Second guessing all my decision

[desiree71081]

This is my first time planning a DW vacation. Actually, this is my first time planning any vacation as this will be our very first family vacation. Because I am a novice at this vacation thing, I am second guessing every decision I am making.

Here are the details of our trip. March 1-7. There will be 9 of us going. There will be 3 adults and 6 children ages, 6 months, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17. Previous reservations made did not include the 10 year old. We are staying in two rooms at the Pop Century Resort with a 5 day park pass with no park hopper. By adding the 10 year old it brings up a couple of problems.

Problem 1: Without the 10 year old, we would have all fit into my Acadia but would have been really squished. Adding the 10 year old, we won't all fit. Our options are to ask the 3rd adult (DH's cousin) to drive his own vehicle and pay his own gas (we were previously going to split the cost of gas), or rent a 15 passenger van which could cost up to $800 for the week plus the cost of gas. This will be an 11-12 hour trip one way.

Problem 2: We currently have the dining plan with the quick service and table service. I am just realizing that 18% gratuity will be added because of the amount of people we have. This could get rather expensive so I am considering going to the quick service dining only. I called DW to get different prices and options but their computers are acting up right now and I will have to call back later.

Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thank!!!!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

This is my first time planning a DW vacation. Actually, this is my first time planning any vacation as this will be our very first family vacation. Because I am a novice at this vacation thing, I am second guessing every decision I am making.

Here are the details of our trip. March 1-7. There will be 9 of us going. There will be 3 adults and 6 children ages, 6 months, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17. Previous reservations made did not include the 10 year old. We are staying in two rooms at the Pop Century Resort with a 5 day park pass with no park hopper. By adding the 10 year old it brings up a couple of problems.

Problem 1: Without the 10 year old, we would have all fit into my Acadia but would have been really squished. Adding the 10 year old, we won't all fit. Our options are to ask the 3rd adult (DH's cousin) to drive his own vehicle and pay his own gas (we were previously going to split the cost of gas), or rent a 15 passenger van which could cost up to $800 for the week plus the cost of gas. This will be an 11-12 hour trip one way.

Problem 2: We currently have the dining plan with the quick service and table service. I am just realizing that 18% gratuity will be added because of the amount of people we have. This could get rather expensive so I am considering going to the quick service dining only. I called DW to get different prices and options but their computers are acting up right now and I will have to call back later.

Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thank!!!!

Since this is your first trip, I would suggest not having the table service dining plan. It takes up a lot of your time and since you are thinking that the gratuity is going to be a lot of extra $, drop it. Make sure you do it before the 45 day mark. You could keep 1 or 2 table services if you wanted to make the trip special. My kids don't like to have the table service plan every trip b/c they would rather be at rides/shows. Most people on the boards, including me, would not pay for the quick service plan. If you look at all ears menus and pricing, most of the time you are breaking even with costs if you are lucky. You may end up paying more with the plan than out of pocket. Many qs meals can be shared. Your kids might be better off sharing an adult meal than being forced to get a kids meal since kids meals don't have as much variety.

Sorry I don't know what to tell you about the vehicles since we always fly. Have a fun trip!

 

[Spunky946]

So just wondering who the 10 year old is and why they may or may not come with you?

Have you talked with the third adult? I'd probably start there and see what they say.

Whether they add on the 18% you are still going to pay the tips, so I'm not sure what the problem is. For instance even if I just go with my party of 4, I"m still tipping the waitress and probably paying the 18%

I guess I'm not sure what your questions are?

 

[ADisneyQueen]

She's saying that if she drops the table service plan she will only eat quick service and won't be paying any tips.

 

[desiree71081]

So just wondering who the 10 year old is and why they may or may not come with you?

Have you talked with the third adult? I'd probably start there and see what they say.

Whether they add on the 18% you are still going to pay the tips, so I'm not sure what the problem is. For instance even if I just go with my party of 4, I"m still tipping the waitress and probably paying the 18%

I guess I'm not sure what your questions are?

The 10 year old is my step son. He had originally told us he didn't want to come on vacation with us. We did not tell him where we were going. Things have changed since then and he is coming to our house more and we think he may end up changing his mind about coming.

As far as dining, I am trying to decide if I want to stay with the table service (having to pay tips) or change to all quick service (no tips). I just got off the phone with DW and we were able to get free dining!!!!! So that saves us ALOT of money on this trip.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I remember reading this about the step son not wanting to go but I guess now he wants to go. Which I think is great!

On a 6 day first trip with 5 day tickets I would drop the TS plan and stay clear of any meal plans. I would do one or two TS. I would pay OOP for all meals.

You can save a lot on QS meals and splitting adult meals between the kids. They are much better than most kids meals with more variety.

I split with DD when we go. She likes different foods. Adult burgers. Adult nuggets. Fish and chips. DS used to share with her.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

The 10 year old is my step son. He had originally told us he didn't want to come on vacation with us. We did not tell him where we were going. Things have changed since then and he is coming to our house more and we think he may end up changing his mind about coming.

As far as dining, I am trying to decide if I want to stay with the table service (having to pay tips) or change to all quick service (no tips). I just got off the phone with DW and we were able to get free dining!!!!! So that saves us ALOT of money on this trip.

Wow that is great about the free dining! Did you get free quick service or free table service? Maybe I need to call and see if I have a free dining pin attached to my name....

 

[desiree71081]

Wow that is great about the free dining! Did you get free quick service or free table service? Maybe I need to call and see if I have a free dining pin attached to my name....

I think it was either plan, I decided to go with only quick service.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I think it was either plan, I decided to go with only quick service.

What they may have been offering you was free quick, but you could pay a little more and get table. That is what they offer at value resorts.

 

[FreeThinker]

Could the 3rd adult fly? I'm thinking a single plane ticket would be cheaper than renting and gas.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Take the extra car and still split the gas. 15 passenger vans really don't work well for luggage anyway. There's less room behind the 5th row than there is behind the 3rd row in your Acadia. I would move more people to the other car, fold your 3rd row flat, and take advantage of your cargo area for luggage (fellow Acadia owner).

 

[mlneryder]

How are you getting offers for free dining?

 

[squirrel]

There is a package deal that includes dining. QSDP at value resorts and DDP at moderates and deluxe resorts.

I saw it posted on Facebook and it mentions that it covers most Canadian spring breaks.

 

[kristac]

Any more info on how to get free dining?

I am traveling during those same dates and can't seem to get the option to come up.

My TA says you need a pin and it is only select return customers- but OP said this was their first trip??

 

[squirrel]

Any more info on how to get free dining?

I am traveling during those same dates and can't seem to get the option to come up.

My TA says you need a pin and it is only select return customers- but OP said this was their first trip??

Not that hard - go to their Facebook page and scroll down. Here's a link https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/stay-play-dine-save/?CMP=SOC-WDWFY12Q2FBDM0999

 

[kristac]

Not that hard - go to their Facebook page and scroll down. Here's a link https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/stay-play-dine-save/?CMP=SOC-WDWFY12Q2FBDM0999

Thanks- but this is an offer for Canadians only. I live in the US. OP was from Louisiana I think.

 

[amylevan]

Problem 1: Without the 10 year old, we would have all fit into my Acadia but would have been really squished. Adding the 10 year old, we won't all fit. Our options are to ask the 3rd adult (DH's cousin) to drive his own vehicle and pay his own gas (we were previously going to split the cost of gas), or rent a 15 passenger van which could cost up to $800 for the week plus the cost of gas. This will be an 11-12 hour trip one way.

Even without the 10 yr old, there is no way I would drive 11-12 hours with that many people in an Acadia. Don't forget that you need room for luggage as well. Plus, you have a carseat for the youngest. Nope. Take 2 cars and spread out between the 2.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I remember reading this about the step son not wanting to go but I guess now he wants to go. Which I think is great!

On a 6 day first trip with 5 day tickets I would drop the TS plan and stay clear of any meal plans. I would do one or two TS. I would pay OOP for all meals.

You can save a lot on QS meals and splitting adult meals between the kids. They are much better than most kids meals with more variety.

I split with DD when we go. She likes different foods. Adult burgers. Adult nuggets. Fish and chips. DS used to share with her.

This is a great idea. I find too much food on the TS and takes up too much valuable park time. Even with the QS there is a drink and desert added, sometimes two a day with a snack still is a lot of food vs the room discount with OOP being a better bargain, but if you compare with the tickets your comparative cost that may decide.

Instead of a bigger car, do you think you could package luggage and send it ahead. We tend to over pack and the last trip I realized everything we (I) used in 8 days fit in a 22" suitcase. Take a soft side roof carrier, but put plastic yard trash bags over them before putting them in.

 

[desiree71081]

After discussing with DH that I wasn't comfortable driving a 15 passenger van, he asked me what other suggestions I had. I told him that cousin could drive his own vehicle or if he didn't trust his car on that long of a drive, we could rent a small car and he could drive that.

DH's parents have an extra vehicle so he called mom to see if he could borrow it and it just so happens that they are going on a cruise that week and won't need their vehicle anyway.

So, we will be taking two vehicles and I can drive my own car!!!!!