Question about "free dining"...

[steph124ny]

I have just started researching our trip for 2011 and OY!!!! Very overwhelming! LOL!

Here is our breakdown...we will be driving from NY. I simply cannot pay airfare. There will be 3 adults and 4 kids. (Ages 15, 13, 5, and 1 at time of travel.) I am planning on 2 rooms at Port Orleans Riverside (unless I could get a significant discount at a deluxe resort). I am basically going to really try to pick dates around free dining plans which would be a HUGE savings for us. From what I read on Mousesavers, the last week in August into Labor Day weekend would be a good bet for lesser crowds and a good chance of free dining. I know it will be crazy hot, but we routinely go to Vegas in August and Myrtle Beach over the summer...so I think we'll deal with it OK.

My question is this...what is actually included when they offer free dining? Can you use other discount codes along with it, or is it assuming a full price room?

I'd also like advice on whether you think it might be better to wait until December? I wouldn't have to include waterparks then and I'm sure it would be easier with the baby...but I'm afraid it would be almost too cold? Would my big kids be missing out by not hitting the waterparks? This is not a trip I can repeat anytime soon...so I'm almost thinking the heat of the summer would be better?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Jenn4615]

It depends what dining they decide to do for free... in the past it has been regular dining plan. This year people are speculating it will be the quick service dining plan...
Regular dining plan... One sit down, One counter service, One snack per person per day... kids must choose from Kids menu when available
Quicks service Dining is 2 counter services per day and 2 snack per day per person...along with resort refill mug.
You can not stack discounts at disney.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Welcome!

You can't combine discounts. If you get free dining, that means paying rack rate for the room.

Have fun researching and planning your trip, and be warned that it's addictive!

 

[steph124ny]

Welcome!

You can't combine discounts. If you get free dining, that means paying rack rate for the room.

Have fun researching and planning your trip, and be warned that it's addictive!

That leads to another question...do you think I would save more money with a discount code on the room and pay for the dining plan? We were really more interested in the one with a Sit Down meal anyway...hmmm...too many choices!!! LOL!

 

[Nicolepa]

That leads to another question...do you think I would save more money with a discount code on the room and pay for the dining plan? We were really more interested in the one with a Sit Down meal anyway...hmmm...too many choices!!! LOL!

When I ran the numbers a few years ago the free dining only made sense if you stayed at in a value. Otherwise the room discounts (at least at the time) were better than the dining. But for you it might be different as 2 of your children are adults according to Disney, mine were little.

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't start planning for discounts for 2011. There have been years where NO discounts at all were offered. Where pin codes and annual pass discounts were rare.

Plan your trip for the time you most want to go. If a discount is offered for that time, grab it. If not, go.

If I were saving money with a large family, I'd stay offsite renting a multiunit timeshare and cook breakfast and dinner offiste. I'd eat limited meals in the parks. You will have a car anyway.

I think you'd miss a lot by going in December when its cold. My kids are ten and eleven - waterparks are the highlight of the trip.

 

[owensamo]

Temperatures in December can range from freezing to downright hot. At least one waterpark is open, so if it's warm enough, you can still take advantage.

One of the best things about December is the decorations and the atmosphere - the holidays are awesome! All kinds of special activities and events that you don't see during the summer (when all you get is heat, crowds and long lines).

If you want to stay onsite and save some money, you could try looking into renting a 2-bedroom villa from a DVC member. They sleep up to 8 or 9. Otherwise, you might be better off with an offsite condo or house (though remember to factor in the $14+/day parking if you stay offsite).

 

[RMulieri]

It depends on what ,if any ,free dining is offered.If it is the program requires you to pay full price on a resort room with minimum of 1 day park ticket per person and you get the dining plan free.No other discounts can be applied.At this point, there is no word on whether the Free dining will be offered, and if it is, will it be for the counter service plan or the regular plan.

 

[Minnie*bell]

I have just started researching our trip for 2011 and OY!!!! Very overwhelming! LOL!

Here is our breakdown...we will be driving from NY. I simply cannot pay airfare. There will be 3 adults and 4 kids. (Ages 15, 13, 5, and 1 at time of travel.) I am planning on 2 rooms at Port Orleans Riverside (unless I could get a significant discount at a deluxe resort). I am basically going to really try to pick dates around free dining plans which would be a HUGE savings for us. From what I read on Mousesavers, the last week in August into Labor Day weekend would be a good bet for lesser crowds and a good chance of free dining. I know it will be crazy hot, but we routinely go to Vegas in August and Myrtle Beach over the summer...so I think we'll deal with it OK.

My question is this...what is actually included when they offer free dining? Can you use other discount codes along with it, or is it assuming a full price room?

I'd also like advice on whether you think it might be better to wait until December? I wouldn't have to include waterparks then and I'm sure it would be easier with the baby...but I'm afraid it would be almost too cold? Would my big kids be missing out by not hitting the waterparks? This is not a trip I can repeat anytime soon...so I'm almost thinking the heat of the summer would be better?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey! SO,I just wanted to let u know my DH & I went last Nov & got free dining. That was awesome we saved about $1,000 for the both of us on our trip. Whenever u decide to go def. do the waterparks it IS worth it even if u only go 2 days or a few 1/2 days. Its worth the extra $. [oh, but only worth the extra if u stay a week or more;]

 

[steph124ny]

Hey! SO,I just wanted to let u know my DH & I went last Nov & got free dining. That was awesome we saved about $1,000 for the both of us on our trip. Whenever u decide to go def. do the waterparks it IS worth it even if u only go 2 days or a few 1/2 days. Its worth the extra $. [oh, but only worth the extra if u stay a week or more;]

We are now thinking of enduring the overwhelming heat and going the week before school starts (Last week of Aug. into Sept. for us in NY) so we can do the waterparks. I really feel like we'd be missing out if we didn't. I always feel like it just isn't a vacation without a tan and a bathing suit involved! LOL! I might also extend a day or two if possible...or maybe even try for a condo..

Too many choices!!! But I have time so it's all good!

 

[gwiz5kids]

My family is also going the end of august right before school starts. I think that your kids would probably like having a fun Disney vacation to end the summer. Just plan your vacation around what you can afford and pray for a discount. It's a lot less stressful when you can get a discount that you weren't expecting.

 

[steph124ny]

My family is also going the end of august right before school starts. I think that your kids would probably like having a fun Disney vacation to end the summer. Just plan your vacation around what you can afford and pray for a discount. It's a lot less stressful when you can get a discount that you weren't expecting.

Yeah...that's what I'm thinking. I've changed my mind so many times in 2 days that my husband just told me it's a good thing we have 18 months to plan because I'm going to need every minute of it!!! He knows me too well....

But if it was up to him, we'd just hit the road with no reservations or maps...and then he'd get mad that it didn't work out the way he wanted... That's why I make all the travel arangements...