Too late to book OKW with free dining?

[Sam1]

I wasn't sure whether we'd want to go again next year, but I think the decision has been taken out of my hands because there seems to be no availability at OKW or Saratoga for one bed villas with Disney Direct. Will I be able to find availability with anyone else and still get the free dining and discount before the offers run out in two days, or am I too late?

 

[chmurf]

I'm afraid you're too late.

you might be able to score free dining with the US deals next year, but I don't think you'll get the 35% discount

you could also try to rent points, but I don't think free dining is available that way.

are you flexible ? did you check other dates, or split your stay to get a date combination that works with free dining ?
Availability was limited, and the offer has been on since april, so I would not have too much hope

you can also try some TAs like complete orlando among others, but I'm not familiar with those.

 

[Sam1]

I thought that might be the case. Our only other option at the moment seems squashing into the Yacht Club. I'm not sure whether I'd like that though.

 

[wayneg]

Have you considered somewhere like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek, just across the road from OKW?
A 1 bed at SSR/OKW for 2 weeks would be around £3,000 a 2 bed at WBC should be about £1,000 leaves £2,000 for food plus you get a larger place.
The free DDP deals have been great in the past but you get nothing free anymore, you are just paying upfront for it.

 

[heatherbelle]

There is one at SSR 2/8/15 to 16/08/15. What are your dates?

Even the TA's out there won't have it, if it's not available on the Disney UK site.

 

[Sam1]

Have you considered somewhere like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek, just across the road from OKW?
A 1 bed at SSR/OKW for 2 weeks would be around £3,000 a 2 bed at WBC should be about £1,000 leaves £2,000 for food plus you get a larger place.
The free DDP deals have been great in the past but you get nothing free anymore, you are just paying upfront for it.

We have, but I can't seem to get a price that comes in less than Disney for five people, where should I be looking? We'd more than likely want to eat within Disney, so I'm assuming we'd be better off with the free dining and staying onsite? This year, with one less adult, we spent about $2500 on food, but didn't eat out every night and had a couple of alcohol drinks, so I've been sorta basing it on that. I'd probably consider eating offsite a bit more if we could get a two bed for £1000 though.

There is one at SSR 2/8/15 to 16/08/15. What are your dates?

Even the TA's out there won't have it, if it's not available on the Disney UK site.

We're wanting October. Ideally we want around the 17th for two weeks. The only thing showing around those dates is a studio at SSR, but they'd be five of us this time so we'd need a one bed.

 

[wayneg]

We have, but I can't seem to get a price that comes in less than Disney for five people, where should I be looking? We'd more than likely want to eat within Disney, so I'm assuming we'd be better off with the free dining and staying onsite? This year, with one less adult, we spent about $2500 on food, but didn't eat out every night and had a couple of alcohol drinks, so I've been sorta basing it on that. I'd probably consider eating offsite a bit more if we could get a two bed for £1000 though.

Probably too early to book yet, I think I booked Jan for Sept this year using Booking.com but most people use this site http://vacationupgrades.com/pricing.html

You have to work out the best option for your family, we prefer offsite dining, for 3 adults we average less than $100/day but its roughly half the cost of dining onsite.

 

[heatherbelle]

We have, but I can't seem to get a price that comes in less than Disney for five people, where should I be looking? We'd more than likely want to eat within Disney, so I'm assuming we'd be better off with the free dining and staying onsite? This year, with one less adult, we spent about $2500 on food, but didn't eat out every night and had a couple of alcohol drinks, so I've been sorta basing it on that. I'd probably consider eating offsite a bit more if we could get a two bed for £1000 though.



We're wanting October. Ideally we want around the 17th for two weeks. The only thing showing around those dates is a studio at SSR, but they'd be five of us this time so we'd need a one bed.

I am pretty sure that Disney US has offered free dining for your dates in the past, a U.S. Ta would know. You could then take a gamble and book the one bed with Disney US now, then when the free dining comes along in April May time (usually) you can amend the booking to add the free dining. A bit of a risk I know. If it doesn't come along go with plan B, off site like Wayne suggested. There are usually room discounts too that can be added. Have a look on Mousesavers somewhere they have historical data and offers.

 

[heatherbelle]

We have, but I can't seem to get a price that comes in less than Disney for five people, where should I be looking? We'd more than likely want to eat within Disney, so I'm assuming we'd be better off with the free dining and staying onsite? This year, with one less adult, we spent about $2500 on food, but didn't eat out every night and had a couple of alcohol drinks, so I've been sorta basing it on that. I'd probably consider eating offsite a bit more if we could get a two bed for £1000 though.



We're wanting October. Ideally we want around the 17th for two weeks. The only thing showing around those dates is a studio at SSR, but they'd be five of us this time so we'd need a one bed.

I am pretty sure that Disney US has offered free dining for your dates in the past, a U.S. Ta would know. You could then take a gamble and book the one bed with Disney US now, then when the free dining comes along in April May time (usually) you can amend the booking to add the free dining. A bit of a risk I know. If it doesn't come along go with plan B, off site like Wayne suggested. There are usually room discounts too that can be added. Have a look on Mousesavers somewhere they have historical data and offers.

Edit just looked, yes free dining has been offered all years from 2011 to 2014 for your dates by Disney US. The offer tends to come out July, so only out a few months before you go, this in the past has also been followed by a room discount too a couple of weeks later for your dates. Of course there can be no guarantees, but remember with Disney US you don't need to cancel until 45 days before you go. I also seem to remember with Disney US the free dining is attached to your room, so you don't need to buy tickets for every day of your stay, unless you want to go to the parks every day.

 

[Sam1]

Yeah, I remember the free dining coming out on the US site this year, but our dates weren't included. We'd already booked on the UK site with the room only discount in January, so I was checking to see whether we'd be better off cancelling and re-booking on the US site when the free dining came out, it didn't cover our dates though.

I think after being gutted we've talked ourselves into not going next year, mainly because we're moving house so having a year off is the sensible thing to do. I know I'll keep checking and could change my mind when the room discounts on the UK site come out, or free dining on the US site comes out though.

 

[Sam1]

Does anybody know whether the one beds at SSR sleep five, or is it just the one beds at OKW? I thought both did, but I've found a one bed at SSR and it's only showing as sleeping four.

 

[stephensmum]

I've only stayed in a studio at SSR but believe it's four, Okw has a chair that goes into a bed. Don't know if they do a rollaway.

 

[Elise79]

Does anybody know whether the one beds at SSR sleep five, or is it just the one beds at OKW? I thought both did, but I've found a one bed at SSR and it's only showing as sleeping four.

SSR only sleeps 4 in a one bedroom plus one under 3 in a pack'n'play.

Only one beds that sleep 5 are OKW, AKV & BLT.

 

[Sam1]

Thanks.

I'll keep looking, but I think I'm going to let the free dining pass and see what other offers they do.

 

[Portugal1000]

I am another one who can vouch for Bonnet Creek. I have stayed at SSR 3 times with free dining but wouldn't even consider it now, mainly because as others have said the dining isn't really free. You are paying so much more for a far smaller 1 bedroom compared to a 2 bedroom at Bonnet Creek.
I priced up SSR for next year (usually around same price as OKW) with free dining for 21 nights and a 1 bedroom was £5100 or a 2 bedroom was £7300.(plus tickets)
Bonnet Creek will cost me about £1850 (depending on exchange rate). So comparing it to paying for a 1 bedroom at SSR we would have about £3263 or $5220 to spend on food. Plus we get a much bigger room at Bonnet Creek which is in just as good a location. If you compare it to a 2 bedroom at SSR then its just crazy.
But I know alot of people only want to stay at Disney and can completely understand. Just glad I happened upon Bonnet Creek by chance all those years ago. 7th visit there next year and my best friend and brothers families 2nd visit.
Hope something turns up.

 

[Sam1]

I'm still considering Bonnet Creek if I can get anywhere near as good a price as you and Wayne are quoting. It was convenient staying onsite, but I know Bonnet Creek is just as close as any Disney resort because we stayed at the Hilton across from it last year, so I'd be quite happy to stay there as well.

I think with the free dining coming to an end I'm in panic mode and want to be sure we're okay missing out on it.

 

[LeaversOnTour]

Some of the rooms at POR sleep 5 people although maybe a tad cramped