October 2011 Code Watch

[DJ Disney Kid]

Does anyone think it's likely that there will be a code for late October? Notably, we'd like to stay for two nights in a savannah view room at the AKL. Does that seem like something that might come through, or is that very unlikely?

Late Oct has always been covered with the discounts so I don't see any reason why this would be the first year ever for them to not include it. As far as a Savannah view rooms, those can be sketchy. Sometimes they have some to offer and other times not. You'll definitely be able to get a discount at the AKL, but it might be more for Pool views and regular views. Your best bet is to just keep checking on here daily so that you can call immediately when the code goes out because if they do offer Savannah room discounts, it wont last long.

 

[SouthJersey]

Not everyone looks at the pure dollar value of a given discount even with the countless breakdowns that exist here that talk to it. They consider food to be the largest because it hits their pockets the most when at WDW. Notice I said it the most while there. The costs they pay up front for room, transportation, tickets, etc... are in a different category in their mind as they're gone from consideration once paid for.

Plain and simple they're trying to address situation costs vs. overall value/savings.

Exactly. Me and my girlfriend LOVED the deluxe dining last year. It was free dining, so we paid the price difference to upgrade to deluxe dining.

Our reasoning;
-I follow a keto diet to stay near-contest ready for bodybuilding shows from about March until September..blah, so no dining out and no good food lol
-Between my work and her nursing school, we rarely get to go out to eat.

So to make up for it, we tried the deluxe dining, did a different character buffet breakfast each morning, thats $45 each morning just in breakfast, 5 mornings we're at $225 just in breakfast! We did two dinner shows and ate at places like le cellier, san angel, california grill, artist point *at the sacrifice of TS lunch points to use for signature dining* We DEFINITELY saved hundreds on dining and it was cool to see the different locations. We'd only need 3 meals a day and no snacks, an early breakfast, a lunch, and later dinner after parks closed to have something to do.


So we did the deluxe dining and do a character buffet breakfast each morning, a table service lunch at a popular restaraunt and we do a late dinner

 

[esmetutu]

Hmmm... This is not the first mention of August 13th that I have heard. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

That's my birthday! Hopefully, a good discount will be my present this year; and an unbirthday present for all of you!

Last year on my birthday, another buyer's offer was accepted over ours for our first dream home. It was a sad day. Thankfully we found a house a month later that was better suited and it all worked out! So, I hope, no matter what happens with discounts, everyone finds a way to get their dream trip!

 

[esmetutu]

I don't understand??? Why are so many people hoping for free dining?? I have done the calculations over and over again, and it is better to get a good room discount (at least 30%) then it is to get free dining. So why do so many jump on the dining? Do you get a better hotel choice or something? Please explain. What am I missing?

I ran the numbers for our family and Free Dining will save us 62% on a moderate. That's with us eating normally(water and one dessert to share), and with only 3 TS ADRs.

Having said that... I've heard some horror stories about FD and would rather there was a great room-only discount or different package deal.

 

[Princess Carrie]

I've almost convinced my husband to go at the end of October... a discount is just what I need to seal the deal. Fingers crossed for something mid-August or sooner

 

[SouthJersey]

I've almost convinced my husband to go at the end of October... a discount is just what I need to seal the deal. Fingers crossed for something mid-August or sooner

Show him the WDW alcohol pictures thread, that might do the trick!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We are planning on a WDW/DCL trip, but are having second thoughts about the DCL part due to some not so great reviews of the Dream. It is so expensive to not be fantastic. We might cancel that and just do all 7 days at WDW, but my PIN we booked under only covers thru 10/29. We are locked into 10/27 thru 11/3 b/c of the flights I purchased. I am hoping for a GP offer to cover the rest of our trip. We enter the penalty period for our cruise on 8/15, so have to make a decision prior to that. Hoping for an 8/14 or earlier announcement!

 

[figmentswife]

disneymagicgirl - I hate for you to cancel the cruise, my family has been on all 3 ships and LOVED all of their trips.

 

[figmentswife]

O.K. so I spent the day (yes, I really did this ALL day) looking at why people seem to think that free dining is such a good deal and I figured it out....

I am booked OFF property at only $588 for 7 days.....

That is why I just couldn't make it work for me changing, and saving money, to a Disney resort.

I really do want to stay on property and I am hoping and wishing that a really good room discount comes or at least free dining. Neither will "save" me any money but I would get to be in all the Disney Magic and not feel stupid for spending the extra money

I do have another questions???? or 2

With free dining, do you find yourself buying 1 more meal a day (plus dining plan)? Or do you work your 2 meals around to get through the day? (such as a big breakfast then a late lunch snack for dinner)

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[havoc315]

With free dining, do you find yourself buying 1 more meal a day (plus dining plan)? Or do you work your 2 meals around to get through the day? (such as a big breakfast then a late lunch snack for dinner)

Thank you everyone for your help.

When it's "free" -- it matters less how you use it. But if you use it for breakfast, you are really getting minimal value out of it.

I'd say the majority of people either do breakfast in the room, or use a snack credit for breakfast (bagel is a snack credit, cereal is a snack credit). If you were going to "buy" an extra meal, a CS breakfast out of pocket, is under $10.

Then use the TS and CS for lunch and dinner.

 

[tetney12]

With free dining, do you find yourself buying 1 more meal a day (plus dining plan)? Or do you work your 2 meals around to get through the day? (such as a big breakfast then a late lunch snack for dinner)

Thank you everyone for your help.

We bought a box of cereal and gallon of milk and had breakfast in our room most days and just opted for a "big" lunch and used the quick service for dinners....

You can also do a character breakfast as late as possible and that will take you through lunch with a snack before dinner.....

It was perfect for us!

 

[disneydreamgirl]

We do breakfast in the room...DH and DS are ravenous when they get up and then we avoid wasting the best touring hours in a restaurant. I plan on skipping the Garden Grocer order (done it three times previously) this time around and will bring a couple boxes of cereal and some snacks in our suitcase and then buy milk in the resort's shop. I also bring almonds and protein or cereal bars for myself and DH and we will buy bananas for DH. I find this strategy saves time and saves a lot of money! We no longer have to order cases of water either as I bought the Brita filter bottles (2) and a Bobble filter bottle.

 

[Tltorrez]

We generally do breakfast in the room too. On our last trip we stayed at BWV and hit the General Store on our first night to stock up on yogurt, cereal and milk. We'll definitely do that again in October because we're going for F&W; we don't want to fill up on breakfast when we we're trying to eat our way around the World.

We're actually not planning any TS meals this trip. We'll just eat our way through Epcot.

 

[Bell30012]

We like to get a reservation in the parks before opening... Nothing like entering the parks before the lines...

 

[tammyjeanm]

I can't stop thinking about how much I am going to need in spending money. Is there anyone that has this all thought out and can share with me? It's just DH and myself. We are staying 9nts/10 days. I purchased everything through Disney at rack rate for Oct 12-21, including plane tickets, hotel at POP, park plus tickets including hopper, and also the dining plan. The only thing I can think of that we would need money for is our luggage (flying Delta), tips, a little bit of spending money and meals for first and last days. Am I missing anything? Besides the cost of luggage, would it seem right to figure around $100 a day for the tips and spending. (We are somewhat frugal ppl and I don't plan on spending a great deal on souveniers). I greatly appreciate the input.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

I can't stop thinking about how much I am going to need in spending money. Is there anyone that has this all thought out and can share with me? It's just DH and myself. We are staying 9nts/10 days. I purchased everything through Disney at rack rate for Oct 12-21, including plane tickets, hotel at POP, park plus tickets including hopper, and also the dining plan. The only thing I can think of that we would need money for is our luggage (flying Delta), tips, a little bit of spending money and meals for first and last days. Am I missing anything? Besides the cost of luggage, would it seem right to figure around $100 a day for the tips and spending. (We are somewhat frugal ppl and I don't plan on spending a great deal on souveniers). I greatly appreciate the input.

Maybe the odd cab fare if you are so inclined. Your thinking seems pretty sound. We are not big spenders either and I usually budget $100 a day and have not exceeded that.

 

[crazycatlady]

O.K. so I spent the day (yes, I really did this ALL day) looking at why people seem to think that free dining is such a good deal and I figured it out....

I am booked OFF property at only $588 for 7 days.....

That is why I just couldn't make it work for me changing, and saving money, to a Disney resort.

I really do want to stay on property and I am hoping and wishing that a really good room discount comes or at least free dining. Neither will "save" me any money but I would get to be in all the Disney Magic and not feel stupid for spending the extra money

I do have another questions???? or 2

With free dining, do you find yourself buying 1 more meal a day (plus dining plan)? Or do you work your 2 meals around to get through the day? (such as a big breakfast then a late lunch snack for dinner)

Thank you everyone for your help.

Last year was our 1st year with the dining plan (free dining) and DH was a little worried that we would need to buy more meals out of pocket because we only have 2 meals a day with the plan. Let me tell you, on our last day we were scrambling to use up all our counter service meals and snacks. You get dessert with every meal, counter service or table service, and that made sure no one left a meal hungry.

We bought some light breakfast items to eat in the room for breakfasts (donut holes, granola bars, fruit, etc.) and saved most of the meals for lunch and dinner. Some days, if I had ADRs for a later lunch, DH and DS would use a counter service meal on a breakfast at the food court.

 

[maryj11]

I can't stop thinking about how much I am going to need in spending money. Is there anyone that has this all thought out and can share with me? It's just DH and myself. We are staying 9nts/10 days. I purchased everything through Disney at rack rate for Oct 12-21, including plane tickets, hotel at POP, park plus tickets including hopper, and also the dining plan. The only thing I can think of that we would need money for is our luggage (flying Delta), tips, a little bit of spending money and meals for first and last days. Am I missing anything? Besides the cost of luggage, would it seem right to figure around $100 a day for the tips and spending. (We are somewhat frugal ppl and I don't plan on spending a great deal on souveniers). I greatly appreciate the input.

If you purchased rack rate I will call and try to get the discount thats going on.
If you are taking the Magic Express we tipped a dollar a bag, we tipped the housekeeper a dollar for each person we had each day. You will need money for doing laundry.
Last year I set a budget of 100.00 a day we stayed 4 nights. I dont like to buy alot of stuff in the stores either. I usually buy a Disney shirt and let my 9 year old pick out 2 things. Anyway I came back home with 100.00 at least after tips and everything. We had free dining and tickets already paid for. With the dining plan you wont have to spend much, I really think all I needed was 75.00 a day

 

[FigmentChick]

figmentswife - I can honestly tell you that, like another poster, we were scrambling around the last two days to use up all our counter service and snack credits. We usually decide to use the table service for lunch and buy granola bars or pop tarts to have for breakfast. My kids are used to eating on the go, so they will eat in the car on the way to the park. Or sometimes in line for the first ride of the day (I put the trash in the backpack I carry). I also pick up peanut butter crackers in case I feel light-headed; just in case I can't wait for our reservations. We usually do Akershaus for breakfast one morning, but I have been told by my DD and DS that they are too old for that now and would prefer just the Pooh Bear breakfst this time. Fine with me....one more lunch or dinner I can schedule at a new place!

Tammy - I have a budget that I use and we do tend to stick with it. We budget $100 a day (for us, that's $1,000). Now, we never use it all, but it is there if we need it. I like to have a cushion. Also, I go to the bank before we leave and get 3 rolls of quarters and 1 roll of pennies that I do not include in my budget ($30.50). I use one roll of quarters and pennies for pressed penny souveniers. We have fun seeking out the machines and getting different designs. The other two rolls I use for laundry. I don't pack a lot of pants/shorts/capris per person so that I do laundry about halfway through our trip.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[im4kycats]

A little OT, but has anyone tried the Purex laundry sheets yet? I am thinking for packing these would be much better than the separate items and that they are much cheaper than what I could buy at the resort.