anyone else not care about free dining?

[nyrebecca]

I would have been much happier with the plan if we could have had the option to have a counter service meal in lieu of a table service if that fit our plans better (wouldn't have saved any money obviously but would have been more convenient for us).

Just wanted to give an FYI to everyone....last year we found ourselves with a few extra table meals to use up, and we were informed by a very nice cashier in Roaring Forks WL that you can exchange your table service meals for quick service when you have no more quick service left. You just have to let them know and they are more than happy to do it for you.

From our end, we like what ever discount saves us more money! If its rooms, great, if we get free dining, we will go for that as well. I prefer having the dining plan so we dont have to worry about paying for our food as well. Nice having it all paid for (less the tips) before we even go.

 

[lustergirl]

If I am going solo or only with hubby then a room discount would be awesome. But if I am taking the whole family the free dining promo would work out better because my 2 sons can eat they stay at disney.

 

[nooneshome]

We've done both, package discount and FD. Last Thanksgiving we had the QS free dining for 4 and we used it on 5 people. We got custody of DD's good friend. It was still too much food. We had three meals and a dozen or so snacks left. I can go either way.

 

[susieQzee]

Just back from 2 weeks at WDW (June 12-26), and with the heat of the day, I couldn't imagine eating all that food in one day. We ate small breakfasts in our room each morning and found we were hungry around 4 p.m. each day. I'm thinking that all the water we sipped on to keep cool filled us up, causing us not to feel hungrier than we were. Of course, we had to have a few Mickey bars in there, once in a while!

 

[Lex33]

I have been thinking about this issue for a while. I keep going back and forth contemplating changing my reservation and adding FD. We are visiting Aug 22nd-31st and staying in the FW Cabins. When we travel, 5 of us, we never eat breakfast out. Lunch is light (we bring in sandwiches) and always get some kind of treat in the parks.The thought of having to plan every meal, especially dinner, to take advantage of the FD is a bit much. Although, going to a supermarket isn't so fun either when you are on vacation.The room discount is a pretty good deal. If I didn't have to purchase 2 day regular rate tickets for 5 I might be more inclined to try the FD. There are a few Disney restaurants I would like to try.

I am considering purchasing an Annual Pass to receive a slightly larger room only discount. I know the break even point is about 8 days park entry. I don't think we will be visiting 8 parks this year so I am not sure if this the way to go. Right now we are not planning to return next year, but you never know.

Any thoughts?

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Last year FD came in very handy during F&W. We saved all our snack credits for it, and we definitely came out ahead (those little samples are PRICEY). I'd do it again in that case.

Otherwise a room discount probably works out better, even though we liked TS, we also got apps OOP, and only did dessert b/c it was included, though they were very good.

 

[battricia]

the only thing i would disagree with in these arguments is that since it's free, it's not really a big deal if you don't use up credits, also, it's not a big deal if you eat a CS instead of a TS, so you can go about your day w/o having to plan in advance, etc. If you are able to get discounts then it may not make sense for you, but it is still free meals, even if you don't use it specifically the way the plan is designed.

 

[larryz]

We are four adults, and I budget $40 per person per day for food. The regular DP is $41 per person per day on a MYW package, and I just don't think we're going to break that close to the money. I'll keep close track this trip and see how much we actually spend.

And, should I be offered FD, that $40 ppd is what I'm using to see if it'll save us money over the 40% room discount.

So FD was extended and I ran the numbers, and for about 300 less than we would be paying staying at YC, we could have FD at WL (2 standard view rooms, 6 day MYWPH, and DP).

We made the switch...

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I am always so surprised to see so many threads about this. I would never eat enough to get any dining plan even if it is free. To make it worth it, you really have to love eating and frankly when I am occupied with all there is to do at Disney, the last thing I want to do is eat all the time! Some ruin their diets by going to Disney and I guess I am the opposite. I can see where this would be a good deal for big families but there are usually just two adults or four adults in our party so we do just fine buying our food. I am with all those who would rather have room discounts. It is very expensive to stay at Disney in most cases. I'd love an incentive for not using FD!

 

[nyrebecca]

Maybe I have been working too much overtime at work or something but I just can't fathom why if you are going to the parks at a time that free dining is available, and there is no other discounts that you are using why wouldn't you take advantage of it?

1) It's free.

2)You dont have to make ADRs and eat at TS resturants - as already pointed out you can use your TS credits at a QS establishment.

3) Yes, if you don't eat a lot of food, I will agree it is a lot more food offered than you would want, but again, it's free and you are not forced to actually eat all the food that is available to you.

4)If you have credits left at the end of the stay, why feel obligated to use them? You didn't pay for them. You could also do what I have done before....the person behind you is paying in cash, tell the cashier you have extra credits and you want to pay for them as well. Spread the magic people.

You can disagree with me, that's fine and I wont be offended...just my thoughts.

 

[Donna3271]

I vote room discount! Free Dining was gross. My husband and I are athletes, and would NEVER eat this much food. I felt myself being gross with the food (ordering stuff I did not even want just to use up credits) and giving it to my kids (unhealthy stuff) just because it was free.

We always cruise on DCL, and don't even eat as much as with the free dining.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We went last year with free dining and it was alright. This year we are using the 40% off bounceback offer. We have already decided not to change to the free dining if and when it comes out. We found that we had way too much food last time and the way we figure it, we can split meals or whatever we need. Our kids are not big eaters at all. We also like to have donuts or poptarts in the room so we have breakfast covered. We figure we can save more money this way.

Are we the only ones who don't give a rip about free dining?

We are a family of 6 who gets 2 connecting rooms at WDW for 8 nights. Free Dining saves us about $1,500.00. I'm so freaking over-the-moon about FREE DINING, I'm ready to shout it from the roof tops!!!!!!

Also, I'm not sure why some people comment that the DDP is too much food. It's 2 meals and 1 snack per day. We've done the basic DDP at least 7 times and we've always found it to be the perfect amount of food.

December can't get here fast enough!!!!!!

 

[AJA]

I admit it feels weird to pass up free dining. We've been with FD the last two years. This year though, since we're only staying 4 days (2 park days) we're using the 40% code. I have one character breakfast planned and honestly it's kinda freeing lol. I really like the freedom to do whatever we want, no appointments to keep.

 

[Priorityonecb]

This is our first year going without the dining plan, and it does feel a little odd! We took the room discount happily over free dining.

If we were doing the entire trip at Disney, we would have chosen DP. However, this time we are only "basing" at Disney and doing one day at Epcot. The other days we are going to be doing Busch Gardens, Aquatica, Sea World and the Harry Potter Park at US so DP even free just doesn't make sense this time around.

 

[cindykelley]

Maybe I have been working too much overtime at work or something but I just can't fathom why if you are going to the parks at a time that free dining is available, and there is no other discounts that you are using why wouldn't you take advantage of it?

1) It's free.

2)You dont have to make ADRs and eat at TS resturants - as already pointed out you can use your TS credits at a QS establishment.

3) Yes, if you don't eat a lot of food, I will agree it is a lot more food offered than you would want, but again, it's free and you are not forced to actually eat all the food that is available to you.

4)If you have credits left at the end of the stay, why feel obligated to use them? You didn't pay for them. You could also do what I have done before....the person behind you is paying in cash, tell the cashier you have extra credits and you want to pay for them as well. Spread the magic people.

You can disagree with me, that's fine and I wont be offended...just my thoughts.

I don't think anyone is saying not to use it if no other discounts are available. Just seems like most people only care about the free dining. We have the bounceback room discount for our next trip. Obviously, if there are absolutely no discounts available, any reasonable person would take the free dining. My point is if you wouldn't normally spend the dining plan per day amount, then you're not really saving that particular amount.

I don't remember the numbers, but if the dining plan comes out to $50 a day, but you can eat for $30, then you aren't saving $50. Add up what you think you would spend OOP and that's what you save on free dining. Room discounts might add up to more.

To each his own.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We do not like the regular DDP at all (way too much food, and way too structured a plan required). We tried the QSDP in May and loved it. We are doing a split stay in Aug - free QSDP at the POP the first week, 40% discount at the Poly the second week.

 

[njcarita]

I'm bummed cause the monster 40% pin that I recieved last month ... my travel dates were blocked out... now I just recieved a free dinning pin for my dates... but I don't see it is worth the price of what it would cost us..... here's hoping I get another room code... than I'll book....

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Maybe I have been working too much overtime at work or something but I just can't fathom why if you are going to the parks at a time that free dining is available, and there is no other discounts that you are using why wouldn't you take advantage of it?

1) It's free.

2)You dont have to make ADRs and eat at TS resturants - as already pointed out you can use your TS credits at a QS establishment.

3) Yes, if you don't eat a lot of food, I will agree it is a lot more food offered than you would want, but again, it's free and you are not forced to actually eat all the food that is available to you.

4)If you have credits left at the end of the stay, why feel obligated to use them? You didn't pay for them. You could also do what I have done before....the person behind you is paying in cash, tell the cashier you have extra credits and you want to pay for them as well. Spread the magic people.

You can disagree with me, that's fine and I wont be offended...just my thoughts.

It isn't free - you are paying full room rates and other fees have been raised in order to accommodate it. So, if they didn't offer it you would actually be saving more money. I can tell you there is no such thing as a free lunch at Disney - it doesn't just apply to Economics! They don't lose any money offering such a promotion. Disney is full of geniuses who know how to make money!

 

[Poohbear123]

I have no desire to use the Free Dining offer...I cannot stay 5 nights and 6 days anyway, so its of NO use for me. JUST GIVE ME A DISCOUNT CODE FOR OCT 14-17 and I WILL BE HAPPY!

 

[DisFan331]

We are using the room discount this time! We have always done the dining plan but in years past the appetizer and gratuity being included made it such a deal. Now it doesn't really appeal to us. We would definately prefer apps to dessert anyday but that's just us!!! Either way it priced out to be about the same. It came down to do we want to pay it up front or as we go>>>