Give me options please...

[NewWorld Traveler]

We would like to book a trip for August 2011 and plan to arrive on August 17th staying through the 24th (Deluxe resort). Free dining for starts on August 19th. We selected our dates because our DS and DD will start school on August 25th (we know the school start pattern) and don't want them to miss their first day.

What are my options to make this trip as inexpensive as possible? Can I stay off property or at a cheaper value/moderate resort for the first two days? Can I use the park tickets that are part of my FD portion 8/19 - 8/24 during my first two days 8/17-8/18? Your help is appreciated.

 

[disneyfan55]

We would like to book a trip for August 2011 and plan to arrive on August 17th staying through the 24th (Deluxe resort). Free dining for starts on August 19th. We selected our dates because our DS and DD will start school on August 25th (we know the school start pattern) and don't want them to miss their first day.

What are my options to make this trip as inexpensive as possible? Can I stay off property or at a cheaper value/moderate resort for the first two days? Can I use the park tickets that are part of my FD portion 8/19 - 8/24 during my first two days 8/17-8/18? Your help is appreciated.

If you are looking to stay as inexpensively as possible FD at a deluxe is not it. You have to pay rack rate for the hotel and usually the room only discounts and paying for food works out saving more. I don't know the ages of your children but if 10 and over maybe break even.

As far as getting the tickets earlier, some have said they were able to and some not. I'm not sure on that but you should check out the sticky on tickets in the Theme park section. Most likely you would have the best chance at getting the tickets earlier if staying at the same hotel and linking the reservations. You might get lucky and not even have to change rooms saving the packing and unpacking.

 

[princessmom29]

I disagree. If you are plannig to eat 1 ts a day then, for us, even taking 40% of a deluxe was nto matiching FD Discount. Fd was just abetter deal. I would do a split stay. Stay 2 days room only in a value or Mod. You can pick up the tickest associated with the package ( your ressie with free dining) early, so you would be able to get them from guest relations at the park. Use them for those 2 days, and have them added to yuor room key when you check in for your FD ressie. YOu would have to run the numbers for your family and see if it makes economic sense to do this or to bank on getting a 40% off room only that may or may not come out for your dates.

 

[NewWorld Traveler]

Thanks for the help. We have 3 kids -- one 11 and the other two < 9 years. We are prepared to pay for the deluxe but wanted options for the prior two days. Sounds like room-only at a cheaper resort will work for a couple of days providing we can pick up our tickets early.

 

[snykymom]

Thanks for the help. We have 3 kids -- one 11 and the other two < 9 years. We are prepared to pay for the deluxe but wanted options for the prior two days. Sounds like room-only at a cheaper resort will work for a couple of days providing we can pick up our tickets early.

Unless one child is under 3, you cannot stay in one room at a value resort. Only the All Star family suites allow more than 4 people to a room, and those are not cheap. The only moderate resort that allows 5 to a regular is Port Orleans Riverside. (Coronado Springs has a junior suite, but it costs much more than 2 rooms at a value.)

You may have to move off-site to save any money for a family of 5.