Free dining VS passholder discount

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

If you were staying at a value resort, would you use the passholder discount or FD (if it were to be available in Sept)?

We have 2 adults and 2 kids 3-9. Its my understanding that if we do the FD, we must also purchase a one day ticket for everyone as well, correct?

One kid has a annual pass, so can we take the two one day tickets and upgrade them together into one annual pass for one child? Or can you not combine more than one ticket in an upgrade?

 

[beth_cam]

In general, if you are going to eat like you are on the dining plan anyway (or purchase the dining plan anyway) you are better off with free dining if you are staying value. Even if you get a 40% off code at the most expensive time of the year, you are only going to discount your room by $71/night. Quick Service Dining plan for your family would cost something like 88/night. And like I said that i with 40% off and the most expensive room rate.

Yes you do have to buy everyone at least a one day ticket. i do not think you can put the two together to get an annual pass for one child. however I remember reading people say they held on to that one day ticket to renew their annual pass the following year - you could do that for the child who already has one.

If you are looking at going in the fall even with a 40% discount you will only save about 40 per night. So lets look at a 5 night trip - you would save 88 * 5 = 440. you give up your 40% off so that cuts your 'savings' down to 240. You have to buy an unnecessary one day ticket (for the child who already has an annual pass) at $80(?) that cuts your savings down to 160. I am assuming that atleast one adult has an annual pass as well since you can't get the AP discount with a kids pass (unless something has changed). That means an extra unnecessary ticket so you are down to about $70 savings. If you are going to spend about the same $$ on the same types of foods either way, then at worst you are pretty close to break even reguardless of which you use. You will probably be atleast slightly better off with the free dining. I'm not sure you can follow that, but I hope it helps a little. Last year free dining at values was only Quick Service so I went with that. Obviously if the free dining was the regular ddp that would make even more of a difference.

 

[aubriee]

For a family of two adults and two kids, free dining will usually beat the AP discounts at both the Values and Moderates. At a Deluxe resort the AP will usually beat free dining. Free dining does require that everyone in the room buy at least a one day park ticket. As an AP holder I go through this every year.

You can only turn in one ticket to upgrade at a time, so only one child's ticket may be used to upgrade that child to an AP.

Just FYI: You mention that a child has an AP and that you are considering an AP discount for the room. You do realize that Disney no longer allows a child's AP to be used for a room discount? To get an AP room discount, Disney now requires an adult AP to be used and that adult must be listed as the lead name on the reservation.

 

[DisneyWisher]

I can almost guarantee that there will not be a 40% discount for Value resorts in Sept. The rooms are already cheaper because its value season $82 a night for a standard room(All Stars or Pop). Last year with an AP discount the room was $64 so thats an $18 a night discount. You will be way ahead with FD. I know that buying those 1 day tickets seem like a waste but they are good til you use them. 5 yrs from now even if child is under the "adult" price at that time Disney will exchange it for a adult ticket because it was purchased when they were a child. (hope that makes sense) Just put them in a safe place.

We are FL SP holders, volunteered for GAD so have a voucher for that and will buy the 1 day tickets needed for free dining. When I renew my SP I'll use the voucher and hold onto the 1 day ticket since it doesn't expire.

 

[raven69david]

This is how it worked for us in December '09:

my trip at AKL for 7 days:

With AP rate: $938.00 including tax
With FD: $1863.00 including tax - also includes 1 day base ticket for each of us (3) - It would be $2634.00 with 6 day base tickets

room #2 ASMo (for in-laws) LOL

With AP rate: $338.00 including tax
With FD: $786.27 including tax w/1 day base tickets - It would be $1241.02 w/tax with 6 day base tickets

Room #1 savings: $1696 w/6 day tickets or $925.00 w/1 day tickets
Room #2 savings: $903.02 w/6 day tickets or $448.27 w/1 day tickets (these are only QS meals; can't eat $450.00 in QS meals - unless I eat for 2 weeks at Flame Tree BBQ YUMMY)

Please note that all of these figures are for MY family (Me, DW and DD5) and YMMV. DW and I always split our plates because we just can't eat that much food.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Oh, boy. these numbers are making my head spin. I don't follow most of you guys... I'm getting too confused LOL

I should have clarified. All of us but one child has an AP... so I would need to GET hers... but the rest of us already have them.

We're trying to decide between going in Sept or early Dec. I know Dec last year had FD promo, too. I just don't know what will be offered this year. Either way, it looks like FD will be the better discount over AP discounts staying 14 nights at a value.

 

[Mercenary]

Oh, boy. these numbers are making my head spin. I don't follow most of you guys... I'm getting too confused LOL

I should have clarified. All of us but one child has an AP... so I would need to GET hers... but the rest of us already have them.

We're trying to decide between going in Sept or early Dec. I know Dec last year had FD promo, too. I just don't know what will be offered this year. Either way, it looks like FD will be the better discount over AP discounts staying 14 nights at a value.

Yep 14 days of Free QSD would be a much better deal at values... Just remember you will have to buy that one day ticket for each in your party to get to free... When you check in ask them to remove the park ticket from your hotel cards and you can keep the 1 day park tickets for the future.