The One Month Trip Shift or... How Free Dining Changed My Life...

[lojikal1]

So many of you may have seen my posts recently trying to figure out how to make my next trip to WDW... I admit it, I am an addict!

I was originally going to take DS5 for his sixth b-day ... no dice... mainly cause DW lost her job and we had to regroup... so then my mission turned to July... I was going to sign up for the 4/3 plan but again... money woes... so I finally get my life together and get ready to make the deposit and................ the 4/3 is over!!!

Now I am never the person to pay full price for anything so going in July when there are no deals and no pins was not going to happen...

so i just put down a deposit for 6 days/ 5 nights at Pop from 8/17 - 8/22!!!


For you FD vets out there... do you have any pointers??? I upgraded to DxDP b/c DS3 eats like a velociraptor so the fam will have plenty of opportunity to explore our food options... I am sooooooooooooooo excited!!!

 

[lojikal1]

bumpity bobbidy boo...

 

[Rosanne]

Sounds fabulous. I wish I could take advantage of free dining but since I have to be back at school August 20 I wouldn't be able to make the drive down worthwhile. I'm hoping to be able to fulfill my 4/7 reservation earlier in August.

Congratulations! I'm an addict also.

Rosanne

 

[katiebsmom]

I'm so glad you're getting to go ... and with a deal like FD to boot!!! It's only because of FD that I'm able to go period. Food would eat us alive...no pun intended

 

[luckytobeme88]

I can't believe how free dining can deepen my addiction to Disney. As all of you can see, we are doing a back-to-back trip. I just have to squeeze in another trip before school start for my dear boy

 

[MelanieC]

Congrat's - Glad it finally worked out for you. Have a wonderful time

 

[lojikal1]

I'm so excited that I really want to go earlier!!! if a July deal comes out I just might switch...I can do that right?

 

[mylag1rl]

So excited for you to have a trip planned. I am hoping for a July deal. I would love to go in August and take advantage of free dining but high school sports starts Aug15th for us and my son wouldn't be able to go.

 

[enchantingodin]

I donno - our boys (6 & 5) eat like horses too, for dinner we try to do buffets so they can really pack it in. And the normal DP was just about right for our family. There were a few snacks that we bought OOP. But nothing major. Since you say money is tight maybe the basic plan is the way to go...?

 

[DWFan4Life]

That would be great. Congrats. I just wanted to say have a great time, have fun and enjoy in your upcoming trip. Looking forward in hearing more from you.

Have a nice and safe trip coming.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I hope you mean some DDP pointers? Well I have only been on the basic plan but these will essentially apply to the deluxe as well.

1. Don't save your snack credits. You will have 2 per night per person, try to use just about that every day. A lot of people including ourselves, have ended up bringing tons of Mickey rice crispys home because we didn't plan accordingly. If you're thirsty... use your snack credit and get bottled water.

2. It's the same with you meal allotments. Make ADRs for every TS you plan on eating at, restaurants book up like crazy during FD. From what I read, it's you, DS and DW for 5 nights which will leave you with 45 meal credits or the way I would look at it, 15 meals.

That's A LOT! It may not seem like it, but it is... you can always book a lot of 2 TS meals (signature, dinner shows, pizza delivery, CRT or Fantasmic Dinner Package) so that a) you aren't eating 3 full meals everyday or eating 2 and saving some for later and b) you will be eating less meals and therefore your overall tip total will be less.

3. Don't forget to get your refillable mug!