December 2016 decisions

[Stacied68]

We are a group of 3 adult couples. We are wanting to go Dec 2-6 which does not historically have free dining. I am trying to determine the best deal. Keep these dates and use room discount if offered or change to dates within free dining? Any opinions are appreciated.

 

[FindMeAFishingSpot]

We went this week last year. Got a great deal on both flights and resort. It more than made up for the lack of free dining. Price it out and you might be surprised!

 

[AspenLL]

Here is a link that we use to check what the previous offers were around the dates that we are looking to go:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You may find yourself happier without free dining. Tables of apps to share with wine aren't covered on DDP, but so nice when you have 6 grown ups.

(personal opinion. I love tables of apps. Takes a certain volume of people to achieve, and 6 adults tends to be a tipping point.)

 

[MsThumper]

We are a group of 3 adult couples. We are wanting to go Dec 2-6 which does not historically have free dining. I am trying to determine the best deal. Keep these dates and use room discount if offered or change to dates within free dining? Any opinions are appreciated.

Like a previous poster said, do the math. DH and myself never get the dining plan because we stay deluxe and there are only 2 of us in the room. We don't go unless we are getting a room discount. You may already know this, but to get "free dining" you end up paying rack rate for the room. I've done the math several times and there is no way that we would spend the difference between the rack rate and the discounted room rate, on food per day.

 

[abner1776]

Personally, I would skip free dining and shot for renting points to stay at a DVC resort. You will save money by renting points and as a fellow senior we skip the breakfast meal and eat something small and easy in our villa before heading out to the parks. Now the downside is the first weeks of December are primo DVC weeks so you may have a tough time finding availability but it's worth a shot.

 

[Babsy]

I would keep the dates and go with a RO discount. However, I am in the group that has never seen a benefit to 'Free' dining. We save lot more with the room discounts.

 

[kiford]

We got a PIN code last year with the choice of 30% off or free dining at a Deluxe resort during the first week of December. That`s when we typically go so we chose to stay at GF with 30% off. We don`t find the dining plan to work for us and the room is more expensive when you take the `free dining`. We have at least one drink with dinner, appetizer, entrée (or multiple appetizers instead of entrée) and rarely dessert. Thus, free dining with a more expensive room would probably end up costing us more than a discounted room and paying for dining oop. I think we got the PIN code in May or June and booked shortly thereafter.