stick with free dining or go with AP and room discount?

[daraddg]

Just curious for opinions.We are currently booked for the end of August at WL for 8 days,std room, 6 days of base tix(1 adult a 10 yr old so also adult ticket and a 7 yr old) and upgraded to deluxe DDP(we love getting to dine on vaca) the trip is roughly $3200.We are driving so I dont need transportation and don't know how much we will use EMH
We are pretty sure we will be back to WDW around the same time next year so now I am wondering if we should go with an AP for all of us and hope for either a room only discount to open up for late Aug or stay off site? The AP would ensure we still park free,would give us more park days on this trip and offer us the hopping option and offer some discounts on other things(meals merchandise activities)and then when we come back next yr we wont even have to worry about tix and can maybe apply discounts again.
The down side being maybe not staying on site due to the added cost and maybe no room discounts anyway and paying OOP for meals instead of everything being in a convienient package.
We have never stayed onsite before and was looking forward to that and may be our only chance to do so but off site we could get a bigger room and one with a kitchen and maybe add a day or two to the trip also.
An example was Lake Buena Vista resort and spa for 10 days late aug 2011 in a 1 br suite was about $1000 through Expedia add $1448 for our APs and we still have around $800 left of our original package to put towards meals,we have a longer trip(10 days vs 8) and a kitchen, tickets to use next year, tickets for each day of our 2011 trip and can hop but aren't on site.What would you do?

 

[foxlore]

Well, I guess my first question is why are you coming in August and where you're coming from. If I were making the trip from out of the area I would never pick August or September - for any reason. I'm not trying to mess up your plans, but want to make sure you understand the pitfalls of coming to FL at that time. Unless you're acclimated to heat and humidity I would recommend another time of year. October up to Thanksgiving week is a good time. October can still be warm and depending on where you live may seem humid as well, but it's generally good weather. Hurricane season doesn't end until Nov. I know everyone gives good rates during hurricane season, but it's not a good rate if you're stuck in a motel room. IMHO it's gambling to come that time of year and I just wouldn't want to do it - but everyone is different. The 2 weeks after Thanksgiving are also great. The parks are decorated for Christmas as well as the resorts. That is my favorite time in the parks. Jan and early Feb are also very good times - especially if you're coming from cold weather. We may be freezing our tails off, but it should seem nice to someone from MN! Also low crowd levels. Then you start getting into the spring break thing... Generally May is a pretty good time as well to visit. I don't like crowds so even though I have an AP I don't go to the parks during the summer or spring/Christmas breaks. I hope this input helps.

Okay - as for the dining. If you do the full blown plan with table service it is A LOT of food. If you're not big eaters then you'll likely waste a lot. There really isn't a pat answer for you in regards to getting the room discount vs. free dining. I have managed to get both with my AP - you have to buy a one day pass, but still get the lower room rate and DDP. They may have changed that though - it's been over a year since we did it. We're local so we generally just go for the day. DDP is fun - being able to splurge on things you may not order otherwise. You might check out Coronado Springs too if you are wanting to cut costs a bit. It's a nice resort and the rooms were just redone about 2 yrs ago. There's quite a bit to do and the price is lower.

I honestly haven't ever stayed at a non-Disney property so can't help you much with that. I've heard good things about a number of them - especially the Royal Plaza. I almost stayed there myself when fam was visiting a few months ago. They had an amazing FL rate of $50 a night!! If you haven't checked out Mousesavers yet I'd recommend it - you may find some great room rates there. Also, the Swan and Dolphin sometimes have great rates.

I think the other thing to consider is your lifestyle. Are you going to be up and out early and then back to the room early or are you all night people? I keep telling fam and friends who visit not to do the park hopper, because they won't use it. They always add it and they never use it. LOL Generally, there is just so much to do - especially on a first visit - that you're not going to hop between parks. Now, we hop but we've been a million times. We'll often do DHS and then ferry over to Epcot for awhile. Anyway, think about what your lifestyle and travel style may be. If you're likely going to call it a day fairly early and head back to the hotel and do dinner later then having a kitchen might be nice. We nixed that idea on our first trip, because I knew there was no way I'd feel like cooking anything. The moderate and deluxe hotels have a mini fridge and microwave - that was perfect for us. We brought breakfast items (and of course our own coffee) we'd eat in the room and then head out for the day. We also had snacks for the evenings in case we were hungry. Oh and bottled water - you'll want to have plenty of that - the water in FL is horrid.

If you do decide to stay at a Disney property take advantage of the transportation. WDW is MASSIVE and it's so much easier to let someone else do the driving. Also, especially at MK, it will save you a lot of walking... and believe me you'll appreciate that after a full day at the parks. We don't usually do the EMHs either, but the exception I make is early open at DHS. If you can get there and do it it's worthwhile, because Toy Story Mania books quickly. Head right there, get a fast pass and then get in the standby line. You'll usually be able to ride it twice. It doesn't matter what time of year it is - FPs are usually gone by noonish and the lines are generally an hour or more... So, being early is a good thing for that ride. Also, the park will be busier on Fantasmic days, but it's worth it - your kids will love the show.

Anyway, I hope this helps and hope you have a GREAT trip!

 

[daraddg]

Thanks for the tips, we have been there in late aug before so I know what I'm in for Main reason we chose those dates, cheaper rates, and the kids aren't in school(we're from NJ), my daughter doesn't want to miss any school days and I don't want to do a trip over xmas or easter too many crowds.

We wanted to go with DxDDP because we really enjoy the resturants and having small kids it isn't something we get a chance to do normally.If I stayed off property the kitchen would be to use for breakfast mainly and maybe pack lunches?We didnt add the hoppers because we pretty much do a park a day but if we had the AP we may take advantage of the hopping to do most of our ADR's at Epcot.
and for room location it's a toss up, last time down we were out all day (from about 10a til 11pm in August 2010) but if we stayed on site it might be nice to take a break in the day.
I have til 45 days before to change or cancel so I may just sit on the ressie then and see if discounts for the rooms come up and work out the math then.Thanks for the help though! I didnt know I could add DDP to an AP room ressie.

 

[Karlzmom]

With the AP, you could pick up the TIW card and still get a discount on the restaurants to go along with the other savings.....

 

[daraddg]

How much is that card? I am wondering it the savings would balance the added cost?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The only thing I can say is no one knows when WDW will announce any Annual Pass room discounts for 2011. Right now they go up to December 25, 2010 and it's anyones guess when the next set of dates will be announced.

 

[su_A_ve]

At this point, you only have FD. Careful if you change it to a room-only as it's a different story, unless you make it into a package as well by adding tickets and dining.

To only add dining (and use your APs) AFAIK, you have to use an AP room deal, which it might not be the same as any %off deal.

I'd say just keep the current ressie and wait.

BTW, why not during NJ week? Weather is MUCH nicer! Or right before xmas. pull the kids out the last week (they don't do anything anyway)

Also, and specially on August, stay on property and use the disney transportation. You don't want to walk to the car. You'll be able to take a mid-day break as well. And consider moderates, specially if you are used to being on the parks all day.

 

[Karlzmom]

How much is that card? I am wondering it the savings would balance the added cost?

The TIW is $75, which means if you intend to spend $325 you will have broken even.......

 

[daraddg]

BTW, why not during NJ week? Weather is MUCH nicer! Or right before xmas. pull the kids out the last week (they don't do anything anyway)

My daughter says she does not want to miss school, we did that in 2009 (went from Oct 30-Nov 5)and she fell behind a little and didnt like it,believe me I've been trying to talk her into it,I'd rather go in the fall.My sister in law has been thinking about going during NJ week so I thought maybe that would win her over (getting to go with her cousin) but she is still saying she doesnt want to miss school
I'll keep my eye open for discounts and keep trying!

 

[daraddg]

would all 3 of us need a TIW card?

 

[su_A_ve]

My daughter says she does not want to miss school, we did that in 2009 (went from Oct 30-Nov 5)and she fell behind a little and didnt like it,believe me I've been trying to talk her into it,I'd rather go in the fall.My sister in law has been thinking about going during NJ week so I thought maybe that would win her over (getting to go with her cousin) but she is still saying she doesnt want to miss school
I'll keep my eye open for discounts and keep trying!

My older DS didn't want to miss school either. However, he noticed several of his friends go away on week long vacations, and he got the hang of knowing when he can or cannot miss school. Plus, with many teachers going online for homework and stuff, it's much easier.