Man, why'd they have to release Free Dining?

[Dallas_Lady]

Ugh. Just when I was all set to stay offsite, all geared up for Windsor Hills, Disney does this to me.

I ran the numbers and we could stay at a moderate with free dining for about the same cost as we'd be spending staying at the condo and paying for our meals. But it means the 5 of us would have to squeeze into a single hotel room instead of 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We'd drive to the parks regardless (grandma, 2 kids and a double stroller on the buses is no fun) but if we stay onsite we could park for free.

The onsite fairies are calling to me... must... resist...

 

[traveljunkie2]

Keep in mind that I have not yet even been to WDW, so have yet to be lured in by the onsite fairies.

That said, I can't imagine how 5 people in 1 room (and 1 bathroom) can outweigh having your own place. That just sounds like a nightmare to me, not a magical experience.

For our upcoming trip we are renting a 5 br/4.5 bath house for $130/nt. I didn't even consider staying onsite because I know that that deal just can't be beat. The opportunity to swim in my own pool, have a private bedroom and bathroom, wash clothes anytime i want, and allow everyone have their own space sounds much more enjoyable than being crammed into a little hotel room.

Resist the onsite fairies. They are closely related to the evil wizards that pipe out the Cinnabon smell at the mall.

 

[jerrifox]

AND you'd have to eat all of your meals onsite...with everyone else who also has free dining. AND then go back to your teeny hotel room and sleep on a double bed....

I agree. Resist. You'll probably have a better time with more room..that's why you decided to stay off-site in the first place, right?

 

[dyna]

We are going twice between now an end of year still staying offsite still no free dining for us. We have done free dining in the past the food was nice but we tend to go to disney for the attractions not the food. While the food was nice it was not fun having to be at a place at a certain time to eat.

Even tho only DH an I are going in Oct an Dec we still getting 2 bathrooms an 2 bedrooms gives me a place to be up while DH sleeps he goes to bed before I do an sleeps later too. Hotel rooms just suck for us...

Of course we have AP's an therefore free parking.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

It's digging at me too. We're booked in the 4bed/4bath Presidential Suite at Bonnet Creek, but I've been running the numbers all day. It is hard to resist. I'm concerned about how much more crowded it will be now and how much more difficult it will be to get ADR's since all of the free diners will be able to book at 90 + 10 and I'll just be at 90 days.

 

[anlashokna]

Unless you guys really want to pay for a villa I would stay where your at (condo). Sometimes paying for the parking outways the other issues that would arise from cramming everyone into a single room.

 

[anlashokna]

It's digging at me too. We're booked in the 4bed/4bath Presidential Suite at Bonnet Creek, but I've been running the numbers all day. It is hard to resist. I'm concerned about how much more crowded it will be now and how much more difficult it will be to get ADR's since all of the free diners will be able to book at 90 + 10 and I'll just be at 90 days.

Not only that but it looks like your going in during what would be a higher attendance time...thanksgiving week.

 

[BuckeyeFanDan]

We had this decision to make also. IMO the extra space of an offsite condo is more than enough to tilt the decision that direction. Plus having some meals offsite or at the condo will help us lower the cost of meals. Then again, we didn't feel compelled to eat every meal onsite and also have to preplan every meal time for a week, so free dining wasn't quite as compelling (although the fact that they call it "free" dining makes it harder to resist!) Having some freedom from a completely scheduled week at Disney is more relaxing anyway!

 

[TrustedTraveler]

5 people in a motel room? Might be cheaper, but it's no vacation to me! I've looked at the free dining plans several times but still choose our favorite pool home. We usually have breakfast at our place, lunch at the parks, and about half the time, dinner back at the house. Taking a break during the crowded hours is a plan we learned from Tour Guide Mike and we really enjoy the nap or swim before heading back the to parks for the evening events.
Whatever you decide, have a great time, but I will almost guarantee, if you choose the right off-site location, you'll never stay on-site again.

 

[dougsmom98]

I also have never stayed on site, but the idea of having to making ADRs for everything just turns me off. My boys were not very good in restaurants when they were little, so maybe that has something to do with it. With the exception of maybe one character meal, I can't imagine trying to plan 90 + days out what time and where my family will want to eat. If I had free dining, I know I would feel pressured to spend more time eating than touring and that isn't for me.

Also, spending time in a hotel room with one bathroom and trying to coordinate showers will eat up precious park or sleep time.

Have you put down a deposit for a villa already? If so, keep in mind that you will likely lose that deposit.

 

[Mom21]

I wouldn't do it even though I always stay onsite. It has just been me and my dd for 2 years. Before that never more than 4 when I was married and that was if my stepson came. I was very crowded then.

I will say that is the cutest little girl in your sig!! Reminds me of when my daughter was that age. Now she's 12 and not so sweet

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

I love to stay onsite but have also REALLy enjoyed offsites stays also. My fav. was when I stayed in a bigger condo with the luxuries you are speaking of, more then one bathroom, laundry, full kitchen and TONS more room than a hotel room. I would resist--It will be much more enjoyable after a hectic and busy day in the parks to come back to a spacious place with all the amenities of home. Especially with small children, sometimes when you have ADRS it is hard to predict if a child will be feeling up to a restaurant or just do better to avoid. Your mother will probably also appreciate more of her own space too.

 

[pantherlj]

We'd drive to the parks regardless (grandma, 2 kids and a double stroller on the buses is no fun) but if we stay onsite we could park for free.

The onsite fairies are calling to me... must... resist...

I was a bit bothered by having to pay parking with our upcoming trip (just found out BB and TL are free though - Yea!)

Anyway, at Windsor, it appears most places have free wifi. That is $10 a day at Disney so for us, it's a wash since we would have paid $10 a day for the WiFi (DH insists on having a connection).

 

[floydfamily4]

Ugh. Just when I was all set to stay offsite, all geared up for Windsor Hills, Disney does this to me.

I ran the numbers and we could stay at a moderate with free dining for about the same cost as we'd be spending staying at the condo and paying for our meals. But it means the 5 of us would have to squeeze into a single hotel room instead of 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We'd drive to the parks regardless (grandma, 2 kids and a double stroller on the buses is no fun) but if we stay onsite we could park for free.

The onsite fairies are calling to me... must... resist...

I too was struggling and the fairies were calling me...until I called DH. He said, "you showed me the pics and convinced me of WH so now unless the cost is less and the comfort is the same, we are staying put." No matter how I worked the numbers for the 5 of us (DMIL,DH, DS4,DD4,me) there was no way I could make it work. We would have to either stay at wilderness lodge or get a family suite at ASM and the numbers were not less. So, we will just have to make "magic" in our 3bdr/3bath townhouse with the splash pool, and great TV's, and close proximity, and great offsite restaurants, and having our own bathroom, and wait--I'm OK now I will resist because it will be BETTER not just "as good"

Resist...you can resist...think of the bathrooms...think of the restaurants without crowds...think of pulling up to your townhouse or condo and not dragging everyone on the bus...you can resist

 

[Brian Noble]

I ran the numbers and we could stay at a moderate with free dining for about the same cost as we'd be spending staying at the condo and paying for our meals.

If the moderate were cheaper, then maybe. For the same money, I'd stay in Windsor Hills. Then again, I like my space, and I'm fairly immune to pixie dust.

 

[jfegan]

Last fall we stayed (5 of us) in POR with my mother and stepfather in an ajoining room. My two youngest 6 and 3 had never stayed in a hotel room (we've done beach houses, camping (30ft.camper)). STAY PUT. I love the Disney magic, I feel the pull daily and add to 'the fund', I struggle with the notion of being offsite and paying for parking and having to drive etc.

But then I remember my DD3 who we thought was possessed and made us wish at times we were on another planet. The space will serve a greater good. The dining plan makes you feel obligated to eat (well I paid for it...I was a novice). Eat when you're hungry, eat what you want, you will have a fabulous time and I am sooo jealous! I have been researching non stop since returning home and WH is at the top of my list!!

Have a blast!

 

[pamrob]

Keep in mind that I have not yet even been to WDW, so have yet to be lured in by the onsite fairies.

That said, I can't imagine how 5 people in 1 room (and 1 bathroom) can outweigh having your own place. That just sounds like a nightmare to me, not a magical experience.

For our upcoming trip we are renting a 5 br/4.5 bath house for $130/nt. I didn't even consider staying onsite because I know that that deal just can't be beat. The opportunity to swim in my own pool, have a private bedroom and bathroom, wash clothes anytime i want, and allow everyone have their own space sounds much more enjoyable than being crammed into a little hotel room.

Resist the onsite fairies. They are closely related to the evil wizards that pipe out the Cinnabon smell at the mall.

Can you tell me where you booked your 5 bedroom for $130?

 

[traveljunkie2]

I found at least 9 places with at least 5 br/3ba for this price range. Try homeaway.com, ownersdirect.com or vrbo.com.

 

[mousemom11]

I also have never stayed on site, but the idea of having to making ADRs for everything just turns me off. My boys were not very good in restaurants when they were little, so maybe that has something to do with it. With the exception of maybe one character meal, I can't imagine trying to plan 90 + days out what time and where my family will want to eat. If I had free dining, I know I would feel pressured to spend more time eating than touring and that isn't for me.

Also, spending time in a hotel room with one bathroom and trying to coordinate showers will eat up precious park or sleep time.

ITA!! Very well said. I have never been able to figure out the ADR mania that I see here on the boards. For us, it's all about the attractions in the parks, not eating in the parks. Our DD's like one character meal, but that's about it. We'll eat breakfast at the house, CS in the parks for lunch, and either dinner at home, restaurant outside the parks, or another CS.

Plus all the other upsides. Tons more space, you can do laundry (so can pack lighter), kids sleeping in another room so that you don't have to tiptoe around during nap time. That sure is worth the price of parking to me.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I knew I could count on you guys to talk some sense into me! I think the word "Free" is what's getting me. It's like "Hey, they're giving away something for free, I should take it, right?" But for our family, "free" is not better.