1st timer at FW

[heartsy77]

So we are headed to FW Oct- 14-20 2012. Thus far I have the preuim site booked for our camper, nothing else. I have so many questions and uncertainties.
First of all group: myself, dh, dd 16, dd 13. And my boys: ages 9,8, and 5 (there 1st time). We are driving from Upstate NY with our travel trailer.

I do have AAA, discount wasn't available as of yet. Is it possiabe to get code on FW package?

Is the dining plan worth it while staying in the campground? We will probally will want to eat one sit down character meal everyday anyways. I've ran the #s and I just can't decide. I'm willing to cook simple breakfast, and basics : hamburger & hotdogs. Thoughts?

Tickets do I just pkg them with Disney or do I use AAA?

We are also party of a magical grand gathering; other family is staying @ POP.

Any ideas or help would be so appreciated!

 

[bama_ed]

So we are headed to FW Oct- 14-20 2012. Thus far I have the preuim site booked for our camper, nothing else. I have so many questions and uncertainties.
First of all group: myself, dh, dd 16, dd 13. And my boys: ages 9,8, and 5 (there 1st time). We are driving from Upstate NY with our travel trailer.

I do have AAA, discount wasn't available as of yet. Is it possiabe to get code on FW package?

Is the dining plan worth it while staying in the campground? We will probally will want to eat one sit down character meal everyday anyways. I've ran the #s and I just can't decide. I'm willing to cook simple breakfast, and basics : hamburger & hotdogs. Thoughts?

Tickets do I just pkg them with Disney or do I use AAA? There is no pricing advantage to a package (only convenience).

We are also party of a magical grand gathering; other family is staying @ POP.

Any ideas or help would be so appreciated!

All you can do is call and check on AAA discounts. AAA discounts are limited in number and once the allocation is claimed there are no more. Early bird gets the worm here.

Dining plans: When you say "character meal" those are pretty expensive and not covered under the normal dining plans. I'm thinking of the Crystal Palace at MK for example. Sometimes they use two meal credits rather than just one. You'd do it EVERY day? Part of the beauty of the Fort is cooking your meals and saving some money. People who do the Dining Plans are either hostage to their reservation times or feel like they wasted meals if they freewheel it. Most campers (not cabin people at the Fort) don't sound like they do the dining plan (but some do).

Tickets: My AAA locally only sells 7-day passes at a slight discount. How many days do you want to do the parks versus the Fort? Go where the best deal is. We spend 1/3 of our time in the parks and 2/3 around the Fort/DTD/Water Park/Putt putt. So we end up just paying full price for our 1-2 days. You're coming pretty far so you'll probably spend several days in the parks. We go annually from Alabama so our experience is different from yours.

GG: I had a GG on our Thanksgiving 2009 trip. Like you we were at the Fort and the rest were at POP. Hard to get everyone to agree to do the same thing each day. Even harder to move around parks together. Shoot for some "moments" like a dinner together or Fort Campfire/movie or a bbq at the campsite and let everyone else do their own thing otherwise.

Good luck!

Bama ED

 

[elizablake]

Is the dining plan worth it while staying in the campground? We will probally will want to eat one sit down character meal everyday anyways. I've ran the #s and I just can't decide. I'm willing to cook simple breakfast, and basics : hamburger & hotdogs. Thoughts?

I don't have AAA so I can't help you there.

You need to start booking your dining reservations ASAP if you haven't already especially the character meals. Chef Mickey's and CRT book up fast.

I would figure out where you want to eat, look at allears.net or somewhere to get a price on the meals and see if the dining plan would be cheaper.

Just my opinion, but I could see a sit down meal everyday but it seems like a character meal everyday would be too much. I know during our first trip we were having so much fun with characters and rides that dining reservations were a burden.

We also use meal time at the RV as break time. We don't prepare anything difficult or that requires a lot of dish washing. I also prepare and freeze some food before we leave. We make a lot of hot dogs, spaghetti, and grilled food like pork chops.

Happy planning!

 

[heartsy77]

I didn't mean a character meal every day I meant a sit down, most likely a buffet.

I have been to WDW 5x previously just not to FW before.


So I take that means no codes for FW discounts?

Dining plan would be 1500 and I figured I can probably cook simple stuff way cheaper.

 

[blu]

That was one of my questions too. Do any of the promotions ever apply to FW? They usually say they are for stays at moderate resorts, but what is FW campsites considered? I am wanting dining specifically as we are Fl residents so will get discounted tickets.

 

[laura-k]

When we stay at the Fort I usually make a few ADR's
You will be there 6 days so maybe try the second day ,4th day and the 6th day for sit down meals -You can usually do a walk-up to Trails -End ,the buffet at FW-it is also the cheapest on property -I also usually did a reservation for Chef Mickeys Character breakfast for the last morning when my kids where younger -
Also remember you will need a park pass to eat at the sit down restaurants in the park
I know others would disagree but since it is your younger kids 1st trip it might be nice to have the 5 or six day hopper pass and be able to do a park in the morning and take a break swim ect and go back in the evenings but make sure you save a night for the camfire and movie -I think undercover tourist has a pretty good discount especially since there are quite a few of you 10 -15 dollars x 6 of you would be a nice discount-
you can always fill in the meals between easy stuff at your camper and counter service like Cosmic Rays and stuff - DtD has the earl of sandwich with huge salads and sandwiches for 6 bucks each (pretty good deal for Disney and also Puck express is reasonable and good -check out the menus and prices here-
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm#res
hope some of this helps-!

 

[2goofycampers]

With the 2012 prices and removing snacks from the DDP I don't think it's worth it anymore anywhere.

And we were always pro DDP.

 

[SunshineCamper]

I agree with all the above advice. October will still be warm-you'll want a downtime day. Maybe do a Character meal at Chef Mickey for breakfast-the cheapest meal.
DTD-Earl of Sandwich, Trail's End (take out will save you $$$) and of course cooking at the campsite. The savings eating at the site is HUGE for us.
I don't like the dining plan because its one more thing to "keep up with" on my vacation. I would want my $$ worth so I would make sure I was at all the reserved meals. No thanks-IMHO.
Hoop Dee Doo one night would be fun.
Don't forget to enjoy your vacation ...its a lot of planning.

 

[parrothead64]

Dining plans: When you say "character meal" those are pretty expensive and not covered under the normal dining plans. I'm thinking of the Crystal Palace at MK for example. Sometimes they use two meal credits rather than just one. Bama ED

This is incorrect, the only character meals that charge two credits is Cinderella's Royal Table and the Backyard BBQ. As per the Disney Dining Plan:

The Disney Dining Plan can be used for Character Dining experiences. One (1) Table-Service meal for each person participating in the
Character Dining experience will be redeemed from your meal plan balance, unless otherwise noted. Gratuities are not included.
Please Note: Two Table-Service meals for each person dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table will be redeemed from their meal plan
balance.

Also, as far as I can see, snacks haven't been eliminated from the basic Dining Plan. They have also added for 2012 that you get the refillable mug, which you didn't get before. They DID remove one of the snacks from the Quick Service Dining Plan though.

The Disney Dining Plan includes one (1) Quick-Service Meal, one (1)
Snack, and one (1) Table-Service Meal per person, per night of your
package stay for everyone in the party ages 3 and over.

Basically, you have to do the math. We decided for us that we wanted to do a couple character dinners and after adding up what the walkin price would be for the 5 of us for 3 meals, we felt that it would be worth the money to do the dining plan and not have to worry about if we were having a good time in the parks, we didn't have to run back to the camper and grab lunch. We could just stay where we are and grab a QS meal which is included in the dining plan. As some people have said, you are more on a schedule now, but if you were going to do it anyway you'll be on the schedule anyway.
Overall, like I said, plan what you think you want to do, add up the prices you would be charged and than price your package with the dining plan and see if financially it makes sense to do it.

 

[Jack Rabbit Run]

The only advice I have is to use Tee Time Golf cart rental (Kenny) if your're gonna rent one. You'll pay half the price of Disney.
Oh yeah, and don't forget your halloween decorations.

 

[heartsy77]

The only advice I have is to use Tee Time Golf cart rental (Kenny) if your're gonna rent one. You'll pay half the price of Disney.
Oh yeah, and don't forget your halloween decorations.

Thanks this my next question!