This could possibly be the #1 question..

Avatar for my4stars
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
This could possibly be the #1 question..
9
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 4:23pm

But here goes ...

We're planning our first trip to D.W. next year and I don't have a clue where to even start with the planning process. Our vacations have never been anything more than a couple days at a Six Flags, so this is a biggie for our family.

Any ideas, suggestions, advice, etc, etc, would be greatly appreciated! When I have a chance, I'll start looking through as many posts as I can here for more information

~Katy
Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 4:36pm

This board is a great community to get opinions. We're small enough to still be nice to each other and genuinely like to help each other out, but we're big enough to be diverse in our opinions. But before we can give any of those we need to ask you a few questions.


Will you be using a TA or doing this yourself? a Disney Specialist will not cost you anything, and if you choose to do it yourslef we'll help as much as you want.


How many are in your family? ages?


What time of year do you want to travel?


Where are you coming from?


How long do you want to stay?


Do you have a rough budget in mind?


Planning a Disney trip is much much different than planning any other vacation, and it can quickly become overwhelming.........and addictive! First thing to realize though is that unless you plan to spend a whole year at WDW there is no way to see everything in the course of a couple days or 2 weeks, so don't stress about that part. Once you make the above decisions then we can help you narrow down some things your family will love. Go to the library and check out a couple of current guidebooks. All of the information is the same in them but the way it's presented will vary by author/s. My favorite is the Passporter because it's also a workbook, but becuase of that you might not find it at the library. You can check out their website to get a feel for their style, just add the www dot com. I also like Kim Wright Wiley's Guide to WDW with Kids, especially with young kids. Also if your kids are old enough the By Kids For Kids guide is fun.

Avatar for my4stars
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 6:23pm

Thanks for responding so quickly :-). To answer your questions:

1) Will you be using a TA or doing this yourself? a Disney Specialist will not cost you anything, and if you choose to do it yourslef we'll help as much as you want.
*** We'll be planning it ourselves, but I didn't know there was such a thing as a Disney Specialist.

2) How many are in your family? ages?
*** DH and myself, DS 14, DD 11, and DD 7.

3) What time of year do you want to travel?
*** In the Fall, hopefully what's considered off-season so prices will be more reasonable, and also when the weather won't be so ding dang hot.

4) Where are you coming from?
*** Upstate NY

5) How long do you want to stay?
*** At least one full week (longer is okay with me!)

6) Do you have a rough budget in mind?
*** No, but would like to keep it as reasonable (*cheap*) as possible. I'm guessing it will run us thousands of dollars.

~Katy
Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 7:49pm

1*** We'll be planning it ourselves, but I didn't know there was such a thing as a Disney Specialist. Yep there are. :-) It's a great job, pay not with standing. LOL


2) *** DH and myself, DS 14, DD 11, and DD 7. So price wise you have 4 adults and 1 child and you you have 5 in your resort which limits your choices, but not terribly so. With 5 you can get a Family Suite at the All Star Music (a value resort) that has 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette, a single room at Port Orleans Riverside that sleeps 5, it's 1 room with 1 bathroom and the 5th person sleeps on a trundle bed - fridge included. From there your next least expensive choice is a Fort Wilderness Cabin (my fav) sleeps six, full kitchen, grill- downside - one bath and short on clothes storage. Your family can also all fit into one room in the deluxe catagory resorts (1 bathroom and a fridge) , or you can stay in a Disney Vacation Club property, (1+ bedrooms, 1+ bath and a full kitchen, also laundry facilities in room)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 11:12am

I'm planning my 1st trip to Disney too, and wow i didn't know about the disney specialist. What exactly do they do?
The websites you've mentioned are very helpful and just full of information.

Julie

Julie  201/

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 11:25am

A Disney Specialist is a travel agent who has completed the Colledge of Disney Knowledge and has a better than average working knowledge of the product. We have access to resources that help us quickly find answers to help our clients with their vacations and generally a Disney Specialist will have a love of Disney as well. Youcan go into any travel agency or AAA office or online in the country/world and plan a Disney vacation. Your results will vary. If the agent you are working with is a Disney Specialist you will get top notch product knowledge,experiance and advice.

Avatar for my4stars
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 3:34pm

You're awesome, offering your 'expertise' here to help people :-)

Where do I start? Do I book a flight, then go online to book DW accomodations ... or visa versa ... or anything else?

And, if we're planning this trip for Oct or Nov of 2007, when do I begin doing these things?

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but, well, I guess when it comes to planning a 'real' vacation, I am ;-)

~Katy
Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 4:29pm

I was on this board long before I got this job, and one of the old CLs taught me most of what I know, and where to look for answers before spouting off. (love you for it Alysha!)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 7:59pm

LOL...you're welcome!

And before I read your post, I was ready to reply to her too....about how you were here much longer than you've been a TA (which made us all confident that you'd get through without a problem!!).

Alysha


Avatar for preludejf
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 08-04-2006 - 2:59pm

I have spent a lot of time on disney website looking at each resort and what it has to offer and price. The website is great. I narrowed it down to about 3 resorts, posted here with questions, read hotel reviews and then made a decision on where to stay on that information. I would start there then plan flights, decide what park tickets you want, then advanced dining reservations (after doing a lot of research beforehand.)

I am using a TA this time around. I have used TA before for cruises and decided to let a "disney specialist" book it for me this time around. I am not going until February 2008 and I am already planning and saving money. It takes a lot of work to make it "the trip of a lifetime".

Josette