First timer Here....

[kteesmumma]

I have been reading this forum for months now and finally decided to register LOL.

My family and I will be doing our first Disney Trip 5/16/10-5/21/10. Myself, DH, DS (3 although we will be saying hes 2), DD (7), My Mom and Stepdad. We decided for our FIRST trip to stay off site. We rented a townhouse in Kissimmee. We will also be flying from Boston. We are getting 3 day Base Passes (we did the give a day get a day) so we will actually have a 4 day base ticket. We already did our ADR for Chef Mickeys Breakfast. We have basically paid for this trip already.

After reading so much about getting the best deals at Disney...we are actually considering going back 11/27/10-12/3/10. We want to stay at PC or ASMovies. I read about last years FREE DINING for the fall/winter...so I know that may be an option for our trip this year, if the promotion is again offered this year. We will be driving for this trip...cause what truly kills us in $$$ is flying. My questions are is it worth purchasing a DP or just paying OOP at the time of our vacation for our food? We will most likely get a fridge in our room...and my kids usually just eat pop tarts and yogurt and such for breakfast. So if we are driving I can always just pack all that kind of stuff in a cooler bring it with us...so I know breakfast wont be a meal we will be using a DP for.

Anyone break down the cost of eating at Disney with and w/o DP???

Thanks

 

[Metro West]

 

[kteesmumma]

Thank you for the welcome

I am learning so much on this board...probably way more than I can handle in one night hahahaha....

Still trying to figure out the best way to book our November/December trip.

 

[disneyworldaddict]

Welcome! Wish i could be there with you for your first trip to the World and show you how i do Disney, because I'd get you hooked!

You mentioned airfare can be costly for you. Spirit flies out of Boston and has great offers depending on when and how early you book. Our airfare is $59pp each way this yr, but there are hidden costs, such as fees for choosing seats ($8-$12per seat each way) and checked bag fees ($18-$25 each way). There are other ways to cut airfafre costs such as their free frequent flier program or their $9 fare club.

As for Disney, we love the DDP but we have no young children, ours are in their early 20s. Last yr our entire trip was only $672pp. That was 7 nights at POP, 7 day park hopper, free dining, airfare, taxes, transportation and even travel insurance! If you look at mousesavers, allearsnet and other similar sites they post lots of deals.

Anyway, have a great trip and keep reading! if you can't find the answer on here already, ask whatever question you can think of and you'll get plenty of answers.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I always suggest that the best way to decide if it is a good deal is to take a look at the menus and prices found here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

Look at where you think you would want to eat and what your family would probably order and add it all up and compare with the Dining Plan price. For my family we don't eat a whole lot of the Table Service meals so the original Dining plan that offered one CS and one TS a day + snacks was just not worth the money-- we spent much less OOP. But now that they have a CS Dining Plan it may be worth it to us the next time we go. I would look at the menus again and just do the math.

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[{Kat}]

Welcome! Wish I had more advice for you.

 

[Rosetta89]

Welcome!!! I know you all will just love Disney it is such an amazing experience! All Star Movies and POP are both great choices, but I personally love the All Stars Dining plan is a case by case basis; you have to look at what you might eat and you can find the menus and prices online so get the calculator and start adding We used to not do the DDP but in recent time grew to love it. Very nice to have snacks to use throughout the day for the little things like the Mickey shaped ice creams and frozen lemonades I know kids love the ice cream!! and instead of saying no everytime they ask ITS A SNACK!!! Ive personally grown to love the DDP, but like i said it is all a case by case adventure I am so excited for you!!!
Magical Wishes

 

[Disneydonnam]

Welcome to the Disboards.

 

[purplepixiedust]

We did quick service dining plan for me, dh, ds 8 and ds6. I was unsatisfied with the choices for my boys, they grew bored of the offerings and sides, and dh and I looked over prices and the amount of food we got and we easily could have saved $ paying OOP for our meals. we didn't always want dessert and the kids could have easily shared an adult meal at many places for less then the price of two blah kids meals. Heck my husband and I could have shared many of the meals. It is a tough call, many people love the plans. We had never been to Disney and were unsure of the food quality and quantity so we just booked the plan. If I ever go again I will just pay OOP for our meals. Then we can just eat whatever we choose.

 

[kteesmumma]

Thanks so much for all the tips and opinions on everything. Honestly if I wasnt trying to stick to a budget I would SOOO want to stay at the Cabins in the Wilderness Lodge...they look so cute and would just be perfect for us.

I looked at the menus and pricing for Disneys Food and with the way my family eats I dont think DDP would be something we actually needed. My kids have no problems eating sandwiches we could easily make in our room. Seeing that we are driving, we can go to a grocery store and pick up some stuff, we can also bring things down with us..**I am a big couponer LOL...so I have stockpiles of food and other items all over my house LOL**

Now when it comes to the PIN Codes that sometimes are connected to your name when you call WDW to make ressies...what type of codes are these usually? I have heard like 20/30/40 and I have also heard that some got 35 or 40 and were able to use those on a ROOM Only Ressie..now are these usually for any level? or Just the higher level resorts??

 

[Disn3y]

Welcome to the DIS! Nothing beats the first family trip, have fun!