Free Dining for familiy of 5??!!

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Please help! I just booked our flights for Sept. to WDW and am thinking with the free dining going on it would be cheaper to stay on site...problem...when I went online and tried to book something it wouldn't let me stay anywhere since I have 3 4-year-olds..said my party was too big for the property!! Is anyone else going and staying on site with three kids? where are you staying and how much was it for your"package"? thanks!

Karen

 

[toesmom]

Please help! I just booked our flights for Sept. to WDW and am thinking with the free dining going on it would be cheaper to stay on site...problem...when I went online and tried to book something it wouldn't let me stay anywhere since I have 3 4-year-olds..said my party was too big for the property!! Is anyone else going and staying on site with three kids? where are you staying and how much was it for your"package"? thanks!

Karen

you'll have to stay at POR... I think that is the only moderate resort that accommodates 5.

Values are only up to 4, 5 if one is infant (under 3 yrs)

maybe someone else knows more...

To qualify for free dining, you have to pay full rack rate for the room and purchase 1 day base ticket for every person in the room. If you book through AAA agent, you can get discount on room, but at this date it is unlikely any of the AAA discounted rooms are still available.


Or try for family suite at all star music, though that costs much more than 1 room at value resort. They accommodate 6.

 

[hbehrman]

you'll have to stay at POR... I think that is the only moderate resort that accommodates 5.

That is correct. The Alligator Bayou section holds 5 with a two full beds and a trundle.

Values are only up to 4, 5 if one is infant (under 3 yrs)

maybe someone else knows more...

To qualify for free dining, you have to pay full rack rate for the room and purchase 1 day base ticket for every person in the room. If you book through AAA agent, you can get discount on room, but at this date it is unlikely any of the AAA discounted rooms are still available.


Or try for family suite at all star music, though that costs much more than 1 room at value resort. They accommodate 6.

Or a Fort WIlderness Cabin that holds 6 as well, plus a full kitchen and other good stuff.

Free dining is great we went last September too. Just make sure you make your table service ressies now, now now.

 

[WildGrits]

WL have Junior Suites that hold 6 also.

 

[dementia412]

Unless you have a lot of money just forget staying at WL or AKL, they have 5 person rooms, but will cost you a bundle.
PORr rooms are around the same amount as the family suite in the All Star. Those two are probably your best bet. I'd go to the resort page, and look at the merits of each (I prefer PORr, but the AS suite has two rooms and a fridge)
I don't remember much about the cabins, but I think they were too expensive for what they were. Still if that would suit you. it might be a good idea... and close to the Hoop-dee-doo Revue!

 

[Pixiedust34]

If all of the places for a family of 5 is booked, you could try two connecting rooms at a value resort. You'd have two bathrooms, which does come in handy.

 

[disneylovinfamily]

What about the suites at All Star Music? They can hold 5 people. Good luck with you planning! We are doing connecting rooms at ASMu but will have the in-laws also.

 

[brymolmom]

I'm not positive, but I believe that the family suites at All Star Music are excluded from the free dining promotion. However, with a family that size - you likely will still be 'making money' by getting 2 connecting rooms at a value. If you paid for the dining plan - you'd have to pay about $110 per night - but with the extra room - you'd pay about $85 per night (assuming the first room is about the same price as you'd be paying off site) - plus - you'd be able to go to so many character meals - and with kids that age - that would be a huge plus. PLUS - don't forget to factor in the cost of the rental car (unless you're driving to WDW) - that always tips the scales for us. We can't get a really small car and fit our car seats and luggage - so by the time we add in the $200 - $300 that we save by using Magical Express and WDW transportation, with free dining it is always a lot less expensive for us to stay on site.

 

[angeleigh]

You can stay with 5 at POR as mentioned - we have stayed with 6 including an infant. In our opinion a crowded room at Disney is much preferable to not going on a family vacation because it gets too expensive. The family suites at the value resorts do not come with the free dining. 8 days and 7 nights with dining this year their was about 1700 (incl. tax). - That was for 5 (infant is free) , included meals and 1 day base tickets, and waterview room. The 1 day base ticket can be upgraded to whatever you need. I don't know how many days you need. It is virtually the same price for adjoining rooms at the value resorts if you prefer that. If you do not find the resorts with dining on the disney online reservation than call- repeatedly. We started with 2 rooms at POP and then finally got an opening at POR. The only reason we chose POR (we have stayed at both) is that the bus schedule and crowds are much better at POR (in our opinion) and the pools are much less crowded. It is an even split on which place is more fun....
Though the initial dollar amount is less for an offsite room - do not underestimate the cost of all the "extras". The rental car , the parking, the gas , all the meals and snacks,the long walk at the parking lots or waiting for a shuttle to get to the front gate, the fact they do not have the base ticket to start from (yes- you can find "discounts" on the base ticket - with 5 tickets you may save a total of $50 combined or less than the cost of a single base ticket) and the fact that IMO it is more stressful to drive around down there not really knowing where I am going than waiting for a bus ever was. It is for the most part much quicker to get on bus and go to resort than drive off premises to hotel. Also with a family going , there is the option some days or afternoons for 1 adult to go back to resort with some children while others continue to play (especially helpful if one child is not feeling great or gets too much sun) This is very difficult sharing a single rental car.
If you do decide to try to book on wdw property if they cant get the dates you need ask them to try to book for longer period (7 /8 /10 days) then after you make ressie call back and cancel the extra days. Sometimes there are rooms available somehow for a longer trip that do not show as available for a shorter trip.
Good luck and have fun !

 

[hbehrman]

You can stay with 5 at POR as mentioned - we have stayed with 6 including an infant. In our opinion a crowded room at Disney is much preferable to not going on a family vacation because it gets too expensive. The family suites at the value resorts do not come with the free dining. 8 days and 7 nights with dining this year their was about 1700 (incl. tax). - That was for 5 (infant is free) , included meals and 1 day base tickets, and waterview room. The 1 day base ticket can be upgraded to whatever you need. I don't know how many days you need. It is virtually the same price for adjoining rooms at the value resorts if you prefer that. If you do not find the resorts with dining on the disney online reservation than call- repeatedly. We started with 2 rooms at POP and then finally got an opening at POR. The only reason we chose POR (we have stayed at both) is that the bus schedule and crowds are much better at POR (in our opinion) and the pools are much less crowded. It is an even split on which place is more fun....
Though the initial dollar amount is less for an offsite room - do not underestimate the cost of all the "extras". The rental car , the parking, the gas , all the meals and snacks,the long walk at the parking lots or waiting for a shuttle to get to the front gate, the fact they do not have the base ticket to start from (yes- you can find "discounts" on the base ticket - with 5 tickets you may save a total of $50 combined or less than the cost of a single base ticket) and the fact that IMO it is more stressful to drive around down there not really knowing where I am going than waiting for a bus ever was. It is for the most part much quicker to get on bus and go to resort than drive off premises to hotel. Also with a family going , there is the option some days or afternoons for 1 adult to go back to resort with some children while others continue to play (especially helpful if one child is not feeling great or gets too much sun) This is very difficult sharing a single rental car.
If you do decide to try to book on wdw property if they cant get the dates you need ask them to try to book for longer period (7 /8 /10 days) then after you make ressie call back and cancel the extra days. Sometimes there are rooms available somehow for a longer trip that do not show as available for a shorter trip.
Good luck and have fun !

POR For 7 days and 6 nights with dining this year their was about 1,245 (incl. tax). - That was for 5 (infant is free) , included meals and 1 day base tickets, and standard view room. We have tickets from last year (I love the No expiration option) so we got an extra vacation this year for under 1000 for food and lodging for the week. We will apply the unused base tickets to our next trip.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

You could try a cabin at FW (again not positive they qualify for free dining).

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'd look into getting a connecting/adjoining room at one of the resorts or checking into the AS Jr. Suites-if they do the free dining for those.

 

[goinback]

Fort Wilderness cabins are included in the free dining. Family suites are not. Doesn't really make sense to me! POR does sound like your best financial option. Getting two rooms at a value is a little more. My family of 5 stayed at POR for 8 nights 2 years ago, and we were fine!