Halloween Trip Planning Help

[arthropodtodd]

Greetings one and all! Despite 8 trips under my belt in the last almost 11 years I once again find myself not knowing everything I need to know for our next trip. So I come before the all knowing Disboarders for help. Here is the low down....

We are making our annual pilgrimage to the Mouse on 10/29 thru 11/5ish. On this trip we are bringing along our best friend family of 5, plus an extra to help with the kids and watch them so we can go out a couple of nights. So 9 of us total. Money is an issue for this other family and this will be their only Disney trip for a long time as a result. The plan is to get us each suites at AOA even though we do not need one (from a space/person standpoint). My DW, DD, and myself are going to once again purchase AP for the trip as we have another trip planned for earlier the following fall with family and the wife might be headed down for a half marathon as well. This other family is traveling down on 10/30 and will leave a few days after us I think or who knows, they are flexible. While we like to save money we want to focus on saving them money as we are used to Mickey taking us for everything we are worth. So that is story and here are the questions.

If book our room at AOA as AP, and them hopefully use the AP discount, can we book their room as well to use the discount? They in turn just pay us and buy their own tickets and such. Even if their dates do not match up with us perfectly?

Second, looking at 2014 they blacked out the same week we are going for free dinning. I know free dinning can never be assumed or taken for granted, it is just a perk but it is a nice way to save money compared to a room discount (either regular or AP discount...and yes i know we cannot have both) at AOA. My question is if we are arriving prior to the potential black out dates and want the dinning plan (if offered) how will that work? Do we get the free days and then pay for the blackout dates or would it all be considered blacked out?

Finally, what is the best guess for when the MNSSHP tickets will go on sale? We will be there for Halloween and of course would like to go.

Final info, we cannot change the dates. I told them I would look at two weeks as the weeks to go and the dad went ahead and asked off before I could confirm which week.

So there you go.

As always I appreciate your help and your ability to make me look smart in front of my friends.

 

[jbish]

Second, looking at 2014 they blacked out the same week we are going for free dinning. I know free dinning can never be assumed or taken for granted, it is just a perk but it is a nice way to save money compared to a room discount (either regular or AP discount...and yes i know we cannot have both) at AOA. My question is if we are arriving prior to the potential black out dates and want the dinning plan (if offered) how will that work? Do we get the free days and then pay for the blackout dates or would it all be considered blacked out?

Well, I can't answer all of your questions, but I figure I could take a stab at this one. But first, a clarifying question for you, are you splitting up your stay? I originally thought you were saying your friends are leaving first, but as I reread your post, perhaps they are staying longer than you? If you are booking the entire trip under your name (to get the AP discount on the room) and then you book DDP, then you'll need to book DDP for the entire stay and for everyone in your group. So unless you're planning on splitting your stay, the DDP may not be an option for you - whether you pay out of pocket or get it for free. You cannot piecemeal DDP - meaning, only certain people getting it or only for certain days If you're staying at two different hotels, though, then I think you can get DDP on one stay and not on the other. (If I'm wrong, hoping someone will clarify.)

As for free dining, while I've never done it, it's my understanding that if your check in date falls within the free dining period, then you'll get it for the length of your stay.

 

[siskaren]

1. Second, looking at 2014 they blacked out the same week we are going for free dining. I know free dining can never be assumed or taken for granted, it is just a perk but it is a nice way to save money compared to a room discount (either regular or AP discount...and yes i know we cannot have both) at AOA. My question is if we are arriving prior to the potential black out dates and want the dining plan (if offered) how will that work? Do we get the free days and then pay for the blackout dates or would it all be considered blacked out?

2. Finally, what is the best guess for when the MNSSHP tickets will go on sale? We will be there for Halloween and of course would like to go.

1. If your arrival date isn't included in the free dining dates, the only way you could get free dining is to book a room-only reservation for the date you want to arrive through the date that free dining starts, then book a free dining package starting on the date that free dining is offered. (The tickets on your free dining package can be for more days than the actual package, and you can use those tickets up to three days before the package starts.)

2. MNSSHP tickets typically go on sale early May.

 

[arthropodtodd]

Well, I can't answer all of your questions, but I figure I could take a stab at this one. But first, a clarifying question for you, are you splitting up your stay? I originally thought you were saying your friends are leaving first, but as I reread your post, perhaps they are staying longer than you? If you are booking the entire trip under your name (to get the AP discount on the room) and then you book DDP, then you'll need to book DDP for the entire stay and for everyone in your group. So unless you're planning on splitting your stay, the DDP may not be an option for you - whether you pay out of pocket or get it for free. You cannot piecemeal DDP - meaning, only certain people getting it or only for certain days If you're staying at two different hotels, though, then I think you can get DDP on one stay and not on the other. (If I'm wrong, hoping someone will clarify.)

As for free dining, while I've never done it, it's my understanding that if your check in date falls within the free dining period, then you'll get it for the length of your stay.

For the most part we would be staying about the same time. I think we are getting there a day sooner and might leave earlier (due to Sister inlaw's wedding). But if the DDP is free they will book on their own and manage things. But should it not be offered (which is fine) I would like to be able to use our AP discount if possible even if it might only save them $400 on the room. Would I be able to book two separate AP stays that over lap? I was under the impression an AP could book up to like 3 rooms using their discount, or is that old info and no longer the case?

 

[arthropodtodd]

1. If your arrival date isn't included in the free dining dates, the only way you could get free dining is to book a room-only reservation for the date you want to arrive through the date that free dining starts, then book a free dining package starting on the date that free dining is offered. (The tickets on your free dining package can be for more days than the actual package, and you can use those tickets up to three days before the package starts.)

2. MNSSHP tickets typically go on sale early May.

Thanks for the date info. Knowing it is Halloween I am sure those tickets will burn out fast. I will keep an eye on here for more details.

That is what I was thinking in regards to the DDP. I seem to remember starting a day before a blackout date and getting it the whole stay, but my DW disagrees. We haven't used free dinning in awhile so we are rusty.

 

[siskaren]

Thanks for the date info. Knowing it is Halloween I am sure those tickets will burn out fast. I will keep an eye on here for more details.

Most likely not that fast. Last year the one on Halloween sold out on August 21, but most years it doesn't sell out until October.

 

[kittyab]

I wish the dates were posted 6 months out. I can my make reservations April 6.

 

[siskaren]

I wish the dates were posted 6 months out. I can my make reservations April 6.

The dates may not be officially posted then, but the October hours should be out mid-March and you can tell which dates the party will be because the MK will close at 7:00 on those dates.

 

[arthropodtodd]

The dates may not be officially posted then, but the October hours should be out mid-March and you can tell which dates the party will be because the MK will close at 7:00 on those dates.

well we are planning to go on the 31st, so I am not worried about waiting for the schedule to come out. lol

 

[arthropodtodd]

Here is my follow up question.

The DW had the idea to get a 2br villa at OKW and split the cost of the room.

Now if we are AP holders we should be able to score a good discount 25-30% based on last year's numbers. So we would pay for the room and they can write a check for half and then buy their own park tickets. Would they be able to link said tickets to the room (even though it is a AP room) in order to book FP at the 60 day window.

Thanks.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Historically AOA hasn't been included in the free dining discounts. Also i do believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that you can't use the free dining discount with a different disc. Such as AP discount for rooms. Free dining has historically been available to those with an entire package booked.

MNSSHP dates should be released around the beginning of may along with any discounts if any for the fall.

 

[Madame]

Historically AOA hasn't been included in the free dining discounts. Also i do believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that you can't use the free dining discount with a different disc. Such as AP discount for rooms. Free dining has historically been available to those with an entire package booked. MNSSHP dates should be released around the beginning of may along with any discounts if any for the fall.

LM rooms no, but the suites have been included in FD offers.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Here is my follow up question.

The DW had the idea to get a 2br villa at OKW and split the cost of the room.

Now if we are AP holders we should be able to score a good discount 25-30% based on last year's numbers. So we would pay for the room and they can write a check for half and then buy their own park tickets. Would they be able to link said tickets to the room (even though it is a AP room) in order to book FP at the 60 day window.

Thanks.

They should be listed on the Room Reservation. If you don't want to add them to your MDE, you need to call to have them on the room reservation but also using their own MDE. The 60-day booking window will then open for them on their MDE account - they need to also link their tickets to their MDE.

If you do just choose to add them to your MDE, list them on the room reservation and your MDE. Then, just link their tickets to them. You'll need to make their FPs for them.