Switch for Dining or no?

[lacy1101]

I think I would switch to CSR w/free dining. We have stayed at CSR and everyone above who has said it is a beautiful resort is right. Not that AKL isn't . . . we have stayed there as well. The deciding factor for me would be the fact that it appears that free dining is on its way out. Since it seems like you could book AKL for a future stay with or without free dining (since you had originally booked it for your upcoming trip), why not save that experience for a future trip, after free dining has gone by the wayside, and experience a trip with free dining? I personally love the dining plan, don't find it restrictive at all!

We are faced with a similar dilemma ourselves this trip, but its somewhat opposite from your's - we had a trip booked at POFQ and were paying for the dining plan (POFQ excluded from free dining promotion) for around $3800. My plan was to keep watching to see if a free dining offer at a moderate became available and then switch. In the meantime, however, I managed to snag the Boardwalk w/free dining for $3900. Even if a moderate free dining offer becomes available for us (and we could potentially save around $1000), I am strongly leaning toward keeping our Boardwalk reservation. IF free dining does, in fact, disappear in the future, we would never spend the money to stay deluxe and pay for the dining plan, but would stay moderate and pay for it.

 

[Delphinidae]

I think I would switch to CSR w/free dining. We have stayed at CSR and everyone above who has said it is a beautiful resort is right. Not that AKL isn't . . . we have stayed there as well. The deciding factor for me would be the fact that it appears that free dining is on its way out. Since it seems like you could book AKL for a future stay with or without free dining (since you had originally booked it for your upcoming trip), why not save that experience for a future trip, after free dining has gone by the wayside, and experience a trip with free dining? I personally love the dining plan, don't find it restrictive at all!

We are faced with a similar dilemma ourselves this trip, but its somewhat opposite from your's - we had a trip booked at POFQ and were paying for the dining plan (POFQ excluded from free dining promotion) for around $3800. My plan was to keep watching to see if a free dining offer at a moderate became available and then switch. In the meantime, however, I managed to snag the Boardwalk w/free dining for $3900. Even if a moderate free dining offer becomes available for us (and we could potentially save around $1000), I am strongly leaning toward keeping our Boardwalk reservation. IF free dining does, in fact, disappear in the future, we would never spend the money to stay deluxe and pay for the dining plan, but would stay moderate and pay for it.

I have used the plan before and I also don't find it restrictive and I don't have trouble keeping up with credits as I've seen others mention. I liked using it the time we had it because instead of trying to see which restaurant was the most affordable, it was just "ok, here's how many places we're eating, let's pick!"

Several have mentioned the fact that Free Dining may be on its way out, and I would like to use it while I have a chance. Of course I know it isn't "free" as it will cost an extra $500 for us, but I really think we will spend more than that on food OOP unless we bring sandwiches every day to eat. The thing is, I don't know if I will be able to book AKL again for a different trip because we normally cannot afford deluxe resorts and I don't know if I'll get a deal like I have now again. CSR with the free dining is just a smidge over $3000 and we have AKL booked for $2500, and these prices are already pushing it for our family. I'm trying to get input from them to see what they would all rather do but they all keep changing their minds too!

In your case, you were booked at my favorite resort! For only $100 more I would have switched too though. I wish POFQ wasn't excluded because I love it there!

 

[Kimberly9701]

I rent DVC points so I can afford to stay deluxe. A couple of years ago I took a last minute trip and couldn't get a DVC rental so I had to stay at POP. I promised myself I'd not stay value again. There is absolutely nothing wrong with POP, but I was spoiled. Hearing people talking as they as they towed their luggage along the cement walkway outside my room at 3:00am was the kicker. I've not stayed in a moderate lately so I can't compare a moderate to deluxe, but I'm sure whichever you choose, you'll have a great time.

Ok this just freaked me out. I am debating if I want to go money saving and book POP for 1 night only pre cruise...OR stay at BWI for that night...we will be at Epcot all day and evening, only coming back to the room to sleep. After the cruise we are staying at the Contemporary for 4 nights.

At a Value resort do you have to handle your own luggage?

 

[DekrRini]

You don't have to handle your own luggage any more than you do at other resorts. I figure at 3 am they were either coming or going so they'd have to tote their luggage, but otherwise it's the same as the other resorts. If you're only there for one night and will be out of the room most of the day, POP should be just fine. And a lot of people love POP, I just don't happen to be one of them.

 

[old feller]

Well now I have another decision to make. We have reservations at Animal Kingdom Lodge, but I can now get a room at Coronado Springs with Free Dining on the same dates. Coronado will cost about $500 more than AKL, but won't we end up spending that much or more on OOP food costs? On the one hand I would love to not worry about food, on the other I don't know if we'll get a chance to stay at AKL again for the price we got. However, we don't usually spend much time in the resorts, so....ugh I can't decide!

I should add, there are 4 of us, and the 2 kids are now old enough that they have to pay adult prices for food. I'm going to do some menu searching and calculating but I wanted to see if anyone has input? We were also planning on bringing in snacks and water, eating breakfast in the rooms most days, but also a couple park breakfasts late morning in the hopes that it would hold us over most of the day.

Stay at AKL eat on the cheap...I would

 

[Barbara C]

I know you're getting a lot of different opinions making it even harder to decide but I would switch to CSR. You'll have a fantastic time and you won't have to stress about what you're spending on food. It's not so restrictive that you'll regret being on the dining plan. I'm not sure the age of your children but as long as there's a pool, my kids are happy wherever they are!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Nancyg56]

You're comparing apples to oranges. One amount includes food cost while the other does not. For a fair comparison you need to factor in the cost of dining OOP at AKL, then compare that to your total cost at CSR. It will likely come out cheaper at CSR. Then you just need to decide if the AKL upgrade is worth it or not.

I agree. I am all over the place when making these decisions, but bottom line, you need to decide how much you will spend on dining. And you need to be honest with yourself when you build your spreadsheet, because it is really easy to plan if you have the result already in mind.

CSR has beds, showers and all of the other amenities as AKL. If you weren't going to the parks every day and planned on a "resort vacation" then I'd stay put.

But it's a no brainer to make the switch. There is no way you can feed a family of 4 for a week for less than a $1,000 at Disney unless you committed to pizza and burgers. The dining plan rocks and gives you peace of mind.

Make the switch - you'll be glad you did!

I agree. Food is expensive. I love AKL. It's gorgeous, but I would not book it if I was committed to the parks. CSR is a nice resort and has plenty to offer. The 500 more will go a long way when you feed your family.

I can't remember how the tip works now lol, been too long! I wish I would have done like you and bought disney gift cards gradually to use for food. This trip was a semi-last minute decision so I didn't have as much time to plan as I would have liked. AKL is on my wishlist of resorts to stay and Coronado Springs has barely been a blip until now, so there's that, haha. I just wish I could get free dining and stay at AKL for what I'm already paying. HA! Wishful thinking


You're right, and I did play with the dining calculator to get a general idea and even after deleting a lot of TS restaurant choices it still came up to over $850. I plan on actually looking at some more menus and getting a better idea too so we'll see.

This is tough because it is difficult to plan ahead unless you know your families dining habits. Good luck!

 

[Karebear]

I have used the plan before and I also don't find it restrictive and I don't have trouble keeping up with credits as I've seen others mention. I liked using it the time we had it because instead of trying to see which restaurant was the most affordable, it was just "ok, here's how many places we're eating, let's pick!"

Several have mentioned the fact that Free Dining may be on its way out, and I would like to use it while I have a chance. Of course I know it isn't "free" as it will cost an extra $500 for us, but I really think we will spend more than that on food OOP unless we bring sandwiches every day to eat. The thing is, I don't know if I will be able to book AKL again for a different trip because we normally cannot afford deluxe resorts and I don't know if I'll get a deal like I have now again. CSR with the free dining is just a smidge over $3000 and we have AKL booked for $2500, and these prices are already pushing it for our family. I'm trying to get input from them to see what they would all rather do but they all keep changing their minds too!

In your case, you were booked at my favorite resort! For only $100 more I would have switched too though. I wish POFQ wasn't excluded because I love it there!

Free dining might be on the way out as others have mentioned. If you want to take advantage of it then this would be a good trip to do it on. For future trips, there are some amazing deals on the deluxe resorts... There are some travel agents that offer agency exclusives where the rates are really low. Google agency exclusive and you can see.

 

[Just1Princess]

I asked my husband for a second opinion, I was curious to see what he thought about your question. He said unless you gave a Savanah view, he'd take CS with FD. I figured though, but he had a good point. There's really no difference in those hotel rooms except for the view, you can visit everything else for free!
Just another opinion, for what it's worth

 

[Delphinidae]

Free dining might be on the way out as others have mentioned. If you want to take advantage of it then this would be a good trip to do it on. For future trips, there are some amazing deals on the deluxe resorts... There are some travel agents that offer agency exclusives where the rates are really low. Google agency exclusive and you can see.

That is how we got the rate we got for AKL. So do you think it's safe to say that we could possibly still get a similar deal at a later time? That was one thing my husband mentioned, he said it might be better to pay for the switch to CSR and dining and try to stay at AKL again later. Though I would love to be able to get a magical deal like this at the Polynesian too! I should add my husband has never been, so he is just going off of what I have told him.

It may be years before we can go again, so I just hope if I switch from AKL that I get another opportunity to stay there. I do appreciate all the responses, though I don't think I'm any closer to a decision than when I posted LOL

 

[pooch]

At a Value resort do you have to handle your own luggage?

Really??? Having to handle your own luggage is a factor?? REALLY??? Top of the list of first world problems!

 

[Kimberly9701]

Really??? Having to handle your own luggage is a factor?? REALLY??? Top of the list of first world problems!

Yes, it is in fact a factor.

I travel alone with my child. This will be a 13 night vacation. In 2 different climate zones. So me trying to deal with all of our luggage to/from the ME to the room is not just a little less than ideal.. But also not possible unless i made multiple trips to and from.

So yeah, if something can be a little bit easier for me while I'm on vacation.. I'll choose that route.

 

[pooch]

Yes, it is in fact a factor.

I travel alone with my child. This will be a 13 night vacation. In 2 different climate zones. So me trying to deal with all of our luggage to/from the ME to the room is not just a little less than ideal.. But also not possible unless i made multiple trips to and from.

So yeah, if something can be a little bit easier for me while I'm on vacation.. I'll choose that route.

My apologies. That makes perfect sense and I truly apologize for my rather snarky comment.

 

[Kimberly9701]

My apologies. That makes perfect sense and I truly apologize for my rather snarky comment.

No problem. In black and white that did probably come across as strange.

My son just turned 6 last week..so he's not too much help lugging heavy suitcases lol..so porters etc are always things I look for and consider when traveling.

 

[pooch]

No problem. In black and white that did probably come across as strange.

My son just turned 6 last week..so he's not too much help lugging heavy suitcases lol..so porters etc are always things I look for and consider when traveling.

I think the values have rolling carts to help in transport but I don't believe I've ever seen porters.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I think the values have rolling carts to help in transport but I don't believe I've ever seen porters.

Thanks. That may work. I'm trying to do the "smart" thing and save money since really all we will be doing is sleeping in the room for 1 night- Black Friday.

I've stayed at GF, BC, YC, OKW, and POFQ. All of those were adult trips and I don't remember ever having to deal with it. With kiddo we did Poly last year, and I know we didn't there.

 

[Delphinidae]

I don't think the Values have any porters either but it's been a while since I stayed there.

One thing I just thought about: If I do go with the "free" dining, since my kids will be 10 and 13, they will get adult credits, right? Meaning they can't order off the kids' menu. Which is fine for my oldest, but the youngest is pretty picky. I'm not sure she would find something she would eat at every place, or if she did, it might be too big of a portion. We could always share a meal, but that wouldn't be a good use of credits either. Unless we just did all buffets for our TS meals...hmmm....

 

[pooch]

Thanks. That may work. I'm trying to do the "smart" thing and save money since really all we will be doing is sleeping in the room for 1 night- Black Friday.

I've stayed at GF, BC, YC, OKW, and POFQ. All of those were adult trips and I don't remember ever having to deal with it. With kiddo we did Poly last year, and I know we didn't there.

If you pop over to the resorts board, I'm sure you'll get a more definitive answer.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I don't think the Values have any porters either but it's been a while since I stayed there.

One thing I just thought about: If I do go with the "free" dining, since my kids will be 10 and 13, they will get adult credits, right? Meaning they can't order off the kids' menu. Which is fine for my oldest, but the youngest is pretty picky. I'm not sure she would find something she would eat at every place, or if she did, it might be too big of a portion. We could always share a meal, but that wouldn't be a good use of credits either. Unless we just did all buffets for our TS meals...hmmm....

If your children over 9 would prefer a child's meal instead of an adult one they are allowed to order it. It will be used as one credit either way.

 

[drp4video]

For us the dining plan never made sense. It is just be and my daughter, now an adult. We share meals as we are not big eaters, and also go to Universal and sometimes Cocoa Beach for the Day, so we would not be eating at Disney every day.

I have never stayed at CS but I have stayed at the AK Lodge. AKL is a beautiful resort, but I think if the dining plan works for your family and saves you money, you should switch. You can always go eat at the AKL with the dining plan (Boma), and you can view the animals while you are there, and take part in other activities at the resort. Then at some point in time when you go back, you can always stay there.