? to take advantage of APs and Disney vactions deals

[Teddi]

I could use some help figuring out the best way to plan a Disney Vacay while being AP holders.

Here's the deal- family of 5- Me and kids have AP's, DH does not.

First specific question- can we still take advantage of the Vacation offers thru the WDTC? Several years back, it was the five of us (when my girls were still twinfants) and my son had an AP (grandparents have APs and used to take him along sometimes). At the time, when I booked this wasn't a problem- they included him in the package but then deducted the cost of his ticket off (I guess that's the best way to explain what the travel agent said). Would we still be able to do that if we only need 1 person for Hopper Tix? Especially using our Disney VISA and the 6 month financing option? Anybody happen to know?

2nd question- Early Entry. So elsewhere I read that if AP's stay in the Disney properties - we CAN get EE? Is this correct? If so, how do I make sure that happens? Do you NEED an extra ticket or pass to do this?

3rd question- AP rates at the hotel. I checked online, and there were some really great rates for the more off dates, but it seems the closer to the date the better the deal. Is that true? We're essentially looking at booking a long trip in December (w/park dates for about 4 days that are up in the air except the 13th and the 19th, my bday and my twins 5th bday). How long do I have to wait to get the best deals? What I really like is the idea of maybe 2ish nights in the Dland or PP Hotels, because in addition to the birthday we're celebrating it's also our 10th anniversary on Dec 11th, and I like the option of CHILDCARE for a few hours for DH and I, so we can get in a nice only the 2 of us dinner @ BB or maybe the Vineyard (or the Napa Rose?).

We're also tenatively doing SeaWorld and Universal Studios... so it's looking like we MAY be 2-3 nights in the Anaheim/LA area and then a few nights in San Di, and then 3 nights again in Anaheim. (I'm thinking we'll be gone 9 nights total)

4th question- EE days. Is it Tues/Thur and Sat/Sun? I can't remember.

OR maybe I am just making this all entirely too complicated. Open to feedback/suggestions.

[MammaSilva]

Ok out of order:

Early Entry days are Sat/Sun/Tues/Thursday

If you are staying on property you currently can use your room key and your AP to take advantage of EE on any of the days you are there.

AS for the WDTC ... I just booked a package for the trick or treat weekend, everyone going is an AP holder, I had to have all our numbers and they deducted the cost of the hoppers. However, I was told it was all or nothing meaning if I added someone who needed a hopper then we had to buy hoppers for everyone on the package. I don't know if that's the policy but that's what 2 different WDTC employees told me.

[Teddi]

Oh and I managed to come up with one more question.

Is it a problem to have 2 adults and 3 kids in one room? I see that "some" rooms have double beds plus the daybed. If we book w/Dland props, do I just ask for one of those rooms?

[MammaSilva]

if you put 5 in your reservation they will automatically give you two queens and a daybed, if for some reason your kids can't sleep together you can have a daybed brought in as well, but that makes the rooms cramped.

[mechurchlady]

You may see a great rate at any hotel or a special offer but those rates often are limited. If you wait to get a great rate you may not get the view, location, room configuration or even a room at that rate. I am taking my mother next month and tried AP, senior, and the $400 discount for 4 nights rate. The senior and disabled rooms are sold out for those dates. I might get a room for the very low $139 but not what I need, a disabled room.

As for the packages I was told they would take off the cost of my ticket since I was AP and mother was not. She never said that it was all or nothing on the package deal. I tried every possible combination of packages and discounts to see what was cheapest for us. I tried the package deal, 4 nights for $400 off rate, seniors, and AP. I ended up with two reservations for some reason that the second travel person set up but the third person said was unnecessary. That is why I should have booked way ahead of time.

If you are off site and do not have MM then you can do a Minnie's Breakfast on those days for the MM opening time. Eat breakfast, have fun, and be next to Tomorrowland 10 to 20 minutes before the regular crowd enters the park.

It is a 2 hour drive to San Diego so you would have to check out in Anaheim, drive 2 hours then check into the San Diego hotel so that you loose a whole day. It is better to stay in Anaheim. You could get up early then drive to Sea World for a whole day of fun and be back in bed at Anaheim by 10 pm. The next day I would do easy stuff like Bug's Land, Soarin fast pass, and hollywoodland. Lt the kids have fun in the Redwoods then back to the hotel ofr naps and evening of park fun or rest.

[Teddi]

I like the Minnie Breakfast idea too.... just not sure if that will pan out really... DH is NOT a morning person and we have never actually MADE the 7 am (at best 7:30)... We never actually have done the TTMM which I'd LIKE to finally do.. and... one of my twins has mild cerebral palsy (though we don't need a disabled room) so we do get the guest assistance card, which is a HUGE time saver in Fantasyland... So ironically we've usually done the EE for fantasyland, THEN minnie's breakfast...

Thanks for the heads up about the AP rates.

I grew up in San Di and still have family, so the nights we would be there (in addition to free) it would be cool w/my grandparents whatever time we rolled in. I think we are only going to do ONE day in SeaWorld (4 days in Disney, 2 in Universal.... so i think our feet will be in BAD need of rest!) and have a day or two of just downtime in between parks and visit w/family (who we rarely get to see around Christmastime).

I'm just wracking my brain trying to get the logistics of this all worked out. I HAD resolved that the 13th and 19th we would be in Dland for sure on those dates... and then i found out that we just GET our funcards and don't actually have to USE them that day (why doesn't disney actually update their own website to spell that out?).... but... i WANT to be in Disney on my actual bday I think... plus... if we can stay @ the prop ... we can celebrate our 10th anniversary (dec 11th).

Yes, our 10th anniversary is Dec 11... my bday is 12/13 and my twins 5th bday is 12/19. They were supposed to be January babies

[Jenasweetemotion]

Just wanted to add that Expedia has $100.00 a night for Paradise Pier I typed in 12/13-12/17 because they only do this deal on a 4 night stay, I heard people called Expedia and got the rate for or 7 or 8 nights, but if not, then if you wanted you could book the remainder of the time so 12/17-12/19 with WDTC with the ticket.

It is a better rate then you will find with an AP I've been looking at the calendar and the best they usually will do is $129.00 for PP. Also remember if you book with WDTC for a rate and then one better comes along with them you will be charged a change fee which is $25.00-75.00 so make sure what you have is the best.

Your birthdays and Anniversary's are like our family we have Nov 28, Dec 6, Dec 13, Dec 18, Dec 25 and Dec 31