Free dining VS camping

[lokin4deer]

I just got off the phone with the resevation people and here are some numbers if this helps you at all. We are staying 8 nights and nine days. Friday Sept 15 till Sat Sept 23. With the 9 day hopper pass and the waterparks and the free didning in Pop Century it is $1562.17 and at FW with the same 9 day hopper pass and water parks and no dinning it is $1255.42 a difference of $306.75. Of which I have to buy grocerys for in the camper and I KNOW we will eat a few meals at the park. My little girl will have to have a couple character meals with the princesses. So as best as I can tell it is going to be a wash between the 2 or pretty close anyways and I think the hotel sounds a little better for us for this trip anyways.

 

[auntie]

Hotel absolutely sounds like a good deal for you. By the time you buy groceries and the like. For us..it's not really a choice..my husband and I are defnetly staying at the campground because that is the entire point of our trip. Doing something WE wanted to do. I just can't decide whether we should add the new dining options...because the price doesn't seem to bad..and then all these scenarios came into play with everyone coming to "celebrate" with us! I am going to keep my AAA rate at this point and ponder the dining situation...since it seems you can add it later. I also want to see about the dining discount offered with the AP. I also don't want to be tied into just Disney dining..because ...don't strike me down..but we do venture out of Disney sometimes...so ??? back to the drawing board!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

If you book through AAA you can get the package w/ a room discount. The room discount is between 10-20% depending when you are going. We have a week booked the first week of September and our preferred site is $47/night without a package. I did book this through AAA but you can book through Disney if you are only wanting a site with a discount. I booked the first week of December as a package. My site was still $47/night w/ a AAA discount (preferred). We are staying 7night on the package, 6 people and 6 1 day tickets (I bought not expiring 10 day magic plus tickets through ticketmania at 2005 price). The total was $1530. I did book 1 extra night at the end as a seperate reservation. Because the dining is per night and it was so much food; we will still be able to use the credits up to midnight of the night that I booked a seperate reservation. That way we are sure to use all our credit plus I am not forking another night of dining. I have read and heard that only a certain number of sites are set aside for AAA, so if you are going to do it! do it now!

Auntie, I don't know how you could book your family! whew! You could break your stay into two reservations. If you are buying 10 day tickets they will still be good into your next reservation. The dining plan would have to be at the beginning of your reservation so you could use your park tickets. Plus, like us, your last night of dining will be good to the following midnight the next day! Then you would get the best of both worlds! You could eat at restaurants the first part of your trip and then cook at the rv the last part! We really enjoyed it last October during our trip! My parents stayed at the POP and I put 2 of our adults onto their reservation since they could have up to 4 in their room. It was during free dining! That way they still got keys to the kingdom but they stayed at the rv (my sister and husband). Then I did pay for myself and the 4 kids.

Does that make since? Could you put your husband as staying at the WL and just book you at the campsite? Plus spit your campsite reservation into 2 reservations? Then the dining plan would only be for you at $39/night!

 

[auntie]

Carrie...Okay...I think...honestly..my head is spinning..I'm re-reading that..think I'm getting it though. The WL will likely be in my mom's name...although I guess we could put in ours too. We will have two of the kids in with her...because well..they will be in with her..guess we could add another for the sake of the reservation and the dining. They are actually going to be there in the middle of the stay at FW for my husband and myself. If we choose the dining..we'd just add it for ourselves. I think that it would be okay that way?...We would book one night of a MYW pass..to qualify for the dining...and we have days left on passes from a few years ago..or we just might get new MYW passes for the days we want. Depends on what our plans are, I guess we have time to figure that out. I have to be sure of dates before I will book any kind of package..and we just don't have that down for sure yet..that's why I figured let me get a room/site rate for now. At least I know I have something. The one thing I'm not understanding is why is it you are booking another seperate reservation for one day...I lost you there?
Also..I thought you only have to have a 1 one day park ticket to get the dining...do you need that for each person on the plan..or just one ticket per reservation to get the plan? Jeeze I lost myself in that one.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Auntie! I know it is confusing! ha! The MYW package have to be the lenght of your stay per reservation. You do not have to match your park tickets though. They can be 1 day or 10 day depending on what you want. They expire 14 days from first used unless you add the nonexpiring option to them. I did buy us (6) 1 day tickets but I will not use them. If you never activate them then you could use the value of them toward your next tickets that you buy. So the next time we go I will just change them over to 10 day since that is your best value. This would not be too bad for just your husband and yourself. You would have $120 worth of tickets to just apply toward a ticket next time. I will make sure to put mine in the fire box or safe at home! I did have a 1 day ticket that my husband's friend just gave him and I said what the heck! and tried adding Magic Plus (water parks etc...$45) to his ticket w/ the value of that 1 day and they did it! So I am thinking that I could use our 1 days to do that to our next tickets too. Clear as mud??

If I had made a 8 night reservation with our package I would have to pay dining for every night. So I just made a 7day and a seperate 1 day at the tail end! Since dining is per night and good until midnight the following day then for example: Our last night is Saturday night, then we could use it up to midnight Sunday. So my next (by itself reservation is Sunday night) then I have "really" the dining plan all day Sunday without having to pay for it Sunday night.

How many people are allowed on a room for the WL? 5? I would max the number out for free dining then put the leftover onto your reservation even if your son stays with you. I did not quiet catch when your family is coming compared to you and your husband.

I hope this helps!!!!!!!!

 

[Rhonda]

We stay at FW because we love to camp, and we love Fort Wilderness!

We've stayed at the All Star Resorts, and we really didn't enjoy it at all. Even if we had free dining, we still wouldn't enjoy ourselves as much. We feel "crammed in" when we're there.

At FW, there's space around us, and we can actually breathe! LOL!

So, for us, we would rather not have the free dining and have to stay at a Value resort. I'd rather just pay for the few times we go out to eat at our favorite restaurants.

On the other hand, if we could at a Deluxe, like the Wilderness Lodge, with the Free Dining - we'd do it in a second!

 

[auntie]

Carrie..thanks for taking the time to explain it..AGAIN to me..
It seems the free dining ends Sept. 30..and we(my husband and I) would likely not arrive FW until Oct. 15..and then the kids and grandma would be down on the Thurs. 19th..which I'm thinking of booking a room at the WL for them. They would be 4..and that's what is allowed in room. They would leave the following Mon. or Tues(grandma and the two younger kids)..and my older son would then stay with us for the remainder of trip at FW departing on the 27th. I realize the free dining is not an option so far at this time of year.

Do I understand correctly that it can be added?...Is it the 37.99 per person per night the price it would be to add itduring time we plan to go (Oct.) also..or is that just the price of adding to a campsite reservation during the free dining promotion time period..being that they don't offer it free to campground guests.?

Nothing is in stone yet..although I did make the campsite AAA reservation just to have something. We are still tossing around dates..and frankly I really think it's worth it to move it to September..but not sure everyones schedule can accomodate that.
Thanks for all your help..and sorry if I appear to not be getting this to quickly..but I am starting to catch on..at least I think so. We have been to Disney so many times..and never participated in any of the dining plans..always used a discount code or mailer..for discounts. However, we do enjoy eating at the various restaurants at the different hotels...and wonder whether we should be considering this for our next trip. I know for sure if we were in the WL it would be worth it..but I hesitate just a bit with the campground accomodation because I think we would be likely to eat in some. I wish that we could add dining for just the days that my family will be staying at the Lodge..? But it has to be for the entire length of the reservation. Although..the park passes can be for any number of days you desire?..do I have that right?..Have to consider all my options..first thing getting the dates squared away..and knowing who is and isn't coming.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

no problem auntie, I like being able to help after all the information I have been able to acquire off DIS! Campers can get the dining anytime at 37.99. You are given 1 table, 1 counter and 1 snack/per night. You can use 2 table credits at some of signature restaurants. My family (mom, dad and sis) came with us last October and we booked HDDR. This was a blast since we are from TX and country at heart! It was WONDERFUL not to have to worry about paying for this expensive meal! My dad thought he was going to get a bill at the end of their stay because he could not comprehend the dining plan! They got it free too! My dad is a dallas police officer and works his rear off so it was wonderful that he could enjoy not having to see a bill after every meal.

Another thought for you, have you thought about getting a grand gathering number? Will you have 8 in your party sometime or another? I read on another site that you can use two of your table credits to book a GG event. The safari one would be soooooo fun! You get a meal and a personal safari. It is on the WDW website under grand gatherings. It is usually around $60/adult, I believe.

Hope you have a wonderful trip. We love Ft Wilderness!

 

[auntie]

Thanks Carrie- We will be a party of 6 while my mom is there with the kids. 2 to 3 when they go back. Price of gas is concerning me right now also...seems I could fly the 5 of us there for what the gas is going to cost to take the trailer the 1100 miles. But then again..it's supposed to be about what "we"...my husband and I wanted..and the kids coming with grandma was an extra. I guess I just feel guilty about spending that much money on GAS! Boy that hurts. Although...likely by October..it will be lower than is expected for this summer. We are already over $3.00 here..$3.09 last fill up.
I am glad that you can add this dining with 5 days before notice. I would have to book a room at the WL fairly soon I think and airfare after that for the kids and mom if the plan remains the same. I was hoping they might come out with a code for October...since the free dining ends Sept. 30th. I am going to wait a bit..see who exactly is coming and if my older son's vacation dates are at all flexible..because if he can switch to a time earlier..even that last week of Sept..they can get the free dining..which is a huge savings. My younger son and daughter also have off Oct. 2nd which is a Jewish holiday and their schools are closed..If I could get that week..you still get the free dining as long as you come in on or before Sept. 30th..even if they are departing after the 30th..it goes by the start of the reservation. My younger son starts high school this fall..and they have a four day absence policy..going that week would mean they could stay a week..and have him only miss 4 days. Since shcool is closed one of the days. Anyway, probably way too much info for you...
By the way..you mentioned your dad is a police officer ...so is my older son..NYPD in Manhattan...did you know that the Swan and Dolphin offer discounts to government..be it state, federal or local? He was thinking of going that route..but he loves to camp like his mom and dad..and wants to be at FW..he loves to kayak and that sort of thing, wants to just relax..be away from the crowds(guess it's crowded enough where he works!)....but that's something to consider in the future.
Right now, I think I'm going to just sure up my camping plans..and worry about the adding the dining at a later date if we choose to..since I can do that after giving it some thought and finding out what everyone else will be doing. I think I should follow some of my advice which has been, that we camp not to save money..but because we enjoy the trailer..and this has been something we've wanted to do for about 6 years now.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Auntie, we were camping at the Fort 2 years ago during hurricane Jeanne. They put us up at ASM. They actually gave us 2 rooms because there are 6 of us. This did not cost us any extra and it was a bargain because that year we were only paying $27/night to camp because they had military discount! Well we were depressed. Even after the hurricane they would not let us back into the Fort so the rest of the stay was at ASM. There just is something different about the Fort. The hotel room just felt like a hotel room plus the crowded busses are not fun. This was during September. Having both experiences in one week allowed us to see how much we enjoy staying in our RV. (of course if we were staying at a deluxe we might have felt different!)

This last year we were there the first week of October and my parents were able to grab free dining because are first night was the night before it expired. I was suprised how much busier it was. The parks definitely were more crowded. I thought October would be still pretty slow. It was also pretty darn hot. So, if you go later in the month and still have to pay for dining (if you want it) I would not feel bad. Even paying for it, it is still a great deal. I am wondering how busy it might be with the free dining happening again. It might be nicer to relax and go when the temps are little cooler and the free dining crowds have left. I don't know, it might be only us on the DIS that know about it! ha!

My dad and brother are both Dallas police. My dad is actually a Capers Detective (crimes against persons). I will have to have them check out the swan and Dolphin! Thanks for letting me know! I really think cops need something!!!

My husband is an Army reservist and we still choose the Fort over Shades of Green! he he!

I know gas is bad! We just moved West of Atlanta so we are closer to WDW now. We have a diesel truck and finally diesel is actually less than "gas" at many stations. I would not worry too much right now. I bet gas will go down by then or at least level off. Just hold on!

 

[LMC]

You will really have to factor in your gas expense. We live in Central Alabama and it takes me at least 6 tanks of gas for a round trip. I drive an excursion so it's a 40 gallon tank which cost me $127 to fill up yesterday. Two years ago we decided to book two Allstar rooms because of gas expense and saved money booking two rooms versus one campsite plus gasoline. I would have preferred our camper for alot of reasons already stated but it was going to cost us more $$$!!! Go to mapquest to get your total miles then calculate your gas expense based on your MPG. I would use at least $2.99 per gallon. IF prices go down, you'll save $$ if they go up, you'll have to pay a little more.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

My vote is : to stay at POP($99/nite, I think or less) and get the FREE Dining Plan. Your 4 yr.would love all the Character interactions at her meals each day and you'll have more than enough food on the plan. Look at the Dining Plan sites for all the different resturants aval. You'll love POP with it's colorful icons and piped in music throughout the pool areas and walkways. It's new and clean and bright.It captures the Disney Magic !!! We loved it there last August !!!Happy Planning

 

[agnes!]

Auntie -

An abundance of (WDW)-choices, eh? Have you thought about working with one of the WDW-specialist travel agents? I've never used one, but they won't cost any extra. I'm sure you could look around this site and allearsnet for recommendations.

Somewhere in this thread a poster mentioned Annual Passes & the AP dining discount? We are AP-holders and *really* like the Disney Dining Experience(DDE), which gives us a 20% discount on a *LOT* of the WDW restaurants (including adult beverages). The AP discount seems to be much more restrictive - we rarely use it.

I can't quite figure out if the MYW/Free Dining would be a good deal for us or not. Our park admission is already paid-for, we usually stay on-site with some kind of discount or off-site for free with frequent-stay hotel points. (We've done this many times at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, which is next-door to Downtown Disney.) My DH has been building up points with Marriott, so their mega-resort near WDW might be a possibility.

agnes!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

I feel like the DDP is a good deal when you stay at a value or campsites. Otherwise, I would think it would be more just for convience for mods and up. We have 4 kiddos so we need a cabin, suite or 2 rooms. I thought about canceling our camp only reservation ressie in Sept and turning it into a pkg. When I looked at paying rack rate for a cabin but getting dining free, well I was about in the same situation as paying for dining but staying at our $47/night campsite. You do have to factor in driving or pulling your RV but we have a 3500 diesel and our gas mileage does not change much when we pull. Because there are 6 of us, flying is pretty expensive. It was very nice to eat without a bill, though. It was so worth it for me. I always worrying about what to feed everybody. Plus, I pay the bills and manage the money so it was very enjoyable to have everything paid upfront. It really made it a vacation for me!!

 

[lokin4deer]

Well ok the trips been reserved 8 nights and 9 days in Sept at POP. The free dining was just to good to pass up. As strange as it will be without our camper I just couldnt justify bringing to and trust me I tried Now the real fun starts all the planning Thanks to all the people that replied with their advice. We havent told our little girl. She is going to go nuts.
WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LegoMom3]

We should start the "I Gave Up Camping for Free Dining" club!!!! Welcome! I absolutely love the Fort but free dining was too good to pass up - we are doing 2 character meals and trying all sorts of other places we'd never otherwise get to due to the cost.....Love it!

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Well ok the trips been reserved 8 nights and 9 days in Sept at POP. The free dining was just to good to pass up. As strange as it will be without our camper I just couldnt justify bringing to and trust me I tried Now the real fun starts all the planning Thanks to all the people that replied with their advice. We havent told our little girl. She is going to go nuts.
WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go !!! You'll be very happy with your decision...your DD4 will love the spray fountain pool and the fabulous food court and gift shop !!!She'll love the Goofy Spray Jets area,too! Happy Planning By the way I requested the 50's section of POP and got room #1408 ..wonderful location close to Everything POP & the pool.Now you'll have to start researching POP Century and the Dining Plan Resturants.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

We should start the "I Gave Up Camping for Free Dining" club!!!! Welcome! I absolutely love the Fort but free dining was too good to pass up - we are doing 2 character meals and trying all sorts of other places we'd never otherwise get to due to the cost.....Love it!

You'll have a great time deciding on which resturant you want to go to each day...more than half the fun of going to WDW is doing all the planning.The Dining Plan Board has lots of great dining ideas and experiences... So many choices, have fun planning !

 

[janie91]

I know what you are going through, I've been running the numbers for us as well. Here is how it works out for our family. Our package to stay at POR is about $2100 and the campground for the same time and tickets and everything is about $1600. We haven't pulled the camper that far yet so we are not sure on gas mileage but are guessing we would need an extra $200 for fuel. So that's a difference of $300 between packages but we will definately spend more than that eating for a week in the parks even if we cut corners and cook some meals and that doesn't include groceries. It seems to me that it's a good deal to do free dining because you are getting many food choices and don't have to worry about budgeting money for food. I'm thinking $300 to eat really nice for a week and having an easy drive is still a pretty good deal. We have a brand new camper and are looking forward to FW but with the dining I don't think it's worth it. Just my opinion!