free dining rumor!

[mousiemom]

after reading on these boards, i decided to go ahead and book @ Pop. i went ahead and made all of my adrs so here's hoping for the disney visa offer to come on out!!
mousiemom

 

[Goof-abulous]

Bring on the bones. I too am waiting for FD for August. I went in September of last year and got a room at the BC with FD. I want ot push it back though. We have family who are vacationing in the beginning of August and although I would go twice I don't know that I can do it.

 

[Step]

I have this sneaky feeling it MAKES Disney money.

You buy a FULL price room (which I wouldn't pay FULL Price for most Disney resorts... LOL!) And I bet other purchases go up. "Sure honey we can afford the $200 Big Fig, after all we got FREE DINING" Do that a few times and you probably spent just as much if not more then you would have on dining before LOL!

I get what you are trying to say, however...

Ticket and airfare costs are the same cost regardless of which room discount type you get. Lets say $2000 for 4 adults (in my case).

Free dining for 4 adults for 7 nights is a flat discount of $38x4x7 = $1054

Possible room discounts available:
value 20% off
moderate 30% off
deluxe 40% off

2008 standard rates (value season):
value $82
moderate $149
deluxe $225-$385

Results from 7 nights in 2 rooms:

Value ($82x2x7 = $1148)

20% off room
+$1148(room)
-$229(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$3973(total)

free dining
+$1148(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$3148(total)

Moderate ($149x2x7 = $2086)

30% off room
+$2086(room)
-$625(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$4515(total)

free dining
+$2086(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$4086(total)

Deluxe ($225x2x7 = $3150)

40% off room
+$3150(room)
-$1260(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$6044(total)

free dining
+$3150(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$5150(total)

Deluxe ($385x2x7 = $5390)

40% off room
+$5390(room)
-$2516(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$5928(total)

free dining
+$5390(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$7390(total)

Free dining clearly beats out room discounts until you stay at the most expensive deluxe resorts.

Hope these calculations help someone out.

( I got my data from mouse savers.com and from memory, correct me if I have something wrong)

 

[Nicole786]

i'm hoping for FD for 2 reasons:

1) for all of you guys! It truly was the most awesome thing about last years trip!

2) low crowds and room discounts the week before! LOL (thats when i go!)

 

[n2mm]

i'm hoping for FD for 2 reasons:

1) for all of you guys! It truly was the most awesome thing about last years trip!

2) low crowds and room discounts the week before! LOL (thats when i go!)

My dates are Aug. 10-20 and pretty sure my dates are not included. Your number 2 makes me feel OK about not getting the free ddp.

 

[jerseygal]

Step, in your deluxe calculation..you I believe are using $375..You must use "value season rates"...In value season, the deluxe at YC, BC, BWI, is $325...I think Poly is $340...AK and WL is less expensive.If you re-do calculations, I would agree, 40% at Deluxe will be better even with the room change amount. Free Dining vs 20% at Deluxe I believe will be better...

Here's hoping for Free Dining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Brain]

How is it low crowds before free dining?? That's when school is still out, and the park is FULL. Actually its the last few weeks before school goes back in so parents try to all get in one last vacaton... so like I said FULL.

 

[CarolA]

I get what you are trying to say, however...

Ticket and airfare costs are the same cost regardless of which room discount type you get. Lets say $2000 for 4 adults (in my case).

)

No I don't think you get what I am saying...

So you saved $800 at a moderate.

You and your family now have a "psycholoigical" feeling of "savings" So instead of the $200 budget you might have had without Free Dining for souvieners and the $1000 budget you had to buy meals out of pocket you spend $1,400 on "special" souvieners..... Mark up on souviners is a lot more then on food and costs to sell are lower then food. (fewer employees required to run a cash register then a resutrant)

So.... Disney just made MORE money LOL!

And I bet it's true. I bet folks wind up spending MORE on "special" treats then the saved or would have spent without the deal. I hear it on here enough to feel it's true. People come back with trip reports of "since we we were saving so much we bought the XYZ we always wanted" LOL!

 

[CarolA]

How is it low crowds before free dining?? That's when school is still out, and the park is FULL. Actually its the last few weeks before school goes back in so parents try to all get in one last vacaton... so like I said FULL.

All of the schools in the South are BACK in session by then. I have gone the week before Labor Day with my friends from Boston and it was not "FULL" It was less crowded then mid July or Christmas. That's FULL! LOL!

 

[Step]

No I don't think you get what I am saying...

So you saved $800 at a moderate.

You and your family now have a "psycholoigical" feeling of "savings" So instead of the $200 budget you might have had without Free Dining for souvieners and the $1000 budget you had to buy meals out of pocket you spend $1,400 on "special" souvieners..... Mark up on souviners is a lot more then on food and costs to sell are lower then food. (fewer employees required to run a cash register then a resutrant)

So.... Disney just made MORE money LOL!

And I bet it's true. I bet folks wind up spending MORE on "special" treats then the saved or would have spent without the deal. I hear it on here enough to feel it's true. People come back with trip reports of "since we we were saving so much we bought the XYZ we always wanted" LOL!

I didn't mean to be rude or anything with my post. I realized you were talking about the psychological effect. I was addressing the part of your comment about full price rooms. I would certainly pay full price for a room if I would have $800 more to spend on souvenirs.

Why on earth would I want to pay $800 more and not have that extra $800 for souvenirs or savings instead?

I guess the difference between me and most folks is that I don't spend money I don't have. If I have $200 I'll spend $200 on souvenirs. If I have $1000, I'll spend anywhere from $200 to $1000 on souvenirs. I won't spend $1400 if I can't afford it.

Secondly, if people want to spend more money because they are happy with their discount and enjoy their trip AND they can afford it, all the power to them. Doesn't effect my calculations in anyway.

 

[Step]

Step, in your deluxe calculation..you I believe are using $375..You must use "value season rates"...In value season, the deluxe at YC, BC, BWI, is $325...I think Poly is $340...AK and WL is less expensive.If you re-do calculations, I would agree, 40% at Deluxe will be better even with the room change amount. Free Dining vs 20% at Deluxe I believe will be better...

Here's hoping for Free Dining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grand Floridian is the most expensive at a rate of $385 during value season.
Animal Kingdom / Wilderness Lodge are cheapest at a rate of $225 during value season.

That's why I used both those values. You'll see I have two deluxe calculations.

 

[lovesdumbo]

How is it low crowds before free dining?? That's when school is still out, and the park is FULL. Actually its the last few weeks before school goes back in so parents try to all get in one last vacaton... so like I said FULL.

I've been to WDW in late Aug 05,06, & 07. While Aug 07 was busier than 05 & 06 it wasn't as busy as a lot of other times of the year-I think WDW is busier a lot of the year now. I'm sure September is still relatively quiet-who wants to take their kids out of school just as it is starting? I think a lot of families who aren't already in school are busy getting ready for school in late Aug. Folks have limited vacation time and I think a lot choose to go closer to when school gets out. A lot of kids who participate in sports have to start the sports up before the school year starts.

 

[DaParkers]

How is it low crowds before free dining?? That's when school is still out, and the park is FULL. Actually its the last few weeks before school goes back in so parents try to all get in one last vacaton... so like I said FULL.

Not true. Do you notice the malls the last few weeks before school? They're crowded, because people are getting ready for school. Most Summer vacations hapen in June or July. I would never go to WDW at a FULL time. I've been there right before school starts and the parks are not FULL. That's why Disney calls it Value Season and lowers their prices. Why lower prices if you're FULL?

 

[Nicole786]

My dates are Aug. 10-20 and pretty sure my dates are not included. Your number 2 makes me feel OK about not getting the free ddp.

From what I heard last year, the week before the promotion started it was super low crowds! I think I heard the last week in August was bad, but I went the first-second week in september and it was heaven! Even the restaurants were less mobbed than usual lol

 

[Maliki2]

Here I was thinking I would skip out on Disney this year due to the expense. Well I did some numbers and with that "rumor" of free dining again, I think my family is going to "splurge" for another trip this year. The airline prices I checked last night made me Vermont to Orlando and back for 2 adults and one child...$567 (including taxes) in Sept...that just can't be beat right now.

 

[TarzansKat]

Here I was thinking I would skip out on Disney this year due to the expense. Well I did some numbers and with that "rumor" of free dining again, I think my family is going to "splurge" for another trip this year. The airline prices I checked last night made me Vermont to Orlando and back for 2 adults and one child...$567 (including taxes) in Sept...that just can't be beat right now.

May I ask where you found such great airfare?

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

So crossing my fingers, toes, and eyes for free dining! We are going in Aug and we had such a wondeful time with free dining last Sept. that I want to relive the magic again!

 

[Maliki2]

May I ask where you found such great airfare?

Jetblue....roughly the dates that we will be going....tried some different dates and kind of flexible with same deal....Sept 9-Sept 17 in this example..

Going Out

Airfare / Adult $ 78.14 USD
Taxes / Adult ( details) $ 16.36 USD
Subtotal / $ 94.50 USD
X 2 Adults $ 189.00 USD

Airfare / Child $ 78.14 USD
Taxes / Child ( details) $ 16.36 USD
Subtotal / $ 94.50 USD
X 1 Child $ 94.50 USD

Coming Back

Airfare / Adult $ 78.14 USD
Taxes / Adult ( details) $ 16.36 USD
Subtotal / $ 94.50 USD
X 2 Adults $ 189.00 USD

Airfare / Child $ 78.14 USD
Taxes / Child ( details) $ 16.36 USD
Subtotal / $ 94.50 USD
X 1 Child $ 94.50 USD


Total Cost of Flight $ 567.00 USD

 

[goinback]

May I ask where you found such great airfare?

I also found a GREAT JetBlue fare. $645 total RT for my family of 5 from Dulles to MCO!

 

[mickey2000]

That sounds about right for Jet Blue Great fares....
I got 5 tickets, PHL MCO,nonstop, not midweek, Friday to Sunday, September, USair
with all fees and taxes for $217 each........