DDP or 40% code

[aubriee]

OK, I'm confusing myself. I'll say up front that I am one who enjoys the DDP. However, I currently have a room (with the basic DDP) booked at CSR for Dec 13th-20th using a 40% off code. I had to buy a one day park ticket to get it (I am an AP holder). Right now I'm traveling solo, so the 40% off code would work better for me than a free dining code. However, if free dining is offered to Disney Visa holders again for Dec, my husband says he might go. If he does it throws my savings off. If he goes my choices would be:

1. To keep the 40% off the room and pay for the DDP, plus one day tickets (upgrading his once we get there since he doesn't have an AP).

2 & 3. Give up the 40% room discount, pay rack rate at either CSR or downgrade to a Value, buy one day park tickets (again upgrading his once we get there), and get free dining.

4. Hope for an AP discount that might beat the 40% room discount, pay for the DDP and not have to buy me a one day park ticket, then get his park ticket from a discount broker.

To throw another monkey wrench into it, now my mom says she might join us.

 

[scgustin]

I have a 40% off code for our trip the last week of Sept., and I'm using the code and skipping the dining plan.

I personally don't see the benefit of paying rack rate, being forced to buy another ticket (when we already have tickets), just to get free dining. You end up having to pay for tips and appetizers if you choose to order them.

I'd rather take my 40%, just pay for my food individually, and not spend half of my vacation waiting for tables or ADR's at Disney restaurants.

I never have understood the hype over free dining.

So, simply put, I'm voting for 40% off... but I'm skipping the dining plan all together. (BTW: 4 adults, no children and staying at POFQ)

 

[justtobeme2]

40% seems to be more of a savings for an adult couple, depending. But free dining is a GREAT thing, especially you enjoy the dining part of vacation and if you have a couple of kids.

We enjoy the savings plain and simple. At one of our dinners our bill was 80.00 just for that dinner itself and DDP more than paid for itself.

I don't understand what difference the PP has when dining at Disney and paying her own way. YOu still have to wait to get a table if you are dining in Disney whether you are FD or self pay.

Simply put, PP may not understand the "hype" but most of understand the savings. To each his own.

 

[kevgraub]

I personally don't see the benefit of paying rack rate, being forced to buy another ticket (when we already have tickets), just to get free dining. You end up having to pay for tips and appetizers if you choose to order them.

People simply have to sit down and do the math as to what works out better for them. It depends on where you are staying, how many in your party, and what your normal dining habbits are anyway.

I'd rather take my 40%, just pay for my food individually, and not spend half of my vacation waiting for tables or ADR's at Disney restaurants.

I never have understood the hype over free dining.

For one thing, most of the people spreading the "hype" over free dining were not fortunate enough to get a 40% PIN. People seem to forget that those were not handed out to everyone. We did not get one, and the savings of doing the free dining over the AAA discount saved our family $500.

So, simply put, I'm voting for 40% off... but I'm skipping the dining plan all together. (BTW: 4 adults, no children and staying at POFQ)

This is why some of the people buy into the hype over free dining. Many people, like us, prefer to take the time to have one sit down meal a day and generally eat fast food one meal a day. Given the fact that the restaurants are full even when free dining is not offered, I'd be willing to bet there are several other people out there like that as well. (Our TS meals are usually character meals for our kids, where we accomplish both eating and meeting characters so we don't have to waste time in lines to see them later.) Free dining for a group of 4 adults will save $160 per night. Using the 40% off code would save at most $82 per night. Now, if you are not going to be using the TS credits, then it makes sense to skip the dining plan. However, the savings on free dining over a 40% code for 4 adults at a moderate resort is about $80 per night. That is where a lot of the hype comes from.

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

I think it depends on where you are staying. If you stay at value the 40% off gives you savings of about $40 a day.

Based on 2 people at a value resort and you both get free dining then you save $80 a day because I think dining is $40 per person.

 

[lisalonglash]

For one thing, most of the people spreading the "hype" over free dining were not fortunate enough to get a 40% PIN. People seem to forget that those were not handed out to everyone. We did not get one, and the savings of doing the free dining over the AAA discount saved our family $500.

I was lucky enough to receive one of those wonderful 40% off email pin codes. However, free dining saves us more money, so we switched to FD. We're staying at ASMu and are two adults, one junior (10yo) and one child (7yo). The total we were saving with my 40% code for our stay was just over US$300. The total we are saving with free dining is US$1,040. Pretty much a no-brainer to decide which to go with for our family

It's not all that complicated to decide what's better for each family's situation though. Just run the numbers. No need to denigrate any other family's choice though (not directed at the OP, just a general thought due to many posts I've read on this subject on various threads).

Go with whatever option saves you more money, assuming you are good with the dates offered for your chosen option.

And have a wonderful vacation!

 

[Informer1906]

OK, I'm confusing myself. I'll say up front that I am one who enjoys the DDP. However, I currently have a room (with the basic DDP) booked at CSR for Dec 13th-20th using a 40% off code. I had to buy a one day park ticket to get it (I am an AP holder). Right now I'm traveling solo, so the 40% off code would work better for me than a free dining code. However, if free dining is offered to Disney Visa holders again for Dec, my husband says he might go. If he does it throws my savings off. If he goes my choices would be:

1. To keep the 40% off the room and pay for the DDP, plus one day tickets (upgrading his once we get there since he doesn't have an AP).

2 & 3. Give up the 40% room discount, pay rack rate at either CSR or downgrade to a Value, buy one day park tickets (again upgrading his once we get there), and get free dining.

4. Hope for an AP discount that might beat the 40% room discount, pay for the DDP and not have to buy me a one day park ticket, then get his park ticket from a discount broker.

To throw another monkey wrench into it, now my mom says she might join us.

It depends, where are you staying, as it seems like you may move to a value? How many people are going, and how long are you staying?

 

[scgustin]

Certainly, there are a couple factors that a majority of "free" diners don't consider including:

- Cost of a possible appetizer (if purchased) and the gratuity. Some posters referenced a dinner that would normally cost $80. Once you pay for the 18% gratuity, that's almost $15. Personally, I would rather each somewhere inside the parks for less than $15 for two people. I can get a sandwich and be perfectly happy.

- Time. It takes a lot of time to eat a sit-down dinner at Disney. There are always massive crowds, and during free dining, some posters report waits of 1 hour+ for ADR's! Sorry, but I enjoy the parks too much to waste time waiting for a table

I completely understand those that are not fortunate enough to have the 40% coupon opting for free dining. But the original poster is comparing the two options, and I clearly see 40% as the better value. Not even close infact.


But, to each his own.

 

[aubriee]

It depends, where are you staying, as it seems like you may move to a value? How many people are going, and how long are you staying?

At the moment I'm solo at CSR for eight nights, but if my husband and/or mom decide to go then I can't seem to decide if we'll stay at CSR with the 40% off and pay for the DDP for meals, give up the 40%, still stay at CSR, but pay rack rate for the room and get free dining, or give up CSR completely, pay rack rate at a Value, and get free dining. The one thing I do know is that I do want the DDP (regardless if I get it free or if I have to pay for it).

I completely understand those that are not fortunate enough to have the 40% coupon opting for free dining. But the original poster is comparing the two options, and I clearly see 40% as the better value. Not even close infact.
But, to each his own.

Thankfully I do already have the 40% off code and if they do offer free dining in Dec again for Disney Visa holders then I'd have that option also. I also have an AP, so an AP room discount code with the option to buy the DDP (without having to buy a one day ticket I don't need) is a third option. If my trip stays solo, it is a no brainer: I'll keep my 40% off room at CSR and purchase the DDP. My confusion is what would be the best deal if only my husband or mom decides to join me or if both decide to join me. I like CSR, but would not really have a problem downgrading to a value if I had to. I've stayed at all three levels of resorts and enjoyed each for different reasons.

 

[mbanks21]

It will probably be a wash. A moderate at that time is like $200 a night? 40% of that is $80 a night. Free dining saves you $80 a night. An AP rate might save you $50-60 a night and you save the $80 not buying a ticket for you.

 

[aubriee]

It will probably be a wash. A moderate at that time is like $200 a night? 40% of that is $80 a night. Free dining saves you $80 a night. An AP rate might save you $50-60 a night and you save the $80 not buying a ticket for you.

Thanks, you are probably right. I just couldn't get my numbers to come out, where one option outweighed the others.

You know, I remember back in Dec '05 I did a split stay at POFQ and CSR and used an AP discount of $79.00/night. I think the Values were like $49.00/night and I could have gotten a courtyard view at WL for $149.00/night. AP discounts sure aren't what the used to be.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I think it all depends on your circumstances.

We are a couple, staying at ASports on the 40% code. If they offer free dining I will grab it because it will only add about $30 a day to our bill.

I do not like the tipping costs either so we just swap the TS, or most of them, for another CS and extra snacks. Works for us.

We also stay for a week, or two, so having to buy the one day passes is not as expensive for us.

With the way things are going this year is it wrong to think that maybe I might get the discount AND free dining?

Slightly Goofy

 

[rt2dz]

How well free dining works depends on you. Someone did a comparison on free dining v. not that really can open your eyes. It showed that free dining cost more money for one family than it saved. You can find the article HERE

 

[mbanks21]

I might have missed it but did the article mention which resort? If youre in a $700 a night CL room then yes, 40% off is better then free dining. If youre in a value resort or even a moderate or even a deluxe garden/standard view but you have 2 adults and 3 teenagers, free dining can still be the better deal

 

[mickey'sbud]

I haven't read this thread in it's entirity so if I'm repeating someone's thoughts, please forgive me. But here's my thoughts....From some recent accounts, it appears that many of the items on menus have gone up, as have many of our local resturants' items. You really need to compare "current" menu prices. I don't know for sure but DDP may be a better value this year than say last year due to price increases.
I saw somewhere that someone said they recently ate at CSR at the PM and it costs a family of 4 about $70 for the CS meal. (But you have to consider, that is one of the more expensive CS locations) Anyway, that is almost half the daily expense of DDP for 4 people. If CS costs that much, how much are TS meals? Also, have the buffets gone up too? Something I'd take into account. Hummmm....what to do?

 

[danceintherain]

It seems to me that if your DH and mother both come, then Free Dining would become the better option for you, unless they release a phenomenal AP rate.

Even if just your husband comes... I'm pretty sure Free Dining would still be the better deal. Though the difference in rates for some of your nights will equal it out a little more.

Basically, you have to decide if you will add DDP either way, then look at the actual numbers of savings.