POFQ, free dining, basic tickets..good deal?

[orbaya]

I booked POFQ this morning with two 2-day basic passes (no park hopper, etc), and it includes free dining. The dates are October 27th-31st, so 4 nights. The price was $1200...is this a decent deal?

 

[unlvguy]

Is the dining really free? or part of the package? Did you book it on Disneys website? If it is free, then prob not a great deal. It depends on how many are in your party. Also you are going to be there for 4 nights/5 days and have only two day passes. Are you planning on going to other parks outside of disney

 

[orbaya]

Is the dining really free? or part of the package? Did you book it on Disneys website? If it is free, then prob not a great deal. It depends on how many are in your party. Also you are going to be there for 4 nights/5 days and have only two day passes. Are you planning on going to other parks outside of disney

When I booked, the confirmations states:

Park Tickets 2-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket Package Type: Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining Package Includes: New 2012 Package Inclusions
Special Rate Type: Magic Your Way Plus FREE Dining



There are two adults and one 2 year old. We bought the 2-day basic passes because we plan on going to MK one day and AK one day for sure. We won't be going to a park the first day we arrive because of our arrival time. We aren't sure how DS will handle all of this so we want to have a down day. If he's doing well, then we will probably get park hoppers for one day. On the 4th day, we will be checking out and driving to another place in Florida so probably no parks that last day because we need to leave early. So at most, we are looking at 3 days at parks.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think you probably did very well, but to know for sure, quote your trip on the Disney website with the 30% off your room offer has to be booked by Tuesday. Add the price of your tickets and $150 per day for dining and compare the two quotes, then you'll know if Free Dining is the right deal for your situation.

 

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

JerseyJanice,

What "Disney website with the 30% off your room offer has to be booked by Tuesday". Where is it on the web site.TIA

 

[JerseyJanice]

JerseyJanice,

What "Disney website with the 30% off your room offer has to be booked by Tuesday". Where is it on the web site.TIA

Go to the general Disney website www.disney.com. Click on "Parks and Travel" then choose "Special Offers" and next "Walt Disney World." You'll see the Free Dining offer on top and "Rooms" underneath. Here's what's listed for the offer:

Hurry! Book by August 14, 2012 and save up to 30% at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights August 15 through September 29, 2012. Take advantage of this special offer before it slips away!

 

[orbaya]

I think you probably did very well, but to know for sure, quote your trip on the Disney website with the 30% off your room offer has to be booked by Tuesday. Add the price of your tickets and $150 per day for dining and compare the two quotes, then you'll know if Free Dining is the right deal for your situation.

Thanks, I just looked and it looks like that offer ends on September 29th, and we will be there at the end of October.

 

[JerseyJanice]

My bad!

FWIW, I think PO FQ is an excellent choice for young children. It's smaller than most resorts so you won't be hiking all over to get to the buses and food court, and the pool slide is mellow enough that your 2 year-old can ride in your lap.

Just make sure you book ADRs ASAP. I choose mine by deciding which parks we want to be in which days and then I pick restaurants easy to get to from them.

 

[orbaya]

My bad!

FWIW, I think PO FQ is an excellent choice for young children. It's smaller than most resorts so you won't be hiking all over to get to the buses and food court, and the pool slide is mellow enough that your 2 year-old can ride in your lap.

Just make sure you book ADRs ASAP. I choose mine by deciding which parks we want to be in which days and then I pick restaurants easy to get to from them.

What are ADRs?

I'm glad to hear that we made a good resort choice! I read that they also have a playground so we will probably get some use out of that.

edit: ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations? I'm so new at this....how do I make reseverations? Do I only need to make them for the sit-down meals?

 

[JerseyJanice]

ADR stands for "Advanced Dining Reservation" and you will need them for the four Table Service credits you will receive in your Free Dining plan.

I'd read up on the Dining Plan and general restaurant boards here if I were you, but basically, the most popular table service restaurants will require an ADR to eat there.

TS credits can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In exchange for each credit, you either get a buffet or family style meal, or an entree and dessert at the a la carte restaurants.

With a two year-old, I'd make sure to book at least one character meal (maybe two). Chef Mickey's is great, but hard to get a decent time ADR for. The Crystal Palace has always been excellent for us, but DH balks at eating there because he can't get a cocktail there. :rolleyes

 

[JerseyJanice]

What are ADRs?

I'm glad to hear that we made a good resort choice! I read that they also have a playground so we will probably get some use out of that.

edit: ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations? I'm so new at this....how do I make reseverations? Do I only need to make them for the sit-down meals?

You and I were writing posts at the same time.

Yes, you need them for only sit-down meals. One thing you have to do is to budget for tips since they aren't included in the dining plan.

You can make ADRs on-line on Disney.com and over the phone at 407-WDW-DINE.

Make a plan of where you'll be each day, then figure out where you'd like to eat your big meal that day that's close to where you'll be. I find the Disney website helpful for doing this--you can choose a park or area and get availability that way.

So I think you said you were planning 2 days at Magic Kingdom and 1 day at Animal Kingdom. I'd choose 2 meals in the MK or at the monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge). If I could get Tusker House for breakfast, I'd go with that for AK day or I'd pick something at Downtown Disney since you can take the boat there. I'd do the 4th meal at the resort (Boatwright's) or some place on the Boardwalk.

 

[minnie mum]

OP, in your original post you were asking whether or no you got a good deal. On this package you are paying full rack rate for your room and full price for your tickets. Any savings on the free dinng plan comes with maximizing the use of your meal credits. In order to do this you MUST make ADRs for your 4 TS meals. It makes the most sense to make those ADRs either in the park you will be in that day or at a resort very close to that park. On your AK day, you could make your ADR for breakfast or lunch inside the park (try for Tusker House), or, since the park closes early, you could do dinner anywhere in WDW (including another park if you get park hoppers).

You may have difficulty getting your preferred restaurants since ADRs have been available for booking since March. Try to be as flexible as possible and you will find something you like, I'm sure. But don't wait.

 

[jamescanuck2001]

i would not do boatwright's.... terrible

instead, get an ADR for Raglan Road at downtown disney and take the boat from POFQ to DTD.. it is a wonderful way to have an evening/dinner out