Anyone "pass" on Free Dining?

[divawife]

3 Reg adults and 2 Disney DDP adults (age 10 & 11). Feb.11 arrive, check out Feb. 18 Free Dining at Pop/ Upgrade to DDP/ 2 Preferred Rooms
I priced all three discounts available in various ways. I pay for the whole thing as a gift.
I save $1,600 total.
We love the character meals, we love to eat at "nice" restaurants, both kids pretty big eaters. We enjoy the meal planning times and trying new foods. We would have gotten the same even if Free Dining was not available but it is so we are more than happy.

 

[CoolPool]

Normally, we stay deluxe with a room discount. This year we are going during the Xmas holidays so...we felt like with December weather we won't likely be spending a lot of time at the pool so the resort experience is less significant. Also Disney jacks up the prices on room & food during that season so you are paying more for the same thing which feels...less of a value overall. Then you add in crowds expected to be at the 10 out of 10 level for several of the days we are there....so we computed and tabulated and decided to:
1) stay moderate for the first time but at CSR b/c we need queen beds
2) get free dining because we like to get T/S
3) upgrade to DxDp
Why?
With crowds being so intimidating and the weather being cooler (pool impact), we'll be at a loss sometimes for something to do. Two hour lines are frustrating. Fast Passes will go FAST. So we upgraded to DxDp for less than the cost of the HDD and Luau combined and got 10 extra T/S credits. So when we get sick of standing in huge lines at MK...it'll be sayonara we're off to the Luau and with booze and gratuities included!

But that's just our story and we're sticking to it.

 

[PurpleTurtle]

We are a family of six that always gets two connecting rooms at a value resort for usually 8 night.

The free dining discount saves us about $1,500.00

The 4/3 deal saves us about $750.00

The 40% room only discount saves us about $630.00

I don't think we are as dumb as you apparently think we are.

This is just like us! We're actually DVC members, but we're using most of our points at BCVs in May. DH wanted to run the marathon, so we added an 8 night FD trip to Pop in Jan. At a Value w/ two connecting rooms for the 6 of us (one of my kids is adult price now, too), the FD was a much better deal. We actually need the tix and will upgrade to DVC APs while we are there, so that works for this trip, too.

 

[ccgirl]

Normally, we stay deluxe with a room discount. This year we are going during the Xmas holidays so...we felt like with December weather we won't likely be spending a lot of time at the pool so the resort experience is less significant. Also Disney jacks up the prices on room & food during that season so you are paying more for the same thing which feels...less of a value overall. Then you add in crowds expected to be at the 10 out of 10 level for several of the days we are there....so we computed and tabulated and decided to:
1) stay moderate for the first time but at CSR b/c we need queen beds
2) get free dining because we like to get T/S
3) upgrade to DxDp
Why?
With crowds being so intimidating and the weather being cooler (pool impact), we'll be at a loss sometimes for something to do. Two hour lines are frustrating. Fast Passes will go FAST. So we upgraded to DxDp for less than the cost of the HDD and Luau combined and got 10 extra T/S credits. So when we get sick of standing in huge lines at MK...it'll be sayonara we're off to the Luau and with booze and gratuities included!

But that's just our story and we're sticking to it.

Ohhh...I didn't realize you could upgrade to the DxDDP. I upgrades from the QS plan to the other one. Would you mind sharing how much $$ the upgrade was? I believe I paid $10 per night to upgrade from the QS. Thanks for sharing that info.

 

[CoolPool]

Hi CCgirl. We are staying 5 nights with free dining given at the DDP level. We upgraded to DxDp for a total of $330 for 2 adults and 2 kids (under 10). ***We are staying during the time when Disney takes extra $ for food (late December).

When I added up the price to do HDD and the Luau on the last 2 nights - it would have cost us almost $365 so we get those plus more T/s credits to boot! Also you get appetizer/entree/dessert for each T/S + free drink mug + 2 snacks a day per person!

 

[danall]

We always take the DDP especially if it's free. We like to go to the more expensive Disney restaurants without having to worry about the cost. It works for us as our kids our older and we go just the two of us now so we like to have a good meal at a nice restaurant and relax.

 

[Colleen27]

We pass on it if there is a better discount available, which tends to only happen if we're planning a deluxe trip. At the values and moderates free dining is the best general public discount offered ($82/night discount on at $120/nt rack rate room for our March trip), and since we don't have APs or own DVC, the general public discounts are the only thing I compare it to.

But the main reason it works for us is that we like the dining plan, the DxDDP specifically, and buy it anyway. If the dining plan doesn't work for your family, getting it free is no great deal.

 

[ccgirl]

Hi CCgirl. We are staying 5 nights with free dining given at the DDP level. We upgraded to DxDp for a total of $330 for 2 adults and 2 kids (under 10). ***We are staying during the time when Disney takes extra $ for food (late December).

When I added up the price to do HDD and the Luau on the last 2 nights - it would have cost us almost $365 so we get those plus more T/s credits to boot! Also you get appetizer/entree/dessert for each T/S + free drink mug + 2 snacks a day per person!

Oh man...I so wish I knew that! That is only $66 a night but I'm already within my 45 days so I don't think I can upgrade. Bummer...this would have suited our family perfectly. Oh well! Next time I guess.

 

[dmoore718]

It worked well for us because we were planning on buying the QSDP anyway, and we can't wait to stay at POP! It is something to consider in the future, if we wanted to upgrade our hotel but wanted to just do QSDP again, we might then do a room only discount. We are paying OOP for 2 TS meals but have some Disney rewards and are getting GC from family for Christmas. Last time we paid for the QSDP and had a $200 GC wth the 4/3 deal. We spent NO money while we were there. It was great!

 

[DaParkers]

Oh man...I so wish I knew that! That is only $66 a night but I'm already within my 45 days so I don't think I can upgrade. Bummer...this would have suited our family perfectly. Oh well! Next time I guess.

You can still upgrade. I think you have up to 72 hours before
arrival.