Split stay with DDP- Questions...

[snorkelyn]

We are considering a split stay with 2-3 days at POR and 5 days at Poly. (because we want to see how our family of 5 does at at mod w/o monorail...to save $$ on future trips). We want to go in Sept, assuming we can get free dining (if not offered- we will cannot stay Poly). We want to stay at POR first, then Poly. So.....how will our dining plan work? I am assuming that the dining plans will be separate for each resort (cannot be carried over from POR stay to Poly stay).

How will the tickets work? We obviously want to get the discount of all 7-8 days, so we will not want to buy the first 2-3 days with the POR ressie, and then start over with full price tickets for the remaining 5 days at Poly. I won't be able to get the free dining unless I buy a package, right? Will that screw up my plan here?

Anyone done this before?

 

[dzorn]

You would need to buy tickets with each portion of the stay. You do not have to use those tickets though you could save the second set for future trips.

Denise in MI

 

[lovesdumbo]

You need to see what discounts are offered for the Poly before concluding that free DDP is the best. Often a room discount at the deluxe resorts is better than free DDP. A 30% discount on a GV room at Poly in September would be $140.06 per night. How many of your children are over 10?

 

[Missytara]

There is no way getting around it; a split stay in Disney Speak is just that - two separate and distinctive reservations.

You will need to run the numbers. Your package should be the first stay, so you can get your tickets, with free dining or a room discount; do the second half as a room only with a room discount.

Then decide which stay should be first, depending on how the numbers shake out.

At mods, the free dining seems to win out; at the deluxes, the room discount seems to be best. But it also depends on how many in your party and mix of adults/children.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Unfortunately Free Dining doesn't work financially for split stays.
You will need to meet the ticket requirement for the promotion at each resort (which I believe is 2 days tickets). For 2 short stays, your ticket costs will eliminate any savings from Free Dining.
The exception is if (as mentioned above) you can afford to buy 2 day tickets for everyone in your party and save them for a future trip.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

You need to see what discounts are offered for the Poly before concluding that free DDP is the best. Often a room discount at the deluxe resorts is better than free DDP. A 30% discount on a GV room at Poly in September would be $140.06 per night. How many of your children are over 10?

What dates are you looking at in Sept, I would love that rate at the Poly? I got $243/night with a 40% military rate

 

[snorkelyn]

You need to see what discounts are offered for the Poly before concluding that free DDP is the best. Often a room discount at the deluxe resorts is better than free DDP. A 30% discount on a GV room at Poly in September would be $140.06 per night. How many of your children are over 10?

Thanks for the reply. we are a family of 5 ( 3 kids 2 adults), and after I did the math with the rates I found, free dining was cheaper (but close). I wasn't finding the rates you you did! Please tell!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks for the reply. we are a family of 5 ( 3 kids 2 adults), and after I did the math with the rates I found, free dining was cheaper (but close). I wasn't finding the rates you you did! Please tell!

I think you misunderstood me. Sorry! The $140 would be the DISCOUNT not the room rate. You would compare that to the cost of DDP for the 5 of you.

I thought the current deal for the spring was 30% off at Deluxe resorts but when I took a closer look I see that the Poly is listed as only getting 20% discount.


The discounts are lower than they have been the past couple of years. Hope you get something great that works for your family!

 

[snorkelyn]

I am OP....I just saw something interesting on another FAQ thread about the ability to pick up package tickets up to 3 days prior to check in. My question is: If I do this, can I get free dining on my package too (if offered in Sept) My goal is to stay 3 nights at POR (no free dining is expected), than, move over to Poly for 6 nights on a package that includes free dining and *10* day park hoppers.



Here's what I found on the FAQ:


I. Picking up Package Tickets Prior To Start Of Package

In cases where Walt Disney World Resort Guests would like to begin using their Package Tickets prior to the day of check-in (up to three days in advance), the Guests will be directed to visit any Theme Park or DTD Guest Relations location and request Early Ticket Pick-Up. (Note this cannot be done at a water park.)

It is only valid for people with packages at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort. You can be staying off-property at the time you pick up the tickets. Note that if you have a package which includes Dining, although you can pick up your tickets early you cannot get access to the Dining until you have actually checked in to your Resort.

Note that since August 2011 the Call Centers have been telling Guests this cannot be done. However it is still a valid procedure and can be done with no problem at Park Guest Relations Windows.

There is a possibility that if your package and the stay prior to the package are at the same Resort that you will be able to get the tickets at the Resort and not have to go to a Park Guest Relations Office.

And the tickets issued will be valid for the entire stay; they will not receive valid tickets when they actually check-in to their resort. There is a strong possibility that the tickets you have received prior to check-in cannot be added to your KTTW on or after check-in.

I would suggest you copy down the following information if you are planning to upgrade promotional tickets. If the person in the window is hesitant to upgrade these promotional tickets, ask them go go into The Hub >> WDW >> Work >> Ticketing >> Processes & Business Rules >> Early Ticket Pickup For Resort Packages where they will see the procedure.

 

[snorkelyn]

I think you misunderstood me. Sorry! The $140 would be the DISCOUNT not the room rate. You would compare that to the cost of DDP for the 5 of you.

I thought the current deal for the spring was 30% off at Deluxe resorts but when I took a closer look I see that the Poly is listed as only getting 20% discount.


The discounts are lower than they have been the past couple of years. Hope you get something great that works for your family!

OK, That makes more sense! I did misunderstand.

Thanks.

 

[Lehuaann]

Yes, you can pick up your park tickets up to 3 days early from a FD package at any GR booth (DTD & parks) ...this is the way I do split stays. You just cannot get your dining credits early.