40% versus Free Dining

[ILVPOOH]

I'm going to CBR 10/30 - 11/5 (7 nights - 2 adults & 2 kids age 13). I'm saving $623 on the hotel with a 40% code. I'm upgrading our GAD tickets to a 6day ticket, so I am saving $337 on this. This is a total savings of $960. I was thinking that if Free Dining came out I might switch to that, but now I think my deal I have is better. We will only be doing Lunch at Le Cellier and Chefs France. My husband and I will have dinner alone in Italy one night. All other meals will be CS. We are driving so I also will be bringing snacks from home. So am I right that 40% off and upgrading GAD tickets will be better than Free Dining for us?

 

[lizerbug]

I would call Disney and have them price it with the free dining. That's what I did and I ended up daving more with the 40% off, but there will just be my daughter (who is 20) and myself. Since you have two 13 year olds, you might save more with the free dining. They will be more than happy to price it out for you and then you can make the decision as to whether or not to switch discounts. Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[beth_cam]

Those dates are only 6 nights. Are you checking out on the 5th or is that your last night?

Dining costs your group is 168/night or 1008 for 6 nights, 1176 for 7. You would then have to purchase 2 day tickets for everyone which will cost you something like $640. You will not be able to combine the 2 day tix with the GAD for upgrading to a 6 day ticket, so you will still have to upgrade one or the other to get six days. I'm assuming you would upgrade the GAD since I think they expire, so that will cost something like 650.

So (ignoring upgrading gad since that looks like it will be done either way) -
Free dining = 623 extra for room (above cost of 40%), 640 for 2 day tix (that you can use in the future) = 1263 above cost of 40% room only

So if you go with free dining you will fork out 1263 more cash upfront, receive 1008 or 1176 of dining plan credits, and receive $640 in tickets to use in the future.

Theoretically, this is a good deal, you are paying 1263 extra but are receiving atleast 1648 extra. But, since you aren't comparing two same packages both including the dining plan, it isn't as simple as looking at those numbers (although is it ever? lol). Are you actually going to spend 1100 on food if you don't get the dining plan? are you going to end up spending extra on counterservice and wasting your table service credits since you don't plan on eating table service? That kind of stuff is what your decision will come down to, and that's more personal preference than what is numerically the better deal.

 

[KELLY]

We are staying deluxe so the 40% discount was better for us we only added a 1 day ticket. Also like you we only have 2 adr's so we added the QSDP. It was only around 650.00 for 9 nights for 2 adults and one child for the qsdp. I think we would spend around that just without any snacks or mugs. It was another 200.00 to get the regular dining plan. Plus we would spend another 275.00 in tips and mugs.

I think with moderate the fd works to be a better value if you want the dining plan. But I'm not a huge fan of adr's but I like my vacation all paid for in advance.

 

[beth_cam]

We are staying deluxe so the 40% discount was better for us we only added a 1 day ticket. Also like you we only have 2 adr's so we added the QSDP. It was only around 650.00 for 9 nights for 2 adults and one child for the qsdp. I think we would spend around that just without any snacks or mugs. It was another 200.00 to get the regular dining plan. Plus we would spend another 275.00 in tips and mugs.

I think with moderate the fd works to be a better value if you want the dining plan. But I'm not a huge fan of adr's but I like my vacation all paid for in advance.

I was under the impression that you had to have 2 day tickets (from reading other posts), guess I was wrong. The 40% is usually better, I think though that having 4 'adults' makes a difference. That nearly doubles the dining costs from what you paid. OP stated that the savings were 623 which is 103/night (6nights) or 89/night (7nights). Since the cost of dining for 4 adults is $168, free dining is a bigger 'savings' off of rack rate rooms made into a package with dining included. However upgrading GADS and therefore buying two sets of tickets seriously eats into that savings.

 

[KELLY]

I was under the impression that you had to have 2 day tickets (from reading other posts), guess I was wrong. The 40% is usually better, I think though that having 4 'adults' makes a difference. That nearly doubles the dining costs from what you paid. OP stated that the savings were 623 which is 103/night (6nights) or 89/night (7nights). Since the cost of dining for 4 adults is $168, free dining is a bigger 'savings' off of rack rate rooms made into a package with dining included. However upgrading GADS and therefore buying two sets of tickets seriously eats into that savings.

We didn't take the free dining promo. With a room only discount you can add what ever amount of tickets you want and then add the dining plan.

That was my thought on the fd for op I think if they went with a room only discount and only purchased a one day ticket instead of the 2 required for the free dining it may be a better deal. Since they already have gad tickets. This is our problem with the fd was we have so many tickets we need to use up. I couldn't see buying a 2 day. Plus we are staying deluxe so 40% is a better deal.

 

[ILVPOOH]

Thanks for your inputs. I hadn't thought about adding a one day ticket to my 40% off room only reservation and then adding the QSDP. I'll have to work up those numbers. Then I guess I'll save that one day ticket to use on another trip since I'll be upgrading my GAD tickets this trip.

 

[derekw]

Just booked reservations for same time frame at CBR for 10/29-11/4...2 adults, 1 junior, 3 children and one infant which means I had to get two connecting rooms. With the 30% off...I'd save about 725 on rooms and FD would save about 880. I have the 20/30/40 pin but not FD...yet. *crosses fingers*
To spice things up...I booked a 2nd reservation with 40% off a BWI deluxe room on club level for 4 nights (slightly less than the cost 7 nights CBR.) Room discount eclipses free dining here plus you have the concierge lounge refreshments to help offset food costs.
Kinda torn to which resort we should choose. Never been to Epcot resort area and due to our family size this is probably our 'last' chance to stay in a deluxe since we'd have to book two rooms (or 2 bedroom villa) on any future visits to Disney.
In either case we plan a few days offsite after (2 nights after CBR, 5 nights if we do BWI) to keep the trips the same length and approx same cost.

 

[beth_cam]

Thanks for your inputs. I hadn't thought about adding a one day ticket to my 40% off room only reservation and then adding the QSDP. I'll have to work up those numbers. Then I guess I'll save that one day ticket to use on another trip since I'll be upgrading my GAD tickets this trip.

It looks like what you are spending for your room only is about 1584 + food (934.50 for room, 650 upgrading tickets.)

So with the idea of adding dining to your discounted room, we can make a better comparison of like packages. I think this is how the numbers would work out. Definitely double check when you are booking - they are all awful close; if I'm even a little off on something it could make a big difference. I manufactured the cost of your room based on the savings you listed, hopefully it is right. Let me know what the right rate is and I'll adjust it.

6 nights -
Room Discount, QSDP = 2689; 934 room, 337 1 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD tickets, 768 QSDP
Room Discount, DDP = 2929 (above plus 10/person/night for upgrade to ddp)
Free Dining = 2847; 1557 room, 640 2 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD

7 nights -
Room Discount, QSDP = 2817; 934 room, 337 1 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD tickets, 896 QSDP
Room Discount, DDP = 3097 (above plus 10/person/night for upgrade to ddp)
Free Dining = 2847; 1557 room, 640 2 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD

BTW - I'm not a fan of having tickets for next time, just look how confusing it is making it since you want a package, but need to utilized existing tickets. However, having leftover tickets is where your savings of having a dining plan over room only will show in this case.

 

[ILVPOOH]

Beth_Cam- Thanks for the numbers, they are correct. I am staying 7 nights 11/30 through 11/5 and leaving on 11/6. Numbers are close like you said. I have to do a little more research to find out approx. what I will spend on food. I just wish I could get 40% and Free Dining. Since I'm dreaming I would also like a stay at the Cinderella's Castle and a free upgrade to the Poly. Thanks again.

 

[KELLY]

It looks like what you are spending for your room only is about 1584 + food (934.50 for room, 650 upgrading tickets.)

So with the idea of adding dining to your discounted room, we can make a better comparison of like packages. I think this is how the numbers would work out. Definitely double check when you are booking - they are all awful close; if I'm even a little off on something it could make a big difference. I manufactured the cost of your room based on the savings you listed, hopefully it is right. Let me know what the right rate is and I'll adjust it.

6 nights -
Room Discount, QSDP = 2689; 934 room, 337 1 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD tickets, 768 QSDP
Room Discount, DDP = 2929 (above plus 10/person/night for upgrade to ddp)
Free Dining = 2847; 1557 room, 640 2 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD

7 nights -
Room Discount, QSDP = 2817; 934 room, 337 1 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD tickets, 896 QSDP
Room Discount, DDP = 3097 (above plus 10/person/night for upgrade to ddp)
Free Dining = 2847; 1557 room, 640 2 day tickets, 650 upgrade GAD

BTW - I'm not a fan of having tickets for next time, just look how confusing it is making it since you want a package, but need to utilized existing tickets. However, having leftover tickets is where your savings of having a dining plan over room only will show in this case.

I hate having left over tickets we will never again buy non-expire tickets. We go every year but it seems we always want to book a pakcage for the convinece of having our dining plan included. My goal this year is to use them up. You are very right it is a pain.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I just wish I could get 40% and Free Dining.

Are you sure you have 40% off at CBR? Most discounts out there for mods are 30%....very few for 35%. I havent seen 40. (Military might be 40??)

 

[FayeW]

I hate having left over tickets we will never again buy non-expire tickets. We go every year but it seems we always want to book a pakcage for the convinece of having our dining plan included. My goal this year is to use them up. You are very right it is a pain.

Of course, you could always just book an offsite stay in a condo, and use your non-expiring tickets then.

 

[ILVPOOH]

Are you sure you have 40% off at CBR? Most discounts out there for mods are 30%....very few for 35%. I havent seen 40. (Military might be 40??)

I originally had a 35% off moderate pin, but my cousin is a CM and she got me the room for 40%.

 

[chrisb71]

As many people have said, I think the Free Dining or Room only discount depends on your situation (like the number of people you have). I was excited to see the free dining come out, but I ran the numbers and the 40% room only discount was the way for me to go. This is what I found (for two adults):

Poly, 3 nights in Sept. free dining w/air from Chicago: $1965.00

Poly, 3 nights in Sept., room only discount, air & purchase QSD: $1500.00

The free dining required at least a two day base ticket to get the package. The room only discount requires only a one day base ticket, if you wanted to purchase the QSD. This worked out better for us because we have a 1 day park hopper ticket left from a previous trip and we are doing MNSSHP one of the days (so no park for us that day until the party!)

Happy to say trip is booked with 40% room discount