Flight and Free Dining don't match - will this work?

[luvmyguyz]

We are having a hard time finding reasonably priced flights for November 2012. My mom got a pin code for free dining with arrival on Nov 9th. The flights departing on November 8th are wayyyyy cheaper than Nov 9th, for whatever reason. So, if we fly down on November 8th, can we get a room-only reservation for that night, check out and check back in with the free dining reservation for Nov 9-15th? For my family of 6, this would be a substantial discount.

Also, assuming this is a legitimate way to solve this dilemma, would we have to move to a different room on Nov 9th with the new reservation?

One other question - our flight would arrive at 11 PM on Nov 8th, so by the time we went to check-in, it would be after midnight. Does that count as a Nov 9th check-in, or a Nov 8th check-in?

Just trying to figure out the best price for my family. I appreciate your help!!

 

[vicki_c]

Yes you can do that - it would be 2 separate reservations.

Checking in at midnight is still the same day, not the next day.

And you might have to change rooms - no guarantee that you won't, but they will try to keep you in the same room. Make sure you mention your FD reservation that starts the next day when you check in.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

I've done this before more then once. You may or may not have to switch rooms, but they will tell you upon check in.

 

[ConnieB]

You may want to look into spending your first night off site...arriving after midnight means that you won't have any time in the parks on November 8....so you're paying Disney's high room rate just for a bed to collapse in. Check around as it may be cheaper to take a taxi from the airport to a decent but less expensive hotel for the first night, then take another taxi to your resort. You can check into the Disney hotel for the Nov 9 reservation early and they'll hold your bags until your room is ready. So, do the math and see what works best. You can google taxi cab companies and find out the exact cost (even book it online).

Since you may have to move after that first night anyway (and from the reading I've done it appears to be about a 50/50 chance for some reason!) whether you stay one night at Disney or one night off site, pack accordingly. We've done trips where we stay one night on the drive before arriving at our destination, and rather than having to deal with opening 3 suitcases to get our jammies, toiletries and tomorrow's clothing, we pack those things all together in a separate carry on size bag. We still bring all our bags into the room for security, but we stash the bags in the closet and only open the one with everything we need for that night. Makes it easier to repack in the morning too!

 

[ourpartyofsix]

When we went in November of 2010, it was far cheaper for us to fly down two days earlier than our Disney vacation start date.

We flew in, took a free shuttle from the airport to an inexpensive airport hotel, spent the next day just relaxing and hanging out at the hotel, then the next day took the free shuttle back to the airport where we took Magical Express to our Disney resort. It was actually kind of nice to have a day of downtime after traveling with four kids!

 

[dreamscometrue101]

I did the same thing back in 2009 and will be again on my upcoming trip in August. By flying in on the 18th I can save over $600 on flights alone, so I'm still ahead, even paying rack rate for my one night.

When you reserve the room only, have the CM make note of the second reservation so they are aware of it, and when you check in, just mention it. As long as you're in the same category of room, you shouldn't have any problems staying in the same room.

I'm hoping we can stay in the same room as I'm doing my check-out/check-in at 6:30 in the morning on the 19th so we can make a Chef Mickeys breakfast at 7:30 and I'd really rather not have to deal with moving luggage.

 

[Masonmj84]

You may want to look into spending your first night off site...arriving after midnight means that you won't have any time in the parks on November 8....so you're paying Disney's high room rate just for a bed to collapse in. Check around as it may be cheaper to take a taxi from the airport to a decent but less expensive hotel for the first night, then take another taxi to your resort. You can check into the Disney hotel for the Nov 9 reservation early and they'll hold your bags until your room is ready. So, do the math and see what works best. You can google taxi cab companies and find out the exact cost (even book it online).

Since you may have to move after that first night anyway (and from the reading I've done it appears to be about a 50/50 chance for some reason!) whether you stay one night at Disney or one night off site, pack accordingly. We've done trips where we stay one night on the drive before arriving at our destination, and rather than having to deal with opening 3 suitcases to get our jammies, toiletries and tomorrow's clothing, we pack those things all together in a separate carry on size bag. We still bring all our bags into the room for security, but we stash the bags in the closet and only open the one with everything we need for that night. Makes it easier to repack in the morning too!

I generally agree with much of this post, especially since you would be arriving after 11 pm, which, as I understand, is after ME luggage service is operating (meaning you will need to get your checked bags at baggage claim, even if you were staying on-site the first night). However, if I were to stay off-site the first night (e.g., near the airport), I would still use ME the next day to get to my resort. Ideally, I'd pick a hotel with free shuttle service, then shuttle back to MCO the next morning. Before the trip, I'd give ME the number of a flight that arrived at MCO about the time I thought my hotel shuttle would get me back to the airport (there's no requirement to give ME the actual flight you arrive on). Then, I'd just hop on ME (with my checked bags stored on the bus).

If, however, my arrival was before 10 pm (when ME luggage service is still operating), I'd probably just book a room only at a value resort for the first night (making sure to take everything I need the first night in a carry-on, which I always do anyway). Then, I'd hop on the ME that night and let Disney take care of my checked bags. The next morning, I'd simply use bell services to transfer my bags to the next resort.

 

[MAYNARDS99]

Fly into MCO on the 8th, stay at the Hyatt Regency (right at the airport), and take the ME in the morning to WDW. No expensive cab and no hassle!

$239 + tax for two adults and two children including breakfast.