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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
ok- so the free dining promotion came out yesterday, for the dates we're going (end of august).
we are booked at the polynesian, on an AWESOME deal!! ( $2500 for 6 nights, plus 5 day park hoppers for 3 of us). This does not include food, and we can't add a dining plan to it (its an "Exclusive" deal for this one travel agency). SOOO i'm budgeting about $1000 for food for the week.... bringing it up to about $3600.
BUT i can get free dining at the Art of Animation, in one of the suites. So DH and i would have our own bedroom, theres 2 bathrooms... the cost for that with the free dining is about $3500. so, basically the same.
Its SO tough bc theres only 3 of us, and DS is 5 and eats like a bird.... so I'm sure we can keep out dining costs under control if we pay out of pocket.plus, the polynesian and being right on the monorail would be amazing!!! BUT we had free dining last year, and it was really really nice to know everything was already paid for, be able to get DS a "free" mickey ice cream bar everything day LOL
any opinions???
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Posted 4/26/16 10:51 PM  |
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Marbo
LOVE
Member since 7/08 2374 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
For me the convenience of the monorail wins, especially since pricing is even. But I've only been to Disney once last Sumer and will be going back this summer and stayed at contemporary and booked it again. For me, I am willing to pay more for convenience
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| Posted 4/26/16 11:20 PM |
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phoenix913
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3034 total posts
Name:
V
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Personally I'd stick with poly. That's a great deal and it's such a convenient hotel. I've stayed at aoa too in the suites, but for me the monorail trumps everything. your food budget seems high to me especially if ds is not a big eater. Have you considered a grocery delivery for breakfast and snack items to help keep costs down?
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| Posted 4/27/16 3:57 AM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by phoenix913
your food budget seems high to me especially if ds is not a big eater. Have you considered a grocery delivery for breakfast and snack items to help keep costs down?
yeah... i have to let go of some of my reservations i think LOL we like doing "pre park" opening breakfasts, to get us in ahead of the crowds. most of those are characters buffets that are $$$. right now we have tusker house on our AK day, Crystal Palace on our MK day, and Hollywood and Vine on our HS day (mostly bc DS is 5 and HAS to do jedi training again haha so that puts us right there to sign up when it opens, so we make sure he gets to do it)
we also have ohana for dinner, 50s prime time cafe, Boma, Liberty Tree
DH and i like our Disney food! HAHAHA last year i Fed EXed a box to the hotel, with breakfast bars, snacks, etc--- so i'll definitely do that again- maybe even throw in some small containers of PB&J to do sandwiches for DS for lunch
we probably will end up sticking with the Poly. I've never stayed in a monorail hotel and i'm sure it'll be amazing!!!! i was SO SO excited when i found this deal!!!
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| Posted 4/27/16 7:31 AM |
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luvmykids8
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 2050 total posts
Name:
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Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I would go on allears.net and price out the food based on the ADRs you have & see if the dining plan is worth it or not.
For my family, I would go with the dining plan and stay at AoA just bc we book mostly character meals and they get so pricey that I would be paying more OOP.
So figure out the price and see which makes more sense to you. Either way, both places are great to stay in. I heard the AoA theming is so cute!
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| Posted 4/27/16 8:09 AM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by luvmykids8
I would go on allears.net and price out the food based on the ADRs you have & see if the dining plan is worth it or not.
For my family, I would go with the dining plan and stay at AoA just bc we book mostly character meals and they get so pricey that I would be paying more OOP.
So figure out the price and see which makes more sense to you. Either way, both places are great to stay in. I heard the AoA theming is so cute!
Thanks! I know! we have a lot of buffets booked, so it adds up!
and yeah- both hotels have advantages, which makes it tough!! Poly is on the monorail, and "deluxe".... so thats definitely good! BUT AOA suite has 2 bathrooms, and DH and i would have our own room for after DS goes to sleep. I"m gonna have to run the numbers again before the free dining rooms at AOA all get taken! LOL
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| Posted 4/27/16 8:24 AM |
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Marbo
LOVE
Member since 7/08 2374 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I think your budget is good, for us a family of 4 we went to akershus for dinner, Hollywood and vine for breakfast, mama trattoria for the fantasmic dinner package, crystal palace for lunch, bog for lunch,chef mickeys for breakfast, California grill for dinner... We brought snacks for the hotel and also did a couple of quick service meals. The amount charged on the magic band when all was said and done was $1500...that included all of our gift shop purchases too though.
ETA: forget to add me and dh are not drinkers, so that could have totally changed our totals.
Message edited 4/27/2016 11:54:37 AM.
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| Posted 4/27/16 9:25 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Art of Animation is still a value resort with value amenities, so I would stick with the Poly!
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| Posted 4/27/16 11:27 AM |
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Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I'd stick with the Polynesian. The convenience will be worth a lot (I'm guessing) and the amenities will make it amazing.
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| Posted 4/27/16 12:10 PM |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9537 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I would absolutely stick with the Poly. One of the things we do is call Disney (or travel agent in your case) and find out what the actual cost of the dining plan is. Then we put that $$ on a pre-paid card to use for meals. We do get DVC discounts, but even after tips we come home with money on that card. Besides, I prefer an appetizer to dessert, and with the dining plan you don't have that option.
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| Posted 4/27/16 9:24 PM |
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Travel Kerri
LIFamilies Business
Member since 5/13 258 total posts
Name:
Kerri
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Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I would stick with the Poly for sure. Much more convenient and while I LOVE art of animation it is a value resort and dropping down from the Poly to there for the same price doesn't seem like the best value for your money.
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| Posted 4/29/16 8:34 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I could be wrong but Free Dining at Art of Animation family suites is the quick service dining plan, not the regular dining plan. All values are quick service plan free dining. (Little mermaid not included). Moderate and deluxe get the regular dining plan. Stick to the poly.
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| Posted 5/1/16 6:01 PM |
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Travel Kerri
LIFamilies Business
Member since 5/13 258 total posts
Name:
Kerri
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by Lillykat
I could be wrong but Free Dining at Art of Animation family suites is the quick service dining plan, not the regular dining plan. All values are quick service plan free dining. (Little mermaid not included). Moderate and deluxe get the regular dining plan. Stick to the poly.
You're correct!
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| Posted 5/2/16 12:10 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by Lillykat
I could be wrong but Free Dining at Art of Animation family suites is the quick service dining plan, not the regular dining plan. All values are quick service plan free dining. (Little mermaid not included). Moderate and deluxe get the regular dining plan. Stick to the poly.
yup-- i priced AOA with the regular dining plan (1 sit down and i QS a day...)
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| Posted 5/2/16 2:49 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Then technically you aren't getting "free dining". Then I guess your package would be the quick service and they have you paying the difference to upgrade to the regular dining plan. So you are paying a portion of the dining plan. Still would pick the poly.
End to add. Friends of ours stay at the contemporary during free dining. They pay to upgrade it to the deluxe plan. Still a good deal.
Message edited 5/2/2016 8:55:03 PM.
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| Posted 5/2/16 8:51 PM |
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MaeDe
LIF Adult
Member since 4/11 1169 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
I would stay at the polynesian. I stayed at the pop century last year and they shared alot of the art and animation busses and they were the farthest away at every park. and they are huge ,and the lines to get on them are crazy. keep your Monorail room. Thats a great price. who was you travel agent?
Also if you are going with a small child you may want to do more quick service type meals .
Message edited 5/3/2016 3:09:33 PM.
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| Posted 5/3/16 3:08 PM |
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luvmykids8
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 2050 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by MaeDe
I would stay at the polynesian. I stayed at the pop century last year and they shared alot of the art and animation busses and they were the farthest away at every park. and they are huge ,and the lines to get on them are crazy. keep your Monorail room. Thats a great price. who was you travel agent?
Also if you are going with a small child you may want to do more quick service type meals .
Pop Century & AoA share buses?
I thought Pop had their own bus. I could be totally wrong though!
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| Posted 5/3/16 3:22 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Stick with the Poly for sure.
The other thing with Free Dining - and I always say this - it is NEVER free.
You are paying rack rate for the hotel when you take Free Dining - and rack rate for Disney hotels is an absolute rip off!
I believe you can always get the hotel discount instead.
You have to look into where you would want to eat and do the math and see if it's worth it because you are essentially "paying" the value of the room discount to get the dining plan.
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| Posted 5/3/16 3:31 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by JennP
Stick with the Poly for sure.
The other thing with Free Dining - and I always say this - it is NEVER free.
You are paying rack rate for the hotel when you take Free Dining - and rack rate for Disney hotels is an absolute rip off!
I believe you can always get the hotel discount instead.
You have to look into where you would want to eat and do the math and see if it's worth it because you are essentially "paying" the value of the room discount to get the dining plan.
Exactly, I'd rather take the room discount at a nicer resort. Plus, over the years, Disney has increased the pricing on their food immensely, and I think a lot of it has to do with free dining, and making people think they are getting a GREAT deal. But, people go BANANAS over the free dining. Disney brainwashed or something 
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| Posted 5/3/16 3:41 PM |
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mbg1007
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1247 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney People (sorry!!! LOL )
Posted by luvmykids8
Posted by MaeDe
I would stay at the polynesian. I stayed at the pop century last year and they shared alot of the art and animation busses and they were the farthest away at every park. and they are huge ,and the lines to get on them are crazy. keep your Monorail room. Thats a great price. who was you travel agent?
Also if you are going with a small child you may want to do more quick service type meals .
Pop Century & AoA share buses?
I thought Pop had their own bus. I could be totally wrong though!
AOA has their own buses, they don't share which is a great perk. I guess I'm in the minority but we stayed in a family suite at AOA and loved it. We had our own room and the kids had their own space, I would prefer that over a deluxe standard room. Also, AOA may be a " value" resort but the family suites really aren't "value" rooms, they are indoor corridors and the there is a queen in the master, the 2 bathrooms alone sold me. The only "amenities" i could see being different was no water slide and no sit down restaurant but we didn't need that as we ate in the parks and the pool was awesome without slides ( plus my kids were too young anyway for them).
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| Posted 5/9/16 2:10 PM |
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