XP: WDW Honeymoon Brides?

Ms.BriarRose

Hi ladies, I am hoping you can give some advice on a topic I am just now starting to work on, and have lots of questions about!

FI and I are 99% sure that we want to go to Disney World for our HM.  FI has never been, and I have been twice but stayed off park both times (HS trips).  We are not sit on a beach for days on end people (to be honest, we both hate the beach), and we want the option of having lots to do or relaxing.  We feel WDW offers both.

I have never booked a trip of any kind in my life.  I have a ton of questions, and if you have answers, please feel free to offer any kind of help!

*For those who went/are going to WDW, did you book thru a TA?  Was it worth it, and how?
*If you didn't book thru a TA of have gone to WDW for a regular vacation, was going through Disney easy?  Will they negotiate rates with you?
*Did you do the Disney Registry they offer?  Was it worth it?
*What time of year would you recommend going? (our wedding is 10/2, but we are flexible on waiting if Jan or Feb is a better time to go)
*Where did you stay? (Port Orleans is currently on the top of our list)
*Were the Disneymooner buttons worth it?  How about the First Timer buttons?
*Any suggestions for "adult" things to do? (this is FI's only qualm about WDW, since he has never been he thinks it's for kids and that going just us two doesn't have any benefits)
*Is there anything else I should know, any tips at all?

We want to stay in a Moderate resort; we have heard from many that the value resorts have tons of kiddies, and that the high end resorts aren't worth it since you will be out and about.  If you have thoughts on either, please let me know!

If you have any suggestions on where else to post these questions (even off TK), that would be welcome as well.  Thanks ladies!

tinydancer842

I have never been to Disney, but I would def. look into a TA. My friend just booked a trip there through a TA & got some good deals. I would also look into websites like expedia, costco, AAA, etc. & see what kind of deals they offer. Just get as many quotes as you can & compare them so you can make an informed decision. 

smitag1984

I cant tell you from honeymoon experience, but I was just there in September. That seemed to have been a really good time to be there. We went to all of the parks and didn't have very long lines. I think that if you just went to Disney World alone it might be a little kid oriented. We visited all of the Disney Parks including the water parks and we had a great time. The only time that we felt overrun by children and kid activities was in the Magic Kingdom. Everything else was fine. I hope this helps some.

RachaelA

October is a great time to go. They have the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot which is defintely a huge thing to do as adults.

Booking through a TA won't save you any money. You can book through AAA and sometimes save money, but Disney has a ton of deals that they release. We never book through a TA and book ourselves. Disney will not negotiate rates. They release codes and discounts thats where you save money. TAs will not be able to get you a deal that you wouldn't be able to get yourself.

some planning sites
allears.net
disboards.com
wdwinfo.com
mousesavers.com

As for the pins, don't expect anything when you wear them. We wore them for 10 days and got a lot of congratulations and that's all.

No hotel has more kids then any other. Its Disney. Kids are everywhere. We stayed at a value (Pop) our first trip and we now stay deluxe (Animal Kingdom Lodge). There were the same amount of kids at both types of hotels. We love Animal Kingdom Lodge. Its an amazing hotel with a unique atmosphere. Its pretty awesome to wake up and relax on your balcony overlooking a savannah with giraffes and zebras.

Adult things:
-great dinners- most are called "signature restaurants" and worth 2 credits on the dining plan. We love Jiko and Narcossee's. Le Cellier in Epcot is a great dinner worth on 1 credit on the dining plan.
-Carriage ride
-Spa treatments
-Epcot's World Showcase is always fun to walk around and see everything
-And like I said above the Food and Wine Festival is supposed to be awesome. (We haven't gotten to experience it yet unforunately).

We love Disney. We went on our honeymoon and our going back for our 1st anniversary (with my brother, SIL, and niece).

pandasquishy

*For those who went/are going to WDW, did you book thru a TA?  Was it worth it, and how?

We consulted with AAA but they wouldn't have saved us any money except for the park tickets, which we got through them.  We booked the airfare, hotel, separately on our own.
*If you didn't book thru a TA of have gone to WDW for a regular vacation, was going through Disney easy?  Will they negotiate rates with you?

No clue if they'll negotiate.  It probably depends on the time of year/how busy they are.
*Did you do the Disney Registry they offer?  Was it worth it?

I am anti-honeymoon registry, so... no.
*What time of year would you recommend going? (our wedding is 10/2, but we are flexible on waiting if Jan or Feb is a better time to go)

We went in January, which I think would have been the perfect time to go if there hadn't been that unusual cold snap this year.  The great thing about not going in the heat is that you don't get as dehydrated. They actually announced to us on the bus one night that no one had gotten heat stroke at any of the parks that day.  Apparently that's a big accomplishment for them.  Also the lines were considerably shorter so we were able to do more in a day than if we went in peak season.
*Where did you stay? (Port Orleans is currently on the top of our list)

We stayed at the Regal Sun Resort in Downtown Disney, which is not technically Disney property but still has the perks.  It was cheaper to book that through bookit.com and it was cheaper than a value resort and there weren't many kids around.  They have a cafe open 24/7 so that was a plus for us.  The only thing I didn't like was that I suspect the maid was picking up towels from the floor and refolding them instead of giving us fresh ones. I'm only 50% sure she did that, though.  Other than that, it's a really nice hotel.
*Were the Disneymooner buttons worth it?  How about the First Timer buttons?

We got the Just Married buttons and they were annoying at first but it did get us one perk.  We had reservations at a fancy restaurant in Epcot and the maitre'd put us to the head of the line and got us one of the best tables they had.  Other than that people just said congratulations a lot.  I saw a lot of "First Visit" buttons and I don't think those do anything.  They're free and you never know what you might get by wearing them, so just do it.
*Any suggestions for "adult" things to do? (this is FI's only qualm about WDW, since he has never been he thinks it's for kids and that going just us two doesn't have any benefits)

It's not just kids.  You can get on all the rides and go to all the attractions without looking or feeling like a pervert.  There are actually a lot of adults who go without children.
*Is there anything else I should know, any tips at all?

Get a photopass!  It's a card that any Disney photog can give you with a microchip on it. Whenever you get your pic taken at any of the parks they scan the card.  Then you can go online and make a scrapbook of your pics or a billion other products.  We made a photobook of our honeymoon and it turned out amazing!  The pass itself is free.

amylo84

I have been to Disney 15+ times.  It is super easy to book through Disney.  at Disney.com you can bookEVERYTHING, even your flight.  You can even have your luggage sent straight from your plane to your hotel (and vice versa).....no baggage claim hassle!  It could nver be easier.  plus if you get the dining plan, you don't have to worry about meals.  I absolutely am obsessed with all things Disney.  we plan on going on our honeymoon and hopefully staying at the Wilderness Lodge.  If we ahve to get a cheaper hotel, then we will go with either port orleans riverside or coronado springs.  whatever you choose its Disney!! and you will have a blast!  as for the honeymoon buttons, they are free so it doesn't hurt to wear them.  you never know when you will meet that one special cast member who might add a little magic to your day!  Have fun!!!!

jessNlane52804

My family goes to Disney all the time!

*For those who went/are going to WDW, did you book thru a TA?  Was it worth it, and how? My parents own the timeshare, so no TA involved. If you're staying in the park they would do everything for you that a TA would do, so no real need.

*If you didn't book thru a TA of have gone to WDW for a regular vacation, was going through Disney easy?  Will they negotiate rates with you? If you mention that it's your HM they may throw something in. No experience here, but my guess is that your chances of negiotiating are 0 during peak seasons. DIsney customer service is generally excellent and they will do whatever they can to help you out.

*Did you do the Disney Registry they offer?  Was it worth it?

*What time of year would you recommend going? (our wedding is 10/2, but we are flexible on waiting if Jan or Feb is a better time to go) The fall is a great time to go, just make sure to avoid any school holidays. My parents are actually there this week and they have not had to wait for anything. The one downside to going in Jan/Feb is that they can have cooler days in the 30s and 40s. The forcast for this week was 70s but my parents said it has actually been in the 40s and 50s all week. They were also able to eat without reservations, which is something you can't dream of during peak seasons.

*Where did you stay? (Port Orleans is currently on the top of our list) We have the timeshare. Those resorts are really nice and members frequently sell points so you could buy time off of someone.

*Were the Disneymooner buttons worth it?  How about the First Timer buttons? Never used this, but I have heard of people getting special attention from these. Kind of related, my grandpa always wears his "Navy Retired" hate and EVERYONE comments on it. He loves it!

*Any suggestions for "adult" things to do? (this is FI's only qualm about WDW, since he has never been he thinks it's for kids and that going just us two doesn't have any benefits) Well, if you're a kid at heart, you will definitely have fun at Disney! There are lots of great restaurants that don't exactly apeal to kids, especially in Epcot. I love going to the bars at Disney for some reason. I think it could be because all the bright colors are even more fun with alcohol! On the West Side of Downtown Disney there are lots of non-kid-friendly restaurants and such.

*Is there anything else I should know, any tips at all? Schedule a day midweek to kind of relax. Disney is a lot of fun, but also very tiring! Personally, I"m that person who goes to the park with extra magic hours right when they open and does everything in the first few hours. The Keys to the Kingdom Tour is the best thing I have ever done at Disney. It is only for guests 16 and older and it is a walking tour through Magic Kingdom and the utilidoors (employee area). It is very informative and gives a lot of background on Walt Disney's goals (not as pure as one might think!) and some of the techniques used in the park. Beware, it does spoil a few secrets!

onceuponadisaster

Don't use a travel agent. Disney won't "negotiate" prices with you, but they do have discounts farily often, and they do send out PINs via mail and email that are good for up to 40% off of the rack rates. To get on the list for the PINs sign up at the Disney website, request the free vacation planning DVD, request the maps, etc.

disturbedkitty

My FI and I are going to Disney World for our honeymoon, too! I am going to book everything through the Disney site. Disney has excellent customer service so if you have any problems, just give them a call and they will help your through it!

As far as the date goes, we are going in mid-May. I have gone in February once before (and April once) and the crowds are low in Feb. However, the weather can be absolutely horrid. My parents are there right now and its pouring down rain and 50 degrees. When I went, the low was around 40 all week, and the hottest it got was 60.

My FI and I are going to wear the buttons. We are also going to wear the silly bride and groom ears. You never know what kind of perks you will get. You are almost guaranteed to get at least a couple congrats, but you may also get a card or a little treat. I have heard of people getting anything from "congratulations" written in chocolate sauce on their dessert plates, to special fast passes. Anything is possible. I would wear the buttons for the sake of wearing them (it’s part of the fun!), but expect very little in the way of special treatment. That way, you can be surprised when you get it!

My biggest tip is staying on property and getting the Dining Plan. Also, make reservations for restaurants as soon as possible (don’t expect to walk up to the restaurant the day of and get a table...you may be disappointed).