Hello...planning 5th trip but feel like a newbie!

[**Clare**]

Hello everyone

I am a long time lurker and now "coming out" to say hello and tell my story, hopefully get my head around my plans and ask for some suggestions or thoughts!

DH and I have been to WDW before the kids came along, since which we have been to DLP a few times.

We are hoping to go to WDW next Oct and I've been reading up and trying to get my head around all of the changes in the last 10 years since we've been, not least the changes in the last year or less!

So, I had a rough plan of staying onsite, since mostly we'd be spending the majority of our time at WDW, I think I'd prefer not to have a car (although we both drive, I'd just rather not, or at least, not for the most part, maybe just rent for the couple of days we'd visit SW & Universal) and to get the benefit of FP+ although who knows where that will be by next Oct!

My kids (they'll be 9 and 7 next Oct) love the look of the value resorts but if free dining comes along then that would push me to a moderate, although I'm not sure which one.

But, tonight I have read a thread which suggested a split stay with free dining for the majority then paying oop and staying at a value. Genuis! Although puts me back a bit with my planning, lol!

I've been keeping a note of prices over the last few weeks for packages and if I can get free dining with similar prices then I'd book a package, although tonights discovery re a split stay wouldn't work, at least I don't think I could do that via a package.

I've noticed on the Disney website that you can add a flight to your booking once they are released. Are these typically much more expensive than booking direct with the airline, as is the case booking a flight with DLP?

Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions. I'll probably be posting a lot more questions from now on!

 

[2Tiggies]

Hi Clare
Welcome back!

I think it was me who suggested the split stay with free dining and then at a value but I only suggested that because the OP on that thread really wanted to stay at AoA. Unless there is a value you are itching to try, you might find that a moderate with free dining works out the same or even cheaper. We have been staying at moderates since 2010 and every year I dutifully price up a value and add the DDP to see how it compares and with the exception of one year only (if memory serves me correctly) it worked out cheaper to take free dining at a moderate than it did to pay for it at a value. Crazy but true. Also, I found for this year's trip that OKW was only £100 more with the regular DDP than POFQ (Deluxe vs moderate) however we really don't want the regular DDP and you can't downgrade with free dining and that was the deal breaker for me.

Regarding flights, no Disney does not hike the prices if you add it later. I would suggest booking the room and ticket package and then searching for flights yourself first. When I rang them to add my flight details last year for Magical Express the CM checked to see if she could get me a cheaper flight (I mentioned I had 24 hours to cool off) and it was during an airfare sale. She found the same flights I had ..... for the same price

It is not always the case but I believe in keeping options open and if you book flight inclusive from the start you are a lot more restricted for making changes.

Here is another tip. When you book your accommodation with deposit only, book one day less than you intend to stay. If flights come out for your dates but it is cheaper to fly a few days earlier or later, you can book the flights, phone Disney and add the extra night when you change the dates and because you've increased the cost of the holiday, they waive the amendment fee. I've been doing this for a while

 

[**Clare**]

Hi Clare
Welcome back!

I think it was me who suggested the split stay with free dining and then at a value but I only suggested that because the OP on that thread really wanted to stay at AoA. Unless there is a value you are itching to try, you might find that a moderate with free dining works out the same or even cheaper. We have been staying at moderates since 2010 and every year I dutifully price up a value and add the DDP to see how it compares and with the exception of one year only (if memory serves me correctly) it worked out cheaper to take free dining at a moderate than it did to pay for it at a value. Crazy but true. Also, I found for this year's trip that OKW was only £100 more with the regular DDP than POFQ (Deluxe vs moderate) however we really don't want the regular DDP and you can't downgrade with free dining and that was the deal breaker for me.

Regarding flights, no Disney does not hike the prices if you add it later. I would suggest booking the room and ticket package and then searching for flights yourself first. When I rang them to add my flight details last year for Magical Express the CM checked to see if she could get me a cheaper flight (I mentioned I had 24 hours to cool off) and it was during an airfare sale. She found the same flights I had ..... for the same price

It is not always the case but I believe in keeping options open and if you book flight inclusive from the start you are a lot more restricted for making changes.

Here is another tip. When you book your accommodation with deposit only, book one day less than you intend to stay. If flights come out for your dates but it is cheaper to fly a few days earlier or later, you can book the flights, phone Disney and add the extra night when you change the dates and because you've increased the cost of the holiday, they waive the amendment fee. I've been doing this for a while

Hi there, yes, you are the genius I referred to earlier! I love that other tip too, WDTC sound very flexible being able to do that, I love that!! Would you still be able to benefit from any offer, eg free dining, if you amend your booking in any way? Presumably yes if you've been doing it but it seems very fair!!

My kids are pretty desperate to stay at AoA. I've read that the standard rooms are far from the food court and bus stops though so that is putting me off a bit, as well as the lack of free dining, if there is such an offer. Although, it seems that just when I have made a decision about a resort, I read something which puts me off and steers me back to one I'd already dismissed!

When we go to DLP, we tend to go to a lot of buffets since my kids are very fussy eaters and dh and I like our food! The kids also still like character meals, although in DLP I think this was mainly since it was a relaxing way to meet the characters, not like inside the parks. I don't remember WDW parks having the "scrums" that DLP has (or had as I understand they are addressing this with more orderly queues).

My dining research is still at a very early stage so I'm not sure of specific places we would prefer to eat at. I guess this would be useful to know so I can do the maths to see if free dining would be worth it to us.

Thanks for your input and your tips

ps I love the photos in your signature, they are lovely

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks Clare

Yes, you get to keep the benefits if you are moving your dates to other dates which still fall within the qualifying period for the promotion you have, even if the offer is then over.

I made 5 (yes FIVE) changes to my original dates, changed the tickets I had and my last change was done after the FD offer was gone but I still have it because my original booking had it. I don't usually change more than once but I've had an adventure with flights this year (dont' ask!)

I would suggest you wait and price up your options first. It is going to take a piece of paper, a good few hours of your time, much coffee and a decent calculator, lol, but it is worth doing. If your kids really want to stay at AoA then it is worth exploring the option for them. Also, unlike the poster on the other thread your kids are considered kids at Disney. The difference in price between a kids dining plan and that of an adult (10 years and up) is substantial! So you might find that your savings with free dining are not what they were for the OP who, without FD, would have been paying about £160 per day for the four adults to eat quick service meals.

Are you planning any character meals for them? With under 10's the regular DDP (you can upgrade for the difference from free QSDP) might be well worth it for you.

Which is your airport of choice? I'm also in Scotland

 

[**Clare**]

Wow, 5 changes, your head must've been burst, poor you! I think its great that you can keep hold of the original special offer, I'll definitely be keeping that in mind.

We'd prefer to fly from Edinburgh but Glasgow isn't too much further, and DH says he wouldn't mind Manchester, although I don't fancy the drive back. However, if the price was right...! The packages I've priced up haven't had much of a difference, I've been quite surprised.

Luckily, I love planning a Disney holiday so sitting for hours and hours is no hardship for me!! Dining options is definitely this weeks area of study I finished the Brits Guide last night and think I'll order the Unofficial Guide soon!

I've just about finished decorating our Florida Fund savings pot and we've got a few notes in there already. However, our AP's for DLP expire during the Easter holidays and I sometimes find myself straying and pricing up a sneaky wee trip to get a final use of them. I must stop that!

Thanks again for your tips, I really appreciate you taking the time.

 

[scoobydooby]

Hi. Re free dining. It is worth deciding in advance if you want QS or the regular plan which is one TS and one QS per day. QS really is free. Because you have to tip at TS, for a family of four you're looking at quite a hefty spend. This is especially true when your kids hit 10 plus and are Disney adults...... You can upgrade from QS to table service if you stay at at moderate. Work out the deluxe prices too though if you do that. One year going deluxe and getting the free regular dining plan worked out the same for us as paying to upgrade the dining plan and stay at a moderate. Other years that hasn't been the case. You need to do all the maths.

I would never recommend a value resort over a moderate personally if you've got a choice. The rooms are quite small, the beds doubles not queens and the pools are just not as good (no slides). I know AoA attracts the children. My daughter who is 12 asked to stay there for our May trip, but we are off to AKL. I am taking the view she'll thank me later

Happy planning. I had ten years between trips pre and then post children. Ours were similar ages to yours when they first went. These are the best ages IMHO. Very magic

 

[**Clare**]

Hi. Re free dining. It is worth deciding in advance if you want QS or the regular plan which is one TS and one QS per day. QS really is free. Because you have to tip at TS, for a family of four you're looking at quite a hefty spend. This is especially true when your kids hit 10 plus and are Disney adults...... You can upgrade from QS to table service if you stay at at moderate. Work out the deluxe prices too though if you do that. One year going deluxe and getting the free regular dining plan worked out the same for us as paying to upgrade the dining plan and stay at a moderate. Other years that hasn't been the case. You need to do all the maths.

I would never recommend a value resort over a moderate personally if you've got a choice. The rooms are quite small, the beds doubles not queens and the pools are just not as good (no slides). I know AoA attracts the children. My daughter who is 12 asked to stay there for our May trip, but we are off to AKL. I am taking the view she'll thank me later

Happy planning. I had ten years between trips pre and then post children. Ours were similar ages to yours when they first went. These are the best ages IMHO. Very magic

Hi and thanks for posting. I originally had my eye on OKW for the reasons you mention but when DS (7 going on 70) had a look on YouTube he wasn't very impressed! Although to be fair to him, he did later say, he doesn't really mind where we stay since we will be at WDW!

It's interesting that you had a similar story in terms of breaks and the kids. My kids have loved going to DLP and we've loved seeing that whole other side to Disney parks through their eyes. We feel quite at home there now so it is quite daunting planning to go to WDW although I am soooo excited at the thought of going back and showing them all the extra parks, the shows and the American way of doing it. I have to say I am not so excited at the thought of only 3 FP's though We use FP a lot at DLP but hopefully things may change for the better by then and if not we'll certainly not let it put a downer on things.

 

[Elise79]

back!

You have add some great advice already.

I would add that if you consider booking and changing dates you can only do that if there is avability for the new dates you want. I had to change last year and we had a struggle to keep our OKW booking as there were a couple of dates that were fully booked in the new dates we wanted to move to (they managed it in the end but it was a few days before they could confirm ). Just wanted you to be aware there is no guarantee if you start moving dates you will be able to keep your resort.

Regarding dining you need to decide if you want a sit down meal (including character meals) most days or just a couple of times over your trip. If you want most days you will be better off looking at the DDP rather than QSDP once (if) free dining is released. I would never suggest anyone purchases either plan without doing a lot of sums first as they are incredibly difficult to break even on.

Finally, don't be put off by only 3 FP+ - apart from MK I would guess that most people generally used less than that anyway. I have used FP+ and enjoyed it however there are a lot of negative posts on it especially from people who haven't been yet. My advice is don't worry about it - it's the new system now so we may as well make the best of it