Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 2

[denman007]

I am honestly curious if I would save more money with an RO??

If it is just me and DH, we want a moderate standard, staying 9 nights, and want the DxDP, will it be better for us to go with the RO, or are we the people who would benefit more from the FD?

I have always gone FD, but heck if the RO is a better deal, I want that.

Need more info - travel dates.

I think FD would be best.

 

[shetm]

Yes you can switch and it will probably be the better deal (RO). But do the math...(or have them check it). We went on our honeymoon last year to WL.

Awesome thank you!! We tried to find DVC points to rent for our dates but the only place available for the time was SS so we just chose rack rate WL hoping for discounts

 

[tilir]

Anyone else's MDE not showing their remaining balance on the amount you owe?

Mine doesn't show it either, but that was only after I called Disney and got the FD for my chase visa debit card (disney). We are staying in the AOA lion king suites and arriving December 22nd. I am so excited to finally get the FD and kids can't wait either.

 

[crazymomof4]

Called Disney up a little after 12PM. Was on hold for 2 minutes. Was able to book exactly what I wanted. POP Century Standard Room for September 4-8 with Free Dining and upgraded to the Regular Dining Plan. My CM was Lucas, who was very nice, very pleasant, and is getting married in 23 days! Congrats Lucas! He would tell me Disney themed jokes while the computer was looking up details.

It was a great experience, got exactly what I wanted and didn't really wait at all. (Took the survey at the end and gave Lucas great marks!).

Hope everyone gets what they want!

What great CM.... he could give lessons to some others!!

 

[txnana]

I am honestly curious if I would save more money with an RO??

If it is just me and DH, we want a moderate standard, staying 9 nights, and want the DxDP, will it be better for us to go with the RO, or are we the people who would benefit more from the FD?

I have always gone FD, but heck if the RO is a better deal, I want that.

RO deals on Mods are usually 20%, so in looking at the daily rate for your time period, can you have 2 meals and a snack per day for two people for that price? Example, I am going at Christmas (Peak Season), room cost at CBR is 248 per night, meaning two folks would have $49ish per day for food. Can you and your husband have a TS, a CS, and a snack for $49 per day? NOPE? - then FD is the best deal. YUP? then RO is better.

 

[bookgirl]

Finally had to hang up after 2:40 on hold.

Called back after lunch but no luck.

I was told I could not book RO for Oct 26-30.

That RO was only until Oct 3.

she kept trying to sell me FD " you can book FD then, are you sure you don't want me to try your dates just to see if it works, you might want to consider FD, I've been booking FD through Dec would you to go ahead and get that?"


um no, for $1200 more I think not (once you add two tickets to rack rate at a Deluxe).

Then she tried to convince me to get Memory Maker.

I'm glad so many of you got your reservations (bummer about the Mods).

I guess I'll wait till later.

 

[jvdplg]

I called during my lunch hour and was able to make my reservation in less than 15 minutes!

9/26-10/3 at Pop with upgrade to dining plan

Yay!!!!

Thank you to everyone who has helped with this thread and especially, black!!!

I'm sure it's on here somewhere...will continue to look but what is it $$ to upgrade the dining plan for children and also for adults/day?

 

[daizieduck]

For me, the dining plan simply doesn't work with mine and my sister's (who is 18, but will probably be ordering off the kids menu most of the time) eating habits. I'm saving more eating what we want (not what Disney says we should eat, like a dessert after EVERY meal), then booking with a RO discount. Plus I bought my tickets already through Undercover Tourist before the most recent price increase, so I already saved $90 on park tickets and it negates my need for a package.

Obviously this doesn't work for everyone, but it worked out way better for me this way.

It's me and DH traveling. I figured out that if a RO discount of 25% was to be offered for the dates of our trip our savings on the room would be $460.25. Our savings for FD is $970.24. The dining plan breaks down to $60.64 per person per day. I believe between lunch, dinner and snacks we easily spend close to or over $60.64 per person per day. And I have to admit I like the convenience of booking everything (except airfare) in one place rather than thru multiple companies. Not sure how much I save or don't save doing the park tickets through Disney v. another vendor. I should probably look into that but then again, like I said, I like the convenience of one stop shopping.

 

[auger]

I sense some sarcasm, but that's OK (I didn't believe it at first either). If you run the numbers, even at $14/pt., you still come out way ahead.

No, def not any sarcasm!
I really want to know how to get that kind of price, or better!

Actually, I PMd you for more info!

 

[CalSea12]

RO deals on Mods are usually 20%, so in looking at the daily rate for your time period, can you have 2 meals and a snack per day for two people for that price? Example, I am going at Christmas (Peak Season), room cost at CBR is 248 per night, meaning two folks would have $49ish per day for food. Can you and your husband have a TS, a CS, and a snack for $49 per day? NOPE? - then FD is the best deal. YUP? then RO is better.

Awesome, thank you. FD is def better for us then. We love to eat lol, we usually spend at least 100-150 each on food a day.

 

[scard192]

Just got my e-mail from Chase, earlier than usual:


So now is the time to book a 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way® room and ticket package which includes the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan at select Value Resorts and the Disney Dining Plan at select Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts.

This special offer is for arrivals most nights: 8/31-10/3/2014, 10/26-11/1/2014, 11/9-11/20/2014 and 12/12-12/23/2014.




Number of rooms allocated for these offers is limited. Tickets must be used within 14 days of first use. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotions. Advance reservation required. Offer excludes 3-bedroom villas and campsites.
See important details.

This offer becomes available to the general public on May 7, 2014. Book by August 8, 2014 with your Disney Visa® Card, and mention code V973K for Value Resorts and D365N for Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villas Resorts when you call. Be sure to ask about packages for other lengths of stay.

 

[chewysmom]

I'd like to know too, b/c when I've run the numbers for renting points, I don't see that much of a difference in price. Granted, you'd be getting DVC instead of a mod (what we get), but I'm still not saving any money. I'd love to finally NOT be tied to a certain time b/c we *have* to have FD.

 

[jackfussell]

Ok, we are a family of five and we're hoping for POR, along with so many others. So the question is take the RO discount for POR or go for broke and do Deluxe with FD.

So three questions….is there a minimum stay for RO on POR?
Whats the minimum night stay for a deluxe FD?
Is the Polynesian worth visiting now, and with three kids?
Jack

 

[jhaig]

So who gets the award today for being on hold the longest? Any nominees?

 

[macsandy1957]

What I like about free dining is that I don't feel like I have to constantly be telling my son (and myself) to pick something less expensive. I stay in a value resort and do the QS and will pay out of pocket for one character meal. We don't ever like spending a lot of time eating while on vacation because there's sooooo much fun to be had. I guess it's all back to personal preference. I don't like to eat at expensive restaurants anytime and so quick service is fine for us and the discounts on the value resorts is not as significant as on the more expensive resorts.
I have friends who rent points and love it, for us, it was more expensive than staying in a value, which is fine with us. I was going to go anyway and see the Mouse, now I'll get some free meals, win-win. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Nechville]

We will be looking into renting points at some point, but FD and moderates work for us now. I would like to stay at a deluxe someday and point renting looks to be the best way. And we are hearing FD will eventually go away.

I am stuck in an airport now because DH and I took a voluntary bump -- for $800 in vouchers! First FD and now almost free flights!!!

 

[daizieduck]

So who gets the award today for being on hold the longest? Any nominees?

LOL! I was on hold for about 45 min three separate times but I know others had it much worse. The first time I had to hang up. The two other times someone finally came on the line.

 

[chigirl]

When it opens to the public, will booking be online or will we have to call?

 

[daizieduck]

When it opens to the public, will booking be online or will we have to call?

Online.

 

[tinklvsu]

HMMMMMM

How do I go about adding Magical Express back!? I don't see it listed anymore, and I don't see a place to add it. Maybe just issues with the site itself right now?