Value resort for family of 5

[katie111]

I have a friend who is considering going to Disney in Sept for free dining. She has 3 kids and can really only afford to stay at a value resort. She can't afford 2 rooms or a family suite. She is considering just saying she has 2 kids. She'll then separately purchase a park hopper pass for the 3rd and just pay for his meals out of pocket. I know this isn't technically allowed but has anyone done this? Is there any chance of her getting "caught"? Its hard for me to give her advice as we always stay in a deluxe so I feel bad saying to her that she can't do it if its the only way she can afford it. Please don't flame me for asking!!

 

[Aliceacc]

No flames, but it is a bad idea for lots of reasons.

Let's start with the easiest: I think it's too late to book free dining.

I'll let someone else tackle all the other reasons.

 

[iluvwesties]

I think the cutoff date for booking a room to get free dining was June 22nd, and your friend wouldn't be allowed to have 5 in a value room (fire regulations)

 

[Aliceacc]

You may want to fill her in on this offer (taken from mousesavers.com) :

"Late Summer Room-Only Discount for the General Public!

Compare these rates with regular "Rack" rates. Your stay will be priced on a day-by-day basis, so rates may be higher on weekends. Availability is extremely limited! Book by 7/27/08.

These rates are also available as part of a discounted vacation package.

Check-in dates: 8/3/08-9/27/08. Use code DDH.

Sample rates:

Value resort: $69 plus tax Standard view
Moderate resorts: $109 plus tax Standard view
Wilderness Lodge/Animal Kingdom Lodge: $149 plus tax Standard view
Contemporary: $194 Garden wing, Garden view
Ft. Wilderness Cabins: $209 plus tax
Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club : $249 plus tax Garden view
Polynesian: $264 plus tax Garden view
Old Key West/Saratoga Springs: $179 plus tax Studio
Other resorts and room types are available
About Booking

For phone bookings, you pay a deposit of one night's room rate plus tax. No change or cancellation fee will be charged if you make your modification more than 5 days before arrival.

Thanks to Small World Vacations for info.

To reserve a room with the Late Summer discount, call the Disney Reservations Center at (407) W-DISNEY, or contact a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel and request the specific offer code, or book online at Expedia (which may charge a booking fee). "

 

[ColleenG]

I called Disney today to find out the dates for the free dining plan and was told you had have booked your trip by June 22.

Is your friend driving? If they are and can't get the free dining plan maybe they can eat off site and use the money they save to stay at Port Orleans. I think some of the rooms in Riverside have a trundle bed to accomodate a fifth person.

I've heard that the biggest problem with not having someone listed on your reservation is that, God forbid, there was a fire and the person was missing the fire department wouldn't know to look for them.

Hope it all works out.

 

[liquid]

It sounds like she ought to forget about this year (no more free dining plus lying about the amount of people in the room = bad idea, enough said!!!!) and start saving for next year. Even if they do not offer free dining next fall, I remember reading that they usually offer (historically, I mean) some sort of deal at that time of year. And they will be in a position to choose what is best for them as a family without sacrificing their integrity or safety.

I feel for her - we once went 8 years without a vacation because things were so tight. And I can't even complain about those years - we had everything we needed and no debt, just no extra $$, you know?

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

She is considering just saying she has 2 kids. She'll then separately purchase a park hopper pass for the 3rd and just pay for his meals out of pocket. I know this isn't technically allowed but has anyone done this? Is there any chance of her getting "caught"? Its hard for me to give her advice as we always stay in a deluxe so I feel bad saying to her that she can't do it if its the only way she can afford it.

They'd have to avoid EMH as well because the third child would not have a room key to be able to stay for EMH.

I would hate to see what happens to your friend if they got caught. The firecodes are in place for a reason. If something happened during their stay, Disney would not be liable because your friend broke the rules.

As much as I avoid the off property hotels simply for the convienence of staying on property, they can get a nice room at a Comfort Inn or Best Western that would sleep five and be just fine. They would not be entitled to the dining plan or EMH, but they would still be getting a vacation.

Please advise your friend to do the right thing.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

It sounds like she ought to forget about this year (no more free dining plus lying about the amount of people in the room = bad idea, enough said!!!!) and start saving for next year.

Good idea. If she started saving up this year, they could afford a room at POR which does sleep five legally. She can always book the package anytime she has $200 to put down and switch to free dining when it becomes available again (IF they do it again next year...) The deposit is refundable up until 45 days prior to arrival then the penalties hit.

 

[maxiesmom]

How old are your friends's children? If one is under the age of 3, then she would fit legally in a Value room. Otherwise, there are quite a few reasons why sneaking a child in is not a good idea. Your friend's family would not be able to use Magical Express, each person has to be listed on the reservation in order to get on the bus. They wouldn't be able to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, everyone has to have a resort ID to have axcess to the park. And if your friends family is caught with an extra person, they will be made to leave. Then what would they do?

Please tell your friend that it is a very bad idea to try to sneak an extra child into a room. It would be better to either spend more time saving for the vacation so that they could stay in a room that they do actually fit into, or stay off-site. Your friend wouldn't be able to take advantage of Free Dining this year, but there are tons of ways to save on rooms, both on and off site.

 

[hbehrman]

I have a friend who is considering going to Disney in Sept for free dining. She has 3 kids and can really only afford to stay at a value resort. She can't afford 2 rooms or a family suite. She is considering just saying she has 2 kids. She'll then separately purchase a park hopper pass for the 3rd and just pay for his meals out of pocket. I know this isn't technically allowed but has anyone done this? Is there any chance of her getting "caught"? Its hard for me to give her advice as we always stay in a deluxe so I feel bad saying to her that she can't do it if its the only way she can afford it. Please don't flame me for asking!!

The most economical place to stay for a family of 5 on Disney property is:

Port Orleans Riverside (Alligator Bayou section which has 2 doubles + a trundle)

 

[zurgswife]

The easiest way to get "caught" is that if your name is not on the ressie you can't take DME from the airport to the resort.

 

[loveysbydesign]

She should consider staying at Windsor Hills....it's affordable has lots of room and she could save $$ on foof by eating breakfast at the condo/townhome! Plus you can pack sandwiches and snacks to bring to the parks... Eating only park food gets old after awhile!