Need Stellar advice from you guys!!

[weesignlanguage]

I am trying to decide on our January trip. Makes it hard b/c discounts won't be out for a while. But I need a reservation in order to get my dinner reservations in July. We have three options for my family of 2 adults and a will be 9 year old for our trip that begins Friday Jan 10 and ends Sunday Jan 19. We can stay at All Star Movies preferred like we've done for several years but quite honestly we are needing the queen size bed for room to sleep. We also have considered staying at Port Orleans FQ b/c it has the queen and is a bit less crowded. The third possibility (and most expensive) is renting DVC points and staying at a studio. We have a quote for AKL for approx $1440 for that time frame. The problem is then we have to pay full price for the dining plan.

The whole situation hinges on "what ifs" of what Disney will offer in discounts. If they don't offer any dining type of discount (and our family will want the regular dining plan), then we won't be that much worse off than what we would pay for the AKL but if they DO offer a discount we definitely prefer the savings. The biggest problem is that renting the DVC points is non-refundable so if a bigger discount comes out, we are stuck and can't change.

We've always just done the ASM with FD except for last year which was the "almost FD" discount. But who's to say they will even offer a discount in January and if they don't, we could've stayed in the AKL villas for the same price as the values just about!

So...I am needing your wisdom on what you would do if you had to choose from these three and make plans in the next few weeks. I'm really at a loss. Please give me your stellar advice!! It is soooo appreciated!!

 

[amccu18007]

I would go for POFQ. It is a step up with the queen bed but you can still change your resize to a value if no good discount comes out. If you enjoy the FQ, maybe do a studio next time? Or better yet, book a bounce back for a different place for next trip. Have fun

 

[Wood Nymph]

I think that you are very safe in assuming that at the minimum there will be a room only discount in January. The problem with POFQ is that they often get less of a discount than the other mods. I am pretty sure that last January POFQ only had a 5% room only discount while the other mods had 20%. We went to WDW during that discount period and my sisters stayed at POFQ. They didn't have much of a discount.

As you know they didn't offer free dining last January, it was the stay, play and dine plan. It was basically kids prices for the dining plan and tickets, which worked out to be a good discount for some families but not others. If all your kids were already kids prices for dining and tickets, then the only discount was for the adults. Families with children who were Disney adults got a bigger discount with this plan.

I would also be hesitant to rent points, just because it is non refundable and you have to pay in full up front. I would probably make a reservation at the value or the mod so that I could make the ADR's. The discounts were released around Oct 9th last year, so you have a long wait. You can always change your resort once the discounts are announced.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I think that you are very safe in assuming that at the minimum there will be a room only discount in January. The problem with POFQ is that they often get less of a discount than the other mods. I am pretty sure that last January POFQ only had a 5% room only discount while the other mods had 20%. We went to WDW during that discount period and my sisters stayed at POFQ. They didn't have much of a discount.

As you know they didn't offer free dining last January, it was the stay, play and dine plan. It was basically kids prices for the dining plan and tickets, which worked out to be a good discount for some families but not others. If all your kids were already kids prices for dining and tickets, then the only discount was for the adults. Families with children who were Disney adults got a bigger discount with this plan.

I would also be hesitant to rent points, just because it is non refundable and you have to pay in full up front. I would probably make a reservation at the value or the mod so that I could make the ADR's. The discounts were released around Oct 9th last year, so you have a long wait. You can always change your resort once the discounts are announced.

I agree with this poster completely. Although I will also note that traditionally regardiing Room Only Discounts Movies doesn't get much of one either (often it will only get 5% whereas Music and Sports will get 15% - 20%). However if you booked at either Movies or POFQ to make your ADRs and then had to switch when the discount comes out you could probably switch to Music or Sports and get a better discount (if you went value).

I don't know when the marathon is this January (exact dates) but if your dates fall into that timeframe you're going to want to be 'on the ball' regarding booking the discount when it comes out - those can go fast.

 

[3cuteDISkids]

I am trying to decide on our January trip. Makes it hard b/c discounts won't be out for a while. But I need a reservation in order to get my dinner reservations in July. We have three options for my family of 2 adults and a will be 9 year old for our trip that begins Friday Jan 10 and ends Sunday Jan 19. We can stay at All Star Movies preferred like we've done for several years but quite honestly we are needing the queen size bed for room to sleep. We also have considered staying at Port Orleans FQ b/c it has the queen and is a bit less crowded. The third possibility (and most expensive) is renting DVC points and staying at a studio. We have a quote for AKL for approx $1440 for that time frame. The problem is then we have to pay full price for the dining plan.

The whole situation hinges on "what ifs" of what Disney will offer in discounts. If they don't offer any dining type of discount (and our family will want the regular dining plan), then we won't be that much worse off than what we would pay for the AKL but if they DO offer a discount we definitely prefer the savings. The biggest problem is that renting the DVC points is non-refundable so if a bigger discount comes out, we are stuck and can't change.

We've always just done the ASM with FD except for last year which was the "almost FD" discount. But who's to say they will even offer a discount in January and if they don't, we could've stayed in the AKL villas for the same price as the values just about!

So...I am needing your wisdom on what you would do if you had to choose from these three and make plans in the next few weeks. I'm really at a loss. Please give me your stellar advice!! It is soooo appreciated!!

I was in your exact same position. We are going Jan 11-18th. Your first weekend there is indeed Marathon, runs are thurs-sun. The checkout weekend is MLK. I fretted for months about what to do. I did A LOT of research before finally deciding. I looked at some historical discounts. Last year there was no free dining. The only dates open to a discount (that I found) were that Monday and Tuesday. Both weekends and the end of the week were blacked out. I finally concluded that it was not worth the chance for me to wait for discounts. We have decided to rent points. I'll take my own discount that way. Granted we are staying in a 2BV so we are saving $3300 off of rack rate. What made the decision for me was knowing that if discounts came out, and were less than I'd hoped, by then (probably fall) it would probably be too late to get a good dvc reservation. Once I finally decided I haven't regretted my decision. We booked this week at the 7mth mark and already the preferred area of OKW was unavailable. Disney is going to be busy the weekends of your stay and my thought is they know the runners and people with a school break are coming- discounts or not. Good luck deciding. I know it's a tough choice. We just stayed at POFQ last month and its wonderful. But if its going to cost me the same....I'm staying dvc!

 

[3cuteDISkids]

Also have you considered not doing the dining plan but bumping to a one bed villa for the full kitchen? That way you could fix some quick breakfasts or lunches in the room. The dining plan would cost my family of 5 over $1300. When I add up the couple of QS we are planning and our 5 characters meals, which included CRT, plus a snack allowance and money for groceries, I come up well ahead. Food for thought.....literally!

 

[weesignlanguage]

Thank you guys for the great advice! I knew if I asked here it would be awesome and thoughtful!

We will be there marathon weekend and MLK weekend. That is when my husband's conference falls. Last year, we booked the stay, play, dine deal at ASMovies. It was a far better deal than a room discount. I am really hoping and praying for something similar this year. Or even better, I'm gonna pray hard that FD comes out like it did the year before! HA! May be a shot in the dark!

After reading everyone's advice, we have decided to book a room at POFQ and wait on a package discount. If none comes out, then we may bump down to a value. We know we can get one very close to travel dates even if it's not ASMovies. We would realllllly prefer a mod though so we will see how it all pans out. I think we will be in a better position to get the DVC points next year after we sell an extra house we have and have that money freed up. I've never been a fan of spending to the top of our trip budget. I prefer to spend on the lower end and have extra money for surprises and other expenses that pop up!

Now, I just need to decide whether I should book a garden or regular room for now. If I remember, it was impossible to get regular rooms on FD and the Stay, Play, Dine in years past. I think it may be easier just to book a garden view and go from there. Plan on making ressies this weekend then getting to business in figuring out our dining plans!!

I am so looking forward to this trip! Last year's trip to Disney started off with my first day there leaving MK and heading to hospital! I got a nice 3 day stay at Orlando Hospital due to a crazy foot issue! It made my trip so different and honestly, I didn't feel like I really even had a trip. So, I plan on making this trip double awesome!!!