To Dine or Not to Dine

[QueenT]

This is driving me crazy!

I am trying to plan a trip for early October (9/30 - 10/8). I was thinking of splitting my stay between POFQ (2 rooms) & one of the 2 bdrm villas (BW, OKW, or WL), but then I start thinking of the dining. It is so enticing!

I can't figure out how to make a split stay work with the dining.

I am not the greatest sticker-to-a-budget type of person, so the idea of prepaying most of my dining expenses AND saving money while doing so is appealing. But this would end up forcing me to stay the whole time in a villa, I think, which would eat up any savings.

This stay will be for me, DH, DD12, DS16, DS19, DD 21, plus infant.

Any thoughts?

 

[Samsma]

You can buy one day tickets for everyone for one of your resorts and do two separate packages. The one day tickets are good until you use them, so no need to get non expiring. What we are doing is buying the dining package for the first part of our split stay at AKL, stretching it into 4 days by paying out of pocket for our DD7. We'll do most of our expensive dining on these 4 days, and try to skimp on food for the next 4. We are staying at the Swan for the second 1/2 or I would consider that one day ticket option to be able to add dining.

 

[Samsma]

Oh, I get to welcome you to the Dis! I didn't realize this was your first post. You'll become addicted! Are you renting points for your villa stay? If you haven't thought about that, you may want to check out the Rent/Trade board. This would save you a bundle over what you'd Disney for a two bedroom. But watch out for the cost of weekend points. You could stay at a Villa during the week and then switch to POFQ for the weekend. Just a thought.

 

[QueenT]

Thanks SAMSA I am glad to be here!

We have been to the World before, in 2000 & 2001, but did not know anything about discounts.

I have been lurking on these boards for awhile, it seems to be a fun & interesting community with lots of helpful people, so I decided to start asking questions.

I didn't think about the fact that I could save the 1 day pass for a future visit, that is a good idea. (I was thinking it would be a waste of money).

I also like your plan of paying cash for your daughter, DD12 is not a huge eater also picky, so that might be a good option for us even though she is older (she is 11 now but will be 12 in October).

I'm not so sure about the points at a villa, I have seen a lot of references to doing that but it seems confusing.

All of my daughters (including DD22 who will be getting her own room independently) are actively helping plan, and we are all very excited!

 

[Samsma]

since your daughter is technically an adult, it wouldn't pay at the buffets and such to pay cash for her, but at the other types of TS and CS restaurants it might. Also, if you are interested, I rented points from a reliable person last year for VWL and it worked out very well. I can give you his name and e-mail if you like. If you want VWL you need to start early, it is the smallest DVC resort, and fills us fast! Have fun planning