Comparison Spreadsheet: Existing Discount v/s Free Dining

[robinb]

Hi everyone! I posted this earlier and just changed it after someone pointed out errors.

Are you wondering if your existing discount is better than booking free dining? Just look here:

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/2008FDDPConpare.htm

 

[kroy2004]

Wow, that was a huge help (and probably a big job to do). Thanks so much Robin!!

 

[Disney Fans]

Hi everyone! I posted this earlier and just changed it after someone pointed out errors.

Are you wondering if your existing discount is better than booking free dining? Just look here:

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/2008FDDPConpare.htm

WOW very cool!! Thanks

 

[poohbear2]

Thank-you for your wonderful contribution! I have been debating and this has been very helpful!!

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Thank you for posting the grid. It really set me straight. I really love free dining but now I realize that the 40% code is better. Thanks!

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

That is just great. I love spreadsheets!!!

 

[mjnap]

thanks!

 

[Disneysnel]

Wow! That's awesome you smart cookie you ! Thanks

 

[stephgles]

That was amazing. Thank you.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

You are sooo good to us.

Thank you.

 

[robinb]

Thanks everyone! I just remember a lot of people struggling with the question last year.

 

[Seahunt]

Yes thank you! It is great and I have tried to refer your link when I read someone can't decide which to do

Now are you going to get ready and do another great one for when the next discount deal comes out and everybody with free dining panics? If you remember last year in June, they released more discounts and people went c-r-a-z-y all over again thinking it might be better than the free dining they have booked?!

 

[corndog]

That is indeed excellent work, but it does neglect one very important factor--What would you spend on food if didn't have "free" dining or the dining plan?

 

[Sonoma]

Wow! Thank you!

 

[robinb]

That is indeed excellent work, but it does neglect one very important factor--What would you spend on food if didn't have "free" dining or the dining plan?

{shrug} I can't answer that one. How much people spend on food is very individual.

 

[Smile4Me]

I just wanted to say thank you! I knew my discount (40%) would be better than the free dining...but sometimes its just really nice to see it in front of you. Thank you again!

 

[WendyMS]

That is indeed excellent work, but it does neglect one very important factor--What would you spend on food if didn't have "free" dining or the dining plan?

I actually did a spread sheet using our receipts from last trip (what we actually ate) and included estimates for the TS meals we wanted to try. Comparing that spread sheet to our 40% discount...we nearly exactly broke even with 2 adults in a Moderate. When we added my son's friend to the room (3 adults) I was concerned that we could save $250 by switching to free dining. Then I remembered that Tips aren't included, so that savings drops $100-150 (and is not typically included when you compare DP cost to room discount --though the receipts from last trip and estimates did include tax and tip). I ended up figuring that while we could save maybe $100 more, we didn't really want to tie ourselves down with more than the 5 TS reservations we already have---and we'll spend our last few days grazing at Food & Wine instead of using either TS or CS meals.

As you can see in OP's charts it really makes a difference how many people are sharing a room. Then, it makes just a little more difference how much you actually eat and how many TS ressies you want.

 

[WDWannabe]

Great spead sheet! It is so eaasy to understand.