DINING PLAN

[RedSox68]

Is it true that Disney is getting rid of free dining altogether?

 

[AngiTN]

It's quite unlikely but until it's officially announced, no one knows
Who had told you that it's being discontinued?

 

[rwdavis2]

I'm sure they would like to get rid of it. So would I so maybe the restaurant quality would go up.

 

[sharonabe]

Probably not this year, but most people think it is on its way out.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Nobody knows yet. If I had to guess I'd say it'd still be around for September, and maybe a couple days in October, a bit of November, and the middle of December, but it's not really offered much at any other time in the form of a general public offer; mostly it'd be bouncebacks and PIN offers.

the other thing to look at is that last year there were additional excluded resorts and much narrower availability at the included ones.

 

[RedSox68]

Someone mentioned in passing in one of the threads about Disney doing away with free dining -- unless they were assuming it because ticket prices went up and it would be a cost cutting measure

What months of the year do they normally offer it?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

September through December. Usually most if not all of September but with increasingly limited available check-in dates in the other months.

Free dining isn't a perk or a reward. Free dining is a resort discount. It's meant to get butts into empty hotel rooms. If they get rid of it, it's because they don't feel they need to offer such a large incentive to get the kind of occupancy they want. Basically, they think they can book a sufficient number of rooms to guests who are willing to go anyway without the free dining.

 

[Kimly]

They should, it's really not a "deal".

 

[sharonabe]

They should, it's really not a "deal".

For some families it is a "deal." I have friends with FIVE children, and free dining is the only way they can afford to go to Disney and still enjoy it as a vacation. Yes, they could stay offsite and bring in food, but I'm sorry, Mom needs a vacation too and free dining offers them that.

 

[AngiTN]

September through December. Usually most if not all of September but with increasingly limited available check-in dates in the other months.

Free dining isn't a perk or a reward. Free dining is a resort discount. It's meant to get butts into empty hotel rooms. If they get rid of it, it's because they don't feel they need to offer such a large incentive to get the kind of occupancy they want. Basically, they think they can book a sufficient number of rooms to guests who are willing to go anyway without the free dining.

And I believe this is why there are significantly fewer rooms, dates and resorts included every year. They are having little trouble filling the resorts and parks these days.

 

[Nancyg56]

They should, it's really not a "deal".

For you. It is not a deal for you. Many times it is the best discount for me.

 

[aaarcher86]

They should, it's really not a "deal".

 

[Hopefully]

They should, it's really not a "deal".

Maybe not for you and you don't have to get it. It is for us.
Such sweeping statements stated as a fact are seldom accurate

 

[Nancyg56]

View attachment 163295

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

Maybe not for you and you don't have to get it. It is for us.
Such sweeping statements stated as a fact are seldom accurate

The statements annoy me more than ever lately. It is difficult enough for people who come here for help to sort out all they want to know, but when folks make these claims without knowing any dynamics, I believe it makes things even harder.

Discounts are discounts. There is no one size fits every family, so unless a poster shares their entire touring and family dynamic, it is not even possible to tell them what is the best discount for them. And I can assure any poster who tells me I am losing money that I run numbers every time. I never lose money. It more complicated lately, but I still figure out which discount is the best for my family, and I never lose one second trying to max the plan.

When we vacation, I do not do laundry, dishes or cook. I let myself get spoiled completely, and that means we dine. We do not just eat.

 

[Delphinus317]

View attachment 163295

Best laugh I've had all day!!! Thank you!!!

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe not for you and you don't have to get it. It is for us.
Such sweeping statements stated as a fact are seldom accurate

True. A better statement would be to not assume Free Dining is the best deal you can get. Always run the numbers and always figure the intangibles, like tip cost differences if you order to maximize your dining plan vs. what you truly want to eat, that type of thing. There are many intangibles to figure when working on Free Dining vs. OOP.

 

[Nancyg56]

True. A better statement would be to not assume Free Dining is the best deal you can get. Always run the numbers and always figure the intangibles, like tip cost differences if you order to maximize your dining plan vs. what you truly want to eat, that type of thing. There are many intangibles to figure when working on Free Dining vs. OOP.

I always tell people to do this. I also suggest that when you factor tip, you remove tax from your meal. . For us, I consider it a wash. Maybe our bill is a little higher and then results in a higher tip, but there is no tax on the meal for us. So maybe a little more, but honestly, we tend to order dessert and beverages at dinner, so when you consider that the CS meals are also tax free, and we would eat lunch anyway. it is close enough for me.

 

[AngiTN]

Yeah, if you always order dessert it does make more sense. We are folks who never order dessert, even at Disney (always too full from meal) and always order alcohol when it's offered (gotta take advantage of not driving) and never want the beverage included. I've found it close but never opt for it so I have more freedom. Just yesterday 2 of our group of 4 ordered appetizers for their meal. Not an option on the dining plan. I realize it would be a nightmare for them to figure out the way to make that work but often a meal out of appetizer is cheaper than an entree so it's a shame they won't let you do that on the plan. It would make a huge difference.

 

[Geoffmakes3]

They should, it's really not a "deal".

Its def a deal for my family!!! With 3 "adult" kids (13, 16, 18) and an 8 year old, plus my husband and myself, "free" dining may not be essentially "free", but it does allow us to have character meals, counter service, and a nice choice of snacks!! We would be paying upwards of $400 a day for food alone.