Planning my first DW vacation

[KGH16]

Hi all,

My name is grace and im currently a Junior in college. I am planning my first trip to Disney (Trip #5 for me) for my boyfriend (He's never been!!) and myself in 2018. We plan on going the last week of January/First week of February because of lower costs and crowds (and our anniversary) for four nights and five days. I would like to get the regular Disney Dinning Plan (not the basic) and plan to buy breakfast foods once we arrive so that will knock off one meal used.

I have a few questions that I really cant find an answer to on my own.

I like the price of the Value Resorts but I have always stayed at the Poly. That being said, I cannot afford to stay at Poly for the entire trip but I love the Poly and its proximity and transportation to Epcot and the MK.

My idea is this: Hit Hollywood Studios the day we arrive (were flying and taking magical express) then do Animal Kingdom the day after. Because we would have to take the bus either way, we would stay at a Value Resort. Then, we would move to the Poly for our MK and Epcot days.

Best of both worlds right?

My concern though is the dining plan. I know we have to book to seperate packages in order to do this.

1. Would it be easier to use the dining plan for the parks we know we will be eating a lot in? (MK, Epcot) and pay out of pocket for the other parks? (Hollywood, Animal Kingdom)

2. Would I still save money by upgrading to the next dining plan if I were to go with the DDP for half of our trip? I want to save money! haha

Lastly, I heard that I could exchange snacks for quick service meals with the DDP? Is this true? I would rather buy a box of granola bars and have more quick service meals (Even if that only means one or two.)

Thank you so much!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You cannot trade snacks for meals on the Dining Plan. You can trade a QS for snacks.

I think if you're looking to save money, the Poly should be off the table unless you can rent DVC points at a good price. Even at a time with an okay discount (of which there are fewer, especially since Poly inventory was reduced), you can stay 5 nights at a Value for 1 night at Poly.

 

[dancemonkey]

I think I'd forgo the poly. Maybe consider a moderate and not do ddp because you're going to do breakfast in your room.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The math is really: is saving an extra 20 minutes a day of transport worth $300/night?

 

[Luv2Run]

This was (kind of) the situation we were in with our most recent trip, except it was neither of our first trips (my 7th trip, his 2nd trip). We had previously stayed at ASMusic in 2014, but wanted a bigger bed and better amenities. We wound up going with POR with the quick-service dining plan (QSDP). We brought some snacks (goldfish crackers, Fiber One bars), and paid OOP for a few TS meals (Sanaa, Raglan Road, BOG).

We liked staying at a Moderate much, MUCH more than staying Value, merely for the quiet factor (we requested a mansion room, top floor, both of which were honored). We don't mind taking the buses at all, so staying at a monorail resort wasn't a huge factor for us, especially when it came to saving money. If your heart is really, truly set on the Contemporary, maybe you can snag an ADR at one of their restaurants, like Cali Grill during the Wishes fireworks at MK?

Since you're planning on purchasing tickets, dining plan and an on-site resort stay, perhaps you should consider booking Moderate and then applying a discount. Based on Mouse Savers website, historically, the Play/Stay/Dine discount is running during the timeframe you're looking to book your trip. Those discounts are usually made available in the Fall the year prior (for instance, Jan-March 2016's Play/Stay/Dine discount was released Oct. 2015). Link: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#2016
Could definitely be worth looking into.

 

[loves to dive]

Have you done the math to see if the DP is really worth it for you? We used to buy it and get it during the free dining until I realized I really don't like being restricted to having to eat a TS every day if I'm not in the mood and having to plan my days around ADRs. If you have done the math and that is the way you want to go, I see nothing wrong with a split stay. Again, I'm a deluxe gal and while I've stayed at values and moderates, I'm just more comfortable in the deluxe resorts. I do split stays with mods/deluxes often, best of both worlds. Like you I do the moderates for the first day or two of the trip and plan on going to the parks I know I'm going to have to take a bus to anyway. In my case that's AK and MK since I prefer the Epcot resorts. Also, have you checked into Swan/Dolphin? Sometimes you can get those, even with the silly resort fees, for the price of a moderate and it's within walking distance of both HS and Epcot. If you have a PH you can even avoid the bus by walking through Epcot and hopping on the monorail to go to MK.

 

[WDWpaulJr]

I've never done the dining plan before because I always have a hard time justifying it. I'm not much of a breakfast person as I prefer just a cup of coffee. I'd also just stay at a Value or Moderate resort. Disney's transportation can take you where you need to go without adding all that much time.

I typically stay at POFQ. I figure why spend a ton at a resort each night when i spend minimal time there anyway? Save a bit on the resort and splurge a bit more on park tickets, food, souvenirs etc.

 

[minnie mum]

The Poly is lovely, especially if someone else is paying for it, but if you are just out of college would it realistically be within your budget? I'm not a fan of the value resorts, and their double beds are a deal breaker for us. The mods are an excellent compromise, we think. And the extra few minutes per day on a bus are definitely not worth the bump in price that a deluxe stay would require.

The SPD discount ( if its offered) would give you the DDP at a mod or deluxe. But I think you only get the QSDP at the values unless you pay extra to upgrade. Usually there is also a room only discount offered for the same time period. In our experience (with 2 adults) we have saved more using that and paying OOP for meals and buying tickets thru Undercover Tourist. You would have to do the Disney math to see which approach is best for you. Bringing your own snacks and breakfast items like granola or protein bars can help with costs if you aren't big breakfast eaters.

Another thought about your proposed park days- you might want to look at one of the crowd calendars like easywdw before locking yourself into those plans. We usually prefer opting for the lower crowds of a recommended park each day, unless we have park hoppers.

 

[RustManFan]

Neither Deluxe or Value. I'd do a moderate

 

[tobikaye]

...I am planning my first trip to Disney (Trip #5 for me) for my boyfriend (He's never been!!) and myself in 2018. ..

Is this really for 2018? If so, I would probably consider not making in solid plans on resorts, daily activities, flights, or dining plans until at least the end of 2016. So many things are changing at WDW, that what you want to plan now might not be the best plan over 2 years from today.

I would focus more on just saving up for the next year and then re-evaluate what you have saved and have a more focused plan. The earliest you could book a room for late January 2018 would be September 2016. Even then, you would only be able to book a room only at the highest 2016 rate.

Remember that inflation on a resort room could be almost 15-20% over two years. (I saw something once where in a 10 year period, Poly inflated almost 90% or almost 9% a year.)

As for the dining plan, I would also suggest that you really look to see if you would eat the way the plan is setup and get your money's worth. I want to try the plan, but so far, it would cost me a more to use the plan. I am more likely to drink wine or water with my meal so the beverage is a waste. I love dessert, but usually not right after a large meal and not with lunch and dinner.

You might want to take the cost of the meal plan for you both and just put that money on gift cards. Then you can eat where you want when you want without worrying about if something is on the plan.

Another thing to consider, is how much time you would spend in your room or at your resort. If you think you would spend at least 3-4 hours during the daytime at your resort, then it might be something to be concerned about. If you only think you will be there for sleeping and getting ready, then I would probably be more concerned about budget.