for 7 years lol) but the deal is gone for now, probably thanks to the price increase coming but I am sure that will be back but any thoughts on when? We can wait for those as long as possible right? As long as we have a room booking we will be able to get restaurant bookings( 6 months in Advance) and Fastpasses (180 days in advance) I extremely doubt we'll get to 180 days before though. For Canadians does anybody know if CAA gives any discounts on tickets. I bought a few things from my Disney trip but I forgot all the things I got from them. I am going to be getting my insurance from CAA. I do have a tip for Legoland tickets, right now Costco.ca has one day tickets on sale for $65 Canadian so if you are going there that's a savings(Ends Feb 13 and is good until Dec 31/20). Also Universal tickets promos?

Back to rooms for a few sentences. Our plan is for most nights to be at Pop Century (Art of animation pool might be down then) but my wife wants to spend one night at Animal Kingdom Lodge on the Savannah View (I know how much more expensive it is but my wife wants to see a closeup giraffe). Does Disney still do the Move you to a room and back like they used to? Or are we on our own for the move and then move back. Our friends are going to the same but then move to the Caribbean Resort. Also our flights get in early they will still hold our bags until our rooms are ready right, and take magic transport ? What is the earliest they will let us in our rooms? We are arriving on a Monday so perhaps that will help. Our plan is just to go hang out at Disney Springs (Yay Earl of Sandwich) until then.

I am planning on making this my best trip ever, and my friend that is coming is a HUGE Star wars fan and we are paying a lot of attention to the Rise of Resistance Queue/Boarding passes and getting fastpasses for Millenium Falcon etc. We are going to go to MNSSHP, HHN at Universal, get my daughter the full treatment at Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique and do the underground tour in Magic Kingdom. My boy will probably make a lightsaber(He's big into Star Wars too). I have the apps downloaded I need, the Schedule made (for now using the 2019 calendar), know the kids heights and all the height restrictions, planning on getting together with our friends to go over restaurants we want to book (Yay Le Cellier) . We're excited to use the gondola's

It's so far out but am soooo looking forward to this. I may think of other things but it is late lol. Thanks Everyone!
 
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nickys

nickys

Premium Member
OK, basic stuff first:

Fisrt of all, create an MDE account. If you were last at the World 8 years ago, even that may be new to you. It’s where everything is stored, reservation, ADRs, FPs etc. You can create profiles for your family on your account and manage them altogether.

ADRs can be made at 180 days out.

If you don’t yet have an onsite stay booked, you can make them day by day, exactly 180 days out for each day.

If you have an on-site stay linked to your MDE account whether a room-only or package, you can book for the length of stay or 10 days (the shorter of the two). But if you are splitting the stay with two+different resorts, each stay has it’s own booking window for ADRs. I would make it your last night, or two even if you can stretch to it. AKL is an amazing resort with a ton of activities there for kids and adults.

BBB can also be booked at 180 days out, and again with an onsite stay I think you can book it anytime during your stay, so you get a few extra days head start.

Tickets are now date specific, that have a start date and you no longer get a standard 14 days to use them. Typically you get an extra few days to use them, or for the length of a package. You can book FPs for the number of days of tickets you have. Up to 3 per day in one park.

FPs can be booked 60 days out as long as you have a reservation and valid tickets linked to MDE. You can book for the length of your stay or 14 days (the shorter of the two). After 14 days, it’s day by day: at 59 days out you can book day 15 etc.

Yes, Disney will still move your stuff for you.


So right now you need to make sure you have an MDE account, and link your reservation to it as soon as you can. And then look at tickets.
 
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Debbie Dykeman

Debbie Dykeman

New Member
I got the Canadian ticket deal, its now 20% off. think they usually start the deal near the end of October and you need to buy it by early Feb. You now need to say when your first day will be as tickets are more expensive during busy times. You will also need to remember to activate your Canadian tickets at Guest Services prior to entering the park. they will need to see a Canadian drivers license or passport. (as an FYI, I have also learned to take pictures of my passport on my phone because bars in Disney will not accept Canadian drivers licenses for proof of age..)

As far as moving rooms, I find it is MUCH easier to use Uber or Lyft. if you let the resort move your luggage, it might take all day... and with Uber you can be right there, leave your luggage with bell service if your room isn't ready, and hit the parks.

Also, i would definitely do your deluxe room at the end of your stay. If you move from Deluxe to Value it is going to be a shock :-) Have you thought of renting DVC points? Its a pretty reasonable way to stay in a deluxe resort.

If you want to get an idea of when room discounts happen, I suggest using mouse savers. This site keeps track of current discounts offered and shows you past discounts and when they were available.
 
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CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
If your budget allows it, consider Animal Kingdom Lodge Standard View for the entirely length of your trip. It's a huge upgrade and a much better value than a lot of the other add-on things you're considering (BBB, behind the scenes tours, etc.) Even if you had to cut down to seven or eight nights, I think it would tremendously worth it.

Pop Century is gross.
 
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T

Tooning

Member
Original Poster
First Thank you Again appreciate it.

Thanks for the tip on ADR's I am sure (At least hopeful) we will have our rooms booked by then. I have my Disney Accoutn and my wife created hers as soon as we booked our flights.

Awesome I will book BBB as soon as I can for my daughter.

Thank you for the tips on the Canadian stuff. I really though that it ran most of the year (Or hope I guess) as I thought I saw the commercials throughout the year. I would've booked that earlier but weren't quite sure on dates until I bought the plane tickets (For super cheap whoo westjet sale). I sure do hope tI can get the tickets a little cheaper.

Thank you for the tips on moving and the DVC points I will definitely look into that. I will also look at mouse savers( Admittedly I haven't been on their site in awhile).

Great Tips on AKL. I will consider those! We are planning a nice meal there too. In fact our friends anniversary night we are planning a nice meal there.

We have stayed at Pop century and do like it. I don't spend a lot of time in the hotel. My wife this time is going to spend more time there than me and she said she doesn't care if most nights are at Pop Century. As an alternative to Pop I may do as our friends are doing look at Caribbean as an alternative for more nights as I will be doing most of that research for them ( I really do love the planning process).

One more thing I thought of was some parking changes (We will have a car for some nights-got a great deal on rental). I understand they are charging for parking on site in resorts ($15 a day I think I read) and agree that shouldn't be. But I think I read parking at the parks is still free when staying on resort. Do they still have diamond AAA parking? I thought I read that they got rid of that but can't completely remember.

I will continue to watch this thread and again thanks.
 
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CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
dmw said:
Just so the OP knows, some people (me!) really love Pop Century. Cap and I agree on a lot, but this is one area where we have very different opinions of resorts. And, for reference, I have stayed at AKL in a savanna view and loved it. But, soooo expensive!
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I was just teasing when I said "Pop is gross," I know it has a ton of fans. I just really really really love AKL.

I totally agree about savanna view though, it's not worth the upcharge. But I think the ALK standard view rooms are the best bang for your buck on property.
 
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MoragL

MoragL

Member
Fellow Canadian here also going in September! It will have been almost 3 1/2 years since I have been and have been planning it since the day I got back from my last trip. It still seems so far away and not knowing park hours and dates of all the Halloween parties is driving me crazy as I can't finalize our itinerary. I will be keeping an eye on this thread for any advice that might be helpful.
I hope you didn't miss out on the Canadian deal on tickets. I ordered mine through Air Miles and they arrived yesterday :)
 
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D

Dave B

Well-Known Member
;)
CaptainAmerica said:
If your budget allows it, consider Animal Kingdom Lodge Standard View for the entirely length of your trip. It's a huge upgrade and a much better value than a lot of the other add-on things you're considering (BBB, behind the scenes tours, etc.) Even if you had to cut down to seven or eight nights, I think it would tremendously worth it.

Pop Century is gross.
Click to expand...
I think you get some sort of commission for suggesting AKL, you really like that place. ;)
 
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