Travel: USA - Florida/Orlando
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ngl2010:
You're most welcomeHi dnls_mum,
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. We won't know about those without your explanation. We have limited time so I think we have to choose carefully on what we want to see.
Once again, thank you. :thankyou:
Hope you'll like Orlando as much as us. -
I just dawn on me while replying to a PM this morning to remind those who have PM'ed me for my itinerary that Legoland is not opened daily during Nov and Dec. So pls check the Legoland website for the opening days. It'll be so disappointing to drive all the way to Winter Haven and find it closed. (Sorry, I am just too lazy to type a personal PM to each of you separately with this same message :))
Also, my 2012 trip was our second and there were things we did previously that we liked but we did not do again because we wanted to try other things. Eg in 2007 we went for the medieval show and the pirate show. We enjoyed them. They were fun. Suitable for younger kids under 12. This time we went sleuth mystery dinner as our kids were older. Was concern if my youngest could follow. Surprisingly my 6 yo could understand everything and had a whale of a time too. I'd recommend anyone going to Orlando to try at least one of these dinner shows. These are non Disney and provide a good night time entertainment. -
Hello Dnls_mum,
thanks for sharing about your trip!
My trip will be late Nov 2014. I like to book my flight and hotel by March 2014. But I am still confused on the dining plan. I think it is only worth it unless we get it free when book with hotel/park ticket package.
But seem like the free dining plan is only for UK resident. Do I wait for the deal that may apply to non-UK & non-USA residents? When do you suggest we book the package? As you mentioned before (you have so many tips!!!), we can book the package first and then add the free dining plans later??
TIA. -
SarChar:
Glad that my reviews have been helpful to u.Hello Dnls_mum,
thanks for sharing about your trip!
My trip will be late Nov 2014. I like to book my flight and hotel by March 2014. But I am still confused on the dining plan. I think it is only worth it unless we get it free when book with hotel/park ticket package.
But seem like the free dining plan is only for UK resident. Do I wait for the deal that may apply to non-UK & non-USA residents? When do you suggest we book the package? As you mentioned before (you have so many tips!!!), we can book the package first and then add the free dining plans later??
TIA.
The free dining promo won't be out until second half 2014 for Nov 2014 if they plan to offer in 2014. When we were there in 2007, Nov/dec did not have free dining. Free dining was only for the hurricane season. But as the financial crisis affected US, they started free dining in Nov/Dec too, frm 2008. Also, are 2014 hotels and ticket prices are out yet? U can book them once it comes out and call Disney to apply free dining or promo packages when they come out nearer your travel dates.
We paid for dining plan when we were there in 2007. It was cheaper than present prices and even included gratuity and appetitizer. So was very worth it. The present prices are quite high, doesn't come with apps and exc gratuity. So I understand why u say it is not worth it. My kids are steak lovers and steaks are ex, and if you do the expensive buffets like Akershus, then Dining plan is worth it even if u have to pay for it. As a general rule of thumb, character meals are more ex then non character meals and lunch more ex than bf, and dinner more ex than lunch. If you are planning sit down bf, then maybe don't use the plan. If you are planning for dinners and fantasmic package. Then dining plan is worth it even if u have to pay for it. You can check out www. Allears.net for an estimate of the prices at the various restaurants. But it is not always updated. Some price increases may not be updated yet.
Have fun planning! -
Dnls_mum:
T
Glad that my reviews have been helpful to u.SarChar:
Hello Dnls_mum,
thanks for sharing about your trip!
My trip will be late Nov 2014. I like to book my flight and hotel by March 2014. But I am still confused on the dining plan. I think it is only worth it unless we get it free when book with hotel/park ticket package.
But seem like the free dining plan is only for UK resident. Do I wait for the deal that may apply to non-UK & non-USA residents? When do you suggest we book the package? As you mentioned before (you have so many tips!!!), we can book the package first and then add the free dining plans later??
TIA.
The free dining promo won't be out until second half 2014 for Nov 2014 if they plan to offer in 2014. When we were there in 2007, Nov/dec did not have free dining. Free dining was only for the hurricane season. But as the financial crisis affected US, they started free dining in Nov/Dec too, frm 2008. Also, are 2014 hotels and ticket prices are out yet? U can book them once it comes out and call Disney to apply free dining or promo packages when they come out nearer your travel dates.
We paid for dining plan when we were there in 2007. It was cheaper than present prices and even included gratuity and appetitizer. So was very worth it. The present prices are quite high, doesn't come with apps and exc gratuity. So I understand why u say it is not worth it. My kids are steak lovers and steaks are ex, and if you do the expensive buffets like Akershus, then Dining plan is worth it even if u have to pay for it. As a general rule of thumb, character meals are more ex then non character meals and lunch more ex than bf, and dinner more ex than lunch. If you are planning sit down bf, then maybe don't use the plan. If you are planning for dinners and fantasmic package. Then dining plan is worth it even if u have to pay for it. You can check out www. Allears.net for an estimate of the prices at the various restaurants. But it is not always updated. Some price increases may not be updated yet.
Have fun planning!
Oh, i missed out your qn on the UK promo. the UK free dining is for European residents only. They are targeting Uk and European market as this is the traditional market for WDW, but the European crisis has reduced traveling by Brits and Europeans. You need to wait for the general offer to come out on the Walt Disney world US website. If you are seeing the UK website, then you are on the wrong website. That website is managed by the WDW travel company which will need you to provide a UK or EU address. The promos and free dining on the US website will be for all guests, no nationality restrictions. If you are accessing the website from your office, and you work for a European MNC that perhaps have their own gateway through Europe, the computer may think you reside in Europe and direct you to this UK website instead of the usual US website.
Hope I have answered all your questions. If you have any more questions, just ask. I'll be most happy to assist if I know the answers. -
Thanks Dnls_mum !
It is likely we will stay off site for 3-4 days and get over the jetlag before moving to a Disney hotel for 10-12 days. The FREE dining plan is up till Sept 2013. Basically with dining plan, the room is non-discounted !
In any case, I am still reading this topic and noting down important tips from everyone.
Thanks again! -
SarChar:
The nov 13 free dining, if they offer it should only be coming out in Aug 13 from past years experience. But like I said earlier, the nov/dec free dining was only offered from 2008 when the global financial crisis started and affected visitor numbers. So whether they offer it in 2014 depends on visitor numbers next year. You will need to wait til Aug14 to find out.Thanks Dnls_mum !
It is likely we will stay off site for 3-4 days and get over the jetlag before moving to a Disney hotel for 10-12 days. The FREE dining plan is up till Sept 2013. Basically with dining plan, the room is non-discounted !
In any case, I am still reading this topic and noting down important tips from everyone.
Thanks again!
I'm not sure what you mean by with dining plan, the room is non-discounted. Room prices differ with seasons. Each promo has diff conditions. Generally, discounted rooms, do not get free dining. Free dining means no discounted rooms. But if you get discounted rooms, you can pay for the dining plan out of pocket. As a rule of thumb, when you are 4-5 sharing a room, free dining is more worth it than say if you are 2 sharing a room, in which case discounted rooms are cheaper. You can try out the various options on the Disney website and see which comes out cheapest. It is not true that if you buy the dining plan, the room is not discounted. It is only non-discounted if you are choosing the free dining promo.
I don't deny that Disney rooms are ex, especially the deluxe resort. But the value resorts are pretty reasonable. You really pay for the full Disney experience. We have friends who stayed offsite for the whole trip and they also had fun. What I did in 2007 was to stay 6 nights in Disney deluxe, 4 nights off site and 4 nights in universal. The offsite (holiday inn) was cheap, but quality was different. We still like the Disney experience, that's why we decided on 11 nights at Poly, a Disney deluxe and 5 nights at universal in 2012. I suggest you stay onsite at Universal Resort for a few days if you plan to visit Universal studios and islands of adventure. You get early entry to WWoHP and free unlimited universal express. Makes touring Universal and Islands a breeze. Universal hotels are comparable to Disney deluxe in quality but much cheaper than Disney deluxe.
We took SG-Moscow-Houston-Orlando and all of us did not have jet lag, unlike previously when we flew Sg-NY-Orlando. I think the break in Moscow helped and we arrived at our hotel in Orlando around 8plus. Took a quick dinner, washed up and went to bed. All slept well and was up and about by 8plus the next morning. No jet lag the entire trip for everyone. -
Hi Dnls_mum
Need to ask you a few qns cos i have decided to go after DS PSLE from 13-25 Oct. I have booked the Art Of Animations Car suite for 7 nites with the Disney dining plan. Now have to book the Universal side hotel.
1. Did you book the Hard Rock hotel with the base ticket or you need to change or upgrade to the park to park ticket ? I am keen to visit Harry porter on all 3 mornings that I am at hard rock.
2. With regards to the dining plan am still confuse about the gratitudes??? Can you kindly give some advice on this like eg on how to calculate.
3. Understand you have also purchase the photo pass package ? Did you add the CD ? Does it include pictures taken during thunder mountain etc ? If you didn't add CD how did you download the pictures ? Able to share the pictures if you are on FB ?
Many thanks in advance -
Wishace:
I booked mine as a package direct with Universal as I wanted to have the included 3broomstick reserved breakfast. It is not cheaper to book as package, they just add the various prices up. But 3broomstick normally do not take reservation, and this was the only way to get a reserved breakfast. I bought park to park tickets with my package. You can choose how many days you want and whether park to park or single park on the Universal website.Hi Dnls_mum
Need to ask you a few qns cos i have decided to go after DS PSLE from 13-25 Oct. I have booked the Art Of Animations Car suite for 7 nites with the Disney dining plan. Now have to book the Universal side hotel.
1. Did you book the Hard Rock hotel with the base ticket or you need to change or upgrade to the park to park ticket ? I am keen to visit Harry porter on all 3 mornings that I am at hard rock.
It is easy to walk from Hard Rock to IOA for early entry and head back to US when US opens. We did that.Wishace:
When you receive your bill, they will show on the bill what is the gratuity at 18% and 20%, so you don't need to do mental sums or calculate yourself. You write down what you want to give, either one of the suggested amount or more or less, up to you, then sign your bill which will include items not included in the meal plan like alcoholic drinks or appetisers etc, and charge it to your room ac. The bill will show how many dining credits are deducted for that meal. Make sure you check this because they do make mistakes sometimes.2. With regards to the dining plan am still confuse about the gratitudes??? Can you kindly give some advice on this like eg on how to calculate.
Wishace:
There are 2 types of photopass packages. The normal one or the Photopass plus which was only introduced last year. We used the original one in 07 and the plus last year. The normal one allows you to include any photos taken by the photographers in the park or resorts. These are roaming photographers stationed at strategic landmarks or at characters meet and greet.3. Understand you have also purchase the photo pass package ? Did you add the CD ? Does it include pictures taken during thunder mountain etc ? If you didn't add CD how did you download the pictures ? Able to share the pictures if you are on FB ?
Many thanks in advance
The plus package allows the same as the normal package and on top of it some ride photos and character dining photos which you will normally have to pay extra for if you do not have the package. You do not get prints for the ride photos, just the digital copies, but at the character dining, you get the prints as well as the digital. Check out the 2 links below for the list of included character dining and ride. Big Thunder does not have ride photo.
:salute: Sorry, but I don't share my family photos publicly and even on my Facebook, they are restricted to selected audience only. But in the links below, you can find examples of the \"magic photos\" that the photopass photographers can take for you. I like photopass as we are able to take lots of family photo instead of leaving DH out all the time. The plus package was really worth it for us as we ate at several of the character meals that were included and went on most of the included rides too. We are the type that will normally buy the photos.
The photo CD that is included in the photopass plus package is a CD of photos taken by photopass photographers of the park and hotels, not your photos. They are quite nicely taken. For your photos that they have taken for you, you can add borders and designs to them, then when you are done, you can just download these photos from Internet into your home computer. No CD required. Very convenient.
http://www.disneyphotopass.com/specialoffers/wdwppp.htm
https://www.facebook.com/notes/disneys-photopass-service/new-disney-photopass/10150650931518325 -
Hi Dnls_mum,
From your experience, do you prefer the contemporary resort or the polynesian?
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