Free DDP or room discount? What is the better deal?

[ophelia2002]

We got a PIN code in the mail today for either free dining or "up to" 35% off a room. Which would be the better deal?

 

[sissy_ib]

We got a PIN code in the mail today for either free dining or "up to" 35% off a room. Which would be the better deal?

It depends on the resort and how many people. 35% off would be the deluxe resorts. If you want to stay value and have 4 people free dining would probably be better. If you want moderate or deluxe the room only may be better.

 

[tripplanner2]

You just have to run the numbers. For our family of 5, free dining is always the best way to go and we stay moderate. But if you stay deluxe and have a small family the discount may be better. Would love that pin code. What are the dates?

 

[2Tiggers]

For our family of four, I think the free dining is a better deal. We stay moderate and we like having dining.

All I can say is I WANT YOUR PIN!!!!!!

We have decided we won't go unless we get free dining. The room only discount isn't that big a discount for me but that is just my opinion. Some like the room only but for me and our family we hold out for free dining! We just like it added onto our package and if we would have to pay for that add on it would be too much even with the room discount.

Run the numbers and see and you'll have to decide if you will use the dining plan or not.

 

[Marionnette]

Yep! Too many variables to be able to give you an answer.

What resort? How many $$ will you save with the room-only discount? How many people in your room? How many are Disney "adults" and how many are under 10 years old? Which dining plan is being offered for free?

You need to do the math for yourself.

 

[ophelia2002]

We plan on doing a deluxe resort. There are 4 in our family and we plan on doing the dining plus option.

 

[ophelia2002]

Yep! Too many variables to be able to give you an answer.

What resort? How many $$ will you save with the room-only discount? How many people in your room? How many are Disney "adults" and how many are under 10 years old? Which dining plan is being offered for free?

You need to do the math for yourself.

How does one do the math? I can't seem to find any prices on the dining plans.

 

[mdcousins]

We LOVE the free dining plan, and are unable to stay in Disney if we don't get a pin.

A couple of years ago we were fortunate enough to have it. There were 8 of us. The bill at one restaurant for one meal was almost 400.00.

It saved us alot of money!! I would take the Dining plan!! If you stay at a value resort, for a small fee you should be able to upgrade the dining plan to include a table service meal/day. Have fun!!

 

[1osfan]

Here's how I "do the math."

Go to Disney's website and put all of your information in for the trip you want to take. The price you see will be the "normal," non-dicounted rate.

Then, add the pincode. I have not gotten a pincode before that had multiple options, so if there are two pincodes, put one in and check the price again. Then, take that code out and put the other in and check the price.

You will now have gotten three prices. Obviously, you don't want the first one - there is no discount. You can compare the other two to see which is best.

Good luck! I have done this before every trip I have taken and have always found great deals.

 

[1osfan]

Also, about the dining plan prices. You can find the price on other sites if you look, but I simply put the information in the computer for my trip and get a price without it and then add the dining plan and look at the difference. As long as the dining plan is the only difference, you'll have the price.

 

[cglaura]

Also, when figuring the dining, don't figure on the price of the plan...figure on what you would normally spend.

For me, the plan is (?) $40. I wasn't sure if taxed so I just rounded up the QS plan as posted here on the Dining Board

That is $80 per day for myself and dd20.

There is no way ever we would spend that much paying oop. And no way we would eat that much to make it worth $80.

But! We share a lot of meals, and eat small meals. We also eat breakfast and coffee in the room.

We average about $40 per day total. Some days only $25 if we don't feel like snacking.

Then around $150 for a few ts meals.

So for us, I get the room discount price, park ticket prices (I usually get from UndercoverTourist via Mousesavers), then add in my estimated "real time" food prices and get a total.

Then compare to the free dining total.

Room discount always wins.

It really all depends, as pp have stated, how many people and appetite.