[doydie]

Next year we are planning to take the entire fam to Disney World. Yes we know it may take at least $4,000 but that's why we have our house paid off! So I have never jeard of this dining pass. Can anyone give me any insight and any othber suggestions, tips. It has been I'd sau at least 10 years since we have been there. We plan on going October of 2010 so it's cooler for me.

[Twinkletoes]

Ooooh! Doesn't that sound fun! Nice to have your house paid off so you have extra vacation money!

Sorry, I don't know anything about the dining pass. How many in your "entire" family?

[AfterMyNap]

Hey, Doyd, that will be a blast for all of you! My opinion of the dining passes is not very good, but eating is not a priority to me when I go there. I usually pack in some nonperishable stuff and get a locker first thing in the morning. Beverages will be the undoing of your budget— the first souvenir should be a cool drink bottle that can be filled at the fountains and carried on your belt/pack throughout your visit!

Bring your own cheapie rain ponchos or plan to buy them there.

You can find a lot of discussion and feedback on both Frommer's and Foder's travel sites. They are excellent resources for others' experiences, tricks & tips, and serious discount guidance. Both sites have helped me tremendously and I have saved thousands over the years!

Just google either name and it will come right up.

[soxmom]

Doyd, I have a girlfriend who is in Disney right now using one of those
dining passes. I wanted to be able to go to Disney this fall with the little
ones so I could use this offer, but its not in the cards. We are going
to the Cape for a week and we cant afford both.

I will let you know what she thinks when she gets back.

Cindy is right, we spent so much money on bottled water as all the fountain
had warm water. The beverages kill you.

[FinLady]

Totally agree most of your budget will be spent on cold drinks for keeping you cool.

If you can, stay at one of the resort hotels. Explore in the morning before the main heat of the day, go back to rest or cool off in a pool, and then go back out for dinner and the night shows.

Some of the more popular rides have machines that will give you passes for them. It chooses a time for you, but it can save the headache of being in line.

Unfortunately, not familar with dining passes. Never took them up on the offer.

[barb02]

I have a friend that just came back from Disney. She has a family of four. She did a lot of research. and then passed on the dining passes. She says that she is glad that she did as there were too many restrictions and it costs too much. They ate well (enjoyed many of the Disney restaurants), but she figured that they still spent less money. She did make reservations about a month before their trip for a retaurant in each park they visited. they particularly liked the African restaurant and buffet in their hotel. They also took breakfast bars and snacks with them to cover some of their meals. They also took water bottles and bought rain ponchos at the dollar store before leaving.

They stayed at Animal Kingdom ( on the Savanah) and she says that it was great. They could see giraffes, elephants, etc form their balcony. The room had bunk beds for their two kids and then a queen size bed for them.

[Riverwild]

I did Disney a few years ago with my niece. We didn't get a dining pass, not sure that it was offered, but we did stay at Disney Sports cause it came with the package.

One thing we did do was to buy a thermal mug that they sold, like a coffee mug for travel? It cost about $7.00, but it allowed us unlimited refills of drinks anywhere in the Disney parks. We sucked down waaaay more than $7.00 worth of drinks each during the week that we were there! I saved both mugs and plan to use them if I ever go there again!

I still have three days worth of time on the passes too, and as I understand it, the passes never expire. WE did 4 out of the 7 days we had, couldn't do every day since we visited relatives one day, went to the beach one day and just hung out one day cause we were beat!

We ate at the hotel buffet a few times, went to outside restaurants a few times and bought snacks and drinks off site for our room. We bought a disposable grille and used that one day and grilled burgers at the beach.

Have fun!

[Taffy]

Wow! That will be a fun trip!

I have not been there for years.

Anyone want to be my kid?