Any decent on-site deals with Dining Plan for 2 adults only?

[crzy4mk]

I've looked at the special packages that Disney promotes but they all seem to be designed for families of 4. It's too far out for me to even get a quote from them or Dreams Unlimited as I'm checking prices for March of next year. So my question is...in your experience have there been any good deals around that time of year for 2 adults with a Dining Plan added? Looking for a 6 or 7 night stay. TIA!

 

[Missyrose]

I've looked at the special packages that Disney promotes but they all seem to be designed for families of 4. It's too far out for me to even get a quote from them or Dreams Unlimited as I'm checking prices for March of next year. So my question is...in your experience have there been any good deals around that time of year for 2 adults with a Dining Plan added? Looking for a 6 or 7 night stay. TIA!

All of the Disney promotions can be booked for two adults. The "family of 4" you hear/see in commercials is just an example, not a minimum.

 

[sethschroeder]

Dining plan sounds great but do the math and likely not for 2 adults.

I would go for the max room discount and pay for meals out if pocket. Heck you could even put the money on Gift Cards as the "dining plan".

Disney plates I think have a ton of food when eating table service and even counter service you could just split a plate with you other person likely.

 

[chefmb]

Free dining has worked well for DH and me twice--last year and this year. We stayed at CBR last year in December. This year we are staying at CSR with free dining. The rack rate for the room is around $189. Even at 30% off, room only discount would save us about $57/night. One table service meal a day would cover that-especially if you do any buffets (which we like for the choices). So, I feel like we get a counter service meal, drink mug, and snack basically for free. It's not a huge savings, but I have dietary restrictions and decided last year that eating at the table service restaurants was fantastic for me because the chef will talk to me about my special restrictions and make sure I get safe food. We never did the dining plan when we went with our sons. We usually ate at counter service food and were on the run too much for sit down meals.

 

[lustergirl]

I've looked at the special packages that Disney promotes but they all seem to be designed for families of 4. It's too far out for me to even get a quote from them or Dreams Unlimited as I'm checking prices for March of next year. So my question is...in your experience have there been any good deals around that time of year for 2 adults with a Dining Plan added? Looking for a 6 or 7 night stay. TIA!

I think the free dining promo is an excellent idea to book if you are the type of couple that likes to sit down for a table service meal every day. It will end up saving you money.

 

[crzy4mk]

I think the free dining promo is an excellent idea to book if you are the type of couple that likes to sit down for a table service meal every day. It will end up saving you money.

I know there is no way to know for sure this far in advance, but when has free dining historically been offered? And isn't it dependent on the resort you stay in? Like some get the free QSDP and others get the regular DDP? I'm assuming if you didn't stay in one of the moderates you can upgrade the QSDP right?

 

[AngiTN]

I know there is no way to know for sure this far in advance, but when has free dining historically been offered? And isn't it dependent on the resort you stay in? Like some get the free QSDP and others get the regular DDP? I'm assuming if you didn't stay in one of the moderates you can upgrade the QSDP right?

The past couple of years the dining plan has only been offered free in the fall. So not in March.

But yes, typically you get QS with Value Resorts, Regular with the others. You can pay the difference to upgrade between QS and Regular if you stay at a Value. Though in my experience you are typically better off to just go on and put the extra cost in the Resort and stay Mod instead. We found the difference insignificant and the better Resort was money well spent

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Here is a link to the historical info on all the Disney promo's offered.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

 

[Hootch]

there was a free dining offer in March. That was the only year I see out of the last four.

You can see the historical releases for offers here:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codetrends

 

[MillauFr]

I think the free dining promo is an excellent idea to book if you are the type of couple that likes to sit down for a table service meal every day. It will end up saving you money.

The question is will the free dining promotion save you more money than a promotion offering room discounts. From what I've read on these boards Disney is charging the rack rates for the rooms when they are including free dining? Correct? If so then the more people you have in your room the bigger discount you are getting with free dining. If you only have two people in your room you are getting a smaller discount.

We are staying at the Poly in August and with Agency Exclusive Labor Day Discount we are saving about $270 per night on the room. I am not sure how much you would save with free dining but you would have to run the numbers to see what promotion saved you more money. The free dining promotion is not always the biggest discount especially for 2 people.

 

[AngiTN]

there was a free dining offer in March. That was the only year I see out of the last four.

You can see the historical releases for offers here:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codetrends

If you are talking about in 2014 that wasn't free dining. That was a discount of $600 or $400 (I forget which) off a package if you bought room, dining and tickets.

 

[sethschroeder]

Rule #1
You pay rack rate: Boardwalk right now is $415 so you would be saving $154 with just 30% discount

Rule #2
You only get 1 table service credit per day: Many of our favorite restaurants are 2 credits for instance (Jiko, Flying Fish, Cali Grill, Citricos, Narcoossee, Artist Point, Yatchsman, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Fulton's)

Rule #3
Not all menu items are included and you can't do any substitutions

Rule #4
Alcohol / Gratuities are Separate

Rule #5
No appetizer and some dinner items can not be selected from the menu

Rule #6
Can't split a meal between people: for instance getting an appetizer and 1 main course to split between my wife and myself

Basically you can do the math to see if it makes sense but there is a lot of issue with 2 adults being on a dining plan that really doesn't outweigh the benefit including many people saying they feel like they need to order one of the most expensive items to make it feel like its really worth it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Rule #1
You pay rack rate: Boardwalk right now is $415 so you would be saving $154 with just 30% discount

Rule #2
You only get 1 table service credit per day: Many of our favorite restaurants are 2 credits for instance (Jiko, Flying Fish, Cali Grill, Citricos, Narcoossee, Artist Point, Yatchsman, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Fulton's)

Rule #3
Not all menu items are included and you can't do any substitutions

Rule #4
Alcohol / Gratuities are Separate

Rule #5
No appetizer and some dinner items can not be selected from the menu

Rule #6
Can't split a meal between people: for instance getting an appetizer and 1 main course to split between my wife and myself

Basically you can do the math to see if it makes sense but there is a lot of issue with 2 adults being on a dining plan that really doesn't outweigh the benefit including many people saying they feel like they need to order one of the most expensive items to make it feel like its really worth it.

Clearly free dining is not the best deal for you. But everyone has different eating habits and resort preferences.

If you stay at a value hotel, discounts top out at what..... 20 or 25%. Off a $125 room rate, that's pretty paltry. Can 2 people eat all day for that? Even if you upgrade to the regular dining plan, it's typically a better deal than a room only discount.

 

[sethschroeder]

Clearly free dining is not the best deal for you. But everyone has different eating habits and resort preferences.

If you stay at a value hotel, discounts top out at what..... 20 or 25%. Off a $125 room rate, that's pretty paltry. Can 2 people eat all day for that? Even if you upgrade to the regular dining plan, it's typically a better deal than a room only discount.

Misunderstood you were saying 20% off a $125 room rate upon initial response.

Did I not say do the math though? I think all my "rules" still stand though. Saving that money does nothing if you want to eat Table Service or have items not Disney Dining approved.

PS - is there anything in my rules that is incorrect?

 

[mom2rtk]

Misunderstood you were saying 20% off a $125 room rate upon initial response.

Did I not say do the math though? I think all my "rules" still stand though. Saving that money does nothing if you want to eat Table Service or have items not Disney Dining approved.

PS - is there anything in my rules that is incorrect?

You can pay the difference between quick service and regular dining plan and still come out far ahead.

And we must eat at different restaurants. Because I've never encountered something not approved.

And we have shared meals to make our credits go further.

And all I said was be careful generalizing. What is a bad deal for one party can be a great deal for another.

 

[davedmaine]

I think the free dining promo is an excellent idea to book if you are the type of couple that likes to sit down for a table service meal every day. It will end up saving you money.

No, it won't

 

[purple figment]

I agree that for 2 adults free dining is usually not the best choice because room discounts are more often the better savings, especially at deluxes and mods where rack rate is higher. However, FD might be the better option when staying at a value resort, even when paying to upgrade the free CS to DDP.

As you said, everyone needs to do the math. We've had the DDP, the DxDDP, and paid OOP with a TiW card. In most cases, a room discount has been better for us.

I'm assuming your rules apply to the regular DDP and not the DxDDP. I've made a couple of comments based on our experience with the DDP.

Rule #2
You only get 1 table service credit per day: Many of our favorite restaurants are 2 credits for instance (Jiko, Flying Fish, Cali Grill, Citricos, Narcoossee, Artist Point, Yatchsman, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Fulton's)
True, but you can use more than 1 TS credit per day or we often shared meals (see Rule 6) and were able to use our TS credits at 2 credit meals.

Rule #3
Not all menu items are included and you can't do any substitutions
It's true you can't order an appetizer in place of a dessert on the DDP, but you can sub some things such as side dishes. Your entree comes with broccoli, but you'd rather have the potatoes that are listed with a different entree - you can make this substitution.

Rule #5
No appetizer and some dinner items can not be selected from the menu
None of the entrees or desserts that are listed on the menu are excluded with the exception of the larger Kitchen Sink (Beaches & Cream), and usually the multi person dessert at T-Rex and Rainforest that I can remember. Items listed "for 2" can be ordered by 2 people.

Rule #6
Can't split a meal between people: for instance getting an appetizer and 1 main course to split between my wife and myself
We frequently shared one entree and dessert between 2 adults and used 1 dining credit or 2 credits at sigs. Sometimes we also ordered an OOP app, but not always.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Rule #1
You pay rack rate: Boardwalk right now is $415 so you would be saving $154 with just 30% discount

Rule #2
You only get 1 table service credit per day: Many of our favorite restaurants are 2 credits for instance (Jiko, Flying Fish, Cali Grill, Citricos, Narcoossee, Artist Point, Yatchsman, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Fulton's)

Rule #3
Not all menu items are included and you can't do any substitutions

Rule #4
Alcohol / Gratuities are Separate

Rule #5
No appetizer and some dinner items can not be selected from the menu

Rule #6
Can't split a meal between people: for instance getting an appetizer and 1 main course to split between my wife and myself

Basically you can do the math to see if it makes sense but there is a lot of issue with 2 adults being on a dining plan that really doesn't outweigh the benefit including many people saying they feel like they need to order one of the most expensive items to make it feel like its really worth it.

Rule 1: you pay rack rate as part of any promotional offer - discounts can't be stacked.

Rule 2: personal preferences aren't a valid argument, especially when the tastes (in this case) of the advised aren't known and likely don't match.

Rule 3: unaware of any menu item not included, although a very rare few may be recategorized.

Rule 4: separate anyway - no matter how you pay, gratuities are additional; ditto for alcohol and not everybody drinks.

Rule 5: see response to Rule 3.

Rule 6: can absolutely be done using the Deluxe plan which includes appetizers, or by paying for the appetizer and effectively doubling the number of entrees covered.

 

[lustergirl]

No, it won't

Again this is my opinion as you have yours

Edited to add: it may depend where you are staying.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

As you can see OP, passions run high on the DIS whenever "free dining" is mentioned. A little too high in my opinion. Some folks might want to take a chill pill.

Personally, I don't like the dining plan, "free" or otherwise. I'm not a dessert person, especially when it comes to the nasty prepackaged desserts at the counter service places. I consider them a waste of money and calories.

So I advise you to think about if it works for you at all.