Advice Needed - Switch to Free Dining or Not?

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I need advice. DBF and I booked a 7-night stay at Pop in November using a 40% off discount code. We booked through Dreams. We made 6 ADR's, one of which is at a Signature Restaurant. We are planning on getting 5 day park hopper passes.

Now this free dining offer is here. We can get the offer for the dates we originally booked. We can either get Pop or upgrade to POR for $500 extra. We have enough ADR's booked to use all of the sit down dining credits. And I have to eat lunch and dinner and snack throughout the day, so I think we will use every credit coming to us.

Is it worth the effort to change my reservation? And do you think POR (either side) is worth the extra money? This trip is to celebrate my 30th birthday.

TIA!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

The final cost is going to be LESS than $500, right, because you'll now be getting your meals for free, instead of paying out of pocket? I think you might actually come out on top, if I'm understanding right.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

Go for it !!!!
It really won't be a big deal to change your reservation , Dreams will make it easy as pie

 

[AllyGirl_79]

I agree with one of the previous posters - you have to compare apples to apples to see where you end up. I may botch this up completely, but I was just having this discussion with a neighbor, so I'm feeling somewhat versed in this tonight. Here's how I would figure this out...

From glancing at the rack rates, a standard room at Pop looks to be $105 in November, roughly. So, figure a $40 savings per night with your current discount to use round numbers. If we oversimplify, your trip costs $65 + tax + food per night.

For two adults, as I'm assuming it's just the two of you, the quick service dining plan is roughly $32 per person, per night. If it's free, you're looking at a $64 savings on paper. If you pay the $10 or so per person per night to upgrade to the regular dining plan to accomodate all the dining reservations you noted and the hotel rack rate is still $105 per night, your trip costs roughly $125 + tax per night, as food is now included.

The key is going to be adding an estimated daily food budget to the first option to see which works better for you. If your estimated food budget, excluding tip which you pay either way, is more than $60 per day for the resturants you picked, you come out ahead on the free dining.

I'm guessing the $500 increase to move to POR is comparing free dining at POR to the deal you have now with the room discount at Pop. If you compare the cost of 7 nights at Pop with free dining (and the extra $20 per night to upgrade the dining plan that would be standard at the moderates), there isn't much of a price difference between that (increase in up front costs) and $500 from what I can see. I love POR, so for a minimal price jump, I'd make the move.

 

[dansyr2514]

I think a general rule is ..

40% code for deluxe is a better deal than free dining.
Free dining at a Value is better than the 40% off at the value resorts.

Moderates are right in the middle. The free dining we booked was slightly better for 2 adults than the 40% code for moderates. However free dining for a family of 4 may work out better than the % off.

Just my experience.