Free dining v. military discount

[aimsicle]

I am wondering if it would be a better deal when we go in September to use the military discount or to get the free dining--I am guessing we may have to wait and see. My friend can get my oldest daughter and I the $99 ticket and the 40% off room, and we will have to pay for my 5 year old's ticket. Has anyone done the math to see if they come out ahead with the military discount v. the typical free dining? That is what is going to cost ($91/day).

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Can your friend activate the tickets and go with you, otherwise you can't use them. I'm assuming you are not military right?

Is she going to be there with you at check in with the 40% room? Someone has to show military ID at check in. It's hard to tell from your post if the friend is going with you or not.

 

[aimsicle]

Can your friend activate the tickets and go with you, otherwise you can't use them. I'm assuming you are not military right?

Is she going to be there with you at check in with the 40% room? Someone has to show military ID at check in. It's hard to tell from your post if the friend is going with you or not.

We are all going together...hopefully in adjoining rooms!

 

[WldChrry]

I don't know much about the free dining myself, but both my boyfriend and I are military, and we are going in late August. We will get in to the Disney parks for free, and Universal as well. We are staying for five nights at the All Stars resort and paying under $300. To me, you can't beat that, but like I said, I don't know much about the free dining.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

We are all going together...hopefully in adjoining rooms!

Ok then depending on what resort you stay at the military discount is probably better than free dining. If you are staying at a value it's probably about the same, if you are staying at a mod or deluxe you are definitely doing better with the mil discount.

It also depends on what kind of food people you are. We prefer to skip big expensive meals while in the parks and save that stuff for another time or other type of vacation. After being in the heat and walking all day all I want is a soda and something quick in my stomach. Not a heavy sit down meal. So free dining will never be worth it to us vs another discount.

If you have plans to hit a lot of character meals or tour the restaurants disney has to offer, free dining is probably a better value for you.

 

[aimsicle]

Ok then depending on what resort you stay at the military discount is probably better than free dining. If you are staying at a value it's probably about the same, if you are staying at a mod or deluxe you are definitely doing better with the mil discount.

It also depends on what kind of food people you are. We prefer to skip big expensive meals while in the parks and save that stuff for another time or other type of vacation. After being in the heat and walking all day all I want is a soda and something quick in my stomach. Not a heavy sit down meal. So free dining will never be worth it to us vs another discount.

If you have plans to hit a lot of character meals or tour the restaurants disney has to offer, free dining is probably a better value for you.

Well, if we do the military discount, we are definitely getting the dining package (standard) because we still have kids who like character dining. We typically walk out of the room with a breakfast bar, but we typically sit down for an early lunch with the characters and do counter service for dinner.

 

[PrincessMama605]

It depends on what resort you stay at. We stay at a value so for us, free dining is a better deal. You can just book free dining with one day tickets and then use the $99 companion tickets.

 

[Megkel]

You don't have to add tickets to get the dining plan. We bought our tickets through our ITT office and booked the Poly with the dining plan no problem. I called and they let me do it.

 

[wide awake]

Okay, I may have to check on this. We did the bounceback, two rooms at POP, 10 days, w/ park hoppers. If I could move up a resort level or two, and still keep free dining...
I love POP, but wouldn't mind trying something else if it didn't cost me anymore.
To answer the original question...free dining always wins...we like expensive meals, and we save $$ w/ the plan. If people don't like making ADRs, aren't big fans of sit down, are picky eaters, want to maximize park time...military discount is the way to go.
I REALLY want to stay at SOG, but can't rationalize it because I'm not going to eat at their buffet, and I adore the DDP. Also, I'd have to pay for transportation between MCO and SOG.

 

[danny25]

You don't have to add tickets to get the dining plan. We bought our tickets through our ITT office and booked the Poly with the dining plan no problem. I called and they let me do it.

But you have payed for your dining plan for the FD promotion you must buy at least 2 day tickets for all in your party to get the FD.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

both my boyfriend and I are military, and we are going in late August. We will get in to the Disney parks for free, and Universal as well.

How are you getting into Disney for free? Military tickets cost $138 each for four days. Adding both the Park Hopper and Water Parks, Fun & More option costs $27.00 more. The free military 5 day tickets were available in 2009. Same with Universal; they aren't giving free tickets to military. A one day/one park ticket is $85.00. The only free park in Orlando for military right now is Sea World.

http://www.herosalute.com/cavatx/index.html

 

[vegasnative]

We are going the end of August, and I had originally booked it with the free dining. But my parents are going, and they got our tix for $138 and the room at POR for less than $130 a night which was over $260 a night before. Since we plan to split our time between WDW & US, and the beach, it was a no brainer for us to drop the free dining (since we only plan on 4 days at WDW) and go with the military discount.

 

[crostorfer]

I don't know much about the free dining myself, but both my boyfriend and I are military, and we are going in late August. We will get in to the Disney parks for free, and Universal as well. We are staying for five nights at the All Stars resort and paying under $300. To me, you can't beat that, but like I said, I don't know much about the free dining.

Ummmm...........how are you getting into both for free? Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on you, but if there is some secret that the rest of us don't know about, by all means, do tell. The rest of us can only get into Disney with Military Salute Tickets at $138 a pop, and there is no military discount on tickets at Universal other than to buy them at Shades of Green, and even then it's not much of a discount it's basicly $10 off gate price and tax free.

 

[crostorfer]

I was going to echo what other people have said and say that it depends where you stay, however, the fact that you have to add tickets at full price to get your "free dining" package and pay rack rate make doing free dining over a military discount ridiculous. A 4-Day military park hopper at $138 is cheaper than buying a two day base ticket. So, right there, you are losing money. For arguement's sake, let's say you are staying at a moderate for 4 nights. Paying rack rate at a moderate will cost you roughly between $180-$200 a night, (not including taxes and whatnot). So right there, you are paying $851 for a room, (adding in 12 % tax at $190 a night.) The same room with the military discount at 35% off is $123 per night which makes the same room $553, saving you $200. The DDP is what, $45 a night per adult now, 25 per child? Add your military dining plan on to your room, (for 2 adults and 2 children) and you are now up to $1153. Sounds like it's costing you more at the moment, but the tickets is where they get you. Four military salute tickets is $553. 4 base MYW tickets, no add ons for 2 adults and 2 children is $934, according to the WDW website.

Grand total 4 nights with military discount= $1681

Grand total 4 nights with "free dining" and 4 day MYW tix= $1785

Wow, I guess it isn't as big of a savings as I thought, but it's still a $100 savings at a mod. I guess it may be a better deal at a value.

 

[VirataMama4]

Some how this thread got resurrected from 2009

Back in 2009 Disney and Universal offered FREE tickets for Active Duty Military!

 

[Delphinidae]

This thread is from 2009.

 

[crostorfer]

Some how this thread got resurrected from 2009

Back in 2009 Disney and Universal offered FREE tickets for Active Duty Military!

HA! Ok, now the embarrassment sets in.......

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Some how this thread got resurrected from 2009

Back in 2009 Disney and Universal offered FREE tickets for Active Duty Military!

Thanks for pointing this out. I never understand why people bump threads which are so old.