Airline Discount vs Free DDP

[Mermaid2sea]

Okay just spoken to other family whom were going with to advise them that it looks as if the free dining package will not be available for our trip - 8/9 - 8/22. With the airline rate we received 50% off the rate (I guess I'm allowed to tell you this as it does tell the discount rate on mousesavers).

If the rate had become available we were going to change our reservation to full rack and have the free dining. We cannot however add dining package to the discounted rate even if want to pay for the dining.

The other family are going to find out if they can change their flights to travel out later in the month to get the Free Dining Plan.

Is it worth it or should we continue with exisiting reservation and hope there's less crowds. Not sure how long we'll be able to eat Mickey D's & Pizza...though...

 

[CanadianGuy]

You don't say here..

But what level of resort are you staying at?

50% off at a value is at most 55 or 60$ discount per night.

50% off at a moderate is at most 75 or 90$ discount per night.

And you dont' say how many are in your party..

Example:

If you had 2 adults and 2 juniors .. free dining would save you 98$ a night off of paying for the dining plan.

If you had 3 adults and 1 junior .. free dining would save you 127$ a night off of you paying for the dining plan.

Do the math for yourself.. the free dining may save you more than the current discount you have on the rooms.

 

[cmwade77]

What do you mean with the airline rate? I don't quite understand and I would take any discount I can get.

 

[corndog]

What do you mean with the airline rate? I don't quite understand and I would take any discount I can get.

I was wondering that too. The mousesavers air page hasn't been updated in over 3 months.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I thought disney wasnt doing that anymore? There wa a thread about it awhile ago. Thats great if they are I just rememeber a thead about it awhile back.

 

[CarolA]

I would think an "airline rate" is for airline employees and it's generally a good rate, but you have to work for the airline to get it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

This is a discount for airline employees only.

There was a thread about it being discountinued.. but if you read the thread till the end.. it was a mistake on the part of the original poster.. the program is still being offered.. the amount of discount changed slightly for different travel periods or something like that.

And even if it were discontinued, any existing reservations already booked under the program would be honored.

Knox

 

[DNSDisney]

Actually it is a travel industry discount of sorts, but you have to work for an commerical airline or as a TA to recieve it. They have not discontinued it but they have made it extreamly hard to take advantage of as well as limiting the number of rooms avail. for the discount (very few , unlike a few yrs ago). You have to fax an employment verification within 48 hrs of reserving a rm and then bring a copy with you as well as a security badge (which is a federal offense to keep if you have been layoff or fired since 9/11). Without these things they charge you full rack rate.
They have also made it sort of a package by adding on mini golf to the rm only ressie, so you have the 45 day cancelation policy. This was explained to me by a CM: They did this because they were having so many cancelations at 6 days out, involving the discount, that they imposed this policy on the discount at certain times (my guess busy times ??).

As for the op question, I would cancel and go for the dining. It seems to be a good deal if you can eat all the food they offer it is a lot of food!
We go in the summer time and I just can't eat that much with the heat of summer. We usually grab a light bfast, light lunch or a snack and have a nice dinner or counter service . I learned my lesson with big bfast and AK a few yrs back, we had this enormous bfast and then went into AK for the day, within abt a hr i was so sick at my stomach we had to return to the room until I got cooled off and settled. But that is just me, with the heat, everyone else was ok in my party.

 

[Mermaid2sea]

Sorry....


We are staying at a value resort....

2 Adults and 2 Children.

Yeap we had a to fax a letter of good standing to Reservations.....and have to take ID.

We would still like to take to have a taste of the dining as we just in the process of moving home....so it's mean't to be a cheapy holiday...

 

[CanadianGuy]

Yeah.. you may find free-dining works out cheaper for you than the 50% off room.

Knox

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It is probably an International Air Transport Association (IATA) discount. Airline employees and IATA accredited travel agencies and their agents are members. You must provide current documentation via fax and present proper industry identification upon check in. It's a great room discount but you can't take advantage of other offers.

 

[Cinders Mum]

last year we were staying at the Poly so I stuck with my TA discount, this year it is more beneficial for me to transfer over to the free DDP when it is released. So as has been said it will depend on what resort category you are staying in and how many of you there are in the room.

Good Luck.

Val
xx