Armstrong Airport - Disney Vacation For Two?

Disney Vacation For Two?

I've never been to Disney before. I'd love to go. My boyfriend and I want to go sometime in 2009. We'd like to stay for at least 5/6 days. However, it's so expensive. We are looking to pay about $2,000 total for our accommodations, airfare, park passes and we'd like to have the dining plan. I've been playing on line with the "Magic Your Way" planner. I've yet to find a package that's something we can afford. Can anyone tell me any trips to booking a Disney Vacation and saving money. I want to stay in the resort and I would like to stay in one of the Moderate prices resorts (like New Orleans or Colornado Springs) I don't like the Value Park. It seems too kidish. It's just going to be the two of us, so I want something a little more sophiscated and no so kiddish.

Public Comments

we just returned from our disney vacation, the first usuing the dining plan and found it totally worth the money. we have been to disney 20 times or more but always rent a house near the park. check with AAA, is you are a member becasue they offer free dining packages during certain periods whihc will lower the price of your package by hundreds of dollars. you dont say why you want a moderate priced resort but unless you are planning to spend alot of tim at your hotel i would recommend going value and using the money you save for the park hopper with water park option. Once you make your reservation research you dining choices and make your reservation (i know its crazy btu the resturants fill up fast and if you want the best choices you need to do it early) I recommend Yak and Yeti at Animal Kingdom, it was fantastic. Have an awesome vacation and remember to take it easy, you'll enjoy it so much more
so i'm not sure where exactly you have been online. have you been on the disneyworld website? or somewhere else. i suggest playing on the disney website at: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index if your budget is just not allowing for a moderate hotel i'd suggest staying at the pop century value resort its usually $82 per night depending on what time of year you go. and it is a nice hotel. its not gross or anything. its the one i stay at. that can save you alot of money. you really don't need a fancier hotel. you can't really get cheaper tickets from anywhere else since disney doesn't offer or allow any travel agency or website to offer any discounts on tickets. i suggest getting a four day base ticket. don't get the park hopper you really don't need it. add on more tickets if you need them but don't do park hopper its much more expensive that way. amd do get the dining plan its fabulous and soooo worth the money.
mousesavers.com a lot of ideas there
We go to WDW monthly - have lost count of the trips. I'd advise you to look for deals in Sept/Oct (low season). Then rates get really good again in Jan., but the weather isn't as nice. Here are websites to help you: www.allearsnet.com (everything down to menus here) www.mousesavers.com www.disboards.com www.ticketmania.com www.touringplans.com The best book on WDW is the Unofficial Guide to Disney World, and they also do the touring plans site. The book has touring plans included, but spring for a current copy rather than an old one from the public library. I agree that a good way to bring the price down is to change the hotel to Pop Century. You're going there to spend time in the parks, and when it comes to transportation, you're getting the buses whether your're at a moderate or value resort. You'll still get the Extra Magic Hours at the value resorts. Yes, the moderates are prettier, but you have to make choices to stay in the budget. You also need to compare booking these things separately vs the package with the food. Sometimes the package isn't the best value. If you can't afford the package, then you need to make some changes. I'd change the hotel, consider driving, and price it all separately. You can also reduce it to 4 nights, but that would be my last resort.
You might check into staying at one of the moderate resorts. You also might look at the Swan or Dolphin which are in the EPCOT area. They sometimes run good on-line specials. There are also resorts in Downtown Disney. Some of these even have views of EPCOT's fireworks at night. These also offer transportation to the parks. Also, are your travel dates set in stone? In the off months, like September, you can sometimes get the dining plan free if you stay on property.
If you are dead set on a moderate, then the key to making your budget will be going during the lower priced seasons. The lowest priced 2009 Disney World resort seasons are Jan-mid Feb, August-September, and after Thanksgiving to the week before Xmas. This will knock your hotel price down. Moreover, Disney usually makes the DIning plan free for select visits during the August/September timeframe...to encourage people even more, as this is--as I'm sure you've noticed!--the peak of the hurricnae season. You won't be able to reserve this now...they will announce it later...keep your eye on mousesavers.com for breaking details. Disney has about 5 different resort price seasons, plus an additional uptick for some holiday weekends, and prices can change 3-4 times a month (e.g. in November). You may have been inadvertently pricing during one of the peak periods. See this page for 2009 WDW resort price seasons: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/seasonal-pricing-pay-more-to-wait-in-line-longer/projected-price-seasons-2009-2011/ Suggest you try Port Orleans French Quarter. It's the most romantic of the moderates, and also the most compact--the rest stretch out over what seems like hundreds of acres. Coronado Springs is the next best. Though huge, because it is the only convention moderate, it has more services than the other moderates at the same price. See this for what all the Disney World moderates have: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/walt-disney-world-resort-features-by-price-category/ and see this for differences among the moderates: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/walt-disney-world-resort-features-by-price-category/resort-distinctions-moderates/ Hope this helps and have a great trip!! Dave
GO TO A TRAVEL AGENT! They have specials deals for just being a travel agent. They know where to look and know exactly what they are talking about. They give out specials only for Travel Agents. We went to one for our Disney trip and ended up saving up to $300 on our hotel! We stayed at the Grand Floridian. They do there best at making you happy and satisfied. Trust me- It's worth the trip to your local Travel Agent. HAVE A MAGICAL TRIP! ;)
truth is, with the economy being down and everything going up, you are not going to be able to do a Disney Vacation on $2000. I also travel with my BF to Disney World 1-2 times per year. Also, keep in mind that you will not spend too much time in the hotel, so saving about $50-100 per night might be worth staying in a value resort. I like the value resorts, they are fun and maybe they are kiddish, but isn't that what Disney is about, being a kid at heart? Even if you go during value season, and you hit a package deal (disney offers them throughout the year during value times) you are looking to spend around $500 per person for hotel, base tickets (maybe with hopper) and the dining plan. Then you have to add in airfare, extra spending money, and money for tips (they are not longer included). I know I can no longer find a round trip ticket for under $300 and even that is hard to come by. I figure it will be around $2500+ if you stay at a value resort during value season and around $3000+ if you stay at a moderate resort during value season. Some great websites are http://www.intercot.com (it is a free message board with a lot of helpful disney experts) http://www.allears.net http://www.mousesavers.com