Prices on the 4/3 deal? worth it?

[Tammy296]

We are debating if we want to take advantage of the 4/3 deal or wait until the free dining opens up.

Right now we have a budget of $2000 and under. We got a price of $2108.00 with dining and 7 day base ticket, 7 nights on the 3/4 deal. Is this REALLY a deal people? I mean we have to cover the additional costs toward those 3 extra dining days which we figured up to $339.12. SO based on the $200 gc we're getting back it just didn't seem like a deal to me. What do you all think? (this is staying at a value resort)

My personal opinion is that with the unstable economy taking a trip for 4 needs to be reasonable and affordable. So for 4 of us (one infant, one 10 yr old and two adults) not sure we're getting a good price. Remember this price didn't include plane tickets. We still have to consider those costs. :confused3

Should we wait for free dining?

Thanks!
Tammy :scared:

[Luv2Roam]

Keep in mind your 10 year old is an adult when it comes to park tickets and a dining plan.
Others have suggested pricing out a regular WDW dining vacation and comparing the cost against your 7/4 with dining. Most seem very happy with the price once they do that.

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I'm confused as to why you would need to cover the other three days for dining? Did you get a quote on a 4/3 package with dining. If you did, the dining part of the package would be for 7 nights not just the first 4.

[Donnainnj]

With a budget resort the free dining is going to be your best bet. 4/3 deal gives you 43% off the room plus a few dollars off day 5-7 on the passes per person. Free dining will save your family $120 per night. (assuming they offer it)
Donna

[DisneyDork712]

I'm confused as to why you would need to cover the other three days for dining? Did you get a quote on a 4/3 package with dining. If you did, the dining part of the package would be for 7 nights not just the first 4.

Actually, dining isn't included in this package. You have to pay for all of the Dining Plan if you want to add it - no free days/nights. At least that is my understanding. :goodvibes

[catne]

Don't know your dates, but since you're referring to a gift card in the deal, I assume you must be planning on going during those dates, so I ran your stats through the WDW website for vacation prices, using check in 2/9, check out 2/16...

on the 4/3 deal, with 7 day base tickets and Plus Dining for 2 adults & 1 10 yr. old the rate on a standard room at All Star Sports comes in at $1996...less the $200 gift card, the vacation will cost you $1796. (The same deal at All Star Movies, preferred room, again netting out the gift card would cost you $1864.) The dining is for length of stay, so automatically charges for all 7 nights (not the part of the room rate you're paying for...so there is no additional days/nights of dining not included in the package.)

Now run the same vacation without any promotional discounts and no gift card: just a standard room at value resort for the same nights, 2 adults & 10 yr. old, plus 7 day base ticket & Plus dining...that will cost you $2399.00.

So the 4/3 deal on a standard value room will save you $603...or save you $535 on a preferred room.

IF you can wait to go during Free Dining, and kept everything else the same, then it would be an even greater savings...pricing out for your family for the week of 9/13-9/20 a standard room at AS Music, with the 7 day base ticket & free dining would cost you $1380...or $1499 for a preferred room there. So the standard room package during Free Dining would save you $958 ($355 more savings than the 4/3 deal)

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Actually, dining isn't included in this package. You have to pay for all of the Dining Plan if you want to add it - no free days/nights. At least that is my understanding. :goodvibes

No, I didn't mean that the dining part had "free" days however since the deal is considered a package, the dining component would be for the entire 7 nights because you can't add dining for part of a package. If OP's quote included dining it would be for 7 nights not just 4.

HTH,
Tasha :goodvibes

[DisneyDork712]

Forgot to add... If you plan on going anyway during this time, it's a great deal no matter what!

We're saving $525 with this deal, and that's before even factoring in the $200 gift card!

[DisneyDork712]

No, I didn't mean that the dining part had "free" days however since the deal is considered a package, the dining component would be for the entire 7 nights because you can't add dining for part of a package. If OP's quote included dining it would be for 7 nights not just 4.


Oooohh! I see what you're saying now! You're right... So it sounds like that would be a good deal for the OP! Anything is better than paying regular rates! :goodvibes

[HM]

That is a very good deal.

But, if you want to save some money, you might think about not adding a dining plan and just eating mostly counterservice. We usually do two or three sit-down meals and do the rest at counter service and we find that we spend much less than $100 a day for four of us. That way we can pick and choose the items we want, share meals, and such. It makes your budget more flexible. Also, if you do the basic dining plan, you need to remember that you'll be paying the tips yourself, and that will be about $15 a meal additional for each day.

[Miffy]

That is a very good deal.

But, if you want to save some money, you might think about not adding a dining plan and just eating mostly counterservice. We usually do two or three sit-down meals and do the rest at counter service and we find that we spend much less than $100 a day for four of us. That way we can pick and choose the items we want, share meals, and such. It makes your budget more flexible. Also, if you do the basic dining plan, you need to remember that you'll be paying the tips yourself, and that will be about $15 a meal additional for each day.


OP: This is good advice. IMHO, the dining plan is only a deal when it's offered free. It's actually much cheaper to eat CS meals and, if possible, have breakfast in your room.

Bring cereal, fruit, whatever else you like to eat, and keep milk in a cooler that you refill with free ice--that way you won't have to pay for a fridge.

There are plenty of other ways to save on the expense of eating at WDW, including bringing your own case of water, rarely ordering sodas with your meals, bringing your own snacks, etc. Loads of advice about this all over the place on these boards. If you're flying in and not renting a car, you can get a delivery from gardengrocer or wegoshop. You can also mail yourself a package of nonperishable food items ahead of time.

The $200 gift card is a great deal. You can use it for anything during your trip except the cost of the package.

[Tammy296]

Assuming they DO have the Free Dining promotion in September and we book to go 9/1 - 9/8 (daughter's b day is 9/5) should we add the Dining package NOW or just omit it?

They say somehow if you purchase now and a promotion comes up you can take advantage of it so how does that work in order to do so?

-Tammy

[rt2dz]

You apply a code by simply calling and seeing if it fits your dates. If there is availability, you’re golden. You may have to change resorts and/or views. As far as when to add dining, it only has to been done 72 hours prior to check in, if not free.

Do go ahead and using the menus and prices at ALL EARS, make your dining plans. See what everyone wants to eat and what your OOP costs are v. what the dining plan would cost. Yes, I know the dining plan is free, but frequently during free dining Disney offers a room only discount code v. having to pay rack rates. Also, instead of having to buy tickets at full price through Disney, you can buy through a discount broker. Not to mention, not every place you want to eat may be on the dining plan. If you want to go to 2 TS restaurants, you'll run short on credits (or if you prefer CS). You still need to cover tips either way. Apps and adult beverages aren't on the dining plan. Your 10yo may prefer to eat off the children's menu. You might not need that many snacks. Don't fall for the marketing.

[EpcotBill]

I'm confused. Are you going in September or are you going during the 4/3 deal? If you're going for the 4/3 deal and you buy the Dining plan you pay for dining all 7 nights. Only the room and tix are free for the 3 nights.

If you're going in September then there's no rush to make a reservation now. There will probably be a discount of some sort. Maybe free dining, maybe not.

Disregard my post. I read your other thread on this exact same subject. You explained it a little better there.

[PrincessMom4]

We were told by my in-laws that they were not allowed the 4/3 deal because they didn't have kids. They were give a different deal. I know we didn't stay at the value resorts, which I know would have saved us more, BUT we LOVE fort wilderness. I knew we would pay more than say POP resort.

[rt2dz]

We were told by my in-laws that they were not allowed the 4/3 deal because they didn't have kids. They were give a different deal. I know we didn't stay at the value resorts, which I know would have saved us more, BUT we LOVE fort wilderness. I knew we would pay more than say POP resort.

The 4/3 deal has nothing what-so-ever to do with children. In December, maybe November, there were email pin codes going around and one included free tickets and dining for children. Lots of people without kids did get it. Did they receive that pin and are maybe confusing the two?

[PrincessMom4]

We got the buy 4 and get 3 day (tickets) free... I booked all of the reservation through a "mouse" specialist.. I will contact them... My mil may be getting confused.

[mbanks21]

Disney wont NOT give you a promo because you dont have kids, thats crazy. Was she looking at the example pricing?

[PrincessMom4]

*****Update....... I found out that she got confused.... So I apologize for any confusion... I feel like a dork right now :( Our price is based off of 6 nights stay and we get 2 nights free...If we had of up'ed it to 7nights we'd have got the 3nights free... There was NOTHING about children or being "childless"....AGAIN sorry for any confusion

[RescueRanger]

I think alot of people need to be aware that if and when they do offer free dining in the future, it will probably not be what they are used to. I believe that if free dining is offerred, it will probably be the quick service dining plan. It will not be the basic plan that gives you a TS each day too. They may let you have the basic plan but will probably charge you the difference. This is just my opinion but it is something to consider.

[Babyboo]

To The OP :-

If you are planning to go at a time when the 4/3 deal is valid, then you'd be crazy not to book the offer. If you are looking against other discounts / codes / offers then you would have to compare them to work out if it's a good deal for you.

To give you an idea of the savings that can be made, we have a MK View Tower room booked at the Contemporay for 7 nights at easter 04/11 - 04/18, 7 days hopper tickets and dining for 2ad and 1ch (6yrs). The rack rate for this just over $6k we are paying $3,800 with the 4/3 offer, thats a saving of $2,200. Now we were going on those dates anyway so it worked great for us.

I don't think there is any doubt it's a good offer if it fits in with your plans, but once you compare it to other offers at different times of the year only you can work out if it's the best offer for you.

[Disneylvr]

We have always wanted to go during Spring Break but that is usually a more expensive time to visit WDW. The 4/3 deal made it affordable for us so YES it is worth it! I personally do not want to go during the historical free dining time (I know in 2008 it was extended) when it is incredibly hot, rainy and possible hurricane risk.

[polineedyan]

i got 2 rooms, 1 adult 2 kids in each room..each package was 1100. i dont think 2 rooms, tickets for 6 for seven days at 2200 is bad at all..id say its a deal..4/3 rocks:worship:

[tzolkin]

I guess I don't understand why you are doing the dining plan if you have a budget. Do you really need to eat a TS & CS meal every day? Your DD10 also counts as an adult, so if she's not going to eat the adult meals I think you would be losing money there anyway.

We bought groceries and ate a lot of snacks during our trip. We were there for 9 days with 5 people (kids 9, 4, 2) and we spent under $400 for food the whole trip. I believe the dining plan would have been $130 per day plus tips. We didn't do any TS, but we had a wonderful trip. (And no one went hungry ;) )

If you must have the dining plan than free dining may be a better deal for you, but you will be paying regular price for the room and tickets.

[PrincessMom4]

tzolkin...$400??...HOW?? We have 6 people and our two youngest eat like "1" whole person...I mean it depends on each family because I know we could do the trip a lot cheaper but we want the meals out and not cook ourselves. I mean this will be our third trip and YES we will be really budgeting.

[Lou-Ann]

I am so glad you cleared up the no kids thing as i called yesterday for two adults and was offered the 4/7 deal for the two of us at less than if I paid for room only for 7 days. How they figure this, is beyond me, but it is a definate savings...

[JamesB]

We found the 4/3 deal a great savings. We are staying at AKL and are saving give or take $1200. Since we paid disney prior to the 4/3 deal we ended up going for the deluxe dining and now all of our meals are taken care of. the 4/3 deal pretty much gave us free deluxe dining and made me do the :banana: .

[tzolkin]

tzolkin...$400??...HOW?? We have 6 people and our two youngest eat like "1" whole person...I mean it depends on each family because I know we could do the trip a lot cheaper but we want the meals out and not cook ourselves. I mean this will be our third trip and YES we will be really budgeting.

It certainly wouldn't work for everyone. We were hot and our kids are young, so we prefered to "snack" more than eat. We did not cook anything.

We ate breakfast in the room (mostly bagels, cereal, and fruit) and packed a bunch of snacks in our backpack (pb&js cut into dino shapes, carrots, whole apples, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, pretzels-- not everything, we alternated a few snacks each time we left the room). We went back to the hotel every day to nap and we had cheese and things to snack on as well. When in the parks we would get a few CS meals here and there and share. We also got a large pizza two nights from the food court at POP (around $15). We ate a normal amount of food, but we were snacking throughout the day instead of eating full meals. Basically if we felt like a piece of fruit, we ate it. If we felt like chicken tenders we got two orders and split them. A few hours later we might want a sandwich and salad from Sunshine Seasons. We used hydration backpacks and only drank water in the parks. We had soda, milk, and juice in the room.

about $150 on groceries and $244 on food in the parks/resort. We did not limit ourselves to a certain amount or deny anyone food. We just ate what/when we felt like it. I did keep receipts and added them up after we got home.

[PrincessMom4]

We are saving about $1100US. Our package has the Dining Plan on it too plus we got a free gift card :)