The Disney Not-A-Convention

[tabbiewolf]

I sent an email to interested folks with this, but I'm also posting it here for the sake of me remembering the information for later. Thank you, LJ tags!

More details (which hotels I'm talking about, specifics on the dining plan, etc.) will be provided as time progresses. It's still a good 20 months away, and I need some more definites (specifically "Yes, we can come" and "Yes, we can afford to pay for it") before I can seriously start poking travel agents about it.

Hi, everyone!

This is just a general email shoutout to see if the parties I have listed (I believe I put this list together about a year ago at this point) are still interested in a big group trip to Disney World.

Trip Bullet Points:

• Date of Trip: Estimating Fall of 2016, more than likely late September or mid-November (I have at least one convention I need to work around). Why am I planning so far in advance? Because to get a proper Disney trip, especially for a group, you kind of have to. I really don't mind, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it :)

Anyway, I'm shooting for a time period featuring Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which is one of my favorite times of year to be at Walt Disney World. If we do September, there will also be Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which is a lot of fun; November will feature Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which I've never done myself but I hear is awesome.

Please note: my costs do NOT include the mentioned parties, since those depend entirely on when we end up going, but they ARE separate, ticketed events. Food & Wine Festival is NOT a separate, ticketed event.

• Length of Trip: Ideally we can do a whole week (fly in on Friday, fly out the next Friday), but it'll depend on how much time (and money) everyone wants to spend. I currently have price estimations for both a whole week and a long weekend (Wednesday - Sunday).

• Cost of Trip: And here are those price estimations. Please keep in mind that Disney has a tendency to up their rates every 6 months or so, so these may be off by a bit. Also please note that these prices do NOT include the cost of transportation to and from Florida (train/plane/automobile/hitchhiking/etc.). All costs are per person.

Week-Long Stay
Least fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets: $850
Mid-fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets: $1,100
Fanciest hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets: $1,500

Least fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets + dining plan: $1,270
Mid-fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets + dining plan:: $1,550
Fanciest hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets + dining plan:: $2,000

Long Weekend Stay
Least fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets: $650
Mid-fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets: $750
Fanciest hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets: $1,000

Least fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets + dining plan: $950
Mid-fancy hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets + dining plan:: $1,100
Fanciest hotel (assuming maximum occupancy) + park tickets + dining plan:: $1,350

Please note that some of these numbers, I am rounding up a bit just to get nice round numbers. Also please note that the dining plan is the standard one that includes 2 meals (1 counter service/fast food, 1 table service/sit-down). The super fancy dining plan is a bit more, but I want to see how many folks are interested first before I start throwing even more numbers around, and then I can get everyone more details on how the dining plan works (it's only a LITTLE complicated).

As you can see, the difference between a week and a long weekend is NOT that much, cost-wise, especially considering that you'll lose 2 days to travel both ways. The most cost savings is on the rooms, but I'm also assuming maximum occupancy in the pricing. The numbers may wiggle a bit depending on how many people actually decide to do this. If you have friends who would interested in a trip like this, please toss their names my way, though I will admit: I'm not trying to keep this trip exclusive, but I wanna keep it amongst people who aren't gonna flake out on me!

~*~
I've already put out some feelers to travel agents; I'm relatively sure folks would rather their money went to someone more official than just throwing it at me ;) A travel agent may also be able to 1) Help us get better rates and 2) Help folks get plane/train/etc. tickets for their trips. I figured I should get everyone cost estimations, etc., first, so I could get a definite number of people, before seriously consulting with a travel agent about this!

So, please let me know if you are still interested in such a trip, so I can keep you on this list o' planning! Also please let me know if you have friends who may be interested (email addresses are appreciated).

Comments

[takaza.livejournal.com]

As I mentioned via Twitter, we are currently planning on going in early December (right after MFF) for my 40th, but could possibly be swayed to do earlier.

Will ping you more shortly to talk possibilities, including questions on Food and Wine Festival...

[corelog.livejournal.com]

For flight stuff, I've been looking at using FlightFox. They've got some good chatter going, though they only specialize in flights, and nothing else.

[chaysefox.livejournal.com]

Hmm, something to consider. Either tier, I'd shoot for the high-end, even if for a long weekend at a mid-range location. It's one of the few items on my list, a very first time in Florida.

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

a) this is so awesome
b) FYI, disney is raising ticket prices in february of this year
c) we might be crazy but since the baby arrived early, we aren't going to be able to use our annual pass exchange certificates this year so are thinking of selling them (they are fully transferrable since we didn't get to disney to turn them into passes yet). if you know anyone who might want them, let us know? money is tight due to NICU bills.

[tabbiewolf.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I know Disney raises their prices pretty much every 6 months. I think I mentioned that in the text up there -- those prices are all estimates :)

As for the annual passes: Let me know the cost :) I'm sure we can find someone, if we ourselves don't take you up on it!

(I assume they don't expire?)