APs and Free Dining, need opinions!

[lucigo]

Is it making a big difference to get the free dining? I'm wondering if when the AP rates come out it may not save us any money to book this way, but I would love other's opinions.

I really am having a hard time figuring out the best times to go so please let me know what you think of these...

Squeezing in a FD weekend in September (I have college kids so its got to be only 3 nights)

Veterans weekend in Nov (would be a 5 day weekend)

Squeeze in something the first weekend of December to see the Christmas lights.

A 4 day weekend over MLK in January.

We can probably pick 2 of these trips. What would you do? We are a family of 6 or 7 and would get 2 rooms at Pop if available.

 

[mirthmaiden]

I'm confused on what you are asking. Are you asking which 2 of those trips you listed I would do? Or are you asking if free dining can be used with AP rates? The cost of the basic dining plan is $37.99 per person/per day. You can decide whether getting it free, while paying rack rate AND having to buy a 1-day base ticket for everybody in your party is worth it. I don't think it is, but YMMV.

 

[lucigo]

I'm confused on what you are asking. Are you asking which 2 of those trips you listed I would do? Or are you asking if free dining can be used with AP rates? The cost of the basic dining plan is $37.99 per person/per day. You can decide whether getting it free, while paying rack rate AND having to buy a 1-day base ticket for everybody in your party is worth it. I don't think it is, but YMMV.

After number crunching a little more I decided like you that its not worth it to go in September. Last time we went in September was really nice, but that was because there was a hurricane hitting our house and everyone else stayed home LOL But anyway....I'm betting with the free dining it won't be an empty park!

So anyway...yes the second half of my question was, if you had to pick, which of the trips would you choose. Im leaning toward Veterans day weekend and MLK weekend, although its going to kill me not to go in December to see the lights if we do that. Its a 450 mile drive. Thanks for responding

 

[robinb]

Is it making a big difference to get the free dining? I'm wondering if when the AP rates come out it may not save us any money to book this way, but I would love other's opinions.

I really am having a hard time figuring out the best times to go so please let me know what you think of these...

Squeezing in a FD weekend in September (I have college kids so its got to be only 3 nights)

Veterans weekend in Nov (would be a 5 day weekend)

Squeeze in something the first weekend of December to see the Christmas lights.

A 4 day weekend over MLK in January.

We can probably pick 2 of these trips. What would you do? We are a family of 6 or 7 and would get 2 rooms at Pop if available.

Well, I wouldn't totally discount that free dining September trip. We have APs and we just get a 1-day basic pass and hold it until the next time we renew our APs and then apply the value to the renewal (you have to do this at WDW and not by mail).

So, I would pick the Sept free dining and the December trip.

 

[lucigo]

Well, I wouldn't totally discount that free dining September trip. We have APs and we just get a 1-day basic pass and hold it until the next time we renew our APs and then apply the value to the renewal (you have to do this at WDW and not by mail).

So, I would pick the Sept free dining and the December trip.

I asked the CM on the phone if you could apply the one day pass toward your renewal and she said no! So...you can?

 

[robinb]

I asked the CM on the phone if you could apply the one day pass toward your renewal and she said no! So...you can?

I have . But only in person, not over the phone. I even got my DVC discount too!

 

[lucigo]

I have . But only in person, not over the phone. I even got my DVC discount too!

Hmmm it might still save us a little but we get ours on a military base so don't pay tax for them, so wouldn't save quite as much.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I asked the CM on the phone if you could apply the one day pass toward your renewal and she said no! So...you can?

We have for the past 4 years! But as the other person pointed out; only in the parks at Guest Services. I like Guest Services. My children always come out of there with balloons or pictures, coloring books, stickers, etc.

I can point out too that they give you a FULL credit towards the AP. Its not some pro-rated deal.

 

[robinb]

Hmmm it might still save us a little but we get ours on a military base so don't pay tax for them, so wouldn't save quite as much.

Hmm ... can you renew on base too? I would think not.