2 broke college girls...

[kseg95]

Marionnette ~Thank you! You've been most helpful. My plan is to stop by AAA tomorrow, get a quote from them then do a bunch of planning on the Dis website and see how it comes out cheapest. Just time to number crunch I guess!

Thanks for all the suggestions from everyone
When it comes down to it, we'll be staying on site and flying...I know those add to our cost but renting a car is not an option, and I would not be comfortable driving there on our own.

Have a great week everyone!

 

[Q-man]

If you decide you want the dining plan add it and the tickets at check-in so you don't need to buy trip insurance as a room only resv. can be cancelled 24 hours out.

 

[worm761]

If you decide you want the dining plan add it and the tickets at check-in so you don't need to buy trip insurance as a room only resv. can be cancelled 24 hours out.

Do NOT listen to this advice. You cannot add the DDP at check in. Period. It has to be added at least 72 hours in advance.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

If you decide you want the dining plan add it and the tickets at check-in so you don't need to buy trip insurance as a room only resv. can be cancelled 24 hours out.

Note - RO reservations have to be cancelled 5 or 6 days out - NOT 24 hours (if you want to cancel w/o a fee)

Also as I recall in order to have the dining plan (which the poster just above me is correct it must be added at least 3 days in advance) I *think* (but am not sure) you need to have a package consisting of room, tickets and dining all purchased thru Disney. So (assuming I'm correct) you can't purchase the tickets from UT or anywhere else and get the dining plan.

 

[Q-man]

Note - RO reservations have to be cancelled 5 or 6 days out - NOT 24 hours (if you want to cancel w/o a fee)

Also as I recall in order to have the dining plan (which the poster just above me is correct it must be added at least 3 days in advance) I *think* (but am not sure) you need to have a package consisting of room, tickets and dining all purchased thru Disney. So (assuming I'm correct) you can't purchase the tickets from UT or anywhere else and get the dining plan.

I guess it is a good thing we haven't had to make a last minute cancellation as I've been adding tickets at check-in and not buying trip insurance for a few trips now. Still better than paying in full 45 days out in my book. We don't do the dining plan anymore unless it is a free dine offer as Disney stripped the saving out of the dining plan IMO. To save anything with the dining plan these days you'd have to order the most expensive items at every meal.

Yes, you have to purchase park tickets through Disney to buy the dining plan.

 

[HM]

I still don't see how 'two broke college girls' can do a trip like the OP wants with flights, meal plan and staying onsite. WDW is just too pricey. Even if you were able to get enough money together for it, are you sure that a trip to WDW is the best way to spend that money?

 

[luvsJack]

Don't worry about the preferred room, OP. Its not worth the extra cost. We always stay at Pop. Some of the preferred rooms are a sidewalk width away from a non-preferred room. Unless you get "pool side" its really not worth the cost.

Only do the dining plan if its free. You and your friend should be able to do it cheaper even if you do eat at Le Cellier and the other places you mentioned. Splitting meals would be really easy with the two of you.

We are going in November. We have free dining--the quick service plan. At first I upgraded to the DDP to included many of the places you mentioned. But, once I re-did the math to include just the TS we really wanted, I came out cheaper doing the QSP and paying OOP for those meals.