You might want to join the e-mail list at this site.
http://www.mousesavers.com/ It is free to get the e-mail newsletter and that is where I found the great deal on our package. We stayed off site but the deal was AWESOME and was perfect for us.
I've also heard that there are Disney World apps if you have an iPhone.
Don't want to be a Negative Nellie but I would suggest checking out the menus before getting the Disney Dining package. You can check out menus here:
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm I know some families that are pleased with the Dining package. I'm relieved that we didn't have it. We ate mostly counter service in the parks (but did a nice sit-down in Epcot and I went to the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian). We were there for a week and we found the food offerings lacking. It seemed like we only had a couple of choices of what seemed like almost the same offerings whichever park were were in. I really found the choices disappointing by the end of the week. And we ate a wonderful breakfast each morning at our off-site hotel. I also liked not having to get the "adult" choice which I would have been required to do with the plan, I believe. Sometimes I actually found the kids meal offering a more desirable choice -- even though it wasn't a lot of food. Again, many families LOVE the dining plan. I just wanted to put it out there that we didn't love the food options and were relieved to be able to eat elsewhere.
I purchased the Disney PhotoPass CD.
http://www.disneyphotopass.com/ I got it at a discount by purchasing before our trip. It is expensive but I think it was worth it. If you have 4-5 pictures printed by them I think it is about the same as the price of the CD. We ended up with hundreds of photos because you are also able to take the photos from the PhotoPass people and add borders, etc. 'Twas very cool. I would also recommend having your "important" picture (i.e. in front of Cinderella's Castle, or whatever else you're hoping to get) taken by a couple of different PhotoPass Photographers because they vary in ability. Also, some of the PhotoPass Photographers can do "Magic Shots". We were thrilled with these and I did ask different photographers if they did magic shots. Here is site that explains those.
http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/ Another hint, when you get your PhotoPass card, take a photo of it with your camera or call home and record the number, etc. This will help them find your photos in case you lose the card. Also, you can put multiple photopass cards on the same CD. So if your party splits up in groups have them take a PhotoPass card so they can get more photos, too. Then add them all to your account before you order the final CD to be sent to you. If you don't want to get the PhotoPass CD/photos, the Disney people are also great about taking a photo with your camera. Just ask them.
Be prepared for a lot of walking. I even started "training" ahead of our trip. LOL! So glad I did.
Since you do have a number of people at different age stages you may find it easier to stay on property so that you could go back to the room for a rest during the day.
We added Park Hopper so that we could go to multiple parks on the same day. That worked ideally for us. My sister and her family happened to go with her in-laws the week before us. They did not have Park Hopper and it worked out ok for them. So either way. For us, we had someone who didn't really want to hang out at Disney all the time. By having the Park Hopper we had the option of starting the day in the Magic Kingdom but then eating dinner in Epcot or if someone wanted to go back to see something or a ride it was no big deal because we weren't committed to a park for the day.
Because of the PhotoPass I am in the pictures too instead of just taking them. I can't believe how much I'm smiling ear to ear in these photos. I hope you have a fun time.
I know this is a long message but I thought in case anyone else was interested. If you have questions feel free to PM me.
