Free dining or wait for possible room only offer?

[Donald Duck888]

Ok here is my dilemma,

I just noticed that there is now a free dining offer out for early Dec when we will be going to Disney this year. Usually I always wait for room only as most times it is just me and my daughter going so room only makes way more financial sense. This year however my wife is coming too so there needs to be a bit more calculus involved.

I calculated the price of the offer and took off the cost of the ticket that is included and estimated the cost out of pocket for meals and came up with a room cost that is still above where a discounted room would be. Now one item I may be off on is the value I estimated for the food involved. I put it at $150.00 per day, does that sound right to most? Obviously if I am off on that for the 6 days that changes the calculus.

Also what are the odds of a room only for December? I see there is one out now out to Nov that is a bit less than the summer one is and I know last year a Dec discount did come out but nothing is guaranteed until it is actually out there.

So just looking for opinions, would ya roll the dice on waiting for a room only or would ya bit at the free dining? Thanks.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would book the offer now and if a room-only is released that offers better savings, simply change your reservation.

 

[Hopefully]

The Free Dining rooms will sell out quickly. I would book now

 

[geekbri]

Good luck finding free dining, the rooms see fairly limited (Although this may not be true depending how flexible you are with the resort you want to stay at). I would book RIGHT NOW with free dining. Last year for our honey moon we tried to get free dining and failed. We then booked anyway. Later on we received in the mail a bounce back coupon (30% off off). We just called in and applied it. Had we had the free dining the TA said they would have just swapped it for us.

 

[Donald Duck888]

Does The dining plan still include desert and drink (non alcoholic)? Also tip is now not included, correct? I was reading on the Disney site and there were lots of asterisks with desert and such. Thanks

 

[geekbri]

When I went in October of 2015 the disney dining plan I had (regular dining not deluxe) included a non alcoholic drink and desert with every QS and TS meal.

 

[Donald Duck888]

When I went in October of 2015 the disney dining plan I had (regular dining not deluxe) included a non alcoholic drink and desert with every QS and TS meal.

Cool, thanks for the info. Now I just need to determine how much value to assign to 3 dining plans (2 adult and 1 child).

Sounds like most on here feel I should go with the free dining.

 

[maltdizzy]

Cool, thanks for the info. Now I just need to determine how much value to assign to 3 dining plans (2 adult and 1 child).

Sounds like most on here feel I should go with the free dining.

If staying at a value...you only get Quick Service free...2 x 44.13 + 19.04 = $107.30 a day

Moderate and above get Regular dining...2 x 63.70 + 22.85 = $150.25 per day

We don't do the dining plan, but I assume the offer is every day of the trip, instead of every night (like the room discount). For instance, a 6-day/5-night trip tip moderate would be $150 per day or $180 savings per night. If you stay more than 6 days, that difference will close (because you'll be divide that one extra day by more nights).

Plus...you really have to make use of the DDP to see all the benefit.

 

[KarenP64]

It's a good idea too to calculate prices of meals with Allears.net. You can choose ahead of time what restaurants you'll want to eat at & get an idea of daily costs. If you want to eat at table service restaurants, you can easily spend $100 or more for 3 people. So, that should help you see if free dining is worth it or paying out of pocket.

 

[maltdizzy]

Funny thing is, for 3 people (2 adults, 1 child) at Yatch Club, I added up the price if I add 6-day PH ticket and 6-day DDP to my 5-night RO...and it came up to EXACTLY the same price as the FD offer for the exact same room. So...for me...free dining isn't even a discount.

Obviously, 4+ people and/or a worst RO discount (only a few Deluxes are offering 25%) would push that in FD's favor, but for me...it's a push; and I retain flexibility on cancellation, PH, payment, DDP, etc. But this is why I only value the cost of DDP and not the cost of the meals.

Sure proves one really has to do their due diligence.

 

[jvattes]

Am I reading the site wrong? I totally see a room-only offer for the same time frame as FD. It's called Back To School Savings and is a fairly substantial savings, depending where you're looking. Is there reason to hold out longer for some other room only offer that will come out later??

 

[dnw25]

Am I reading the site wrong? I totally see a room-only offer for the same time frame as FD. It's called Back To School Savings and is a fairly substantial savings, depending where you're looking. Is there reason to hold out longer for some other room only offer that will come out later??

what browser are you using? Their system is so glitchy. The room only offer I see is only good through November 5.

Military discount are available through mid December and FD through December 21 but everything else ends either this summer or November 5.

Right?

 

[Wood Nymph]

Ok here is my dilemma,

I just noticed that there is now a free dining offer out for early Dec when we will be going to Disney this year. Usually I always wait for room only as most times it is just me and my daughter going so room only makes way more financial sense. This year however my wife is coming too so there needs to be a bit more calculus involved.

I calculated the price of the offer and took off the cost of the ticket that is included and estimated the cost out of pocket for meals and came up with a room cost that is still above where a discounted room would be. Now one item I may be off on is the value I estimated for the food involved. I put it at $150.00 per day, does that sound right to most? Obviously if I am off on that for the 6 days that changes the calculus.

Also what are the odds of a room only for December? I see there is one out now out to Nov that is a bit less than the summer one is and I know last year a Dec discount did come out but nothing is guaranteed until it is actually out there.

So just looking for opinions, would ya roll the dice on waiting for a room only or would ya bit at the free dining? Thanks.

You didn't state your resort preference and your travel dates. It makes a huge difference if you plan to stay at a deluxe resort or not. Free dining is not always a better deal than a room only discount when staying at a deluxe resort with three or more people.

I think a value of $150 for the dining plan sounds good, even though the dining plan costs about $63 per day for adults. Most people wouldn't buy all the food that comes with a dining plan if paying out of pocket for it.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Am I reading the site wrong? I totally see a room-only offer for the same time frame as FD. It's called Back To School Savings and is a fairly substantial savings, depending where you're looking. Is there reason to hold out longer for some other room only offer that will come out later??

I would book a room only discount as soon as I saw it if it was want I wanted. They sell out quickly. If a better discount comes out later then you can always try to have it applied to your reservation.

 

[maltdizzy]

Am I reading the site wrong? I totally see a room-only offer for the same time frame as FD. It's called Back To School Savings and is a fairly substantial savings, depending where you're looking. Is there reason to hold out longer for some other room only offer that will come out later??

The OP was asking because they are booking for December. If they what for a RO discount for December, those typically doesn't get offered until mid-July.

BUT...having thought more carefully about the OP's dates...I realize others were correct. I agree with those who suggest booking the FD while they can, even if they are uncertain...they can always cancel and re-book if a better RO offer comes in this summer. ALl I did was confuse the issue.

 

[Kevin355]

Just booked with a Military rate and it is cheaper than the FD.

 

[jvattes]

The OP was asking because they are booking for December.

Oops, missed that!

 

[HopperFan]

Cool, thanks for the info. Now I just need to determine how much value to assign to 3 dining plans (2 adult and 1 child).

Sounds like most on here feel I should go with the free dining.

Used to do it every year, no more. Used to be 4 Disney Adults, now 2, so math doesn't work out for us. (and we have TiW).

- My suggestion is, book Free Dining NOW, before the availability is nothing.
- THEN take the time to do all your math, look at where you want to eat, how much it will cost if OOP.
- You will then have a good idea if it is good for you or not.
- Room level makes a difference too, moderate & value (with upgrade) have the best value.
- If numbers don't work out, cancel and rebook with discounted room.

*** DDP is a good way to try much more expensive restaurants than you would normally go to. A nice treat!
Since your DW is coming, this might be the trip to do these type places, and then maybe the cost will work out for you.
Then next trip with you kiddo, go back to room only discount.

 

[AshleeH]

Funny thing is, for 3 people (2 adults, 1 child) at Yatch Club, I added up the price if I add 6-day PH ticket and 6-day DDP to my 5-night RO...and it came up to EXACTLY the same price as the FD offer for the exact same room. So...for me...free dining isn't even a discount.

Obviously, 4+ people and/or a worst RO discount (only a few Deluxes are offering 25%) would push that in FD's favor, but for me...it's a push; and I retain flexibility on cancellation, PH, payment, DDP, etc. But this is why I only value the cost of DDP and not the cost of the meals.

Sure proves one really has to do their due diligence.

Yeah, Free Dining isn't really free - or even a smart decision in a lot of cases. Some people actually do save a little bit of money, but it's amusing to see everyone go nuts when the dates are released.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Discount Codes and Rates board.