Free Dining Package vs. DCP discounts

[lacy1101]

We will be going in October to spend a week with our daughter who will be on the Disney College Program for the fall semester. Is anyone else considering booking a free dining package as opposed to using the DCP discounts? I know the room discount could be as much as 60% if she stays with us (which, of course, we want her to do, and so does she), she can use her main gate passes to get us into the parks for free (we only plan on using 2-3 of these, though, as she wants to save some of those for friends who will be visiting at other times), and she can use her 20% table service discount (although I'm unclear if she can use it for all of us, or just her). I also realize there is always a chance that a discounted dining plan could come out for DCP during the time we are there.

My concerns with using her discounts is that we will have to wait until she has access to the Hub before she could make our reservations (she checks in on September 2nd and our trip dates are 10/25-11/01), the fact that we would have to purchase additional tickets since we only plan on using 2-3 of her main gate passes, and, of course, the cost of food. I'm not sure the DCP discount savings would be significant enough to not just go ahead and book a free dining package and have the peace of mind that everything is set and nothing left to chance. With the 2 day tickets that are required with the free dining promotion, we probably wouldn't need additional tickets given the fact that we would also have 2-3 days of her main gate passes.

Just curious if anyone else is considering this?

 

[chefmb]

Hi! Our son checks in August 5. My husband and I have already planned a November trip with FD. To get in the park using the main gate passes, our son would have to be with us. We're going to be there for a week. I did not want to depend on him being off or making him get up early enough (if he is off) to get us in the park for the day (I've read that once you get in, you have the park hopper for the day and your child does not have to be with you anymore). I also figured that even with a 50% discount, staying at a mod would work out to about the same amount as adding on the dining plan. We might have saved a little, but I didn't want to wait and take a chance on the unknown. This way, there's no stress worrying about getting a resort room or which days DS can go to the park with us---he can just come when he's available and wants to join us.

 

[lacy1101]

Hi! Our son checks in August 5. My husband and I have already planned a November trip with FD. To get in the park using the main gate passes, our son would have to be with us. We're going to be there for a week. I did not want to depend on him being off or making him get up early enough (if he is off) to get us in the park for the day (I've read that once you get in, you have the park hopper for the day and your child does not have to be with you anymore). I also figured that even with a 50% discount, staying at a mod would work out to about the same amount as adding on the dining plan. We might have saved a little, but I didn't want to wait and take a chance on the unknown. This way, there's no stress worrying about getting a resort room or which days DS can go to the park with us---he can just come when he's available and wants to join us.

Sometimes, you just can't put a price tag on peace of mind.

FWIW, I did some math this morning, and it looks liks the free dining package is only coming out about $100 more for our family than using the DCP room discount and a discounted dining plan (which may or may not happen). I think I made the right decision. We will have the opportunity to take advantage of her DCP room discount when we go back for Christmas.

 

[BadDad]

I just got back using my CPer's Discount @ CBR: $950 for 6 nights (Hotels + meals added using magic bands). 1 expensive dinner @ Whispering Canyon. The rest was Counter Service.

 

[Barry Browning]

I know for a fact that she can get you discounted meal plan, children just went and son is CM they stayed at All Stars and did food plan.It was like $50 for room and meal plan was discounted too.The thing you need to watch out for is blackout dates, she has to have access for that.Also you can book room and meals off of that too.

 

[lacy1101]

I know for a fact that she can get you discounted meal plan, children just went and son is CM they stayed at All Stars and did food plan.It was like $50 for room and meal plan was discounted too.The thing you need to watch out for is blackout dates, she has to have access for that.Also you can book room and meals off of that too.

I have heard that they blackout dates for the main gate passes, but do they also black out the room and dining discounts, too?

 

[BadDad]

I have heard that they blackout dates for the main gate passes, but do they also black out the room and dining discounts, too?

Most likely the block of rooms would be limited for discount.

My last stay I could enter the MK only Mon-Thurs, my stay was Sun-Sat

 

[dismsn]

I just booked a free dining package at All Stars Sports Resort for me and my husband. It includes 7 nights lodging, park tickets each day, 2 quick serve meals and one snack each day for both me and my husband, and includes tax for $1495. We wanted to be able to use the fastpass + system and wanted to be able to book our airline tickets. We are going in September and our daughter doesn't arrive until mid August. We knew we`d have to buy tickets anyway because our daughter isn't going to be free everyday we're there. At $214/day, the park tickets are almost free.

 

[chelikay]

Discounts are not included in the black out dates. Just maingates!

 

[photos_101]

Hi, I went last year around the same time as you are going, Oct 25-30. DD was a CP then and was able to get us a 50% discount on the room (we stayed AOA suite) but there was no dining discount at that time. I believe the dining discount started a few days AFTER we checked in so we couldn't get it for our stay. Had we been able to change our days we could have gotten 60% room discount AND DDP discount!
We opted for AP's for our stays since we knew we would be going multiple times and we didn't want to take the risk of either her working and not getting us into the parks or the blackout days. It was actually a no-brainer on the APs since I myself went several times to see her and then we (DH, DS and I) went for 2weeks at over Christmas/New Year to wait for her program to end and help move her home. We were able to get a great discount at Christmas, we stayed BC with 60% off and discounted dining.

We will be going for Christmas this year again and she has a friend that can get her a CM discount but we so far have opted for the Free dining promo. I think it was about $100 more but that was because we couldn't get the extra discount as the CM wouldn't be staying with us.

HTH and Enjoy!