Help me think this through - would it work?

[jnrrt]

Hi everyone,

We're planning a trip for September. Current plan is two nights (Friday and Saturday) at Coronado Springs, on an AP rate with an extra room for my brother's family as well (they will not have AP's). Moving Sunday to Friday to a GV at OKW with my brother's family and adding my parents. Moving Friday night to AKL as my daughter's birthday present, using AP discount, flying home Saturday.

Now add the free dining package at that time (3 night minimum), and knowing that our plane tickets are purchased, so we won't change the days of travel. Could we:

Stay at CS Fri-Sun, dropping the first night in the GV to get the free dining, but take the ticket part of the package and upgrade it to an AP using the DVC discount when we get there? That way we'd have the AP, and be able to use it for AKL on Friday as well, so essentially not lose any money on the ticket portion. It would cost us about $240 more to pay rack rate for the rooms, but the dining would have cost us $270.

Also, do you have to use all the meals for the time you're on the plan (for us Friday to Monday), or are they coupons or something? This is way too much food for our family - we'd love to spread it out. Or could my brother get this and our families could share the meal plan stuff, and we'd just keep the AP discount and split everything with him? I guess I really don't know how the meal plan works. Would we always have to eat together if we did this?

Or is this all just way too much trouble, and I should just keep what I have? I'd be happy to save a few points, and I know my parents would actually probably be happy to come a day later (they'll be visiting relatives and it was tight for them anyway), but the points aren't a big deal, and maybe 3 nights in a row in one room with two kids and a baby is. And obviously, we would not change anything if it inconvenienced my family or they didn't want to.

Any thoughts?

 

[dizplanner]

The dining plan has to be used on the days of your reservation - in your case from when you checkin on Friday through midnight of the day you check out (Monday). The credits are on your room key - there are no coupons. If you don't use them by midnight of the day you check out, they will expire.

You only have to purchase a one day ticket. Others have said that you can take your ticket to Guest Services at a park and apply it to your AP purchase (i.e. upgrade the tickets) and you should still be able to get your DVC discount. However, I've not done it personally and I've not yet read of someone actually doing it. But others are planning on doing this and have been told by Disney CM that it can be done.

The meal credits can be shared. For example, if the dining plan is too much food for your families, you could keep one of the rooms at the AP discount and change one to the free dining at rack rates. Assuming a family of four (under 3 do not pay and do not get dining credits) and three nights, you will have 12 table service credits, 12 counter service credits and 12 snacks. They can be used for anyone's meals and you can share meals (assuming you are not going to a buffet - everyone needs to pay there - no sharing). Also child credits can be used for adult meals and you can pay for the child meals separately.

Also the free dining rooms are limited. You would need to check to see if it is still available for your dates and resort. That might answer your question right there.

If you think you would be happy at CS for 3 nights, if your parents won't mind not coming until Monday, and if you can get Sunday night at CS at the AP rate for your family and get the free dining at CS for your brother's family for Friday through Sunday nights, I think that might be the way I would go. You would get some dining credits to use Friday through Monday, but not so many that your families would not be able to use them up. Your brother's family needs tickets anyway, so no issues there - they can buy as many days as they need for the whole trip - they will be good for fourteen days after first use.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I assume you already have the GV reserved. This is a lot of moving for one trip. Is this just to get the dining plan?

 

[jnrrt]

Yes, we already have the GV. And we were already planning to move that much because we only had enough points for weeknights in a GV and wanted the whole family to be together. And also, my parents couldn't come any earlier but my brother's and my family wanted a few extra days. We don't really mind moving - I like the opportunity to try different resorts which is why we're going to CS - we've never stayed there.

And no, it's not to get the dining plan. We don't eat very much, so it may be a wash and more trouble than it's worth, but I wanted to look into it.

So Dizplanner, would we have to eat together? Or could my brother give me one of his rooms keys and we could decide how many credits we each would get? They're not quite as adventurous as we are in the meals area...

Thanks for your help.

 

[thelionqueen]

Hi everyone,

Or is this all just way too much trouble, and I should just keep what I have? I'd be happy to save a few points, and I know my parents would actually probably be happy to come a day later (they'll be visiting relatives and it was tight for them anyway), but the points aren't a big deal, and maybe 3 nights in a row in one room with two kids and a baby is. And obviously, we would not change anything if it inconvenienced my family or they didn't want to.

Any thoughts?

Here are my thoughts..hope they help. We are also going to WDW on the dining plan offer. We booked 10 nights for 4 at the Pop Century. We have always stayed at BWV (home resort), CR, Poly, or GF, so I know this will be quite a bit different. BUT, here is what we decided. By staying at the POP for $77 per night, and only 1 day park pass (going to use this to apply to AP once we get there) we are actually getting upwards of $150-200 per day in food! Yes, I have figured it out (also a chart online) and that is a very feasible amount in dollars. So, if we decide we really don't like it, we can re-book somewhere else (keeping the dining plan) and STILL be saving money.

Keep in mind, we are Sicilian and love to eat, we plan on making the most of every meal..i.e. eating at LeCellier @ Epcot (we figured $200+ just for this one meal), Biergarten (epcot), Plaza (MK) etc. If you eat anywhere at WDW you will truly be saving big $ by getting a res. with the free dining plan.

I hope this helped, we did quite a bit of research regarding this, and booked it even though we are DVC members. I have heard many different opinions about the "economy" resorts, and I look forward to giving our opinon when we return. At this price, it allowed us a 2nd trip to WDW this year, and if I can go at all, I can work with just about any accomodations!! Have fun