Disney math and difficult choices

[shaunaday]

I had planned a vacation for April (Spring Break) for my family of 5. We were going to do things a bit differently this time...off-site, pool home, spend a day at Sea World. We would have had 3 days at the Disney parks and 1 or 2 days at Sea World.

Pool Home: 741.
Free GAD Tix: 0
Sea World: 345.
WDW 2 day: 994.
Parking: 56.
Groceries: 300.
Total: 2536.00

Then today, I got the free dining pin. Yeah. *THIS* is what I need to simplify life. So for 5 days at the parks...

Free Dining package: 2259.
Tips,etc.: 200.00
Free GAD Tix: 0
Total: 2459.00

Wow. 100.00 difference?! Ugh. Such a tough decision! Luckily, my kids are all leaning towards the April trip because they don't want to miss school and they are so excited about Sea World. But I am struggling with which trip is really the best value. Does this ever happen to anyone else? You get your trip all figured out and then BAM! Disney comes out with an offer you can't refuse?!

 

[Tricia's mom]

GAD promo excludes some dates in march and april...
So double check that with your plans. It's not enough money to warrant the change. Looks like its a matter of preference for your family. TOUGH ONE. Sharpen your pencil and see if you have other expense's that you may have not thought of...

 

[tlh0726]

Looking at your prices it seems that you will be getting either the park hopper or water park option on your tickets. Dropping this would save your family of 5 about $250

GAD black out dates
•The theme park tickets distributed under this Program will not be valid for use on the following dates:
◦For Walt Disney World® Resort: March 29 - April 8 and July 4, 2010

 

[Rylee]

Which resort did you choose for the the free dining package? Which ticket options? Was trip insurance added in? I ask because that seems high to me.

 

[tzolkin]

Which resort did you choose for the the free dining package? Which ticket options? Was trip insurance added in? I ask because that seems high to me.

They are a family of 5, so they cannot stay in one value room. I would assume that would be why the cost is higher than you would think.



I would do the second trip, but that's because we like to stay onsite/use Disney transportation/nap.

It really depends on your family's style and how important going to Sea World is.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dd13 does not want to be pulled out of school anymore for a vacation, and I respect her wishes. It's just way too much work to make up!

 

[shaunaday]

I did choose park hopper tix with no water parks for both options. The package with free dining included the trip insurance I think...which I would have cancelled saving us a little. The package also included lodging at Port Orleans Riverside.

I am scared NOT to get park hoppers for the April trip due to crowds, but the free dining trip, I could probably do without that option. Hummm...that would save us a little too.

Sigh. Personally, the second option is the one I *would* lean towards. I love free dining. And I love a bargain. However, missing school really is an issue for everyone in our family. (3 kids in school and I am a teacher) But we could arrange it so we would only miss 3 days.

Decisions. Decisions.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

2 things-
We never get park hoppers anymore and we have gone at easter and just returned from a Christmas trip. We get FPs during the day to use at night( do you know you don't have to use them during the time on the ticket, just after) , take a break in the afternoon, and in the evening have dinner, use FPs, and then see parades, show, walk around WS. We also do not go to the parks with EMHs. Something to think about.

I am assuming your free dining would be in Aug./ Sept. ? It would be really hot then and myself, I'd rather go in the spring. During our Christmas trip, we had some really cold days and it made the trip less enjoyable at times. I wish we would have planned to go in the spring instead, but we didn't want the kids to miss school.

 

[shaunaday]

2 things-
We never get park hoppers anymore and we have gone at easter and just returned from a Christmas trip. We get FPs during the day to use at night( do you know you don't have to use them during the time on the ticket, just after) , take a break in the afternoon, and in the evening have dinner, use FPs, and then see parades, show, walk around WS. We also do not go to the parks with EMHs. Something to think about.

Hummm, really? Well, you have made me re-think this...perhaps I will take off that option. Off to go do more math!

 

[monkey30]

We have taken off the park hoppers as well in a 14 day visit we only park hopped once and that was to make the park hopper worth it, u can always add it on at the park if u find u want to.

I personally would do 1, just because it was your original plan, as nice as it is to stay at a disney resort, and have the dinning(which can be a saver or a problem depending on the day!) if your daughter does not want to miss school, it is something to consider over a little bit of savings.

 

[tlh0726]

OP - post your dates that you plan on going in April and I am sure that someone here on the boards will come up with some type of deal/plan that will work out for you.

Our current plan for April is drive our Motorhome and stay at Fort Wilderness. But with the gift card being offered, we are debating switching to a value resort and driving our mini van instead of towing it behind the MH. The room costs more than the campground, but gas for the van costs less than diesel for the MH. When I run the numbers it would be like $2.00 more to stay at the value resort but then we also get a $300 gift card to use in the park to offset meals and snacks. I hate this being undecided.

Adding
we did park hopper option on our last trip and did park hop almost every day.
This trip I am not getting the park hopper option, but it is included in my numbers. If we decide to add it during our trip, we are still within budget, if we don't then the money will stay in our vacation account giving us a jump start of the next trip.