Free dining with park hopper vs dining plan no hopper

[BellaO]

If FD is offered, but you have to include park hopper tickets, is it even worth it, if you weren't going to buy the park hopper tickets?
I'm getting a bit overwhelmed. If they offer FD, I am staying at value resort, so I will be able to upgrade for something like $20 a day, but it's more if I have to switch from regular tickets to park hoppers.
Help? And thank you

 

[sharonabe]

If FD is offered, but you have to include park hopper tickets, is it even worth it, if you weren't going to buy the park hopper tickets?
I'm getting a bit overwhelmed. If they offer FD, I am staying at value resort, so I will be able to upgrade for something like $20 a day, but it's more if I have to switch from regular tickets to park hoppers.
Help? And thank you

Unfortunately, you're just going to have to do the math. Go ahead and price your vacation the way you want it with no dining plan and no park hopper at the resort of your choice with no resort discount. Then change the tickets to park hopper to get that cost. Then take the tickets away completely and do the math on a room only with a discount of 20% (another possible discount as opposed to FD). Now you should have all the numbers you need to decide if FD will be worth it to you.

 

[WDW_Firefighter]

We're in the same boat. I've done the math 3 ways, normal rates, FD promotion, room discount promotion. For us it still works out better to add park hoppers and get FD.

 

[MichaelWill&Megan'sMom]

Dining aside - we would do Disney without hopper. It makes the trip more spacing and diversified.

 

[BellaO]

I definitely don't think we need park hoppers. I can't price the same plan because it's currently not available. Also, I'm wanting to go 10/1-10/9... but would go at the end of September if it meant FD... like 9/28-10/9... and I can't find any room discounts for that time at all.
I need to start booking ADRs soon so I'm getting nervous. But if I already have a dining plan then my reservations for dining will transfer if I switch plans, or so I've heard?

 

[scard192]

we always get park hoppers, we travel in the Fall when MK closes at 7PM for the hard ticket parties and we feel PH are a must to make the most of our time at Disney.

 

[scard192]

I definitely don't think we need park hoppers. I can't price the same plan because it's currently not available. Also, I'm wanting to go 10/1-10/9... but would go at the end of September if it meant FD... like 9/28-10/9... and I can't find any room discounts for that time at all.
I need to start booking ADRs soon so I'm getting nervous. But if I already have a dining plan then my reservations for dining will transfer if I switch plans, or so I've heard?

RO discounts are not out for the Fall yet, they should drop around the same time as FD.

your ADRS are not tied to your reservations, you will not lose them. All a ressie at at Disney Resort does is allow you to make ADRS at 180 days for up to 10 days from check in

 

[BellaO]

RO discounts are not out for the Fall yet, they should drop around the same time as FD.

your ADRS are not tied to your reservations, you will not lose them. All a ressie at at Disney Resort does is allow you to make ADRS at 180 days for up to 10 days from check in

Does that mean that the price I have for a vacation package now might go down? I thought the closer to our date, the less likelihood to get a cheaper price. Right now I'm paying about $150 a night for a value resort. I wonder if that price will go down?
Thank you for letting me know this

 

[KimBean]

I definitely don't think we need park hoppers. I can't price the same plan because it's currently not available. Also, I'm wanting to go 10/1-10/9... but would go at the end of September if it meant FD... like 9/28-10/9... and I can't find any room discounts for that time at all.
I need to start booking ADRs soon so I'm getting nervous. But if I already have a dining plan then my reservations for dining will transfer if I switch plans, or so I've heard?

I'm not sure what this means. You can price it but maybe you are unclear how? If you tell us dates, #adults, # kids I can try to help put it together. Sorry if I'm misunderstanding. I'm in the same boat!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

The savings with free dining is better for us than any other deal, IF we are going with our whole family which is 4 adults. If it was just DH and I, it depends on what level hotel we are staying at and what the percent off discount is. Usually a percent off discount is offered at the same time as free dining, but you get either or NOT BOTH. If you are going in very late August or later, discounts have not yet been released. If you are going sooner, discounts have been released and free dining is RARELY if ever offered anytime other than fall anyway.

 

[BellaO]

I'm not sure what this means. You can price it but maybe you are unclear how? If you tell us dates, #adults, # kids I can try to help put it together. Sorry if I'm misunderstanding. I'm in the same boat!

You are too sweet!! And I'm waaaay over my head... lol!
So here's my deal: originally, I wanted to go from 10/2-10/9... I then found out that sometimes they offer free dining, but that free dining usually ends before October 1, so I change my arrival date to September 29th, and I still want to stay until the 9th... daughter's birthday is on the 8th. Anyways... I'm a single parent traveling with a 13, 12, and 4 year old... staying at ASM... i'm not sure if that was helpful, or even more confusing, and I super thank you in advance for any help!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

You are too sweet!! And I'm waaaay over my head... lol!
So here's my deal: originally, I wanted to go from 10/2-10/9... I then found out that sometimes they offer free dining, but that free dining usually ends before October 1, so I change my arrival date to September 29th, and I still want to stay until the 9th... daughter's birthday is on the 8th. Anyways... I'm a single parent traveling with a 13, 12, and 4 year old... staying at ASM... i'm not sure if that was helpful, or even more confusing, and I super thank you in advance for any help!

Cost of park hopper a will depend on the number of days of tickets you are getting. If you provide that, we might be able to be more helpful.

 

[KimBean]

You are too sweet!! And I'm waaaay over my head... lol!
So here's my deal: originally, I wanted to go from 10/2-10/9... I then found out that sometimes they offer free dining, but that free dining usually ends before October 1, so I change my arrival date to September 29th, and I still want to stay until the 9th... daughter's birthday is on the 8th. Anyways... I'm a single parent traveling with a 13, 12, and 4 year old... staying at ASM... i'm not sure if that was helpful, or even more confusing, and I super thank you in advance for any help!

Is that Movies or Music?

 

[KimBean]

You are too sweet!! And I'm waaaay over my head... lol!
So here's my deal: originally, I wanted to go from 10/2-10/9... I then found out that sometimes they offer free dining, but that free dining usually ends before October 1, so I change my arrival date to September 29th, and I still want to stay until the 9th... daughter's birthday is on the 8th. Anyways... I'm a single parent traveling with a 13, 12, and 4 year old... staying at ASM... i'm not sure if that was helpful, or even more confusing, and I super thank you in advance for any help!

One more question. If you get FD at a value you get quick service dining. Do you want to keep that or upgrade to Regular Disney dining?

 

[KimBean]

You are too sweet!! And I'm waaaay over my head... lol!
So here's my deal: originally, I wanted to go from 10/2-10/9... I then found out that sometimes they offer free dining, but that free dining usually ends before October 1, so I change my arrival date to September 29th, and I still want to stay until the 9th... daughter's birthday is on the 8th. Anyways... I'm a single parent traveling with a 13, 12, and 4 year old... staying at ASM... i'm not sure if that was helpful, or even more confusing, and I super thank you in advance for any help!

Also need to know how many park days you want.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

The savings with free dining is better for us than any other deal, IF we are going with our whole family which is 4 adults. If it was just DH and I, it depends on what level hotel we are staying at and what the percent off discount is. Usually a percent off discount is offered at the same time as free dining, but you get either or NOT BOTH. If you are going in very late August or later, discounts have not yet been released. If you are going sooner, discounts have been released and free dining is RARELY if ever offered anytime other than fall anyway.

I agree with this. Much of the perceived value of FD is dependent on the number of people in your room, the ages of any child(ren), and the resort your staying at.

-Deluxe resort with only 2 people, room discount is usually better than FD

-Value resort with 4 people, FD wins every time. Especially if everyone in room is over 10 years old.

Our last trip was with FD at a moderate (Coronado) and we upgraded to Deluxe Dining plan. 2 adults, 2 kids (ages 8,2). The 8yo is still priced as a child for the Deluxe upgrade so that was minimal (also when using Deluxe plan children can order from adult menu at which is a great bonus). The 2yo was not eligible for any Dining credits so we just ordered inexpensive kids meals for him or shared from our plates. 2yo was also free at all buffets.

10 year-old and up are priced as adults when it comes to the dining plan. Also 3 and under don't require park tickets so there was no added expense for upgrading to Park Hopper for 2yo.

The ages of our children was a huge factor in deciding when to go to DW this time. Our next trip kids will be 10 and 3 so it's going to cost considerably more to book the same type of trip we did last time.

 

[KimBean]

Okay so here is without your specifics so I'll change it accordingly to that but here is what is assumed. All Star Music 9/29-10/9, 10 day park tickets:

No discount
$3358 + food out of pocket

20% room discount (if available later)
$3058 + food out of pocket

Free dining - Quick Service (includes park hopper)
$3677

Free dining - Upgrade to DDP (includes park hopper)
$4351.

Of course don't take my word for it but if I'm wrong somewhere someone will point it out. Lots of smart cookies on this board!

 

[BellaO]

Is that Movies or Music?

Movies... sorry

 

[BellaO]

Also need to know how many park days you want.

7 days... thank you!!

 

[KimBean]

7 days... thank you!!

Okay I'll rework numbers.