"Free" dining offer a joke

[minnie1012]

We are a party of 7. Myself, husband, 2 kids, my brother and my parents. I wanted to stay separately but my Mom wanted us all to stay together with a kitchen so we could eat breakfast in the room and have a washer/dryer. Also so my brother wouldn't have to pay for his own room I imagine. We were originally going to stay at Saratoga but then I thought it might be better to be close to the Magic Kingdom since my one daughter will be only 13 months (naps etc). Plus the theming of Saratgoa didn't seem as "Disney" to me. I wanted the kids to have a cool Disney experience. If we stayed separately I wouldn't have stayed in a villa at all. I wish we could switch!

 

[MelanieC]

If your discounts on the room are a better deal - take that discount. If the free dining is a better deal - take that discount. It's a simple as that.

When free dining came out for part of our trip, I took that portion and figured out what our difference would be. We saved money, not including the money we would have saved for the food (the food discount makes the deal even better). We are staying at a value though with 4 people and our kids are considered adults.

The mileage for each person varies depending on your situation and discount you ALREADY had booked. If you had rack rate booked - you would have saved - but your discount must already be BETTER than the free dining for YOUR situation.

 

[disneynewbee]

Disney didn't raise the room prices to make up for the dining plan the reason the room went up is because you had a discount on the room already. You can only have one discount so if you take the free dining you lose the room discount. Only one discount per package. We had POP with a 40% pin code when the free dining came out. Our room would have been around $500 with the discount and went up to around $850 when we switched over to free dining. They didn't increase the room price we just lost our discount on it. For us it still worked out a lot cheaper to take the dining plan because for $350 more for the room we can eat for 7 nights free which would have equaled $713. Now had we not origionally had a discount it would look like we were saving $713 but since we had the room discount and lost it it looks like we saved $363. Still a great deal in my book. But it doesn't work for everyone. If you have to upgrade because your room isn't available it will eat your discount. And really we still saved $713 because they didn't have to offer a discount at all.

 

[MarkinNM]

I agree with TDC Nala and others who say that Free Dining is a great discount, but it's important to remember that it is just a discount.

Because of the word "Free" the overall impression is that it's the best deal out there for everyone, and it isn't the best deal for everyone. I do worry sometimes about the 'mob mentality' that Free Dining is the be all end all, luring some into thinking that Free Dining is for them regardless of the circumstances.

I think that rather than arguing that Free Dining is free, we should let this remind us all that Free Dining is a discount and everyone needs to see if it's the best discount for them.

To you OP, I hope you can get things switched back around so that you are no longer paying more for your 'free' dining.

I agree but I am one of those whom does not get pin code discounts or has an DVC so I booked the 4/3 deal then my employer stopped vacations in the summer because they let too many people go and we were too short handed. I was on the verge of canceling then the "Discounted Dining" came out and I was able to book it for Sept for 2 more night AND get free dining, erh..... "Discounted Dining" for $290 more!!! 2 more nights and not having to pay rake rates for Food saved me right at $1200!!! Now thats a heck of a discount no matter what mob or anyone else calls it........

The Free Dining offer is definately NOT a joke. Like any other discount it depends on a lot of factors like the pp's have mentioned.
Free Dining is definately NOT the best savings if you are staying at a deluxe if you compare it to a % off room rate.
Here is a specific example:
We originally had the WL courtyard view booked ofr 7 nights in Dec. with a 40% off room rate code. It was going to cost our family, if I remember correctly about $2600???
A few weeks ago we received the Free Dining PIN for December. We decided to cancel our reservations at WL and book POP using the Free Dining PIN.
Moral of the Free Dining story?
We are staying at POP for 10 days with free dining for under $2K.

Sooo...the free dining not only saved our family $600, it added 3 nights.
Definately NOT a joke for us!

One more AWESOME exsample of "Discounted Dining" let everyone else pay rake rates for food.............

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I am so disgusted. We are booked at WL Nov 29-Dec 5, bunkbed room, woods view-reserved thru AAA. When I got the email from Disney Visa last week offering "free" dining, I called AAA immediately. Here I am thinking, we're a family of 4 and the dining plan costs roughly $100/day for us-so I should be getting a credit of $600 or so. When she repriced my package, there were no rooms in my same category, so I could still get the bunk bed room but with a courtyard view, which is a little more expensive. My package with "free" dining is now more than my original package-how can that even be? Disney is offering nothing free. They just make something "free" and you pay more for your room. I love Disney more than anything but come on, what a joke-do they think we're dumb enough not to figure this out pretty quickly???

Why were there no rooms in your category? Why didn't you just keep the same room category as you had with AAA? Maybe you could try to rebook at a moderate. Don't give up. Call a TA that books only Disney. It is not too late - forget the AAA people, book through someone else!!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but free dining is one of many offers. There are (as mentioned already) room discounts as well that you COULD take advantage of instead.
On our very first free dining we wrote down every single purchase we made on the dining. We ate at all the most expensive restaurants (on purpose... we didn't know we would be doing it every year, and we thought it was our one shot at sticking it to Disney!) We saved every receipt. On the trip home we added them up. According to the receipts, we ate more $ in "free food" than we paid for the entire vacation including gas. Since that trip they have cheapened it. No "ToInsurePromptness" included, no appetizer, etc. We have also learned that the best meals at the best restaurants are often NOT the most expensive. This is ESPECIALLY true concerning the TS desserts. On our last trip we each ordered a different dessert and we each sampled every dessert on the table with an open mind. Every meal the dessert we chose as the best was one of the cheapest one offered. And notably, each dessert we chose as the best was in every single case NOT the chocolate one!!! And this comes from a family of chocolate lovers. So now we just read the menus and choose what sounds best, regardless of the price.
For us it's not about which deal is best, it's about "knowing us". And by "knowing us" I mean that if we were not on the "free" DDP we would NOT pay for the DDP, and we would NOT eat as well as we do on the DDP. Its also about my goal to eat at every single restaurant on Disney property at least once. When not on the DDP we bring in much of our food, eat more picnics, eat less healthy, skip on desserts, and drink water with Koolaid packets. Granted I like all of those, but it's nice to do it the "rich way" and eat at all the fancy restaurants. I guess if we went once a year or once every few years we too wouldn't worry about food. But at 3-4 trips a year it's a sacrifice and the food loses. That is unless we get the free dining. As far as the resort... It's value resort. Always. We're a POP family.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Well, we wouldn't go to WDW without the dp, and we (up until this year of hard economic times we were a 3-4 trips a year family) fell in love with dp, love deluxe the best. Went for FD in 2007, fell in love with it!! We have paid for dp several times, and during FD we upgrade to deluxe. It is just a deal!! When we considered how much we would spend per day for a character meal, plus snacks and drinks in the parks, plus the CS meals, the DP is a no brainer, and we also brought food from home so we could have food in the room. Now we don't even pack water for the room, with the delux we have the refillable mugs, and get a bottled drink to take to the room. What's not to love!?

 

[wezee]

I am so disgusted. We are booked at WL Nov 29-Dec 5, bunkbed room, woods view-reserved thru AAA. When I got the email from Disney Visa last week offering "free" dining, I called AAA immediately. Here I am thinking, we're a family of 4 and the dining plan costs roughly $100/day for us-so I should be getting a credit of $600 or so. When she repriced my package, there were no rooms in my same category, so I could still get the bunk bed room but with a courtyard view, which is a little more expensive. My package with "free" dining is now more than my original package-how can that even be? Disney is offering nothing free. They just make something "free" and you pay more for your room. I love Disney more than anything but come on, what a joke-do they think we're dumb enough not to figure this out pretty quickly???

I have read all the posts and keep thinking..........Did your original ressie with AAA include dining? If not....you need to consider, though you may be paying a few dollars more with the FD promo......you will be saving all your food costs that will be covered by the dining plan. For example:

AAA ressie= $2500.00 + out of pocket food costs
FD ressie= $2600.00 + dining included.

 

[Poodie]

We saved $675 with free dining over having a room discount (40%).

Our room discount would have been $350 (POR for 6 nights).... the cost of the dining plan for our family of 5 (only one is still considered a child on the Dining Plan) would be $1025 (cost of actual food would be much higher since even having to purchase the dining plan would have saved us $$)... so subtract the room discount we could have gotten from the cost of the dining plan (not the true value of it which is more) and you get a savings of $675! Works for me!

Without the Free Dining offer (and some Overtime at work), we would not be going to WDW in TWO WKS!

So, it is not really free for everyone...(unless you were already paying rack rate for your room and full price for your tickets AND were planning to pay for the DDP or paying out of pocket for all your food), ... it IS a discount for ALOT of WDW visitors! For larger families, like my own, staying at a Mod.... it's a GREAT deal!

We have 6 nights at POR, 7 day base tickets, and free meals..... all for $2180!

We are driving down.... so when you add in hotels coming and going (one night each), plus gas, driving meals, tips, resort mugs, and some extra spending money for 'adult' beverages and 'stuff'.... our 9 day vacation for a family of 5 will be right around $3000! Can't beat that, IMO!

 

[princessmom29]

We are 2 adults and one child staying at CSR Nov 25-Dec 2, and the free dining offer saved us $300 more than the room only discount b/c of the blackout days. Only 3 of our nights qualified for the room only discount. We rant the numbers last year on the dinig plan versus what we would have paid oop to eat and even when we piad for it it saved us about $300 on a 5 night trip versus paying oop. We are a family that enjoys a sit down meal in the evenings on vacation and would do that regardless of wether we had the dining plan, so for us free dining is a great deal that is saving us $500 over what our reservation would have cost, plus the savings versus paying oop for meals.

 

[bytheblood]

I disagree with the comment and OP. My sister and I are staying at the WL and booked the dining plan. Free dining saved us over $800. There were not any AP or room only rates available for my stay, so $800 is better than no dollars. The room rate would have been another $130, but in light of saving $800+, I am not complaining.

Disney does not have to offer anything at all.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

Leaving in 2 weeks... 7 of us.... 4 adults and 3 kids... 2 rooms at Pop rack rate $82/night per room so $164/night. NO room discounts were available to us at this time. DDP would cost us $193/night for all 7 of us. Yeah, that's MORE than the cost of the rooms! For us, definitely a good deal!

BUT... DH and I are going back in September for our honeymoon and staying at CSR. We were able to get a 40% off pin. So for that particular trip, that resort, for only 2 adults, the 40% off discount was better than free dining.

 

[Tricia1972]

A few people have shared how the free dining doesn't work for them. Many people have shared how the free dining works great for them.

100 people sharing how it works for them is not going to make the promo work for everyone, even the OP in this thread.

I think that they felt frustrated because Free Dining seems to be the be all end all promo for Disney. They came here to vent and share how it didn't work for them.

Personally I appreciate people sharing thoughts against the DDP to avoid the mob mentality that the DDP seems to invoke. It's important that everyone look at it and research for themselves. As much as it seems like it should work for everyone, the free DDP simply does not work for everyone.

The equation for everyone with a discount code, borrowed from RobinB is

Rack Rate x .60 = Discounted Room Rate
Add to that your DDP Costs

If this total is less than Rack rate, the 40% discount is the best deal for you.

If this total is more than your rack rate, free dining is your best discount.

I am glad that it works for so many, but those that it doesn't work for should feel free to come here and share their feelings as well.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

A few people have shared how the free dining doesn't work for them. Many people have shared how the free dining works great for them.

100 people sharing how it works for them is not going to make the promo work for everyone, even the OP in this thread.

From this thread, I'm not seeing people saying, "Free dining always saves people money - it's the best deal for everyone."

But the OP is making it out like Disney is pulling a fast one with the free dining offer and that people who think free dining is a good deal are "dumb".

Disney is offering nothing free. They just make something "free" and you pay more for your room. I love Disney more than anything but come on, what a joke-do they think we're dumb enough not to figure this out pretty quickly???

There are many discounts available right now - all of them are designed to save people money off the full price of what they are purchasing - be in room only, package or package with dining plan. What works best for you depends on what discounts you qualify for, what level of resort you're staying at and what components you want need (i.e. room, tickets, meals).

Edited to Add: The OP may want to check her confirmation from AAA or have another CM price out the free dining for them. The AAA rate is what 15% off the room rate in December at a Deluxe - that is a saving of around $261 off the price of a package (Room rate is $290 for a Woodsview Bunkbed room). She says free dining would be $600. Maybe the CM with free dining added park hopping and waterparks to the tickets? The difference between Woodsview BB and Courtyard view BB is only $25 per night ($135).

 

[Pumbaa_]

Goofykidd I understand exactly how you feel! I can't get free dining to work for me either. I really really really want it to, but it doesn't

WE have dvc and ap's and we like the deluxes. And there are just the 2 of us. Just can't make the numbers work

I would be just as frustrated as you to try to change your ressie to free dining and have it go up that much. You already included the ddp the first time!

Hope it works out for you

 

[jerenaud]

Goofykidd I understand exactly how you feel! I can't get free dining to work for me either. I really really really want it to, but it doesn't

WE have dvc and ap's and we like the deluxes. And there are just the 2 of us. Just can't make the numbers work

I would be just as frustrated as you to try to change your ressie to free dining and have it go up that much. You already included the ddp the first time!

Hope it works out for you

I just said last night that I'd been playing with the numbers and really wanted one of the room only discounts to work for us, but just couldn't make it a better deal than 'free' dining for 3 adults and 2 kids!

I think that whatever the current 'deal' is, I just want to be part of - so I have to be careful to listen to what the numbers are saying.


Erica

 

[MarkinNM]

Personally I appreciate people sharing thoughts against the DDP to avoid the mob mentality that the DDP seems to invoke.

Funny as the only "mob mentality" I see here are the ones "who cant get it to work"????

From this thread, I'm not seeing people saying, "Free dining always saves people money - it's the best deal for everyone."

But the OP is making it out like Disney is pulling a fast one with the free dining offer and that people who think free dining is a good deal are "dumb".

That is the vibe I got also, along with the "mod mentality" verbage that is in here........

Goofykidd I understand exactly how you feel! I can't get free dining to work for me either. I really really really want it to, but it doesn't

WE have dvc and ap's and we like the deluxes. And there are just the 2 of us. Just can't make the numbers work

I would be just as frustrated as you to try to change your ressie to free dining and have it go up that much. You already included the ddp the first time!

Hope it works out for you

Thanks now that makes sense as I can see the cost savings of a DVC, IF ones takes advantage of them…..

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Now we don't even pack water for the room, with the delux we have the refillable mugs, and get a bottled drink to take to the room.

This is OT, but on a trip about a year ago I made the mistake of bringing some big bottles of juice in from Costco. I think it was Blueberry Pomegranate and Cranberry Juice Coctail. Or maybe it was white grape. Either way I quickly realized that for me, there was nothing that hit the spot after a long day in the parks, like a tall cup of ice cold Blueberry Pomegranate juice. Sodas (though free with the mugs) required me to walk back up there and it just didn't quench my thirst like the juice. Also POP is known for watered down sodas, so they weren't as good either. It's stuck. Dining or no dining, my Costco / Sams juices are a must. After a tiring day in the parks, I like to lay belly down on the bed with a tall cup of juice with lots of ice, and watch that dark haired chic on the Disney TV. (Darn... what's her name...)
Back to topic: Not every promo is right for every guest. I've had people get angry at me because I argued against the vacation club. I have did the math, and the numbers, and I have given it a thorough looking over. We researched it all out and it just don't add up for us. Not saying it's bad, or a rip off; just that it makes no sense for us. Now the free dining makes perfect sense for us, but as everyone here is saying, we are value resort people. I just want a place to sleep, shower, and pee. The rest is just frills.

 

[Princess Steph]

I am so disgusted. We are booked at WL Nov 29-Dec 5, bunkbed room, woods view-reserved thru AAA. When I got the email from Disney Visa last week offering "free" dining, I called AAA immediately. Here I am thinking, we're a family of 4 and the dining plan costs roughly $100/day for us-so I should be getting a credit of $600 or so. When she repriced my package, there were no rooms in my same category, so I could still get the bunk bed room but with a courtyard view, which is a little more expensive. My package with "free" dining is now more than my original package-how can that even be? Disney is offering nothing free. They just make something "free" and you pay more for your room. I love Disney more than anything but come on, what a joke-do they think we're dumb enough not to figure this out pretty quickly???

Did your first ressie include the dining plan? I might have missed it in your post. If it did, then that does not make sense that the cost is now more. If it did not include the DP, there is a huge expense (food) that is taken care of. Even if the package went up, did it go up the amount you would pay for food out of pocket? I think it's a great thing, it feels like I'm at an all-inclusive and everything is included. ( I will pay the tips at the end of the trip.) Have fun either way!

 

[Allison]

Sorry, Tricia, but I don't see how anyone has a mob mentality or is saying someone can't vent when the dining plan doesn't work for them. People are giving the other side of the story of when it does work and explaining why it might not have worked for the OP and talking about how other discounts might be better for some. It seems to be a pretty civil discussion to me. I like hearing how different offers work best for different people.