Would any of you mind helping me figure this out?

[Mushymom]

We are new to Disney planning, so if I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about - you're right! LOL!

We have room only reservations for November 26-December 3 at the Contemporary Resort with a MK view. With AAA, it's 2552.00. If I didn't have AAA, it would be just over $3000.

We didn't realize (until reading here) that if we wanted the dining plan, we needed to go through an AAA agent, so I called one (super nice lady) who gave me a quote of the Contemporary Resort with MK view for the same nights as I had already booked, 6 day Park hopper tickets, Magic your way and the dining plan for $4621.10. This is the same price I can get if I booked the same things online with Disney.

I'm thinking that in this particular case, it's not worth it to me to get the dining plan. If I just bought the Park Hopper Tickets off of Disney's website and kept my room reservation as is, my cost would be $3290. The difference between that and adding the dining plan would be $1331.10. Is the dining plan for 2 adults and 2 kids worth $1331.10? That's close to $200 a day in food for our family - I'm thinking that it may not be worth it getting the package and just booking the room and the tickets seperately - thus not getting the dining plan.

If you've made it this far without keeling over, (sorry for the long post), thanks - did this make sense, or am I not figuring out things correctly?

Thanks!

 

[jmvd20]

Allow me to help clarify....

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

You just answered some questions for me that I didn't even know I had! Thank you for the help!

 

[Mushymom]

Are your dates set? or could you back them up? Disney is offering the dining plan FREE if you stay between the middle of August and the end of Sept. As long as the first day of your vacation is Sept.30, you get the dining plan. If we weren't using the free dining plan, we would normally not get it. However, after this vacation that could change. One thing it allows, is for you to try places and things you might not normally want to fork out the cash for. I know last year at Garden Grill for a 3 adults, 1 child was almost $100. Our three year old in 2004 did fine at the resteraunts. Better than I would have expected. :lookaroun

I would love to back it up, but my husband's work schedule won't allow it. If it were up to me, we'd be going September 30th.

Thanks anyway.

 

[flscooman]

This is only slightly related. DAKL room service will be accepting dining plan on a 3 week trial starting 5/14. We were told 2 other resorts contemp and poly (not positive about that) will also be part of trial. Gives you another option possibly if they decide to continue.

 

[Nicole]

Oh, and "hi" Nicole! Nicole lead me to this board from the Dark Side (of scrapbooking that is ...LOL!)

Dark side?? HAH! Scrapbooking and Disney are a match made in Heaven!

Once again, JP I have to say YOU ARE AWESOME. Thank you so so much for all the fantastic info you share with us here.

 

[bigang]

just booked today through aaa 8 nights @pofq , magic your way w/dining and water park and more , was $240 cheaper than through disney

 

[Mushymom]

just booked today through aaa 8 nights @pofq , magic your way w/dining and water park and more , was $240 cheaper than through disney

Good for you. Unfortunately, there are no AAA packages left at the resort we want for the time we want. Oh well.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Here is a unique thought....try calling back and getting a different agent??? Perhaps this one wasnt as experienced and didnt know how to price it out for you. Belle

 

[wdwforus]

Thanks!

Not sure how well my 2 year old would handle a sit down restaurant each day. I think I'll look at the menus and add things up. That'll give me an idea.

Thanks for your help!

We went this past Christmas with a 2 year old. Our situation might be alittle bit different because our son drinks alot of milk, 4-5 bottles a day, which we have since broke him of since we have returned. While we were there he ate pretty good, but we didnt pay for a single meal for him that I can remember. We ate at alot of buffetts because of the character meals we went to and got quite a bit a food from the food court at PC and would just split something for him. At breakfast at any resturaunt he would eat bacon, sausage, bisquits if they were available, or pancakes/waffles, pastries and breakfast pizza. Dinner we always tried to get him some chicken because he really likes it or some of our steaks. I dont think I would pay for 4 meal plans with one that young. The kids menu items at most resturaunts are pretty cheap. Usually we never had room for desserts. Eating mostly became a neccessity, which got in the way of doing more rides. What we ended up doing was eating a big lunch late in the afternoon, especially if we had a big breakfast. If we had a quick breakfast in the room, we got snacks mid morning, small, quick lunch, if at anything at all, and a sit down dinner. I personally am dead set against meal plans because I feel they dont save any money, make you feel like you HAVE to use it all up, and we never end up eating as much as we thought we would. This is just our situation and past experience, we have done the meal plan once, and others might have had better results but, I will never do one again. I think they are banking on the fact that you arent going to use all of it and they make money on it. I have spent $150 on one dinner and made it through a whole day on $50 so our eating habits vary. Good luck, enjoy your time, and relax and have fun.