Free Dining trip wrecker?

[CoolPool]

If I'm not mistaken, Rusty is a CM. Perhaps he's speaking truth. Perhaps what he is suggesting is that changes are made in terms of quality. You get your steak but not the same level of quality of steak. I recall there is a famous switch at AKL in regard to Prime Rib. That kind of thing. And also, you are paying rack rate for the hotel. Sometimes that works out okay if you have a lot of "disney adults" in your party (meaning over 10yo) but many parties book the "free dining" without really running the numbers and checking for better discounts for their party. Just is.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

If I'm not mistaken, Rusty is a CM. Perhaps he's speaking truth. Perhaps what he is suggesting is that changes are made in terms of quality. You get your steak but not the same level of quality of steak. I recall there is a famous switch at AKL in regard to Prime Rib. That kind of thing. And also, you are paying rack rate for the hotel. Sometimes that works out okay if you have a lot of "disney adults" in your party (meaning over 10yo) but many parties book the "free dining" without really running the numbers and checking for better discounts for their party. Just is.

I remember when Boma switched. However, if it was due to free dining, then why was it still the strip loin in February?

 

[JUJU814]

We have been during both and the food and menus were no different. I doubt they change anything.

"Free dining" isn't really free. It's just the way they package things. We use our annual pass discount on our room and make out much better with getting one AP for the family and using any disounts/perks with that and the dining discount card than the so called "free dining" package.

Nothing is free. We just make a huge deal out of it. Consumers LOVE to see the word "FREE" You really need to do all the math of your different options.

 

[jenjersnap]

I remember when Boma switched. However, if it was due to free dining, then why was it still the strip loin in February?

Yes, thank you for mentioning that specific example! That was my point too - things may disappear during free dining but it doesn't seem like they return when free dining is over.

 

[portocall]

Yesterday I switched our reservation from the 40% room discount to free dining for the week of Thanksgiving. In our case, the 40% pin could only be applied for two nights out of five for a savings of $150. Since we are a family of five, free dining saves us just short of $750. We will probably eat better than I ever dreamed at Disney.. I am a counter service kind of girl, but have had dinner in Epcot in 4 different countries and was underwhelmed in each of them. My expectations are not that high to start, but it will be a nice way to create so quiet family time. The way that I am looking at it is this.. we were going to pay $2150 for our trip when I booked it last year and I fully expected to pay on top of that for meals. Now that meal money can be used to do some other things (like shop, put towards another Disney trip that DH is now okay with talking about) and I am satisfied with that.

 

[traylorc]

I agree that "Free Dining" is not totally free. To get FD you must pay "rack" rate for your room and purchase at least a 1 day park ticket.

If you are a party of 2 and are staying at a deluxe resort, you could well end up paying more for your FD package than if you took the 35% room only discount being offered for the same time.

I always say - CRUNCH THE NUMBERS !!!

Agreed.

If folks want to believe that "free dining" is actually free...that is their right. IMHO at best free dining is probably best described as "discounted" dining in some instances.

Disney is not a multi-billion, Fortune 500 company because they give stuff away for free. Disney employs the finest accountants/bean counters who aggressively crunch the numbers to determine how they can sell the illusion of free. Think about it, is there a company out there who is more adept at selling folks an illusion than Disney??? The is not a negative swipe at Disney, I'm convinced there is no other company out there that is better at selling a "magic" experience to it's patrons.

Dealing with Disney is similar to dealing with a auto dealership. You may have successfully negotiated with your salesperson for a lower price on your vehicle, but the dealership is going to get that back by giving you less on your trade in. That might sound cynical, but folks that's business. If you choose to participate in free dining, you wind up paying rack rate and a one day hopper. Some bean counter has determined that the profit margins for charging the customer the rack rate and selling a 1 day park hopper adequately subsidizes "free dining".

Again I'm not stating that using free dining cannot save you some cash. I'm simply stating that it's far from free. But at the end of the day, as long as you enjoy your vacation then that's all that matters.

 

[disneynutz]

Most of the changes to the menus, quantity, and quality of the food occurred when Disney introduced the DDP. Menus were modified to allow for rapid food preparation and additional cost savings.

The food and experience are still good, just not as good as it was before the DDP.

 

[dopeyone]

I thought the free dining was a great deal for us too. My total bill was $1578 for a family of 5 at POR 7 nights. That's only $45 per day per person, I think that is a great deal! Dining would've been $40 per day alone if I paid for it. I'm an AP holder, so I only needed to buy 1 day tickets for us, which makes the deal even sweeter, because I can use the 1 day for credit towards my AP renewal!

 

[aviva5675]

We were booked to pay $2150 at POFQ the same week (before Tgiving), via AAA, so a small room discount. One day ticket, and dxdp.

When I got the pin code I called and we are now paying $1650 for the same deal---free dining, keeping the deluxe...That's a big savings. It is allowing us to do La Nouba and golf and even (no flames) a day at Universal.

We would be going regardless. Yes, I am saving money with the free dining, paying rack rate etc.... I just don't think the quality of the food should be reduced (if it is) because there is a 'free' dining offer going on.

 

[JUJU814]

We were booked to pay $2150 at POFQ the same week (before Tgiving), via AAA, so a small room discount. One day ticket, and dxdp.

When I got the pin code I called and we are now paying $1650 for the same deal---free dining, keeping the deluxe...That's a big savings. It is allowing us to do La Nouba and golf and even (no flames) a day at Universal.

We would be going regardless. Yes, I am saving money with the free dining, paying rack rate etc.... I just don't think the quality of the food should be reduced (if it is) because there is a 'free' dining offer going on.

how did you manage to keep the dxdp w/ free dining? Did you pay the difference to upgrade to deluxe? Free dining only includes the standard dining plan.

 

[Lehuaann]

I'm confused---how is FD not free?

In Sep 07 I paid, 1) full rack-rate room 2) full rate DP 3) full rate 6-day PH. (We went, unbeknownst to us, during a FD week booked a few months earlier).

So, the next year I jump on FD. In Sep 08 I paid, 1) full rack-rate room 2) full rate 7-day PH. 3) $0 for the DP however, I do pay a difference to upgrade to DLXDP.

I understand that if you choose to participate in FD you are required to purchase 1-day ticket/rack room...however, some people do that anyway. I did, full rate everything in 07 and didn't get anything free. For me FD saves us $$$ and I'm very thankful...THANK YOU DISNEY!

 

[JUJU814]

I'm confused---how is FD not free?

In Sep 07 I paid, 1) full rack-rate room 2) full rate DP 3) full rate 6-day PH. (We went, unbeknownst to us, during a FD week booked a few months earlier).

So, the next year I jump on FD. In Sep 08 I paid, 1) full rack-rate room 2) full rate 7-day PH. 3) $0 for the DP however, I do pay a difference to upgrade to DLXDP.

I understand that if you choose to participate in FD you are required to purchase 1-day ticket/rack room...however, some people do that anyway. I did, full rate everything in 07 and didn't get anything free. For me FD saves us $$$ and I'm very thankful...THANK YOU DISNEY!

We are staying at the poly in august during free dining and it is cheaper for us to use my AP room discount and pay for dining, than it is to pay full rack rate and get free dining. There will be 4 of us.

Full rack rate: $2417 and change w/ free standard dining (dining worth $600 for the 4 of us)
AP discount: $1700 for the room (includes tax) savings of $700 from full rack rate.
If I purchase the Tables in Wonderland card available to AP holders, I can get 20% off all food and beverages at dining plan restaurants. So for us, free dining plan is not a deal at all.

It depends on where you're staying, how long, your party size etc.

Julie

 

[TDC Nala]

Free dining outside August/September is a limited offer - there will not be as many people using it as there are during the general public free dining period. I would not look for changes based on free dining at Thanksgiving. If there are changes, it will be based on Thanksgiving being a high-attendance time.

Many WDW visitors, especially those who read the boards, rarely if ever pay rack rates for their rooms - and now, many types of discounts are available. If you want to stay at a deluxe resort, a room-only discount (widely available to anyone for much of the rest of the year) may work out far better than free dining, where you must - no other option - pay rack rate for the resort and buy tickets as part of your package.

That is how free dining isn't free - you must give up any possible discount on the room to get it, nor are discounted tickets from brokers or annual passes an option. (If you have an annual you can buy a one-day ticket and get free dining, but you can't get away with buying no tickets)

 

[Planogirl]

I think that free dining is great if you pay rack rate anyway. Me personally, I'm all about discounts or I'm offsite. It really depends on your budget and what you are personally willing to pay. And of course, your party size as other have pointed out.

We also rarely eat in FS restaurants. This is important to others though so I can understand the allure of free dining.

 

[Don Disney]

Let me see-$82/night(rack rate),tickets(which we are buying anyway),free transportation and free parking. Ok,off-site without FD=hotel $80-$100/night,tickets(might actually be able to save $40-$50 on that),rental car,parking,and food for 10 days-umm,lets lowball that at $70/day for a family of 4=$700. Don't plan on staying deluxe or moderate(way too much money for somewhere to sleep/rest,or relax).How is it not"free" if I have to pay for the other components of the trip either way-onsite or offsite?

 

[Planogirl]

Again, it depends on your situation. I have a family of two usually and some offsite resorts do provide transportation. It all depends on each group's situation and needs.

Besides some are saying that the food quality has been cheapened as a result of free dining and that's the cost in some people's eyes. I don't know about that.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Let me see-$82/night(rack rate),tickets(which we are buying anyway),free transportation and free parking. Ok,off-site without FD=hotel $80-$100/night,tickets(might actually be able to save $40-$50 on that),rental car,parking,and food for 10 days-umm,lets lowball that at $70/day for a family of 4=$700. Don't plan on staying deluxe or moderate(way too much money for somewhere to sleep/rest,or relax).How is it not"free" if I have to pay for the other components of the trip either way-onsite or offsite?

Because it's just a discount. I don't know how to explain it more then it's already been explained.

 

[Don Disney]

OK?

 

[lustergirl]

I consider it free. We will go and pay rack rate anyways without having a discount on your room. The total for 3 of us with dining-almost 2 grand, with free dining it came to $1500.

 

[disneynutz]

I consider it free. We will go and pay rack rate anyways without having a discount on your room. The total for 3 of us with dining-almost 2 grand, with free dining it came to $1500.

In your case it's a god deal.

Before we became DVC members, we wouldn't go to WDW if we couldn't find a room discount. We finally found the best discount, becoming DVC members.