What does free dining mean exactly?
- Thread starter GGTF1214
- Start date
Yes, with a value resort you inly get tge Quick Service plan. However, we enjoy staying at the Pop Century, but when FRee Duning is offered you can upgrade your meal service to sit down dining for a small extra fee per person during your length of stay. Do this when you book. It's great for us because we liked to experience the character dining, Hoopdee Doo, etc.
Or a better room rate.
HopperFan
"It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, princess."
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2003
It does mean you pay full price for your room. When there were four of us going and we could get the regular dining plan it was a good deal. When it dropped to two of us, the price of a moderate or upgrading a value to get the regular dining plan didn't save us money - for our eating style. We took advantage for many years until a room discount worked better for us - we also have Tables in Wonderland for eats.
canadiandisneynut
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2014
We are huge fans of the dining plan. Our little one is 6 now so meals with characters are a huge part of the experience. I imagine when she is older we will drop to QS dining plan or even pay as we go
DisneyWisher
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 18, 2004
Always run the numbers, room only discount and free dining. Last year it was DD and I. I had an AP that renewed in April, I ran the numbets of paying rack rate vs AP/Florida resident discount. Room was half the price. We went with room discount. Free dining is getting too expensive.
kingd4066
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2014
For our family of 5 FD is the way to go, we are not staying in Deluxe resorts so the dining saves us quite a bit. Plus we love having it all paid for-show up eat drink and be merry and not have to pay anything but your tip! It is not the best option for each family so definitely run your numbers to see what works for you! 
cyndiella
Here we go!!!
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2009
I have found that Free Dining is really about "half price dining" since they charge the full room price with FD.. It's hard to know exactly how much you are paying for each segment (room, tickets, dining) when you buy a package... then if you get FD.. it does not take off the whole price of dining (i.e. XX amount per person/per day). Or rather you are then charged more for room to make up for FD. So.... Room discount is better for some families than FD.
prettypatchesmsu
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2013
Yep, definitely should run the numbers. For us, we stay at the value level resorts in one room, so the room discount is nothing compared to food cost saved with free dining. And this year my Mom was interested in the room discount over the free dining, but with the cutbacks in dates covered on the offer we would only have had a few days of room discount compared to a whole trip with FD. So we got what we were pushing for which was free dining. Me and DH love us some Disney food!
MakiraMarlena
It's a big black fish to you
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
Now that the free dining offer is out, remember: You are paying rack rate for the room. You must book a minimum 3 night resort package with at least 2 day park tickets. For this year's offer, you must add either park hopper or water parks & more to your ticket.
Free dining is a resort discount, just like if you were offered a percentage off your room rate. The big difference is YOU get to manipulate the value of this discount by choosing which meals you use it for.
Free dining is a resort discount, just like if you were offered a percentage off your room rate. The big difference is YOU get to manipulate the value of this discount by choosing which meals you use it for.
Share this page
GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE
Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.
Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!
Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.
Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!
