Ok, honestly...

[DisneyLover75]

What are the odds that we'll get a PIN or that Disney will put out a promotion that's valid for our dates? We're going from 11/18 to 11/25, which is Thanksgiving week.

I'm hoping there'll be SOMETHING...

 

[chrisw127]

I would budget for the worst and hope for the best. If they offer it, it looks like the last general public day for FD before Thanksgiving will be 11/17, but you never know what a pin code might bring.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Ok, thanks!

 

[Hyonlyf]

My friends went Thanksgiving week 2 years ago and checked in on the last day of free dining and got FD the whole thanksgiving week, so there is hope!

Good luck!

 

[DisneyLover75]

If that's the case, I'll change my dates again and arrive on the 17th!

Totally worth it!!

Thanks again for the help!

 

[stitch34]

Really doubt there would be any discounts then - we go every year... and seems they either start up usually the Saturday or Sunday after thanksgiving.... or hopefully can catch one that's ending and arrive earlier.
I think last year the FD you had to book/arrive by friday before thanksgiving? I could be off a day. but if they offered FD and you book on that last day, then would get it for your entire stay.
A percent off the room cost, seems if booked that the last day it was offered would get the discount for THAT day, but not the rest of your trip.

Your best bet is to cross your fingers for free dining! Last year it was August when they came out with the deal that applied to November for FD, so if they offer it again for this year, seems will be a ways to wait still.

But the only deal I can remember during the past 3 years going that time of year was if get lucky with FD - if they offer it - and arrive the last day or two of when that promo ends.

I can't recall if there was a general public % off room during that week or not. We've gotten AP rates for then, so perhaps there is a GP % off the room.

 

[sanapp]

As long as you don't book your airline tickets (if flying) then you can always switch your arrival date if that makes a difference. I don't believe that there will be anything for the week of Thanksgiving, but probably for the week before and after.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Yes, I think I'll wait to book airfare until after I hear about FD or whatever special comes out during that month. If I can arrange to come a day or two early, great. Thanks!

 

[mydisneyobsession]

If you're open to the Swan or Dolphin, they are offering discounts Thanksgiving week.

 

[DisneyLover75]

If you're open to the Swan or Dolphin, they are offering discounts Thanksgiving week.

If I stayed there, can I still get the dining plan and ticket package? I've never stayed at either of those places, and I have no knowledge of them, other than that they're in the Epcot area, and they use Disney buses.

 

[Natalie's Mommy]

no disney dining plan if staying at the swan or dolphin

 

[DisneyLover75]

no disney dining plan if staying at the swan or dolphin

That's what I thought. That might be the deal breaker. I checked out the swan and dolphin and they look fabulous, but the dining plan is so convenient I hate to be without it...

 

[mydisneyobsession]

That's what I thought. That might be the deal breaker. I checked out the swan and dolphin and they look fabulous, but the dining plan is so convenient I hate to be without it...

Our first two trips we used the Dining Plan, and I LOVED the "carefree" feeling of having meals already paid for. I thought we would miss it terribly, but chose to stay at the Swan for the savings. I was pleasantly surprised by how much we didn't miss the dining plan!

I've heard of people loading a gift card with the amount of money they'd spend on the dining plan and using that for a "do-it-yourself" dining plan - that might help. I'm actually thinking that might be a fun experiment this time around.

By the way - there is also no Magical Express service to the Swan and Dolphin so you would need to arrange your own transportation to and from the airport and no charging privileges in the parks (which we never did anyway, so didn't miss it.)

Beyond that, I didn't notice any differences between our Swan stay and our other Disney resort stays. It's a great resort in a great location, and I love having the option of savings during a holiday week!

This time we are doing a split stay - we'll be staying at Dolphin for the Thanksgiving Holiday time period, and transferring to a Disney resort after the rates go back down. Best of both worlds!

 

[DisneyLover75]

Our first two trips we used the Dining Plan, and I LOVED the "carefree" feeling of having meals already paid for. I thought we would miss it terribly, but chose to stay at the Swan for the savings. I was pleasantly surprised by how much we didn't miss the dining plan!

I've heard of people loading a gift card with the amount of money they'd spend on the dining plan and using that for a "do-it-yourself" dining plan - that might help. I'm actually thinking that might be a fun experiment this time around.

By the way - there is also no Magical Express service to the Swan and Dolphin so you would need to arrange your own transportation to and from the airport and no charging privileges in the parks (which we never did anyway, so didn't miss it.)

Beyond that, I didn't notice any differences between our Swan stay and our other Disney resort stays. It's a great resort in a great location, and I love having the option of savings during a holiday week!

This time we are doing a split stay - we'll be staying at Dolphin for the Thanksgiving Holiday time period, and transferring to a Disney resort after the rates go back down. Best of both worlds!

I had considered loading up a gift card, when I was trying to problem solve the no dining plan thing. That's a really good idea, and I think it can be done.

The no magical express thing is very disappointing though! I love that!

A split stay sounds indeed like the best of both worlds.. but do you have to get tickets separately for each reservation? That's where I'd imagine it would get expensive. I've never done a split stay on or off property, so I'm completely new to the idea.

I was thinking of doing the opposite that you'd mentioned, staying at Disney first and then switching to the swan or dolphin on the day before thanksgiving, for a couple nights, then maybe if I spend a room only night at a value or something, I could get ME back to the airport.

That way I could get around the no ME issue. Although, how does one get their luggage from one resort to the other? Ugh.. another road block, eh?

 

[DisneyLover75]

Ok, I found out about the tickets. I could get a 9 day ticket and use it throughout, even if I check out of a disney resort and into the swan or dolphin.

Sweet! I'm going to look into the whole split stay idea!

 

[drinkme]

In 2011 I had a Thanksgiving week trip booked that I had free dining. I later changed it to the beginning of November. However, I was checking into WDW on Thursday night (the Thurs before Thanksgiving). My plan was to leave for the airport as soon as the kids got out of school, then they would miss Friday from school. They have the whole week of Thanksgiving off from school. I don't remember if Thursday or Friday before Thanks giving was the last day of FD, but I think it was one of those days. I'm sure you could look it up on a past thread.

So, that's my plan for this year. Book FD for that Thursday night before Thanksgiving and fly into Orlando late. My kids just can't miss school any longer for a trip.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I was thinking of doing the opposite that you'd mentioned, staying at Disney first and then switching to the swan or dolphin on the day before thanksgiving, for a couple nights, then maybe if I spend a room only night at a value or something, I could get ME back to the airport.

That way I could get around the no ME issue. Although, how does one get their luggage from one resort to the other? Ugh.. another road block, eh?

The luggage transfer is easy - Bell services at the Disney resorts AND the Swan and Dolphin will transfer your bags for you. You give them your bags in the morning, and they'll transfer them over to the new hotel between 3 and 4 in the afternoon.

Our last trip, we arranged a towncar. It was totally fun, but a little pricey. I've heard since that you can just arrange directly with Mears, and you'll probably end up on the Disney busses anyway.

This time I'm doing what you're considering - I'm bookending our Dolphin stay with AKL on the front end, and then we're transferring over to the Polynesian. I missed Magical Express more than the dining plan, because I hate dragging my bags around the airport!