Discount question

[Forensicmom]

I'm new to Disney and am planning our first trip for this October. We're not sure on the exact dates yet and am waiting to see the actual discounts available, such as free dining.

A good friend works for the government and said they always get their Disney tickets that way b/c they are much much cheaper. Do we HAVE to buy our park tickets included in a package from Disney to get the free Dining Plan? Or are we not eligible if we buy our park tickets somewhere else?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Free dining packages require a three night minimum stay at a WDW resort, and everyone in the party (age 3+) buying a 2 day park ticket.
You can buy tickets elsewhere, and save the package tickets for another time. However, you will have to buy tickets with the package.

 

[Forensicmom]

Free dining packages require a three night minimum stay at a WDW resort, and everyone in the party (age 3+) buying a 2 day park ticket.
You can buy tickets elsewhere, and save the package tickets for another time. However, you will have to buy tickets with the package.

What? I'm sorry but I'm confused. Are you saying that I can't get the free dining if I buy my park tickets through work? We're planning to stay 6 nights at the Wilderness Lodge. How can I buy a package and use it another time?

 

[aubriee]

What? I'm sorry but I'm confused. Are you saying that I can't get the free dining if I buy my park tickets through work? We're planning to stay 6 nights at the Wilderness Lodge. How can I buy a package and use it another time?

You don't use the pkg another time, just the park tickets from the pkg. You can buy your park tickets through work, but you still have to buy additional at least 2 day park tickets for everyone in the room through Disney as part of the pkg in order to get free dining. Once you get down there, use the tickets you bought through your job to get into the parks. As long as you don't put your KTTW card through a turnstyle, the two day park tickets you bought through Disney will not be activated and will be good forever. You can either leave them on your room key (be sure to write in a permanent marker what is on there) or you can stop by any guest services on your last day and have the two day tickets pulled off the room key and they'll give you a paper 2 day MYW ticket. You can then use that 2 day ticket for another trip in the future. While you are down there you will use your KTTW card to get into your room and to access your dining credits, but use the park tickets you bought through your job to get into the parks. Just don't forget and put your KTTW in any park turnstyle as that would activate your 2 day park tickets you bought as part of the pkg and they then would expire in 14 days after first use. As long as you don't put that room key in a turnstyle though, those 2 day tickets will be good for a future trip.

Be sure to run your numbers though. Park tickets are front loaded so the first few days are the most expensive. With tax an adult two day ticket is $178.92 and a child's is $165.08. Plus free dining requires that you pay rack rate for the room and buy a $99.00 Memory Book. By the time you buy those 2 day park tickets you don't need, lose any room discount you might have, and buy that $99.00 book, you might find some of the other discounts available might save you more money. For example I'll be down there solo at CSR in Sept and then again in Nov/Dec, so both of my trips fall within the free dining periods. I'm not using free dining though, because the bounceback deals I currently have saved me 35% on a moderate (or 40% on a Deluxe). Plus I'm an AP holder so qualify for the TiW card which will save me 20% on most TS and a few CS restaurants. Free dining is usually a good discount if you have several kids and are staying in a value. For a solo or couple in a moderate or deluxe the room discounts are better (especially if you have the TiW card to get 20% off your meals anyway). Getting the 35% off the room, 20% off my meals with the TiW card, and not having to buy 2 day park tickets or the $99.00 Memeory book I don't want is a MUCH better deal than free dining in my case.