Package upgrade?

[jolenemendiola]

I am planning a trip for my family, self, husband plus our 6 kids, 18, 16, 15, 14, 8 and 3 (at the time of the trip) for September 2015. As we are traveling a long way for this trip (from Guam) I have some questions!

Most importantly, since cost is a huge factor, I am planning to book our package (room, (we are getting park hopper)?

Any other tips and advice anyone tickets, park hopper, water park) in September of this year so I can make payments through the following 10 months. If Free Dining comes out at a later time for our trip dates will I be able to change my reservations to the free dining package?

Also, since our kids have a great range in age, are the older ones able to hop on the Disney transportation system and roam the parks as they choose?



Any other tips you can offer for our large family will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi and welcome!!

Your package can be upgraded if and when a discount comes out. I'm sincerely hoping and praying for a discount on our trip for this summer... Disney has never disappointed me in this regard.

OK, first question: do you know where you're staying? As a family of 8, I imagine you're looking at 2 hopefully-connecting rooms? Take a look at the fact sheets at www.allears.net and figure out your price point, then narrow it down to a specific resort.

Then decide about the meal plan. You'll get quite a variety of opinions on this one. Personally, we love it. We didn't get it last trip, opting instead for discounted park tickets, and we sincerely regretted it. I felt as though we were hemorrhaging money. It got to where we would go to a restaurant, and I would check the prices before the entrees to decide what I wanted. This trip, we're back to the DDP. I love the fact that it's prepaid. We don't save a lot of money, but we save some, and it changes the tone of our vacation. The more kids you have under 10, the better a value it will be. (Their price per day is about $19, as opposed to almost $60 per day for anyone over 10.) That price will get you one table service meal (including character meals), one counter service meal, and a snack. (The snack can range from an ice cream bar to a bagel at breakfast.) Do the math, look at the menus at www.allears.net and see what makes sense.

Consider renting points at one of the Disney Vacation Club properties. They're larger, one and two bedroom units that include a kitchen and laundry. We've never rented points ourselves, but people here speak very highly of it. The properties are all on site, so your family would have access to Disney transportation and all the rest. This should get you started: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

As to the rest: yes, your older kids can use Disney transportation without you. It's incredibly easy to navigate-- there are signs telling you which bus stop is where. You get on, and it takes you to your desitnation. (Just remember to warn your kids: Disney is indeed a magical place, but they're not to abandon common sense. )

We've never done the water parks-- we tend to stay in the Deluxe resorts and their pools are fabulous. (A family of 5 will fit into the standard room at many of the Deluxes.) In fact, if you consider renting DVC, take a look at the Beach Club Villas. Then you would have access to Storm Along Bay, which would put many water parks to shame. To be honest, aside from the money, I never want to take a whole day out of our vacation to spend at a water park. But my sister has gone to Blizzard Beach, and loved it.

Have fun planning!!

 

[jolenemendiola]

Thank you so much Aliceacc!

We are actually planning to stay at Pop Century, I stayed there on a previous trip with two of the kids in 2007 and we fell in love! I have showed the other kids videos, pictures and descriptions of the resorts within our budget and they also agreed on Pop. Something about those larger than life icons, plus we all like the direct bus service, no sharing.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for free dining!

In regards to the DVC stuff, can you get free dining when using DVC? I never even considered this, I guess because I don't know how it all works. Definitely something I will be looking into though!

With the bus service, the older kids already know that they must all stick together with the 18 Y/O and that they must be responsible and consciencious of their actions.

Thanks again for all your info!

 

[purple figment]

Thank you so much Aliceacc!

We are actually planning to stay at Pop Century, I stayed there on a previous trip with two of the kids in 2007 and we fell in love! I have showed the other kids videos, pictures and descriptions of the resorts within our budget and they also agreed on Pop. Something about those larger than life icons, plus we all like the direct bus service, no sharing.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for free dining! If free dining, a room discount or other special comes out for your dates you need to call as soon as possible to have it applied to your reservation. As long as your resort and room category are included and there is availability (rooms are limited) you can add it to your reservation. Sometimes it is necessary to change resorts or room category to qualify.

In regards to the DVC stuff, can you get free dining when using DVC? I never even considered this, I guess because I don't know how it all works. Definitely something I will be looking into though! You cannot add free dining to a DVC points reservation. Free dining requires room at rack rate and renting with DVC points is not rack rate. If you reserve a DVC room with Disney reservations on a cash reservation you can apply free dining, subject to the limits mentioned above (resort/room category, availability).

With the bus service, the older kids already know that they must all stick together with the 18 Y/O and that they must be responsible and consciencious of their actions.

Thanks again for all your info!

Answers above.