Dumb question about the Free dining plan

[tubachick]

If the dining plan is a free add on for this "special" they are running, why wouldn't people take it??? If there was some place you wanted to eat that wasn't part of the "plan" you could just go and pay for it as if you didn't have the dining plan right??, you are not loosing money on the plan because you didn't have to pay for it right??? Or is the free dining plan attached to some other package?? Sorry stupid question I haven't done my dining plan research, but I was wondering.

 

[mommykds]

To get the free dining you have to buy a package. You must pay full rack rate for your room with a min 3 night stay & purchase MYW ticket (1 day base at least). Then you get the free chow.

 

[tubachick]

To get the free dining you have to buy a package. You must pay full rack rate for your room with a min 3 night stay & purchase MYW ticket (1 day base at least). Then you get the free chow.

That explains it --- Thanks for the input.

 

[kbkids]

That's it - I'm basically paying $150 more for the package than I was for a discounted room and tickets. But, I would have spent more than $150 on food for the four of us - so it's still a deal!

 

[tubachick]

That's it - I'm basically paying $150 more for the package than I was for a discounted room and tickets. But, I would have spent more than $150 on food for the four of us - so it's still a deal!

I didn't know it had to be part of a package, but even if you only used if for a few meals, don't you think you would get your $150 worth??? When we went for our disneymoon, we did a package with food (then called the gold plan) but we ate more than what we spend on it and at the time it was worth it. (it was DH's first trip and it made a good impression so we could go back again). Thanks for the info on your trip.

 

[kbkids]

I didn't know it had to be part of a package, but even if you only used if for a few meals, don't you think you would get your $150 worth??? When we went for our disneymoon, we did a package with food (then called the gold plan) but we ate more than what we spend on it and at the time it was worth it. (it was DH's first trip and it made a good impression so we could go back again). Thanks for the info on your trip.

That's what I'm saying - it is costing me $150 more - but it is SOOOO worth it. We're going with the package over the discounted room.

It does have to be part of a package though - you end up paying rack rate for the room - so you just have to crunch the numbers and see how you come out. We've been so many times that we know where we're going to eat and what it will cost - so we're actually going to be saving about $300.

 

[calie_j]

Some reasons why people wouldn't take the free dining plan:

1. To get the plan you need to pay rack rate thus losing any discounts like AAA or AP, depending on the resort and length of stay this amount varies. For my stay I estimate it's around $450 for 7 nights.

2. To get the plan everyone in your party needs to also buy tickets and everyone in the room needs the same tickets. If you've already bought tickets for your trip or have an AP this is another expense to get the free dining.

3. If you're planning a split stay at resorts you can't use the package unless you buy tickets for each resort (as far as I know this is how it works) for example 3 nights mod and 4 nights deluxe instead of buying 7 day hoppers for your stay you'd have to buy 6 days at your 1st resort and 1 day tickets at the 2nd resort to get the package for the whole trip. Having to buy 1 day tickets for everyone in your room now costs an extra $63/adult and $50/child instead of a few dollars to go from a 6day to 7day ticket. This extra cost also applies to reason #2 if you have an AP or already purchased tickets unless you're willing to save them for another trip.

4. If the dining plan doesn't fit your style. If you usually do alot of counter service or eating in the room and don't want to do alot of sit downs it isn't worth it unless it's truly free without losing any discounts or having extra ticket expenses. It's probably still worth it if you only use the TS on the plan even if you don't use many of the CS or snacks and are ok with paying for extra meals out of pocket.

Calie

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We already have AP's and the DDE card, we saved over $100 a night with an AP rate on our room, and we don't eat more than one sit-down meal (and not a big one at that) during the heat of summer; so this new meal deal didn't seem like such a good deal to us.

 

[tpmartin]

I just got off of the phone with CRO and I changed my reservation to Include the Free Dining Plan,
Originally I was staying at the POFQ with the Dining Plan and 7 Day MMY passes non-expiring for 3432.39.
Now I'm staying at the AKL with free dining and a Savanah view room for 2999.32 Disney is crediting back my credit card 453.38
What a savings. I get a better room and free food and money back I already spent. THIS IS DEFINATELY A MAGICAL MOMENT

Tom

 

[hannah03]

The "special" part for us, is that we got a late start planning/saving for our vacation this year. We were not going to be able to pay off a "package" by August for an Oct trip. But with the FREE DINING PLAN and staying at a VALUE resort w/ just 1 day base tickets on the ressie, we can!!! And between Aug and Oct we will be able to save up some $$$ for tickets and extras!

 

[LAWalz23]

My brother is going at the end of August and had the $1500 deal, 7 nights at POP for 2A and 2C and park passes booked through DU and not only got the free dining but saved $90 off the package price.

 

[sugermouse]

I'm with you SqueakyMouse!

 

[Anewman]

For some that got AP room rates with savings of $75-$100 per night, giving up the discount and then having to pay for TICKETS(even if they already have AP) may not even be a break even plan.

But If you were paying RACK rate and have party of 4-5 all over the age of 13, the Free plan would cost $140- $175 per night(if they had to pay for it). Could be killer deal if the conditions are right.

 

[MomofKatie]

We are definitely saving $$! We had planned on staying at Pop for six nights, Oct 29- Nov 4. The room would cost $99/night +tax. This is regular season, so the liklihood of a discount code (especially now that tourism is up) is practically nil. We were planning on paying $480 for the Dining plan (even at regular price, a great deal- our budget for food otherwise would have been $700) and we were purchasing MYW 7 day hopper tickets. Total for the pkg- $1828. If we wanted to spend $42 to join AAA, we could have saved about $125 on the pkg- net savings, $83- not worth it for us.

Now, we are planning SEVEN nights at Pop, Oct 1-8. The room will run $77/night +tax (we went from Regular to Value season), and our Dining plan will be FREE! We will still get the 7 day hopper tickets, and not visit the parks on our departure day. Total for the pkg- $1276.

Since we didn't have any other discounts or APs to contend with, we are saving a bundle!

 

[tubachick]

FIRST--- THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME DECIDE!!!!

Some reasons why people wouldn't take the free dining plan:

1. To get the plan you need to pay rack rate thus losing any discounts like AAA or AP, depending on the resort and length of stay this amount varies. For my stay I estimate it's around $450 for 7 nights.

2. To get the plan everyone in your party needs to also buy tickets and everyone in the room needs the same tickets. If you've already bought tickets for your trip or have an AP this is another expense to get the free dining.

3. If you're planning a split stay at resorts you can't use the package unless you buy tickets for each resort (as far as I know this is how it works) for example 3 nights mod and 4 nights deluxe instead of buying 7 day hoppers for your stay you'd have to buy 6 days at your 1st resort and 1 day tickets at the 2nd resort to get the package for the whole trip. Having to buy 1 day tickets for everyone in your room now costs an extra $63/adult and $50/child instead of a few dollars to go from a 6day to 7day ticket. This extra cost also applies to reason #2 if you have an AP or already purchased tickets unless you're willing to save them for another trip.

4. If the dining plan doesn't fit your style. If you usually do alot of counter service or eating in the room and don't want to do alot of sit downs it isn't worth it unless it's truly free without losing any discounts or having extra ticket expenses. It's probably still worth it if you only use the TS on the plan even if you don't use many of the CS or snacks and are ok with paying for extra meals out of pocket.

Calie

Thank you for all of your info. I can see how it might not fit some people's travel style and budget. -- espcially if you already had your trip planned and have tickets and all.

We already have AP's and the DDE card, we saved over $100 a night with an AP rate on our room, and we don't eat more than one sit-down meal (and not a big one at that) during the heat of summer; so this new meal deal didn't seem like such a good deal to us.

I can see how the AP savings can really make a difference if you and your travel party would not be making the $100 in food to be even a day. Its a mathematical game that you have to figure out for your trip. Thanks for the input.


SO -- this is what I learned.
1 --If you have AP's and are getting a good rate, it would probably be more benificial if you didn't get the "free" dining plan because it would actually cost you MORE money.
2-- If you have been planning your trip for a while, have purchased tickets and such already, then the package would give you MORE tickets, thus spending money on tickets you would not need at this time, costing MORE money.
3-- If you and your travel party would not make up the difference in food cost vs the rack/package rate, it would cost MORE money. OR if you and your travel party do not eat at the type of food service locations that are offered on the package.
4-- For some people, they have been able to ADD days and the dinning plan and save money, or upgrade their resort and still save money, but It depends on when they are going, and if they are not already getting a great AP or discounted rate.

 

[tubachick]

Another thing I learned is that if you want to go, your selection of resorts is limited -- I called and all three of my choices for the time I wanted to go were full!!! DH and I will discuss some other options.

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Another thing I learned is that if you want to go, your selection of resorts is limited -- I called and all three of my choices for the time I wanted to go were full!!! DH and I will discuss some other options.

Hope you and DH can agree on one of the other options. Normally I would say go ahead and book, then just keep calling to see about cancellations. BUT, because this is a package, you will start running into some penalties for changes at 45 days (also when the package must be paid off.) But up until that time you could just keep checking back to see if what you really want is available.

We booked the free dining package for Sept 25 through Oct 1, and I calculate we will be saving @$300 from my previous budget, and eating a lot better than I had originally planned. (Of course, the dining plan does NOT allow for alcohol or dole whips, so I have to count on that cost as well, lol!) We are staying at POFQ, but I booked it on the FIRST day this deal came out. On another thread (don't remember where) it was said that there were a limited number of rooms at each resort that were eligible for the package deal. Anyone know what resorts are running into availability problems?

Good luck with your trip!

 

[tubachick]

Hope you and DH can agree on one of the other options.

Good luck with your trip!

Got a good deal at CS saving about $500 for the trip --- patience is a virtue