Stay at Swan and pay for our meals or stay at value/moderate with free dining plan?

[HeatherPage]

Currently we will be staying at the Swan the end of September with my parents paying for our room along with their room for 7 nights which is great but since the Swan is not affiliated with the dining plan we would have to pay for our own food (I'm not complaining, still an awesome deal as our room will be paid for). We can switch (if there is availability) to a value for those same nights (with parents still paying for our room - they said they pay up to $100/night for 7 nights for us) or a moderate with us paying the difference of the balance over $100/night (which I think would only end up being about $250 for the entire seven days) and get the free dining plan. My long drawn out question is we would be sacrificing the convenience, transportation and amenities of staying at the Swan for free dining at a value or moderate. I'm having a hard time deciding - we sure could use free dining, it's probably a no-brainer but I'm having a hard time deciding and know I need to decide today and switch so as to not lose out on the availability. Any opinions welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Aunt Jo]

We will be staying at the Swan too during the Free Food event but must confess, I never once thought of moving to a less expensive resort and paying rack rate to take advantage of the offer. Location is the first thing we consider and the most important to us. Our favorite location is any Epcot resort and we got a good rate at the Swan through dreamsres. I also must confess that we won't spend nearly as much on food as most folks - the reason being we are old (75/83) and DH has a delicate digestive system. We never eat a large meal late in the day - or even in the middle of the day - so our circumstances are quite different from the norm. And for that very reason, I really shouldn't be offering any advice. I understand your dilemma and wish you a happy time in WDW. At least, this post will give your thread a bump.

 

[patsal]

I guess you have to look at two scenarios, and your budget wil give you the answer. If you are able to book a vlaue resort you will save your parents about $23 per night and save yourself a minimum of $490--the actual cost you would have been paying to add dining plan for two adults if the "free" offer were not in place. Do you have tickets or will that be an add on as well--since that will change the $77 room rate when you add tickets.
You will pay about $238 plus tax more on a switch to a moderate. Plust ticket costs as well. I think, depending upon what you will be eatinf I'd stick withthe Swan==if you are already on a budget you would never be able to get deluxe accomadations for $100 per night. With careful planning and depending upon how you eat, I doubt you'd need more than the $490 to eat for seven days.

 

[robinb]

Will your parents remain at the Swan or will they move with you? I think it would be rude to stay in a different hotel if your parents are footing the bill.

 

[gigi1313]

i say go for the free dining! stay at a value or a mod... maybe cbr 'cause it's in the epcot area? or one of the PO resorts w/access to the boat to downtown disney...

of course, if you could swing it, consider the wilderness lodge as it's one of the lower priced deluxes and the extra you spend on room is what you will have saved on dining...

 

[HeatherPage]

Thank you for your insight. We actually already have 6 day park hoppers we bought through the Disney Store but I read on these boards that we could get just a one day MYW base ticket each as part of the package to qualify (for me, husband and 3 year old) so that would add what about $150-$160? It wouldn't be a waste as we would be able to use the 7th day while we are there. We still have to save our food/spending money for the trip which is appx. two months away. So to me it's saving up $800 or so by Sept. 24th (okay theoratically we could probably get away with $500) or switching resorts and getting free dining. I'm thinking I'm leaning towards switching to a moderate, paying the difference and getting the free dining. I'll mull it over a little while longer and make my decision by lunch time hopefully.

P.S. Husband is no help as he hates to hear about my planning delimmas and says just decide and let him know after the fact...sigh

 

[indigoxtreme]

Check with the Port Orleans Moderates, I believe your parents would love it and it has the boat to DTD as well. Since they are sister resorts facilities at both are open to you.

 

[AndyMcV]

I'd agree with Aunt Jo. Sure you might save a bit of money staying at a non deluxe resort but remember you'll be staying at a non deluxe resort. Do you value the "free" food or do you value staying at a deluxe resort for a week more. My advice would be stay at the deluxe resort. I think you and your parents will really enjoy the amenities versus a value or even a moderate resort. I can't imagine staying at a value or even a moderate when I could be staying at a deluxe.

 

[HeatherPage]

They are staying at the Swan as my dad loves the Epcot area. Why would it be rude? They don't care one way or another (as they've already told me). I see at least one if not both of my parents almost every day as we live in the same town so it's not like this is the only time of the year we will see them. When we go to Disney together we aren't glued to the hip - they do their thing and we do ours and we get together at least once a day to do something or go to a park (my dad and husband will be golfing together at least once). We were originally supposed to be staying with them offsite at Cypress Pointe (which we paid for half of the dues of the timeshare this year) to go towards that trip. So we were budgeting for some meals out but also some meals in. My dad decided he wanted to stay onsite and use the condo some other time (which I think is awesome) however now we have to budget more for food that we weren't expecting to have to do, in a shorter amount of time. If we were all planning to be up each other's behind 24/7 at the Swan then yeah I suppose it would be rude, otherwise we (parents or myself) don't see th problem in it.

 

[heatherfeather24]

I guess for me it would depend on how much I was planning on making eating a focus of your trip. I agree that the free dining is a fantastic deal, but DH and I rarely eat a sit-down meal every day on vacation.

If you guys are really interested in the dining, I say go for it -- when else will you be able to try so many excellent restaurants without really worrying about cost? If, on the other hand, you aren't big eaters, I'd take the luxury and convenience of the Swan.

 

[jana]

IMHO it's down to which "service" you'd make most use of.

LOCATION
The Swolphin's have a better location for Epcot and MGM for the rest of the parks it's no better. PO has a better location for DTD if you like going out at night.

ON SITE RESTAURANTS/entertainment
Swolphin has a better choice of restaurants, but PO is just a short ride away from DTD/PI which has many choices and IMHO is better than the Boardwalk area.

RECREATION
IMHO the pools areas of CSR and PO are both better than either Swan/Dolphin.

COST OF FOOD
Moderate resort is free (hard to beat). Don't forget that although the Disney Dining plan cost to buy would be about $500 that plan itself shows a saving over like for like costs of about $20-25 per day per adult. In reality the saving on food is going to be closer to $800 for the week.

If you're going to spend A LOT of time in your room,only eat counter service everyday and are only visiting Epcot or MGM I could see an arguement for staying with the Swan, however if you're spending most of your time away fromt he resort, going to eat once a day at a semi decent restaurant ( and with a 3 Y old one of the highlights of a trip is making use of the character meals) then IMHO it's a no brainer. The Swan may save you 3,4,5 hours in "convenience" time , but the other option saves you more than $500. Unless you're VERY well paid, IMHO that equates to earning a minimum of $100 per hour (or $50 per hour each) to pay for that convenience.

If someone promised you $500 if you gave them 4-5 hours of your time would you accept the offer? I would

 

[Blondie]

I'd agree with Aunt Jo. Sure you might save a bit of money staying at a non deluxe resort but remember you'll be staying at a non deluxe resort. Do you value the "free" food or do you value staying at a deluxe resort for a week more. My advice would be stay at the deluxe resort. I think you and your parents will really enjoy the amenities versus a value or even a moderate resort. I can't imagine staying at a value or even a moderate when I could be staying at a deluxe.

Ditto to everything Andy posted.

I guess it depends on how much food you really think you are going to eat for the week. We aren't big eaters, especially when the weather is warm. We have one BIG meal for the day (usually between the hours of 12 and 3pm) and just snack during dinner hours. It suits my family of 4 just fine. We rarely, if ever, order an appetizer (we'd never be able to finish our entrees) and rarely order dessert. I'd much rather walk off a big meal and pick up a pastry in Epcot/France, or similar later on.

 

[CarolynNC]

I made the same choice. I was booked at the Swan for the $99/nite rate. Then when the free dining opened up I compared the two. I'm traveling alone and have leftover tickets. The room only at the Swan for 3 nights is $331.16. I would need to provide my own transportation. The package at the POP for the same 3 nights is $322.43. That includes a one day non-hopping ticket which I will use (save 1 day of my leftover tickets), airport transportation to/from the hotel, and 2 meals and a snack per day. I know the Pop is not the Swan, doesn't have the close location, or the heavenly beds but I just couldn't pass up this deal. I made the switch. I've stayed at the Value resorts and Deluxe resorts and I'm sure I'll have just as good a time at the Pop as I would have at the Swan. I will also still be able to look forward to a future stay at the Swan. It's all good!

 

[robinb]

If we were all planning to be up each other's behind 24/7 at the Swan then yeah I suppose it would be rude, otherwise we (parents or myself) don't see th problem in it.

Who said anything about needing to be "up each other's behind"? When I take a trip with family and friends we always stay at the same resort because it's easier to meet up, do things, hang out together, etc. We're not attached at the hip or up each other's behind.

You say that your parents "don't care one way or another" but my question is: did you bring up staying at another resort for the free dining, or did they? A lot of people will say they don't care one way of another when they are approached with something when they really do care. Of course, you know your parents better than I do. Heck, I don't know any of you . If you think they really, really don't care ... then go for it. I *still* think it's rude to stay somewhere else even with the blessings of your family. Personally, it wouldn't be much of a family vacation for me if I stayed in at a different resort, regardless of who was paying.

 

[*Fantasia*]

The OP's question is regarding to whether to stay at the Swan and pay for the dining or at the value/moderate using with free dining.

The issue is NOT about where the parents are going to stay, or who is going to stay where... It's their business where the parents stay. Heck if her parents wants to sleep in the car and her and her family stays at GF, that's on them. It doesn't matter who is paying.. That's how they want it. Together in one room or seperate in different resort, they are still going to do some stuff together regardless.

Now... as far as the question. That's a tough decision. Swan is a deluxe and only $99 a night! WOW!! And location can't be beat! But because I am a POFQ lover and POP lover... with the free dining (I like treating my family to a nice restaurants and character meals too)... I think I would opt to go with the moderate and get a free dining.

What ever your decision... I know you and your parents will have a blast!! Enjoy!!

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks Fantasia and great photo by the way Well I've made the decision to stay at the Swan. My mom emailed something about my son this morning and in my response back I mentioned that I was going crazy trying to decide about the Swan or the dining plan. Her response was "Well, it would be nice if you all were next to us at the Swan, but if you feel it will save you a ton of money. Then your choice is the money part." So I let her know that I had been leaning towards staying at the Swan but didn't want them to think we were up their behind the whole trip and she said "We never feel you are up our butt. We enjoy being around you all." So that tugged at my heartstrings, and as I'm very close to my parents we'll be staying at the Swan, it's only money right? And...(hangs head in shame)...RobinB - I see what you were saying now. Thanks again for all the input from everyone!

 

[Dancemom03]

The question may be between free meals and the Swan but, when debating the merits of each, one consideration is convienence and location. If POP or even CSR were in the same location as the Swan, then I doubt there'd even have been a debate. When considering the merits of each resort though I think that the fact that your parents will be at the Swan must also be considered an amenity. Only you can decide how much value that has for you.

Free meals are nice. Being so close to the parks - and to family - is also very nice. While it may not look it in pictures due to the theming I think the Swan's pool is at least as nice as POR, CBR and definitely better than ASM or POP.

Until the last 4 or 5 years we always traveled with friends and stayed at different resorts. Because of resort preferences they'd stay at the CR and we'd stay at the Poly and meet for activities on and off. Even with both these resorts on the monorail it took a bit more planning to get places at the same time or to meet. The last few years we all started staying at the BC and I can't tell you how much easier and pleasant that made things. The kids especially liked being right down the hall instead of in different resorts.

What works for one doesn't always work for another and no matter what you decide there's likely to still be some second guessing, either before or after, since unlike the mouse, we guests are only human.
I'm sure whatever decision you make you'll have a terrific time. In WDW there are really no wrong choices for our family...

 

[Dancemom03]

Oops, sorry...
While I was distracted by my smallest princess for a few minutes you made your decision.
I'm sure you'll all have a magical trip and just think, you won't need to diet off those possible extra pounds after eating more than you thought because it was "free"!

 

[robinb]

So I let her know that I had been leaning towards staying at the Swan but didn't want them to think we were up their behind the whole trip and she said "We never feel you are up our butt. We enjoy being around you all." So that tugged at my heartstrings, and as I'm very close to my parents we'll be staying at the Swan, it's only money right? And...(hangs head in shame)...RobinB - I see what you were saying now. Thanks again for all the input from everyone!

Don't hang your head in shame! That's exactly what I was trying to say ... but wasn't doing a very good job of it. That your parents would probably want to be with you. I am sorry that it came out all super snarky. Please accept my apology.

ETA: Maybe you can convince them to change to CSR and you can all get free dining .

 

[gigi1313]

if you've got a big enough group going, it may be worth it to look into meal vouchers for some of your meals so they are prepaid... congrats on making a tough decision...