Free dining DILEMMA. Can you help me?

[BlueFairy]

Hi folks.
I'm sure I'm not the only one with a headache from number crunching and evaluating my options, but I need some fresh eyes on this one. 2 adults and a 2 yr old. I need to choose one of the following :

1. Currently we have reservations and ADRs for checkin right after Labor Day for 5 nights at the Swan ($125/nt). Have stayed here before and it was nice. No DDP, and with paying a la carte for food, air, souvenirs, hotel, and tix, I expect to spend $2695. We have the option of eating at S/D restaurants if the lines are too long due to the dining package. Can cancel up to 7 days in advance.

2. Working on free dining at WL for the same time. If we get a std room, my numbers say $2631 for everything I mentioned above. The clincher here is that we would prefer to stay at WL. Downside is that we're then locked into Disney food with dining crowds. Also, if you consider this sort of thing, I'm not convinced we'll get the maximum value from the free DDP since we are only 2 adults and the toddler may limit our TS time. Also, another con is the WDTC package payment and cancellation policies. I'm not a fan.

3. Mousesavers says that last year AP room only rates for December came out in August. I can maybe or maybe not assume that will happen again. I would really LOVE to do WL in December. DH thinks it might be better to go in Sept (not near Christmas). Again, including everything, I calculate $2730 as my cost if we get a std room with AP at WL. Pros are the Christmas activities and no free-dining crowds.

But, here is the big IF.
If we stick with the Swan, I can switch to an AP rate at WL when they come available. If I take free dining, I will pay a penalty to cancel the DDP ressie and transfer the credit to a Dec. AP ressie, because I will be inside 45 days.

Please advise. I don't know what to do.
Thanks!!!!!!

 

[CoolPool]

If Sept < Swan : good cancellation policy
WL : free dining


If Dec < Husband not so keen on timing
Wife pleased

My take: husband no like Dec so forget it. Swan is not really your first preference as you say yourself; you really only like their cancellation policy. So go to WL with free dining. Toddler is not a problem for evening table service because on at least a few nights you either 1) take to WL kids clubhouse if over 4 or 2) book a babysitter in room for a few hours. Its worth the money!

 

[missmun52]

I would go with WL and free dining. I had no problems last year at all. I would just say to make your dining ressies now and you will be all set! Since WL is where you really want to be and your DH does not want to go during christmas then it seems only right for you do do WL and FD.

Just my 2 cents anyway

 

[BlueFairy]

If Sept < Swan : good cancellation policy
WL : free dining


If Dec < Husband not so keen on timing
Wife pleased

My take: husband no like Dec so forget it. Swan is not really your first preference as you say yourself; you really only like their cancellation policy. So go to WL with free dining. Toddler is not a problem for evening table service because on at least a few nights you either 1) take to WL kids clubhouse if over 4 or 2) book a babysitter in room for a few hours. Its worth the money!

Actually, we really do like the Swan. Being so close to 2 parks last year was great. No buses/stroller frustration for them. But I have always wanted to try WL and it seems convenient to MK, where we will spend a lot of time. As for baysitting, she is 2. There is no way DH (or myself, truthfully) would be comfortable with an in-room sitter. That's just us.

But I do see how Sept-WL may be our best compromise. Hmm.

missmun52 - you say you had no problem. Do you mean the waits were short for your ADRs? I'm worried that we will get to our ADRs with a tired and hungry kid, only to find very long waits to be seated in spite of having reservations. Or that we will have a tired kid and decide TS is not worth the effort, have lots of credits leftover and spend $$ on OOP CS instead.

 

[CoolPool]

All I could do was go by what you wrote in the post. Can't go wrong either way, really. Have a great trip!

 

[Pooh Friend]

I would do WL with FD. I would make ADRs for 5pm -- earliest seating when 2yr old may be least tired. You can do character buffets -- great food, fast service, and the 2yr old will be enthralled at characters. Swan is convenient, but you said you really wanted to do WL. It seems like a perfect opportunity! Best of luck with your decision!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

What Pooh Friend said... great suggestions!

I would do WL with FD. I would make ADRs for 5pm -- earliest seating when 2yr old may be least tired. You can do character buffets -- great food, fast service, and the 2yr old will be enthralled at characters. Swan is convenient, but you said you really wanted to do WL. It seems like a perfect opportunity! Best of luck with your decision!

 

[missmun52]

missmun52 - you say you had no problem. Do you mean the waits were short for your ADRs? I'm worried that we will get to our ADRs with a tired and hungry kid, only to find very long waits to be seated in spite of having reservations. Or that we will have a tired kid and decide TS is not worth the effort, have lots of credits leftover and spend $$ on OOP CS instead.

When I went last year my son was 18 months. I never waited long for any of my adr's except Boma. All of my Adr's were around 5-5:30 pm though, and Boma was for about 6pm (dont know if that makes a difference). If I remember correctly our wait for boma was about 20-30 min. The five other resturants we went to had waits of about 5-10 min.

I think your two year old will be ok as long as you take it easy and have naps/rests during the day. We went back to our resort every day around 1-2pm had a nap and then went to dinner. This worked out great for our family. If your son has a schedual try to stick with it. Make your adr's now for an early time like 5-6 so your son wont be hungry or tired. Make sure he has snacks(as I am sure you will) and give them to him at an appropriate time where you know he will be hungry but not starving at dinner time. I used my snack credits for mostly fruits for my son to eat as snacks; he loves grapes. I did not have one counter service or table service left over and spend no money on food OOP.


This is long but I hope it helps

I just wanted to add that the food also came fast (some complained too fast) but I liked this. When you have a child you generally dont want to be waiting forever for your food.

 

[PA Princess]

We traveled last September during the same time frame with free dining...we arrived on Labor Day and stayed a week. Our group included a 20 month old, so I do understand your concern about dining with a toddler. We actually had a great experience at all of our TS...never had a toddler melt.

We made early evening adr's for the most part, and we did not have long waits to get a table (and we were a big party with dh, me, toddler dd, 3 other kiddos, and my mom). Our one exception was Coral Reef, we waited about 30 minutes for our table but we loved, loved, loved our meal at this restaurant and we will be back.

Our daughter actually had more trouble with CS meals than TS. CS is much more hectic, the wait for food was actually longer more often (at TS with appetizer food came fast and with buffets food was really fast), and there was no entertainment as was so often present at the TS meals...huge aquarium, characters, musicians, funny waitstaff, etc.

We especially did not like CS at the parks and found dd did much better at the CS at our resort (at POFQ they have a whole area where the kids can color or watch castoons...younger kids really liked this) and the environment was usually much calmer than in the parks.

Overall, that time of year was awesome to be in WDW because the lines were nowhere to be found for us We loved it so much we will be returning for that exact same week this year! Happy decision making!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Just a thought, but you could do afternoon lunch TS and counter service at night. And the character meals are a lot of fun. Crystal Palace has the Pooh gang and have a parade with all the kids every half hour. LTT has the main gang, and the Garden Grill at EPCOT has Chip and Dale. And if you're at WL, a meal at WCC is perfect with the kids.

 

[NCardella]

Hmmm...I'm not sure if I'm reading this right, but I assume "AP" means passholder. keep in mind you can't get the free ddp if you are paying passholder rates for the rooms, you have to pay rack rate.

If I'm confused, just ignore my post! Sorry! just wanted to bring it to your attention if that's what you meant.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thanks for all the DDP advice. We have LTT at 6, Play N Dine at 10am (will feed DD bkfast in the room early), Rose and Crown at 6:30, and Kona at 6. I'm glad to hear people didn't have the waits that I've heard about elsewhere. Our dates are 9/4 - 9/9, so that Labor Day info was great. And the minimum break time I have scheduled is 3 hours daily.

Hmmm...I'm not sure if I'm reading this right, but I assume "AP" means passholder. keep in mind you can't get the free ddp if you are paying passholder rates for the rooms, you have to pay rack rate.

If I'm confused, just ignore my post! Sorry! just wanted to bring it to your attention if that's what you meant.

Yes, AP is Annual Pass, but I would only buy it to get a December discount.


In other news, DH had September travel come up for his job yesterday, so we may have to adjust our dates.

 

[Marriedmyprince]

My 2 year old can eat quite a bit. So I look at the dining plan as feeding her for free. You get enough food that she will just eat part of ours. We also schedule a bunch of buffets and family style meals and then no one even has to share. I also have 2 breakfast ressise because the kids will be up anyway and hungry. Then we can eat lunch and dinner whenever we want. Also check out the post-it thead on the resturant board for all the confirmed snacks. I saw a Lunchable in there at one resort store and other things that would be lunch for my kids. Last thought about melt downs and stuff, if your kids eat out with you at home I actually think Disney is easier. They know kids and quick service if you want it. We went in 2005 and the servers were always considerate of the kids and bringing them something right away. I do know that the kids meals have changed since I went and that dining crowds will be heavier due to the popularity of the DDP. Good luck, Marriedmyprince

 

[Flagondry]

Is staying at the WL worth eating at set times? Is staying at the Swan worth flexability in eating? After all is said, those are the two main questions to ask yourself? Which you you rather have, flexability or the WL?

I think I'd do the WL w/free dining. If you are worried about TS meals you could 1) Use TS for BF buffets, CS for early dinner whenever it works and have a snack for later. 2) Use the TS for buffets, that way you can eat right away and not have the babe wait. 3) Make late lunch or early dinner ADR's based around nap and rest time.