FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[CanadianGuy]

Yeah, but you're saving only, what, $200 per child? How many kids could you have between the ages of 3 and 9 that would make this worthwhile?

2 If you're staying at a value or mod.

384$ in savings..

Is it as much as F/D ?

Get this.. Free dining savings..

Two adults 39$ each
2 Kids (under 10) 10$ each

For four nights...

Guess how much..

$392.

It really depends on the size of your party and the length of your trip.

Is this the perfect offer for everyone? Oh heck no.. absolutely not.

But people have different needs, preferences and desires for their vacations.

Me? I like 'em as long as I can get 'em. Other people like shorter trips but more frequent ... some folks need to take 20 people to have fun.. others would rather travel alone.

Fortunately.. Disney seems to be thinking of creative ways to appeal to as many different groups as possible.

I say the same thing about any offer (including F/D when it is available) crunch the numbers for your situation and do the comparisons.. just because "everyone wants it" *(or conversely thinks it stinks to the top of Splash Mountain) .. doesn't make it the best (or worst) deal for you and your situation.

--

BTW - 4 nights in May Sunday to Thurs at All Star Sports totals up with tax and everything to $475. So if you were getting this same discount off the room - it would be 82% off.. where do I sign up for THAT PIN offer??

 

[whyheather]

I want to go to Disney in the first few weeks of December. does anyone know what deals Disney had around that time last year, was it the F/D?

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Yeah, but you're saving only, what, $200 per child? How many kids could you have between the ages of 3 and 9 that would make this worthwhile?

The kids stay play and dine free saves 26% overall for a family of 4 staying Value for 5 week nights.

 

[CanadianGuy]

It saves 26% overall for a family of 4 staying Value for 5 week nights.

I presume that's off hotel, tickets, dining if totaled? Sounds about right I'd guess.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I presume that's off hotel, tickets, dining if totaled? Sounds about right I'd guess.

Yes:
Pop 5 nights: 666.40
2 Adults Base Tickets: 497.00
2 Adults QSDP: 319.90

Total You'd Pay: $1483.30

What you would save:

2 Children Base 5 Day: 425.10
2 Children QSDP: 99.50

Total You'd Save: $524.60

Total you would have paid: $2007.90

26.1268% Savings

 

[CanadianGuy]

Would you mind running those numbers and savings on 4 nights (5 day tix)

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

As opposed to Free Dining for those same dates:

Pop 5 Nights: 666.40
Family of 4 Park Tickets: 922.10

You Pay: $1588.50

Value of what you get free:

QSDP Dining for family of 4: 419.40

Total Savings with Free Dining: 20.89%

The Kids Stay Play and Dine Free is a better deal for a family of four for 5 weeknights.

I get confused with all the people who feel free dining is the "holy grail" of discounts. Although the discount is better when you go to value rates for a Sept Stay:

Pop 5 weeknights 8/14-9/30: $459.20
You'd Pay: $1381.30
You'd Save: 419.40
Savings: 27.9%

 

[daisy2jae]

I checked the AAA rate for the time we are going to WDW in September. It's apx $90 cheaper to book through them. I currently have a trip booked through disney. I still have time to cancel and not lose anything just have to wait for my deposit to be refunded. Is it worth switching to AAA for the $90? To me saving $90 means more to spend on the trip. However if/when deals come out for Sept am I going to be able to save with AAA? AAA told me since I'm going 4th - 11th IF free dinning comes out we wouldn't qualify due to it being a holiday weekend that we arrive. Has anyone ever gone in the past years over Labor Day week and not been able to get free dinning when it was offered? I'm kinda jumping ahead and worried about something that might not even happen. Just thought maybe someone on DIS can give some thoughts.

 

[robtra91]

I want to go to Disney in the first few weeks of December. does anyone know what deals Disney had around that time last year, was it the F/D?

We went the 2nd week in December last year and stayed at the Coronado. We had free dining - I believe it ran from the week following Thanksgiving and ended a week prior to Christmas.

Enjoy!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Would you mind running those numbers and savings on 4 nights (5 day tix)

Pop 4 weeknights: $533.12 (until 8/15)
2 Adult 5 Day Base: 497
2 Adult QSDP: $255.92

Total You'd Pay: $1286.04

What You'd Save:

2 Kids 5 Day Base: $425.10
2 Kids QSDP: $79.92

Total Saved: $505.02

Total Savings: 28.197%

Still better savings than Free Dining in Sept.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

for us we are going 14 nights and the 35% off a mod was a better deal even with 2 under 10
free quick dining was an even better deal

 

[CanadianGuy]

Pop 4 weeknights: $533.12 (until 8/15)
2 Adult 5 Day Base: 497
2 Adult QSDP: $255.92

Total You'd Pay: $1286.04

What You'd Save:

2 Kids 5 Day Base: $425.10
2 Kids QSDP: $79.92

Total Saved: $505.02

Total Savings: 28.197%

Still better savings than Free Dining in Sept.

Wow genius.

I'm guessing you have a spreadsheet?

Number crunching for trips I love.

I still nearly flunked grade 10 math... but I love that.

K

 

[2littleprincesses]

We booked the kids stay, play and eat free because I was tired of waiting and the difference in the savings is not much even though we are staying 6 nights. I just wish it was the next week (Aug 21-27) so I could maybe book a bounceback for next year.

We are watching flights right now, so if we don't book anything by the time FD comes out, we may switch. The crowd calendar looks a little less busy the following week in Aug. Especially if it is nontiered FD then it would be a better deal. But for now I am happy with what we have.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Wow genius.

I'm guessing you have a spreadsheet?

Nope, I am an accountant and this is a nice diversion from the piles of tax returns I am taking a break from!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Nope, I am an accountant and this is a nice diversion from the piles of tax returns I am taking a break from!

That's HILARIOUS.. LOVE IT!

We need to talk about my DIS deductions and how I might deduct my vacation..

 

[lisam427]

I checked the AAA rate for the time we are going to WDW in September. It's apx $90 cheaper to book through them. I currently have a trip booked through disney. I still have time to cancel and not lose anything just have to wait for my deposit to be refunded. Is it worth switching to AAA for the $90? To me saving $90 means more to spend on the trip. However if/when deals come out for Sept am I going to be able to save with AAA? AAA told me since I'm going 4th - 11th IF free dinning comes out we wouldn't qualify due to it being a holiday weekend that we arrive. Has anyone ever gone in the past years over Labor Day week and not been able to get free dinning when it was offered? I'm kinda jumping ahead and worried about something that might not even happen. Just thought maybe someone on DIS can give some thoughts.

both in 2009 and in 2008 we had free dining and booked thru aaa. we arrived on labor day both years and stayed for at least 7 days. last year i was involved in a swap in one of these boards. the person in the swap before me arrived a few days before me and still got free dining. if you go around labor day, there shouldnt be a problem getting free dining.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

That's HILARIOUS.. LOVE IT!

We need to talk about my DIS deductions and how I might deduct my vacation..

If only!

 

[BebopBaloo]

I checked the AAA rate for the time we are going to WDW in September. It's apx $90 cheaper to book through them. I currently have a trip booked through disney. I still have time to cancel and not lose anything just have to wait for my deposit to be refunded. Is it worth switching to AAA for the $90? To me saving $90 means more to spend on the trip. However if/when deals come out for Sept am I going to be able to save with AAA? AAA told me since I'm going 4th - 11th IF free dinning comes out we wouldn't qualify due to it being a holiday weekend that we arrive. Has anyone ever gone in the past years over Labor Day week and not been able to get free dinning when it was offered? I'm kinda jumping ahead and worried about something that might not even happen. Just thought maybe someone on DIS can give some thoughts.

The first time we went as a family, we had free dining and we were there Sept. 7-12. I think..I don't remember the exact dates, but I know we were there over Sept. 11th. Of course things change and there could be blackout dates that they have not had before and we did arrive after Labor Day..
However, there is no way for AAA to know that right now...as no one even knows if FD is coming.

 

[Leeanne]

I have been thinking about the kids stay and play free offer (of course, what else? work? bah!) today. And I really think it might work for them. Think about this....we on the Dis are (basically) nuts about Disney. We love to talk Disney, share info, ect however the general public, not so much. So imagine you are a normal person outside of the Dis (and yes I count myself as abnormal as possible!) and you see a TV commerical for "kids under the age of 10 will stay and play free!!!" So you all start playing with numbers. You have no idea that they could offer FD for the whole family or that if you have a Disney Visa (whats that?) that your kids could also eat free. So you are thinking that you don't mind paying out for food. Surely, you can eat pretty cheap, right? Its been a hard year....lets go!! Its free for Jimmy and Sally!!!! Tickets for us are going to be a bit of money but we don't have to pay for the kids.
I kinda see it like FD. So many people book an offer because it sounds like a good one. They might never run the numbers nor think about "I wonder if the room discount is a better offer" or "How much does the dining plan cost?" Alot of people see "Free" and never really thing about if something else is a better offer. These are the people who don't know about PINs, ADRs, booking 6 months in advance, touring plans, ect. They only find out about them when they talk to someone like us....you know the freaks!!

Honestly....I am wondering if it just might work.
Of course, I am on the other side going "No!! I want a fall discount!"

 

[doccoc2002]

I checked the AAA rate for the time we are going to WDW in September. It's apx $90 cheaper to book through them. I currently have a trip booked through disney. I still have time to cancel and not lose anything just have to wait for my deposit to be refunded. Is it worth switching to AAA for the $90? To me saving $90 means more to spend on the trip. However if/when deals come out for Sept am I going to be able to save with AAA? AAA told me since I'm going 4th - 11th IF free dinning comes out we wouldn't qualify due to it being a holiday weekend that we arrive. Has anyone ever gone in the past years over Labor Day week and not been able to get free dinning when it was offered? I'm kinda jumping ahead and worried about something that might not even happen. Just thought maybe someone on DIS can give some thoughts.

FD has never had blackout dates(it is a package what if you checked in 5days before the holiday and stayed thru it?)...I swear sometimes AAA doesn't know sqaut! When I booked thru them a few years back for their package discount I had to tell them about FD they knew nothing about it...It got me so nervous I swore I would never book with them again...I had to call 3times the morning the DV promo came out...talk about STRESS! NEVER again I tell you NEVAH!!!