Free dining for 2010

[TCO]

Hi, I saw on another thread I made that the free dining plan is already available for 2010 (sorry I forgot your name I know it began with Jackie )

My question is do I have to book directly through disney? If so is the whole amount due up front?

We are looking to go next year and I figured late September would be a decent time for us. The free dining plan makes it a lot better value.

Also I know this is an impossible question but how much am I likely to be looking at for flights in September.

Any help on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jackieleanne]

Hi again and yes its Jackie.

I booked direct with disney not seen any one else offering it yet. I paid £100 deposit the rest is due July, 8 weeks before the departure date.

 

[TCO]

Thats great I've priced it up at £2800 for both of us with 14 day passes and flights, just need to try and work out if it would be cheaper to book flights seperately or as part of the package

 

[Tillybud]

from what I've learnt over the last couple of days it would appear to work out much cheaper to book your flights separately. I priced it up with inclusive flights and they added about 2k to the package, I was

 

[jackieleanne]

Is that with flights or separate what resort are you thinking about?

It usually works out cheaper to book them separate. As you can pick up flights usually for between £300 - £500

 

[orangetiggs]

we got gatwick to orlando with virgin for this august for 317 each so i think its cheaper to book seperatly.

 

[jackieleanne]

Yes last year we did a package with virgin for fairfield inn lake buena vista and it cost £2700 This year we got our hotel, dining and disney tickets for £1700 so have £1000 in the balance for flights booked. When you look at how much was spent on food from that holiday as well it was well over an extra £500 on food. Next year is going to work out so much cheaper.

 

[TCO]

Thats with flights from MCR staying at CSR. When do virgin release prices for flights?

The other dilemma I have now is whch moderate to stay at, we've only been once and stayed in the Pop but to be honest we loved it.

 

[jackieleanne]

I am going from Manchester as well Virgin release the flights a year in advance so if its for august/september then it should be out same time this year, although I know Sarah(orangetiggs) got hers at £315 in the October sale so may be best to hold on at first and look out for the sale. Just keep checking their site.

Oh I decided on Port Orleans Riverside it looks lovely.

 

[TCO]

Ooo decisions decison, although these are nice decisons to make.

For some reason the Carribean beach is more expensive than the other mod resorts.

Think I may wait and do flights seperatley, the only risk are flights booking up straight away but I think that is unlikely.

 

[Tillybud]

I called into the Travel Agents today to pick up some brochures, WDW is all very new to me and I was querying bits and pieces with them and they said they are struggling to sell WDW holidays for this year so I'm hoping that will mean the flights will perhaps come down in price if you don't book them straight away upon release.

We've only ever done DLP and I'm so excited about planning a trip to WDW but I'm daunted too, I've never booked accomodation and left it more than a day to book transport, it's scary !!!

 

[PoppyAnna]

What are the free dining days for 2010? I'd like to go for most of August and might consider staying onsite for two of those weeks. I've done lots of quotes - budget, moderate and deluxe but never does the dining come up

 

[orangetiggs]

tilly if your looking at flights with the likes of virgin and ba these dont normally come down in price unless there are sales as the cheaper fare classes sell first

the charter airlines such as first choice, thomas cook etc may sell off cheap seats as they are mainly full of holiday makers where as the scheduled airlines are a mx of holiday makers and business

 

[PoppyAnna]

What are the free dining days for 2010? I'd like to go for most of August and might consider staying onsite for two of those weeks. I've done lots of quotes - budget, moderate and deluxe but never does the dining come up

I'm daft, I was pricing from 31 July - free dining starts 1st August - DOH!

 

[Tillybud]

tilly if your looking at flights with the likes of virgin and ba these dont normally come down in price unless there are sales as the cheaper fare classes sell first

the charter airlines such as first choice, thomas cook etc may sell off cheap seats as they are mainly full of holiday makers where as the scheduled airlines are a mx of holiday makers and business

thanks for the extra info, it's like a minefield but I'm determined to book it separately so I can save some cash for extra treats

 

[jackieleanne]

Ooo decisions decison, although these are nice decisons to make.

For some reason the Carribean beach is more expensive than the other mod resorts.

Think I may wait and do flights seperatley, the only risk are flights booking up straight away but I think that is unlikely.

It's been like that since they upgraded the rooms to pirate theme but I don't think it's worth the extra £'s compared to the other moderates.

I don't think you have to worry about the flights booking up, I know virgin still have dates from manchester to orlando for the same dates but this year and its only 4 months away. That said if I get anything for around £400 or cheaper ill be booking straight away.

 

[TCO]

Yup Jackie I think I will do the same, book flights seperately whenever they drop to £400 or after october if not.

Do the flights need paying up front as a one off payment ie no deposit?

It's down to choosing between POR POFQ and CSR now, time to look into the bus services etc as I wont be driving.

 

[orangetiggs]

we stayed at CSR for our wedding and we waited ages for the buses, we didnt really liek the resort as it was way too big and didnt feel like disney

we are staying at pofq this year

 

[jackieleanne]

Yup Jackie I think I will do the same, book flights seperately whenever they drop to £400 or after october if not.

Do the flights need paying up front as a one off payment ie no deposit?

It's down to choosing between POR POFQ and CSR now, time to look into the bus services etc as I wont be driving.

We are the same decided not to drive this year.

I think flights are upfront payment not sure on this but I'm sure someone else will be able to help.

 

[Cinderella]

When I look at 2010 dates for free dining, the Disney site gives links to everyone who's offering it, including the Walt Disney Travel Company.

If you're booking a scheduled flight with someone like Virgin or BA, you usually have to pay in full when you book. But if you're booking a charter flight or a fly/drive, you normally pay a deposit. It's slightly less than a year ahead that scheduled flights come out - forgotten the exact number of days though.

I noticed recently that flyglobespan are just charging a small deposit. Trouble is, their prices are no longer that cheap as they just seem to offer premium economy and business class from Glasgow to Orlando now.

By the way - I don't think they made all the rooms at CBR into themed ones, so I'm guessing the ordinary ones will still be the same price as at other moderate resorts.