Why I just cancelled my free dining trip

[edandcolleen1995]

While I 'get' the appeal for everyone staying onsite, I dont get the resistance to the idea of staying offsite either? Having done both, I dont think one is anymore magical than the other, but both have pluses and minuses depending on how your getting there and what else you want to do in Florida.

Oh I agree that it is up to each family to decide what they like. For us there is zero magic with staying off site. We love the ADRs, the bus transportation (the one time a year both wife and I can have a drink or two together since we are not driving), the extended hours etc. The extra hours are huge bonus for us.

I don't think the OP has AP but hey, I could be wrong. Normally am!

 

[Lewisc]

Doesn't an AP still give guests free parking? The OP is planning on paying for parking so I don't think they have APs.

Nothing wrong with wanting the kind of room an off site condo offers but the $900 savings will go fast if the OP has to buy tickets. The OP said she can purchase a meal offsite for what it would cost to tip at WDW. I don't think you can get dinner at Sizzler for what you'd tip at Le Cellier. You don't tip at CS meals.

Unless the OP eats almost all their meals in their condo they won't be saving much, if any, money.

I certainly agree many famlies will have a more enjoyable vacation in a condo vs one or more value rooms. That's nothing new. I don't understand why she booked onsite in the first place.

 

[Lisa P.]

...bus transportation (the one time a year both wife and I can have a drink or two together since we are not driving)

If staying nearby, this would be worth cab fare to me, and it'd be a shorter wait than for the Disney buses. We also stay at timeshare resorts which have a bar, as well as a blender in the condo, for making margaritas or frozen mudslides if we want 'em. Just a thought.

 

[FayeW]

I am going to assume that when the OP said they were saving $900, she had already factored in the cost of replacing the tickets, if required. They may be like us, and buy 10 day non expiring tickets that last several trips. We have made (2) nine day trips on the tickets we have, and still have 1 park admission and 4 plus features left.

We always stay offsite in minimum 2 bdrm condos. The first 3 times we used skyauction. Last time we splurged and rented at Windsor Hills. It cost us $800 for 3bdrms for 9 days. Still cheaper than a value resort.

We ate all breakfasts in the condo, 3-4 lunches, and I think 4 dinners. The meals were not fancy...cold cut subs/salads at lunch and frozen pasta/garlic bread, fried chicken from Publix, pizza, etc for dinner. We ate a couple of TS at WDW (Ohanas' and Sci-Fi), CiCi's Pizza, Golden Corral. We had a great time and spent about $3500 including car rental, airfare, parking, Universal tickets,accomodations and food. I think that is pretty good for a family of 4 for 10 days (had to stay at the airport hotel the night before the flight). We certainly couldn't have had the type of vacation we enjoy for that kind of money if we were staying onsite.

 

[Lewisc]

OP said total package price is $1200 including junk insurance. Condo was $300 and she just got back $900. Maybe she booked free dining with a one day base tickets.

I can certainly understand a family being more comfortable in a 2 bedroom cond instead of one or two value rooms. I don't think it's fair to say you saved $900 when a good portion of the "savings" is going to be used to pay for food.

I am going to assume that when the OP said they were saving $900, she had already factored in the cost of replacing the tickets, if required. They may be like us, and buy 10 day non expiring tickets that last several trips. We have made (2) nine day trips on the tickets we have, and still have 1 park admission and 4 plus features left.

We always stay offsite in minimum 2 bdrm condos. The first 3 times we used skyauction. Last time we splurged and rented at Windsor Hills. It cost us $800 for 3bdrms for 9 days. Still cheaper than a value resort.

We ate all breakfasts in the condo, 3-4 lunches, and I think 4 dinners. The meals were not fancy...cold cut subs/salads at lunch and frozen pasta/garlic bread, fried chicken from Publix, pizza, etc for dinner. We ate a couple of TS at WDW (Ohanas' and Sci-Fi), CiCi's Pizza, Golden Corral. We had a great time and spent about $3500 including car rental, airfare, parking, Universal tickets,accomodations and food. I think that is pretty good for a family of 4 for 10 days (had to stay at the airport hotel the night before the flight). We certainly couldn't have had the type of vacation we enjoy for that kind of money if we were staying onsite.