TheDisney411
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2012
The question I'm wondering is Free Dining really worth it? Do you end up paying full rack rate for the room or do you get the current discount price when you take advantage of FD?
I mean for late summer the discount is supposed to be 30% off. If I add in a 10% coupon for a online travel site and cash back (from a referral site) on the main room rate (fees don't qualify for cashback) I get the hotel for about 60% off rack rate.
If it is the rack rate, aren't you better booking through one of the online travel sites where you can get a 10% off coupon and 6-7% cashback on the purchase?
I know if you book through Disney Agency or with a TA you get the Magic Your Way Package, but it doesn't seem to have anything that is a groundbreaking offer or a must have. I also know if you book directly, you can get a dining package which you can't if you book with a online travel site, it's hotel only.
Don't you get early morning hours if you stay at a Disney hotel regardless of how you book it? I've looked at the ticket discount you get if you combine hotel and tickets and for a family of 2 adults/2 kids, it looks to be about $40 on a 10 day ticket. You probably can get that discount with one of the recommended ticket sellers.
I'm not trying to start a war over free dining, but just wondering if the discount is that much or if I'm missing something.
We are a large family and usually get 2 connecting rooms at a value resort and usually stay for 8 nights. A typical value resort discount is 15%, so a room only discount would save us roughly $240 total off rack rates. A fee dining discount, even after paying the difference to upgrade from the quick service DDP to the regular DDP, saves us roughly $1500. So unless I could find a way to feed my family for less than $240 for 8 days in Disney, I can't see how we would ever come out ahead with a room only discount.
Generally, a room only discount is only going to come out better if you are staying at a deluxe and if your kids are under 10. If your kids are over 10, it's probably a wash.