Disney for one month!! Christmas... help :O

[CookMx]

Hey Guys... I'm new here... Just asking for help... I'm going to Disney for almost one month in December... from 12/Dec/11 to 04/Jan/12

So... I wanna know some tips for saving... the party is 4 (3 adults and one child) for food... please... Some tips... I've been reading some tips so i guess maybe 13th, 14th and 15th of December explore 3 parks and the other days just enjoy the Magic of WDW in Christmas...

Is the first time for the little one and It's been like 18 years since the other 2 adults went to WDW... So, I need tips please For saving in food and for my schedule

Thanks a lot guys!!

 

[sharonabe]

With that many days to enjoy the parks at your leisure, I'd suggest an Annual Pass. That comes with some other perks, so you'll need to read all the info about it. But with an AP, you can go to the parks every day of your stay if you want and can do more than one park a day.

Can we assume you are staying off-site with a kitchen? If so, I'd plan the bulk of my meals at "home" and choose a few favorite places to eat in the parks/resorts.

 

[CookMx]

Thanks Sharonabe The Annual Pass is a reaally good idea But in Christmas we can´t go outside the park and re-enter So... more tips for the Holidays and for saving tips for food

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Normally the only times that any of the Parks capacity close is during the week between Christmas and New Year's days. And even then they tend to only close for a few hours at a time until a sufficient number of people have left.

One of the key things with an Annual Pass for someone 21 or older you may purchase (for $75) a Tables in Wonderland card which is good for a 20% discount on meals and beverages (including alcoholic) for up to ten people. It is primarily for table service, but some quick service locations allow its use.

In addition to TiW with an AP, you get free parking if staying off-site, and discounts of 10% at many merchandise locations.

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

All Tables in Wonderland Restaurants as of May 2011

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort – World Premiere Food Court
Disney's All-Star Music Resort – Intermission Food Court
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort – End Zone Food Court
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge – Boma, Jiko, Sanaa, Victoria Falls
Disney's Beach Club Resort - Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (excludes take-out shop), Cape May Cafe, Martha's Vineyard Lounge
Disney's BoardWalk – Belle Vue Lounge, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, ESPN Club, Flying Fish Cafe, Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort – Shutters at Old Port Royale
Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill, Chef Mickey's, Outer Rim, The Wave
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort – Maya Grill
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – Crockett's Tavern, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only), Trail's End Restaurant (Excludes take out shop)
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – 1900 Park Fare, Citricos, Garden View Tea Room, Grand Floridian Cafe, Mizner's Lounge, Narcoossee's, Victoria & Albert's (excludes Chef's Table and Queen Victoria Room)
Disney's Old Key West Resort – Olivia's Cafe
Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course - Sand Trap Bar & Grill
Disney's Polynesian Resort – 'Ohana, Kona Cafe, Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Late show only), Tambu Lounge
Disney's Pop Century Resort – Everything Pop Shopping and Dining (excludes merchandise from shop)
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, Scat Cat's Club
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside - Boatwright's Dining Hall, River Roost
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort – The Artist's Palette, The Turf Club Bar & Grill, Turf Club Lounge
Disney's Vero Beach Resort – The Green Cabin Room, Shutter's, Sonya's (Excludes Sunday Brunch)
Disney's Wilderness Lodge – Artist Point, Territory Lounge, Whispering Canyon Cafe
Disney's Yacht Club Resort – Ale and Compass Lounge, Captain's Grille, Crews Cup Lounge, Yachtsman Steakhouse
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – Garden Grove, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula's Steak House, Todd English's bluezoo

Magic Kingdom Park – Cinderella's Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Crystal Palace, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony's Town Square Restaurant
Epcot – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Bistro de Paris, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn Restaurante, The Garden Grill Restaurant, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli
Disney's Hollywood Studios – 50's Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Tune-In Lounge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park – Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Tusker House Restaurant

DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Marketplace - Cap'n Jack's Restaurant, Fulton's Crab House
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Pleasure Island – Paradiso 37, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – West Side – Bongo's Cuban Cafe, House Of Blues (Excludes Sunday Brunch), Planet Hollywood, Wolfgang Puck Cafe

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex - ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill

 

[LoriH91]

We really need more info to help more! If you're planning on coming into the parks most of that time, an annual pass is definitely worth it. Being there for that long, I couldn't imagine only going 3 days!!

 

[dlhvac]

we did 10 days at Christmas 12/23/2010 till 1/2/2011 was great parks crowded but its Christmas so plan on it we stayed on property which means you are i n a park , we never had a problem had the dining plan with good reservations , make at 6mos like now... a little cold some days so come prepared
ps were 11 of us

 

[karice2]

There really isn't enough information to really help plan completely.
Are you staying on Disney Resort? Using the dining plan? Do you have a kitchen? Will you have a car? If we know that stuff we can help plan better.


I am going down for two weeks and have the following things planned and budgeted.

I am an annual passholder and I also have tables in wonderland.
I am bringing my car down on auto train so I will have plenty of space.

Here is my tentative plans for savings.
1. Restaurant.com gift certificates for Swan and Dolphin Restaurants and House of Blues. They always have an 80% sale. $2 for $25 gift certificate.
2. Tables in Wonderland Card. I plan on doing two meals at Victoria and Albert's and some dinners at signature restaurants.
3. Pack a couple of meals that are easy and oven ready. I am staying at a resort with a full kitchen so I will pre make lasagna, order the Harry& David Chicken Pot Pie.
4. Right now there are a bunch of sales on can sodas, I have some set aside to come down with me.
5. Doing Laundry onsite.
6. Pre Order Photo Pass CD - savings of $50.

There is a bunch of other stuff but I need more info to really help with your needs.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I agree with the others, it's hard to give tips for this kind of trip without a little more detailed info.

Am I reading this correctly that you are only doing Disney and that you are only going to do Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom 1 day each and spend the other 27 days of your vacation at Magic Kingdom?

 

[brandip22]

I also recommend an AP and TiW card to save for that long. Plus, eat at your room or condo as much as possible!

 

[Mysteria]

I'm confused. You have all that time and the only days you are doing parks are 13th, 14th and 15th? I must be missing something.

 

[CookMx]

There really isn't enough information to really help plan completely.
Are you staying on Disney Resort? Using the dining plan? Do you have a kitchen? Will you have a car? If we know that stuff we can help plan better.

Hi!! No... I'm not staying on site but really close to WDW.

No Dining Plan... I think is a little bit expensive for 20 days... that's the reason why I need some advice or explain me the DP or maybe buy the plan for specific days... I don't have idea.

No... my hotel doesn't have kitchen only Microwave and Fridge... and Yes... I'll rent a car

 

[CookMx]

Am I reading this correctly that you are only doing Disney and that you are only going to do Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom 1 day each and spend the other 27 days of your vacation at Magic Kingdom?

I'm confused. You have all that time and the only days you are doing parks are 13th, 14th and 15th? I must be missing something.

Sorry No... I'm planning to enjoy (without too much crowd) the 13th in MK the 14th in HS and the 15 in Epcot... And all the remaining days of course in all the parks but just exploring... having fun... you know! Because after that is gonna be too crowded right? So... just enjoy the park and ride all the missing or good attractions.

 

[sharonabe]

Since you are staying off-site, you can't get the dining plan, so no need to learn anything about it.

To save money, do breakfasts in the room and eat off-site for some meals. I say "some" because you'll want to experience some of what Disney has to offer. I would plan two-three character meals (breakfasts tend to be cheaper, but dinners do have some different characters). Check out the link above for menus. You're going to have to do some homework to see what appeals to your group. No one can do that for you. Once you find several you think you might like, ask for reviews or check out the reviews over in the Restaurant forum.

As far as the parks getting crowded, with Christmas on Sunday this year, I don't think you'll see a big up take until closer to the actual day. Most schools will not give a full two weeks and then a day or two into Jan as well, so some schools may go until Wed of that week.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Sorry No... I'm planning to enjoy (without too much crowd) the 13th in MK the 14th in HS and the 15 in Epcot... And all the remaining days of course in all the parks but just exploring... having fun... you know! Because after that is gonna be too crowded right? So... just enjoy the park and ride all the missing or good attractions.

To purchase the Disney Dining Plan you have to be staying at a Disney-owned property and purchase a Magic Your Way Package that includes resort, tickets and room. Even if you are staying on property and do purchase the dining plan it is for your length of stay, you can't pick and choose the nights you purchase it. Also, if you plan to do ANY sit down/table service/character meals you need to make Advance Dining Reservations A.S.A.P. The popularity of the Disney Dining Plan and the fact that they have had a free dining promo the last three years in December, and will probably again this year, will make it almost impossible to get into any table service/character meal restaurants.

The crowds will be low from about December 13 - December 20 - that's one of the slower weeks of the year - and the crazy Christmas crowds won't start rolling in until about December 21st or 22nd. That gives you 8 days to tour the 4 parks before the heavy crowds arrive. The dates of December 23 - January 2 will be the very heavy crowds. After January 3 the crowds will drop off again.