Advice about extended stay (15 nights) during free dining.

[SELLINGINNJ]

Hello,
My family of 5 ( myself, DH, DS 12, DD 8 and DS4) will be in Disney for 15 nights at the end of August. We are staying at Port Orleans. I currently have 2 reservations. 1 for 10 nights with free dining and 10 day MYW plus tickets. The plus tickets give me an extra 5 days of water parks and DQ, therefore giving me 14 days of fun! The second reservation is a room only for 5 nights with AAA discount.
We typically go once a year at the same time. I have been tossing around the following options:

1. Upgrading the MYW tickets to annual passes once we check in.
And/or

2. Changing the second reservation to free dining and buying a 1 day park pass. This options would cost us an additional $450.00

3. Leaving thing as is and paying out of pocket for meals the last 4 days.

What would you do? Have I missed anything?

Thanks for your anticipated replies.

 

[jel0511]

I don't think you'll spend only $450 for food on those last 5 nights, so that is a savings right there. Also, if you book the same resort, and have the ressies linked you shouldn't have to move, just check-out and re-check-in. As for AP's one thing you need to realize is that there are two. There is the regular AP, which gives you admission to the 4 major theme parks for 365 days. Then there is the Premium AP, which gives you admission to the 4 major parks, water parks, pleasure island, and disney quest for 365 days. Since you mentioned going to the water parks, you'd need the premium AP, which is about $125 more per pass than the regular AP (or $250 more than your 10 day MYW premium ticket). If you plan on returning to WDW within the year (ie leaving WDW before the ticket would expire) then it's worth it. If you're not, personally I think the 10 day ticket is a MUCH better deal than even the regular AP.

 

[fran99999]

Dont forget the other alternative of changing one adult ticket to PAP from a 10 and purchasing a DDE for $50. This would get U an AP rate if available for your room ( not sure if AAA is better) and get you a discount on the food for the last 5 days. I save quite a few $$ using the DDE on my last trip for DH, DS6 and myself it more than paid the $50 for the DDE card. the DDE is good for 1 year just like the PAP. You do have to call M-F. I picked up my letter at Epcot the same day I called, I used it about 1/2 hour later for dinner.

Have a great vacation what ever U deceide

 

[Renate_do]

10 day MYW plus tickets. The plus tickets give me an extra 5 days of water parks and DQ, therefore giving me 14 days of fun!

Just a question: Are you sure it will work with the "additional" days at the water parks?

I guess the 10 day ticket is good for 10 days at either parks or water parks, DQ...an not 10 days at the parks and on other 5 days water parks, DQ


Greets Renate

 

[SELLINGINNJ]

Just a question: Are you sure it will work with the "additional" days at the water parks?

I guess the 10 day ticket is good for 10 days at either parks or water parks, DQ...an not 10 days at the parks and on other 5 days water parks, DQ


Greets Renate

Thanks for the reply! As far as I understand it, the ticket is good for 14 days. Out of these 14 days, 10 days may be spent at the Parks, and 4 days at the Water Parks or DQ.

Anyone else have any advice about extended stays?

 

[SELLINGINNJ]

Dont forget the other alternative of changing one adult ticket to PAP from a 10 and purchasing a DDE for $50. This would get U an AP rate if available for your room ( not sure if AAA is better) and get you a discount on the food for the last 5 days. I save quite a few $$ using the DDE on my last trip for DH, DS6 and myself it more than paid the $50 for the DDE card. the DDE is good for 1 year just like the PAP. You do have to call M-F. I picked up my letter at Epcot the same day I called, I used it about 1/2 hour later for dinner.

Have a great vacation what ever U deceide

Thank you for pointing out this option. I have not considered it. Would I be able to purchase a DDE card once I am at Disney (if I decide to upgrade to PAP)? Can I just call and have it ready to be picked up immediately?

 

[HM]

I'd go with how you've got it arranged right now. -HM

 

[fran99999]

Yes I went to MK in the AM and purchases my AP's and called as I was walking through the park for the DDE. Make sure you have your CC handy. the # for DDE is 407-566-5858. Like I said I called at about 10-11 am and I picked up the letter for myself and my DH (you get a letter for you spouse also, no he/she does not have to have AP's) after 5 pm at Epcot guest services. We got on the monorail back to Poly and made our 6 pm reservation with no problem and saved $$.

http://allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm have a look see. It may work for your situation. I like that I can use it for only drinks if I want one while waiting for my seating.

they do mail you the plastic cards but they take about 2-3 months to receive in the mail. By the time they hit my CC I had been home for 2 weeks. LOL

 

[SELLINGINNJ]

Fran99999:

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Just a note that the DDE offices are (or were) only open on business days during the week. We had a problem on the weekend and Guest services/relations could not help us.

 

[funcinderella]

Don't you need to keep the package reservation that includes tickets in order to get the free diining?

Also, you can use a theme park entrance and a plus option (water park entrance) on the same day; not sure if you were aware of that. So you wouldn't necessarily have to lose your 5th plus option.

 

[SELLINGINNJ]

Don't you need to keep the package reservation that includes tickets in order to get the free diining?

Also, you can use a theme park entrance and a plus option (water park entrance) on the same day; not sure if you were aware of that. So you wouldn't necessarily have to lose your 5th plus option.

Great advice concerning the 5th plus option. Thanks!!

Yes, you must purchase a package (room and tickets) to qualify for the free dining. The way I currenty have it set up is I have a package & free dining for 10 nights. The remaining 5 nights is still questionable about the best way to handle it.

If I do a second package for the five nights with free dining, it will cost me an additional $450.00. But..............this will include one day passes for all to be used at a later date( I would need to purchase 1 day tickets to make it a package.)

Do I want to give Disney my money in advance (1 day tickets) or hold on to it and eat out of pocket for the last 4 days? After 10 days of free dining, we might need a little break from all that food!

Do I want to purchase one PAP and the dining card? or all PAP's?

I started this thead to see how other families handle staying longer then the 10 nights which is the maximun number of nights Disney allows for a package.

Would love to hear how others book their longer stays!

Thanks!