Free Dining vs. Room Discount - which is better?

[weschmom]

We are going 3/3 - 3/9, 2 families of 4, staying at Coronado Springs. We have booked free dining, but I just read about a room discount of 25%. I know there are many folks on here that can calculate quickly which is the better deal. I'm guessing we should stick with free dining. Also -- Wilderness Lodge has 30% off. Would THAT be a better deal than free dining? Not opposed to switching.


Thanks!

 

[lovesdumbo]

A standard room at CSR for those dates is $185 weekdays/$205 weekends. Even on the weekends with the 12.5% resort tax the 25% discounts saves you $57.66/night.

The "free" DDP would be worth about $50/adult (anyone over 10) and $15/child so the free DDP saves you more than the 25% discount.

 

[weschmom]

Thank you! Appreciate it.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Typically, a room discount is only better when you are staying at a Deluxe resort, and then the discount needs to be at least 35 to 40% off. If you are staying at a value or a moderate then the Free Dining is going to save you more money, especially if it's only a 25% - Free dining comes out way ahead.

 

[ciera321]

In our situation for June, we have the Spring discount which saves us around $620. If we were to get free dining (please, please, please), we'd save another $680 for a total of $1,300. I really would like a PIN for free dining.....

 

[dbennett3899]

Stick w/ the free dining. The money we save w/ Free Dining (4 years in a row) would far surpass a room discount. We had free dining in October (my wife and I) and saved well over $1,000. Pretty sure a room discount wouldnt come close to this. Plus it always makes me feel better when I can eat anything I want and not have to worry about a bill. Peace of mind if you will haha!

 

[TwistGrl101]

I'm all about free dining, but I do have to say that it really depends on your family's eating style. We like to eat a character meals/buffets/nicer restauants so the dining plan saves us a lot. But if you like to grab and go, and don't want to commit to one sit down meal a night, then you would be better with the room discount.
You can go to allears.net, and look at the menus/prices to the places you would like to dine at, and then see if you would be coming out ahead on the dining plan.

 

[dbennett3899]

IMHO even if you get Quick Service FD there is strong possibility that you would still save more money than a room discount. Not too many cases have a room discount been more economical then FD. I suppose its not totally out of the question though. :O)

 

[Dixiemom]

In our situation for June, we have the Spring discount which saves us around $620. If we were to get free dining (please, please, please), we'd save another $680 for a total of $1,300. I really would like a PIN for free dining.....

If only you could use 2 discounts at once! Now That would REALLY be a deal!

 

[rafiki14]

Free dining just "feels" better to me. Your trip is paid for up front. No OOP for meals during the day. Just eat, eat, eat, and know that you "basically" got it for free!!

For value resorts - we're young, that's where we stay - it's better to do FD.

If we ever start staying moderate, I'll have to recalculate

 

[scdufek]

Our family of 5....4 Disney adults and 1 child are saving about $1400.00 with a Free QS pin over the $600.00 moderate room discount. So for us, definitely free dining!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

For those who have stated free dining nearly always beats room discount, it not only depends on your resort, but the number in your party. Most trips, only DD(22) accompanies me - free dining saves us less than $100/day, whereas a good room only rate can save close to $200/night at a deluxe resort.

We tend to eat one to two table service meals per day, but often split entrees or get appetizers, no dessert, so the dining plan doesn't work out for us, anyway.

Just thought I'd add this for anyone else with only two adults in their party!

 

[rafiki14]

For those who have stated free dining nearly always beats room discount, it not only depends on your resort, but the number in your party. Most trips, only DD(22) accompanies me - free dining saves us less than $100/day, whereas a good room only rate can save close to $200/night at a deluxe resort.

We tend to eat one to two table service meals per day, but often split entrees or get appetizers, no dessert, so the dining plan doesn't work out for us, anyway.

Just thought I'd add this for anyone else with only two adults in their party!

Good point!!