Am I calculating this right?

[ErinInCT]

I am trying to plan a **** 2010 trip. I am hoping to rent points for a (room size) either (resorts), guessing around $10/pp (is that still the going rate?).

I am trying to figure out the best deal.
Room Sun - Thurs = $1700

Full price for tix (family of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids aged 10 and 6 at time of vacation) is $1099 (?) for 6 day park hopper (3 adult tix 1 child). I think I can get a better deal thru dh's company, they have aways gotten discounted tix.

DDP = $666 (5 nights - I think they go by number of nights, is that correct? 3 adult 1 child)

So $3465. When I price out a NON DVC room (regular WL bunk bed room) it comes out to about the same price with DDP and park hopper tix. So obviously I'd take DVC over a regular room if I can rent the points.

I'm debating the DDP since we have the nice kitchen. We can eat breakfast and lunch at "home" and bring our own snacks into the park (oh wait, can we do that? like bring baggies of goldfish or pretzels? and water? - We brought water b4 but I can't remember about the food). I doubt we'd spend $666, especially since dd 10 can probably order off child menu if we are not part of DDP.

I guess I am looking for input that I have figured this out right moneywise and advice on whether to do DDP or OOP for food. Thanks in advance. DVC'ers seem to be SO knowledgeable.

EDIT: Post has been edited to delete specific date/room info so as not to be construed as a Reservatin Wanted post, which is limited to the Rent/Trade board. Edits appear in brown. - Chuck S

 

[Chuck S]

It really depends entirely on your normal dining habits, and your 10 yo. Some kids that age eat like birds, others can eat more than your average adult. Also, do you usually have desserts instead of salads/appetizers?

We, as two adults, never do a DDP, and we can be hearty eaters...but we prefer appetizers over dessert, and eat a TS lunch and a lighter dinner.

 

[ErinInCT]

None of us are huge eaters. We generally never get apps or desserts. But a lot of that is due to cost. But usually we are too full after eating for dessert. I don't suppose you can get your dessert "to go" can you?

I just feel like one of the perks of the DVC units (other than putting the kids in another bedroom) is the kitchen. We are not super early risers so it's just easier for us to have kids eat while adults getting ready, or adults downing a bagel while waiting for the bus/boat makes more sense. And we found it easier to come back in the afternoon (heck the pool is sometimes more exciting to my kids than the rides) for lunch/pool/showers. We were more refreshed for the evening.

The hopper is good cuz we can do the "bus" parks in the day and then come back to do MK in the late afternoon/evening since it is easier to get to (well, if we areat WLV), same with EPCOT if we stay at BWV or BCV. We can do AK one morning come back for lunch and head to HS for late afternoon parade and Fantasmic (if they still have Fantasmic - haven't gotten around to theme park planning yet

The snacks for the dining plan seem like desserts to me so it seems like getting a dessert with a meal and the snack is just too much dessert.

 

[HappyHappy]

I may have read your posts too quickly, but I don't see if the 6year old is DD or DS. I only ask because you could get a 1 BR if the kids can sleep together on the sleeper sofa. Save some money. Yes, you can bring your own snacks into the parks. No glass bottles is the only no-no that comes to mind. I personally wouldn't do chocolate either in Sept's heat.
Happy planning!!