September/October 2013 check in

[Marlea98]

The falling dollar certainly is depressing. Unless people actually take the time to sit down and do the maths, I don't think they realise just how much of a difference each dropping cent makes.

With regards to the dining plan, did you see it has gone up in price again a few days ago. I've spent quite a bit of time doing the maths with the dining plan and it just doesn't seem economical. Especially not if you're like my family and often share or skip desserts if you're getting full. I've prepaid all our meals by buying Disney gift cards. I just to take care now that I don't loose them.

That's a great idea to buy the gift cards!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[PrincessInOz]

Can we still be added to the list?

Myself, Mum and Sister will be heading out to Disney on 16th September and coming home on 3rd October. We've got quite an action-packed time planned:

16-18Sept: DLR at Paradise Peir
18-22Sept: SSR
22-26Sept: 4-night cruise on Dream
26Sept-3Oct: Back to SSR, then home!

G'day ;0) I'm not much of a poster but thought I'd share 66 days until we arrive in New York for our month long USA adventure...76 days until our Disney adventure September 8-15 at Coronado Springs - we are beyond excited

Welcome to the Sept/Oct exodus!

 

[PrincessInOz]

bugger, didnt see that..so how much is it now???? I think we'll OOP this time...and no desserts isnt a bad thing...right???

We're doing OOP. With F&W, this gives us the flexibility to indulge in Blissful Bites without stressing about getting the best value out of a DD.

And with the pricing the way it is, for 3 adults we would be paying nearly $180 per day for the standard DD. I suspect it will be line-ball by the time we come back and check the maths. I'll take the flexibility for this trip.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We haven't done the DP since 2008. 2007 it was decent, 2008 not so, but it was free. After that, nope, stayed away from it. Admittedly, we were then DVC members and no longer booking packaged holidays with "free" dining. Because we prefer to do breakfast buffets and we're not adventurous when it comes to the counter services, or worse, opt to share 2 meals between 3, when we did the maths we found we weren't getting value out of the free plan, let alone paying for it!

This year, now they've made Tables in Wonderland available to DVC (as well as APs and FL residents), we're going with that and looking forward to making the most out of that. Much better for our way of eating - buffet table services and counter services at the hotel!!!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

The ddp increase is a bit confusing. If you booked your accommodation awhile ago you might still be eligible for old prices???

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/06/21/news-disney-dining-plan-price-increase/

http://www.mousesavers.com/magic-your-way-package-with-dining-plan-for-2013/

 

[5ofus]

I've prepaid all our meals by buying Disney gift cards. I just to take care now that I don't loose them.

That's a good idea, I might have to look into this... Do you know if the gift cards work at DL? How did you buy them?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

10 weeks, 70 Sleeps or 1678 hours to go

That's a good idea, I might have to look into this... Do you know if the gift cards work at DL? How did you buy them?

We used the same gift card at DL and WDW no problem

 

[jessiegirl84]

I' m getting really excited!! 90 days until we leave!!

We have everything booked! Got our free dinning for the first half of the trip and bought our halloween party to tickets for the day after the wedding 4th October!

I got so excited seeing this post this morning http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3124653
And i hope its true so our wedding guests will be able to take advantage of free dinning during their stay! I hope they make an announcement soon about extending Free dinning!!

I am so excited! Next month our cruise actuvities online opens up, not 100% sure what thats about but im excited haha!!

Not long for us all now

 

[australiankaren]

Welcome to the Sept/Oct exodus!

 

[australiankaren]

so have 3 choices....re dining

OOP everything using DVC/AP discounts (disc not much)

Disney dining for 6 nights @ $702 plus 2 OOP meals

TIW ($100) giving 20% disc including booze...+ oop meals



ok, just worked out that if I pay OOP for all meals I am $60 better off than dining plan, and that's including getting desserts etc which we dont normally get every meal....sorted !

 

[WanderlustNZ]

That's a good idea, I might have to look into this... Do you know if the gift cards work at DL? How did you buy them?

Yes, the gift cards are good at WDW, DL, US Disney Stores, Disney Store online, and Disney Cruise Line.

Although, I do think there is a type of gift card out there that is only good at Disney Stores. I'm not even sure people outside the US can buy this one, but do take a quick scan of the T&C's just to make sure you aren't buying one.

Where to buy them is the slightly tricky thing. They used to be available on the old WDW website (in the place where you buy tickets) and you could buy them in up to $500 increments. I bought some of these a few months back and it worked out great. I also got money from family and bought (on their behalf) a few gift cards for my son's birthday present. He's turning 6 while we're there and we'll surprise him by letting him use his giftcards to buy a few souvenirs.

However, when I tried going to the old WDW site the other day I could no longer find them. I tried the DL site instead and they are available there. Unfortunately though only in increments up to $100. I bought some more from there, as I wanted to lock in the dollar before in continued to decrease, and they arrived less than a week later by Fed Ex. Postage is criminal ($25) so you have to get your money's worth and buy quite a few cards. The postage probably wouldn't be worth it for just a hundred or so dollars worth of gift cards.

 

[australiankaren]

we may do Dining plan the first 5 days...then OOP the final 2.....the joys of a split resi...

1TS
biergarten
garden grill
akershus
coral reef
san angel inn

OOP
kona b'fast
sci fi lunch
t-rex lunch

mugs & counter & snacks.....

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice ADRs Karen.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

we may do Dining plan the first 5 days...then OOP the final 2.....the joys of a split resi...

1TS
biergarten
garden grill
akershus
coral reef
san angel inn

OOP
kona b'fast
sci fi lunch
t-rex lunch

mugs & counter & snacks.....

I'll match you a biergarten akerhus sci fi and T. rex


Will raise you BOG. CRT. Le Cellier

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'll match you a biergarten akerhus sci fi and T. rex


Will raise you BOG. CRT. Le Cellier

 

[Twilight Terror]

we may do Dining plan the first 5 days...then OOP the final 2.....the joys of a split resi...

1TS
biergarten
garden grill
akershus
coral reef
san angel inn

OOP
kona b'fast
sci fi lunch
t-rex lunch

mugs & counter & snacks.....

Nice choices! We still have to work that all out! Question: is dining plan really coming up cheaper than OOP/TIW? I just don't see it. Or are you going for ease rather than savings? Cheers

 

[australiankaren]

Nice choices! We still have to work that all out! Question: is dining plan really coming up cheaper than OOP/TIW? I just don't see it. Or are you going for ease rather than savings? Cheers

mate, I am just so muddled at the moment.....with tax time, superanuation, disney dining plans, aussie dollar exchange rate...my head is about to explode....i was going to do DP then now I just think "bugger it, I'll OOP"...the ease is great but it makes me crazy making sure i get max bang for my buck...stay tuned, I will change my mind again before this week is out!

 

[Twilight Terror]

mate, I am just so muddled at the moment.....with tax time, superanuation, disney dining plans, aussie dollar exchange rate...my head is about to explode....i was going to do DP then now I just think "bugger it, I'll OOP"...the ease is great but it makes me crazy making sure i get max bang for my buck...stay tuned, I will change my mind again before this week is out!

Aw I feel for you! Numbers must be coming out of your ears!!! it is, however, my task to work out all this stuff while my mum and sister work!

 

[australiankaren]

Aw I feel for you! Numbers must be coming out of your ears!!! it is, however, my task to work out all this stuff while my mum and sister work!

I am using a DP spread sheet i found somewhere....quite useful....and I'm still leaning towards OOP..also going to get some groceries delivered as we are in a 1 bed villa, so thats changed my numbers AGAIN!!!! we wont need to buy b'fast or lunch most days, just concentrating on TS at night.....and I think the mug would be more annoying than anything as the locations at boardwalk are few and far....so ordering 24 cans of diet lime coke...should get me thru the 7 days, just!.

enjoy the number crunching...its half the fun

 

[Twilight Terror]

I am using a DP spread sheet i found somewhere....quite useful....and I'm still leaning towards OOP..also going to get some groceries delivered as we are in a 1 bed villa, so thats changed my numbers AGAIN!!!! we wont need to buy b'fast or lunch most days, just concentrating on TS at night.....and I think the mug would be more annoying than anything as the locations at boardwalk are few and far....so ordering 24 cans of diet lime coke...should get me thru the 7 days, just!.

enjoy the number crunching...its half the fun

Totally agree with you there, the numbers are the fun part. I have one worksheet on my spreadsheet for food, which has where we are, likely meal choice and therefore total for meal. Then columns working out the cost per meal for OOP and TIW (minus the $100), so I know per meal and in total the differences!

I think the only way that TIW doesn't work is if you were a mean tipper and gave only 10% tip with every meal. I think if you give the standard 18% or even 20%, then tips cancel each other out and you get discount v. full price!

We are in a studio to start, then a 2-bedroom, and while we can and will cook a few miles, we're only holiday and don't want to do too much of that! We tend to eat smaller meals in our rooms to avoid having to do counter services, but with TIW allowing discounts at resort food courts, we can trade park CS for resort CSs and still save, so who knows what we'll end up doing. If we get groceries, we'll pop over to WalMart.

Now our only trouble is to decide which restaurants and when!