?? before free dining is released

[ann marie27]

The only way I can afford a trip to WDW is to take advantage of the free dining and stay at a value resort. I'd like opinions on whether to it is worth risking the extreme temps, high chance of rain and hurricane season and go the 9/15-9/19? Or better to wait it out and see if free dining extends into Nov dates or some other discounts are offered? Staying at a value (I think) room rate discounts won't offer as good of a savings as free dining.

I think I prefer Nov but it's been 4 yrs since we had a family vacation...
On the other hand, we have never been to the water parks and thought I could OOP tix to one if we chose Sept.

Hoping for advice. Thanks.

 

[pigletto]

We went the last two weeks of August the last two years in a row and had a blast!!!
Yes.. it's hot. No doubt about it. But you plan your day for the weather. Enjoy indoor attractions, use fast passes, take a mid afternoon break to swim and drink lots of water.
I've never been miserable once on either of those trips, just by making my goals realistic and slowing down. You can have a GREAT time

 

[canopynut66]

The only way I can afford a trip to WDW is to take advantage of the free dining and stay at a value resort. I'd like opinions on whether to it is worth risking the extreme temps, high chance of rain and hurricane season and go the 9/15-9/19? Or better to wait it out and see if free dining extends into Nov dates or some other discounts are offered? Staying at a value (I think) room rate discounts won't offer as good of a savings as free dining.

I think I prefer Nov but it's been 4 yrs since we had a family vacation...
On the other hand, we have never been to the water parks and thought I could OOP tix to one if we chose Sept.

Hoping for advice. Thanks.

If it helps and you can go you can book the last day of free dining September 29 and then for the rest of your trips be in three more nights or ten...we have been a lot during hurricane season and had some inland winds or downpours from it maybe twice in 62 trips so is not such a risk. hot yes it will be or was lat year the last of September as we were there. we are going this year last week of October to November 9 and "are hoping" they extend free dining we then will upgrade from QS to TS or MYWD is $16 more a day to upgrade each adult. have to go on those dates as when my sisters vacation is. she does not get a choice and has to take what hospital issues her at least she has a job is what she tries to think

 

[ceecee]

We LOVE September. We went 10 yrs in a row and had hurricaine issues once (the hotel was on it and knew exactly how to handle it, they gave us a pass for the day we missed at the park since we had a lock down for like 24 hrs) people who evacuated actually came to WDW! We have since changed to the first week of June due to DD not wanting to miss school and the rain has actually been worse. We don't have that kind of rain around here! I think you will be happy going in Sept! The crowds are lighter and you can do more without the long waits and the heat isn't as bad as the summer months.

 

[ranthony]

We went for 10 days at the end of August a few years ago and we were only rained on for about 10 minutes at Epcot on one of our days. Now, I know you can't count on that weather and chances are that it will rain more on you but plan your days accordingly and you'll be fine. Tour the parks early and plan naps and swimming for the afternoons. Take it easy and drink lots of water.

Also, you can always book FD now and then reserve it if it comes out later and cancel your original reservation. Are you flying or driving?

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I personally think it is well worth the savings to go in September. It is hot, but Disney knows how to manage that pretty well. Rain, you will probably have short showers daily but they aren't bad normally. Love bugs, ok..they are a little irritating but really harmless, chance of hurricanes...not too high and you can purchase travel insurance just in case. Positives, GREAT rates, low crowd levels, free dining, low crowd levels, weather warm enough to swim, low crowd levels! I love September trips!

 

[ann marie27]

We went for 10 days at the end of August a few years ago and we were only rained on for about 10 minutes at Epcot on one of our days. Now, I know you can't count on that weather and chances are that it will rain more on you but plan your days accordingly and you'll be fine. Tour the parks early and plan naps and swimming for the afternoons. Take it easy and drink lots of water.

Also, you can always book FD now and then reserve it if it comes out later and cancel your original reservation. Are you flying or driving?

OH! Cancel without penalty? I am flying from NY so that is the other issue: flights right now for my Sept dates are 105.00 each way, which sadly now-a-days is an excellent price that wont last. The Nov dates I would like are not posted yet but will in the next 2 wks. I have a tendency to wait and try to find the best offers for WDW then the flight goes up and I miss out. I actually lost a deposit a yr ago because I had to cancel due to the flights were so high.

I have another ???
If I am staying at an All Star can I pack the kids up and go to a pool at another disney hotel? If so which do you reccommend?

And TY for all the info

 

[ann marie27]

If it helps and you can go you can book the last day of free dining September 29 and then for the rest of your trips be in three more nights or ten...we have been a lot during hurricane season and had some inland winds or downpours from it maybe twice in 62 trips so is not such a risk. hot yes it will be or was lat year the last of September as we were there. we are going this year last week of October to November 9 and "are hoping" they extend free dining we then will upgrade from QS to TS or MYWD is $16 more a day to upgrade each adult. have to go on those dates as when my sisters vacation is. she does not get a choice and has to take what hospital issues her at least she has a job is what she tries to think[/QUOTE

The 29th would be great because it is the twins b-day! But I want to reduce the school days they missed to as few as possible. Going to go around the Sept holidays the kids have off from school.

 

[sissy_ib]

OH! Cancel without penalty? I am flying from NY so that is the other issue: flights right now for my Sept dates are 105.00 each way, which sadly now-a-days is an excellent price that wont last. The Nov dates I would like are not posted yet but will in the next 2 wks. I have a tendency to wait and try to find the best offers for WDW then the flight goes up and I miss out. I actually lost a deposit a yr ago because I had to cancel due to the flights were so high.

I have another ???
If I am staying at an All Star can I pack the kids up and go to a pool at another disney hotel? If so which do you reccommend?

And TY for all the info

I cant get out of Texas for $105 each way!!! That is amazing.

As for the pools, you can use the pools at any of the three All Star hotels but not the other properties. I think the All Stars each have two pools.

 

[MickeyP]

Can you get free dining with a value? I didn't think you could. Thanks

 

[mommycrawford]

Ann Marie27...I am in the same boat, and have just booked the Free Dining!
I actually take Amtrak from penn Station to get there! I have gone at the end of August for about 8 years now, to take advantage of FD, and in all those times, had 1 day that parks had to close (H Hugo) and last year
(H Irene) effected Amtrak travel, but not Disney in any way!

It is hot, but no hotter than NY last summer! There are losts of places to be in air conditioning, and a pool is never too far away.

The value resorts offer free quick service dining...you can pay to upgrade it, if you want table service, but on a budget, you have to figure in the added cost of gratuities as well.

For me, it is a week of not being so aware of my responsabilities, and budgeting, because it is all paid by the time we go: it is an extravagance, and I need 1 a year with my kid! Our job that week is to have fun! We are going August 26-Sept 3 at ASM...my DD is 13.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific concerns!

 

[reginaastralis]

Maybe it's the Floridian in me, but I don't think heat is really a factor. It's hot here, all year long. This winter, I think we've pulled out our winter coats three days, it's been summer time hot all winter (with a touch less humidity). Personally, I think trying to base a Disney vacation on what the weather MAY be like is impossible. Things about Florida weather in the summer; we might have a hurricane, it might rain, and it's going to be hot ... but you'll find that all along the eastern seaboard during the summer.