Harry Potter Land & Disney Dining Here We Come!-Pre Trip Report

[jackieleanne]

Ok this is my Second Pre-Trip report and I know its a long time off but its cold, windy and wet and I need to look forward to my next holiday even though its a year and 9 months a week and 2 days away. Well I can plan and be organised and save my Pennies ready to book it next year when te dates come out. And here's hoping for free dining.

So first off who's going. Well there is me and Jonathan.

Im Jackie I'm 21 and live in Leigh in Manchester. I'm in the last year of my IT degree. This planned trip will be my 10th at Walt Disney World Florida and hopefully my first stay onsite.

An Jonathan whos 27 and is an Electrical Engineer we are in the process moving in together which is why no trip is planned for next year. This will be Jonathan's 2nd time in Disney and his first onsite stay.

It will be our 2nd trip to Disney together and we plan on staying this time for 18days if money allows. This will also determine where we stay in Disney. It will probably be a moderate resort and we are hoping for Free Disney Dining Plan. If money allows then we hope to stay in a Deluxe although that may have to wait for a honeymoon trip. If free dining isn't offered we may have to stay in a value.


Details

Saratoga Springs Resort 27th August - 10th September 2010
14 Nights DDP

 

[jackieleanne]

Accomodations:

Although we both really want to stay in the Grand Floridian it looks like for our 2010 stay we will be in a moderate. We like the look of the Port Orleans Resorts and the Coronado Springs but don't like how the Coronada Springs Resort seems very big.

My Port Orleans French Quarter Quote based on 2009 prices for same period. = Accomodation and disney tickets to get the free dining(including upgrade to DDP from quickservice) would work out at £2000 so £1000 each on accomodations. We are looking at finding flights for around £300 - £400.
(Riverside & Coronado showing at 200 more for time period?)

Saratoga Springs for the same time is coming out at £2111 for the 2 weeks I'm thinking if the 40% discount on these DVC resorts is there again next year for 2010 I would upgrade to Saratoga Springs for an extra £111 in Total.


My Question to everyone is which of the moderate resorts do you like and which of the deluxe resorts are you fave's and why. We are new to onsite stays so don't really have any first hand information about it.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Great start to your pre-trip ive only stayed at a value resort so far so i can't help with your question

 

[mark&sue]

We have not stayed at a value but have stayed at both the Port Orleans hotels and thought they were great. Have stayed at the Grand Floridian and Beach Club but much preferred Saratoga Spring Resort as we can walk to Down town disney and Crossroads and have a drink in the evenings.

I am sure whichever you chose you will just love staying on site and never want to go anywhere else.

I am hoping to get back to WDW in 2010 so will keep an eye on your countdown.

Enjoy your planning


susan

 

[jackieleanne]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am liking the reviews for Saratoga Springs we may give that a go and if things are going well on the job front purchase DVC because the good news is Jonathan's turning into as much a Disney freak as I am and we may be getting to go this year as my sister wants to go for her 18th fingers crossed that my mum says yes.

I've already been selecting my dining choices especially with the way the pound is weakening even out of free dining season paying for the disney dining plan now seems like a much better option for us.

 

[mandymouse]

It's never too early to start your pre-trip report Jackie, and I don't blame you for doing one while the weather is so manky

The only moderate we've stayed at was the Caribbean Beach Resort, and although it was very nice, I was glad to get back to the good old Pop Century

The only deluxe we've stayed at was the Contemporary Resort for one night, and we made the big mistake of visiting O'Hanas at the Polynesian the same trip, and we really wished we were staying there instead (maybe one day when those lovely lottery balls go our way )

Have fun planning the rest of your holiday

 

[suzycute]

As Mandy said, it's never too early to do a pre trip report!

We have stayed at POP, Caribbean Beach and Saratoga Springs and loved them all. The Caribbean theme is nice at CBR but, purely personally, I'm not sure it was worth the extra ££££ over POP. What I really liked about SSR is the balcony which the values and mods don't have - great for sitting out with a glass of wine in the evenings after an exhausting day at the parks. Also being able to make drinks and basic meals (we stayed in a studio).

But wherever you stay on site will be great and you'll have a fantastic time! Keep us up to date with your plans

 

[jackieleanne]

Thanks guys I've literally got all the dinning options I want picked out. I like the look of CBR but like others can't see how its worth the extra cost over POP or the other moderates. I think if the OKW and SSR 44% off offer is on again this year with the free dining we will book that as I really like the look of the resort and It would be great to get the extra features of a deluxe and the larger rooms.

 

[jackieleanne]

I just had to have a look through the restraunts I wanted to go to while the weather is so dreadfull here. These are the table service ones I have picked out:

Boma
Shutters
Chef Mickeys
Crystal Palace
Liberty Tree Tavern
1900 Park Fare - Breakfast
Olivia's cafe
Kona Cafe - Breakfast
Boatwrights - Breakfast
The Turf Club - Lunch
Tusker House
Rose & Crown

We also want to do Rainforest Cafe again loved it there, shame it isnt on the Dining Plan.

 

[raph_b]

I need to keep a close eye on this report as we have the same intentions, going out in September 2010 for free dining and Harry Potter

 

[jackieleanne]

We can't wait I am so excited for August to come round not because its my birthday but because I want to get this holiday booked I really want free dining to be offered. We loved going at that time no crowds and the weather was gorgeous a little too hot at times lol.

 

[jackieleanne]

Virgin now have the prices out for next August/September so have been playing with pricing although holding out for Disney to put their prices up and for the free dining to be offered.

Virgin Holidays quotes are:

14 days Pop Century - using Magical Express
Disney Dining Plan and Disney Ultimate tickets price = £3015

we plan on doing universal but not the other flex ticket parks so would get the basic parks. I think that come August we will hopefully get a better deal direct from Disney Uk.

14 days Port Orleans French Quarter - using magical express
Disney Dining Plan and Disney Ultimate Tickets = £3513

Based on these prices if the free dining plan is not offered I think we would choose Pop although I would prefer to do Port Orleans resort.

I am guessing that even without free dining we could get cheaper than this. I am hoping that with the free dining offer disney also do the OKW and SSR offer as if this is done again we will likely pick one of those two.

 

[jackieleanne]

Just looked at disney for the same dates this year and we could get the hotel and tickets with dining plan for £1811 for the Port Orleans resorts. So with booking flights separate this would work out a lot cheaper especially if the dining plan is offered. Roll on August so I can find out if it's being offered and get booking.

 

[gemmybear83]

Hiya I'm staying at POFQ this October for two weeks - and like what you are looking at I did hotel+tickets+DDP - and got the 14 nights for the price of 10 deal that is going at the moment, and got sale price flights with virgin that were a good deal It worked out much cheaper!

I think the dates you have looked at will have the 14 for the price of 10 offer attached - so I would just be aware that this offer might not be on next year

 

[jackieleanne]

Yeah I noticed that but thought it still looks a lot cheaper to book flights separate. Will see what they look like in August as we are really hoping for the free dining. Hope you have a great trip. I'm sad now my mum is booking their first holiday to disney where I can't go and as I'm always the planner I'm having to plan their trip knowing I can't go this year.

 

[gemmybear83]

Yeah I noticed that but thought it still looks a lot cheaper to book flights separate. Will see what they look like in August as we are really hoping for the free dining. Hope you have a great trip. I'm sad now my mum is booking their first holiday to disney where I can't go and as I'm always the planner I'm having to plan their trip knowing I can't go this year.

Awww! Well August isnt too far away! Yes we booked our flights seperate too - I dont think I would ever do a package holiday unless it was a last minute deal or something

 

[irongirlof12]

Hi

We have stayed at both POFQ and CSR. out of the 2 i would go for POFQ. It is a quiet and romantic resort. but overall, both are very acceptable

 

[wicket2005]

Happy planning. Never stayed onsite so cannot offer any advice there.

 

[jackieleanne]

Thanks. Just booked our hotel & tickets today!

27th August - 10th September 2010
Port Orleans Riverside free dining!

So excited it may be far away but it's booked. Now I just need to start saving to pay for the rest of it got until next July to pay in full though. Hoping to pick flights up for around £300-£400 it looks like it is going to work out about £500 cheaper than what a package deal would cost us.

Total including the 14 day ultimate tickets and an upgrade to DDP for the two of us was £1794 to us a great deal as last years with Virgin cost us about £1500 each and that was staying in a Marriott.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thanks. Just booked our hotel & tickets today!

27th August - 10th September 2010
Port Orleans Riverside free dining!

So excited it may be far away but it's booked. Now I just need to start saving to pay for the rest of it got until next July to pay in full though. Hoping to pick flights up for around £300-£400 it looks like it is going to work out about £500 cheaper than what a package deal would cost us.

Total including the 14 day ultimate tickets and an upgrade to DDP for the two of us was £1794 to us a great deal as last years with Virgin cost us about £1500 each and that was staying in a Marriott.

congratulations!! - Did you book through the UK site??