Christmas Strategies

[Toadlover]

so I ask them for a free dining plan on our reservation? Is that the lingo? (I swear this is the most homework I've ever done! These easy wrist bands are giving me a headache, too! We have to reserve our rides two months out?! Egads!)

 

[lam0037]

so I ask them for a free dining plan on our reservation? Is that the lingo? (I swear this is the most homework I've ever done! These easy wrist bands are giving me a headache, too! We have to reserve our rides two months out?! Egads!)

Yes, you just ask if it's possible to add free dining to your reservation. If there's some available, you can add it. If you have a package, your package will be changed but if it's room only then you will have to upgrade to a package

 

[practicallyperfect77]

so I ask them for a free dining plan on our reservation? Is that the lingo? (I swear this is the most homework I've ever done! These easy wrist bands are giving me a headache, too! We have to reserve our rides two months out?! Egads!)

You don't HAVE to. Personally I think it's a good idea if you want to meet A&E and ride the new coaster 7DMT. Those 2 attractions do go quickly, but have read other folks have been able to get FP+ for the other rides much later in the game. Maybe not the night before, but 30 days or even a couple of weeks...yes. I am on my phone and I don't know how to copy links but if you search for a post by Mesaboy2, he has a fantastic link in his signature about FP+.

ETA: my way of planning my last trip (started thanksgiving day - the following thurs) was to go to easy WDW (I linked to this site in a previous post) and picked the most recommended park for my morning park. I arrived before RD and rode a few rides and then went and toured resorts to see decorations in the afternoon. On a couple days, I even went back to resort for a quick nap. That evening I went to a different park where I had my FPs set up. I based this on the nighttime entertainment I wanted to see. I knew I wanted to see candlelight processional at Epcot, electrical parade/wishes at MK and the Osborne lights at HS. Again, I'm not sure if this works for busy Christmas time. I know MK has had.closures before.

 

[txnana]

I am looking at disney's official site but can't find the meal packages price listed. Are they that expensive?

We are going to be there at the same time and got free dining with our reservation. Was that not available to you?

 

[Toadlover]

Any tips how to get teenagers to get up early to do the parks early?

 

[Toadlover]

I just sent my eldest the link to disneyforteens.com. We'll see if we have many days like this or just a few.

 

[monique5]

I just sent my eldest the link to disneyforteens.com. We'll see if we have many days like this or just a few.

Are you able to get free dining?

 

[Toadlover]

Are you able to get free dining?

I asked my mom- whose name is on the reservation- to call but she hasn't yet.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Any tips how to get teenagers to get up early to do the parks early?

Honestly I would say something like, if we arrive at rope drop the waits will be minimal. If we arrive at 10 or after most rides have 90 min waits. Since you are staying on campus they can meet you there if they don't wanna get up early. Or you could be mean and say "you sleep when you're dead". =) Good luck OP.....I remember sleeping til 1pm when I was a teenager.

 

[Toadlover]

I've decided that we're going to camp in a tent or two at fort wilderness. I just can't do the $500 a night. And we can't seem to get the time off any other time but Christmas.

The only problem is my sister. She says the airfare is out of her price range. (She's flying from LA.) I also don't think she'd be willing to sleep in a tent. I think my kids and I should because of the high cost of the hotels at this time. My sister probably wouldn't be okay with her family sleeping in a tent. I would be fine with it! We were going to split a wilderness cabin, but as I say that's too expensive. I asked on the disney official site if you can put a pop up or tent on a premium RV site and the answer was a resounding 'no'. Darn it! That means back to $100/night.

 

[Divaofdisney]

I've decided that we're going to camp in a tent or two at fort wilderness. I just can't do the $500 a night. And we can't seem to get the time off any other time but Christmas.

The only problem is my sister. She says the airfare is out of her price range. (She's flying from LA.) I also don't think she'd be willing to sleep in a tent. I think my kids and I should because of the high cost of the hotels at this time. My sister probably wouldn't be okay with her family sleeping in a tent. I would be fine with it! We were going to split a wilderness cabin, but as I say that's too expensive. I asked on the disney official site if you can put a pop up or tent on a premium RV site and the answer was a resounding 'no'. Darn it! That means back to $100/night.

Have you thought about one of the value resorts, some of them offer family suites and they aren't too expensive in my opinion. Would be so much better staying on site- if not perhaps something in Lake Buena Vista

 

[Toadlover]

Have you thought about one of the value resorts, some of them offer family suites and they aren't too expensive in my opinion. Would be so much better staying on site- if not perhaps something in Lake Buena Vista

Oh we're planning on staying on site at Fort Wilderness. But everything is double at Christmas, so camping in a tent is about as cheap as it gets.

 

[Aurora0427]

Oh we're planning on staying on site at Fort Wilderness. But everything is double at Christmas, so camping in a tent is about as cheap as it gets.

You realize it could be cold right? I see you are from Michigan, but just thought I'd throw that out there! You really should listen to the advice of the PP and check out the value resorts. They are pretty economical.

 

[Toadlover]

You realize it could be cold right? I see you are from Michigan, but just thought I'd throw that out there! You really should listen to the advice of the PP and check out the value resorts. They are pretty economical.

They are likely to be $200+ at Christmas. *sigh* I just looked it up. They are $176 a night when we're going. Still lower than the $250 we were going to pay for part of a wilderness cabin.

 

[Aurora0427]

They are likely to be $200+ at Christmas. *sigh* I just looked it up. They are $176 a night when we're going. Still lower than the $250 we were going to pay for part of a wilderness cabin.

$176 per night for on property at Disney at Christmas is not a bad price. If you stay off property, you could probably even go for even less. What will you do in a tent if it's cold? Or rainy?

 

[Toadlover]

I'm going to go to bed. After a good night's sleep I can think on this some more. This whole trip is giving me a headache lately! Never had I had to plan so much and scrape up so much money to go, what with the kids and school not letting them go (whole different thread here), the double prices for everything, my sister not being able to afford plane tickets, I'm about worn down to the nub on Disney planning. What happened to the time we went that I cobbled together $500 and left?

 

[NashBridges]

I'm going to go to bed. After a good night's sleep I can think on this some more. This whole trip is giving me a headache lately! Never had I had to plan so much and scrape up so much money to go, what with the kids and school not letting them go (whole different thread here), the double prices for everything, my sister not being able to afford plane tickets, I'm about worn down to the nub on Disney planning. What happened to the time we went that I cobbled together $500 and left?

Planning a holiday and pinching pennies just doesn't sound like much fun. If it came down to counting nickels and dimes to stay in a tent or value, I'd put my trip off until spring break or next Christmas, when I could afford to go.