Discount Code Question.

[Tiffany507s]

So I've been reading all over the boards about the Free Dining "trap"...there's no such thing as a free lunch, yada yada.

My question is does this really only apply to the people not staying in value resorts? I ask because I received a free QS dining for our Oct trip in a PIN code and I feel like it's a good deal but everyone talking about how FD isn't a good deal gets me wondering...

When I price my 9 night vacation in Oct it comes up to around $1,800 without dining, when I used my PIN I got the QS dining free and it was the exact same amount ($1800)..I'd upgrade to reg dining and it comes out a little over $2000...

So I either need reassurance or I need to know if I should hold out for something better...or book with I have and wait it out.

I've never gotten an opportunity to get FD before so I'm new to all this!

TIA!

 

[clanmcculloch]

The real "trap" that people fall into is to not consider all discounts available to them to determine which is best. If the only discount available is free dining then it's a much better discount than no discount at all regardless of resort level.

At a value resort, you'll be pretty hard pressed to find a discount that'll be a bigger discount than free dining, assuming you need tickets. If you don't need tickets (maybe you're AP holders or have tickets from a previous trip) then even at a value resort you'll jsut want to price out your options.

ALWAYS calculate the price of each option available to you. When comparing free dining to room only discounts, it's important to understand your personal dining habits to know approximately what you would spend without the dining plan to know how to compare the total prices of your options. If you wouldn't normally get desserts or drinks with your meals then don't include those in your OOP food budget because it's not something you'd spend without the dining plan.

Right now this is your only discount. If you're happy with the price then book it. If another discount comes out then do the math to figure out if you can save even more money.

 

[allboyhouse]

I also think the size of the family traveling comes into play. I know with my family of 5 who are all Disney adults the free dining promotion saves us approximately $1500. We stay at Port Orleans Riverside. I don't think we would find a discount better than that.

 

[RCMommy]

We are a family of four who has travelled to WDW 3 times in the past recent years, all using free dining! It has saved us boatloads of money. Even with QSDP you only have to pay for some meals OOP, how can paying for ALL OOP even compare ??

I think the FD versus Room discount is even more significant when staying at a deluxe resort (since the rooms are that much more per night and perhaps a 40% discount is offered)

I would find it very hard to turn down anything that is free when the bottom line is the total you pay equals the same amount!

Now I am hoping I get a PIN

 

[maryj11]

So I've been reading all over the boards about the Free Dining "trap"...there's no such thing as a free lunch, yada yada.

My question is does this really only apply to the people not staying in value resorts? I ask because I received a free QS dining for our Oct trip in a PIN code and I feel like it's a good deal but everyone talking about how FD isn't a good deal gets me wondering...

When I price my 9 night vacation in Oct it comes up to around $1,800 without dining, when I used my PIN I got the QS dining free and it was the exact same amount ($1800)..I'd upgrade to reg dining and it comes out a little over $2000...

So I either need reassurance or I need to know if I should hold out for something better...or book with I have and wait it out.

I've never gotten an opportunity to get FD before so I'm new to all this!

TIA!

I would love to have a pin for free dining in October . I have been doing some research and the week we are going which is Oct 14th arrival day has no discounts or free dining. What dates did you get your pin for ?

 

[JLa01844]

It varies based on family size/age, how you eat and what hotel you are booked at. Saving 40% off at a Deluxe is a LOT of money. More than enough to cover your food expenses (for an average week long vacation).

For example I ran the number for our family of 3 at a Value:
Room Only with pin discount $645 + OOP QSDP $765, Total=$1410
Rack Rate $880 + Free QSDP $0, Total=$880, Savings of $530

Now this is very "general", I did not add theme park tickets, as I would need to buy them with either package. Yes, I could save about $18 per park ticket using a discout agency...but saving $54 on park tickets doesn't justify a Free Quick Service Dining Plan for us. I even priced out what our food would cost if we ate OOP vs. Buying the QSDP. I would save about $15 day paying for the QSDP if I STICK to just the food on the plan (which is totally doable). Once you add in extra special meals, it basically takes that savings away...but still about the same amount of money.