40% Discount or Free Dining

[vleeth]

I would take the 40% code and use it on the dining plan, it will save you alot...Could you tell me when and where you got the code and could I get one to use for February...Thanks

I didn't know you could use the 40% code for the dining plan...I thought it was for the room only. Have you (or anyone else) been able to do this before?

 

[andysgirl360]

I didn't know you could use the 40% code for the dining plan...I thought it was for the room only. Have you (or anyone else) been able to do this before?

No, unfortunately the 40% off is for room only. However, you can make it into a package with dining and tickets, but the discounted portion still only applies to your room rate.

 

[disneynuts777]

I would take the 40% code and use it on the dining plan, it will save you alot...Could you tell me when and where you got the code and could I get one to use for February...Thanks

If the family is staying at POP a free dining offer would benifit them more than a 40 % off room rate.
For easy math a rack rate room at POP with taxes is $100.00 a night so 40% off would be $60.00 per night.
To add the dining package for 4 adults(the children are both over 9) would be $40.00x4= $160.00 per night. Even if they applied the 40% they saved on the room the dining plan would still be costing them $120.00 a night. Well over what they would be saving on the room.
The only time the free dining offer s not in your favour is when you use the 40% room discount at a deluxe resort.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Okay, I don't want to confuse you even more, but the math isn't as simple as you might think. Disney charges $40/day (rounded) for the dining plan per adult, but you have to figure out how much you would actually spend, not what Disney charges. Let me explain...

My family of 4 eats breakfast in our room every morning, and we only eat at a table service 2-3 times per 11-13 day trip. When we average it out, including tips and TS meals, we average spending about $75/day on food and snacks for our family. (I have 2 boys, 9 and 11). So the value of the dining plan is not worth $160/day to us. At best, it is worth $75/day, but when you factor in $30/day in tips (you will be eating at a TS every day with the DP - so tipping every day), that drops the savings to only $45/day.

You need to figure out how much you would spend without the DDP to determine the value. Still, staying at POP, the 40% discount may come to even less than $45/day, so I would probably take the DDP - but remember that if you eat at really expensive places, your tips will get pretty expensive. 20% of a $300 meal is a $60 tip. You could blow all of your savings in tips...

 

[Mermaid2sea]

Is there a fixed rate for tips...I thought it was included in the dining plan.

 

[RMulieri]

We're staying at CSR and with the 40% off, it comes to about $100 a night for each 7 nights and we're paying regular value for the other 3 ($170 per night).

I'm assuming based on what you guys have said, that the free dining for me and DH for 9 nights would be a savings of approx. $766 when you add the 6.5% FL food tax. With the 40% Pin rate, we're saving $490 for the base resort rate - plus saving the tax on top of that for a total savings right now of $551 *since hotel rates are at the 12.5 percent tax rate* Does that look correct?

Hope to see free dining. If we have the 40% pin rate, can you get free dining if they offer it to Disney Visa card holders added. I read that only one discount, but it would be a Disney Visa discount so I hoped it could be added to a Pin discount.

Nope one discount or the other.it does not matter if one is a disney Visa disount, one a pincode, or even a AAA. Disney does not permit the stacking of any discounts.They did offer last year to guests during free dining a bounceback offer that was 30% off select resorts and free dining...but that is definitely not the norm.You need to decide which is the better value and go with it.

 

[RMulieri]

In order to qualify for free dining , you must purchase a full priced, non discounted Disney MYW resort pkg and a minimum of a one day park ticket per person of your party.dining credits are allotted per number of nights stay.

 

[Mary976]

I agree that you do need to look at your family's situation and estimate how much you would be spending on food. I was looking at a free dining offer last year for myself and DD (then 16, so charged as an adult). Theoretically, this is like "saving" $80 per night, or at least getting something worth $80 per night for free. Only thing is, DD eats like a bird and I'm a vegetarian. There is NO WAY we would spend all that money on food, and even with the plan coming at no cost to us. It's one reason we don't do a lot of buffets, because DD will have two things and be full. So, for us, the 40% off the room could end up being the better deal, especially at a deluxe resort. I think it all depends on your family, the resort you want to stay at, and the time of year you can travel (discounts don't help if you can't go when they are offered!)

 

[rt2dz]

Okay, I don't want to confuse you even more, but the math isn't as simple as you might think. Disney charges $40/day (rounded) for the dining plan per adult, but you have to figure out how much you would actually spend, not what Disney charges. Let me explain...

My family of 4 eats breakfast in our room every morning, and we only eat at a table service 2-3 times per 11-13 day trip. When we average it out, including tips and TS meals, we average spending about $75/day on food and snacks for our family. (I have 2 boys, 9 and 11). So the value of the dining plan is not worth $160/day to us. At best, it is worth $75/day, but when you factor in $30/day in tips (you will be eating at a TS every day with the DP - so tipping every day), that drops the savings to only $45/day.

You need to figure out how much you would spend without the DDP to determine the value. Still, staying at POP, the 40% discount may come to even less than $45/day, so I would probably take the DDP - but remember that if you eat at really expensive places, your tips will get pretty expensive. 20% of a $300 meal is a $60 tip. You could blow all of your savings in tips...

You make a lot of the same points I was going to make.

Is there a fixed rate for tips...I thought it was included in the dining plan.

There is a suggested 18% amount figured out for you, but it is NOT included in the dining plan since 2008.

In order to qualify for free dining , you must purchase a full priced, non discounted Disney MYW resort pkg and a minimum of a one day park ticket per person of your party.dining credits are allotted per number of nights stay.

Do not forget that during the free dining period, there is also usually a room only discount available.

You really have to add up what you would spend on dining OOP using menus and costs from All Ears (a child 10-12 might prefer, and can off the dining plan, to order from the child's menu), add it to a discounted room, and the cost of tickets purchased from a discount broker. Compare that number to the free dining offer (rack rate on the room and tickets from Disney). That is how you get the true savings.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Nope one discount or the other.it does not matter if one is a disney Visa disount, one a pincode, or even a AAA. Disney does not permit the stacking of any discounts.They did offer last year to guests during free dining a bounceback offer that was 30% off select resorts and free dining...but that is definitely not the norm.You need to decide which is the better value and go with it.

When was this? I was there for free dining in August and the only offer that was extended to us was for free dining again this year.

 

[RMulieri]

When was this? I was there for free dining in August and the only offer that was extended to us was for free dining again this year.

I went Sept 20th-26th.It was on the flyer but only for stays at Saratoga Springs or OKW on select dates.Like I said not typical and certainly not the norm.We did not do it because the dates were not the greatest and we do not like those 2 resorts.I just took the free dining .

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I went Sept 20th-26th.It was on the flyer but only for stays at Saratoga Springs or OKW on select dates.Like I said not typical and certainly not the norm.We did not do it because the dates were not the greatest and we do not like those 2 resorts.I just took the free dining .

Thanks for clearing that up. We were there 8/23-8/31 and we stayed at ASMo. I wish, when they were going to offer these promotions, they were available to everyone. With the additional 30% discount, I might have booked a stay at SS or OKW, since I've never been to either, instead of rebooking at a Value resort. Oh well, free dining is still great. Just hope I won't have to cancel. Things are a little tight for me at the moment, so it might not matter what they offered me.

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks for clearing that up. We were there 8/23-8/31 and we stayed at ASMo. I wish, when they were going to offer these promotions, they were available to everyone. With the additional 30% discount, I might have booked a stay at SS or OKW, since I've never been to either, instead of rebooking at a Value resort. Oh well, free dining is still great. Just hope I won't have to cancel. Things are a little tight for me at the moment, so it might not matter what they offered me.

I hear you.I have 2 trips planned and might have to forfeit my bounceback free dining in Sept because my hours at work may be getting cut.SO I am thinking of just keeping my December trip..ifI can score some sort of discount.

 

[pixietwin]

As far as tipping at table service restaurants, are the tips included already in the bill at 18%? I have a big problem when tips are automatically included at places because it is as if the wait staff has no incentive to go 'above and beyond'. Tipping, for me, is a touchy subject. I've worked as a waitress and I worked hard for my tip. I haven't done that for many years, but I have to say that 90% of the wait staff I have encountered in the past recent years really needs to go back and learn a lot. It's a shame that people just tip automatically. No refills, bad attitude, mistakes...and still tipping. I don't do it in those cases. I'm sure Disney wait staff is better than most - but people need to remember what a tip really is - it's a added perk paid for extra service - better than expected service.

Maybe it's where we live near Memphis - horrible horrible service typically.

 

[disneynuts777]

When was this? I was there for free dining in August and the only offer that was extended to us was for free dining again this year.

In August when we did the FD bounceback (stayed at POP)for this August we got the FD and 30% off our room at SSR. The room discount with the FD was only offered if you booked SSR or OKW. I am so looking forward to my 2 bedroom villa!!!!

 

[THEVACATIONFAMILY]

As far as tipping at table service restaurants, are the tips included already in the bill at 18%? I have a big problem when tips are automatically included at places because it is as if the wait staff has no incentive to go 'above and beyond'. Tipping, for me, is a touchy subject. I've worked as a waitress and I worked hard for my tip. I haven't done that for many years, but I have to say that 90% of the wait staff I have encountered in the past recent years really needs to go back and learn a lot. It's a shame that people just tip automatically. No refills, bad attitude, mistakes...and still tipping. I don't do it in those cases. I'm sure Disney wait staff is better than most - but people need to remember what a tip really is - it's a added perk paid for extra service - better than expected service.

Maybe it's where we live near Memphis - horrible horrible service typically.

My wife is in the industry and we know very much about good tippers and bad. I am like you, I tip based on service, and as far as the dining plan goes, I heard that the tip is no longer included, you have to tip yourself. On the other hand, I read that there will be an 18% gratuity, so I don't know what to believe. Guess I will find out when I book our little 3 day getaway package with dining....Enjoy your trip

 

[PrincessKsMom]

The tip is NOT included in the dining plan any longer. Last time, I believe, was 2007. As far as the included 18%, that is only for parties of, I believe, 6 (or possibly 8) or more in your party. Anything under that, there is no tip included.

I'm sure if I'm wrong, someone with more experience will come along. I know from experience the tip is not included as we used the free dining for the first time this past August.

 

[BabyRN]

I tip based on my service too. I also believe that the 18% is for parties of 6 or more. I don't think it's fair to be automatically charged the gratuity, as you never know how your service is going to be.

 

[RMulieri]

Parties of 6 or more get an 18% gratuity automatically added.Remember that even infants count towards a party of 6. Parties less than 6 are given their bill at the end of the meal that has the suggested tip amount on it,you do not have to tip that amount.You can feel free to tip what you want .

 

[rt2dz]

Anyone using the TiW card, even parties of one, will be auto-gratted 18%.