free dining

[me23xx]

Hi guys, trying to organise my first ever trip from the UK for July 2014 and SUPER excited

We are having to stay offsite as cannot afford to stay onsite which I am gutted but so long as I get to go to the magic world Ill be fine!

HOWEVER after reading about free dining I thought maybe just maybe, only to find out the dates im going free dining excludes the value resorts.

I read a little further into this and cant see that its ever excluded value resorts before, infact it just seems to be the time im going

My dates are set (I work within a school so can only take the summer holidays)

How likely is it that the free dining will be included in value resorts at that time? any experience ect...

I really want to book but if I book with my travel agent and it comes up well..... its too late, or do I book with Disney in the hopei it does and if it doesn't :/ well theres NO spending money for me!!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH im so confused

HELP NEEDED!!!

thanks xx

 

[meggiebeth]

I didn't think free dining was given to UK residents at value resorts at all. Someone do correct me if I am wrong! Typically moderates get the QSDP and deluxes get the DDP. It really is worth paying a little extra and getting a moderate, it actually does often work out cheaper than a value when you factor in the food.

It is normal for free dining to be offered at the moderates and deluxes through the summer holidays. They also offer discounts sometimes- we got a 35% off discount and free regular dining plan at Saratoga Springs which actually made it cheaper than a moderate resort factoring everything in.

Moderate resorts have also fairly recently offered 10% off and free QSDP, which could be great for you!

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[me23xx]

I didn't think free dining was given to UK residents at value resorts at all. Someone do correct me if I am wrong! Typically moderates get the QSDP and deluxes get the DDP. It really is worth paying a little extra and getting a moderate, it actually does often work out cheaper than a value when you factor in the food.

It is normal for free dining to be offered at the moderates and deluxes through the summer holidays. They also offer discounts sometimes- we got a 35% off discount and free regular dining plan at Saratoga Springs which actually made it cheaper than a moderate resort factoring everything in.

Moderate resorts have also fairly recently offered 10% off and free QSDP, which could be great for you!

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Hiya Meggiebeth!! Thanks for that, I hadn't realised that all the things id been looking at were for USA residents so that may be why!

it may just be me but im thinking the prices are really expensive, 2 adults only and its coming out at 5000 for a moderate resort, the flights being with united and indirect, staying outside the resort but with transfers and the hotel being within walking distance of downtown Disney is 2200, its a MASSIVE difference that I don't think could be justified.... GUTTED.COM

 

[wayneg]

it may just be me but im thinking the prices are really expensive, 2 adults only and its coming out at 5000 for a moderate resort, the flights being with united and indirect, staying outside the resort but with transfers and the hotel being within walking distance of downtown Disney is 2200, its a MASSIVE difference that I don't think could be justified.... GUTTED.COM

We did 4 years of free dining from Aug 2009 to Aug 2012 at OKW(Deluxe), First year we did it it cost £80/nt for a studio and upto 4 people(plus tickets) this year it had jumped to around £140/nt, next year its £160/nt, exactly double from 2009.

IMO it was great value upto last year, prices from this year are too high for me, we just got back this week but it was offsite again, can't see me going back onsite for a while.

 

[Clare D]

As Wayne has said even with the free dining Disney is starting to push its prices up for UK visitors.

If you can stay near to LBV and be near to Disney for more than half the price that is a great deal.

If your room had a kitchenette you could have a trip o the supermarket and have a big breakfast, do some sandwiches for the park and eat out at night. I'm sure you would find it still cheaper than a Disney resort.

Check out the trip reports board here on the UK side as you will get a really good idea of local restaurants and you'll be able to get coupons for some too :

 

[2Tiggies]

Hiya Meggiebeth!! Thanks for that, I hadn't realised that all the things id been looking at were for USA residents so that may be why!

it may just be me but im thinking the prices are really expensive, 2 adults only and its coming out at 5000 for a moderate resort, the flights being with united and indirect, staying outside the resort but with transfers and the hotel being within walking distance of downtown Disney is 2200, its a MASSIVE difference that I don't think could be justified.... GUTTED.COM

Are you looking at a flight inclusive package? Have you priced up flights separately? Disney prices at the moderates in particular have taken a big hike IMO. We have been going every year to the same resort so it's been quite straightforward to compare like for like every year. I have been on a massive flight hunt for the last 6 weeks and for some reason, found this year that indirect flights have not been necessarily cheaper than direct. United airlines does our preferred route and I so badly wanted to fly with them because of the timings and just because we prefer indirect in general for various reasons. However with BA having loaded its sale prices and American Airlines prices (they code share) dropping over the last 48 hours the prices are not bad at all. This is the first time we have had to look at summer holidays as opposed to doing the dirty of taking DD out of school every September so I can completely relate to the sticker shock I just wondered if there might be something special hiding in amidst the sale prices that could suit your dates

 

[buttercup1982]

I priced up for us off site for 6 of us and it was £9950 in a 3* hotel. We ended up paying £10350 for Port Orleans with QSDP. Take into the fact we also get the free transfers to the Disney parks and the extra magic hours it was well worth it. p.s I work in a school too so I know about shopping round for school holidays haha

 

[wayneg]

I priced up for us off site for 6 of us and it was £9950 in a 3* hotel. We ended up paying £10350 for Port Orleans with QSDP. Take into the fact we also get the free transfers to the Disney parks and the extra magic hours it was well worth it. p.s I work in a school too so I know about shopping round for school holidays haha

Is that a package or booking each part yourself.
Just got back so will use prices I paid to quote for a 2 week trip (or are you going for longer? or maybe direct flights?)
6 flights £3,700
2 rooms in a 3* hotel with breakfast £900
6x 14 day Ultimates £1,500

Total £6,100.

 

[buttercup1982]

It was a package for 14 days with tickets but it was for the las two weeks in August

 

[buttercup1982]

Sorry that was direct flights too

 

[Tony Bush]

3 adults Oct 2014, Saratoga Springs, free Dining Plan, $100 disney voucher, + 14 day tickets + upgraded SUV car = £5.900 with Virgin

 

[ashearer]

Try virgin we got 10 nights YC free DDP,ultimate tickets fir 14 days,4 nights hRH club level RO and $100 spending for 4 adults and one child this oct for £8400 including direct flights from Gla but I did need to barter for that price.also try Ocean Florida there prices were very good.

 

[me23xx]

Booking direct flights with Thomson Dreamliner (just been to Mexico on it so now how comfy it is) £1700.... tickets £550.... in order to convince my partner to go I promised id get it for either £3000 without food or £3500 with dining plan, but because value are not doing dining plan next summer that option is out, so I have 750 left for a hotel with those flights which is definitely doable, have been looking at clarion inn and asked around its about a half hour walk away, so think im going to have to do that deal unless Disney decide to add dinning in the next month.

 

[me23xx]

Try virgin we got 10 nights YC free DDP,ultimate tickets fir 14 days,4 nights hRH club level RO and $100 spending for 4 adults and one child this oct for £8400 including direct flights from Gla but I did need to barter for that price.also try Ocean Florida there prices were very good.

Ocean florida were the most expensive!! both Thomson and Thomas cook beat them hands down!

 

[ashearer]

Ocean florida were the most expensive!! both Thomson and Thomas cook beat them hands down!

Just shows you Thomson couldn't get below £10k for our trip. Thomas cook only flew into Sanford and wasn't much cheaper and couldn't get YC.

 

[edinburghlass]

Booking direct flights with Thomson Dreamliner (just been to Mexico on it so now how comfy it is) £1700.... tickets £550.... in order to convince my partner to go I promised id get it for either £3000 without food or £3500 with dining plan, but because value are not doing dining plan next summer that option is out, so I have 750 left for a hotel with those flights which is definitely doable, have been looking at clarion inn and asked around its about a half hour walk away, so think im going to have to do that deal unless Disney decide to add dinning in the next month.

When you say half an hour walk away do you mean walking to Disney?

 

[me23xx]

Hiya, just seen this! yeah to Disney

 

[2Tiggies]

Are you sure that's walkable? You can't really get around from park to park or even from the main WDW gates to a park within WDW. It's huge! Or have I completely misunderstood what you are saying?

 

[foxxxy83]

Most places have free shuttle to at least WDW if not the rest of the parks. I was originally going to do it for the lowest price possible staying at a motel on International Drive. Worked out as just under £1800 with premium economy seats on Dreamliner and free airport lounges at both Sanford and Manchester. Bearing in mind that nowhere in Florida (as far as I am aware) does Single Parent Savers, my booking is for two adults in a twin/queen room (two queen beds). Don't know how many kids you have or if it's just you and your husband but loads of places 2 kids eat free per 1 full paying adult so there are savings you can make. It all just depends on what you want out of the accommodation etc. Good luck in trying to find the best deal for you!

 

[BudgieMama]

OP, did you manage to book something? We are going the end of August (I work in a school too), 2 adults, staying at Saratoga Springs (a Deluxe Villa resort), with free dining plan, park tickets and direct flights from Gatwick and got the lot for £3000. It would have been £3200 if we didn't have an apology voucher from BA, but even still, that fits your budget. It works out cheaper if you arrive at the park after 18th August as the US schools are back again. We booked hotel and tickets with Disney, and then booked flights separately.

HTH