?? Opinions and help appreciated once again

[disgirl]

Hi everyone. I think I have finally figured out that we are going to go to the Poly for 2 nights before the BCV(1 bedroom) for 5 nights , end of August, that is all our points could give us. We usually like to stay 8 nights, but this time I wanted to try either the Poly or AKL for a little change. Thanks to everyone who answered questions about AKL or Poly for me, but after much thinking and discussion with DH, we decided on the Poly.

Now, on to my next dilemma, Should we try the meal plan while at the BCV even though we are in a 1 bedroom and do not mind cooking atleast breakfast every morning? We do usually enjoy going to a few of the sit down restaurants while at Disney. If we do try the meal plan, then DH thinks we should forgo the car we usually rent. However, we were hoping to spend a day at Universal and then, of course, the car would be convenient. I know untimately everyone has to make up their own mind when it comes to planning, however I would LOVE to hear any experiences with other DVCers trying the DDP and renting cars. Also, do you think it is worth the DDP if we are staying in a 1 bedroom. Have you done this? We do not mind spending some money on our once a year vacation, but it is not like we have money to waste either. I hope I make sense and some of you nice and patient folks are willing to read through my long post here and offer opinions or experiences with DDP with a 1 bedroom and or the need for renting a car if on DDP, getting to Universal without a car, etc. Any help is appreciated!! THANKS so much and I hope you have a great weekend!!

 

[Chuck S]

Unless you plan on doing some signature 2 credit meals, I'm not sure the meal plan would be of value to you...since you'd like to spend a day or two at Universal. Personally, given the choice of meal plan or car, I'd go with the car. Do you have Annual Passes for Disney? If so, I'd suggest the Dining Experience card instead of the DDP for your trip, then go ahead and rent the car

 

[Dean]

Given the specifics, I would get the car and forego the DDP. Personally I'd probably do things totally different if I intended to do Universal. Maybe change my deluxe cash option to a Universal resort.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks Chuck. Unfortunately our annual passes expired soon after our last trip last year when we did in fact use DDE which was great for us. We decided we would not renew our annual passes this year and just buy tickets for 4-5 days for this trip. We did say last year that maybe we would try DDP this year, but with wanting to go to Universal for a day we would probably need to rent a car, therefore making it more cost efficient to occasonally eat off site. I am so confused but thank you for your advice.

Anyone else? Thanks

 

[disgirl]

Sorry Dean I did not see your response. Actually we would be using points to stay at the Poly. Since we joined DVC, we really want to try avoiding paying cash for a room(I know not the best use of points, but we see it as a treat and a nice change). We often talk about staying onsite at Universal, but we really do not want to spend the cash when we can stay at Disney and just go for a day trip to Universal. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Dean]

Sorry Dean I did not see your response. Actually we would be using points to stay at the Poly. Since we joined DVC, we really want to try avoiding paying cash for a room(I know not the best use of points, but we see it as a treat and a nice change). We often talk about staying onsite at Universal, but we really do not want to spend the cash when we can stay at Disney and just go for a day trip to Universal. Thanks for your thoughts.

No problem. Personally, I still would look for off site options for Universal even if it meant delaying until another trip. Remember you can always rent out some of your points to pay for other options if your committed to the $$$ in DVC as your entire vacation accommodation expenditure.

 

[Chuck S]

Well, you know you can't get the DDP for the two nights you are at the Poly since you are staying on points, why not rent the car then and go to Universal? Then use the DDP and stay onsite for the days you are at BCV

 

[disgirl]

You know Chuck I did think about that option. Your right that would probably be the most logical, however you may think I am silly, but since we are only at the Poly for 2 nights and it is costing a lot of points, I figured we would enjoy the hotel and pool on our arrival day and then take advantage of the monorail on the 2nd day and go to MK. I would consider going to Universal on the 3rd day, but since we are checking into the BCV that day I do not want to be at Universal all day and check into BCV so late. I know I seem to want my cake and eat it too(literally with the DDP, LOL!) I just can not figure out what to do!

I truly do appreciate you and Dean trying to help me out here because there is a part of me that wants to do DDP because we do enjoy some of the sit down restaurants and feel we might save some money, but since we do not have Annual Passes(WDW) this year and my ds and I each already have 1 day left on a Universal ticket I thought we would go there one day. The easiest way to get there is by car, of course and actually when I looked on line for a 1 day rental at Disney(alamo) it was close to $80, where the week would cost under $300 or so of course it is more cost effective to have the car for the week. Then, of course, DDP would not seem practical because we then should be going off site occasionally to eat. In the "perfect" world I would not have to worry about money and just rent the car, go to Universal whenever, and get the DDP and eat at all our favorite onsite restaurants. I can dream, right? LOL!

Seriously though, I still do not know what to do and I guess I will just keep crunching numbers and seeing if I can make a decision with what would work best. Maybe we should forget the car and Universal this trip or maybe we should get the car like usual and forget the DDP this trip, although doing it for only 5 nights would be nice. UGH! Oh, I know I must sound like a crazy person, but I do THANK YOU and Dean for taking your time and trying to help me with my decision. You have been very kind.

 

[DMKEDM]

Have you made your travel arrangements yet? If not, maybe you could get a late flight back (or a very early flight in) and use that last day (or first one) for Universal? Since DDP is priced "per night" there could be either a day early or a day late w/out DDP, if you can plan your flights for that???...and then you'd also have the car for travel to & from the airport...doesn't save you any money, since Magical Express is included in your reservation...but could save you time...ME picks up 3 hours prior to flight time and you probably don't need that much time if you're driving yourself back to the airport...


Just an idea to help you have your cake and eat it too...
Good luck!

 

[disgirl]

Thanks DMKEDM: Although I have not actually booked anything yet (will hopefully by next week), we do usually arrive around 12ish and leave on a 7 something pm flight home. However, even if we took a real early flight I just do not know if we would have the energy to spend our first day at Universal. We usually do not even go to the parks the first day. We usually just go to the hotel pool and relax. As for going the last day, I guess it would only work if we booked a 10 ish flight home and I am not sure if we would be up for that either. I truly do thank you for your suggestion, I know it sounds like I am being difficult here, as your suggestion is a good one. It is just that it will be August and will be very hot and humid and I guess I just see us as getting a good sleep the night before a trip to Universal and spending a full day there and going somewhere late for dinner and going back to the room to relax and go to sleep.

Actually after thinking more about this, I think we may skip the DDP this trip and rent the car to be able to have a couple of meals offsite and go to Universal on the 4th or 5th day of our trip, once we have settled into the BCV. Thanks so much for your advice. I do appreciate hearing different suggestions.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Another thought would be to do Universal on the day you check into BCV, but to check into BCV before you go to Universal (you could even send just one adult to do the check in). It is unlikely that you will get a room with such an early check-in, but you can get in the queue for a room when it is ready and not be stuck at the end of the day with those rooms already rejected by others that day!

Of course, this would be a lot easier if you had a rental car but it might be worth it to rent for just one day since you have to get to Universal anyways.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[disgirl]

Thanks Suzanne. Here I go again, just when I think I have decided we will forego the DDP this trip, rent the car for the entire stay so we can go to Universal, eat out at various off site rest. to save some money, I come on these boards, look at all the great sit down rest. that we love and start all over planning. UGH. I need serious help here!!

If we did rent the car onsite at the Dolphin, for example, I believe it would cost about $80 for the one day and then we might do the meal plan which for the three of us for 5 nights would be $600. I am assuming the price of $40 a day per person for DDP includes tax, is that correct? Part of me would love to make ADRs at some of our favorites, knowing that we would probably save then if we went to these rest. and paid out of pocket, however I can not justify the car rental for $300 a week just to get us to and from the airport and Universal for one day (and I know I can use Disney for free transportation to and from the airport) and $ 600 for the DDP. On the other hand, should we pay $80 to rent the car for just one day to go to universal and then pay $600 for the DDP. On top of all this we are in a 1 bedroom while at BCV so we could save and do atleast breakfasts in the room. Oh, I am so sorry to bore anyone who is willing to read my long posts here, but do appreciate everyone's input.

Any other brave soul with an opinion on the DDP while staying in a 1 bedroom and wanting to rent a car? Is it worth renting a car for 1 day just to go to Universal? My ds and I do both have a pass to get in. Just dh would have to buy his. Thanks everyone!!