Advice please: go for the dining or not?

[mom2bella]

Hi all
We are going to DW 9/23-9/27 with the whole family staying at POR, total of 7adults and 3 toddlers. My BIL reserved the rooms (3 of them) b/c his brother is a cast member and he was able to get a rate of $89 including the tax. Now that they brought back the dining plan we are debating if we should switch to the plan and pay rack rate for the room. I'm tempted to to forgoe the plan b/c there are days that we may have a very light lunch and we usually stop at the grocery store for breakfast foods and snacks. I don't want to feel the pressure of eating to take advantage of the deal. Others in our party say we should go for it. What would you do- stick w/ the $89 or go for the plan. Thanks

 

[Stitch Inside]

How does the free dining work? Is it 5 days of dining for a 4 night stay? Or is it 4 for 4?
If it is only 4 for 4 then you have to decide whether or not you can feed your family for the difference of the rack rate (about $150 including tax) minus your $89 = $61. For our family, we usually budget $100/day for food, so the free dining would work well for us.

 

[kizmac]

With 7 adults I would definitely go for it! Just schedule a good TS dinner for everyday. Then you could use the CS's for breakfast or lunch depending on what you feel like. I don't think you'll be pressured to eat since you'll have to be eating dinner anyhow and this just opens up your options! I think you would have a hard time eating on $61 a day. Enjoy the free dining...it may not come around again.

 

[mcgovern]

We just got back and really got our money's worth on the dining plan. It was so nice not to have to worry that some of your spending money was going to have to be spent on food. (Not to mention figuring out the tip) (Gratuities are included also). Disney food is expensive, but convenient. I was so much more relaxed knowing it was taken care of. We didn't feel stressed at all about using it. We had two adulrts and a 13 y.o. and a 9 yo. Both girls.

 

[goodferry]

You really need to do the math and see how much you will be saving vs the discount you will be loosing. I think usually, dining wins out. Do you belong to AAA? The discount is significant enough, depending on where you stay, that it is worth the $35 annual fee and if you book through AAA, I believe you can still get the room discount and free dining, but this question may be better asked on the dining or codes and discounts forum.

 

[Cindyzgoingtodizny]

PRO's: You will definitely save money and tips are already included (it's counted per nights, so 4 nights = 4 TS, 4 CS, 4 snack).

Con's: Not all restaurants or snack shops participate, so selection is more limited and some menu selections are limited at the participating restaurants.

I would definitely use the plan again myself.

 

[grimley1968]

I believe you can still get the room discount and free dining

I don't believe you can do this. I asked when I made my ressies and was told that no other discounts could be applied besides the free dining package, and this included AAA discounts. For us, though, it was a no brainer to pay the value season rack rate and get the free dining package. There was no discount around that would save me more than $600 like free dining did.

 

[*Fantasia*]

grimley1968, were you trying to book it through CRO or Disney TA?
I think you can still get your AAA discount if you BOOK IT THROUGH AAA. Just like Goodferry said.

 

[grimley1968]

grimley1968, were you trying to book it through CRO or Disney TA?
I think you can still get your AAA discount if you BOOK IT THROUGH AAA. Just like Goodferry said.

Travel Agent. Magical Journeys, to be exact. They will apply AAA discounts, if they are applicable to the reservation. I was told AAA discounts could not be used in this case.

 

[goodferry]

Only AAA can sell a AAA package. A room only can be booked by anyone, but a package, with free dining or paid for dining, can only be booked through AAA. If you check on the codes and discounts boards, people have done this

 

[Majestic]

I was aware of the restrictions on restaurants but not menu items...didn't see that. Can someone clarify? Sorry it's off topic.

Fred

 

[J Lynn]

I was aware of the restrictions on restaurants but not menu items...didn't see that. Can someone clarify? Sorry it's off topic.

Fred

Wondering that too. Can anyone clarify that the meal plan means 1 counter meal, 1 snack, and 1 sit down meal per person per day? I don't know why I keep thinking that's too good to be true, but since it's about $1,000 extra for 2 adults and 2 kids for 6 days, I guess it's about right.

 

[mcgovern]

We used it last week and found NOTHING on the menu was excluded. In fact, because an appetizer is included that means an appetizer PER PERSON not per table as we would normally order. We ate like kings and didn't run into any exclusions.

Our table service meals were
Cape May at the Beach Club
Rose and Crown Restaurant
Cinderella's Royal Table
Biergarten
50's Prime Time Cafe
Chef Mickey's

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think Planet Hollywood and Wolfgang Puck's Cafe have a "surcharge for certain menu entrees"

 

[Bete]

I would get the best of both worlds. If you switch to All-Stars or POP resort you'll have about the same rack rate as you now have with POR and you will qualify for free dining, too.

 

[Meezers]

I think the dining plan is a great idea...for those willing to plan ahead. With the free dining offers...many of the TS places aren't taking any walk ups...if you don't want to try and make ADR's I wouldn't go with the dining plan...you may not be able to use it where you want. I have noticed that many people are posting that there are no available ADR's for La Cellier for September?

 

[fac]

Only AAA can sell a AAA package. A room only can be booked by anyone, but a package, with free dining or paid for dining, can only be booked through AAA. If you check on the codes and discounts boards, people have done this

There had been a number of discussions on this, my understanding is that we cannot apply the AAA discount to the free dining package.
BTW, I booked though AAA myself.

 

[mom2bella]

Thank you all for the relpies. We are goin g to check w/ our AAA agent about the discount. I would definitely switch to POP to take full advantage of the promotion if it were only us going, but the rest of the party wants to stay at POR. I love POR but I think w/ the dining those staying at a value are getting the best deal w/ the dinig plan. I think we may go for the plan, again thank you for your replies