Disney Rewards VS AP's VS poss. free dining??

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

This is a complicated question... so I'm hoping somebody has at least a little experience here.

We are planning a trip Dec 2010. Probably Dec 1-15th, 14 nights at a value resort.

We are AP holders. We also just got a disney rewards visa. I'm also aware that it's *possible* that there will be a free dining option in Dec this year like there was last year either to GP or to cardholders. (Of course that is far from a sure thing, just throwing it out there as a "what if").

We do alot of sit down restaurants, like CP, CRT, 1900PF, etc. Should we be holding out for a free dining offer, or no? I know alot of people on here have proved that free dining is nowhere near free... so I'm wondering if an AP discount would be worth it over the FD (if its available) and then purchase OOP or add DDP.

Any thoughts on what we should do? We will have two adults, and two 3-9 in our room.

 

[disneyfan55]

This is a complicated question... so I'm hoping somebody has at least a little experience here.

We are planning a trip Dec 2010. Probably Dec 1-15th, 14 nights at a value resort.

We are AP holders. We also just got a disney rewards visa. I'm also aware that it's *possible* that there will be a free dining option in Dec this year like there was last year either to GP or to cardholders. (Of course that is far from a sure thing, just throwing it out there as a "what if").

We do alot of sit down restaurants, like CP, CRT, 1900PF, etc. Should we be holding out for a free dining offer, or no? I know alot of people on here have proved that free dining is nowhere near free... so I'm wondering if an AP discount would be worth it over the FD (if its available) and then purchase OOP or add DDP.

Any thoughts on what we should do? We will have two adults, and two 3-9 in our room.

Usually with a value, the free dining works out a better deal. (Last year I believe the Values for the Visa FD was the quick serve though) We had an AP discount last year for 54/night at a value. The rack rate was 82/night so for the additional 28 no way could both of us eaten for that amt. You have 4 so no way, they would have to give you the room for free to be less! Anyway, there is the Tables in Wonderland card if you don't fit perfectly with dining (unless free) that gives 20% off most TS and the CS at values and a few in AK. We have done both the free dining (never bought it, we don't eat many desserts or the drinks) and TIW. We found the TIW is a little better in that we don't get the desserts or drinks and the entire cost is 20%off.

about free dining, I think with a Value it pretty much is free even with an AP room discount that was pretty good. With Mod it kind of breaks even with 2 and deluxe isn't worth it - room discounts are usually more.

That being said don't forget you will most likely have to purchase the 1 day pass per person to get free dining, even with that, (you can keep them for future use/upgrade) the FD at a Value is worth it. But who knows what will be the ticket requirement, the last 2 offers (in the past only required 1 day pp ticket purchase) required basically length of stay ticket purchases to get the offer leaving AP holders really out!