AP Room Rates or Free Dining?

[mouseaddicts]

Question ....... we're going in July & using AP rate for Deluxe (no free dining option offered then). We plan to go back for various trips throughout the year (making the most of those APs) ....... soooo ........ if I book another stay at a Value or Moderate, do I only have to buy a 1 day base ticket (for each party member) to get FREE DINING for the total number of nights?

In other words, do you not have to have "length of stay" park tickets with the package to get the Free Dining for each NIGHT of your stay???

Cuz ..... from what y'all have said, I'm thinking I might go ahead & book another trip (if this is true) with some good TS ADRs!!!

 

[planning06]

Question ....... we're going in July & using AP rate for Deluxe (no free dining option offered then). We plan to go back for various trips throughout the year (making the most of those APs) ....... soooo ........ if I book another stay at a Value or Moderate, do I only have to buy a 1 day base ticket (for each party member) to get FREE DINING for the total number of nights?

In other words, do you not have to have "length of stay" park tickets with the package to get the Free Dining for each NIGHT of your stay???

Cuz ..... from what y'all have said, I'm thinking I might go ahead & book another trip (if this is true) with some good TS ADRs!!!

You only need to book a 1 day base ticket PER PERSON to get free dining for the number of nights you book the room.

 

[funcinderella]

You only need to book a 1 day base ticket PER PERSON to get free dining for the number of nights you book the room.

Plus, other posts here on the DIS said you can use the cost of that 1 day ticket towards the purchase or renewal of an AP.

 

[planning06]

Free Dining

Rack 7 nights Poly-Garden - $2,459
2 Adult, 1 Child 1 day base ticket - $190
Total Cost - $2,648

AP Room Discount and DDE discount

Room with $70/night discount - $1,912
Food - $600
Total Cost - $2,512

Room with $100/night discount - $1,678
Food - $600
Total Cost - $2,278

Like I said earlier. As long as I can get a decent AP room discount, I'll stick with that.

 

[eliza61]

How about if you are hell-bent on staying at a deluxe? We want to stay at a monorail resort and we already have our APs and DDE card. I haven't crunched the numbers yet, but would free-dining be worth it for a 7-8 day trip or should we stick to a possible AP discount?

NO not really, we are in the same situation. We stay at deluxe resorts, since with the ap the discount is usually $100-133 dollars off of rack rates PER night. We stay any where between 8-10 nights (so a savings of 800-1100) for the room. No way does the free dining match up, especially since you have a DDE card that would then save you an additional 20% off all your meals including alcohol. stick with your AP discount. At deluxe resorts you'll always come out ahead

 

[Disney Fool]

Ditto! when the free dining came out last year, I stayed with the AP discount for the deluxes, and I spent far less money. I also have DDE card and saved a bundle! I'll wait patiently for an AP discount.

 

[QueenT]

If you already have APs maybe you would save money over DDP at Deluxe, but if you don't then DDP still is less, I think. 100$ night vs 200/day value for free dining, right? Or am I missing something. (5 adults/jrs in party).

If I were to pay for food the usual way, it would cost me about 175/day (assuming 1 sit down meal per day), easy to spend more on some days with pricier meal.

I plan to eat lobster at least 2x.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Ditto! when the free dining came out last year, I stayed with the AP discount for the deluxes, and I spent far less money. I also have DDE card and saved a bundle! I'll wait patiently for an AP discount.

What was released first last year free dining or AP rates?

 

[tripplanner2]

This is what I found on Mousesavers:

Dates valid Who is eligible Date released

7/5/05-8/27/05 Annual Passholder room-only rates 5/4/05, exp 8/27/05
8/21/05-10/4/05 package discounts for general public ("free dining") 6/2/05, exp 7/3/05
8/21/05-10/4/05 package discounts for Florida residents ("free dining") 6/2/05, exp 7/19/05
8/28/05-10/4/05 Annual Passholder room-only rates 6/1/05, exp 10/4/05
8/28/05-10/4/05 Florida resident room-only code 7/17/05, exp 10/4/05
8/21/05-10/4/05 package discounts for general public ("free dining") 7/21/05, exp 8/20/05

 

[TMM]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their replies and help. I have noticed that many of you are quoting $100 off deluxes with the AP. Is that exact? We bought our AP for our first visit in January and I think our discount was only $70 per night at AKL. Is the discount different depending on the resort?

My husband thinks that saving $140 per night (two rooms at AKL) is better than the free dining? We also have the DDE card. However, when we went in Janury it was just the two of us and we were there to run the marathon. Though my son and stepdaughters are not huge eaters they are like other kids and if they see it they want it. I just wonder how all of you budget for food?

 

[EEyorelover22]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their replies and help. I have noticed that many of you are quoting $100 off deluxes with the AP. Is that exact? We bought our AP for our first visit in January and I think our discount was only $70 per night at AKL. Is the discount different depending on the resort?

My husband thinks that saving $140 per night (two rooms at AKL) is better than the free dining? We also have the DDE card. However, when we went in Janury it was just the two of us and we were there to run the marathon. Though my son and stepdaughters are not huge eaters they are like other kids and if they see it they want it. I just wonder how all of you budget for food?

Jan is a different season so the rooms are less money to begin with so that's why the lower discount.

 

[TMM]

Jan is a different season so the rooms are less money to begin with so that's why the lower discount.

Wow! So we could possibly save even more off the room? Our dates are August 18 - August 27. I thought this was value season for deluxes?

 

[EEyorelover22]

Wow! So we could possibly save even more off the room? Our dates are August 18 - August 27. I thought this was value season for deluxes?

I don't know. I think the discount last summer during value season for deluxes was $85 off. Anyone remember?

 

[java]

Question ....... we're going in July & using AP rate for Deluxe (no free dining option offered then). We plan to go back for various trips throughout the year (making the most of those APs) ....... soooo ........ if I book another stay at a Value or Moderate, do I only have to buy a 1 day base ticket (for each party member) to get FREE DINING for the total number of nights?

In other words, do you not have to have "length of stay" park tickets with the package to get the Free Dining for each NIGHT of your stay???

Cuz ..... from what y'all have said, I'm thinking I might go ahead & book another trip (if this is true) with some good TS ADRs!!!

Ok did you already get to book with an AP for July or are you assuming a rate will come out? I ask because we are going in July and so far all we were able to do is AAA(I have an AP)

 

[LakeAriel]

Free Dining

Rack 7 nights Poly-Garden - $2,459
2 Adult, 1 Child 1 day base ticket - $190
Total Cost - $2,648

AP Room Discount and DDE discount

Room with $70/night discount - $1,912
Food - $600
Total Cost - $2,512

Room with $100/night discount - $1,678
Food - $600
Total Cost - $2,278

Like I said earlier. As long as I can get a decent AP room discount, I'll stick with that.

Remember your figure incudes a base ticket for each member in your party. That can be saved and used to upgrade at a later date or renew your AP.
So deduct that (which you won't use now ) and it is $2,458 with Free dining!

 

[eliza61]

Wow! So we could possibly save even more off the room? Our dates are August 18 - August 27. I thought this was value season for deluxes?

Tonya,
We always go the last week in August. Last year we stayed at the Beach club and the discount was $100 per night. this year we are staying at the villas at wilderness Lodge where I hoping the discount will be anywhere from $100-133 per night. (I'm seriously praying to the disney gods! )

E

 

[TMM]

Tonya,
We always go the last week in August. Last year we stayed at the Beach club and the discount was $100 per night. this year we are staying at the villas at wilderness Lodge where I hoping the discount will be anywhere from $100-133 per night. (I'm seriously praying to the disney gods! )

E

If that does happen, then we are much better off with the AP rates. Now we all just have to sit and wait.

 

[mouseaddicts]

Ok did you already get to book with an AP for July or are you assuming a rate will come out? I ask because we are going in July and so far all we were able to do is AAA(I have an AP)

So far, we're in the same boat. We've booked AAA, but are waiting for AP rates. From all indications we've been getting from the CMs at CRO, it's more a matter of when, not if. But, who knows ..........

 

[EEyorelover22]

Last summer...

Annual Passholder code rates for 7/5/05 to 8/27/05:
Value Resorts (All Stars and Pop Century) - $74 standard
Moderate Resorts - $99 standard
Wilderness Lodge - $124 standard, $180 courtyard
Animal Kingdom Lodge - $124 standard, $205 savannah
Contemporary Resort - $169 standard, $270 tower
Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club - $219 standard, $360 concierge
Polynesian - $229 garden view, $325 lagoon view
Grand Floridian - $274 garden view

 

[mouseaddicts]

You only need to book a 1 day base ticket PER PERSON to get free dining for the number of nights you book the room.

Thanks so much for clearing that up. That's what I thought I understood, but I was previously under the impression that you had to have a "base ticket" for EACH DAY of the stay in order to qualify for the free dining. This puts a whole new spin on things .........

Does anyone know if they are honoring the free dining during labor day weekend? That would be the most optimal time for our family to take advantage (since we'll be there in July already).