BWI with free dining or YC without?

[sukhakuli]

I have a resort dilemma. We booked months ago at the YC with the military rate (40% off) hoping that we could convert that to free dining. My TA couldn't get free dining for YC (well, she could, if we moved to club level, but that was going to cost over 2,000 more), but she was able to put a hold on BWI with free dining. It's a few hundred more than we would have spent if we got FD at YC. Should we move to BWI for FD?

We're a family of 6. One of the kids is under 3, so we can still do one room. It's our last time doing it, he turns 3 in November, we're at WDW Sept/Oct, so we decided to take advantage of that. 2 of my kids are over 10, so we will have 4 Disney adults.

We booked the YC because of the pool. I don't know much about the BWI pool. We are not afraid of clowns, so that aside, how does it compare to the BC/YC pool?

So I'm trying to decide if I should grit my teeth and pay OOP for meals and stay at YC, or move to BWI so I don't have to think about the meals and snacks?

 

[LisaCM614]

The BWI pool is very nice. It is calmer than SAB but the Keister Koaster is a really fun water slide if your older kids are into that.
My kids do like the BWI pool better because they like our pool time at the resort to be calm. SAB was anything but calm. It is very fun and if you don't mind your family being split up then YC is the way to go.
Not sure if you were really asking this but -
Do you think your kids eat like adults? do you think you'll have a lot of buffets planned? It is a lot of math but how is the BWI rate with FD compared to your YC rate with th 40% discount? Will you spend the difference in meals?

I have 3 kids and the dining plan does not work out for us. We end up saving more money with a room only discount on CL then FD in a regular room.

Sounds like you don't want to pay for meals as you go and you'd rather pay more for the convenience of FD? FD only covers 2 meals a day though - you'll have to pay OOP for one meal still.

 

[marsh0013]

How much is your total package at YC with the 40% (including tickets) vs. the total cost at BWI with free dining? I believe at deluxe, the room discount usually works out to be the better deal than free dining. Check the difference, and see if you think you would spend that much on food. Not just how much the DDP would cost you, how much you think you would actually spend. You may have to run the numbers to see if it's really worth it. Do your Disney adult kids eat like adults, or do they prefer kids meals? Would you share meals, order apps and not desserts, etc? Or are you planning a bunch of character meals and/or family style meals?

As for the pools, YC wins hands down. We own DVC and BW and love it there, but Stormalong Bay is great. If the kids like playing in the sand, you've got that, and it's much more expansive. We like to spend a few nights at YC or BC when we can so we can have access to the pool.

Edit: PP was posting while I had this response going, many similar thoughts!

 

[jcjen519]

I'm surprised your 40% off doesn't save you more then the free dining. Did you do the calculations? You know your 2 year old wont have a plan right?

to answer your question I prefer the bwi to yc so I'd choose bwi every time.

 

[Hi Pluto]

Did you double check today? I saw more rooms available for YC with SV and GV today. But like pp said, I would think your 40% off would save you a LOT more than FD would.

~Cari~

 

[sukhakuli]

With the 40% off we are saving 170 per day. One dinner at Ohana is 165 for our family. So free dining at YC is still a better deal.

BWI will cost us a bit more, so I'm unsure if we will save money.

The problem is that if we pay OOP, I know our cheapie instincts will kick in, and we will be sharing meals, skipping meals (dh and I, not the kids), no drinks, no snacks, and cancelling a lot of our ADR's. It's easier to sit at home, make a budget, pre-pay for stuff, and then kick back on vacation and enjoy it. When I see the prices in front of me and start handing over my debit card, I get the heebie jeebies. We went to the zoo last weekend and lunch was 55 bucks for our family, just deli sandwiches and hot dogs, no fruit, no dessert and no drinks. And then my 12 year old only ate half her sandwich. I was very annoyed about the whole thing. I never said anything because at those prices there is no way I'm ruining our fun family day . But I don't want that to be on my mind on vacation.

But then we chose YC because my kids love the pool. We have a pool in our yard, so the kids are more enamored with water slides, lazy rivers, etc than a pool.

 

[sukhakuli]

I did check today - just club level rooms. And my TA is checking the Poly and Contemporary for me as well as YC.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm surprised your 40% off doesn't save you more then the free dining. Did you do the calculations? You know your 2 year old wont have a plan right?

to answer your question I prefer the bwi to yc so I'd choose bwi every time.

With 4 adult dining plans, that is worth about $240 per night.

 

[sukhakuli]

Exactly. Paying for the Disney dining plan would be 260 for the whole family, per day, and we're going for 14 days. Once your kids are over 10, things get expensive. I'm not too far off from having 5 Disney adults in the family. Yipes.

Any thoughts? I'm still undecided. Either we give up the nice pool, or I end up feeling nickle and dimed on the vacation. Can anyone sell me on BWI?

 

[gwynne]

Exactly. Paying for the Disney dining plan would be 260 for the whole family, per day, and we're going for 14 days. Once your kids are over 10, things get expensive. I'm not too far off from having 5 Disney adults in the family. Yipes.

Any thoughts? I'm still undecided. Either we give up the nice pool, or I end up feeling nickle and dimed on the vacation. Can anyone sell me on BWI?

I don't see it that way. SAB is nice, and has a special appeal, but I don't see it to be a step down to go with BWI.
BWI is lovely, very pretty, and really helpful CM's. You're much closer to the International Gateway, and the pool is fun. It's a big pool, with activities for the kids in the afternoons led by CM's. I think you should consider giving BWI a try. 14 days of free dining is a deal!

 

[Tigger's ally]

I'm not going to sell you on the BWI. We just prefer it to BC/YC. Like that is halfway between Epcot and Studios. Love the pool and pool bar. The clown is my drinking buddy! The resort has great views, from the inner garden and quiet pool to the boardwalk, to a view of the swan and dolphin.

 

[Sue M]

It sounds like you'll enjoy your vacation more with DDP.

 

[mefordis]

Exactly. Paying for the Disney dining plan would be 260 for the whole family, per day, and we're going for 14 days. Once your kids are over 10, things get expensive. I'm not too far off from having 5 Disney adults in the family. Yipes.

Any thoughts? I'm still undecided. Either we give up the nice pool, or I end up feeling nickle and dimed on the vacation. Can anyone sell me on BWI?

We stayed at BWI the last trip and I will stay there again. We loved the pool and my 11 yr old loves the slide. I like how quiet that pool is, and you can see everything going on. SAB is spread out.

I would select BWI and the dining plan and not look back!

 

[Hi Pluto]

So why don't you compare the total price of BWI with FD to the total price of YC with your 40% and paying for the dining plan? Because either way it looks like you want the DP, so you either get it free and pay more for the room, or pay for the DP and pay less for the room.

You would spend $1455 to add a DP for a 6 night stay (not sure how long you're staying) at YC, so a few hundred more for BWI compared to $1455 more at YC is a much better deal right?

~Cari~

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So why don't you compare the total price of BWI with FD to the total price of YC with your 40% and paying for the dining plan? Because either way it looks like you want the DP, so you either get it free and pay more for the room, or pay for the DP and pay less for the room.

~Cari~

I agree. Can't you add the DP to the YC reservation? I don't see why not if it's a package. What am I missing?

 

[gwynne]

I agree. Can't you add the DP to the YC reservation? I don't see why not if it's a package. What am I missing?

As far as I can tell their choices are either the mil rate at YC ( they can add dining but they'd have to pay for it.)
Or...Rack at BWI with free dining.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

As far as I can tell their choices are either the mil rate at YC ( they can add dining but they'd have to pay for it.)
Or...Rack at BWI with free dining.

Right. So with that great mil discount, why not just buy a DP so OP doesn't have to stress about dining OOP?
Do the math and see which is the better deal. Or if OP really prefers YC and knows it may cost a little more overall than FD, and feels it's worth it, just do it. I hate the feeling that once in FL, I don't like where I'm staying and I wish I spent the extra $ but I chose where I'm at to save $. It doesn't ruin the trip but just leaves me wishing.

 

[happymommy]

I don't mean to sound rude, but .... You have a family of 6 in one room for 14 nights. With a baby.

I love the military discounts (we used to get them) but I just got back from the BWI just me and my DD, and no way I would have wanted anyone else in the room. The feel was so different this trip. Our room was so noisy most days. The bathroom sink area is open to the room, so there's that. If it were me with that many, I'd do 2 rooms elsewhere for the space.

It's been years since we shared one room with our kids; last time I took both kids we had a 2 bedroom condo (for average $45 a night with Interval International getaways). We could spread out over our 15 nights!

I don't think the dining plan is fiscally beneficial - it's just easy for most folks. I'd stick with what you got or get 2 rooms (yeah the pool is nice at the YC but we've only used it a few times staying at the BC).

 

[Babsy]

I would stay at the YC with the military rate and purchase the DP. You want to stay at the YC and you have a great rate. Probably saving about $200 per day? The DP costs about 240 per night? Compare to the BWI with rack rate and free dining and see if it is worth the difference in cost to stay at YC. Unless the price difference isn't doable, I would stay where I really wanted to go, especially since this might be the last time in one room.

If you do go with the BWI, it is an awesome resort also. The BW has buskers out at night for entertainment, has surrey bikes to rent, has a good slide at the pool, and is just overall a fun place to stay. We really enjoyed our stays there. I expect that if you decide to go with this option, you will really have fun here!

Either way, you are looking at two great Epcot area resorts. Both are wonderful so you will enjoy whichever you choose!

 

[sukhakuli]

The DDP will cost us 260 per day for 14 days, so about 3600. It's hard to pull the trigger on that, when I could switch resorts and get it for free. I need to dig out my TA invoice, but I think we're paying an average of 260 a night for YC right now. And then I can get the military Stars and Stripes tickets since we're not doing a package. We won't get the 60 day FP+ booking, but I don't think it's going to matter. We don't have any rides that we absolutely must ride or our lives are ruined, lol.

I guess I have to figure out what's more important to me, YC or free dining. You're right, Babsy, either choice isn't a bad one! Dh wants the YC.

I don't mean to sound rude, but .... You have a family of 6 in one room for 14 nights. With a baby.

I love the military discounts (we used to get them) but I just got back from the BWI just me and my DD, and no way I would have wanted anyone else in the room. The feel was so different this trip. Our room was so noisy most days. The bathroom sink area is open to the room, so there's that. If it were me with that many, I'd do 2 rooms elsewhere for the space.

It's been years since we shared one room with our kids; last time I took both kids we had a 2 bedroom condo (for average $45 a night with Interval International getaways). We could spread out over our 15 nights!

I don't think the dining plan is fiscally beneficial - it's just easy for most folks. I'd stick with what you got or get 2 rooms (yeah the pool is nice at the YC but we've only used it a few times staying at the BC).

All families are different. I have between 1 and 3 kids in my room every night as it is at home. We were going to do 2 rooms, but we couldn't get connecting rooms guaranteed, and we want to vacation together, not in separate rooms in different areas of the resort. The suites don't have sleeping arrangements that are useful for us. We have an investment property that we're going to sell in the next couple of years, and we have been thinking about using that cash to buy a vacation home in the Disney area, so that's what we're probably heading for now that we have outgrown the Disney resorts.