Twice in one year??

[AnCmommy]

Hi All,

This is my first post here and I joined after browsing for years because I have a question.

We used to be frequent DisneyLand'ers with an annual pass, but we moved from San Diego to Indiana and missed it so much we decided to take the plunge and do a week at Disney World.

We did 7 days and 7 nights at Coronado Springs with the park hopper and dining plan and had the best time of our lives!!

We want to go back in November, when the crowds are thinner, but is that too much for one year? We have a 4 and 2 year old who will be very close to their birthdays (november and January) so it would be their trip.

Also, is the dining plan recommended? Is there a time when it's free most years? If I wait for the free dining is it better to do that or the 30%?

Also, we know we want to stay on resort, and see that many of the discounts are better or available for moderate plus, is is still cheaper to stay at a value resort?

And Finally, November weather any good for water parks? It was rainy and yucky while we were there and it just wasn't good for water park time, we were bummed.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Go have fun we have on occasion gone twice in a 12 month period. So have others.

 

[NjMamaMouse]

So we go 1-2 times for a week to WDW every school year. This school year was November (weather was cool in the AM, capris and short sleeve shirt in afternoon like 75, and cool at night, jeans with light sweater) and we leave again in April too!

I say if you can afford to go then do it! It is never too much for the little ones!!

As for the dining plan being free and worth it, It is by far a great savings, however there have been times that people have had too much food and leave their week with meals and snacks left unused.

We have stayed at the value resorts.... think Days Inn. It is the bare bones of a hotel room. The meal plan their is quick service for free when offered. Not as good of a plan!

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Is that too much for one year?
Well, I'd go several times a year if I could afford it & it wouldn't mess with our daughters' school schedule -- I say take them as often as you can while they are young!

Also, is the dining plan recommended?
It depends how you eat. We always get the regular dining plan because we do at least 1 character meal a day and we save a lot of money using the DDP to do that.

Is there a time when it's free most years?
You never really know what Disney will do from year to year, but if you search the boards a little you can see when it has been offered previous years. The begining of November is Jersey Week -- when all (not really ALL) of the crazy folks from the Garden State invade Orlando, so free dining is excluded for that week - plus or minus a few days. As long as you ARRIVE before the blackout you will have free dining your entire stay. The dates should be announced in the Spring/Summer IF it's going to happen.

If I wait for the free dining is it better to do that or the 30%?
You'll have to run the numbers IF free dining becomes available. I know for us, beacuse we now have 5 people, free dining is ALWAYS a better deal than a room only discount -- we only stay moderate. But, it varies by family.

Also, we know we want to stay on resort, and see that many of the discounts are better or available for moderate plus, is is still cheaper to stay at a value resort?
You'll need to run the numbers with the discount you want to use. We have to stay mod because we have 5 people, but keep in mind -- free dining at a value is only quick service, no table service.

And Finally, November weather any good for water parks?
We've gone during Jersey Week and it was warm enough to swim one or 2 days, the rest it was a little chilly -- which we LOVED! We can swim and go to water parks at home, but we won't do Disney in the heat

Just curious if you are committed to November. We found that we LOVE Disney in December. The prices are the same as Nov, the weather is mild, and it's all Christmas-ed up! Free dining is usually offered in Dec, too.

 

[Disney44please]

I have a 4 and 2 year old also. We went down in December, are going back in April and hoping to book a BB offer for October when we are down there. So I would say two times a year is fine! I feel like the window for Disney is small and add to that the fact that the kids aren't really being pulled out of "school" school and I feel much better about it. That being said, this will probably be our only time going down three times in a calendar year. We bought AP's before our first trip so I will be damned if we aren't going to use them.

We opted out of the dining plan for this trip. We did the QS dining plan on our first trip, but just want to try something different this time and will pay OOP. I hope to get a free dining promotion in October so fingers crossed it comes through.

The weather in December (first week) was beautiful and definitely hot enough to swim.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[BigAlsGal]

I'm also in indiana and I took 4 trips last year. So no.....that's not too much .

 

[MandiC]

I'm hoping to convince my husband to do a December trip we just got back 2 weeks ago. From what I have seen, early December is a typical free dining time that doesn't have holiday pricing. You get the benefit of the Christmas decor and fun. I've been told if you stay at deluxe resorts the room discount is better. Also, depending on when your 2 year old turns 3. Under 3s do not get free dining so you would have to price it out based on only you and your husband + 4 year old getting free dining compared to the room discounts. If you stay at a value resort you get the Quick Service dining plan free (2 counter service, 1 snack a day) whereas if you stay at a moderate you get 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack a day with the free dining.

 

[uccats97]

Go for it!!! I did WDW 3 times and Disneyland once between June 2012 and June 2013. It's worth it!

 

[wiigirl]

Go have fun we have on occasion gone twice in a 12 month period. So have others.