Free Dining Seems Way Better Than Any Pin Code

[MartDM]

I've had multiple different pin codes since making my reservations but none have been as good as free dining, which is available to everyone now anyways. People should be looking into that instead of trying so hard to get a pin code off resort stays. Even the 40% off didn't beat free dining.

I disagree; we are two adults and one three year old looking to stay in a 1BR Villa. Since I don't want my son living on junk all week, we have breakfast and lunch in the room to ensure he's getting a good day's nutrition, then we eat dinner out (and before anyone calls me a kill joy, anything goes for his dinner meal - he can be a junk food junkie to his heart's delight because he already got his requisite fruits/veggies/grains earlier in the day).

So, for us, a 40% discount on one of the highest priced rooms WDW offers is far more valuable to us than the dining plan.

A moot point for us really, got the code but our week of 11/7 to 13 is blacked out (bummer!).

 

[beth_cam]

I disagree; we are two adults and one three year old looking to stay in a 1BR Villa. Since I don't want my son living on junk all week, we have breakfast and lunch in the room to ensure he's getting a good day's nutrition, then we eat dinner out (and before anyone calls me a kill joy, anything goes for his dinner meal - he can be a junk food junkie to his heart's delight because he already got his requisite fruits/veggies/grains earlier in the day).

I so agree with you about the diet. I find that if I do my best to keep my kids on a regular diet, we are all happier by the end of the week. One day no big deal, but day after day and cranky kids make cranky mommy. my family tells me to let them eat what they want they are on vacation. makes me wonder if I just have brats or what, but they just can't handle nothing but junk through the day. Add to just the normal health issues, between being picky and have dairy sensitivities. I absolutely have to pack foods and make good choices for them through the day or we have tummy aches and whining and lack of sleep. Although I think my DD learned her lesson - given free reign at ice cream last summer she ate till her heart was content and spent the night in the infirmary.

 

[TARAMEOW]

I got a PIN code via email 2 months ago and booked the discounted package that "included free QSD" a month later they advertised the free DDP deal so I called back to get a new quote and got the same package for 450$ cheaper

I guess we just have to do our homework

 

[MFLetou]

If you can get a true 40% discount off a deluxe, then for most people, it is hard for me to understand how free dining is a better deal. I priced out a deluxe one bedroom villa. I would be saving $192 a night on my room using the 40% code. That's enough to pay for four adult dining plans if I chose.

Any more people than that, you need two rooms anyway. Once you get up into the real high dollar rooms, it seems unlikely that the dining plan is a better deal.

And that doesn't take into account the limitations of the dining plan--which is everything from having to plan your trip around ADRs to being forced to eat dessert every time you have a big meal, instead of maybe saving it for later or having a treat somewhere else.

And personally--for me, with small kids--FORGET it. No way. I don't even WANT to sit down and have that many long meals. But if you don't, then you are wasting money--because if you pick cheaper options and places for your table service, you really aren't getting value out of your dining plan.

Way too much pressure.

 

[GinCar]

So everyone got me thinking about free dining vs. pin. I understand it is a preference of "how" each family eats during the trip, but I just had to do the math.
I called to get a 40% off quote w/ the Mosnter pin. It was $12.21 more to change to the monster pin w/dining.
I then asked for a quote w/out dining (to see if we could eat cheaper). That would give me exactly $887.54 to eat on for 5 nights/6 days for 5 people. (4 Disney adults, 1 child.)
I just can't seem to make that work for us. I really want it to, but I don't think my family would go for that. They all enjoy a BIG, sit-down breakfast before hitting the parks. (I would be happy w/coffee, though.)
So.. after all of that I am back on the free dining bandwagon.

Thank goodness for discount choices!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can do okay as a solo with free dining if you planned to stay at a value, you need to buy tickets and you really love the dining plan.

I dislike it enough that I wouldn't even accept it for free these days.

As an AP holder I might actually have done better going solo, depending on the length of the trip, had I wanted a dining plan, by booking a value at an AP room discount rate, not buying any tickets (free dining requires at least a 2-day park ticket) and purchasing either the QS or regular dining plan rather than paying rack rate and a 2-day ticket to get the QS dining free (and then paying to upgrade to basic dining)

 

[3girlsfun]

So true that it is up to the family what works best. For us, having 3 young children, sit down meals is a must for us. There is nothing worse than going to a QS dining place, carrying all the food back to the table (after we finally found a table that would accommodate all of our needs, which will be two high chairs when we travel) And then having to get everyone's food ready, etc. That is way more stressful than going in and sitting down to a meal where I don't have to worry about everything. Even if it is a buffet, my ODD can go and get her food for the most part by herself. Also, our ODD has sensory disorder, so, sitting down, out of the heat, in a contained area will help!

For me, the dining removes so much of the stress from my vacation! It may not be the best food, but, it makes life easier for us.

We have two rooms at a value because we are spending a lot of money on extras like haircuts, BBB, MNSSHP, souvenirs, etc. When we go moderate or deluxe on our next trip, it may be different. However, I can say that sit down meals will be included in our trip until our DD's are old enough to fend for themselves at a QS restaurant!

 

[beth_cam]

If you can get a true 40% discount off a deluxe, then for most people, it is hard for me to understand how free dining is a better deal. I priced out a deluxe one bedroom villa. I would be saving $192 a night on my room using the 40% code. That's enough to pay for four adult dining plans if I chose.

Any more people than that, you need two rooms anyway. Once you get up into the real high dollar rooms, it seems unlikely that the dining plan is a better deal.

And that doesn't take into account the limitations of the dining plan--which is everything from having to plan your trip around ADRs to being forced to eat dessert every time you have a big meal, instead of maybe saving it for later or having a treat somewhere else.

And personally--for me, with small kids--FORGET it. No way. I don't even WANT to sit down and have that many long meals. But if you don't, then you are wasting money--because if you pick cheaper options and places for your table service, you really aren't getting value out of your dining plan.

Way too much pressure.

I know you were specifically referring to the delux rooms. The specifics you chose are correct in that, but your 192 is based on a rack rate of what 430, there are many delux hotel rooms that fall well below that. The following isn't just referring to delux, but is kind of a comment for accross the board generalizations of what's better -There is no way one specific code will work better or best for most people in general. Take any code out there -
Buy 4 get 3 free - Yes that's 43% savings so it must be better than 40% nope, i'm only going 5 nights or i'm going 8 nights it is no longer 43%.
40% code - wonderful in a delux room with a rack rate of 400 i can save 180, but My family is 4 disney adults and one child, free dining would save us 180. seems like these both work the same here. Or I'm staying std at AKL so it only saves me 110, but my dining plan is costing me 138.
Free dining - great. But i'm single and staying at a value, 40% will save me almost as much. or even though I have 6 disney adults, i'm staying 2 rooms with a rack rate of 300 and 40% will save me 270 instead of free dinings 252.
And that is all comparing packages of the exact same type. It isn't even getting into the personal value of the dining plan, or comparing using the monster code when it is available versus the freedom of the availability of the general public free dining. And for one more personal issue that some have - sometimes the best for a person is to book part of the vacation with one code and the rest with another code. And don't forget that sometimes even if the number is higher, it may be the better deal for someone.

And to prove all that look at your own wording that I highlighted. They are either very specific family make ups, personal choices, or personal feelings/interpretations ("forced to eat") of the dining plan. While you have shown a very good case for why the dining plan is absolutely the wrong choice for your family, you are only showing that an unequivalant package (room discount and no dining vs. free dining) works better for you. And yes you probably will spend less since you don't like sit down meals. But that does not address whether or not a package with free dining verses a package with a discounted room with ddp added on is a good deal for most people in delux.

I'm not knocking you for being able to sit down and figure out what works best for you. It is actually rather smart to do that. I have seen several people get the dining plan and have it so not work for them (or not understand how to use it) then spend a lot more trying to get what they wanted. i'm just having an issue with the number of people who come on saying my way is best for me so it is for almost everyone else too.

 

[MFLetou]

I know you were specifically referring to the delux rooms. The specifics you chose are correct in that, but your 192 is based on a rack rate of what 430, there are many delux hotel rooms that fall well below that. The following isn't just referring to delux, but is kind of a comment for accross the board generalizations of what's better -There is no way one specific code will work better or best for most people in general. Take any code out there -
Buy 4 get 3 free - Yes that's 43% savings so it must be better than 40% nope, i'm only going 5 nights or i'm going 8 nights it is no longer 43%.
40% code - wonderful in a delux room with a rack rate of 400 i can save 180, but My family is 4 disney adults and one child, free dining would save us 180. seems like these both work the same here. Or I'm staying std at AKL so it only saves me 110, but my dining plan is costing me 138.
Free dining - great. But i'm single and staying at a value, 40% will save me almost as much. or even though I have 6 disney adults, i'm staying 2 rooms with a rack rate of 300 and 40% will save me 270 instead of free dinings 252.
And that is all comparing packages of the exact same type. It isn't even getting into the personal value of the dining plan, or comparing using the monster code when it is available versus the freedom of the availability of the general public free dining. And for one more personal issue that some have - sometimes the best for a person is to book part of the vacation with one code and the rest with another code. And don't forget that sometimes even if the number is higher, it may be the better deal for someone.

And to prove all that look at your own wording that I highlighted. They are either very specific family make ups, personal choices, or personal feelings/interpretations ("forced to eat") of the dining plan. While you have shown a very good case for why the dining plan is absolutely the wrong choice for your family, you are only showing that an unequivalant package (room discount and no dining vs. free dining) works better for you. And yes you probably will spend less since you don't like sit down meals. But that does not address whether or not a package with free dining verses a package with a discounted room with ddp added on is a good deal for most people in delux.

I'm not knocking you for being able to sit down and figure out what works best for you. It is actually rather smart to do that. I have seen several people get the dining plan and have it so not work for them (or not understand how to use it) then spend a lot more trying to get what they wanted. i'm just having an issue with the number of people who come on saying my way is best for me so it is for almost everyone else too.

Well, I see your point, but I'll dispute part of it. I'm trying really to make two separate points--one that's dispassionate about the Dining plan, and then another that's far more personal.

My basic assertion, I suppose, is that for most people who want to stay in a deluxe, the 40% discount is going to be a better deal--or, to put it another way, a traveling party for which it is NOT a better deal would be unique. Not that it doesn't exist--but not that common. Looking at Disney's deluxe rack rates--for villas and even for standard rooms--is quite an eye opener. I think it is mostly fair to use value season rates because that's generally when free dining is offered.

So let's take the Polynesian. Say you want to stay in the CHEAPEST room at the Poly--garden view. Rack rate during value is $365 a night. The 40% discount saves you $146 a night. That's enough for 3 and change adult dining plans. Are there families with four adults in one room that get free dining? Sure. Are they the norm? Probably not.

And that's the cheapest room at the Poly. Many, many people don't choose the cheapest--they want a better view, etc. Same thing for the Contemporary. If you just want to go for the cheapest, well, Garden View is only going to save you $114 a night on the discount--so if you have more than 2 on the dining plan, then you'll make out. But if you want to stay in the tower--can't do it for under $400 a night, rack rate. (And if you want MK view--more.) So if you're in the A-frame at the Contemp, 40% is going to save you $160 a night. Again, enough for 4 adult dining plans.

If you're doing a villa...well, you get the point where it is mathmatically impossible for the dining plan to be a better deal. The room I was referencing had a rack rate of $480 a night. There are plenty that are well more than that--say, a theme park view at MK, or any 2 bedroom, etc.

As has been pointed out many times---families are all unique, and the math works differently for each family and is entirely dependent on where they stay. But I do think people need to do the math, and a LOT don't. So I'm just trying to write something of a wake up call--especially for those who are staying at a deluxe. You're saving big dollars a night.

Now, the second part--yeah, that's all subjective. I actually DO like table service, don't get me wrong--just in limited quantities (and even that's a misnomer--if I was just me and my wife, I'd have no such limitations.) I don't like the way the plan is structured--I think it is too rigid and forces people to eat meals that aren't neccessarily what they want. I also think that unless you are maximizing how you are using your TS credits, it also can be not such a great value (ie, if you use them for breakfast or something.) And there can be no doubt it adds a layer of complexity to your trip planning--because of the popularity, restaurants fill up faster, and you know you have to use x credits in order not to waste them.

That said, if some people love it, great for them. When it comes to my personal opinion, I'm not going to begrudge anyone--that's just my opinon. But I do hope everyone does the math--that isn't my opinion.

 

[YanksWinAgain]

My basic assertion, I suppose, is that for most people who want to stay in a deluxe, the 40% discount is going to be a better deal--or, to put it another way, a traveling party for which it is NOT a better deal would be unique. Not that it doesn't exist--but not that common.

Are there families with four adults in one room that get free dining? Sure. Are they the norm? Probably not.

I think the issue for some families... like mine... is that we have two older kids (10 and 12) and one younger (6) and the wife and I. We had the 40% PIN applied at the Poly (Garden View) and the free regular dining plan saved us $125 - not a lot, but nothing to sneeze at....

The thing you have to remember is most older kids are not going to want to have mac and cheese and chicken nuggies at each meal... so you make them adults for dining...

 

[Melodious]

Well I think MFLetou was mostly countering the OP's original assertion that free dining is better than all other discounts which we have proven is not the case after four pages. For myself, I completely agree with MFLetou, our room was very expensive to begin with so the 40% off is a much bigger discount than the free dining for two adults. Also, we don't want to be on the dining plan anyway so it doesn't seem like a great discount for us.

But really, what we're all saying is that each vacationer has to really figure out which discount is best for them (and then hope that there's availability ). And that's not the easiest thing in the world to figure out . I feel that way about the dining plan in general, that lots of people get it without really figuring out if it's the best deal for them or if its really what they want to do or even purchasing it without knowing about making ADRs so early and then they can't get in anywhere they want. I'm not really talking about people on these boards since we're all obsessive planners, but I hope y'all know what I mean.

YanksWinAgain makes a good point about what works for his family, but is it the norm that people make their kids adults for dining? It wouldn't have occurred to me. Is it the norm for a family of five to stay in one room? I don't know. What I do know is that all kinds of people and party sizes and ages and whatnot go to Disney and take advantage of the deals. GinCar is right that that's why Disney offers different deals.

 

[MFLetou]

I think the issue for some families... like mine... is that we have two older kids (10 and 12) and one younger (6) and the wife and I. We had the 40% PIN applied at the Poly (Garden View) and the free regular dining plan saved us $125 - not a lot, but nothing to sneeze at....

The thing you have to remember is most older kids are not going to want to have mac and cheese and chicken nuggies at each meal... so you make them adults for dining...

Being a big Red Sox fan, I feel like I'm compelled to argue with you! (Just kidding.)

Seriously--that's an interesting point, but my understanding was that for free dining, you couldn't do that...in other words, if you have kids, they have to get the kid's dining plan if you are going to do free dining. Can you pay the difference or something like that? My kids are a long, long way from my needing to think about that, but it is interesting.

 

[mousiemom]

for the past 3 yrs, we've been on free dining! we just got back and never received the qs fd for this trip and this was the 1st time we've actually had to pay for food and we didn't like it! we are spoiled with the free dining. we are praying for free dining for the 1st of dec. for our next trip!!!

 

[DISNEYNY]

for the past 3 yrs, we've been on free dining! we just got back and never received the qs fd for this trip and this was the 1st time we've actually had to pay for food and we didn't like it! we are spoiled with the free dining. we are praying for free dining for the 1st of dec. for our next trip!!!

Same here, we went for a quick trip in February without free dining and we really missed it. So glad we will have it for our next trip in August. We are spoiled too!!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I so agree with you about the diet. I find that if I do my best to keep my kids on a regular diet, we are all happier by the end of the week. One day no big deal, but day after day and cranky kids make cranky mommy. my family tells me to let them eat what they want they are on vacation. makes me wonder if I just have brats or what, but they just can't handle nothing but junk through the day. Add to just the normal health issues, between being picky and have dairy sensitivities. I absolutely have to pack foods and make good choices for them through the day or we have tummy aches and whining and lack of sleep. Although I think my DD learned her lesson - given free reign at ice cream last summer she ate till her heart was content and spent the night in the infirmary.

Every WDW restaurant has a "healthy" option kids meal. We always get the dining plan and have never had a problem giving our kids a nutrious meal.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We are a family of 6 and always get two connecting rooms at a value for 8 nights.

The 40% off code saves us about $637.00

The 4/3 deals saves us about $750.00

The free dining discount saves us $1,200.00

As you can see, there is no better discount for us than free dining.

 

[Bugsmom73]

This is our last year probably using the DDP. DD next year will be an adult and I don't think she is quite ready for adult portions yet. Also, they keep taking stuff off and it is just not as attractive.

 

[DaParkers]

I got a 40% OFF PIN CODE and did the math versus free dining at AKL. Even with it being just 3 of us, free dining was still a better deal. The rates at AKL in late Nov/ early Dec are $240 a night. The dining plan for 2 adults and an 11 year old is $126 a night. At 40% off, the AKL room would be $144 a night, a savings of $96 a night. A substantial savings, but still not better than free dining.

 

[DisneyWorldMania]

This was my first package booked through Disney and I am all about the free Dining. I've gotten the pins before in emails but once I saw the FD commercial I planned the trip and booked it.

 

[OZ 877]

Most of the comparisons Ive seen here are generic, just the cost of the DP verses the savings on the room. This makes it easy to say which is better. I think you would look at the restaurants you want to eat at and compare the cost of the meals for each individual to see if the DP saves you money.

I know a couple of years ago my family's meal (4A-1C) at Narcoosees would have cost me around $400 OOP if we were not on the DP.

I guess Im saying your savings could be more or less depending on your tastes and eating habits>