Anyone tempted by the free dining offer?

[thelobstershanty]

LOL! Very good! My sentiments exactly. If they do it again for a cooler time like January or November, I might consider it. But NOT at a value resort.

Would you stay in a moderate resort? Because there is not a very big difference in the size of the rooms at a moderate and a value resort. CBR being the exception. Their rooms are the largest of the moderate resorts and it is a noticeable difference, but not at the others.

 

[poohj80]

Would you stay in a moderate resort? Because there is not a very big difference in the size of the rooms at a moderate and a value resort. CBR being the exception. Their rooms are the largest of the moderate resorts and it is a noticeable difference, but not at the others.

If DisFlan is like us, it's not the room size that keeps us from staying at the Value resorts.

 

[DisFlan]

thelobstershanty - In 28 years, we've never stayed in anything other than deluxe or DVC. It's that or stay home. We consider it an integral part of our WDW vacation. No compromise.

poohj80 -

If DisFlan is like us, it's not the room size that keeps us from staying at the Value resorts.

Yup, you got it right. I'll stick with my quiet resort, room service and valet parking, thank you.

DisFlan

 

[bicker]

Uncle Sam doesn't steal, he just deftly removes it from your pocket and considers it a permanent loan.

Actually, since Uncle Sam makes the money, he charges for our use of it.

 

[mikesmom]

Didn't even tempt us. Besides being HOT and HUMID, we've discovered that we just don't eat that much when we are in Florida. Of course that probably has something to do with the heat.Truly, every time we go, I come home five pounds lighter. Except for the Food & Wine Fest and that, of course, is a different matter all together

 

[Tamar]

DH and I just got back from 6 nights at the Pop Century, courtesy of my company. I worked (convention) and DH golfed. I convinced my boss to fund the trip in part by extolling the $74/night hotel I could get with my AP discount.

We were next to a family with a 3yr old and a 5yr old. One of them screamed at bedtime for about 30 minutes each night (10:30ish), the other went wild every morning about 7am. No one's fault, but not the most comfortable for us (although I never needed a wakeup call).

I wouldn't do that again, even for free food. 10 years ago we stayed at ASM, and it was not as noisy. Pop may have thinner walls, or the resorts just may be busier than they used to be. The towel animals were fun, and the CMs were all great, but give me BVW or OKW....

Oh...and it was hot, with the threat of rain every day. Actually did rain the 2 days I had free time (it figures). Now I'm back in MN, and guess what? It's raining....but Carol, I gotta agree, no need to go south in the summer

 

[jekjones1558]

Truly, every time we go, I come home five pounds lighter.

Now I am totally depressed. No matter how much walking we do and how much I try to be good, I always gain weight on vacation. So I guess that the dining plan would absolutely be a bad thing for me.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Now I am totally depressed. No matter how much walking we do and how much I try to be good, I always gain weight on vacation. So I guess that the dining plan would absolutely be a bad thing for me.

LOL! I find I lose weight when we have first timers with us and gain when it is just our family!

 

[poohj80]

No matter how much walking we do and how much I try to be good, I always gain weight on vacation.

With all the great restuarants at WDW, we don't either. Of course, we don't always try to be good either.

 

[OhioTony]

Our kids get a week off in Sept due to our county fair being that week. Both times we have gone to WDW it has been this last week of Sept, and only once were we caught in a hurricane (Jeanne)
We have stayed at the Wilderness Cabins (nice but no nice pool) and at CBR(terrific pool, nice rooms).
This time we opted for the POP because we are taking my neices with us for a total of 4 kids, 2 adults+ 2 rooms. I know the rooms will be a bit smaller than CBR but even a small room at WDW is better than not going IMHO.
The dining pulled us in because we usually are tightwads and dont spend much on food (we usually dont gain any weight)
I anticipate that wont be the case this time because this sounds like alot of food!
We are looking forward to trying some of the nicer resaurants instead of only what I can cram into a backpack.
Does anyone know if it is difficult to get ps for a table of 6?

 

[jnrrt]

Man, OhioTony, I'm in Ohio too, and I want to know where you live to get a week off school for a fair! That's great! We're going that week too, but I'm pulling my oldest out of school for a week (I know, I know, bad mom, but can I brag that she got a perfect report card and won an art contest last week! Not that I'm proud or anything.)

Okay, sorry, back to your regularly scheduled dining plan conversation.

 

[slk537]

We bit!

I've been feeling "homesick" and had toyed with the idea of a long weekend in August. Then I stepped outside on the first muggy humid day we had, knew it would be 4 times worse in Fla and almost threw up at the thought (I don't do heat well). And Carol and Diane...you are SO right although I would substitute "Wisconsin" for "Minnesota" (although we do take advantage of the MOA, Como Park, and your lovely state fair!)...

But then we decided to skip anything major this summer and go with a long weekend for DS's 4th birthday (Sept 23). And we didn't want to use points, because we'll be at VWL for Thanksgiving. The choices became: A) 3 night DCL...not enough time on a ship. B) WL or another deluxe at WDW <----my choice or C) Grand Californian at DLR <-----DH's choice.

And then along came the free dining at WDW. And four nights with one day tix and free dining at the Polynesian became equal to four nights with tix and dining at the Grand Californian (they have a stay 3, get one free fall offer). And...well...I won.

But at the risk of sounding like a snob - it was never going to be a value for that many nights. I know we'll go to AS or Pop at some time for a night to save points and I know DS would love it. But I have to say I just love the amenities of the deluxes and I LOVE the DVC resorts and we do spend a lot of time at the resort. After so many trips, we really just take it easy and keep the motto "if we miss it, we'll do it next time."

So yeah - we bit. And I am REALLY excited we did!!!

Jenn
(child who saw the Poly in 1984 and promised herself she'd stay there someday...)

 

[CarolMN]

We bit!

I've been feeling "homesick" and had toyed with the idea of a long weekend in August. Then I stepped outside on the first muggy humid day we had, knew it would be 4 times worse in Fla and almost threw up at the thought (I don't do heat well). And Carol and Diane...you are SO right although I would substitute "Wisconsin" for "Minnesota" (although we do take advantage of the MOA, Como Park, and your lovely state fair!).(snip)......

No argument from me re Wisconsin - there are some lovely areas in Wisconsin and in many ways it is very similar to Minnesota, LOL. How about we substitute "Minnesota and/or Wisconsin", LOL? Atually, there are many places in the US & Canada that should also be named - but who has the time to list them all?

....But then we decided to skip anything major this summer and go with a long weekend for DS's 4th birthday (Sept 23). ........(snip)....So yeah - we bit. And I am REALLY excited we did!!!

Jenn
(child who saw the Poly in 1984 and promised herself she'd stay there someday...)

Bet your DS will want to spend most of the time in the pool - and you, too, LOL!

Looking forward to your trip report!

And kind of wishing we were going, too. HOT, Carol. MUGGY, Carol. Fall colors, Carol. HOT & MUGGY. VERY HOT & MUGGY, Carol. You don't like Hot & Muggy. Really, you don't! OK This is not working very well this morning. Somebody please tell me they are all sold out for the free dining plans!

Best wishes -

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

It would take more that free meals to get me to WDW during the timeframe offered. It's not the threat of hurricanes that keeps me away...it's the heat! We live in the Pacific Northwest and I find that anything over 80 degrees makes me feel like I am roasting. Our last trip was at the end of October and that was still too warm for me. Now if they extended the offer...that might be a different story!

 

[OhioTony]

Man, OhioTony, I'm in Ohio too, and I want to know where you live to get a week off school for a fair! That's great! We're going that week too, but I'm pulling my oldest out of school for a week (I know, I know, bad mom, but can I brag that she got a perfect report card and won an art contest last week! Not that I'm proud or anything.)

Okay, sorry, back to your regularly scheduled dining plan conversation.

We are in southern Ohio (Brown county)..They close school last week in sept for the "Little State Fair" as they call it. We forgo the "neck-fest" for greater vacation pursuits! Seen 1 cow...seen em all! We actually we're planning a Universal trip & when we ran across the free dinning info we booked that day! Orlando seems to get our money one way or another every Sept and we have no complaints!...plus, we don't have to get the kids "mullet" haircuts so they "fit in" at the fair!