******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[Jchoma]

Question for those who have stayed at POP or can weigh in with thoughts on Value resorts, which we've never stayed in.

Our dates are 11/26-12/3. Split stay: 11/26-11/30 at CBR and 11/30-12/3. (I won't get free dining the last few days of our trip- but we can use Sunday's QS credits on Thursday and with the gift card offer and our Disney Visa rewards, paying for food OOP is no biggie Fri & Sat. Plus I may be able to score a room-only discount 11/30-12/3 since that's a separate reservation not eligible for FD).

Anyways, if I can't get FD with current reservation at CBR 11/26-11/30, my first choice would be another moderate- but POR and POFQ are excluded and I'm not seeing availability at CSR. Even with FD, upgrading to a deluxe would add $1,000 to our trip, which I can't justify. So I'm looking for advice on staying at a value and it looks like POP is available. I'm hesitant to book this due to the double beds vs. queens (there are 4 of us- husband, me, 2 kids (10 & 6) and husband is pretty tall). And, if it's warm enough to swim, we'd love to have a great pool (and the Values don't have slides). Some people seem to love POP. Others have complained that the beds/ rooms are just too small.

I realize this is a personal decision, but if we are park commandos for the most part, is the difference between POP and CBR std room really that big? Worth changing to POP to get FD? Other consideration is, if we get FD at POP we could perhaps stay at a deluxe the last 3 nights vs CSR, if a good room only discount comes out.

Sigh, sorry this is long, just debating our options before pulling the trigger Monday and my husband may kill me if I ask his advice again LOL

 

[Meeko5]

We are looking at week after Thanksgiving too. Thinking of going value this time.

I'm sad we can't go that week again

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

First time I see this thread!!
So do you think I should book now and make changes later? Did not know I could do this?
AWESOME!!!

If you're counting on FD then just wait until it drops to book.
FD is to fill empty rooms.

 

[RDenton]

Question for those who have stayed at POP or can weigh in with thoughts on Value resorts, which we've never stayed in.

Our dates are 11/26-12/3. Split stay: 11/26-11/30 at CBR and 11/30-12/3. (I won't get free dining the last few days of our trip- but we can use Sunday's QS credits on Thursday and with the gift card offer and our Disney Visa rewards, paying for food OOP is no biggie Fri & Sat. Plus I may be able to score a room-only discount 11/30-12/3 since that's a separate reservation not eligible for FD).

Anyways, if I can't get FD with current reservation at CBR 11/26-11/30, my first choice would be another moderate- but POR and POFQ are excluded and I'm not seeing availability at CSR. Even with FD, upgrading to a deluxe would add $1,000 to our trip, which I can't justify. So I'm looking for advice on staying at a value and it looks like POP is available. I'm hesitant to book this due to the double beds vs. queens (there are 4 of us- husband, me, 2 kids (10 & 6) and husband is pretty tall). And, if it's warm enough to swim, we'd love to have a great pool (and the Values don't have slides). Some people seem to love POP. Others have complained that the beds/ rooms are just too small.

I realize this is a personal decision, but if we are park commandos for the most part, is the difference between POP and CBR std room really that big? Worth changing to POP to get FD? Other consideration is, if we get FD at POP we could perhaps stay at a deluxe the last 3 nights vs CSR, if a good room only discount comes out.

Sigh, sorry this is long, just debating our options before pulling the trigger Monday and my husband may kill me if I ask his advice again LOL

We love POFQ and feel your dilemma. My husband is 6'2" NOT SLIM lol. We enjoyed Music and did NOT like pop at all. I don't think the rooms were very different. Our kids are 12,8 and value rooms were sufficient.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I lived in FL for 2 years and went to WDW a couple of times in December & January on top of that. Nov-Dec-Jan-Feb are absolute paradise as far as I'm concerned. 70-80 degrees and sunshine. It will get cold at night on occasion. Being from the north I was, like, yeah, ok, whatever. Let me tell you something. When it gets down below 45 at night that's a whole new kinda cold! So be prepared for that. It doesn't happen often but it does happen. You're gonna live it.

We were staying at the BW in december 2015, and it was like 55 degrees one morning, and all the resort cm's were walking around with hat and gloves on, all bundled up. It was too funny, we were like "55 degrees is not bad at all", but I guess for the people living there it was freezing.

 

[kels420]

11/25-12/2 is my first choice! I have heard it is a great week as far as crowds go. We were there Thanksgiving week last year, and I didn't think it was bad at all. But some first-timers I talked to thought the crowds were horrible! It all depends on your perspective I think.

This was Thursday on that second December week- and they weren't first timers! But u just never know- I feel like there really isn't a "dead" time anymore

 

[LauraJean]

Family of 5, myself, hubby our girls are 16, 13 and 7. The exchange sucks. This will be a 10 day trip. We go every 2 years. This year will be the most cash spent yet even though the others were 14 night trips!
If I book 2 rooms at pop whose is better to be in what room when it comes to upgrading the plans? We only want to do 6 TS meals so that is 30 TS credits.
If someone could help that would be great. I also would need connecting rooms if I put an adult in both rooms will I still be a go for connecting rooms?

I did do MOm and 16&13 year old in one room on reg dining plan upgrade
and dad and 7 year old on the free quick for $5766
that is 30 TS credits and 70 QS

Unsure if I can do this ??
I did DAD alone on deluxe plan
MOm with 7 and 13 and 16 year old on quick plan
which was 5716
30 TS and 80 QS

If I just booked 2 rooms and upgraded us allto reg dining plan then that was 5900 and more ts credits then I care for.

 

[mousiemom]

Looking for some feedback from you Disney Pros... our group is 4 adults visiting in November. The plan was to stay at CSR, so we have that booked with a TA and hoping for FD for mods to include the regular plan. If it's true they only have QSDP for mods, my first thought was to stay at POP and update to the regular dining plan. However, I think the beds will be too small and after running the numbers I am considering staying offsite. Anyone ever stayed at Sheraton Vistana? There is a great deal through Costco travel for a 2 bedroom suite. With the estimated cost of food factored in, we would basically break even between that and POP.

So "cons" of staying offsite... (1) not completely immersed in the "Disney Magic" (two of the adults will be their first trip to WDW, though we make annual trips to DL); (2) transportation/parking (thinking of adding a car rental as free shuttle times seem sparse); (3) have to wait until later to make FP+ reservations.

Am I missing anything? If not, just trying to weigh the benefits of a comfy room with 2 bathrooms, kitchen, etc. with the listed cons versus the convenience of being onsite.

we have stayed there twice cause my BIL gave us the week free with his points, but we stayed in the 2 br 2 bath suite and the one bedroom, very nice and spacious and right off the interstate 5 mins from disney but you do loose that disney magic feel, and we drove to the parks everyday and had to pay(yuck). it's a very nice resort though. we did cook cause we had the kitchen and ate some at parks, but i still choose staying onsite!!

 

[heath92681]

I'm sad we can't go that week again

Me too! But your week is close enough we can still plan together!

 

[squirrel]

Family of 5, myself, hubby our girls are 16, 13 and 7. The exchange sucks. This will be a 10 day trip. We go every 2 years. This year will be the most cash spent yet even though the others were 14 night trips!
If I book 2 rooms at pop whose is better to be in what room when it comes to upgrading the plans? We only want to do 6 TS meals so that is 30 TS credits.
If someone could help that would be great. I also would need connecting rooms if I put an adult in both rooms will I still be a go for connecting rooms?

I did do MOm and 16&13 year old in one room on reg dining plan upgrade
and dad and 7 year old on the free quick for $5766
that is 30 TS credits and 70 QS

Unsure if I can do this ??
I did DAD alone on deluxe plan
MOm with 7 and 13 and 16 year old on quick plan
which was 5716
30 TS and 80 QS

If I just booked 2 rooms and upgraded us allto reg dining plan then that was 5900 and more ts credits then I care for.

Price it out but I think you might be better off upgrading one room with 1 adult and the child (7 year old) to the DxDP and leave the other room as QSDP. That gives you lots of TS and they aren't separated from Adult to Child, so it should be less but double check.

It would be $76.36 (1 adult & child) to go from QSDP to DxDP per night. Not sure if you are doing 9 nights or 10?

 

[mousiemom]

Crystal palace sorry I always do that

we love crystal palace, we've done b,l,and d and we are doing lunch in oct, really good and it's so pretty inside!

 

[anitsa123]

we love crystal palace, we've done b,l,and d and we are doing lunch in oct, really good and it's so pretty inside!

We are doing B their on our last day before we leave. Been for D there and loved it so looking forward to Breakfast there.

 

[Jennny]

Exchange really does suck. This will be the most we have payed in years.... if this keeps up no more trips for us in the near future

 

[Neeky78]

I copy and pasted their dates as it was, it didn't crossed my mind it might confound English speakers as I'm so used to figure out which date type is being used. Sorry!

They read properly for me! And I'm an English speaker.
I stumble every time dates are on here as the US and dependencies are the only places that do month/day.

 

[Cheri Of All Trades]

Family of 5, myself, hubby our girls are 16, 13 and 7. The exchange sucks. This will be a 10 day trip. We go every 2 years. This year will be the most cash spent yet even though the others were 14 night trips!
If I book 2 rooms at pop whose is better to be in what room when it comes to upgrading the plans? We only want to do 6 TS meals so that is 30 TS credits.
If someone could help that would be great. I also would need connecting rooms if I put an adult in both rooms will I still be a go for connecting rooms?

I did do MOm and 16&13 year old in one room on reg dining plan upgrade
and dad and 7 year old on the free quick for $5766
that is 30 TS credits and 70 QS

Unsure if I can do this ??
I did DAD alone on deluxe plan
MOm with 7 and 13 and 16 year old on quick plan
which was 5716
30 TS and 80 QS

If I just booked 2 rooms and upgraded us allto reg dining plan then that was 5900 and more ts credits then I care for.

It looks like it's cheapest and the least complicated to have DAD in a room by himself and upgrade him to DxDP. You'd have enough TS for all 10 days and you'd know that Dad would ALWAYS use his Magic Band to pay for TS and NEVER use it for QS.

 

[anitsa123]

Has anyone every used a Toddler Anti-lost Belt with Safety Leash before. We will be at Disney 21-30 of Sept maybe the 20-30 of Sept (all depends on what they give mods for the dining plan) with our soon to be 2 year old grandson and have heard of the Safety Leash for kids and was wondering if they are good. I had one for my kids when they were little that went around one of their wrist.

 

[sharonabe]

Unsure if I can do this ??
I did DAD alone on deluxe plan
MOm with 7 and 13 and 16 year old on quick plan
which was 5716
30 TS and 80 QS

You can do that! Just be prepared that rooms may not be connected or adjoining or even in the same building.

 

[Nagy3girls]

Exchange really does suck. This will be the most we have payed in years.... if this keeps up no more trips for us in the near future

yes it does!!! Just add 35% to your trip.....nasty. When we went in 2012 the Canadian dollar was actually worth a little more than the US. BIG difference today!!

 

[Just Love Disney]

We love POFQ and feel your dilemma. My husband is 6'2" NOT SLIM lol. We enjoyed Music and did NOT like pop at all. I don't think the rooms were very different. Our kids are 12,8 and value rooms were sufficient.

We have always felt leery about staying at any of the All Stars but after reading so many positive comments during the last few pages, it may be worth trying....What didn't you like about POP and what did you like about Music?

 

[LauraJean]

Price it out but I think you might be better off upgrading one room with 1 adult and the child (7 year old) to the DxDP and leave the other room as QSDP. That gives you lots of TS and they aren't separated from Adult to Child, so it should be less but double check.

5894
mom and 7 years old to DXDP
dad and 13 and 17 on the quick
60 QS 30 Adult TS and 30 child TS well if they don't care who uses it 6o ts.
so more TS then I care for and more cash by a little