We're going! Help me plan!

[wishiwasthere]

Dad turned to us on Christmas morning and said "Let's book Disney this week"!!!!!

So I need help on how to save the most money possible.

There are 2 adults, 2 twenty year olds, and a 15 year old. We are planning to go the end of August, and want to stay for about 10 nights/11 days. We normally stay at Riverside or Pop Century. Obviously Pop will be cheaper than Riverside, but we need 2 rooms. So would it be cheaper to rent DVC points?

We like staying at a moderate because we feel they are less crowded, but if we have to stay at Pop due to money reasons then we will. If we get two rooms for 10 nights what is the difference from renting DVC points to get a villa that sleeps 5? I am really confused with renting DVC points. So I said let me go to "my people".

[Mark Goldhaber]

The DVC resort that costs the least number of points per night is Old Key West. For the second half of August, figuring that the 10 nights will include two weekends, a two-bedroom villa will cost 418 points.

At the going average of $10 per point, that will cost $4,180. Value resorts are going for $77 per night at that time, with moderates going for $134. That would be $1,540 for the value resort or $2,680 for the moderate.

Of course, you would get the full kitchen and laundry facilities in the villa, so that could cut down on your food expenses and reduce the amount of luggage that you need to bring.

But on a straight dollar-for-dollar basis, two rooms at a value or moderate resort will cost you much less than renting DVC points.

[Ducktastic]

The advantage of renting DVC points is that Sunday thru Thursday is much cheaper - Friday and Saturday the points basically double. Here is an idea. Rent points for Sunday thru Thrusday and then transfer over to Pop century for the rest of your stay or vice versa. Changing resorts in the midddle of your stay is easy. For 5 nights (Sun - Thur) would be a total 135 points for a 2 bedroom in August at Old Key West, then purchase another five nights at Pop for two rooms. That would be around $2200 for accomodations.

[Wendy3]

I find renting DVC points are more cost effective for us because our favorite resort is Deluxe (Beach Club). Now that my kids are getting older, we need more space than one hotel room for the 4 of us (me and 3 teenagers.) We still love each other after a week of togetherness, as long as we can spread out alittle more.

[hersheythecat]

The DVC resort that costs the least number of points per night is Old Key West. For the second half of August, figuring that the 10 nights will include two weekends, a two-bedroom villa will cost 418 points.

At the going average of $10 per point, that will cost $4,180. Value resorts are going for $77 per night at that time, with moderates going for $134. That would be $1,540 for the value resort or $2,680 for the moderate.

Of course, you would get the full kitchen and laundry facilities in the villa, so that could cut down on your food expenses and reduce the amount of luggage that you need to bring.

But on a straight dollar-for-dollar basis, two rooms at a value or moderate resort will cost you much less than renting DVC points.

Based upon their ages - couldn't they go for a 1 bedroom with the 5th person sleeping on the sofabed? Just a thought.

[Mark Goldhaber]

Based upon their ages - couldn't they go for a 1 bedroom with the 5th person sleeping on the sofabed? Just a thought.

The one-bedroom has a king bed in the master bedroom and the sofa bed in the living room. That sleeps four, tops. The two-bedroom has the king in the master bedroom and two queens or doubles in the second bedroom, plus the sofa bed in the living room. That can accommodate up to eight.

[wishiwasthere]

Thanks for all the tips everyone I think we will be sticking with Pop Century unless everyone feels like throwing out the extra cash for Riverside.

Airline tickets aren't as low as I thought they would be. Normally I can get a roundtrip flight with JetBlue for around $160. I can't find anything under $200.

So should I wait until around March to book? Should I book the room seperately so I get the AAA discount, and if any freebies come my way before we leave then switch to a package? I need a WWMPers do?

[danyoung]

I can't answer your DVC questions. But I just stayed at the Pop for the first time ever, and was surprisingly pleased with it. I'm a die-hard moderate person, and my one time at the All Star left me with a cheap feel. But the Pop is newer, better landscaped, and just didn't have that All Star cheapness to it. The food court was as good or better than most of the moderates. I think you'll be very pleased with the Pop.

Enjoy!

[SuefromRI]

It never hurts to book the room with AAA rate early, cuz there are limited #s
and you can always change it if something better comes along. For Nov stay at Pop I had a room with a AAA rate before the codes came out, and it was a better rate then the codes and had no restrictions on dates for the Veterans Day weekend, like the codes did. Airfare is trickier. We've been using Southwest and you need to book as soon as the dates open to get the times and flights you need. Again for Nov a better rate came out and we were able to get a $30 savings each-$120 on account for the trip down. The flights back were not available so they stayed at $79. Still a good price for a holiday weekend to fly from RI to FL non-stop, (don't know how they can pay for the gas alone at $49).

[mayanlily]

I would also book the room with the AAA rate for now and then watch the sites for other discounts. As for the airfare, I have not seen any summer specials yet. We have a conference in June, and I have not booked the airfare yet. I am taking the gamble that Jetblue will have a summer sale or something.Good luck with your bargains. There are many to be had if you do your homework!!!