Trip booked ... having second thoughts

[Corwin12]

Okay, DW and I went to Disney in March and had an awesome time (Stayed at CBR). Yes, it was crowded, but the weather was perfect and it was DW's first time. We just got back from an 11 night trip (POFQ), this time with dining package. Loved the resort, weather was good, dining package was okay (we hated having all those reservations ... made the vacation too scheduled. While we were down there, we booked a trip for Spetember 07 because of the deal they were offering. My brother and his wife want to come with us, so I booked 2 rooms. Now, they call it free dining they are offering in September, but it is really not. The oackage for 10 night was 2174 at POFQ. December without dining was 1600, then I added dining, making it 2360. So it really is only about 200 savings as opposed to free dining. Well, I am reading about how hot and sticky and rainy the weather is in FL in September in addition to the "Love Bug" plague that hits and am having second thoughts ... thinking maybe I should puch the trip up to December, hope to get a good discount code like I did this year. I would like to hear from people who have any opinions on this ... thanks.

 

[OhMari]

You already stated it was to much planning for ADR's. The bug issue, it could happen in July and August next year with the warm winter we are having.JMOP.

 

[buccikulju]

Personally, the dining plan is not an incentive for myself and my family. As you stated, you are tied down to EATING! And, by the way, we LOVE to eat. But there are great restaurants everywhere. There isn't great Disney World everywhere.

The savings are an illusion, I feel, when you can get better discounts other times. We prefer to focus less on Disney eating and more on Disney everything-else. Also, September weather would make it a no-go for me, unless the deal was absolutely great.

We just booked February and got free park hopping and water parks which is a much better deal for our family.

Patty (7 times onsite and a-counting down to February)

 

[Corwin12]

I talked to my brother and we both agreed to wait until the beginning of December to go. I hated the dining plan because of the reservations. Our entire day focused on that one thing, especially when you had to figure for travel time. Because we are pushing our trip back, we are going to squeeze in a Vegas trip.

 

[themudd4]

sorry things didnt work out and sorry you didn't like the DDP because of the ADR's. But we love the ADR's...and the DDP. We have tried to catch a nice meal (anything other than CS) and without a ADR is is sometimes impossible. So regardless of the DDP we always make our ADR's as far in advance as possible. But for us...the meal itself is part of the fun. We do alot of character dinning and themed meals such as Ohana, WCC, and 50's rpime time.

 

[susieq76]

sorry things didnt work out and sorry you didn't like the DDP because of the ADR's. But we love the ADR's...and the DDP. We have tried to catch a nice meal (anything other than CS) and without a ADR is is sometimes impossible. So regardless of the DDP we always make our ADR's as far in advance as possible. But for us...the meal itself is part of the fun. We do alot of character dinning and themed meals such as Ohana, WCC, and 50's rpime time.

Exactly what she said

 

[tubachick]

sorry that the DDP wasn't enjoyable. We only make our ADR's for our dinners / or char meals. Other than that, we eat when we want to with or with out the DDP. Hope your Dec trip is great.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I'd ditch the DDP and go with a time that works better for you. You should still make a few ADRs for your favorite places, but you don't have to stress about getting as much "bang for your buck" as you would ON plan.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I wont do DDP again. Free or not. I cant turn down food that looks like a work of art. I have to eat it all. At home, we dont waste food. When we are full (not finished; theres a difference) we put it in the fridge and eat it later. If we dont like it we feed it to the dog. At WDW I feel like I have to eat it. Its there, its hot, its fresh, its DELICIOUS! It "would have been" expensive. I just cant throw it away.
I can turn down a free slot machine, a free alcoholic drink (I dont drink) and a free gift, but I cant waste food. If you can, GREAT! But thats my one weakness. I spent half my time looking for a restroom and it took months to get my stomach back to its normal size (from a medical point of view when you get used to overeating your stomach increases in size; if you get on a strict diet it decreases). I look at a trip to Disney as a way to LOSE weight, not gain it!!!
We spaced out our meals as much as possible so they would be as far apart as possible, but we were constantly saying "Darn! We gotta be at "La Cellier's" (or wherever) in 2 hours. I'm still stuffed! The whole trip we were having stomach problems.
Its called gluttany. I suffer from it!
Its an awesome deal, AAMOF, its too good. Thats why I wont do it again.

Were going in 3 weeks. were doing our usual, and taking MREs and bringing quick easy lite meals from home. Its a little more hassle, but I eat lighter, feel better, and compared to OFF DDP, we save a FORTUNE.
So if you see a family off to the side somewhere eating MREs, stop and say HI!

 

[pjcinderella]

we just went in early dec. (9th-13th) and didn't book one character dining this time & it was awesome! We did what we wanted & ate when we wanted & our daughters didn't once ask for a character meal! We stayed in Fort Wilderness and to be honoest they had the best buffet for Breakfast & dinner for 1/2 the cost of a character buffet and my girls loved it there too! Don't worry about not having dining! It too us would have been just a waste of time. I loved not being scheduled in for anything! And none of those places really book up. We never made any advanced dining reservations and always called the day we wanted to eat & got in!

 

[MEK]

What is an MRE???????

 

[bytheblood]

I think if you are having second thoughts, you should go with your gut!! JMO!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

What is an MRE???????

Meals Ready to Eat...military packaged food. Really, really, really gross...or at least they were when my DH was bringing them home from his Guard stints...and really high in fat and sodium back then, too.