Free Dining and Room Discount Dilemma!?!

[stevehousse]

Ok so as of right now I hve a package booked for free dining at CBR. Of course today my wife wanted us to bring my youngest sister with on the trip and I started to look to see what we could do. Basically jut about every free dining offer is gone except the super expensive deluxe rooms and grbs suites at all the hotels!

Since the free dining promotion runs until Aug 8th to book, will Disney be releasing more rooms as time goes on? I coulnt imagine them not adding more and only leaving those few super expensive rooms to try and still sell???

As for room discounts go, does anyone know if they will end up releasing room discounts for November?

As it stands, the cheapest option available is to book at POR and pay for dining! We r considering doing this, but wanted some feedback as to what you all might do?

We were going from having 2 adults and 3 kids (1 will only be a few months old when we go), but now we will have 2 adults and 4 kids total! Infant in a pack n play.

I have never stayed at POR and would appreciate some feedback!

 

[dreamfinder]

They may add more, but odds are that it for the promo. Promos are meant to fill a certain number of otherwise unbooked rooms. Once they hit that quota, they have no need to make more rooms available. Other discounts may be announced much closer to your travel dates, think 60-90 days out ish, but I'd wager are more likely to be room discounts than anything else.

Your best info for more discounts would be the historical data here -> http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

I don't think Disney would let you put that many people in a single room to begin with, but even if they did I wouldn't want it. You would need to get one of the POR rooms with a trundle bed, and between that and the pack and play you wouldn't be able to move in the room at all.

That many people you would either need to look at adding and additional room, and technically having 1 adult in each room with 2 kids, you can request adjoining (if thats even possible at CBR) or you would need to look at a 1br villa or family suite.

 

[stevehousse]

I was planning on getting the room with the trundle bed there if we go. The 4 kids r ages 6,3,infant, and 15 along with me and my wife. We don't hang out in the room a ton, just for sleeping really, so we r ok if it's a little crammed! The villas r all too expensive!

 

[disneydudette]

We're also waiting for Fall room discounts... Fingers crossed they'll release soon after June 6th (end of Summer dates promotion!) If free dinning was released during your dates of travel... Chances are, a room only discount will be as well.

So... Playing around with numbers and ASSUMING similar discounts will be offered (20/25% off moderates) as currently for Mid-August through Early October:

I crunched some numbers using "dummy dates" of Sun-Fri (5 nights) with a 6 day base ticket in early Sept. (25% off moderates) with the party sizes you've mentioned... Here's what I would do:

The difference between the 6 of you at POR with a (25% off) room only discount and the Regular Dinning Plan VS. Your current package (free dinning at CBR for 5) PLUS a (25% off) room only discount room at CBR with the regular dinning plan for the 6th/additional person... Was less than $200 more.

6 people in a POR room... Especially with the Queen sized beds, trundle, AND a pack and play is tight... way too tight in my opinion. Disney did allow me to book it (including the extra nightly charge for the 3rd adult) but to us it wouldn't be worth it: no personal space, zero storage, one bathroom, and no privacy just doesn't seem ideal to us... or feel remotely like a "vacation."

For the extra money... to have TWO rooms, an additional bathroom, more storage and space... would be $200 well spent. You could link the reservations through MDE and request connecting rooms (never had a problem with this at CBR.) You could then divide the sleeping arrangements however your see fit (kids in one room, adults in the other, etc.) ... and have plenty of space (CBR rooms are larger in square footage, though only offer double beds) for a pack and play, strollers, luggage, etc.

We also prefer the pool area at CBR (especially for younger kids) and honestly the resort as a whole (but we're in the minority with that choice!)

My biggest advantage with this "set up" is that IF something happened between "now" and 45-days out... and your SIL could not make the trip... Your originally planned trip (and all the $$$ saved) continues without issue.

So... If it was me...

I'd hold on to my Free Dinning Reservation until Room Only Discounts are released... again... Hopefully early June. From there... I'd decide which way to go... don't be surprised to potentially see POR (and POFQ) at a lower percentage discount than CBR or even possibly "blacked out."

If I was "nervous"... I may book a room only at POR for all 6 (requiring a one night deposit) and would cancel/modify as I saw fit. If anything... Discounts or not... We'd at least have a room!

 

[stevehousse]

We're also waiting for Fall room discounts... Fingers crossed they'll release soon after June 6th (end of Summer dates promotion!) If free dinning was released during your dates of travel... Chances are, a room only discount will be as well.

So... Playing around with numbers and ASSUMING similar discounts will be offered (20/25% off moderates) as currently for Mid-August through Early October:

I crunched some numbers using "dummy dates" of Sun-Fri (5 nights) with a 6 day base ticket in early Sept. (25% off moderates) with the party sizes you've mentioned... Here's what I would do:

The difference between the 6 of you at POR with a (25% off) room only discount and the Regular Dinning Plan VS. Your current package (free dinning at CBR for 5) PLUS a (25% off) room only discount room at CBR with the regular dinning plan for the 6th/additional person... Was less than $200 more.

6 people in a POR room... Especially with the Queen sized beds, trundle, AND a pack and play is tight... way too tight in my opinion. Disney did allow me to book it (including the extra nightly charge for the 3rd adult) but to us it wouldn't be worth it: no personal space, zero storage, one bathroom, and no privacy just doesn't seem ideal to us... or feel remotely like a "vacation."

For the extra money... to have TWO rooms, an additional bathroom, more storage and space... would be $200 well spent. You could link the reservations through MDE and request connecting rooms (never had a problem with this at CBR.) You could then divide the sleeping arrangements however your see fit (kids in one room, adults in the other, etc.) ... and have plenty of space (CBR rooms are larger in square footage, though only offer double beds) for a pack and play, strollers, luggage, etc.

We also prefer the pool area at CBR (especially for younger kids) and honestly the resort as a whole (but we're in the minority with that choice!)

My biggest advantage with this "set up" is that IF something happened between "now" and 45-days out... and your SIL could not make the trip... Your originally planned trip (and all the $$$ saved) continues without issue.

So... If it was me...

I'd hold on to my Free Dinning Reservation until Room Only Discounts are released... again... Hopefully early June. From there... I'd decide which way to go... don't be surprised to potentially see POR (and POFQ) at a lower percentage discount than CBR or even possibly "blacked out."

If I was "nervous"... I may book a room only at POR for all 6 (requiring a one night deposit) and would cancel/modify as I saw fit. If anything... Discounts or not... We'd at least have a room!

Your response is so helpful yet confusing at the same time! LOL I appreciate the work!

So my best bet is to keep my ressie at CBR with free dining, and get a second room with discounted rate and pay for dining?

We will be traveling for 7 nights with 5 day park tickets (no hoppers) in Nov.

As of right now my package $3012 all together for the free dining promo (we r also in a preffered room)

How much more would it be for that second room if discounts become available? The extra person will also need park tickets and dining!

Omg if u can help me clarify this it would be awesome!

I'm so annoyed with my wife for not suggesting this when we originally switched 10 days ago! But I'll let it slide due to her "pregnancy brain" she is currently experiencing! LOL

 

[disneydudette]

I thought that may have sounded confusing when I re-read it... So sorry! I read/post via smart phone...

The "point" I was trying to make was this:

When I compared vacations...
1) POR with a 25% discount, 6 people, 6 Regular DDP, and base tickets.
2) 2 rooms CBR, 1 free dinning with 5 and the second with 25% off with an additional Regular DDP for the 6th guest, and base tickets for all.

The difference was just shy of $200... Meaning it was (only) $200 more for you guys to have two rooms at CBR, everyone with regular dinning plan and base tickets in comparison to all 6 of you, with regular dinning plan and base tickets, in one room at POR.

Free Dinning is a HUGE savings for families of 4 at the moderate level... Hence why a $200 difference is even possible and why I mentioned holding onto that reservation for as long as possible!

Now... Its hard to predict exactly how much you'll save/spend since discounts have yet to be released... hence why I mentioned... to play it safe, if you wanted to hold onto your Free Dinning reservation AND book a room only reservation at POR for your dates to play it "safe" than go for it. You could then cancel/modify as you see fit. Seems ridiculous... I know... Welcome to the "new" Disney.

You can certainly get an idea of what you'll be spending/saving though...

Here's a list of rack rates at CBR... Since I wasn't sure of your exact dates... Simply find your travel period/rate and add your 7 nights up (Fri/Sat nights are more expensive)

http://allears.net/acc/rates-cbr.htm

From there... Multiply your number by 0.75... Basically assuming a 25% room discount will be offered.

Don't forget tax... So with your discount room rate... Multiply by 0.125... Then add that number to the discounted room rate originally used.

*I was unaware you had booked a preferred room at CBR... So the $200 difference would only apply if you were also looking at a Preferred room at POR, otherwise it may be a tad bit more!

Now... The easiest way to see what you're then spending on Dinning Plan and Tickets is to pull up your travel dates online... Booking one package with 7 nights, tickets, and dinning plan (for one person)... And a second room only reservation for the 7 nights only... And subtracting the two.

Once you have the cost of your dinning plan and tickets (which should include tax via the website) add that to the discounted room rate amount you came up with earlier. Give or take a few dollars, you should have a general idea of what it would cost you.

Did any of that make sense? Hah...

So... Like I said... If the finances allow... I'd hold the Free Dinning reservation... AND book a room only reservation at POR. Hopefully come early June, room only discounts for your dates should be released. At that point... I'd run numbers for what it would cost to book a room at CBR for 1 person, with the regular dinning plan, and tickets (adding to your Free Dinning package) ... and then pricing out 6 at POR, with the dinning plan, and tickets... to compare. Once you've decided on a resort choice go ahead and cancel the undesired reservation.

 

[Tuvalu]

Not to throw a wrench into your plans but...

All guests sharing a room under a package deal MUST have the same package. So all who are reserved under the free dining promo must be in the same room. If you booked 2 rooms at CBR under the free dining promo, you would have no issue.

However, if you want to book that 2nd room under a room only discount, either you or your wife would need to be named a primary occupant since your 15 year old sister cannot legally rent a room. And since you would be under two different reservations, CBR may be less inclined to give you connecting rooms than if you reserved 2 rooms and stipulated the second room was for children.

Can you call and ask if you can add a second room to your current reservation?

 

[disneydudette]

I completely overlooked that your SIL was only 15... As the PP mentioned... It does throw a wrench in the plans... You'll most likely have to adjust your room occupents to be able to book two reservations.

My apologies... I completely overlooked that fact! Personally... I would still book two rooms and request "connecting" with confidence.

 

[stevehousse]

I figured I would have to do that anway with my wife on one and me on the other!

We were also thinking of the cabins at fort wilderness since those still have free dining available Nd it would be room enough for all of us. But with that said the resort seems like a pain to get around to where u need to go. I saw that u could rent gold carts, but they r $59 A DAY!!!

 

[R W B]

They really only have 5 ppl, the infant doesn't count as far as the room goes and I could of swore Port Orleans let you have 5 ppl?

 

[stevehousse]

Yes it does let u book for 5 and an infant. But like others have stated, we would probably b crammed in there! I am also thinking of maybe getting 2 rooms at ASM or a music suite? This I so frustrating...lol

 

[R W B]

I wouldn't split rooms. I've been at port Orleans with 4 adults and a 12yr old in the same room and it was fine. Like you previously said, if you're only in the room to sleep and shower, it shouldn't be an issue. Now idk if the infant is sleeping the whole night so that may be an issue for everyone but basing this on spacing alone, I don't think it would be a problem. I would rather do the moderate and be a little crammed over the value and have more space. My .0.2