Please help me get our Disney stay as cheap as possible!

[Sundancer UK]

OK, here's the details, set out more clearly

We would like to go in May 2014, we need to be there for a Star Wars Weekend

People:
2 adults, 4 children; 12, 11, 9 and 4 years old, one infant; 23 months - these are ages they will be in May.

Leaving from London, would prefer direct flights but if the savings are massive will consider indirect.

We need 2 weeks passes for all the parks

We would like to stay at an ASMu Family Suite

We will be getting the quick service dining plan



Now the QS plan really worked for us, and I can't imagine having the worry of making spending money last for 2 weeks for food so having a dining plan is non-negotiable. What I would love is to get it as a free dining thing - but I thought that's only available to people in the US?
I've just spoken to DH and he said that Free Dining was available when we last went, but only for the Moderate resorts. Is that the same rule now?
But from my other thread it seems that I might be able to book through the US site? (I had no idea about this before if it's true!) If it is true, how do I see if it's available in may 2014 and how do we get it?

We flew with Virgin before. I know they aren't cheap, but I think they were the cheapest direct last time. They looked after us well and we would love to go that way again if possible, but like I said, money talks...

The park passes - last time it covered all 4 parks and the water parks. Ideally we would have the same this time, it really relaxed us being able to go wherever suited us day to day, and being able to switch from one in the morning to another in the afternoon. DH says we got 2 weeks for the price of 1.
We wont be going anywhere apart from Disney parks, so really do need this!

I believe that All Star Music Family Suite is the cheapest way for us to go. This is fortunate as we all LOVED it there I do love the look of AOA, but I think ASMu is the one for us.


I'm really sorry to seem so dim here. I want to do this as well as I possibly can.
DH has said we can go for it, but he's now added the caveat "try not to be too disappointed if we just can't save enough money." - Ahem. I will be heartbroken!

So yes, I really do need all the help I can get. I value your thoughts and knowledge so so much, and I thank you in advance!

 

[Sundancer UK]

The lovely Wilma-Bride has pointed out to me that I'm unlikely to find any bargains yet as it's too early - Oh I really am new to this!

Since I wont know things for sure until at least June, could anyone with thoughts maybe just give me a ballpark idea of what I should do and look out for?

Many thanks

 

[2Tiggies]

The lovely Wilma-Bride has pointed out to me that I'm unlikely to find any bargains yet as it's too early - Oh I really am new to this!

Since I wont know things for sure until at least June, could anyone with thoughts maybe just give me a ballpark idea of what I should do and look out for?

Many thanks

You get free QSDP with moderate resorts. This is just a thought and my not appeal to you, but I was curious about something:

I put in 2 adults, four kids (entering the ages as noted by you) and one infant.

Random dates picked: 10-24 May

ASMu Family Suite, 14 day tickets and QSDP: £5,531.86

Fort Wilderness Resort Cabins: 14 day tickets, FREE QSDP plus $100 spending money (part of the current offer): £4,505.10

Just a thought. That's £1000 less for staying at a 'nicer' resort which is beautifully situated near to the magic kingdom. ASMU is FAR from everywhere except AK.


If you are not dead against it, it may also be worth considering 2 adjoining rooms at a moderate resort. Your QSDP is worth £1200 odd and you would have to pay that on top of the rates at a value resort. I quoted POP a couple of years ago for a split stay and with the free dining it was cheaper for us to book a moderate than it was to go value and pay for dining.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Eek. I was just playing around with the booking page and it's telling me that children are only aged up to 11?
So my 12 year old is going be classed as an adult?? Nooo! I had no idea this was the case! I dread to think of the extra hike in cost there

 

[2Tiggies]

Eek. I was just playing around with the booking page and it's telling me that children are only aged up to 11?
So my 12 year old is going be classed as an adult?? Nooo! I had no idea this was the case! I dread to think of the extra hike in cost there

There is no extra cost. Children over 9 are considered 'adult' by Disney for ticket and dining plan purposes ONLY. You pay for the room so it wont affect your overall cost in that way. They pay for adult tickets and get to eat off the adult menus, which for QSDP you will be thankful for. The difference between child and adult tickets is nominal and I have upgraded DD when she was under 10 just so she could have the adult Dining Plan.

It's small change, honestly x

 

[Sundancer UK]

Sorry 2Tiggies - cross posted there!

Thank you for your reply, that really is something to think about! I'm not sure on FW - it does look lovely but it also looks huge! Needing to get a bus to the bus stop kind of puts me off a bit, and we don't drive.

However, the idea of adjoining rooms at a moderate is certainly a possibility. I mustn't let my nostalgia for ASMu stop me looking! Are there any you would suggest?

Thank you also for the reassurance on the 12 year old thing - PHEW!

 

[2Tiggies]

Sorry 2Tiggies - cross posted there!

Thank you for your reply, that really is something to think about! I'm not sure on FW - it does look lovely but it also looks huge! Needing to get a bus to the bus stop kind of puts me off a bit, and we don't drive.

However, the idea of adjoining rooms at a moderate is certainly a possibility. I mustn't let my nostalgia for ASMu stop me looking! Are there any you would suggest?

Thank you also for the reassurance on the 12 year old thing - PHEW!

I don't drive either so I can fully appreciate transportation concerns.

I love POFQ and most of the regulars here know I'm a huge fan. We've stayed there 3 years in a row and will be going back there again for our next trip. Riverside is a beautiful resort too and the theming is gorgeous and you have the water taxi to go to DTD and POFQ or you could just take a 10 minute stroll to POFQ and you are allowed to use the amenities at both resorts if you stay at either.

If I had to pick another moderate, I would go for CSR. The theming there really appeals to me too and they have a fab buffet style food court where you can use QS dining credits for your meals.

I do understand the nostalgia of a resort and to be fair that is partly what may keep us going back to POFQ every year. We stayed at ASMU in 2009 and I remember having a last minute panic about staying at a value resort and tried to change it and there was nothing available in my budget in the moderates (we were there over easter and spring break so the resorts and parks were PACKED!) I worried for nothing. We had the most amazing time at All Star Music and I am currently looking at a value for a quick solo trip later in the year and if I find a decent price for ASMU I will book it without hesitation.

There is nothing stopping you from going back there for a visit to rekindle the memories. You can't use the pool but you could go for a snack and a soda or lunch at the food court and take a stroll around, let the younger ones play in the playground there, take some photos and make an afternoon/evening of it, then head to DTD for dinner before returning to wherever you are staying

 

[catherine]

Sorry 2Tiggies - cross posted there!

Thank you for your reply, that really is something to think about! I'm not sure on FW - it does look lovely but it also looks huge! Needing to get a bus to the bus stop kind of puts me off a bit, and we don't drive.

However, the idea of adjoining rooms at a moderate is certainly a possibility. I mustn't let my nostalgia for ASMu stop me looking! Are there any you would suggest?

Thank you also for the reassurance on the 12 year old thing - PHEW!

We've stayed at FW without a car and didn't have any problems with transportation. Admittedly we only had two children. It was a lovely place to stay and we really enjoyed it. The cabins are quite big. There's one bedroom with bunk beds and a double bed and then in the living area there a pull down bed, which was actually quite comfortable. There's kitchen area with a full size fridge, dishwasher etc. I would definitely think about staying there if your going to get free dining and save a chunk of change!

 

[Sundancer UK]

Your replies are so helpful - thanks again

I'm taking a look at POFQ online, it is beautiful. How do I go about booking adjoining rooms though? If I want to check the prices, do I just need to book two rooms?

 

[LisaRobinsonUK]

You will need to pay for the flight for the 12 year old as an adult I'm afraid. Not sure how it works as a package but definitely adult in flying terms...
We are going to POFQ this year in May as it included the dining plan, it absolutely worked out cheaper than a value and having to pay for the dining plan!

 

[Sundancer UK]

You will need to pay for the flight for the 12 year old as an adult I'm afraid. Not sure how it works as a package but definitely adult in flying terms...
We are going to POFQ this year in May as it included the dining plan, it absolutely worked out cheaper than a value and having to pay for the dining plan!

Thanks Lisa. Is that with a table service plan?
I've suggested TSDP to DH but he's against it, saying that the flexability of the counter service wins. I've got to admit he has a point, especially when considering it's cheaper too.

 

[2Tiggies]

I've suggested TSDP to DH but he's against it, saying that the flexability of the counter service wins. I've got to admit he has a point, especially when considering it's cheaper too.

This is a very personal choice. I couldn't bear to have to think of doing reservations for a long stay and being tied to them. We eat at odd hours, skip a meal here, add a snack there as we need to and I love it. Others prefer a set break in the day to keep a routine going, especially for small children. You need to weigh up the pros and cons of both and just go with what you feel is best and don't look back. Although we have used the QSDP since it was first offered in 2009, with the exception of last year, we always just paid out of pocket for some character meals and it still worked out cheaper than upgrading (and paying tips on 14 TS meals) so that is another option for you if you want to get the little ones some character meals. Perhaps you and your DH could take turns and book 2 character meals and you take the little ones to one while he has the older ones and he does the next one while you take the older kids to do something else. That is assuming the older ones don't want to do the character meals. Kids cost (under 9s) for a TS buffet are pretty reasonable and the baby would be allowed to share from your plate at no cost. Also with a smaller party size you would not have an auto gratuity added for being a party of 6 or more (and they do count an infant as one of the party).

 

[OhanaSam]

You will need to pay for the flight for the 12 year old as an adult I'm afraid. Not sure how it works as a package but definitely adult in flying terms...
We are going to POFQ this year in May as it included the dining plan, it absolutely worked out cheaper than a value and having to pay for the dining plan!

We're staying there in May too. I really wanted to stay at AoA but POFQ with free QSDP worked out much cheaper for us aswell.

 

[Sundancer UK]

This is a very personal choice. I couldn't bear to have to think of doing reservations for a long stay and being tied to them. We eat at odd hours, skip a meal here, add a snack there as we need to and I love it. Others prefer a set break in the day to keep a routine going, especially for small children. You need to weigh up the pros and cons of both and just go with what you feel is best and don't look back. Although we have used the QSDP since it was first offered in 2009, with the exception of last year, we always just paid out of pocket for some character meals and it still worked out cheaper than upgrading (and paying tips on 14 TS meals) so that is another option for you if you want to get the little ones some character meals. Perhaps you and your DH could take turns and book 2 character meals and you take the little ones to one while he has the older ones and he does the next one while you take the older kids to do something else. That is assuming the older ones don't want to do the character meals. Kids cost (under 9s) for a TS buffet are pretty reasonable and the baby would be allowed to share from your plate at no cost. Also with a smaller party size you would not have an auto gratuity added for being a party of 6 or more (and they do count an infant as one of the party).

This is what we did last time We had the QSDP, and paid out of pocket for lunch at the castle for me and DD, breakfast for us all at Chef Mickey's and Dinner for us all at Ohana. If we can afford it I'd gladly do the latter two again, but could skip the castle this time (I would love to try BOG or Akershus though)

 

[Dimplenose]

You will need to specify interconnecting rooms if you decide to have two rooms. Adjoining rooms do not always have a connecting door.

 

[scottish mum]

The cabins at FW are beautiful. We stayed there a few years ago and we loved it. We never had a car and we still managed to get around the resort easily.

Money wise I think you will be better staying at FW and getting the QSDP free than staying at a value and paying for the QSDP. We had always stayed at All star movies before we went to FW, we loved the all stars and were sad at not going there but honestly the cabins were lovely. Getting the boat over to MK early in the morning is the most amazing way to arrive at MK

 

[Sundancer UK]

OK I wasn't sure how it's done, so I just went through booking twice for POFQ, once with one adult one child, and once with two adults and two children (it's not letting me do anything with infants). I'm guessing this is the way it's done and you phone to request adjoining rooms?

Anyway, I've done the booking through the disneygo website for ASMu, AOA, FW and POFQ, and compared. These prices are with indirect flights (will try changing that later) and include park tickets and QS dining:

ASMu - £8989
AOA - £9508
FW - £8214
POFQ - £8121 (added the two seperate booking prices together)


I was rather shocked to see that POFQ works out the cheapest option out of everything! Have I worked it out right??

 

[Dimplenose]

Two interconnecting rooms at ASMu will be cheaper than a family suite there- or at least it was when we did it for 3 adults and one child in the past.

You will still have two bathrooms but you don't get the microwave etc.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Two interconnecting rooms at ASMu will be cheaper than a family suite there- or at least it was when we did it for 3 adults and one child in the past.

You will still have two bathrooms but you don't get the microwave etc.

Another option I hadn't thought of! My eyes are melting from all the fake booking

Of course, this one wont include the dining though...

 

[2Tiggies]

Two interconnecting rooms at ASMu will be cheaper than a family suite there- or at least it was when we did it for 3 adults and one child in the past.

You will still have two bathrooms but you don't get the microwave etc.

Another option I hadn't thought of! My eyes are melting from all the fake booking

Of course, this one wont include the dining though...

Yes, this is true, but the reason I urged you to run comparisons on the moderates is that you will get your free dining. If you book at a value resort, whether a family suite or 2 connecting rooms, you have to still add on the £1200 odd for your dining plan (more if you opt for the regular TS dining plan).

Consider all the options. You said you wanted it as cheap as possible so what I would do is pick the options you think will work for you from the suggestions, disregard the ones that you won't consider and build around it to make it work for you