Who can do Disney math?

[taximomfor4]

Something else to keep in mind.
Only one bathroom in POR. If you go with the 2 rooms at POP (connected rooms which you can guarantee if you book it correctly) you will have 2 bathrooms. This is what we do. (we are a family of 5 too) It is worth the extra money to us and the extra bathroom and everyone being able to spread out is worth it.

Yeah, that is still on the table too, lol. Although now that the youngest is turning 10, room time will be less than it ever was before. And we have only 1 bathroom at home, so we are used to the line for showers, lol. Really, we are torn between finally getting to try something besides a value resort (but dealing with only 1 bathroom)and spreading out plus gaining the extra bedroom (but going back to where weve been before when we had 6 AND risking having to separate again if connecting rooms are unavailable).

Honestly, I just hope we can work out how to go at all! I just need really realistic numbers to help decide.

 

[taximomfor4]

Port Orleans has always had the regular dining plan as part of a free dining promo, I doubt that will change this year.

Ooo, that would be even better! It would mean adding tip money, but it'd be great to sit down at a nice restaurant once each day.

I only assumed it might be qsdp because the pin the cm told me I had was only qsdp. He couldn't find availability anywhere though. When I tried again yesterday, I was told we don't have a free dining pin at all.

Advantages & disadvantages either way. So if it's regular ddp, the extra $ for tips might be a wash with switching to 2 rooms at pop and just having qs. More to think about...can you tell we never did free dining at a mod before? Lol.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I think your cheap eats # is low. I'd have to go back and look to be sure, but we budgeted $125/day last trip and our actual was closer to $140. We do like to get ice cream bars as a "pick me up" sometime during the day and order drinks with our meals and don't always seek out the cheapest food. I remember our CS lunch in Mexico (Epcot) was over $50 and we ate nachos and tacos! It was very good, though! On the other hand, we shared a food court pizza and drank from our mugs whenever we ate at the resort. That was the cheapest meal we could find. We also had one TS meal. That # also included our mugs and we ate 5 breakfasts in our room 2 at the food court. Our kids are close in age to yours, but we have one less. I'd say $125 per day is doable for your family, but not "easy". Don't forget to add tax and drinks when calculating your food #'s. Also, at 9/10, my kids were not always wanting to get a kids meal. They eat a wide variety of foods and the options at Disney are so limited. Although, sometimes we ordered 3 adult meals and shared food, but purchased an extra drink. Still really not much of a savings. Also, the kids meal often comes with a desert and then the other wants desert, too. Sometimes what is put down on paper and seems reasonable, ends up not being realistic!

So, here's some pixie dust in hopes you get a free dining code! I think that's your best bet!

 

[taximomfor4]

I think your cheap eats # is low. I'd have to go back and look to be sure, but we budgeted $125/day last trip and our actual was closer to $140. We do like to get ice cream bars as a "pick me up" sometime during the day and order drinks with our meals and don't always seek out the cheapest food. I remember our CS lunch in Mexico (Epcot) was over $50 and we ate nachos and tacos! It was very good, though! On the other hand, we shared a food court pizza and drank from our mugs whenever we ate at the resort. That was the cheapest meal we could find. We also had one TS meal. That # also included our mugs and we ate 5 breakfasts in our room 2 at the food court. Our kids are close in age to yours, but we have one less. I'd say $125 per day is doable for your family, but not "easy". Don't forget to add tax and drinks when calculating your food #'s. Also, at 9/10, my kids were not always wanting to get a kids meal. They eat a wide variety of foods and the options at Disney are so limited. Although, sometimes we ordered 3 adult meals and shared food, but purchased an extra drink. Still really not much of a savings. Also, the kids meal often comes with a desert and then the other wants desert, too. Sometimes what is put down on paper and seems reasonable, ends up not being realistic!

So, here's some pixie dust in hopes you get a free dining code! I think that's your best bet!

Lol sure enough, I carefully punched in the prices of what each person would actually order, but didn't add any tax at all. Oops, lol! I know often, dd9 would eat my food with me, but figured kids meals for her most meals. And barely any treats except on Epcot day (treats for dinner, lol). I'm thinking I will go with your higher $140 figure on my spreadsheet. And hope off free dining. In the end, we will likely cancel anyway. Sigh.