Which would you do?

[frannn]

I've worked with the numbers and am trying to figure out the best options for our next trip. We're going next Aug with free dining. Already upgraded our 2012 hoppers to APs to save about 600. Here's the issue- we love DXDP, but it will cost almost 1600 to upgrade from the reg DP for 12 days. Instead, we could pay 450 OOP (includes TIW) for us to add breakfast and 1 TS dinner to the reg plan. We'd still save about 1150. Now thinking of upgrading our hotel from ASMo to POFQ, as we've never been above a value resort, and it would only be an additional 426..still a savings of 724. Then I am second guessing myself, and figuring that if we stayed at ASMo, once you figure in the value of the extra snack credits and apps at the meals we'd get, it'd only really "cost" us about 500 plus tips to upgrade to DXDP. Trying to change it up a bit since we're not used to going when it's crowded, so thinking more CS meals will save valuable park time & money. Or will CS meals take more time than TS? Please let me know what you'd do, or what you have done.

 

[adventure_woman]

First, do you have in your budget that you still will need to buy 2-day park tickets to get the free dining?

If I already had APs, I would probably not do the FD, instead look for a room only discount or rent points. You could add the DDP onto the rental points, or you could just use the TIW and not do the DDP and just pay OOP for everything.

 

[klacey1]

I've worked with the numbers and am trying to figure out the best options for our next trip. We're going next Aug with free dining. Already upgraded our 2012 hoppers to APs to save about 600. Here's the issue- we love DXDP, but it will cost almost 1600 to upgrade from the reg DP for 12 days. Instead, we could pay 450 OOP (includes TIW) for us to add breakfast and 1 TS dinner to the reg plan. We'd still save about 1150. Now thinking of upgrading our hotel from ASMo to POFQ, as we've never been above a value resort, and it would only be an additional 426..still a savings of 724. Then I am second guessing myself, and figuring that if we stayed at ASMo, once you figure in the value of the extra snack credits and apps at the meals we'd get, it'd only really "cost" us about 500 plus tips to upgrade to DXDP. Trying to change it up a bit since we're not used to going when it's crowded, so thinking more CS meals will save valuable park time & money. Or will CS meals take more time than TS? Please let me know what you'd do, or what you have done.

May I ask how you already have the regular free dining plan at a value hotel? It's been my understanding that the new FD promotion is usually the QS plan for the value hotels-- and I am watching promos for next August like a hawk and haven't seen any FD announced yet. Did you get a special bounceback or something??

To answer your Q's-- the end of August really is not crowded at all. The restaurants will be more crowded if FD is announced, but ride lines are totally manageable.

If I were you, I'd do TiW & skip the DxDDP. I'd also upgrade to POFQ-- it's so pretty over there! Only sharing buses with POR instead of with two other resorts like the All Stars is another huge perk.

 

[frannn]

We had to pay to upgrade to the reg DP at AS Mo. It would be that amount plus an additional 426 to have reg DP at PORFQ. I've already calculated what approx resort discount I could get using the APs, and its not more than the FD. I think the only differences between the bounceback FD and the public offer that was announced later were the dates (started earlier in Aug for the BB), and I think the photobook was built in to the public offer(with additional cost), but I could be mistaken. My objective is to convince myself to either 1) upgrade to PORFQ, or 2) to DXDP, or 3) save the money altogether and just stay at ASmo with the reg DP. Need you guys to chime in with your experiences

 

[DisneyEater]

I would look into:

-Canceling the current resi
-Looking for a room only deal or renting DVC points for your stay
-buying the TIW card to go with one of the above stays

I think you might find that this deal ends up being better than what you are contemplating now.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I would look into:

-Canceling the current resi
-Looking for a room only deal or renting DVC points for your stay
-buying the TIW card to go with one of the above stays

I think you might find that this deal ends up being better than what you are contemplating now.

Exactly. Since you already have AP the "free dining" just doesn't really make sense

 

[Nayan]

Exactly. Since you already have AP the "free dining" just doesn't really make sense

I agree since you'd have to buy 2 days worth of tickets for everyone in your party. That can add up and then your 'free dining' isn't really free then.