Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[LJKK]

Can someone clarify for me...

I have a 5yo and a 2yo. If I wanted to upgrade the 5yo to adult dining, what would be the cost difference? On a 7 night stay. I keep seeing $20 mentioned...is it $20 per night to upgrade from child to adult?

One reason I'd do it is so that she can order whatever she wants, she enjoys adult type foods. Another reason is that her having an adult plate would give us more to share with the 2yo. Our kids both eat a decent amount, so I was a little worried about not having enough food to share with her since she won't get a dining plan. We are newbies and not sure what to expect as far as portion size, etc. Thoughts?

 

[smitch425]

Can someone clarify for me...

I have a 5yo and a 2yo. If I wanted to upgrade the 5yo to adult dining, what would be the cost difference? On a 7 night stay. I keep seeing $20 mentioned...is it $20 per night to upgrade from child to adult?

One reason I'd do it is so that she can order whatever she wants, she enjoys adult type foods. Another reason is that her having an adult plate would give us more to share with the 2yo. Our kids both eat a decent amount, so I was a little worried about not having enough food to share with her since she won't get a dining plan. We are newbies and not sure what to expect as far as portion size, etc. Thoughts?

The approx. $20 I mentioned, is the difference between a child's ticket and an adult's ticket. It is not per night, it is total with FREE dining. If you have to pay for your dining plan, then you would have to pay the extra ticket cost + the nightly cost of the adult plan. It's not really worth doing unless it is free dining. For example, in 2012, we had a 9 night stay with 9 day park tickets with free dining. We paid $19.17 to upgrade our DD. That was the price between a child ticket and an adult ticket at that time.

 

[LJKK]

The approx. $20 I mentioned, is the difference between a child's ticket and an adult's ticket. It is not per night, it is total with FREE dining. If you have to pay for your dining plan, then you would have to pay the extra ticket cost + the nightly cost of the adult plan. It's not really worth doing unless it is free dining. For example, in 2012, we had a 9 night stay with 9 day park tickets with free dining. We paid $19.17 to upgrade our DD. That was the price between a child ticket and an adult ticket at that time.

that makes sense now, thank you very much. I just wanted to make sure I was understanding correctly. If we do get free dining, we will definitely upgrade her. Our dates are the end of Oct, so fingers crossed.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

The approx. $20 I mentioned, is the difference between a child's ticket and an adult's ticket. It is not per night, it is total with FREE dining. If you have to pay for your dining plan, then you would have to pay the extra ticket cost + the nightly cost of the adult plan. It's not really worth doing unless it is free dining. For example, in 2012, we had a 9 night stay with 9 day park tickets with free dining. We paid $19.17 to upgrade our DD. That was the price between a child ticket and an adult ticket at that time.

I am SO doing this if FD is available when we go next time!
I guess I didn't realize it was so cheap to do, so I didn't even consider it. I'm not sure how I missed that...I'm sure you must have mentioned this last year too though. Although we did a ton of character buffet meals last time anyway so it truly wouldn't have mattered a ton anyway for that trip, it really only would have helped with quick serve meals.

 

[alktdknckmom]

This was the part of the question I was referring to in my answer

So, someone on here said it's only $20 extra to pay for an extra adult for the DDP. Were you saying that it's $20 to upgrade from QS to DDP (if you stay at a value and they offer FD) OR is it $20 to change a kid from a "kid" rate to "adult" rate?

Looks like we were both trying to help

Thanks to you both!! Yes, you both answered part of my question. It was the perfect combination and I have a much clearer picture of how to get the best bang for my buck if/when FD comes about!

 

[alktdknckmom]

The $21 that has been referenced to is if FD is offered and you have a child that you want to upgrade to an adult so they can eat off the adult menu instead of being limited to the kids menu, it is a $21 difference.
So you must have FD on your reservation and if you have a child that eats like and adult, you can ask the CM to show your child as an adult (they will show them as a 10 yr old) and the difference is only $21.

And that $21 difference covers the entire stay regardless of how many days you are there (when upgrading a child to adult DDP when FD is offered)?

Thanks!
Christy

 

[alktdknckmom]

Unfortunately, no. If that were the case, no one would think twice about upgrading, esp me!!!
The cost to upgrade from free QSDP to the regular DDP is roughly $20 per adult per night of your package.
Meaning, if I travel alone and stay at a Value hotel for 7 nights, I will pay $133 plus some change to upgrade my dining.
If someone travels with me, we will pay twice that, and so on.

You are correct that the Mods and Deluxe resorts come with regular DDP, so no upgrade is necessary.

To figure out the cost for Free Dining, go to the site and put in your dates and room/resort choice, the tickets you need, and the number of people in the room. The price for the package (room and tickets only) is what Free Dining will cost.
You will pay full rack rate for the room, the tickets are full price, and they throw in the dining plan.
If you price out the Value and will want the upgrade, add the $133 plus change to the package cost for each adult on the package.
Sorry, but i do not know the pricing for children.

Thanks for the info about how to figure out the cost if FD is offered. I wasn't sure if the room rate would change. Do the non-discounted rooms stay within a certain range depending on the peak/non-peak time of year, making it easy to estimate without being off by too much?

So, IF staying at a Value... upgrading from QS to DDP (if FD is offered) for two adults would be $266... but, if I upgrade my 9 yr old to a 10 yr old it would increase to $399.
BUT, if staying at a Moderate and getting the DDP with FD, I wouldn't have to upgrade the whole family to the DDP b/c it comes with it, so it would only be $21 to upgrade the 9 yr old if we think she'd want to eat off the adult menu?
Now, am I correct? lol

Thanks!

 

[KNovacovschi]

Just an FYI the cost to upgrade from QS to DP is $18.65/per night/per adult. The QS is $41.99 & DP is $60.64. Hope that helps!!

 

[Nechville]

Can someone clarify for me...

I have a 5yo and a 2yo. If I wanted to upgrade the 5yo to adult dining, what would be the cost difference? On a 7 night stay. I keep seeing $20 mentioned...is it $20 per night to upgrade from child to adult?

One reason I'd do it is so that she can order whatever she wants, she enjoys adult type foods. Another reason is that her having an adult plate would give us more to share with the 2yo. Our kids both eat a decent amount, so I was a little worried about not having enough food to share with her since she won't get a dining plan. We are newbies and not sure what to expect as far as portion size, etc. Thoughts?

For our table service meals, we chose mostly buffets or family style meals, and our under-3 child could eat whatever she wanted. She was always given her own drink and we were never charged anything extra. I know buffets are not everyone's thing but we found them all quite good and a great solution to this problem!

For counter service, we found between the three of us there was enough. Once or twice we got her her own, but kids meals are not that expensive. I think some places you can get something extra as a snack credit -- like a soup at BOG lunch -- to supplement the meal. I bet allears or the snack thread here would tell you the places you can do this at.

With all the snacks you get with FD, we never went hungry. In fact, it was more like "it's time to eat again?"

 

[scard192]

Can someone clarify for me...

I have a 5yo and a 2yo. If I wanted to upgrade the 5yo to adult dining, what would be the cost difference? On a 7 night stay. I keep seeing $20 mentioned...is it $20 per night to upgrade from child to adult?

One reason I'd do it is so that she can order whatever she wants, she enjoys adult type foods. Another reason is that her having an adult plate would give us more to share with the 2yo. Our kids both eat a decent amount, so I was a little worried about not having enough food to share with her since she won't get a dining plan. We are newbies and not sure what to expect as far as portion size, etc. Thoughts?

my 2 year old niece (turned 3 on the trip) was with us last year. We booked as many characters meals as we could (Free DDP) because it was her first trip. at 1900PF, CM,CP she ate off the buffet for free. at CRT we had heard they give under 3 buttered noodles for free, they actual told us she could order anything on the kids menu and would be a smaller version for free; she had chicken nuggets. Akerhaus she was going to share with her sister; they told us to order anything on the kids menu for free.

Mama Melrose my sister ordered a pasta dish with red sauce on the side as her daughter only likes plain pasta.

at most of the CS places my niece shared or sis paid OOP for a kids meal; they are around $6-8 and she/we had Disney Visa Rewards.

 

[MissMaryQC]

So, if we get FD in September and we choose a moderate resort, what we are this getting a Free Dining Plan. What is the cost, per person, to upgrade that to a Deluxe Dining Plan? Where else can I find this information, or is this a DIS secret? Thanks in advance!

 

[smitch425]

So, if we get FD in September and we choose a moderate resort, what we are this getting a Free Dining Plan. What is the cost, per person, to upgrade that to a Deluxe Dining Plan? Where else can I find this information, or is this a DIS secret? Thanks in advance!

At a mod, you get the regular DDP (Wasn't sure if you knew that. I couldn't tell what the first sentence meant.). There are sticky threads at the top of every forum. They are full of valuable info that answer many of the most popular questions pertaining to the forum. This upgrade sticky can be found in the Disney Dining Plan forum...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2772063

 

[martinmont]

If Fd were to start one or two days into our dates, we would have to do a spilt stay right? What about the tickets then?

 

[evcollins]

Oh, no! I have totally confused myself trying to find my alternative if POR is full for FD. If we stay at a Value, Allstar Music, seven nights, for our family of 5, requesting two connecting rooms, I understand we get the QS plan. Now, if I want to upgrade our DP to the Regular (Deluxe) DP - kids are now considered "adults" - is the $19.10 (total for 5 is $95.10) a one-time upgrade fee, or is it $95.10 per night that we are there? If it's per night, ouch!! So much for trying to save money!!

If it's per night, I'd be better off looking for another Moderate resort instead of paying for two rooms and an upgrade. We have ADRs set for TS each night that we are looking forward to, so we want to stick with the Deluxe and not the QS.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[smitch425]

Oh, no! I have totally confused myself trying to find my alternative if POR is full for FD. If we stay at a Value, Allstar Music, seven nights, for our family of 5, requesting two connecting rooms, I understand we get the QS plan. Now, if I want to upgrade our DP to the Regular (Deluxe) DP - kids are now considered "adults" - is the $19.10 (total for 5 is $95.10) a one-time upgrade fee, or is it $95.10 per night that we are there? If it's per night, ouch!! So much for trying to save money!!

If it's per night, I'd be better off looking for another Moderate resort instead of paying for two rooms and an upgrade. We have ADRs set for TS each night that we are looking forward to, so we want to stick with the Deluxe and not the QS.

Thanks for your help!!

Upgrading a young child to an adult will be a one time charge between the ticket prices with free dining.

Upgrading from one plan to another plan will cost you the difference between the two plans for each night of your stay and per person.

 

[scard192]

I am SO doing this if FD is available when we go next time!
I guess I didn't realize it was so cheap to do, so I didn't even consider it. I'm not sure how I missed that...I'm sure you must have mentioned this last year too though. Although we did a ton of character buffet meals last time anyway so it truly wouldn't have mattered a ton anyway for that trip, it really only would have helped with quick serve meals.

we did a ton of character buffets last trip too because it was my neice's first trip. Next time, QS (hoping for FD or SPD) as the kids will be older and wanting to spend more time in the parks and less eating sit down meals. My sis older daughter will be 9 and we are already thinking to upgrade her to adult. Surprised Disney hasn't caught on and taken this option away yet. You get a lot more food for a very small upcharge.

 

[jhaig]

Sooooo..........will Monday morning be the day?

Setting my alarm just in case....

 

[Kat016]

Sooooo..........will Monday morning be the day? Setting my alarm just in case....

That seems to be the million dollar question. Lol

 

[dancermommy1]

Opinions please! If I already have a room booked, and I'm pretty sure it was a discounted rate (I used the mem maker offer but room rates were definitely lower with that offer), and I'm staying club level with 3 fairly light eaters- would it even be worth calling to switch offers to free dining? I'm leaning towards no.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Opinions please! If I already have a room booked, and I'm pretty sure it was a discounted rate (I used the mem maker offer but room rates were definitely lower with that offer), and I'm staying club level with 3 fairly light eaters- would it even be worth calling to switch offers to free dining? I'm leaning towards no.

I was under the impression that CL rooms were generally excluded from FD rooms. If so, I guess you have to decide how badly you want to stay CL and (if budget is a concern) which one will save the most.