Free Dining is *NOT* really free!!! (sarcasm!)

[SEA333]

So, every thread on here about free dining has the same few people reminding everyone that free dining is not really "Free".

We got news yesterday that had us rethinking our November trip - the one with "Free" dining. We will be there for 4 nights/5 days at POR and 3-day base park tickets. We are paying $2094 for the resort, 3-day park tickets for 5 people, and free dining - 4 "adults" (me, DH, DS13, and DD10) and one "child" (DS7).

I thought...what *if* we decided to take the cheaper route and stay offsite instead of taking the free dining or discount rate for the room (which it seems like every crusader against free dining recommends instead of free dining). And...while we are at it, I thought I’d better look into discount park tickets, too, since it's crazy to pay rack rate for a room AND non-discounted tickets just to get free dining!!!

So...Hotwire had a wonderful price of $119/night at the Hilton Convention Center on I-Drive, where we stayed last year and ABSOUTELY loved it, and would go back in a heartbeat. So, with taxes ($63.00), resort fees ($100), parking ($56), and internet($40), we are looking at $735 for 4 nights. Rental car will be about $92 (DH works for Hertz Corporation and we get a discount). Undercover Tourist is offering a whopping $1.00 off each adult 3-day basic park ticket, so we have a savings of 4 whole dollars there ($1350).

Conclusion (not taking into consideration tips):

Grand total for POR 4 night/5 day, 3 day park tickets, and the non-“Free” dining?

(drumroll…..) $2094!!!!! (all food is “free”)

Grand total for Hotwire deal offsite so we don’t have to pay the dreaded rack rate for the room in order to get the (non)free DDP and be able to eat at McDonalds and Applebee’s???

(bigger drumroll……) $2085!!!!!!!!!!!! (plus food costs)

Awesome!!!!!!!! See, all you proponents of free dining???!!! We *are* saving by not getting the free dining plan! By taking all of the advice of those who have this down to a science, my family of five will be able to use that $9.00 that we are saving by not getting “free” dining to bump up our food budget and save money!

Oh….wait….

 

[melissafox18]

"Free" dining is definitely worth it for a family of 5! I wouldn't ever try and debate that for someone. For our family of 2 adults it doesn't make sense. We'd save more money by using a RO offer and just eating as we choose throughout our trip. However, when our little princess is older and we take her back to WDW, I'd want to do character meals and with a 3rd person in our party, it may be worth it.

I've paid for dining plan in the past. I like the concept quite a bit. We were stuffed our whole trip and still had credits left over!

So in your case great in theory and in execution!

 

[Marionnette]

So, every thread on here about free dining has the same few people reminding everyone that free dining is not really "Free".

We got news yesterday that had us rethinking our November trip - the one with "Free" dining. We will be there for 4 nights/5 days at POR and 3-day base park tickets. We are paying $2094 for the resort, 3-day park tickets for 5 people, and free dining - 4 "adults" (me, DH, DS13, and DD10) and one "child" (DS7).

I thought...what *if* we decided to take the cheaper route and stay offsite instead of taking the free dining or discount rate for the room (which it seems like every crusader against free dining recommends instead of free dining). And...while we are at it, I thought I’d better look into discount park tickets, too, since it's crazy to pay rack rate for a room AND non-discounted tickets just to get free dining!!!

So...Hotwire had a wonderful price of $119/night at the Hilton Convention Center on I-Drive, where we stayed last year and ABSOUTELY loved it, and would go back in a heartbeat. So, with taxes ($63.00), resort fees ($100), parking ($56), and internet($40), we are looking at $735 for 4 nights. Rental car will be about $92 (DH works for Hertz Corporation and we get a discount). Undercover Tourist is offering a whopping $1.00 off each adult 3-day basic park ticket, so we have a savings of 4 whole dollars there ($1350).

Conclusion (not taking into consideration tips):

Grand total for POR 4 night/5 day, 3 day park tickets, and the non-“Free” dining?

(drumroll…..) $2094!!!!! (all food is “free”)

Grand total for Hotwire deal offsite so we don’t have to pay the dreaded rack rate for the room in order to get the (non)free DDP and be able to eat at McDonalds and Applebee’s???

(bigger drumroll……) $2085!!!!!!!!!!!! (plus food costs)

Awesome!!!!!!!! See, all you proponents of free dining???!!! We *are* saving by not getting the free dining plan! By taking all of the advice of those who have this down to a science, my family of five will be able to use that $9.00 that we are saving by not getting “free” dining to bump up our food budget and save money!

Oh….wait….

Yes, you are saving money. That doesn't mean that "Free Dining" is *free*. It only means that "Free Dining" is a good deal for your family.

Personally, I think comparing staying offsite without "Free Dining" vs. booking "Free Dining" is like comparing apples to fish. They are not the same thing and if you want to make valid comparisons, you should start by making all things equal with the exception of the discounts for like items. So, I would never try to validate my opinions about "Free Dining" by making that comparison.

If you take into consideration what you would have saved by doing a discounted room vs. paying rack rate (as you do with
"Free Dining" ), plus the savings of buying your tickets from an outside source vs. buying directly from Disney, you'll see that it isn't as great of a savings as you would first imagine. That's what the "Free Dining" is costing you. Could you pay OOP for your food (not paying for the dining plan but actually paying as you go) and spend less? Probably. Could you eat at all of the same places you will on the dining plan for the same cost? Most likely not.

I've done my research, too, and "Free Dining" has never worked out to be a better deal for my family. That doesn't make it a bad deal for your family, too. It's just the way that the bottom line reads for me.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

If you take into consideration what you would have saved by doing a discounted room vs. paying rack rate (as you do with
"Free Dining" )

I don't understand why it is assumed that a discounted rate is always available at the same time as free dining. It simply isn't a fair assumption. During peak times, you can often check in on the last day of free dining and take advantage for the entire stay, but it is very unlikely that there will be room-only discounts available.

In my opinion, it is always worth the time to do the math and see what your best options are. I've done trips both ways - season and resort level make a big difference.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

We typically use the military discount for our trips. It's pretty much the best discount out there, up to 40% off room and deeply discounted tickets.

We are going to Disney with a large family for Thanksgiving and two in our party got the free dining pin codes months ago. We planned one TS meal per day, many are buffets, makes it easier with so many people. DH insists on the dining plan when he joins us on our Disney vacations. He likes a good meal each night and doesn't want to worry about the cost once we are there.

We are staying at POR and "Free" dining came out $500 less than even our military discount. The only way military would be cheaper is to skip dining plan altogether and eat cheap for the week. Pricing out many of the places we plan to eat the dining plan, free or not, was worth it. Believe it or not "Free" dining does save guests lots of money given the right resort choice and dining choices.

By the way I also priced out if we bumped up to WL. Even there the military discount and Free dining were only a few dollars difference. However, with the military ticket we can't add additional days. With free dining and the Disney tickets we can add days if we want for very little $ if we so choose. So still... "free" dining was the better deal.

I don't understand the argument that free dining isn't saving guests money. I've only found this true when we stay at the most expensive deluxe resorts, or if we were not a family of 4, with both children being "Disney adults".

 

[robinb]

So, every thread on here about free dining has the same few people reminding everyone that free dining is not really "Free".

We got news yesterday that had us rethinking our November trip - the one with "Free" dining. We will be there for 4 nights/5 days at POR and 3-day base park tickets. We are paying $2094 for the resort, 3-day park tickets for 5 people, and free dining - 4 "adults" (me, DH, DS13, and DD10) and one "child" (DS7).

I thought...what *if* we decided to take the cheaper route and stay offsite instead of taking the free dining or discount rate for the room (which it seems like every crusader against free dining recommends instead of free dining). And...while we are at it, I thought I’d better look into discount park tickets, too, since it's crazy to pay rack rate for a room AND non-discounted tickets just to get free dining!!!

So...Hotwire had a wonderful price of $119/night at the Hilton Convention Center on I-Drive, where we stayed last year and ABSOUTELY loved it, and would go back in a heartbeat. So, with taxes ($63.00), resort fees ($100), parking ($56), and internet($40), we are looking at $735 for 4 nights. Rental car will be about $92 (DH works for Hertz Corporation and we get a discount). Undercover Tourist is offering a whopping $1.00 off each adult 3-day basic park ticket, so we have a savings of 4 whole dollars there ($1350).

Conclusion (not taking into consideration tips):

Grand total for POR 4 night/5 day, 3 day park tickets, and the non-“Free” dining?

(drumroll…..) $2094!!!!! (all food is “free”)

Grand total for Hotwire deal offsite so we don’t have to pay the dreaded rack rate for the room in order to get the (non)free DDP and be able to eat at McDonalds and Applebee’s???

(bigger drumroll……) $2085!!!!!!!!!!!! (plus food costs)

Awesome!!!!!!!! See, all you proponents of free dining???!!! We *are* saving by not getting the free dining plan! By taking all of the advice of those who have this down to a science, my family of five will be able to use that $9.00 that we are saving by not getting “free” dining to bump up our food budget and save money!

Oh….wait….

*sigh* Free dining is not FREE. It is a discount because you are paying rack rate for the room and full price for your passes. Sometimes the discount is good. In your case you are stuffing a POR room with 4 Disney "adults" and a child so you are getting just about the maximum bang for your buck. A couple staying at the Polynesian would see a much smaller discount with "free dining" because there are fewer people and the cost of the resort is much higher.

I'm glad that it's working out for your family, but it doesn't work for all families. Everyone needs to run the numbers themselves.

 

[Marionnette]

I don't understand why it is assumed that a discounted rate is always available at the same time as free dining. It simply isn't a fair assumption. During peak times, you can often check in on the last day of free dining and take advantage for the entire stay, but it is very unlikely that there will be room-only discounts available.

In my opinion, it is always worth the time to do the math and see what your best options are. I've done trips both ways - season and resort level make a big difference.

Disney almost always offers a room-only discount for the general public which runs concurrent with the "Free Dining" dates. There are a few exceptions, such as those that you've noted. Anyone who can check in on 12/22 and get "Free Dining" for a week-long Christmas stay is going to do better than they could otherwise. And that's why I totally agree with you. It is always worth the time to do the math.

 

[robinb]

Anyone who can check in on 12/22 and get "Free Dining" for a week-long Christmas stay is going to do better than they could otherwise.

I agree that "free dining" for Christmas week is the best discount if you stay onsite. BUT, the rack rates are completely ridiculous. POR is $284 per night! AoA is $487 . In that case, offsite would be A LOT cheaper. Springhill Suites are only $84 per night and Carribe Royal is $125 per night (plus taxes and any fees). I stayed in a 4-bedroom house with a private pool over Christmas week last year for $800 including all taxes, fees and pool heat.

 

[Marionnette]

I agree that "free dining" for Christmas week is the best discount if you stay onsite. BUT, the rack rates are completely ridiculous. POR is $284 per night! AoA is $487 . In that case, offsite would be A LOT cheaper. Springhill Suites are only $84 per night and Carribe Royal is $125 per night (plus taxes and any fees). I stayed in a 4-bedroom house with a private pool over Christmas week last year for $800 including all taxes, fees and pool heat.

I agree that the rack rates during the holidays are ridiculous. However, there are also no discounts during the holidays, either. So, the only way to get a discount onsite would be to check in while "Free Dining" is in effect and have it extend through your entire stay.

As I said before, comparing onsite costs to offsite costs is like comparing apples to fish. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. You're going to pay more per pound for the fish but if you want fish and not apples, you'll pay for fish and be glad for any sale price you get.

 

[darnheather]

Oh yes, her "free dining" is costing $9! OMG not free!

 

[Disneylover99]

*sigh* Free dining is not FREE. It is a discount because you are paying rack rate for the room and full price for your passes. Sometimes the discount is good. In your case you are stuffing a POR room with 4 Disney "adults" and a child so you are getting just about the maximum bang for your buck. A couple staying at the Polynesian would see a much smaller discount with "free dining" because there are fewer people and the cost of the resort is much higher.

I'm glad that it's working out for your family, but it doesn't work for all families. Everyone needs to run the numbers themselves.

I disagree with the statement free dining is not free. Free dining is free. A 30% off room discount, is a 30% off room discount.

I do agree that you have to do the math and figure out what is cheaper or works better for your family. Typically, free dining is a better deal for families of four in value or moderate hotels and a 30% off room discount is a better deal for couples in a deluxe resort.

But free dining is still free.

 

[Marionnette]

I disagree with the statement free dining is not free. Free dining is free. A 30% off room discount, is a 30% off room discount.

I do agree that you have to do the math and figure out what is cheaper or works better for your family. Typically, free dining is a better deal for families of four in value or moderate hotels and a 30% off room discount is a better deal for couples in a deluxe resort.

But free dining is still free.

Question: If your local grocery store is offering "Buy 1 Get 1 Free", do you consider the second item to be "free" or do you consider it to be 1/2-off the regular price for both items? Because the second item is only "free" if you pay full price for the first item. In essence, it isn't really free. It's half-off. The store just induced you to buy two items instead of just one.

That's how Disney does "Free Dining". They convince you to pay full price for your room and tickets (both of which you could get for less or not purchase at all) in order to get the dining plan for "free".

 

[canyoncam]

Question: If your local grocery store is offering "Buy 1 Get 1 Free", do you consider the second item to be "free" or do you consider it to be 1/2-off the regular price for both items? Because the second item is only "free" if you pay full price for the first item. In essence, it isn't really free. It's half-off. The store just induced you to buy two items instead of just one.

That's how Disney does "Free Dining". They convince you to pay full price for your room and tickets (both of which you could get for less or not purchase at all) in order to get the dining plan for "free".

Some stores don't allow you to just buy one at half price so if you don't take the second one for free the store wins. Same principle that Disney us employing. If you really want to stay at a particular resort or on sight it may be the best deal for you. One just has to run the numbers and I think most people searching for the best value do. So to those that choose this deal it does feel like "Free Dining".

Just my thought:-/

 

[lauradis]

It's oxymoron to say I saved this much by going to xx or xx on VACATION..

Free dinning isn't free you have to give up discount tickets and discount room prices.

If "Free dinning" is a better offer then any other discount available to you then take it.

We always take discounted dinning, sometimes we upgrade room class or stay longer, because I have xx amt of money to spend on vacations and you can bet I'm spending every penny.

 

[Disneylover99]

Question: If your local grocery store is offering "Buy 1 Get 1 Free", do you consider the second item to be "free" or do you consider it to be 1/2-off the regular price for both items? Because the second item is only "free" if you pay full price for the first item. In essence, it isn't really free. It's half-off. The store just induced you to buy two items instead of just one.

That's how Disney does "Free Dining". They convince you to pay full price for your room and tickets (both of which you could get for less or not purchase at all) in order to get the dining plan for "free".

Well, to answer your question, I would consider a "buy one get one free offer" to be half off the regular price for both items.

But free dining is still free. I don't have to pay for the dining plan for my partner to get it for free. It's free for my family of four. Yes, I know I'm paying rack rate for my room. But it's still free. I am making a choice. Do I want free dining or do I want a room discount? Yes, I know I can get discounted tickets elsewhere, but again, I'm making a choice.

When I choose free dining and I understand the parameters of free dining, (Ex. 2 quick service meals plus one snack for value or 1 quick service, 1 table service, plus one snack for moderate) I know what to order, then I am getting free dining. I don't have to pay tax. It's free. Plus I get 4 refillable mugs.

Typically, I travel during value seasons where a value resort costs just over $100 per night. If I can get a 15 % discount on my room, I can save about $105 over the course of a week. Four mugs alone will cost me about $60.

 

[robinb]

But free dining is still free. I don't have to pay for the dining plan for my partner to get it for free. It's free for my family of four. Yes, I know I'm paying rack rate for my room. But it's still free. I am making a choice. Do I want free dining or do I want a room discount? Yes, I know I can get discounted tickets elsewhere, but again, I'm making a choice.

If you get a "room only" discount and then turn it into a package by adding passes and the DDP. So, by choosing "free dining" you are exchanging your RO discount for a discount equal to the monetary value of the DDP for your family makeup and size.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you get a "room only" discount and then turn it into a package by adding passes and the DDP. So, by choosing "free dining" you are exchanging your RO discount for a discount equal to the monetary value of the DDP for your family makeup and size.

Sorry....I'm reading this over and over again, but I'm not really following what you are saying. It could be the glass of wine I had with dinner. Please explain. Thanks!

 

[LMDisneygirl]

I'm always confused by people saying that Free Dining isn't free and means you are giving up some greater discount. It really all depends on your family and your preferences.

I understand that there might be a case where 2 people staying in a Deluxe Resort might get a pretty good deal with a 35% room discount, and it would work out better for them. Or a family who rents a condo and makes all their meals. But that doesn't mean that when I get Free Dining it isn't free.

We typically go in August when the room prices are at their lowest. Last year we went during this time and paid value season room rates. We will be going at basically the same time this year and paying similar room rates, but with the Free QSDP. It will in fact be free in comparison to the same trip last year. And as for paying "rack rates". I'd much rather have 2 QS meals and a QS snack for us each day than $15-20 off my room each day. It's a no brainer for us!

 

[Marionnette]

Some stores don't allow you to just buy one at half price so if you don't take the second one for free the store wins. Same principle that Disney us employing. If you really want to stay at a particular resort or on sight it may be the best deal for you. One just has to run the numbers and I think most people searching for the best value do. So to those that choose this deal it does feel like "Free Dining".

Just my thought:-/

If Acme is selling apples this week for 30% off their normal price of $1.00 each and you buy one apple, you will pay 70 cents. Let's say that they are also running a sale on the same apples and it's buy-1-get-1-free. You have to spend $1.00 but you get 2 apples for that price. Is that 2nd apple free or are you actually paying 30 cents for it, since you could get an apple for 70 cents?

It's the same thing with "Free Dining".

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Gosh this topic never dies!

The way I see it Disney offers two deals. Guest may choose which one they want.

Deal one: you pay full price for tickets and room, but don't pay for dining, therefore the dining portion of your package was free.

Deal two: you pay full price for dining (or don't get dining at all) and get a discount off the room, and sometimes tickets. Therefore your room and tickets portion of your package was discounted.

It's as simple as that, and I don't know why some love to make a fuss over others when they say they got free dining.

For those who love to scream that free dining isn't free, would you prefer it if all guest take the total of their entire package with no discount whatsoever, then take their total after which ever discount they choose is applied, do the math, then give a % of their savings, rather than say they got their dining for free?

This whole argument would be the same as if I said you did not get 30% off your room because you paid full price for dining and/or tickets that would sound ridiculous. You did get 30% off the room, that was the discount, even if you paid full price for other parts of your package!