New to DLP!

[MarkF0wle]

Hello guys,

We're an experienced Disney World family having been over there 13+ times. But we've only been over to DLP once as a family when I was a dot. Various members of the family have been over in dribs & drabs for a day here & there, but we've never been & we're thinking of heading over this year to see the Christmas decorations since we're realistically never going to get to Florida to see them there.

We're thinking just 4 days, a Friday through Monday trip to minimize impact on holiday time at everybody's jobs. So we're not out & out looking for the cheapest time, just something convenient.

We're thinking of going maybe 29/11-2/12. I know it's likely to be busy since it's December but is the first week quieter (I'm assuming kids all over & still in school?!), I know we're going the weekend but my logic still holds right?

Just some input on whether it's going to be crazy more crowded that week than say the week after or before would be cool? I guess we could do a Monday-Thursday trip if the crowds will be night & day but I am not guessing they would be?

Other thing would be the dining options. How does it work really & is it worth while to do? We're used to the dining plan in Florida & like not having to carry money around for food, but does it save you money? If not, we just won't get it.

Cheers guys.

 

[Isila]

Have fun planing

Basically there is no dining plan in DLP. Just the half board options that in fact don't save you money and you are restricted to eat in certain restaurants. So, if you'd like to eat somewhere else it will make you loose money. It might work out like prepaid meals, but that's it.

 

[MarkF0wle]

Have fun planing

Basically there is no dining plan in DLP. Just the half board options that in fact don't save you money and you are restricted to eat in certain restaurants. So, if you'd like to eat somewhere else it will make you loose money. It might work out like prepaid meals, but that's it.

Thanks. I've been researching it through. The meal plans look like a hopeless waste of time for us, been looking through the half or full, standard, plus or premium plans. The set menus thing really kills it as we have a wide range of tastes in my family. So that's effectively ruled out now, we'll just pay for what we eat!

I think we are settled on a date, my only question really would be are the weekends "much" busier than weekdays? Everything considered it costs practically the same for us to go a Monday-Thursday as it does to go a Friday-Monday. The only disadvantage would be our two full days being Sat/Sun.

All I can find is people saying it's busier weekends, but does it mean like a 60 minute wait for a ride that would be 10 minutes on a weekday?

 

[addverbaan]

Happy planning! Cant really help you re crowd levels but thought it may be worth one of you getting an Annual Passport for the trip. If you order it in advance from one of the cheaper French sites it is cheaper then buying it in Disney. I would then book one person less into the room and add them on room only on arrival (paying the 1 euro or so per night tax) You can then use the AP for your meals getting a 10% discount from the total bill (plus 20% discount in most shops) When we priced up our May trip it was 210 pounds less if I only booked my hubby and son into the room. I bought my AP from CE multivantages for 159 euros (around 130 quid) so we saved 80 pounds before we even started! Then with the discounts on top the savings really added up.

This is the best way to save money in Disney re food to be honest and if you wanted to do Buffalo Bills they quite often offer discounts to Dream AP holders - at the moment 50% off for holder plus 5 guests

 

[Isila]

Thanks. I've been researching it through. The meal plans look like a hopeless waste of time for us, been looking through the half or full, standard, plus or premium plans. The set menus thing really kills it as we have a wide range of tastes in my family. So that's effectively ruled out now, we'll just pay for what we eat!

I think we are settled on a date, my only question really would be are the weekends "much" busier than weekdays? Everything de considered it costs practically the same for us to go a Monday-Thursday as it does to go a Friday-Monday. The only disadvantage would be our two full days being Sat/Sun.

All I can find is people saying it's busier weekends, but does it mean like a 60 minute wait for a ride that would be 10 minutes on a weekday?

It can be, you never know. This depends on season too. But weekends are more crowded. I'd say the queue would go from 10 to 40 mins wait. But EMH save it.