Can Somebody Answer This?

[disney's daughter]

OK....I can't seem to figure this out...Here is the scoop.

My sister and I probably go to Disney World together about three times a year..We each have an annual pass. We always stay at Pop Century....We eat peanut butter sandwiches in the morning...then eat whatever and whenever we want in the parks....sometimes eating counter service..sometimes eating in the "sit down" restaurants....We just do whatever we want.

Now, each February..I take my adult children and grandchildren (my sister goes too) to Disney World...and I pay for the whole trip...(I don't buy any of them Christmas, birthday, Easter, Valentine's Day presents throughout the year)...I budget this trip so as when it comes around...I will owe nothing....I pay for the flights....then a few months later...their tickets to the park...then I wait for the deals to come for Pop Century and put down my deposit on the three rooms....a couple of months later, I either buy Disney Dollars and/or a Disney money card to use for dinning out...This year..I purchased the ten day non expiring plus tickets for all of them because it was such a good deal not to pass up...I figured they could use some of the days this year and some next year...Also...the grandchildren wanted to go to the Water Park this year...IF the weather is decent enough....I also "schedule" most everything on the February trip...We eat most of the breakfasts in our room..except for any character breakfasts I might reserve...other than that...We have one reserved "sit down" meal each day.....I have also purchased for $50..the Dinning card which gets me 20% off all of those reserved "sit downs"....and at this time..because I have my annual pass...I get discounted rooms.

For the life of me..though...I can't figure out...which would be the better deal for me.... Should only one of us (my sister and me) get an annual pass? (even though we both go together three to four times a year) If I bought some sort of dinning package for our February group...would I have to buy a "day" pass as somebody suggested...for each person? I thought I was so smooth...in planning out my trips....Now...I'm confused.. I have noticed...that Magic Your Way dinning plan is definitely being used..all over..and it is difficult to even think about just "walking into" a restaurant now without reservations.....ANY suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[mtdevine615]

It sounds to me that you eat most mornings in the room and then one TS and maybe some snacks. So I would think that for you the DDE card is a better way to go. I know a lot of people love the new DP but it's a lot of food = 1CS, 1TS, 1snack every day. We eat very well on our trips but there are just some days where we just eat a CS and maybe a couple of snacks. As far as you and your sister only getting one AP, I guess it depends on how many days you go to the parks each year. With the old pricing the break even use to be 8 days but I think it's up around 12 days now. Both DW and I have AP's and the DDE but the kids just have regular MYW tickets. I hope this helps a little. By the way if you take me I'll call you Mom or Grandma.

 

[Kaycee]

Since you already have the DDE card, I don't think the Magic Your Way dining plan would be a good deal for you. You will be able to use the DDE card for meals on your big family trip, and you you can also use it for meals on the other trips you take with your sister. If you tried to get the MYW plan, you would not only have to buy at least a one-day park pass for everyone in the party, you'd lose your room discount too.

And, as much as the two of you go, both of you should continue to get annual passes.

 

[Allison]

Keep in mind you can't purchase the dining plan and get a discount on your room. The dining plan is a package that requires you to purchase the same tickets for everyone (at least a one-day ticket which can be upgraded later) and the rooms are at rack rate. You can't combine the dining plan package with an ap discount on your room.

 

[tnkrbell]

I think you are better off getting the "passholder rate" and using your dde card. I think you will save more money this way.

 

[canwegosoon]

I have an AP/DDE...the BRP was the best deal for sure. This way you got a great price on a room, and you also get dining discounts(including drinks) And you do not have to stuff yourself with an appetizer and dessert. I can not eat that much on vacation anyway. Also your discount is on 3 rooms and up to 10 more people, so for a group that is going together it is a bigger savings.
I also do 1 sitdown meal a day, and then I like a counter service or other dining just to be flexible. Don't for get the price of the dining plan is going up, and there is many places that require 2 dining credits.

For March I have all Character meals planned, a sit down meal a day(some times a lunch or two also). Anything that needs an ADR is done...I agree there is no more walking in someplace and hoping to be seated.

 

[disney's daughter]

Thanks everybody for your replies..I feel so much better.... I'll just stick with the Annual Pass as long as I can purchase the dinning card and the discounts on the rooms...I'm sure if I ever did go with the package...I'd tend to want to stuff myself until I couldn't walk!

 

[tnkrbell]

Have a GREAT trip and fun planning it!!!!

 

[Marimar]

Keep in mind you can't purchase the dining plan and get a discount on your room. The dining plan is a package that requires you to purchase the same tickets for everyone (at least a one-day ticket which can be upgraded later) and the rooms are at rack rate. You can't combine the dining plan package with an ap discount on your room.

Someone posted, yesterday I belive, that this was not the case anymore; room rate needs to be rack rate. This used to be the case for the "free" dining plan. I know one could get a package w/discounted rooms through AAA, but don't know how it would work w/the discounted rate of an AP.

I will try and find the post....

 

[Marimar]

I also do 1 sitdown meal a day, and then I like a counter service or other dining just to be flexible. Don't for get the price of the dining plan is going up, and there is many places that require 2 dining credits.

I think the only addition to the "two credits" is CRT I know of at least one restaurant that went down from two credits to one.