FAQ: 2009 Free Dining PIN

[Nickey_Mouse]

Thanks Minder!! Very helpful Information......

Now all I need is the pin!

 

[Hawkeye68]

Question: I received the free Dining Plan Pin code...does the price you pay INCLUDE...Dining, room AND the park tickets for everyone for each day you are there? It doesn't seem clear to me on the mailer I received (I am new to this Pin code thing anyway.)
Thanks

 

[lisalonglash]

Question: I received the free Dining Plan Pin code...does the price you pay INCLUDE...Dining, room AND the park tickets for everyone for each day you are there? It doesn't seem clear to me on the mailer I received (I am new to this Pin code thing anyway.)
Thanks

Here is the fine print on my PIN:

*Total package price based on 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child. The number of packages allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on non-discounted price for the same package. Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Offer is nontransferable. Excludes gratuities.

So, the price does include dining, room and one-park per day tickets

 

[Minder]

It is important to note that all packages, prices, and savings listed on the PIN mailer are examples only.

As seen in the other questions, you can create almost any package you want (without the Dining plan) and then apply this PIN to it, and have the dining plan added to your package at no extra cost.

The questions in the first post at the top of this thread help you understand the limitations and restrictions, but if you choose a date where your vacation begins somewhere within the stated valid dates, at any resort (Except the wilderness campsites) for a maximum of 14 days and add park tickets of any type, Disney will give you the Dining plan for FREE for the length of your trip (Max 14 days)

 

[wendyt_ca]

I know it says you can book up to 3 rooms. Can I book two rooms under this pin at two different resorts. We are going and are booked at Coronado Springs and our friends now want to go the same week at POP can I use my pin for their room at POP as well. And would it be under my same reservation or would I need to book a whole new one?

 

[lolasmom]

We received this pin and were able to book our trip in early November using it.

We changed the resort from a value to a moderate, the length of stay from 4 nights to 6 nights and the amount and kind of park tickets without any problems.

Comparing the price using the "pin" to the price quoted on Disney website - we are saving almost $800 off the total price. Kind of cemented the decision to make it another Disney vacation this year!!

 

[wendyt_ca]

I called Disney today and the CM was kind of rude and I don't know if he had the facts straight. I was asking about adding a room for my friends who will be travelling with us but staying at a different resort. First he said that I couldn't use my pin for rooms for anyone who doesn't live in our household. Then he stated that if had to be the same resort and could not be at different resorts. I don't know if he is giving me the right information.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I called Disney today and the CM was kind of rude and I don't know if he had the facts straight. I was asking about adding a room for my friends who will be travelling with us but staying at a different resort. First he said that I couldn't use my pin for rooms for anyone who doesn't live in our household. Then he stated that if had to be the same resort and could not be at different resorts. I don't know if he is giving me the right information.

I was told last week that I could book up to 3 rooms at the same resort. It didn't have to be family, but we did all have to stay at the same place.

 

[Minder]

I have 3 rooms booked, and they arent Family. And no one asked.

 

[wendyt_ca]

Just spoke with a manager and was able to get my friend the reservation at Pop with free dining!!

 

[Minder]

So you got 2 rooms at different resorts on the same PIN?

 

[wendyt_ca]

Yes I did! I am very happy.

 

[Lalaboops]

My sister received a PIN and is hoping to book 3 rooms at POP. (Her family, my family, and my other sister's family). If, for some reason, she needs to cancel, do all our reservations get cancelled?

Am I worrying too much?

 

[Minder]

If she needs to cancel, just call Disney reservations, and they can get everything setteled. You shouldnt need to cancel, but you may loose the PIN.

 

[Lalaboops]

Just an update. My sister called before booking, and the CM told us that the person holding the PIN must be there when checking in for the remaining rooms to receive the offer.

 

[drag n' fly]

By some miracle of god we got a PIN!!!! We were booked for Pop in February and I started pricing out costs for free dining. I decided to called to ask some questions and the cm told we had a pin attached to our name upgrading our free dining package YAY!!!! We just moved our dates up 4 and a half months!!!! For those of you not geting a pin try calling in to see if one is attached to your name!!!!!

 

[Minder]

I moved this here from another post I made, because I thought it was relevant to the discussion.

My wife and I have used the Dining plan for our last 4 trips and we love it.

but I am compulsive about knowing all the facts, and people have been saying for years that you should pay OOP instead of paying 2TS credits for a meal.

So I did the math.

I came to the following conclusions.

If you are getting the meal plan FREE, then take it, because it almost always saves you more money than all of the other offers.

If you are paying for the meal plan, then the math generally works out to be + or - $2 to $5 per meal. (So basically a moot point)

In general, you SHOULD pay OOP instead of using 2TS credits, but NOT always. (Brown derby is NOT worth 2TS, but California Grill IS well worth 2TS)

Many of the Buffets and Character meals are a flat fee of $20 - $24, These are always better to pay OOP than to ues a TS. (cinderella's castle is 2TS, and is absolutely better to pay OOP.

Lastly, plan out how many TS credits you plan to use and when, and always make sure you use all of your credits (TS, CS and Snack) because every one you dont use is wasted money. If you have 2TS credits left over, then use them for that 2TS meal, because letting them expire is always more costly.

You can do this math yourself. There are many sites which tell you the OOP prices for all disney resturants.

Remember the only things the meal plan get you are, 1 Entree, 1, Desert, 1 drink (non al)

Current TS dining plan price is 45.95 per day, giving you 1TS, 1CS, and 1Snack per day.

Average snack price is $3
Average CS price is $15
This leaves $27.95 left over for your TS. If 1Entree, 1Desert, and 1Drink will cost you more than that, Every day, then get the meal plan.

PS: none of my math was based on Child prices. you will need to do that yourself.