Split Stay Free Dining?

[I❤MICKEY]

Hello all.

Starting to plan our WDW trip. Now that we have two small children we are looking to stay on property. We have never done that before.

I would like to experience two different resorts (Animal Kingdom Lodge - savana view and Beach Club - pirate room). I plan to stay for 8 nights and was thinking 4 nights at each location but open to change that if necessary. Can I get the free dining offer if I stay at multiple locations as long as I have a total of 6 nights?

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I think there is a 5 night minimum for free dining. Staying at two resorts means two reservations so I'm thinking this may not work out. Call and see!

 

[lvloopingbag]

Splitting the stay is not the most cost-effective thing to do as each resort is a separate reservation which requires at least 2 day base passes in each.....

 

[clanmcculloch]

The problem with a split stay when using the free dining promotion is that you have to purchase tickets with each stay. That's a lot of extra money to shell out in order to stay at a second resort. If the second reservation is a room only reservation rather than a free dining reservation then a split stay can work assuming you met all the requirements for the free dining promotion in the first reservation..

 

[plutolovr]

I think there is a 5 night minimum for free dining. Staying at two resorts means two reservations so I'm thinking this may not work out. Call and see!

No, there is only a 3-night minimum stay for free dining...

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Hmmm. A lot to consider. I really want to stay at AKL the entire time but the cost is too much. Maybe we will do a room only for 2 nights just to get the experience. And then stay someplace else for our package with the free dining. Disappointed that it is considered two separate reservations if you book them together.

Do you know if we do the value hotel and get free dining can we upgrade the dining to the table service option?

 

[purple figment]

Do you know if we do the value hotel and get free dining can we upgrade the dining to the table service option?

Yes, you would pay the difference between the 2 plans - in this case the value of the QS and the DDP or DxDDP.

Also you would be able to pick up your park tickets up to 3 days in advance of when your dining plan resort reservation goes into effect. You just won't have access to the dining plan credits until you check into the value resort. The Ticket Sticky on the Theme Park Strategies board gives the information on how to pick up tickets early.

 

[mousefan1972]

I think you mean Caribbean Beach, not Beach Club. There are no Pirate rooms at Beach Club, and BC is more expensive than AKL.

 

[stitch34]

Yes, you can upgrade your free dining, just pay the cost difference.

best bet would be do first part of your stay with free dining at one resort... and then do your last day or two room only at AKL, and then out of pocket for whatever dining you do during your AKL stay.

 

[Lehuaann]

Hmmm. A lot to consider. I really want to stay at AKL the entire time but the cost is too much. Maybe we will do a room only for 2 nights just to get the experience. And then stay someplace else for our package with the free dining. Disappointed that it is considered two separate reservations if you book them together.

Do you know if we do the value hotel and get free dining can we upgrade the dining to the table service option?

We always book 2 nts room only at AKL and then the rest of our stay at a Mod with FD. That way we pay for one set of park tickets.

Yes, you can upgrade from QS to DDP at a Value Resort. However - to upgrade from QS to DDP at a Value **vs** a Mod w/ DDP already included - there is not too much difference in price for the extra amenities you get with a Mod. Something like around a $200 difference. At least it used to be...

 

[WSLover]

Why don't you stay at CBR in a pirate room for most of your trip then switch for a few nights at the end to AKL. You will have dining plan for most of the trip and you can get your park tickets for the full number of days you need. We did this a few years ago - spent 5 nights at CBR with dining plan and then switched to Poly for 3 nights with no dining but a room only discount. The dining plan is good until midnight of the day you check out so you will still have it for the first day you are at AKL. They will switch your park tickets over to your new room key when you check in at AKL.