Free DDP - what do they offer?

[6loversofdisney]

We have gotten free dining in the past and gotten one TS, one CS, and one snack. Someone told me that they never offer that anymore. Is that true. I was told it is only 2 CS or quick service and one snack a day per person.

 

[maxiesmom]

It depends on what level of resort you book. When they have Free Dining, they offer the quick service plan at the value resorts, the standard plan at the moderate and deluxe resorts.

What your friend described sounds like the quick service plan Two quick service meals, 1 snack per person per night. Plus a refillable mug for each guest.

I got the standard dining plan free for my trip in December. One quick service meal, one table service meal per person per night. Plus a mug. So they do still offer it. You just have to stay at a moderate or deluxe resort to get it.

 

[Huff]

As PP said, the value resorts get the QS plan which includes 2QS, 1 snack and refillable mug. The moderate and deluxe resorts get the TS plan which includes 1TS, 1QS, 1 snack and refillable mug.

We stay at value resorts and pay the difference in price to upgrade from the free QS to the TS plan. Depending on how long you stay, how many in your party and ages the cost of a moderate maybe a better deal than upgrade to the TS plan at a value. In our case with 3A for 10 days we opted to stay at a value.

No FD dates have been announced for 2013. Typically Disney doesn't announce FD dates until late March or April but it varies widely from year to year. I've heard crowds are up at the parks so I wouldn't expect many FD dates this year.

 

[POOHsie]

I am doing a split stay at two values. First resort, free QSDP. Second resort, free QSDP and paying to upgrade to standard DDP. For each person, non-peak period in 2012, the upgrade cost is $16.55/day/Adult. Dining plan includes tax. All that's required is tip for TS meals, customarily 18%.

I agree with PP that you have to figure out for your family if staying at a moderate with DDP is better than staying at a value and upgrading to DDP.

 

[6loversofdisney]

Okay, so that was my next question, if we wanted to stay at the value resort still and free dining was offered, could we pay to upgrade it to a snack, QS and a TS per person per day? It seems like PP is saying YES we can

 

[CajunMomof3]

Yes. You pay the difference between the 2 plans.

 

[POOHsie]

Okay, so that was my next question, if we wanted to stay at the value resort still and free dining was offered, could we pay to upgrade it to a snack, QS and a TS per person per day? It seems like PP is saying YES we can

Yes, you can. My post above shows the cost between QS Free Dining at Value and regular Dining Plan (1 QS, 1 TS, 1 Snack). It's $16.55 per day per Adult in non-peak season in 2012. Here's a link to a Sticky at the top of this forum called "Upgrade costs for dining plans 2012 and 2013." http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2772063