Mom's 60th In Disney....Her first trip....DDP or OOP

[karice2]

I decided to take my mom to WDW for her 60th birthday in September.

Long Story short. Made a deposit for May stay. Didn't cancel in time, moved deposit to date in September. Couldn't use those dates. Work trip. Decided to take Mom for her 60th birthday.

We are going to be there from September 2nd to 5th. Using AP discount, was able to move from POFQ to AKL. She is really into Africa themed stuff.

I want it to be a really nice trip for her but don't want to bust my budget since I have a bunch of other stuff planned.

Here is my question, Should I do DDP or just pay as I go. I do have a gift certificate from House of Blues so that does take care of one meal. I have never stayed at a Disney Resort (I usually do time shares so I can cook). The price I got quoted for both of us to do DDP is $986 which included change to Savanna View room and DDP, not her tickets which we know can add to the cost.

I want to take her to Jiko and do the birthday cake thing but she is not really super picky with all her meals. We do want to spend some time at the outlets so that will take away some time from the parks.

Any thoughts? Mom doesn't have a lot of money to spend so it will mostly be out of my pocket. I don't want to cheap out on my mom's 60th birthday but I don't want to be in the poor house either.


Thanks.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

What I usually do is sit down with the menues on Allearsnet.com and figure out where we want to eat and compare the that with the price of the DDP. Sometimes it is better for us to ge the DDP and sometimes it isn't.

In the summer, we can usually share a few meals, so no need for the DDP. If we are going to be there for a week, we usually choose one of the DDP packaes, depending on what restaurants we choose.

We are lucky that we were able to book our Dec trip with free dining, because we want to do several TS restaurants and we will save a good bit by doing that. The week we are there is peak time, so the meal prices are higher, so it just made sense to go with the DDP, especially being free.

We got one of the gift certificates fo HoB as well, hope the food is good, we have been wanting to eat here for awhile and just ferget about it though.

Suzanne

 

[KKB]

as you mention an AP discount...
But your dates are during free dining.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2342665&highlight=free+dining+dates
I have seen some people do the math...pay full price for the room (it is still value season, so not bad)...you only have to buy a ONE day pass to get free dining for the entire dates of your stay. It might be worth it!
We loved the convenience of DDP, eating a nice sit down meal everyday. DH could not believe how good the food was!
(Boma & Jiko are both MUST DOs for our trips--and AKL is our fav! Our 2 other must dos are Le Cellier & Ohanas

 

[DisneyDebbie]

I would first see if you can even get a TS reservation for those dates.

I find that I would never order as much food as you get in the DDP. So OOP is better for us. (and because my family prefers counter service) And you already have 1 meal paid for. You may find that you don't want a whole meal everyday in the heat. You might want to get small meals throughout the day- sandwhich, few hours later some fruit, maybe a salad for dinner, maybe a mickey bar later......

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

as you mention an AP discount...
But your dates are during free dining.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2342665&highlight=free+dining+dates
I have seen some people do the math...pay full price for the room (it is still value season, so not bad)...you only have to buy a ONE day pass to get free dining for the entire dates of your stay. It might be worth it!
We loved the convenience of DDP, eating a nice sit down meal everyday. DH could not believe how good the food was!
(Boma & Jiko are both MUST DOs for our trips--and AKL is our fav! Our 2 other must dos are Le Cellier & Ohanas

She is staying at AKL, so her AP discount is most likely better and you have to buy a 2 day base pass now to get the free dining package.


Suzanne

 

[karice2]

I would first see if you can even get a TS reservation for those dates.

I find that I would never order as much food as you get in the DDP. So OOP is better for us. (and because my family prefers counter service) And you already have 1 meal paid for. You may find that you don't want a whole meal everyday in the heat. You might want to get small meals throughout the day- sandwhich, few hours later some fruit, maybe a salad for dinner, maybe a mickey bar later......

I did manage to get TS for Jiko on our first night. This weekend we are going to go over arrangements for the weekend and see if DDP is worth it.

 

[gk90]

Have fun planing for your mom! If she's not into food I wouldn't bother with the DDP, we planned nice meals and ADRs for my sister's family when they went with us on our last trip, we're going again next year and they said not to bother as much with the meals this time.
If she's into the Africa theme I highly recommend Boma, Sanaa and Tusker House. The lunch buffet at Tusker is great and also gets you advance seating tix for the Nemo show at AK. If you don't want a full meal at Sanaa they have lots of good appetizers.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I was also going to mention looking at menus and figuring out what you would spend and if the DDP would be worth it.

Also about min. ticket to get DDP, yes it is now 2 days base ticket. Previously it was a one day base ticket.

Happy early Birthday to your DM. My DM and DD both have birthdays in Sept. and we have celebrated many of them at WDW. Just being at WDW has made them special.

 

[karice2]

I am a big fan of birthdays so I am going all out for Mommy's 60th. At the airport she will be required to wear her sash and tiara. Sash says "My 60th B-Day at WDW" Tiara is sparkly with 60 in center. Of course I wanted a Tiara too so mine says Princess.

I got her tickets today since I have an annual pass. I am thinking of calling and prepaying for the hotel so that is something else I don't have to worry about when I get down there. Balance is only $323.

I set a budget of about $1200 for spending just in case but if hotel is paid now then the $1200 could be used for other stuff. We are only doing Carry on bags so not a lot of room for souvenirs but you don't need a lot of clothes for 4 days.

Here is our schedule.

Thursday - DME to AKL. Explore resort and dinner at Jiko. I am going to order a cake and pass on the pistachio creme brulee because of our other plans later in the weekend.

Friday - Epcot. (I know the ultimate Disney experience is MK first but she wants to see light parade and it is not showing that day).

Dinner at DTD- HOB ($2 gift certificate). She also wants a Mr. Potato Head filled box. I already got her a potato head from Target so she can fill box with stuff.

Car service to Prime outlet where Mommy can pick one Coach bag for her birthday. They stay open until 11. I know it is a lot in one day but believe me, she will go for a Coach bag. She covets mine like nobody's business.

Saturday - Magic Kingdom. I did manage to get a reservation for the wishes dessert party too. Dole Whips, here we come. Tiara's must be worn for all princess pictures.

Sunday - Give luggage to luggage check and do Animal Kingdom. She wants to see Lion King Show and Safari. Flight home is not until 4:30.


So far those are my plans. Thoughts?

 

[billwendy]

The nice thing for us with the DDP when we do it is that it is paid for in advance, and no one has to look at the prices etc on the menu's....you will have a BLAST!!!

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Yeah for your trip! I am going 9/17-9/24 for my moms 60th and my 40th with my 3 kids. Where did you find the 60 crown? I would love that. My mom has never really been to Disney. Consider using your AP for AP discounts on lunch meals to save $ but I am also AP and using Tables in Wonderland for our meals(20 percent savings). I would probably go out of pocket as every time I have crunched the #'s what we would order is less than dining plan but you would have to crunch the numbers to decide. Your mom is lucky to have such a thoughtful daughter. I hope you have the most amazing time!!! Have never stayed at AKL but hope it works with our plans soon.

 

[Luvchefmic]

My thoughts are that Kim is a wonderful daughter the plans look perfect, you will both LOVE AKL & Jikos If you don't do photopass to save money just make sure the photopass photographers take pictures of you together with your own camera

Happy 60th Kims Mom !

 

[karice2]

Here are the two sites that I found for Tiara's.

http://www.girlfriendgalas.com/category/4_tiaras_crowns_hats.birthday_tiaras/

http://www.tiaratown.com/birthday.htm


I decided to go with the actual crystal one. It cost a bit more but I think it will hold up longer for the weekend.

I am going to do the TIW thing because I will be back in November of this year and again in February for the half Princess Marathon. Just had a thought I can wear my princess tiara for that.

Thanks for thinking I am a good daughter. I am really a Daddy's Girl at heart. My mom is more like a fun sibling so I know that she will have an awesome time down there. She also looks really young so the 60 will trip some people up.

 

[SLM]

AKL is a beautiful resort-you and your mother will have a fabulous trip-what a great birthday present!
Another vote for paying as you go-it will be probably be hot and you will find sharing meals will be enough-or ordering salads and fabulous appetizers. We always have "dinner" one night at Ghiardelli's at DTD and just have sundaes.
Have a wonderful time an hope to hear about it when you return!

 

[Luvchefmic]

My DDs are not Dissers but the younger one is a disney nut too (go figure) so I'm glad you posted the tiara pic links I'll be celebrating that 60 th in another 4 years and I am going to strongly hint

Also try Earl of Sandwich in DTD delicious food and VERY reasonable.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I think you have made some great selections and I second trying Earl of Sandwich, they have some wonderful food as does Cookes of Dublin, I am craving a beef and lamb pie (that is one reason we are going back in Dec)

But, I also wanted to add, to make sure your treasure every minute you have with her. My mom passed away just 6 months after turning 60, she was also a young looking 60, and I miss her so very much, especially when we go to Disney, it was her favorite place.

Suzanne

 

[Dizneydaz]

I am a big fan of birthdays so I am going all out for Mommy's 60th. At the airport she will be required to wear her sash and tiara. Sash says "My 60th B-Day at WDW" Tiara is sparkly with 60 in center. Of course I wanted a Tiara too so mine says Princess.

I got her tickets today since I have an annual pass. I am thinking of calling and prepaying for the hotel so that is something else I don't have to worry about when I get down there. Balance is only $323.

I set a budget of about $1200 for spending just in case but if hotel is paid now then the $1200 could be used for other stuff. We are only doing Carry on bags so not a lot of room for souvenirs but you don't need a lot of clothes for 4 days.

Here is our schedule.

Thursday - DME to AKL. Explore resort and dinner at Jiko. I am going to order a cake and pass on the pistachio creme brulee because of our other plans later in the weekend.

Friday - Epcot. (I know the ultimate Disney experience is MK first but she wants to see light parade and it is not showing that day).

Dinner at DTD- HOB ($2 gift certificate). She also wants a Mr. Potato Head filled box. I already got her a potato head from Target so she can fill box with stuff.

Car service to Prime outlet where Mommy can pick one Coach bag for her birthday. They stay open until 11. I know it is a lot in one day but believe me, she will go for a Coach bag. She covets mine like nobody's business.

Saturday - Magic Kingdom. I did manage to get a reservation for the wishes dessert party too. Dole Whips, here we come. Tiara's must be worn for all princess pictures.

Sunday - Give luggage to luggage check and do Animal Kingdom. She wants to see Lion King Show and Safari. Flight home is not until 4:30.


So far those are my plans. Thoughts?

Sounds great! You and your mom will have a wonderful time. AKL is awesome. My DM is a young 70 and we have had several of her birthdays at WDW over the last few years. But I haven't done anything like you are planning! Of course there's no way I would get her to wear a tiara-I do get her to wear the shirts I make though. When we go it's usually just my DM, my DD10, and myself. These times area very special, even more so since she had, and recovered from, breast cancer about 7 years ago. When she was undergoing treatment she told her Dr. that as soon as she felt better she was "going to Disney World!" He didn't believe her, (because she was 64?) but we did in Dec. 03. A very special trip.

You're mom is obviously a kid at heart! And it sounds like you are too! Have fun!

 

[karice2]

About two weeks until the mother daughter birthday trip. Instead of ordering a sash, i decided to make it. I like to think that I am crafty but I am really just crafty aspirational. I collect scrapbooking stuff, crocheting stuff, picture frames. All waiting to be put into some semblance of a craft.

Anyway, I decided to make the sash because I wanted to Disney it up a bit. I went to Joanne's and get the 2.5 inch ribbon. I was going to do the iron on letters but I had a little pixie dust working in my favor. The lady who sells the sewing machines was there, I asked if it was possible to embroider on ribbon. She said, I don't know let's try it.

WooHoo. So we did all the playing around with the settings and started to embroider. The sash is hot pink with black letters. I also got some sequin to put on the border. Now all i have to do is make the beaded Mickey's and she will have a sash for a birthday queen.

I am still waiting for the Tiara's to get in.

 

[clutter]

We're there that weekend, and we'll keep an eye out for you!!!