December Trip FD or RO Discount

[Qwackertoo]

OK, I haven't been in several years, once the kids hit middle school it was harder to take them out and with everything else going on. So going on a very special trip, just DD and I in early Dec, Dec. 10-18 after her first semester being away at college and leaving DS and DH at home since DS doesn't get out of school until much later closer to Christmas.

OK, we have ASM booked with FD. Since it is just the two of us, is that the best deal vs. upgrading at 16 whatever per day each or upgrading to POR.

I admit my favorite especially in December is Wilderness Lodge in the past but rack rate there would be pretty steep, we always had AP's in the past and 40% discounts . . . or do DDP and get just an AP for me and 6 or 7 day hopper for her.

We plan on catching a cab one day to Premiere Outlet to shop for her Christmas and January birthday presents. Thinking that Monday the 17th and take FULL advantage of the lower crowds in the parks the 10-14 or at least in the past it always picked up that weekend and only got more crowded and crowded closer to Christmas.

Sound like a good plan? Just the two of us don't eat much and thinking counter service is good enough . . . found several places for salmon and chicken and such, maybe share some meals but eat more often and be on the go from early entry to last park closing every single night.

How crowded is it going to be in the New Fantasyland that week I wonder?

What did they replace the Snow White ride with?

Kids got to go last spring in May with their high school band but like I said before I haven't been in several years.

 

[MMS1125]

I personally with just 2 people would stay at the WL (or a moderate if that would out of price range) with a room discount and pay for food OOP. Not sure Free Dining is really beneficial with 2 people if you aren't big eaters. You would be better off with a room discount. That said if you have to stay value then I'd keep free dining

 

[Qwackertoo]

Well we don't have to stay Value but DD specifically requested ASM and hoping for Toy Story building. She loves Toy Story.

What are discounts for Deluxe? Wilderness Lodge in particular in that time frame?

Thanks,

 

[MMS1125]

Save 30% for stays most nights at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Standard View.

Save 20% for stays most nights at Disney's Contemporary Resort (excluding Magic Kingdom view rooms) and Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

 

[MMS1125]

well if she requested ASM then I'd stay there with FD. You are better with FD at a value than you are a room discount.

Room only for your dates for 2 adults at WL is 2565 for Courtyard view
I didn't realize your stay was so long when I first suggested WL.

For your time frame I'd just stay at ASM since your DD requested it but I'd probably upgrade my dining. That's a lot of counter service meals if you stay with quick free dining

ASM with upgraded dining and 9 day base tix is 1815 which sounds like a much better price than 2500+ lol

 

[JohnO]

With just two people the value resort room will have plenty of room for the two of you, plus free dining. You should price out how much it would be to upgrade dining. Probably around $20 per person per day. When planning our upcoming trip, we booked for Art of Animation and upgraded dining. We thought about it and decided to see what the price difference would be to upgrade to a moderate, with free standard dining included. The price was about the same. So we upgraded to CSR.

 

[Qwackertoo]

Right now Dreams has me booked in a "preferred room" at ASM for the 8 nights, and free QS dining and 5 day hopper passes which I will probably bump up to 6 or 7 depending on IF we catch a cab for a day of shopping for 1722.00. I'm guessing price diff is the hopper vs. base ticket. Seems one day when I was playing with various scenarios the price jumped with the hopper which we enjoy that freedom in the past with the AP's and sometimes would hit 3 parks in one day, granted a long day/night.

I use to be really up on all the prices and tickets and always had AP's or PAP's and feel really not up to speed on the best deal for this trip.

We've stayed at WL, AK, and POR in addition to Pop, AS-Sports and ASM's before and really are pretty happy with just a value for sleeping as we never have spent that much time in the room or just at the resort pool, spend ALL our non-sleeping time in the parks even when the kids were little, we were on the go and they were always such good vacation travelers.

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. I want to make sure I'm getting the best deal before various "deals" expire later this month or RO discounts get all booked up.

p.s. I figure for the 16.00 x 2 to upgrade dining x 8 nights would be 250.00 which could be spent on a nice meal a few nights IF we felt like it. Kinda nervous about booking a bunch of ADR's (I guess they use to be called PS's) and locking in a schedule vs. freedom of Quick Service. We've done all the character meals in the past and probably not a big deal this trip. Otherwise is upgraded dining something else special? Are ADR's really booked and difficult to get at this late date?

 

[milmore104]

I guess if your not going to be in the room all to much and take in the resort then I would just go w/ ASM. You can always go over to WL and look around at the holiday stuff. And if your DD aked for ASM then I would go w/ that. I did some checking for you and this is what I came up with...

ASM w/ QSDP and 7DPH... $1629.92
Upgrading to DDP... $1894.72
Difference is $264.80 if you don't think you will eat $260 worth of food at TS places then stick w/ the QS. I would check out where you do want to eat and add up the cost and see if it's worth it.

Upgradig resort to a Mod (comes w/ DDP) and 7DPH... $2291.88

Upgrading to WL courtyard view this is just ROOM ONLY...$2565
then 7DPH would be $734.86 plus your food.

 

[Qwackertoo]

I guess if your not going to be in the room all to much and take in the resort then I would just go w/ ASM. You can always go over to WL and look around at the holiday stuff. And if your DD aked for ASM then I would go w/ that. I did some checking for you and this is what I came up with...

ASM w/ QSDP and 7DPH... $1629.92
Upgrading to DDP... $1894.72
Difference is $264.80 if you don't think you will eat $260 worth of food at TS places then stick w/ the QS. I would check out where you do want to eat and add up the cost and see if it's worth it.

Upgradig resort to a Mod (comes w/ DDP) and 7DPH... $2291.88

Upgrading to WL courtyard view this is just ROOM ONLY...$2565
then 7DPH would be $734.86 plus your food.

Thank you very much for crunching those numbers for me!!!!

That is almost 100.00 less for ASM PLUS two extra days on the Park Hoppers. I have emailed my Dreams person and hope to get a reply from her.

Thanks, I appreciate it. That would more than cover any extra meal we might want to eat with the lower price plus I was going to add days to her quote which would have added even more to the price.

p.s. In years past we enjoyed spending a few hours hopping over to Grand Floridian or other resorts to check out their decorations and having stayed twice at WL in Dec. we'll definitely go back and catch a bus or boat over for a look for nostalgic sakes. Loved that place.