Better of 2 Resort Deals?

[CarolinaBoy]

My family consists of my wife and I, 4 daughters - 10, 8, 6, 3 ,and also a son who will not be making the trip - 6 months.
We have a trip planned for Dec 15-22, staying at a FW Cabin.
My dilemma is whether to take this trip and enjoy the free dining package we have or postpone the trip until the Spring of 2010, March 20-27, and take advantage of the buy 4 get 3 free deal. Which do you think is a better savings and which would be lighter in crowds?

Thank you in Advance,
Cboy

 

[clkelley]

With that many children, and the generally lower room prices in December over March, I would go with the Free Dining.

With the 4/3, you still have to feed that clan!!

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I can do either FD or 4/3 for this trip coming up in November. Our 6 night trip with FD came out cheaper by about $300 cheaper at CSR than 7 nights with 4/3 + dining plan for the same week at the same resort. I realize that it's apples to oranges in a sense - 4/3 would require us to spend 1 night more. But then, that's one night extra in gratuities and 1 extra day on park tickets. The real savings with FD is probably about $250 taking into account those extra costs (not to mention the extra day of boarding our dog). We'd do dining plan anyway because we are two adults, two young kids (so kids DDP works out) and are not going to be happy with all QS all the time (and plan on character meals). If we were comparing November to Spring, November would be A LOT cheaper b/c DDP is more expensive next year (and has seasonal price increases), resort rates go up etc.

 

[Wants2Live@WDW]

I would keep the free dining plan, because the difference in the rates would be around $1100 for the dining, and 3 free nights would be only like $1075, but the dining for next year is going to be more expensive (as well as the resort rates, if I am not mistaken...the rates per night were like $265-395/ night in December, and in March, the rates for the night that you were wanting were $360-380).

So all in all, jump on the bandwagon and join us this year at WDW!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Taking the kids during Christmas would be pretty cool. I would keep it for that alone.

 

[CarolinaBoy]

Thanks for the advice, I was able to score Le Cellier, Ohana, and Cindy's Breakfast for our trip, so that is an added bonus

CBoy

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

Thanks for the advice, I was able to score Le Cellier, Ohana, and Cindy's Breakfast for our trip, so that is an added bonus

CBoy

Definitely keep free dining! Those will be fun meals and even more fun when they're FREE. It will also be so magical at the holidays. As others have said it's the better savings and you get to enjoy all the holiday decorations. Enjoy!

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Codes & Rates board...