So why am I not HAPPY?

[kimmar067]

I agree, its my understanding that if your arrival date falls into free dining then you get it for all the days. Also have no idea about NYC flights but we use AirTran and just last night got our flights back for $109 each! Also could you have him fly down a day early for free dining, stay in value the first night then resort hop to AKL? Hope it works out.....and the OP is correct its just money.....enjoy it!!!!

...if I knew that to be absolutely true, I might consider sending my DS and DH there on the 20th.... I don't know what day is his last day of finals though.....

 

[pilferk]

....it used to be that way, but I don't think that applies any more....

I know it works that way with free dining. 99% sure (and that's the report on the Dining boards, too).

Not sure with room discounts, though.

 

[pilferk]

Here's a link to an explanation (found via google...so not endorsing the travel agent services they offer):

edit: won't let me link there..but here's what it says...

To take advantage of this Disney World Free Dining offer you must Check In during one of the promotion dates.
You can extend past the Free Dining promotion dates, and you will still get free dining for the duration of your stay.
If you check in prior to the Free Dining promotion dates, you will not receive the free dining promotion.

You have to book by Sept 29th....and who knows what availability there is..but it's worth a shot.

You're going to pay rack rates for rooms and tickets (both are required) to get it. There was a good chance you were going to pay rack rate (maybe AAA rate) anyway, given your dates..and the ticket discount isn't THAT considerable between WDW and UCT. It's SOMETHING you can bring to hubby, at least.

 

[violetrose]

.....no, he's actually the one who keeps bringing it up.....when I did some prelim investigating, brtween the prices of the rooms and the prices of the flights, I don't know which threw me for a loop MORE....

Well just take yourself out of shock and book! It will be expensive to go at Christmas but just think how magical it will be. I would love to go at that time of year but DH is a cheapskate and wouldn't give me the go ahead. If he ever did though I would be booking that trip so fast it would make my head spin. Way before had a chance to change his mind.

If though you really don't want to spend the money could you possibly drive down? NY to Fla wouldn't be too bad.

 

[gwynne]

I know it works that way with free dining. 99% sure (and that's the report on the Dining boards, too).

Not sure with room discounts, though.

It does work that way with free dining.
It does not work that way with room only discounts.

When your room only reservation dates include some discount days, but not all...

I've had Disney handle this two different ways. I have no idea what the "real" policy is.
(CRO CM's aren't always consistent....as long as they end result is basically what I need, it's ok by me. )

1. On a 5 day trip, days 1-3 are discounted, day 4 and 5 are not. On a single reservation #, they gave me the discount on days 1-3, rack on the last two.

2. On a different 4 day trip, they gave me days 1-3 discounted on one reservation number. They would not include the last day, so I had to make a separate follow on reservation# at rack or AAA, can't remember which. I just made sure to mention at check in, I had a follow on reservation for the final night. It wasn't too inconvenient. I kept the same room for the entire vacation.

 

[pilferk]

It does work that way with free dining.
It does not work that way with room only discounts.

When your room only reservation dates include some discount days, but not all...

I've had Disney handle this two different ways. I have no idea what the "real" policy is.
(CRO CM's aren't always consistent....as long as they end result is basically what I need, it's ok by me. )

1. On a 5 day trip, days 1-3 are discounted, day 4 and 5 are not. On a single reservation #, they gave me the discount on days 1-3, rack on the last two.

2. On a different 4 day trip, they gave me days 1-3 discounted on one reservation number. They would not include the last day, so I had to make a separate follow on reservation# at rack or AAA, can't remember which. I just made sure to mention at check in, I had a follow on reservation for the final night. It wasn't too inconvenient. I kept the same room for the entire vacation.

Thanks!

I really wasn't sure and hadn't been able to hunt the info down on the boards. Been awhile since I went room rate discount hunting. We had a run in with FD last year, when my Mom and step-dad were coming along..and we adjusted their dates to get into a free dining period.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Sounds like the room only discount wouldn't amount to much because it would only be valid for a day or two of your trip. So if it were me I'd try for the free dining, since it will be valid for the whole trip if you can get someone checked in by the 20th. But it sounds like that would involve travelling separately. And of course there's no guarantee that there is even any free dining availability left. Call now and see!

 

[pilferk]

Sounds like the room only discount wouldn't amount to much because it would only be valid for a day or two of your trip. So if it were me I'd try for the free dining, since it will be valid for the whole trip if you can get someone checked in by the 20th. But it sounds like that would involve travelling separately. And of course there's no guarantee that there is even any free dining availability left. Call now and see!

She's going to want to stay at AKL, I'm guessing...which, typically, doesn't have the occupancy rates of the values and mods or "closer to the action" deluxes. She might get lucky.

Here's hoping!

 

[pilferk]

On avail:

I can see, on line, a package from 12/20 - 12/27, at AKL (savanna view), with free dining and 8 day non-hopper tickets, for 3 adults (kimmar, DH, DS) for around $5400. Knock $680 off for pool view, knock $760 off for standard view.

Take her $1000 off in GC's and points.

Minimum out of pocket, for Disney...around $3650 (using standard view).

So there's rooms to book around her dates.

 

[136368]

I always find that it is actually cheaper to stay in a five star hotel such as the Waldorf Astoria or Peabody than it is to stay in a nice Disney resort! Plane tickets are the sting in the tail, costing over £600 return

 

[pilferk]

I always find that it is actually cheaper to stay in a five star hotel such as the Waldorf Astoria or Peabody than it is to stay in a nice Disney resort! Plane tickets are the sting in the tail, costing over £600 return

Airfare for her is going to be rough, too.

Jetblue's fares are running around $500 per person, round trip, out of JFK. Delta's got some options around $400 out of JFK. Spirit out of AC is around $320....which are probably going to be her best bet.

But the X-mas premium is in full effect during that time frame.

 

[robinb]

I checked your dates at DVC resorts and all the studios are currently sold out. It is unlikely that you would find someone to waitlist for you, but it might be worth a try. You have considerable DIS "street cred" which would be in your favor. I also checked the Swolphin for you and you can stay at the Dolphin for $1938 for a week using your teacher's discount. The first few days are pretty cheap, but they double right around Christmas. Do you have any Starwood points you can use? Starwood runs a promotion that if you book 4 nights on points you can get the 5th night free so a 5 night stay would be 40,000 Starpoints. We stayed at the Swan last Christmas on points. You can also see if they have their 50% off rack rate available for those later dates. That only costs 1,000 points.

Another option, while not ideal, would be to stay at the Hilton on Hotel Blvd. The Hilton is a nice hotel, within walking distance to DTD, participates in the Hotel Blvd bus system and is $164 per night even over Christmas ($1291 for 7 days with tax). You also get EMH at the Hilton which is essential for that week.

ETA: If you don't need EMH the The Buena Vista Palace is only $939 for the week (plus $20ish per night in resort fees) and participates in the Hotel Blvd bus system. I stayed there when it was a Wyndham and it was fine. It is also across the street from DTD.

 

[136368]

I look at it like this: Nice airfares and hotels are nice, but not a necessity. Most of your time will be spent in the parks, which are where the magic starts. You can budget for the worst case scenario then scale up, ranking up a level of comfort at a time!

 

[PNO4TE]

....I know - there is NO way that I can take off from school though.... The earliest we could leave would be on the 21st...

OK, I am jumping in here and probably won't have time to read everything (sorry).

We couldn't leave until the 21st either because of my teaching schedule. It is what it is. My suggestion is to do the best you can with your airfare and then price out AKL, Swolphin and POFQ and present them to your DH.

We almost always stay at Deluxes EXCEPT at Christmas. Then we almost always stay at POFQ. It is quiet, small and the CMs are wonderful. It is considerably cheaper too.

Let him decide how much he wants to pay and then book it.

As for your meals, unless you want to eat at Counter Service spots, you need to make ADRs NOW! Over the past 14 years of being at WDW for Christmas we have heard CMs telling other guests with little children (over and over and over and over), "I am so sorry, but we don't have any availability until after the first of the year." These families were looking for Christmas Day dinner at restaurants all over the World and there was NOTHING available for them.

So, Miss Kim... get cracking!!!

 

[pilferk]

As for your meals, unless you want to eat at Counter Service spots, you need to make ADRs NOW! Over the past 14 years of being at WDW for Christmas we have heard Cms telling other guests with little children (over and over and over and over), "I am so sorry, but we don't have any availability until after the first of the year." These families were looking for Christmas Day dinner at restaurants all over the World and there was NOTHING available for them.

So, Miss Kim... get cracking!!!

I've been meaning to say the same thing:

Even if you end up not going...I'd sit down and make your possible ADR's now. Just in case. THEN, if you end up deciding NOT to go...you just cancel them. But at least you'll be set when/if you book.

 

[sbell111]

....and here's the thing: I'm one of those 'I'd-rather-stay-at-ANY-WDW-resort-than-stay-at-home' kinda gals, but during our most recent WDW stays, it was at the Deluxes and I know that my DH wouldn't be interested in staying at a Mod or Value anymore....

At the end of the day, you can't eat prime rib if your budget is McDonalds.

Save more or stay at cheaper resorts.

My wife and I have had great vacations staying at AKL and during peak times, but we have also had many terrific trips that were at the values during off-peak.

 

[gwynne]

OK, I am jumping in here and probably won't have time to read everything (sorry).

We couldn't leave until the 21st either because of my teaching schedule. It is what it is. My suggestion is to do the best you can with your airfare and then price out AKL, Swolphin and POFQ and present them to your DH.

We almost always stay at Deluxes EXCEPT at Christmas. Then we almost always stay at POFQ. It is quiet, small and the CMs are wonderful. It is considerably cheaper too.

Let him decide how much he wants to pay and then book it.

As for your meals, unless you want to eat at Counter Service spots, you need to make ADRs NOW! Over the past 14 years of being at WDW for Christmas we have heard Cms telling other guests with little children (over and over and over and over), "I am so sorry, but we don't have any availability until after the first of the year." These families were looking for Christmas Day dinner at restaurants all over the World and there was NOTHING available for them.

So, Miss Kim... get cracking!!!

This is absolutely spot on advice. I have thought a couple of times while reading this thread, make some reservations, right now.
Time's a wastin'!! Get your hotel booked. Make some dining reservations.
Price it out, run the $$, chose the # of days, (if you need to--maybe drop a day or so to get AKL to work, or possibly add a day or two at a mod?) and then start looking forward to a fabulous time!!!
(And I totally agree with poster above-The POFQ experience is lovely.)

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I checked your dates at DVC resorts and all the studios are currently sold out. It is unlikely that you would find someone to waitlist for you, but it might be worth a try. You have considerable DIS "street cred" which would be in your favor. I also checked the Swolphin for you and you can stay at the Dolphin for $1938 for a week using your teacher's discount. The first few days are pretty cheap, but they double right around Christmas. Do you have any Starwood points you can use? Starwood runs a promotion that if you book 4 nights on points you can get the 5th night free so a 5 night stay would be 40,000 Starpoints. We stayed at the Swan last Christmas on points. You can also see if they have their 50% off rack rate available for those later dates. That only costs 1,000 points.

Another option, while not ideal, would be to stay at the Hilton on Hotel Blvd. The Hilton is a nice hotel, within walking distance to DTD, participates in the Hotel Blvd bus system and is $164 per night even over Christmas ($1291 for 7 days with tax). You also get EMH at the Hilton which is essential for that week.

ETA: If you don't need EMH the The Buena Vista Palace is only $939 for the week (plus $20ish per night in resort fees) and participates in the Hotel Blvd bus system. I stayed there when it was a Wyndham and it was fine. It is also across the street from DTD.

DIS Street Cred! I love it!!! So true! IF there is the possibility to do a point rental, this will definately work in your favor. Also, while it is not the norm to use Disney gift cards for point rentals, it wouldn't hurt to ask. I don't own DVC, but if I did, I might consider taking a Disney gift card, as I'm going to be there enough to use it anyway. Or pay for your DVC rental with cash and use the gift card for food/tickets.

I second POFQ. We had only done deluxes before we stayed at POFQ last Thanksgiving. While it was outside hallways, we actually found it quieter than some of the deluxes as the sound can echo through the halls. They have Queen beds now, so the biggest difference is the halls. But we LOVED the small size, and it was a great escape from the parks. If you can get DH to head down on the 20th and check in to get Free Dining and then you and DS can head down on the 21st, that may be your best bet. Good luck!!!! (and make some ADR's today!!!!)

 

[kimmar067]

It does work that way with free dining.
It does not work that way with room only discounts...

....HOO BOY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT!

I've had Disney handle this two different ways. I have no idea what the "real" policy is.
(CRO CM's aren't always consistent....as long as they end result is basically what I need, it's ok by me. ).....

.....I know - and that's what I'm afraid of too....

 

[kimmar067]

....ooooooh, I'm sure lovin' all the help and suggestions!!! Keep 'em coming!