If we got a pin email, would it be better than using AP?

[frannn]

You would think that I would know the answer to this after all these trips, but to be honest, we only used a pkg once (honeymoon,1999). All the other trips (about 5) we have used APs, since we stay 10 nights, and try to get two uses out of each pass (over 2 years). I would love to try the meal plan, but a pkg would not make sense if we can get an AP discount on AS Movies in Oct and use the passes over two trips. If there are no AP resort rates, and the pin was giving the meal plan for free, what would the difference in savings be over all components? It will be DH, me, DD3, and possibly DD12. If we got APs, we would buy the DDE card and do at CRT and CP lunch, CM dinner, and PSB breafast, plus at least one more sit down. The rest would probably be counter service, including bkfast. We are going 10/7-10/17 and already have airfare. If the cost difference (including the cost of having to buy new tickets for the next trip of 10 days) is only about 200, I'd love to go with the pkg and eat much better. I am using the meal plan free example because that's what I'm hearing in the boards, there's always the chance of another pin deal, but then again, you can't count on getting anything these days...

[Lewisc]

I think AP discounts on the value resorts have been around $25 /night. The "value" of the free meal PIN would be $105 for 3 adults. The value of the food would be greater than that. The value assumes you want to eat one table service meal/day. It's certainly possible, if you only eat counter service and split to eat for less than $105/day.

You can figure out what you'd spend per day for food if you had no plan but you'd certainly get more than $25/day value out of the meal plan even if you skip most of the meals you pay for. You don't have to get maximum value out of the meal plan, you only have get enough value to offset an AP discount on the room.

The problem is we have no idea what the discount situation will be for your trip next year.

SUGGESTION--Book free meal PIN if it's available to you. For your next trip re-do your analysis, you might just buy your AP for your next trip.

If owning an AP makes you happy you'll come out ahead if you buy a one day pass (around $50) for everyone in your party. The meal plan will then "cost" you $25/night + $150 (for 3 adults). Again you'll come out ahead even if you skip half the meals that are included.