Free Dining offer with Annual Passes?

[sckennedy12]

Hi all! We have been starting to visit DW more often and are starting to look into buying annual passes. Whenever we go, we usually try to take advantage of a special offer, preferably free dining. My question is...are AP holders eligible for the free dining offer? If not, it may not be worth it for us.

Thanks!!

 

[POOHsie]

There's no AP Free Dining Program. Free Dining package requires purchase of 2-day tickets. These 2-day tickets could be applied to your AP renewal. Many AP holders get the Tables in Wonderland card, for great discounts on table service, including alcohol.

Here's a little info on TIW. You can Google for more info. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm

 

[partypa]

Depending on the Resort and number of persons in your travel Party, the AP discounts can work out better, more cost effective, save more money, than the Free Dining, it does for us. Crunch some numbers before making your choice. Be sure to take in to account all the extra discounts you can get with the AP as well

 

[catne]

we have the AP and usually book AP room discounts. Our experience has been that getting AP room discount & paying for the dining works out to about the same as Free Dining. Remember, to get free dining, you pay full price for the room. Quite often when you compare the two types of discounts, you'll find the $$ saved works out to about the same because you're paying full price for one or more components of your trip.

This rule of thumb holds true for moderate and deluxe resorts, usually...but if your preference is value resorts then Free Dining package may work out to be the best deal for you since % off discount at the value resorts are not that big of an amount, especially during the lower-room-rate seasons when free dining is typically offered. Free Dining often works out better if you have 2-3 kids on the dining plan in your room

One disadvantage we've found to the AP discount is sometimes the AP offers don't come out until a month or two in advance of your trip, so if you need to plan way ahead it can be nerve-wracking waiting for the availability. Course you can always book the trip anyway, get your dining reservations early then when the AP offers come out, call in and change your reservations. You do need to be flexible on which resorts, too...we've found we get our first choice on hotels about 2 out of 3 times One real advantage to the AP discounts is you're not required to have a 3-night minimum stay like many of the other discount offers (including free dining) We like to go over to Disney for a one-night/two-day trip, or 2 night weekend trip...it's wonderful to try outother moderate hotels and Deluxe hotels at 35% discount for just one night...you can't do that with free dining discount!


Best bet is to "crunch" the numbers, and see which version works best for you.

 

[TDC Nala]

Anyone who wants free dining must purchase at least 2 day park tickets as part of their reservation package. There is no ticketless package option for AP holders that would get you your dining free. If you don't want to buy tickets you will need to pay for the dining.

 

[mpls_mm]

Not to hijack, but if you book the 10 day park hopper with free dining, can you take your hopper to guest services and upgrade to an AP?

 

[CarrieR]

You sure can. We have done it booking just the two-day base tickets. Guest Relations inside any park will be happy to help you.

Sometimes (depending on the dynamics of your party,) it makes sense to book FD -- even paying for the two-day ticket -- and then save it for a later date, using your AP for park admission. Having an AP doesn't disqualify you from FD -- you just still have to purchase a ticket.