Am I the only one that 40% is better than Free dining?

[atisikitabasket]

i was able to book CR Dec 16-22 for 3 adults 1 child with park hoppers and dining for $2847.00 but if we changed and went for free dining looks like it would be around $31XX. I noticed alot of 40% people changing theirs to the free dining because it is cheaper why isn't it cheaper for me plus we would be going at a value time compared to a regular time?

i don't really want to change my Dec. ressies but our friends said if we go in Sept they would go. Of course this is after I heard all the great replys about Christmas and have my heart set on it now. But I can't with draw the invite now.

Am I calculating free dining wrong?

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

i was able to book CR Dec 16-22 for 3 adults 1 child with park hoppers and dining for $2847.00 but if we changed and went for free dining looks like it would be around $31XX. I noticed alot of 40% people changing theirs to the free dining because it is cheaper why isn't it cheaper for me plus we would be going at a value time compared to a regular time?

i don't really want to change my Dec. ressies but our friends said if we go in Sept they would go. Of course this is after I heard all the great replys about Christmas and have my heart set on it now. But I can't with draw the invite now.

Am I calculating free dining wrong?

well i am staying at pop. 40% was not offered at that time i am going. But if it was i would save about 35 dollars a day. I know it would cost more that that to feed three people so i need free dining. But if you are staying in a room that costs a lot more your saving of 40% could be 100dollars or more and you might do better with that especially if you are not big eaters

 

[mking624]

Nope you're not calculating anything wrong. There are definitely some cases where the 40% offer is better than free dining. And vice versa of course. It all depends on when you go (since free dining has a very limited time frame and the 40% offer was more widespread) and where you'll be staying.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

We got the 40% off deal for AKL so the 40% off deal is the better deal for us. Free dining would have saved us over $500, while the 40% off deal saved us over $1000!!!

 

[ekball]

I booked free dining for my SIL this morning, but I kept our 40% ressie as it is a better deal. We are saving almost $600 MORE than if we had free dining. I think that the 40% discount is a better deal when you are staying deluxe - otherwise, I *think* that free dining is a better savings.

 

[parith1114]

Well free dinning doesn't work for us either. We got almost 48% off at the POLY mid Sept , with an airline employee discount. We were tempted, but free dinnig would cost us almost $700. We did keep all of our ADR's though. I am thinking of cancelling a few. I remember what wait times were like last year even with an ADR.

 

[sorul82?]

Yes, for sure depends on where you are staying, how many people you have and if they are adults or children. Just as an example, for us, the DDP in Aug will be about $139 per day. The 40% off would have to exceed $139 per night. In order for the 40% to be a better deal for us, the rack rate would need to be at least $347.50 per night.

 

[Marriedmyprince]

I'm sure many 40% savings are better than free dining, especially if you don't have a lot of teens and adults in your party. For my family, my AAA ressie is actually better than free dining and thats about 15% off. Definatly, check if you have young children and AAA which is better.
For example when pricing my trip: 2 adults, 1 kid (& 2 babies free), 7 nights, 8 day park hopper, & dining plan, no insurance, taxes included
1st$ Disney rack rate, 2nd$ AAA discount rate, 3rd$ TODAYS Free dining rate
Contemporary Garden Wing, garden view: $3428, $2829, $3169
Poly Garden view: $3980, $2989, $3358
Beach Club Garden View: $3870, $2896, $3247
In all 3 cases, the percents stay the same so I save more with AAA than with free dining. Good luck, Marriedmyprince

 

[LBKMAMA]

I was told when I booked the 40% off that I shouldn't even bother to call when FDDP was announced. The 40% was off rack rate room for Poly and that saved us more than the DDP would each day for that particular resort. I know if I had booked POR instead I'd be calling today because then it would be cheaper for us. We just REALLY wanted to stay at a monorail resort so we are sticking with this one. We are still in the ballpark of what we spent last year so I'm happy.

 

[kimisabella]

We had the 40% off code at the WL, but, it was for a courtyard bunk bed room and the whole package came out to a bit more than I wanted to spend, but, I was concerned that the free dining plan wasn't going to come out, so I booked it. Today, I booked the free dining plan, staying at POFQ, although its downgrading the resort, the total is much less and I'm more comfortable with my choice.

 

[LindyN]

A 40% off discount on a $400+/night room is better than $100/night for free dining for an average family of two adults and two kids between 3-9.

Free dining does not beat everything out there, especially if you're in a Deluxe resort with a deep discount.

 

[livie1205]

we got akl for 3 nights ddp and 1 day tix for $800.00 at 40% off so i think that is better than free dining...2 adults,1 baby

 

[goofydad621]

It really does depend on the size and age of your party.

We are staying for 5 nights at the Poly and 5 nighta witha one bedroom at WLV and the 40% was a much better discount for 2 adults and 1 child now if it was 4 adults and one child that would be different.

 

[Microcell]

The nicer the hotel you stay at, the better the 40% off deal is for you. It is much more of a deal to do free dining at the values than the 40%. Right now AS MU standard at 40% off for us is 2080.00. Because it is maybe 35 dollars off the room each night. Dining (which we are paying for until TR at least) is $38.00 pp daily so we will save at least 400 off the 2080 to go for free dining.

If you have the POLY it would be 40% off alot more money, which would make it better than the free dining.

 

[morepsi1]

Ok, I'm a little bit of a newbie to these threads, but I do have a question. How did you get the 40% off deal? Was it through a postcard or an email that you received that has a code attached to it?

 

[Sammie]

It depends on the size of the group, the ages of the group and where you are staying. If staying deluxe, 40% is better, if staying value, free dining is better, if staying moderate it can be a draw depending on party size and age.

You just have to do the math and figure which one works best for your particular group.

 

[Pirate at Heart]

Hey,
No way your not the only one making out better!!!!

We are staying at the POLY in October and saving much more than with FREE DINING. Plus, August and September a hot and crowded. We did FREE DINING in August of last year and it was so hot we couldn't enjoy our FREE food away!! In fact my poor daughter got very sick after eating at Le Cellier (due to the heat) that we spent the rest of the evening sitting about.

Keep your current reservation! You'll be much happier!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

**

Plus, August and September a hot and crowded.

**


Not true exactly!
Maybe in August it is, but last week of Sept is georgeuos weather and empty!
This is the only time of the year we go!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Sammie got it right..

40% off at a deluxe and paying for dining will almost always work out better vs free dining and rack rate.

Mods it's a toss up.

And at values you will save more with free dining... esp if you have more than 2 people in a room.



Knox

 

[thelionqueen]

Sounds right! If it were just DH & I in a deluxe, the 40% off would be a better deal.

But when you factor in 2 adults 1 junior (pays adult price) and 1 child, the cost to add the dining plan to our package is roughly $150 per day! Staying @ POP for roughly $95 per day AND eating free saves us around $2,000 for a 12 day trip..works for us