Free Dining & Split Stays... On-site vs. Off-site

[JewelsG]

So we have 2 weeks vacation from Dec 2nd to the 16th - looking to drive down to disney from NB Canada. Planning to stay onsite but really want to take advantage of the free dining promotion - I know there probably is a chance it won't start until the 7th or 8th of December.

Need advice on best option in booking hotels & park tickets and such. Considering doing Universal for first time - would you stay off-site until free dining promo started and go from there or is there a better option?

Can you start using your 10 day park pass prior to checking in at your resort? ie - if promo starts on 8th can I get access to my park pass on the 6th & 7th

 

[purple figment]

You can pick up your tickets up to 10 days before the start of the package at Guest Relations outside a park or at Disney Springs, but you will not be able to make FP+ reservations for the days prior to the start of your package until you pick up the tickets.

If you are not planning to stay onsite unless free dining is offered, there is no advantage to booking a room early because it does not guarantee that you will be able to book the free dining package. The rooms allocated to free dining come from a separate inventory so you will have to book a new package and cancel your original reservation once the free dining offer is announced. If you are planning to stay onsite even if free dining is not offered, then make your reservation early so you can get your first choice of resort/room category.

If free dining starts part way through your trip you can make two separate reservations. The first can be a room only reservation for the nights before free dining starts. The second reservation would be a package (room + tickets + free dining) for the free dining period. They would be two separate reservations so there is always the possibility that you will have to change rooms. There's no guarantee, but you could increase your chances of staying in the same room by booking the exact same resort and room category for both reservations.