Disneyworld free QS meal per day offer - free dining?

[Jellybass]

What does everyone think of this new offer Disney just posted? Is it to gauge the interest or replace the free dining offer in the spring (if it occurs).

 

[LSLS]

I don't think free dining has ever been offered during this time period. It's a good deal, but it's more likely because their attendance is taking significant hits than to gauge as a replacement to free dining.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Here we go...

 

[Jellybass]

Ok, I was hoping it was an "in addition to" instead of "in place of" free dining. Seems like a decent deal but i will hold out for free dining, if it occurs.

 

[skier_pete]

They don't usually do free dining in the summer - so I wouldn't hold my breath for that.

Any "free" dining offer question of "is it worth it" can be answered with "It depends". I posted this in the news and rumors thread, but if you think that during the summer you are paying on average $190 a night at a value resort. Then let's sat the QS offer is a voucher for a free meal and a drink, which is say a $13 value. If you have 4 "adults" (kids over 9) in your room, you are getting food valued at $52 - so it's a 27% "discount" versus paying full price for the room. If you only have 2 people in the room, it's $26, or 14% discount...not that great. (Realize a typical "value" discount is 20% off.)

 

[Madonna3]

Ok, I was hoping it was an "in addition to" instead of "in place of" free dining. Seems like a decent deal but i will hold out for free dining, if it occurs.

I wouldn't. If this package works for your time frame then I would book it. I firmly believe since they're letting you upgrade this dining package to one of the regularly offered dining package that this is their new version of free dining, especially considering they're giving a valuation of $16.08 per adult and $13.53 per child, which means kids on an upgrade are free.

 

[Disneylover99]

Didn't they offer this free meal per person deal last year too?

 

[Madonna3]

They don't usually do free dining in the summer - so I wouldn't hold my breath for that.

Any "free" dining offer question of "is it worth it" can be answered with "It depends". I posted this in the news and rumors thread, but if you think that during the summer you are paying on average $190 a night at a value resort. Then let's sat the QS offer is a voucher for a free meal and a drink, which is say a $13 value. If you have 4 "adults" (kids over 9) in your room, you are getting food valued at $52 - so it's a 27% "discount" versus paying full price for the room. If you only have 2 people in the room, it's $26, or 14% discount...not that great. (Realize a typical "value" discount is 20% off.)

Discounts for this time period are at 15% and Disney is valuing the adult credits at $16.08 for adults and $13.53 per child. However, we all know a kids meal doesn't cost more than $6, so this might be a good deal if you upgrade your dining plan.

 

[Jellybass]

Geesh, you guys more about Disney than me and I always thought I was a Disney freak. So in your opinions, is the room discount for a moderate better than free dining?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Didn't they offer this free meal per person deal last year too?

I remember something like it...and I think that was a dud.

I know how they think...they open the WSJ and see the Dow at 20,000 and they think they can do whatever they want...when the bookings aren't meeting projections, they get indignant and try to trick you into it...when they have to sweeten the deal, they take it out on everyone with more nickel and diming, limited hours or offerings, closing things just to spite, and more upsells, baby. Like the miss piggy muppet fountain exlcusive cabana/viewing party.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Geesh, you guys more about Disney than me and I always thought I was a Disney freak. So in your opinions, is the room discount for a moderate better than free dining?

It's hard to say...

It ends up being around 10-15% when you break out the math if I remember correctly.

The problem is they have slashed the benefits, decreased the food quality and jacked the prices on everything so all the real numbers are in the soup somewhere.

But the other things in the package - the tickets and rooms - are way up.

I think "free Dining" ends up being a standard low percentage discount now as compared to the fair market value of the products. You have to crunch the numbers and see what it's really gonna cost you and decide accordingly.

Remember you are not likely to spend as much out of pocket on food as what they "give" you in the dining plan. Especially in the heat.

 

[Jellybass]

Interesting. We always jumped on free dining but it may be worth it to book say Boardwalk under a discount code and pay out of pocket for food. We always felt as though we ate too much when we had the dining plan as we felt we had to.

 

[Madonna3]

It's hard to say...

It ends up being around 10-15% when you break out the math if I remember correctly.

The problem is they have slashed the benefits, decreased the food quality and jacked the prices on everything so all the real numbers are in the soup somewhere.

But the other things in the package - the tickets and rooms - are way up.

I think "free Dining" ends up being a standard low percentage discount now as compared to the fair market value of the products. You have to crunch the numbers and see what it's really gonna cost you and decide accordingly.

Remember you are not likely to spend as much out of pocket on food as what they "give" you in the dining plan. Especially in the heat.

This last part is so very true that I don't think most people realize.

I priced the QSDP on our last trip just to see what it would cost and it was around $762 if I remember correctly. However, between TiW and our AP discounts and what we actually ate we didn't even come close to this AND we bought 4 mugs.

I know some people say this is how they would have eaten anyway and I really wonder if that's true had they already not paid for it.

 

[Jellybass]

we would never eat as we eat on the DP, it's too much food for us.

 

[Accident]

Didn't they do something similar last year too? I vaguely remember a very reduced free dining for the spring last year.

 

[skier_pete]

I've posted this a bunch of times, but the dining plan was at one point a good deal, but it generally no longer is. It's another case of Disney giving them something at a good rate, and then out-pricing it. Sure, if you eat at all character dinners, yet the dining plan can be worthwhile, but for many people it is NOT worth it now. Dining plan pricing has gone up more than 100% in the last 10 years while meal prices have gone up around 35-40%.

That said - a "free" dining deal CAN be worth it. Much like with the dining plan, each individual has to look at what works best for them. As I said, this particular offer could be a pretty good value if you look at how many you have in a room. However, a 25% off offer at a moderate may be a better value for your family if you prefer the nicer resort/greater amenities that a moderate provides. It really is "to each his own" to decide what is worth it and what is not.

 

[rteetz]

Didn't they do something similar last year too? I vaguely remember a very reduced free dining for the spring last year.

Yes they did. I believe it was the quick service plan only at value resorts as well.

 

[Madonna3]

Yes they did. I believe it was the quick service plan only at value resorts as well.

Yeah that was a plan, this is just one meal.

 

[sachilles]

I wonder if might have the side benefit of a test market. Might be worth seeing if there is a market for one QS meal per day. Almost everyone does one quick service a day, but dinner is all over the board. Even when you know you are doing Table Service, there is enough variety there that the TS plans aren't worth it.
I know we often prefer the relaxed pace of a table service meal, including an adult beverage....but we'd be perfectly happy with several apps instead of a big entree. Since apps aren't part of the TS program, we either over eat, or leave food on the table, which I hate. It's not like a doggie bag is practical in that situation.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

we would never eat as we eat on the DP, it's too much food for us.

That is the main reason we never do the dining plan and would take a room discout over free dining - we don't eat (at least not all the time) the way the dining plan is set up. We split meals or just do appetizers and desserts. Plus we don't drink soda (which is included) but do drink wine/beer (which is not) - so it just isn't for us

Also, we did do it once years ago and I found myself ordering the most expensive item on the menu just to get the most value whether it was the item that appealed to me the most or not

Some people love it as they like to pre-pay and not have to worry about it and feel like they can order the most expensive item on the menu .... but for us it just doesn't work