Free Dining v Room Discount

[Lucys dad]

Hi folks, I am looking to book a hotel and ticket package for the end of May 2014 for 2 weeks through WDW UK Travel. The last few trips I have taken advantage of the free dining and have priced our trip for 2014 which includes the free dining. However, I understand that once the free dining offer closes, later in the year they launch a room only discount offer.

I am wondering whether to wait this time and book a room and tickets with the room discount offer instead of the free dining. Does anyone know when the room discount offer is released ? Assuming there is one this year.

My other thought was to perhaps book the free dining offer now and pay the £150 deposit and perhaps change my booking later in the year if the room discount offer is more appealing. I am not sure if that is possible or if there may be an amendment fee.


I would appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Cheers

 

[chmurf]

I am wondering whether to wait this time and book a room and tickets with the room discount offer instead of the free dining.

If you have a small party (1 or 2 adults) then room only discount might be cheaper.
If you have a larger party, then free dining is of a better value.
Room price stays the same wether there are 1, 2 or 4 people in the room. So that's a fixed discount. But with more people the value of each free dining adds up.

My other thought was to perhaps book the free dining offer now and pay the £150 deposit and perhaps change my booking later in the year if the room discount offer is more appealing. I am not sure if that is possible or if there may be an amendment fee.

you might be allowed to do that, but the total amount of your booking will go down, so there will be a £50 amendment fee.

 

[Elise79]

What works out better will depend on which resort and how many in your party.

2 adults at a deluxe and a room discount is nearly always better.

Family of 4 in a mod free dining is usually better.

SSR or OKW regardless as best with free dining as they are also discounted.

 

[Rachey_101]

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[Lucys dad]

Thanks all,

There are 3 of us, DW and DD who will be 12. Looking to stay at WL however if we go for the room discount I was looking to maybe split the stay 1 week at WL and 1 week at BC. The option of splitting our stay is one of the reasons we may give the free dining a miss. Also, although the 'free' dining has been good we are fully aware that we would not normally consume that amount of food and there is no way we would ordinarily spend £1700 on food, which is the cost of the dining.

Any idea when the room only discounts come out. I have a feeling it is toward the end of 2013 ?

 

[Elise79]

I booked a room only discount in February for this September for our 5 night stay at the Polynesian. This was just after the second free dining offer finished (QSDP only). Our discount was 25% off

I am also holding out for a room discount for May 2014 as we will have annual passes from this trip so staying room only at AoA in which i'm hoping the Little Mermaid rooms will be included if not... Plan B maybe?

The Little Mermaid rooms have been excluded so far so maybe pick a second resort in case...

Thanks all,

There are 3 of us, DW and DD who will be 12. Looking to stay at WL however if we go for the room discount I was looking to maybe split the stay 1 week at WL and 1 week at BC. The option of splitting our stay is one of the reasons we may give the free dining a miss. Also, although the 'free' dining has been good we are fully aware that we would not normally consume that amount of food and there is no way we would ordinarily spend £1700 on food, which is the cost of the dining.

Any idea when the room only discounts come out. I have a feeling it is toward the end of 2013 ?

In the UK it was February time for travel this year. The other option is booking through the US but their discounts are only released a few months out.

 

[Rachey_101]

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