2 rooms clarification

[Nikciburd]

Hello all,

I have a party of 7 going to Disney the last week of August: 5 disney adults and 2 disney children. I was hoping to get free dining but it’s not essential. However, since we have two rooms at PORFQ, I was wondering about possibly getting the dining plan for the room. I have it grouped so that I have 2adults and 2 kids in one room and 3 in the other. I was thinking I could get the deluxe plan for the 2adult2kid room and go no plan on the other. Then, even without any trickery of kids for adults (which I have read about and feel somewhat guilty doing but haven’t ruled out if properly reassured), we could pool meals. I have ADRs for lunch 5 days out of the 7 we are there (8 nights but leaving first thing last day). One of them is the sci-fi diner too so I don’t think it’s very expensive. I think by pooling the table credits on a deluxe or maybe even just a regular plan we could pay for most of those. We might like to add in a nicer dinner once (maybe just my husband and I while the grandparents watch the kids or vice versa)or something but we can be flexible on that. I just don’t want my rather cheap FIL to have sticker shock when we go off to these places to eat. It’s August and I thought a nice lunch midday in the heat then doing one more ride before returning to the hotel would be a nice plan. Then maybe grab a quick service dinner at park or before leaving for the park. Does that sound reasonable? I am a first timer. Tell me what to do.

 

[Nikciburd]

Also wanted to add that another ADR is Be Our Guest so another Quick service. So maybe deluxe isn’t necesssary. It might even be better to take the room only discount and do the pooling regardless if free dining comes out. We were thinking of having groceries delivered and maybe just eating sandwiches here and there so we could feel healthier and save money too. Also, the Disney adult in the other room is 10 years old. He’s a decent eater....nowhere near teenager status but he can put it back when he’s in a growth spurt.

 

[Pumbaa_]

What you want to do is doable

Now it's just a math exercise

Set up a spreadsheet and input the different options

What's nice about deluxe is the appetizers.

 

[sharonabe]

Agree with Pumbaa. You gotta do the math to see if it works. It SHOULD be cheaper than paying OOP, but that all depends on where you're going to eat. Plan out the trip with no discounts at all and that will give you your free dining cost, if it applies later. Plan out one with room discount. Then go to the menus and restaurants and see what you really WANT to do, not what you would do if you have the plan, but what you WANT to do. Then it's just math.

 

[marlouwrig]

I am in the middle of trying to work out almost the same thing. We have a split stay planned in August 8 nights plus 6 nights in a DVC Studio + 2 bed for 6 adults and 6 kids (4 under 10). Currently trying to crunch the numbers between paying OOP (with TIW discount), DDP for all 12 or Deluxe DDP for 2 bed only sharing the credits. We have ADR's booked for Yak & Yeti, Akershus, Biergarten, Garden Grille, Cape May, Tusker House (ROL), 50's Prime Time, Beaches and Cream, Crystal Palace, Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickeys, BOG (Breakfast, lunch and dinner), O'Hana, Kona Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe.

I doubt we will use all the CS credits if we do DDP x 12 and the cost of D x DDP for the 2 bed only comes in at about $600 less than the DDP, so I am really interested in hearing about the experiences of others

 

[sharonabe]

We have ADR's booked for Yak & Yeti, Akershus, Biergarten, Garden Grille, Cape May, Tusker House (ROL), 50's Prime Time, Beaches and Cream, Crystal Palace, Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickeys, BOG (Breakfast, lunch and dinner), O'Hana, Kona Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe.

Are these all during the 6 nights that you have the 2 bed? Who is staying in the 2 bed?

 

[marlouwrig]

Sorry, I obviously didn't explain myself very well. We have a studio and a 2 bed at both resorts. Currently thinking that we will have 3 children and 6 adults in 2 bed, although it is flexible. Which ever works out best.

 

[Nikciburd]

I am in the middle of trying to work out almost the same thing. We have a split stay planned in August 8 nights plus 6 nights in a DVC Studio + 2 bed for 6 adults and 6 kids (4 under 10). Currently trying to crunch the numbers between paying OOP (with TIW discount), DDP for all 12 or Deluxe DDP for 2 bed only sharing the credits. We have ADR's booked for Yak & Yeti, Akershus, Biergarten, Garden Grille, Cape May, Tusker House (ROL), 50's Prime Time, Beaches and Cream, Crystal Palace, Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickeys, BOG (Breakfast, lunch and dinner), O'Hana, Kona Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe.

I doubt we will use all the CS credits if we do DDP x 12 and the cost of D x DDP for the 2 bed only comes in at about $600 less than the DDP, so I am really interested in hearing about the experiences of others

Ugh I know! I have to sit down and price out all the meals. So time consuming! Being the family travel agent is good because I ultimately get to do what I want (and I have a control freak streak) but it really does take a lot of time. It’s also a lot of pressure!

 

[marlouwrig]

Your situation sounds a lot like my own and you have read my thoughts almost exactly. We are from the UK and although myself and DH can make the trip most years, for some of my family this will genuinely be a once in a lifetime treat and I am really feeling the pressure. My life is ruled by spreadsheets at the moment

 

[sharonabe]

Sorry, I obviously didn't explain myself very well. We have a studio and a 2 bed at both resorts. Currently thinking that we will have 3 children and 6 adults in 2 bed, although it is flexible. Which ever works out best.

My question is are all the ADRs you listed during the 6 nights you're thinking of adding the dining plan? You will only have access to the plan for those nights, not the entire 14 nights you are there.

 

[marlouwrig]

The ADRs are spread across the whole of our stay. If we add the dining plan it will be for all 14 nights of our stay.

 

[hodad]

I'm sharing a spreadsheet I made for @Hemlock a few months ago based on my own. Could be useful.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2937djg254c7xc/Disney%20Dining%20Plan%20Calculator%20for%20Hemlock.xlsx?dl=0