Planning a trip in September

[jackmosby]

Hi,

We are a couple from Switzerland planning a first trip to Orlando in September (we are DLP Annual Passholders but we want to experience new stuff).

We already booked the flights, Paris-Orlando with Norwegian, from 9/4 to 9/18. We also booked 4 nights at the Rosen Inn on International Drive (conveniant for a Kennedy Space Center excursion and for going to Universal, since we won't have a car), and we plan to stay onsite at Universal from 9/8 to 9/9.

But our main concern here is Walt Disney World. We want to stay at a moderate resort, preferably Port Orleans - French Quarter, and we'll probably take the Dining Plan since it seems easier to plan out our budget. I saw that in April they may have a room discount and a free dining discount.

So I'm confused.
Should we book a room only, ditch the dining plan, and pay cheaper tickets on another ticket reseller ? Or should we book a whole package with free dining plan ? I also saw on mousesavers that it is possible on some conditions to book a room with a discount and a dining plan without booking a package, so that may be interesting for us.

Thanks a lot for reading through all of that and for your help

 

[hiroMYhero]

Moving you to the Resorts board to discuss package options.

 

[Liberator]

Hi,

first of all you planned a wise time to go to Disney World. Most parts of September are considered as ones of the less crowded times to go.


There was the option in the past to book a ticketless package. I do not know if it is still doable, but when it is still allowed and the free-dining-offer does not require a package with tickets you are ready to go that way.

You should keep in mind that sometimes with room only discounts you can save more $$ than with booking free dining. But this is more a factor when you stay at a deluxe resort and 2 adults would save like 30 % per night per room.

September often had Free Dining and/or Room Only Discounts in the past. If they start them, you should be fast, only a certain number of rooms will be sold under the discount, otherwise you need to pay rack rate.

You should check prices for Deluxe Resorts, not just moderate ones. You could get a reasonable room rate for a Garden Wing room at the Contemporary or a Standard View at Boardwalk Inn, depending on the offer.

You can book now and adjust a discount later when it is offered. You can still modify your booking by then to another resort or room category.

 

[jackmosby]

Thanks a lot for the quick answer. I did the math, and imo i save more money with the free dining than with the room discount, as you said.

I'll try to be fast for the offer, then. If i book a package now and there's a free dining plan offer in the future, will it be possible for Disney to offer me or refund me the cost of the dining plan ? Or does this retroactivity only applies to room discounts ?

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks a lot for the quick answer. I did the math, and imo i save more money with the free dining than with the room discount, as you said.

I'll try to be fast for the offer, then. If i book a package now and there's a free dining plan offer in the future, will it be possible for Disney to offer me or refund me the cost of the dining plan ? Or does this retroactivity only applies to room discounts ?

It is not as simple as a refund of the dining plan cost.
You would need to cancel your current package. You would need to book a new package, which is based on availability for your resort and dates. It may or may not be offered. The rooms available for the free dining/percent off deals are specific and limited and Disney does not retrospectively apply those offers to any other rooms. So they won't apply it to your existing reservation.

 

[jackmosby]

Seems a little bit complicated then. Maybe i should just wait April to book. I'm afraid though that the prices will go up or that Port Orleans won't be available.

 

[tinka-belle]

In the past POFQ has been blocked from the fall free dining deal, the other moderates have been included. For fall 2017 stays the bounce back offer this year did not include all of September like in years past. No guarantee that the public offer will have the same dates as the fall bounce back offer, but I was surprised to see the fall offer include Sept. check in dates up to 9/09/2017 only. Food & Wine starts 8/31/2017 next year, I suspect that is why most of Sept. might only have room price discounts and not free dining.

 

[Nancyg56]

Okay, will you be going with or without discounts? If so, book the resort you want. If you will only travel with a discount, wait until the discounts are offered.

POFQ is not always included, but you could look at CSR or POR. OF the two, I would suggest CSR for adults. It is lovely, has amenities that are considered Deluxe Lite, and is often less expensive than other moderates.

If you are going and have your heart set on a specific resort, book it, If a discount is offered call and see if you can rebook. I would suggest that you have an open mind and consider switching resorts for the free dining plan if it is offered, unless the RO is a better savings.

 

[jackmosby]

In the past POFQ has been blocked from the fall free dining deal, the other moderates have been included. For fall 2017 stays the bounce back offer this year did not include all of September like in years past. No guarantee that the public offer will have the same dates as the fall bounce back offer, but I was surprised to see the fall offer include Sept. check in dates up to 9/09/2017 only. Food & Wine starts 8/31/2017 next year, I suspect that is why most of Sept. might only have room price discounts and not free dining.

Hopefully i will arrive on 9/09, so i guess i won't have a problem with that !

Okay, will you be going with or without discounts? If so, book the resort you want. If you will only travel with a discount, wait until the discounts are offered.

I will go with or without discounts. But if there is no discount, i'd rather book via the IE or UK websites; their tickets offer is usually more interesting from what i saw and they give Memory Maker for free. But I'm open to go to other resorts than POFQ (more than my wife, who wants a "princess room"). As you said, CSR seems as good, if not better (but doesn't seem to be available for a 9/09 to 9/18 stay). I've also look at DVC rentals. That could be another option. We could even stay in CBR if there are not any other choices. I'm sure the holiday will be magical anyway...