Respectfully, I still think this statement is too broad. I've crunched the numbers various ways. A good PIN/discount offer is often a better option. It depends on the type of family and where/how much they would normally eat. (This is especially true since they changed the free dining option to CS for people staying at values.)
As my husband always tells me, just because something's on sale, it isn't always a good deal...especially if you weren't planning on buying it anyway.
If you are a family of four staying at a moderate resort and saving $60 per night off your room, you may still be better off price wise with free dining.
4 CS lunches will run you about $40. Also do you order drinks? Do you treat yourself to any snacks? You'll more then make up the difference with just a few non-signature TS meals even by skipping desserts and paying oop for your appetizers.
Well, this is the way I look at it.
25% at a value during value season when fd is typically offered is $25 off a room per day. I cannot feed my family of four at Disney for $25. So fd = good deal.
30% off a moderate during value season when fd is typically offered is $60 off a room per day. One character meal will typically cost about $100 or more for a family of 4. So fd = good deal.
I agree with your husband that just because something is on sale, it isn't a good deal, but in this case it is. And everybody has to eat right?
I will stay out of the whole I am good enough to eat at TS restaurants, but you aren't because you are on the dining plan argument.
.
That pretty much sums it up.
There is a board for these questions. It is the discounts board, located here http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93
I will stay out of the whole I am good enough to eat at TS restaurants, but you aren't because you are on the dining plan argument.
ETA: Oops! Posted the wrong link. It is corrected now.
.)
OK. Let's do the math. (I'm not sure why I am continuing to argue the point other than that I am an attorney who has had a few mimosas for brunch
Right now, one night at POR river view during Sept value season is $274.50 (incl tax). A 30% discount would get you a savings of $82.35.
Assume a family of four brings cereal bars, bread, peanut butter with them to eat in the room for breakfast. Assume that they are willing to drink water (in refillable bottles which is a good healthy option) throughout the day. Assume that they are at MK. They can grab nice, filling counter service meals for lunch and dinner at MK for $61.82 total per day incl tax (an adult taco salad, an adult cheeseburger meal, a kids hamburger meal and a kids turkey sandwich for lunch at Pecos Bills PLUS two adult battered fish baskets and one kids macaroni meal and one kids chicken nuggets meal at Columbia Harbor House for dinner.) That's a savings of $20.53 per day (assuming a 30% discount on a mod) over free dining. Over seven days, that's a savings of $143.72.
Now, obviously, the math changes per meal per day, but the ultimate savings is real.
Take a family of 4 staying at a deluxe (eating apps over desserts and throwing in a few signature meals) and the savings increases exponentially.
Well, it really wouldn't make a lot of sense to stay at a moderate and choose counter service over table service and you have based it on one of the most expensive room categories, but okay, say that is what you really want to book.....
Are you really never going to order a coffee/milk/soft drink/juice at all?
Are you really never going to treat your family to a snack or dessert?
Plus we always get a milk with our meals and get a fruit bowl/yogurt/muffin when at the Food court as a dessert so we can eat them the next morning at breakfast. That equals additional savings.
I don't see the $21 savings at all.
