Can't decide regarding resort and free dining

[HELPDESKGUY]

2A 1C(10+) 1C(3-9)
Currently have reservation for Nov. 28th-Dec1st 2012 at AOA Little Mermaid standard room for $1063 + 2 Day MWY tickets. If we were to add DD Quick Service and pay out of pocket it would cost us $1413. The reason I say Quick service because that is what is being offered for all other Value resorts. Wanted to compare apples with apples. This being the newest value resort it was difficult.

However if we upgraded to Moderate Cornado or Caribbean Beach it would cost us $1328 which includes Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining.

1. We had no intention on buying the DD plan at first.
2. If we upgraded we get a Moderate Hotel with better dining option.
3. If we stick to original plan we pay $1063 and pay for meals as we go.

I can't decide. Please Help.

 

[jenniferma]

Currently have reservation for Nov. 28th-Dec1st 2012 at AOA Little Mermaid standard room for $1063 + 2 Day MWY tickets. If we were to add DD Quick Service and pay out of pocket it would cost us $1413. The reason I say Quick service because that is what is being offered for all other Value resorts. Wanted to compare apples with apples. This being the newest value resort it was difficult.

However if we upgraded to Moderate Cornado or Caribbean Beach it would cost us $1328 which includes Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining.

1. We had no intention on buying the DD plan at first.
2. If we upgraded we get a Moderate Hotel with better dining option.
3. If we stick to original plan we pay $1063 and pay for meals as we go.

I can't decide. Please Help.

Unless you have someone in your party who really loves Ariel.. I would upgrade to the moderate and not look back! I like the regular dining plan over the quick service, personally. I think you get a bigger bang for your buck!

Not sure which moderate I would pick of those two..that's probably another thread!

 

[NJRRK]

Go for it. You will easily spend $300 for food for the week unless you plan on only qs, which it sounds like you are not.

 

[EpcotBill]

Upgrade to a Mod or switch to another Value. If you don't you are just wasting money. You'll be at AoA without a dining plan but you still have to eat. Food at WDW is very expensive. Is staying in a themed room really that important? If you think so than stay with AoA.

 

[Missytara]

Currently have reservation for Nov. 28th-Dec1st 2012 at AOA Little Mermaid standard room for $1063 + 2 Day MWY tickets. If we were to add DD Quick Service and pay out of pocket it would cost us $1413. The reason I say Quick service because that is what is being offered for all other Value resorts. Wanted to compare apples with apples. This being the newest value resort it was difficult.

However if we upgraded to Moderate Cornado or Caribbean Beach it would cost us $1328 which includes Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining.

1. We had no intention on buying the DD plan at first.
2. If we upgraded we get a Moderate Hotel with better dining option.
3. If we stick to original plan we pay $1063 and pay for meals as we go.

I can't decide. Please Help.

That is a tough one, but only because AoA being a new resort, it would be cool to experience.

I love mods; POR is my fav. As you said, it offers more dining experiences and they also have more amentities. For the price difference, to me it would be moderate all the way, but to stay in a new resort is a once in a lifetime experience.

 

[shannonstar]

For just a little more, you could do POR with a Royal Room and that would be new as well. They are really nice. I would look into that for a special type of room.

The free dining plan is definitely the better deal in your case.

 

[softballmom3]

Upgrade and just go visit AoA one day . We stayed moderate first time last year and loved it . (with free dining I might add).

 

[Cafeen]

How many of you are there? From my quick calculations it looks like 3 adults (or, at least Disney "adults") and 1 child? (This is based on the QS being $350 for 3 nights, then subtracting $35 until it around $11 was left )

The moderate will cost you roughly $250 more than your current "pay as you go" plan. If you think you're going to spend more than $250 total on food over 4 days/3 nights, then go for the moderate. However, do note the structure of the DDP and make sure it works for what you want to do. You may end up spending more if you aren't eating as it describes!

So, if you're going to dine roughly (since it's free dining, it's discounted and it can be a bit more flexible) in the way the plan is structured, and you think you're going to spend more money on food, and being in a brand-new resort/being in a Little Mermaid room isn't as important, than go for it. Otherwise, your current plan is also solid.

 

[HELPDESKGUY]

How many of you are there? From my quick calculations it looks like 3 adults (or, at least Disney "adults") and 1 child? (This is based on the QS being $350 for 3 nights, then subtracting $35 until it around $11 was left )

The moderate will cost you roughly $250 more than your current "pay as you go" plan. If you think you're going to spend more than $250 total on food over 4 days/3 nights, then go for the moderate. However, do note the structure of the DDP and make sure it works for what you want to do. You may end up spending more if you aren't eating as it describes!

So, if you're going to dine roughly (since it's free dining, it's discounted and it can be a bit more flexible) in the way the plan is structured, and you think you're going to spend more money on food, and being in a brand-new resort/being in a Little Mermaid room isn't as important, than go for it. Otherwise, your current plan is also solid.

Great math skills! You are correct 3 Disney Adults and 1 Child!

 

[alexaveryq]

Unless you have a different free dining deal than I do (which is entirely possible), free dining is only available for 4 night/ 5 day packages or longer. It doesn't sound like you are going to be there for that long. Or when you said you might upgrade were you including upgrading the number of park days? In that case it would work.

 

[HELPDESKGUY]

No only 3 night mininum. I reconfirmed this just now.

Chat InformationWelcome to Disney! My name is Mortimer. How may I help you today?
you: What are the min. amt. of days to qualify for free dining in a Mod? Arriving 11/28?
Mortimer: Hello and welcome! That is a great question! There is a 3 night minimum stay.
you: Thanks.

 

[twinboysmom]

I'd pick the moderate.

 

[kandb]

I would go to POR with the regular ddp. We love the ddp. It's so nice to sit down and have a nice dinner every night and a CS meal and snack. It's a great deal. Go to AoA another time. It's a no-brainer.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

We were just at POP and visited AOA several times to eat and explore. The LM rooms are really far from the food court and bus stops. The pool is nice but the lobby and food court are not that impressive other than the create your own pasta bowl for dinner . I would rather stay at a mod and get free DDP if the prices are about the same. I think CSR would be much nicer than AOA with the landscaping and pool/slide/hot tub. Just got visit AOA for lunch or dinner.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Absolutely stay at one of the Mods with free dinning! It will enhance your trip tremendously. Lots of great restaurant choices and queen beds at the mods - I'm sold!!

 

[danceintherain]

I agree with Cafeen that you have to look at what you would get with the DP. In most cases, the dining plan is not a great deal for US, but Free Dining evens the playing field slightly.
Since it's unlikely that you'll be able to get any discounts on your LM room, it makes sense to upgrade and do the dining plan.

I don't agree with the whole "apples to apples" approach to the Dining Plan, because if you don't take advantage of everything it has to offer, it's easy to lose money. It's better to look at what you would spend out of pocket under normal circumstances and compare that to what the dining plan expects you to get. Even for us, who do at least one table service meal each day, it doesn't always make sense, because we wouldn't always order dessert or anything other than water to drink. As I said before, Free Dining evens the playing field a bit, but it's still not always the best deal.

As per your moderate choices, I would probably go with CSR for the queen size bed. We had a lovely trip to CBR, but we got a king bed room since there were only 2 of us and a baby. Whenever people are stuck sharing, it's usually preferable to have larger beds.

Have you looked at switching to a different Value resort and upgrading from the QSDP to the regular DP (if they still allow this)? It may be even less expensive to do it this way.
I would probably still pick a moderate, but it's nice to know all your options.
The Little Mermaid rooms will still be there in a few years from now, and you'll likely be able to get them at a discount then.

 

[jenlw]

Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter are all queen beds now too, so that gives you 2 more options besides Coronado Springs for queen beds. French Quarter has been queen for a while. Riverside just refurbished all rooms and got rid of all double beds. The website still shows double, but when you call Disney, they will confirm that they are all queens at Riverside now.