Split Stay/Dining Plan?

[chocovrdmicears]

Here are my thoughts.
With a 4 and 6 year old - if you have a lot of character meals and ADR's planned, the Dining Plan will probably be a good idea.
As you have read from the info - a split stay with the Dining Plan is not the most cost effective - especially considering you do not have another trip planned for a while.
We did a split stay once when our kids were little - and it wasn't for us -it wasn't a big deal to do the actual transfer - but I never felt settled at the first resort, then when we got to the second 1/2 and I finally settled in and unpacked - I felt like my vacation was too short. Weird I know.
My advice to you is pick a resort you want to stay at and get the Dining Plan for your entire stay.

 

[triciari]

Did anyone yet mention that annual pass holders can buy the dining plan (without extra tickets, of course.).

 

[MermaidMommy]

This might have been mentioned, but to be eligible for Free Dining, you would have to get two-day tickets on your 2nd resort, rather than the 1-day ticket that's required for the (not-free) Dining Plan. That's an additional $724. If Free Dining does become a possibility, make sure you run your numbers to see if Free Dining or a Room Only discount would work for you. Usually, the room discount is better, but every family is different.

Also, if you do the split stay, remember that your leftover snack or meal credits won't transfer from the first hotel to the second. We didn't realize this, and ended up at 11:00pm buying whatever we could at ASM food court before our credits expired at midnight.

 

[mickeynut1]

Did anyone yet mention that annual pass holders can buy the dining plan (without extra tickets, of course.).

I don't think this has been mentioned, but you are correct. AP holders can book a ticketless package (AP + Dine) without having to buy tickets .

 

[smidgy]

Also, if you do the split stay, remember that your leftover snack or meal credits won't transfer from the first hotel to the second. We didn't realize this, and ended up at 11:00pm buying whatever we could at ASM food court before our credits expired at midnight.

technically correct. but you can use those credits at any WDW theme park OR resort until midnight the night of checkout.

which is WHY I mentioned saving a CS credit , some snack credits, and a TS credit for the lat day (to S t r e t c h out the dining plan) we do this on purpose.

as I said, the first night at the new resort , you have a nice table service dinner. and you can get a cs dinner to go (and put it in your fridge) and use up the rest of your snacks to keep in your room (chips, etc.)

we ahve done it NUMEROUS times, it works great for us.

 

[smidgy]

Here are my thoughts.
With a 4 and 6 year old - if you have a lot of character meals and ADR's planned, the Dining Plan will probably be a good idea.
As you have read from the info - a split stay with the Dining Plan is not the most cost effective - especially considering you do not have another trip planned for a while.
We did a split stay once when our kids were little - and it wasn't for us -it wasn't a big deal to do the actual transfer - but I never felt settled at the first resort, then when we got to the second 1/2 and I finally settled in and unpacked - I felt like my vacation was too short. Weird I know. My advice to you is pick a resort you want to stay at and get the Dining Plan for your entire stay.

now THAT is so true! one of the downsides of a split stay... we always want to start with the resort we like least. AND we want the longer stay (if any) to be at the end of the stay.

splitting the trip up DOES seem to make it "segmented," and therefore put a bit more emphasis on the "gee, we're on the last part of the trip". esp. when we drive, there is something to be said for "settling in" at the resort, (nesting, if you will). putting our all your snacks, etc. .


so, you see, there is NO ONE WAY ONLY to do a disney trip!!!! they all work, for various reasons! which makes it so much fun to plan the next one! and plan it Just a "tad" differently.

 

[smidgy]

Here are my thoughts.
With a 4 and 6 year old - if you have a lot of character meals and ADR's planned, the Dining Plan will probably be a good idea.
As you have read from the info - a split stay with the Dining Plan is not the most cost effective - especially considering you do not have another trip planned for a while.

this is why I suggested that they only do the dining plan for the 1st resort (package, plus dining plan plus tickets for the entire stay) and a room only for the 2nd resort (the tickets from the 1st resort/package are still good.

this way they could fit in the pricey character buffets in the first part and not have to pay full price for tickets again. and eat a little more chealy for the 2nd part.

maybe the OP would be better off just doing things as easily as possible and staying at one resort. (I LIKE to complicate things) gives her anexcuse to come back!!!
(ps whichever way you do it, OP you will have FUN!!!!)

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Many great reasons to not do a split stay, and why to do a split stay!?

Thank-you to everyone, I have a lot to think about!

I too like to complicate things sometimes, and don't always pick the "easier" route.
I also tend to over think things, and this why I ask for help. It's great to get opinions from people that don't know me because I get their honest opinion.

Thanks again....I'm going to run some numbers now

 

[flinkerfrosch]

You DO realize the dining plan really doesn't net any real savings anymore for the most part, right? http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/ has a calculator to see if this is indeed the case for your group. If OOP is the same as the dining plan, just do as dansdad mentioned. You could even buy tix through Disney, the savings buying elsewhere IME isn't that much anyway. Also, paying OOP allows you to split meals or share with children who don't eat much anyway. JMHO...

The link is not working for me

Thanks though

 

[MermaidMommy]

technically correct. but you can use those credits at any WDW theme park OR resort until midnight the night of checkout.

which is WHY I mentioned saving a CS credit , some snack credits, and a TS credit for the lat day (to S t r e t c h out the dining plan) we do this on purpose.

as I said, the first night at the new resort , you have a nice table service dinner. and you can get a cs dinner to go (and put it in your fridge) and use up the rest of your snacks to keep in your room (chips, etc.)

we ahve done it NUMEROUS times, it works great for us.

My point was to remind OP that unused credits will expire at midnight of the day they check out of the first hotel, even though they are moving to another Disney property. We would have preferred to use up our snack credits for more expensive items in the parks, rather than cheaper chips and such at the food court, but we didn't realize they wouldn't transfer to the 2nd hotel and were forced to spend the credits at the last minute.

 

[MermaidMommy]

The link is not working for me

Thanks though

Try this link:
http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

It's really helpful -- it lets you enter in the number of adults and kids, plus the meals you plan on eating, and will tell show you how much you would spend OOP versus on the DDP.

 

[Rustyroo]

The link is not working for me

Thanks though

Try this: http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

Does that go?

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Thank-you to everyone for all your suggestions, links etc...

I've done some thinking, and figured I would make my decision once a deal of some sort comes out.
I can't do much until then
If we get free dining for the whole trip then I will probably stay at AKL the entire time, but if no free dining and I get room discount, then I may do a split stay.
The waiting continues...I am going crazy with all the waiting, wondering, hoping!!!???

 

[thisismyusername]

Did anyone yet mention that annual pass holders can buy the dining plan (without extra tickets, of course.).

Wow--I never knew this. What if I have an AP and my family has tickets? Would I be able to put them on the dining plan? What if you're doing a split stay anyway? Would you be able to determine how many days you want the DDP?

(sorry to hijack the thread...)

 

[aaarcher86]

Wow--I never knew this. What if I have an AP and my family has tickets? Would I be able to put them on the dining plan? What if you're doing a split stay anyway? Would you be able to determine how many days you want the DDP?

(sorry to hijack the thread...)

You can do an AP ticketless package with dining using your AP discount for everyone. They can just use their tickets that they have separately. There is not a way to combine the two (have an AP pkg with dining and give tickets to the other party members and/or have a regular package with dining but not give tickets to the AP holder).

As far as the dining plan - it's all or nothing. It will always be attached to the number of nights you're staying whether it's a traditional package, AP ticketless pkg with dining, etc. No way to stray from that.

 

[thisismyusername]

You can do an AP ticketless package with dining using your AP discount for everyone. They can just use their tickets that they have separately. There is not a way to combine the two (have an AP pkg with dining and give tickets to the other party members and/or have a regular package with dining but not give tickets to the AP holder).

As far as the dining plan - it's all or nothing. It will always be attached to the number of nights you're staying whether it's a traditional package, AP ticketless pkg with dining, etc. No way to stray from that.

Thanks for the info and help! I am sorry, but I'm not sure I understand exactly. With our current package, we are all getting tickets that are attached to our one reservation (the longest part of our split stay). Upon arrival, I am converting my ticket to an AP (just me--this is because I am returning later this year). What I would love to do is put the dining plan on the 3 night (room-only) part of our vacation that is not tied to tickets. Is that possible, or no? I'd have the AP in hand by then.

 

[aaarcher86]

Thanks for the info and help! I am sorry, but I'm not sure I understand exactly. With our current package, we are all getting tickets that are attached to our one reservation (the longest part of our split stay). Upon arrival, I am converting my ticket to an AP (just me--this is because I am returning later this year). What I would love to do is put the dining plan on the 3 night (room-only) part of our vacation that is not tied to tickets. Is that possible, or no? I'd have the AP in hand by then.

You could turn your 3 night RO reservation into an AP ticketless pkg with dining for everyone. You'd have to cancel your RO and rebook as a pkg - you'd have deposit and PIF requirements of a pkg for that last leg versus the RO requirements. You'd have to show your AP to the front desk at check in, but that's no big deal. Everyone would be able to have the DP without purchasing another round of tickets on the second portion.

If going this route make sure you book your AP pkg before cancelling your RO as a precaution.

 

[thisismyusername]

You could turn your 3 night RO reservation into an AP ticketless pkg with dining for everyone. You'd have to cancel your RO and rebook as a pkg - you'd have deposit and PIF requirements of a pkg for that last leg versus the RO requirements. You'd have to show your AP to the front desk at check in, but that's no big deal. Everyone would be able to have the DP without purchasing another round of tickets on the second portion.

If going this route make sure you book your AP pkg before cancelling your RO as a precaution.

I gotcha! Thank you!

 

[babydoll65]

if you plan on staying in a resort for one night and the rest of the trip for the other five nights to take advantage of free dining (if it's offered) can you pick up you passes a day early and just add a day for the first day and then use your five day pass with the ddp for the remainder. I was thinking of doing a split stay if they offer free dining in November but they might not offer it on veterans day but may offer it the next day. Would this work if needed

 

[mickeynut1]

if you plan on staying in a resort for one night and the rest of the trip for the other five nights to take advantage of free dining (if it's offered) can you pick up you passes a day early and just add a day for the first day and then use your five day pass with the ddp for the remainder. I was thinking of doing a split stay if they offer free dining in November but they might not offer it on veterans day but may offer it the next day. Would this work if needed

If I'm understanding your question, you are wanting to possibly do room only for the first night and then have a package (free dining, if offered) starting the next day and you're asking if your park tickets can be picked up prior to the start of the package? If so, then yes, park tickets can be picked up 3 days prior to the start of a package. If the room only and package are at the same resort, I think the park tickets can be done at the resort (although I'm not 100% sure). Otherwise, you would need to go to any park's Guest Relations office and request early ticket pick up. We did this in December 2010 and it worked out great. All I needed to show was a picture ID, but others have reported needing their package confirmation number, so have that with you just in case. Also, if you book the same resort/room type for both reservations, have the CM link them together and put in a request to keep the same room. This will not guarantee that you will not have to move, but they will do everything they can to keep you in the same room. Good luck.