AP discount & TIW versus Free Dining?

[goodeats]

I know this has probably been rehashed here hundreds of times, but I was hoping I could get some insight. I'm extremely tempted by the free dining to be booked at the end September 2011 to go for 5 nights through the beginning of October to catch a few days of the F&W festival. But then I relized that as a DL passholder I can upgrade to an annual pass that includes WDW for an additional $250. If I could get a room discount that would negate the cost of the AP and then we could just pay as we go for meals.

We would prefer to go during F&W festival and prefer TS to CS. In general we like to have three meals a day, but are OK with snacks substituting for meals. Also we consume a bit of alcohol (wine at dinner, pool drinks, etc). I did a sample itinerary for the five nights on free dining and I feel like we'd be paying a lot out of pocket and eating more CS than we'd like.

Is there an easy way to decide what works best?

 

[vicki_c]

No easy way. You really have to look at the menus and figure out what you might eat, what it will cost you OOP with the TiW discount removed, etc.

And the AP room discount isn't guaranteed - so I probably wouldn't figure that into your plan at all, other than the amount it will cost you to upgrade to an AP and the amount it will cost you to purchase the TiW card ($75 for AP holders). Besides the room thing would be a wash - with free dining you pay rack rate for the room.

Without knowing if there will be an AP discount or how much, I think it's tough to determine. You could try out different scenarios though - 40% off the room, 30% off the room, based on what they have offered in September in the past either for the general public or AP holders.

 

[goodeats]

Hmm this is complicated. Can you book a free dining package and then if I decide to get an AP convert it to room only?

Are AAA discounts limited as well? What percentage are they generally?

Now I realize with DD's sleeping schedule renting DVC points might be the way to go instead. Everybody is happier if she gets her naps, plus we wouldn't have to tiptoe around if I was able to get a one bedroom. Can you add the dining plan to a DVC rental? I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be free.

 

[stitch34]

Depends on where you're staying... if staying deluxe, the savings of an AP discount would far outweigh the savings of free dining.
And with an AP, you could book a room at percent off... AND be able to add the dining plan when you book as a passholder.
With free dining you'll have to add park tickets.... which you're better off paying for the upgrade for the annual pass then spending money on tickets.

Also depends on what kind of table service you'll do, to get the most out of the dining plan. We do a combo of dining plan and then TIW for our less expensive table service meals that we'll pay OOP for.

 

[vicki_c]

And no you can't add free dining to a DVC points rental but you can buy the DDP when you do that (the member you're renting from has to add it through DVC member services).

Any changes from packages to room-only (either direction) are cancellations and re-booking vs. just modifying your reservation. (But booking an AP room + dining plan (paid) is considered a package, so I'm guessing that would just be a switch from one discount package to another, but of course, it's still subject to availability for the discount for your dates, at the resort you want).