Free dining VS camping

[lokin4deer]

Hey gang first time poster although I have been lurking for a while trying to learn all I can. We are heading to WDW in Sept and we had planned on camping. As our vacations are always in our camper. But now that WDW is offering this free dining package I can stay in a value resort (Pop Century is what we are leaning towards) for about 300 bucks more with the food included. So my question is has anyone else thought about this and I am missing something that I dont know. Looking for some advice from the veterans here as this is our first trip to WDW. Just so you know there will be three of us me my wife and our 4 year old. Thanks.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Despite what a lot of people say, I just can't see how this plan would save me any money. It seems to me that you would have to eat an awful lot of food in order for this plan to compensate for paying rack rates for a room. We just aren't really big eaters, so for us it doesn't seem like we would save anything. It also seems like there is an awful lot of planning in order to use all the points. We have our favorite restaurants, which I guess aren't always on the list, so for us, we'll stick to camping and eating a few big meals at our favorite restaurants. The less planning I have to do for my vacation, the better I like it.

 

[auntie]

We usually only eat twice a day when we go to Disney..staying in the Wilderness Lodge. I don't find that we really eat three meals a day. I have never gone and paid full rack rate..which is I guess what you do if you have this meal plan included. I don't think it would pay for us. Whether we were camping or not.

 

[LegoMom3]

We just switched to a package deal for Free Dining, something I never thought I'd do. We had a tent site (partial h/u) reserved for a week, and I had a budget figured out for how much the rest of the trip was going to cost (eating lunch in the parks, fixing everything else at our site; travel expenses for driving down which would include gas, food while on the road, hotels on the road; and of course the inevitable misc. expenses like souvenirs and "just in case" money). Then the free dining came out again so for the fun of it I went in and plugged in some numbers (after a lengthy conversation with DH over the questionable reliability of our vehicles, plus 3 days in the car to get there vs. 3 hours on a plane!!). Turns out I would actually save money by flying and doing the dining plan, so I was all over that. I'm sad we won't have the Fort experience, but I'm also pretty excited to try some Disney restaurants that I would never otherwise go to due to the cost!

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I think alot depends on how much you would normally be spending for the trip on food. I do think that by using the dining plan you may be able to get some more character dining in than you would normally.

 

[rigs32]

In addition to food costs, think of the effort off your shoulders by not having to worry about preparing any food.

When you don't have to pay for the dining plan, it's harder to make a comparison, since you're not actually paying for the food. If you're going for a week, that's less than $50 extra per day. One table service meal for two people and you're getting a better deal and a hotel room - and a private bathroom that someone else cleans!

 

[thelionqueen]

Without a doubt I would switch! The DP saves so much time and effort, it's worth twice that easily. Especially since this is your 1st trip to WDW, I would say DEFINITELY!!! You will not regret it!

 

[ticktock]

I wasn't going to post since we don't camp ( we stay in the cabins often though). But I just had to say, if your camper is very nice and you are comfy in it I might just stay with that.

I know many people like the value resorts, but the rooms are very small. All the resorts are full of other peoples cooties too. We usually stay deluxe and I have found bogies on the headboards and brown smears on the walls in the bathroom(if you know what I mean). Besides the usual trash under the beds, sticky spots on the comforters and uhm, short curly hairs in the tub. Mousekeeping just does a quick wipe down and vacuum, they don't really CLEAN very often. If you are used to traveling in your own space (camper, RV) it might come as a nasty surprise to you.

Just a thought. I'm trying to talk DH into a class C RV so any yuck I will be cleaning up will be family germs . Have a great time whatever you decide.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

This is the same situation I looked at for our Sept. trip to the Fort. But! we have 6 in our family so we would have to go with 2 rooms or a cabin. Even with 2 value rooms at $150/night + tax, we still come out pretty close. Our campsite is $47/night (including tax) and buying the meal plan would run us about $126/night. Plus, I would have to buy 6 one day tickets. I have already bought tickets and we had already planned to make this a laid back week and visit the parks only a couple of days. So this would have changed those plans as well. We are guying back the first week of December and I bought the package for that week.

 

[auntie]

I know for us..they'd want to stay at the WL not a value..so...I'm not so sure about the dining plan when booking one of the deluxe resorts at full rack rate and then the dining. I guess I'd have to price it out...have never paid full rate..was always lucky enough to get a code or had a postcard mailer once too. Our trip in October is the first time we will go to the campground in our own travel trailer..looking forward to it.

Now as far as camping..it's my understanding you can't get the meal plan with the campsites..so. ...not an option. But...I think when you camp it's because you enjoy the experience of it. I have found that RVing in particular is not to save money...the rigs..and the tow vehicles..are more than any hotel room would certainly cost. It's a lifestyle that you enjoy and what better place to enjoy it than Disney!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Auntie, Yes, you can get the dining w/ the campground (campsites). You just have to pay for it. You can not get the free offer. We did this last October and are already booked for December. It works for us great since we are only paying $47/nite for preferred. I thought about booking a cabin during the free offer just so the kids could experience a cabin but it was too hard to justify the extra expense since it would be rack rate and I would have to purchase everyone a one day ticket.

 

[musicmama]

I think it also depends on when you're going and what discounts you had otherwise. You can't get the Dining Plan if you have a site discount. We camped last Christmas and there were no site discounts, so we paid full price for a preferred pet spot ($ 100./night). Paying full price and booking via AAA agent allowed us to add the DP at $ 35.99/day, which for 2 adults and a 12-year old over Christmas vacation gave us the freedom to eat at places we never did before. And we did eat... It was also easier in that we didn't have to return to the camper to eat lunch and dinner.

However, if your site is discounted and you're not looking to eat at the more expensive places then you're probably not going to make out with the difference.

 

[lokin4deer]

Hey everyone thanks for all the replys. Let me give you a few more details, prices and thoughts and then see what you think. We are staying seven nights. We camp alot locally and we travel at least once a year in our camper I have a 25 foot Starcraft. We are very comfortable in it because of the reasons ticktock mentioned. Its our dirt!!!!!!! So when we decided to go to WDW it was a no brainer stay at FW then WDW came out with this free dining. Heres how the numbers break down. FW is 343.42 for the week with us spending probably 100.00 to bring our own food from home. Pop is 616.70. Thats a difference of 275.00. I would have a little more fuel to get there because of the camper. But we wouldnt have a hotel expense getting down there and getting home becasue we usually find a flying J or a rest stop to sleep in. If we are in the park and decide we want to stay longer then we have to pay to eat anyway. And I have a 4 year old girl that think princesess are the greatest things in the world so I know we will have at least 2 character meals. Its seems most of the differences you cant put a value amount on, Like the chore of cooking after you have been at the park and the fact you are sleeping in your own dirt. So if you are still reading do you have any more thoughts? And also what does full rack mean? I have read that a few times and I have no clue what it is. Thanks!!!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The rack rate is the full price of a room or campsite without any discounts.

 

[lokin4deer]

OK for those of you getrting discounts on stuff. How does someone go about getting these discounts? I heard about AAA just havent looked into yet.

Dave

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Ask for a AAA discount when you make your reservations. You may be asked to show a valid AAA card at check in. The number of rooms/campsites available under any discount is limited, so ask when you make your reservation. If they have not released the discount yet, make the reservation and call at a later date to see if you can apply the discount. They may have to cancel your present reservation and make a new one, but as upsetting as that may sound, I have never had them cancel a reseration and not be able to make one under the discount code.

 

[auntie]

Auntie, Yes, you can get the dining w/ the campground (campsites). You just have to pay for it. You can not get the free offer. We did this last October and are already booked for December. It works for us great since we are only paying $47/nite for preferred. I thought about booking a cabin during the free offer just so the kids could experience a cabin but it was too hard to justify the extra expense since it would be rack rate and I would have to purchase everyone a one day ticket.

Oh really..I wasn't aware. Thanks. Now another question...just how much is the dining plan if you purchase it?..Is it per person or per party.? Also we have a situation where we don't know who is coming with us..it might be just the two of us for most of the trip..but for part of the time my kids(there are 3 of them) will be with us..flying down at various times...since they will be in high school and college and not able to miss that many days..my older son has vacation time from work and will be likely with us more than not. Hope I didn't confuse you too much..but can we add the plan for them on the days they will be there..? or do I have to do this in advance...now? Also..seems someone mentioned if you have a discount on the site(we have a AAA discount the plan is not applicable..that right?..guess I'd have to see what the difference in paying full price for the site would be. Thanks for your help.

 

[auntie]

OK for those of you getrting discounts on stuff. How does someone go about getting these discounts? I heard about AAA just havent looked into yet.

Dave

AAA discount is for Automobile Association of America members. It is an auto club membership...good to have. If you have a dead battery..lock keys in car need a tow to a local station. Plus they offer discounts on car rentals and hotels throughout the country. You can ask when you make a reservation if they have any AAA discounts available. Other discounts would include discount codes that are offered to the public at various times..using the code you will be quoted a discounted rate..rather than the rack rate. If you don't ask for the discount..they don't give it too you. Always ask what discounts they may have available. I've also had postcard mailers, where we've used the pin number on the card for disney discounted rooms...but those seem hard to come by as of late. Haven't seen one in 3 years now.


Okay..I'm seeing now that the dining discount is per person..sorry about the other post with the questions. Didn't realize there is an entire thread about the plan. Very helpful..thanks.
Still..not sure if it would be worth it being in the campground..given that we would eat some meals in the rv....although by no means all. We would eat dinner out nightly for sure. I can see where if it is free with the hotel that would certainly be a huge plus. gonna have to think this over.

 

[lokin4deer]

Auntie it sounds like you are where I am. Normally we always stay in our camper and cook there. I am pretty sure we decided to leave the camper home for this trip and get the free meal plan and just have a few snacks in the room for my 4 year old. Its is costing me a extra $273.00 but I dont have to buy much in the way of food and someone else does the cooking and dishes. Dont forget the taxes and tip is included in the paln also. The lady I spoke with at disney yesterday told me it is $37.99 a person for adults and 10.99 for kids a day to buy this plan from them. It will kinda weird tho I couldnt tell you the last time I was in a hotel room on vacation.

Dave

 

[auntie]

We have reservations for campground for October..for my husband and I..we figure on staying 10 to 12 days. This is HUGE for us..as it's our anniversary I know some people go to Hawaii..but I've always wanted to go to FW with our trailer. We have stayed many times at the various resorts over the years with the kids. This is suppose to be for US (mainly me..!). Anyway it turns out my older son who is big into camping and has vacation time( he's a police officer)..and that's fine with us..figured he either come down.or drive with us and help with the trip. Then of course the younger two.which are in high school and college..see Mom and Dad and older brother taking a trip to Disney without them. Neither one of them can miss more than a few days of school.(Policy)..Anyway..they wanted to fly down for part of the time and stay at the WL..along with my MOM! I know..but we'd love to have her..it's been years since we've all been to Disney at the same time with Grandma since my dad had his stroke. So it looks as if this trip for just US is turning out to include EVERYONE! Go figure..the more the merrier..and frankly as long as I finally get to the campground I'm happy..and we will be having some days when we're there alone. Then I saw this post about the dining plan..and am now totally confused as to what to do with who ..and even the when..as I see they offer for free in the month of September! I figure my two younger kids would be at the WL with my mom anyway..and we could have the three of them on a dining plan. I wasn't aware that you tie the dining plan into the entire stay..so my husband and I would need it for the whole 10 to 12 days we stay...and there I was thinking before that we should get annual pass as we would likely go back before a year was up..but see you need to tie the dining into at least one day on a MYW pass.
If you follow ANY of that..you surely must be as confused as I am now! Silly me...I thought I had it all worked out until this morning! Looks like I'm back to the drawing board. I too am glad you have the option of adding this at a latter date. Seems I've got some thinkin' to do!