1st Timer Advice (arrive day before free dining)

[bizer]

I am looking for some advice on our first trip to Disney World. We are arriving November 22nd and leaving December 2nd. Right now we are booked for 3 nights at the Dolphin (22, 23 & 24th) and have 7 nights unbooked (still deciding) after that.

It looks like there is a chance fall free dining will be released this week and will start November 23rd. We want to take advantage of it so we will book POFQ. Do we stay one night at the Dolphin and transfer to POFQ the next day (23rd) to take advantage of free dining? Spend a couple nights at the Dolphin and pay out of pocket for a few meals? Go straight to POFQ for 10 nights? Will 10 nights in the same room be to long?

If we stay at the Dolphin first for a few nights is it possible to pick up the park tickets from the Disney vacation package we would book a few days early? The CM told me no today but from some research it looks to be possible. It would cost a lot to get two sets of tickets for each stay. The reason we want to stay at the Dolphin is the convenience to Epcot and HS.

 

[juliebug1997]

You don't have to book your park tickets with your WDW package, although you may still have to buy a one day ticket in order to do the dining plan.

To be honest, you would be arriving at the resort the day after Thanksgiving and I really don't think that there would be a free dining offer that soon after Thanksgiving. I mean, the crowd will still be there. Edit here: I just read the other thread with the prediction of free dining. I am still skeptical, but it sounds like the OP is the real deal. However, I do stand by my advice below.

I would go ahead and book now and then call back if there is a free dining offer to fix your package. You don't want to be left out in the cold because you waited.

 

[Missytara]

I am looking for some advice on our first trip to Disney World. We are arriving November 22nd and leaving December 2nd. Right now we are booked for 3 nights at the Dolphin (22, 23 & 24th) and have 7 nights unbooked (still deciding) after that.

It looks like there is a chance fall free dining will be released this week and will start November 23rd. We want to take advantage of it so we will book POFQ. Do we stay one night at the Dolphin and transfer to POFQ the next day (23rd) to take advantage of free dining? Spend a couple nights at the Dolphin and pay out of pocket for a few meals? Go straight to POFQ for 10 nights? Will 10 nights in the same room be to long?

If we stay at the Dolphin first for a few nights is it possible to pick up the park tickets from the Disney vacation package we would book a few days early? The CM told me no today but from some research it looks to be possible. It would cost a lot to get two sets of tickets for each stay. The reason we want to stay at the Dolphin is the convenience to Epcot and HS.

I arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year. The last four years, the FD or room discount has been blacked out my first day and does not start until Sunday. I did room only the first day and then re-check in the second day with the package; you must book a minimum of a two-day ticket with free dining (it is only one day ticket with regular dining plan).

You book park tickets for the length of stay and pick them up to three days early at guest relations at the parks or DTD. When you check in for your package, take your paper ticket over to the concierge desk and they load them onto the KTTW card.

 

[MMS1125]

I'd do just 1 night at the Dolphin (picking tix up early) then move to POFQ with Free Dining for the remainder of the trip

 

[NoodlesMom]

I'd do just 1 night at the Dolphin (picking tix up early) then move to POFQ with Free Dining for the remainder of the trip

I agree. I would take advantage of free dinningas much as possible and like another poster said just pick up your park tickets a day early. Also FD requires atleast 2day park tickets.

 

[softballmom3]

Hi! We arrived the Saturday before Thanksgiving last year and did get Free Dining for the entire week of Thanksgiving. I happened to look on the website and Free Dining was included on that date so I booked within 2 days. A week later I went back and my check-in date was gone. So it was available then, I just don't know how long my date was offered before it was changed .

OP--We stayed the first night off-property (a Friday) and then did early check in that Saturday morning. I was going to add a separate ressie for one night but was afraid I wouldn't get my requests with arriving late at night. We stayed at a Homewood Suites and it was pretty nice.

I booked about 90 days out...

 

[bizer]

Thanks everyone. After thinking about it maybe I should cancel the Dolphin reservation and just stay at POFQ for the full 10 nights. That way I can use ME to and from instead of hiring a town car. I would have to do a room only the first night and then the package for 9 nights (assuming free dining starts November 23rd).

I guess my biggest concern is spending 10 nights in the same room. Realistically I doubt we will be in it that much with all the things to do.

Has anyone rented a car from DTD? I am going to rent a car for a few days to do Sea World, beach and ADR's at certain resorts. I should be able to take the boat (or bus) from POFQ to DTD and get the car and return the same way correct?

 

[MMS1125]

we rented a car....forgot who it was from but it was across the street from DHS. It was super easy. They came and picked my husband up at the resort then brought him back after we turned the car back in

Didn't know you needed ME so it would be better to just stay at a resort that first night room only then 9 nights of FD!

have a great trip!

 

[Missytara]

Thanks everyone. After thinking about it maybe I should cancel the Dolphin reservation and just stay at POFQ for the full 10 nights. That way I can use ME to and from instead of hiring a town car. I would have to do a room only the first night and then the package for 9 nights (assuming free dining starts November 23rd).

I guess my biggest concern is spending 10 nights in the same room. Realistically I doubt we will be in it that much with all the things to do.

Has anyone rented a car from DTD? I am going to rent a car for a few days to do Sea World, beach and ADR's at certain resorts. I should be able to take the boat (or bus) from POFQ to DTD and get the car and return the same way correct?

You can go over to the transportation board for info on the car rentals on-site.

Do not forget that POFQ is sister resorts with POR. Tons of things to do at both places.

 

[Jacqui]

I thought I had read that you could pick up your park tickets early if you needed to book two separate reservations but wan't absolutely sure if it was true or not. I recently asked the Moms Panel and they replied that you could not do this and now I am reading here that you can?? I am so confused

Has anyone here done this recently??

Thanks so much!!

 

[lanejudy]

I thought I had read that you could pick up your park tickets early if you needed to book two separate reservations but wan't absolutely sure if it was true or not. I recently asked the Moms Panel and they replied that you could not do this and now I am reading here that you can?? I am so confused

Has anyone here done this recently??

Thanks so much!!

You can pick up your park tickets from a package reservation up to 3 days before check-in. However, you most likely need to go to a park to do this - a resort may (or may not) be able to do it.

 

[purple figment]

I thought I had read that you could pick up your park tickets early if you needed to book two separate reservations but wan't absolutely sure if it was true or not. I recently asked the Moms Panel and they replied that you could not do this and now I am reading here that you can?? I am so confused

Has anyone here done this recently??

Thanks so much!!

Yes it has been done successfully by quite a few disboarders. It's something that Ticketing at GR at the parks and DTD can do rather than the resorts. A number of people have asked the same thing at the Parks Touring and Strategies board so do a search and you'll find threads there.

Here's the information on how to do it on the ticket sticky. It's post 15-I:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[Jacqui]

Yes it has been done successfully by quite a few disboarders. It's something that Ticketing at GR at the parks and DTD can do rather than the resorts. A number of people have asked the same thing at the Parks Touring and Strategies board so do a search and you'll find threads there.

Here's the information on how to do it on the ticket sticky. It's post 15-I:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

You can pick up your park tickets from a package reservation up to 3 days before check-in. However, you most likely need to go to a park to do this - a resort may (or may not) be able to do it.

Thank you both very much!!!

As for the ticket sticky, I saw the link to that thread on another thread but read that it was post 151 not 15-I, so I obviously could not find the information. I literally LOL when I first went to the sticky and saw that it was only 2 pages because I knew there was no way it could have 151 posts. Maybe it was the use of the "-" that made it clearer for me this time.

I have now copied and printed out that information.

I truly do appreciate this information