40% off vs. free dining....

[beachgrl001]

assuming free dining were to be offered. Which would be the better deal? My estimated travel dates are Sept 25-Oct. 2. It would be for 2 adults 2kids at a mod. I havent even gotten the %40-off offer but Im just trying to figure out if it would be worth booking if I do receive it. Or should I just keep praying for free dining?

TIA

 

[mom2my3kids]

Free dining would be a better deal. For us it would be around 2400 with free dining or 2900 without free dining. We would be paying for dining plan but getting 40 percent off our room.

 

[n2mm]

It depends which type of resort you're staying in. The values and moderates the free ddp is better, but in the delux, the 40% off is better.

BTW--am I the only concerned here that with all of the bookings going on for Aug/Sep and folks planning on switching to free DDP when announced, the Disney folks are going to see that the bookings for this timeframe are now high and therefore NOT offer the free DDP. Remember, they only offer the free DDP to fill rooms, if the rooms now APPEAR filled, there will be no offer. Are we all shooting ourselves in the foot over these codes? I think I'm the only one that has not jumped on the code bandwagon and am still sitting here with no reservation for mid-August and waiting for the free DDP to be released!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

This also depends upon how old and how many in your party. For a family with 2 children under 9, the 40% off delux is best. But if you have 4 adults than you have to have a room discount of greater than $152 per night to be the better deal. So than free dining is the better way to go, IF it is offered.

 

[kaysmommie]

That's why I booked October for the 40 % off. If free dining comes out then I might switch unless I'm keeping Poly because I have a slightly better deal than free dining. But if we want WL or a moderate to save $ then we will go in Spetember instead.

 

[corndog]

It further depends on your eating habits. Does everyone in your party always get their own appetizer and dessert in addition to their meal?

The DP is often a good deal for what you get, but for many it's not a good deal compared to what they would have otherwise spent absent the dining plan. For us, the room discount is (Buzz) light years better than the dining plan. We just don't order as much food as is necessary to make the DP worthwhile.

 

[beth_cam]

assuming free dining were to be offered. Which would be the better deal? My estimated travel dates are Sept 25-Oct. 2. It would be for 2 adults 2kids at a mod. I havent even gotten the %40-off offer but Im just trying to figure out if it would be worth booking if I do receive it. Or should I just keep praying for free dining?

Okay we are talking about the packages including the exact same things right? Standard Room? 2 kids under 10

room price is 145, 40% off is 58 + tax = 65.25 per night
Dining costs 38.99 per adult? and 11.99 per child = 101.98 per night

Free dining saves you an extra 36.73 per night * 7 nights = 257.11

You can get a full quote type number to compare by going to disneyworld.com and entering you dates/party/ticket info....just dont add dining in and that's what it should cost with free dining. Compare that to your current price.

 

[sandybobandy]

It depends which type of resort you're staying in. The values and moderates the free ddp is better, but in the delux, the 40% off is better.

BTW--am I the only concerned here that with all of the bookings going on for Aug/Sep and folks planning on switching to free DDP when announced, the Disney folks are going to see that the bookings for this timeframe are now high and therefore NOT offer the free DDP. Remember, they only offer the free DDP to fill rooms, if the rooms now APPEAR filled, there will be no offer. Are we all shooting ourselves in the foot over these codes? I think I'm the only one that has not jumped on the code bandwagon and am still sitting here with no reservation for mid-August and waiting for the free DDP to be released!

I had the same concern, but you have to remember-while the Dis seems like it's 99% of the travelers to Disney, I imagine we're a much much smaller percentage of visitors.
Even IF everyone on this board booked for Sep/Oct, I don't think it would be enough for Disney not to offer a fall rate.
Know what I'm sayin?

 

[ksc37]

I currently have CR Concierge booked for late August with a AAA rate, but a 40% off would be my preference. I don't need free dining because concierge combined with the dining plan is way too much food (a lot of credits go to waste). Plus, I already have tickets, so I'd need to put money toward an overpriced one day base ticket.

I am starting to think that this 40% off might be made available to the general public soon. It seems that every once in a while a pin code is released to select individuals (never me), only to be followed up with a similar general public offer within a few weeks. Also, since Disney is starting to advertise their "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" on its website, I figure that they'll need to follow it up with a discount.

All speculation on my part, of course (or wishful thinking )!

 

[Poohbear67]

assuming free dining were to be offered. Which would be the better deal? My estimated travel dates are Sept 25-Oct. 2. It would be for 2 adults 2kids at a mod. I havent even gotten the %40-off offer but Im just trying to figure out if it would be worth booking if I do receive it. Or should I just keep praying for free dining?

TIA

If you can hold out and see if Disney is going to offer this Free Dinning again then I would hold out. That is what my boyfriend and I are going to do again. We went to Disney last Sept. and in our package deal we got the free dinning and we are coming back to Disney this Sept. and I am trying to hold out and see if Disney is going to offer the Dinnnig package for free again or at a discounted price then I am already set with my agent to book the package.

Good Luck.

 

[angiedora]

Definitely hold out for free dining. For a mod the savings during value season is $58 a day. Even for two adults @ $38.99 its cheaper to go w/free dining if you were planning to add ddp anyway.

 

[mommykds]

I am trying to figure out which one would be better for my family?

2 adults, 3 kids (but 1 of them is 11 so she's an adult right?)
Deluxe - BC , rack rate $315 - 40% = $189 per night
Dining 3 x $39 = $117 plus $11 x 2 kids = $22. $117+$22 = $139

$189 + $139 = $328..IF free dining was offered then my food & resort would just be the rack rate $315 so free dining is the better deal.

Praying for free dining or we may have to go mod.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I would say book at 40% off then if free dinning does come out you can call and change it. There is no guarantee that free dinning is going to be offered , but lots of us have gotten the 40% off rate already. The worst you have to too is call and rebook with the dinning if it does come out, however many of us are starting to think with other offers and discounts that this year will not give us free dinning as they have in the past.

 

[Poohbear67]

If you can hold out and see if Disney is going to offer this Free Dinning again then I would hold out. That is what my boyfriend and I are going to do again. We went to Disney last Sept. and in our package deal we got the free dinning and we are coming back to Disney this Sept. and I am trying to hold out and see if Disney is going to offer the Dinnnig package for free again or at a discounted price then I am already set with my agent to book the package.

Good Luck.

Can anyone tell me if they know about which month disney will come out with the offer for free dinning if they are going to? I am trying not to book my vacation until the last moment so I don't miss it. We have already booked our flight down.

 

[Magical JenK]

I am starting to think that this 40% off might be made available to the general public soon. It seems that every once in a while a pin code is released to select individuals (never me), only to be followed up with a similar general public offer within a few weeks. Also, since Disney is starting to advertise their "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" on its website, I figure that they'll need to follow it up with a discount.

All speculation on my part, of course (or wishful thinking )!

This is what I'm hoping for too! I did the math & the difference for us (2 adults/moderate resort) would be very small (like $60) between 40% or free dining. I'd love free dining again, but if the 40% code was available to me, I'd book that now & not to worry!! But since neither are available to me at this point, I will wait & wish!!

 

[Poohbear67]

Can anyone tell me if they know about which month disney will come out with the offer for free dinning if they are going to? I am trying not to book my vacation until the last moment so I don't miss it. We have already booked our flight down.

I don't understand what the 40% is. Is that just booking the vacation regularly?

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

This is what I'm hoping for too! I did the math & the difference for us (2 adults/moderate resort) would be very small (like $60) between 40% or free dining. I'd love free dining again, but if the 40% code was available to me, I'd book that now & not to worry!! But since neither are available to me at this point, I will wait & wish!!

Give them a call. That is what I did. I did not have a code but called and talked with a CM this morning. She reviewed a few codes and found one that would work with my package. She saved us $391.50! I was very excited about that! Never hurts to try. If dinning does come out and will save us more I'll just call and rebook at that time, but I did not wait to pass this up incase dinning does not come out this year.

 

[Poohbear67]

Give them a call. That is what I did. I did not have a code but called and talked with a CM this morning. She reviewed a few codes and found one that would work with my package. She saved us $391.50! I was very excited about that! Never hurts to try. If dinning does come out and will save us more I'll just call and rebook at that time, but I did not wait to pass this up incase dinning does not come out this year.

I am dealing with Joyce @ Kindom magic she has been the most helpful person. I tried to call the customer service people at Disney last year to book and when I spoke with the guy he was NO HELP AT ALL not rude but almost until he found out who I was and that he saw me on TV and then he was oh how can I help you. So I have already bugged my agent to much and she said she would let us know when or if Disney comes out with this offer. Do you think I should wait or bug her again?

 

[Magical JenK]

Give them a call. That is what I did. I did not have a code but called and talked with a CM this morning. She reviewed a few codes and found one that would work with my package. She saved us $391.50! I was very excited about that! Never hurts to try. If dinning does come out and will save us more I'll just call and rebook at that time, but I did not wait to pass this up incase dinning does not come out this year.

I called last night & the CM told me the only pin code I had attached to my name was for Jan & Feb. I told her that I was planning on Sept 4th-14th & she said, "oh we wouldn't have anything out for that time NOW! They wouldn't come out until like a month or two before."

I didn't say anything about the 40% pin code that I'm reading about on the boards, so I just said, Oh ok. But it is kind of confusing/frustrating to have that CM tell me this & know that that's not really true? Even if it's not available to me, but maybe that's why she didn't bring it up???

 

[Poohbear67]

I called last night & the CM told me the only pin code I had attached to my name was for Jan & Feb. I told her that I was planning on Sept 4th-14th & she said, "oh we wouldn't have anything out for that time NOW! They wouldn't come out until like a month or two before."

I didn't say anything about the 40% pin code that I'm reading about on the boards, so I just said, Oh ok. But it is kind of confusing/frustrating to have that CM tell me this & know that that's not really true? Even if it's not available to me, but maybe that's why she didn't bring it up???

Oh you will be there the same time we will. That is awesome. We are coming down Sept. 7th through the 17th. its nice to know that someone your talking with will be there at the same time maybe we will run into each other.