Free Dining and other questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-24-2005
Free Dining and other questions
5
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 7:22pm

Ok, our family of 4 have been two Disney twice in the last 2 years, AKL Jan of 04 and POFQ Feb of 05. I don't think the meal plan was offered yet but, if it was we did not get it. We had planned to go back the 1st week of Dec 06 and were going to get the meal plan and hope for a nice package discount. Then they go and offer the meal plan for free for September and I am so rethinking my plans. We were hoping to either stay at Coranodo springs or if we could not swing it price wise, the sports hotel. From my figures if we were to stay at a value hotel this would be a major cost savings since the value hotels typically have the least discounts, however if we could swing a moderate or even a delux again, the savings would not be much different, assuming there is a fairly nice discount during that time.
My questions are
1. What are the crowds like the last week of Sept 1st of Dec?
2. Is is REALLY hot?
3. What are the chances of a pretty good discount for the 1st week of December?
4. I was looking on the ALL EARS site and there was a picture of the rules for the playground at Coronodo springs, for anyone who has been there do they actually enforce the must be under 42 inches and between 2 and 6 years old. That seems a bit nuts to me and my boys 5 and 7 at the time and quite tall thought the pictures looked really cool.
5. How is the bus service from both the sports hotel and coronado?

Hope this makes since

Dawn

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 7:46pm

If you want me to run some numbers for you I can, just use the email link in my siggy. No obligation.


My questions are
1. What are the crowds like the last week of Sept 1st of Dec? Our Sept experiance was with Hurricane Frances so the parks were empty. Literally for 2 days and figuratively the rest of the week. CM tell us that labor day week is typically dead anyways since pretty much everyone is in school with a lot of districts having *just* gone back that week. Early Dec is not crowded, attendence is higher lately than it was the first time we went in early Dec, but it's still low enough to make my 'I hate crowds' dh willingly go.
2. Is is REALLY hot?

Avatar for shelb31
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2006
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 3:29pm

I can't be a big help, but here's what I've heard. My cousins went on Oct. 1st last year. We live in the South (NC) and are used to the humidity. However, walking around on pavement all day is the pits when it's 95 degrees! They both said it was very hot, and they were surprised that there were crowds (not horrible but much more crowded than they anticipated).

The thing I know about the first of Dec. is it's cheerleading competition week(s). Optimist cheerleaders of varying ages compete over a week's time. My girlfriend's daughter does this every year. She doesn't complain about the crowds, but the only other time she's been was Easter, so I guess anything would be less crowded than that! I have another friend who went last year during this time, and she thought it was crowded. I'm not quite sure how to say what I've heard about the cheerleaders (and say it nicely!). Well, I guess I'll put it like this: they can be rude. More than one person commented on this last year. I'm sure that's true of all big groups that you have a few "bad seeds". Something to take into consideration.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. At least you have a little more info to base your decision on. I think it's going to come to heat vs. cheerleaders. Of course if you're going before or after the cheerleaders, I'd say choose Dec., definitely! I just don't do heat well at all! We have Paramount's Carowinds nearby, and I've done it every year in the heat, but there's really no way to get around that; and besides, it's just a day trip.

HTH!

M'Shel

Disney 2010
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 5:28pm

Are they doing the December one again this year? Wasn't it a Warner company something or other Little League football competition in which the cheerleaders for them came along too?

I know Feb & March are packed with cheerleaders and though I've never been with cheerleaders (twirlers were bad enough in late Feb), I've heard how obnoxious & rude they can be.

Alysha


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-24-2005
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 6:46pm

Thanks so much for your reply's. I looked up the December happenings and it says pop warner superbowl or something so I think we are going to go for September, it works out better with our schedules as well, except for school and either way we were going to take them out for a week so not much difference there. Is this something I can book online and still get free dining or do I have to call or go through a travel agent. I by some twist of fate I have to change the date I would assume I would lose the dining package but I could take advantage of any current discount correct?

Thanks again
Dawn

One more thing, on allears it says they may do the Halloween party in Sept, has this happened in the past, we would be there the very last week of Sept and I would love to do this.

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 8:55pm

You can book it yourself or you can use a TA (sits on hands to avoid jumping up and down). But either way unless you have a Disney Visa you can't book it till tomorrow. Yes, if you cancel and rebook you will lose the free dining, but could get what ever promotion is available for the new time of travel (if rooms are still available at that rate). You will also have to pay any cancelation fees that may apply to your original reservation.


I do recall seeing a late Sept date for the Halloween party. It really depends on how the physical calendar looks, but the dates for this year should be released soon. The Halloween Party is a separate (non refundable)hard ticket event that begins at 7 pm on the selected dates, but people have reported getting into the MK with only their party ticket as early as 4pm. This is easier with dining reservations to one of the restaurants.