Starting to Plan Next Trip - Partial Meal Plan?

[justcynn]

This past week we had a very small taste of the Fort (2 nights) and yes we are hooked, we want to go for 7 nights before Presidents Day weekend (hopefully still value season). What we think we learned from this past trip:
1) having a golf cart was great, but if we had bikes and were in the 1500 loop (pop up), we could easily manage with out. 2000 loop was pretty far from most stuff - doable, but would not be ideal with our family as we would be all tired out riding around the park.
2) Eating at the camper was great, no real need to go out to eat a lot, we like being at the fort a lot, we didn't like the traffic associated with trying to drive about the area and definitely would not want to try and eat out everyday.
3) Driving 1430 miles one way to the Fort is totally worth it, we would do it three times a year if money were no object but since it is we want to go to the parks, stay at the fort 7 nights for a family of 5 for around $2500 or less all inclusive. For this trip we plan to get no park hopper passes, no water parks, no golf cart, value season camping prices, hoop dee do, and wife and kids fly down (I drive and work on the way the week prior).
4) We would consider the meal plan only if it saves us money, this is what I am thinking - get the meal plan for 2-3 nights, this should be about the price of the hoop dee do plus some snack money in the parks since two kids would save a lot with the 9 and under meal plan pricing.
5) Disney Tranortation is great, we think we can get back and forth to the parks pretty easily with just a little planning, we tested the ferry, monorail, buses and ferry again and it worked great.

6) While we didn't do it, it appears you could drive to the bus depot at the front of the fort and park there instead of wait for an intra fort bus to go the parks - true?

The main question is, can you get a partial meal plan for only 2-3 nights of a 7 night stay? If no - has anyone ever well you know, booked 3 nights at the fort and say DW booked the other 4 nights and well you know - booked 3 day tickets and then later upgraded to 7? My wife is a total rule follower, I well on the other hand make my own rules if the rules are not clearly stated

 

[BradyBz12]

If things haven't changed since '07 (confirmation anyone?) it can be done. You would have to book 2 separate reservations. The DDP is tied to your package (room/park tix), and based on the number of nights of your reservation.

You could definitely book a 3 night package with the meal plan and a 4 night package with campsite only and then upgrade your park tix once you get there.

We've booked consecutive ressies before and had them linked (when we went for 14 days and Disney would only let you book a 10 day package). Just keep in mind that they will tell you that you MAY have to switch sites, but they've never actually made us do that (we've done this 3 times in the last 5 years). If you're going a busy time of year I suppose it's much more possible, so that's something to consider.

Hopefully the only thing you should have to do is go to the Outpost to check out/back in on the changeover day - they'll issue you new KTTW cards.

Only thing to consider is that your meal credits expire on your "check out" day which means you would have to use them within the timeframe of the first package. You won't be allowed to carry over any credits to the other days.

While we didn't do it, it appears you could drive to the bus depot at the front of the fort and park there instead of wait for an intra fort bus to go the parks - true?

Yes you can if you really want to, but you may need to go out and park in the overflow lot outside the lift gate. I'm not sure if they allow long term parking in the immediate parking right next to the Outpost, and if even if they do, we've found that it's frequently full.

Not a huge deal, but it means when you get back you have to drive out of the lot, take a right, drive 2 seconds down the road and re-enter FW. Keep your KTTW handy to re-enter through the "returning guests" gate.

 

[YellowXterra]

The will not guanteer that you will get to stay in the same campsite for the second reservation. I tried to add 1 extra day to my trip I had to extend my current reservation with meal plan and tickets other wize a one night reservation I could have to move sites. I know sounds crazy but after 6 nights I amit moving other than to head home.

 

[clkelley]

Up until two years ago, just about every one of my Fort stays was done under multiple reservations for various reasons (discounts, length of stay, etc.) As long as you have the same level of site, (partial, preferred, premium, or full) you WILL NOT have to move.

I have NEVER had to move, and there are folks that stay there for months and have consecutive reservations and don't have to move.

Also another tip, on your package reservation, just get 1-day tickets for everyone. That keeps more of your money in your pocket until arrival, then upgrade your tickets to whatever you need. Also, ask if they can take the tickets off of your room key and put them on regular stock. That way when you switch to the new reservation, you can just put your old key cards away, and not have the potential of confusing them with the new key cards.

 

[bama_ed]

To the OP:

Be careful about the timing of your stay. President's Day weekend is typically when the winter Value season ends and they jack the rates up for the Spring. Here is a link from the AllEars site with the 2009 rates to illustrate my point. And I do mean, JACK them up!

http://allears.net/acc/faq_fw.htm

The rates are near the top of the page. So if you're gonna go make sure your visit concludes before the President's Day weekend. You should be okay rate-wise.

Bama ED

 

[justcynn]

Thanks everyone for the replies, 500 miles from home now, we are trying a full drive day as if we were driving to the fort in two days, the driveis 680 miles -kids and wife lasted 2.5 hours and now we are stopped...boy this is going to be a long day!

 

[BradyBz12]

I have NEVER had to move, and there are folks that stay there for months and have consecutive reservations and don't have to move.

Same here. We did split stays in 2004, 2006 and 2007. They will not "guarantee" you won't have to move - they probably can't "just in case" - but it's never been a problem for us.

Now that *might* be different than being there already and asking to add on some nights - especially during busy times of year.

 

[kaguilbeau]

-kids and wife lasted 2.5 hours and now we are stopped...boy this is going to be a long day!

Do you ever drive during the night? Even if it is 3-4 hours in the early a.m. or late p.m. maybe the kids would sleep.

Just an idea. . .