[DAVISFAMILY]

new member!!
i am purchasing a 2003 october package similar to deluxe magic. (has the same things)if you have bought this tell me what's a benefit and what's not. also; staying at the grand floridian w/ a 4 &5 year old, along w/hubby.

[dab]

Welcome Davis Family!
Wow, GF... you picked a great one!! Have you been to disney.com to see the compare packages option? They really spell it out for you. My family (hubby and 3 1/2 yr. old) and I personally get the room only option and buy the regular park hopper passes (no flex features or plus options). We just concentrate on the theme parks and use the pool and amenities at the resort. My daughter, an avid swimmer is still very amused by the resort pools and recreation so it doesn't pay for us to buy the passes that include water parks, Pleasure Island or Disney Quest. You might end up saving money buying just the options you want. So, make a list of all things Disney you want to do and see what kind of pass you need. A rough itenerary might help you create a plan and a budget. I love Birnbaum's Official Guide to Disney. It is my Disney "bible". The 2003 edition should be out soon so I would wait to purchase it and get the latest info. Birnbaum's Kids guide to Disney World is also great! Also, if you contact Disney and get the free video & vacation planning package you will get a coupon for $2 off the book. I highly recommend it!! Have a great trip and plan, plan, plan!! It makes for a much more enjoyable trip!

[mickey]

DavisFamily, welcome to DisneyCentral! For 2003, as you know, the package names have changed, as have some of the items included in the packages. I am assuming that you are speaking of the Gold Plan (Dreammaker Package). That includes three meals per day per person, unlimited recreation and some merchandise. My advice to people with smaller kids is that you should probably book something lower down, like the Silver Plan. With personal experience and feedback from members here, with little kids, it just doesn't ever add up.

The problem is that to make the plan worth it, you have to eat at very nice restaurants for every meal, make use of all the recreation activities, and you have to go full speed for 24 hours per day. I would find out the difference in cost for your trip, and put the money into a bank account. Trust me, when you get to WDW, eat where you want, do what you want, and when you get home, add it all up, and you will be considerably ahead.

If you have older kids, teenagers, then it may be worth it. They don't need naps in the afternoon, they just can do much more.

Oh, and one more thing. Make sure you find a travel agent who will re-book the package for you when the prices drop. Right now, everything is full price. For next August, you should be able to get a substantial discount, but not until the discounts are announced sometime next summer. I would suggest booking it now, paying the deposit, and then having your agent re-book it when the discounts are announced. Also, make sure you find an agent who is very familiar with WDW. They will be very familiar with the discounts that are released, and be able to re-book it for you then.

Good luck, sounds like a fabulous trip!

[dab]

Hey Davis Family...
Mickey probably can't advertise to you so I will... Mickey would make a great travel agent. Read the posts... he is so knowledgable about Disney resorts and parks! He runs Disney Central with such professionalism and expertise. And... what a neat travel agency website he & Minnie have www.mouseketrips.com. You should definately check it out. I know I will book with them for my next trip! (Hope I didn't break any rules Mickey but I had to put a plug in for you!)

[trishb]

I have booked the Dreamaker Silver plan for Jan 2003 (with hopes of upgrading to Gold). Unfortunately, disneyworld.com has not updated their website to include details of the new packages. The following information is from dreamsunlimitedtravel.com:
Includes…

Accommodations for three or more nights at a selected Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel

Ultimate Park Hopper Ticket

Two FREE souvenir Disney trading pins and lanyards per room

Access to preferred viewing for Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at the Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (One viewing per Theme park, voucher required, certain block-out dates apply and subject to availability)

Access to preferred fireworks viewing for Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks at the Magic Kingdom® Park and Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot® (One viewing per Theme park, voucher required, certain block-out dates apply and subject to availability)
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner per person per night (includes applicable gratuities, excludes alcohol) available at over 125 participating table-service, counter service, dinner shows, Character dining and Signature table-service restaurants located throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort

Unlimited use of selected recreation activities including golf (no tee time restrictions), guided fishing excursions, boat rental, bicycles and more!

Unlimited access to Disney Children's Activity Centers (ages 4-12) at selected Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels

Unlimited access to selected Theme Park Tours:

Backstage Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (ages 16 and older)

The Magic Behind our Steam Trains at the Magic Kingdom® Park (ages 10 and older)

Disney's Family Magic at the Magic Kingdom® Park (all ages)

Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Magic Kingdom® Park (ages 16 or older)
The UnDISCOVERED Future World at Epcot® (ages 16 or older)
Gardens of the World at Epcot® (ages 16 or older)
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom® (all ages)
Hidden Treasures of World Showcase Tour at Epcot® (ages 16 and older)
Wild by Design at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (ages 16 and older) (ages 14 and older)
Behind the Seeds at Epcot® (all ages)
Admission to the amazing Cirque du Soleil® show La Nouba™ (one admission per person)

This info was very helpful to me, hope it is to you too.

[anlashokna]

Birnbaum's Official Guide, good rec.

I personally went with the Walt Disney World Passporter this trip. Pages and Pages that you can record all your information from planning to finalizing. All sorts of descriptions and recs. And when your done planning it makes for a great souvenier. Even has pages for Mickey and friends to write notes to you.

This has truelly been my WDW bible this time round. They also sell a nice leather version with a three ring so you can remove pages without tear them out. Very much like a dayplanner with slots for cards and tickets, etc.

[dznygrl]

Originally posted by anlashokna
Birnbaum's Official Guide, good rec.

I personally went with the Walt Disney World Passporter this trip. Pages and Pages that you can record all your information from planning to finalizing. All sorts of descriptions and recs. And when your done planning it makes for a great souvenier. Even has pages for Mickey and friends to write notes to you.

This has truelly been my WDW bible this time round. They also sell a nice leather version with a three ring so you can remove pages without tear them out. Very much like a dayplanner with slots for cards and tickets, etc.

That sounds helpful! I don't know why, but I feel extremely disorganized planning my trip this year. We're even using a travel agent for part of it, so I should feel more comfortable...but I feel somewhat out of control. I hope I don't forget anything, or I'll never forgive myself!

BTW...I didn't realize that Mickey ran mousketrips! (Maybe I'm not too observant.) I will certainly have to keep that in mind for my next trip! :D