Gah, What do I do?

[alm99]

We are looking at a late August trip for our family of 5. DH38, DW39, DD14, DS12, DD10. It has been 4 years since we were at Disney World and at that time we had free dining one trip and a stay,play dine deal in late January(low crowds) during those trips. My wife is now a teacher and we are stuck going either during the summer or during school breaks, to avoid school break crowds it seemed late summer would be best even with the heat.


Right now there is a mediocre one free QS meal plan available that would fit our schedule, but there is rumored of the possibility of free dining promo coming later in the Spring for summer/fall months. Do I book now to lock in and if a free dining plan comes out re-book to that if possible?

 

[rdaky]

I would book what you want now, and hope for some kind of discount. History shows that there has been some sort of discount available in August every year. Free Dining may or may not be your best deal. We had free dining on a trip a few years ago and it was a great deal. We decided not to do "free" dining last year because it required the purchase of park hoppers and it was only free when staying at a Deluxe. (staying at a moderate required us to pay to upgrade from quick service)

 

[Sarahlynn34]

That's what I would do. The dining plan has changed over the past four years (since your last visit) and free dining promos are fewer and farther between. If they are currently running a promo with a dining element, I would be surprised if they then opened up a free dining promo for that same time. I would book the time you want now and adjust if promos come out.

 

[Sarahlynn34]

I would book what you want now, and hope for some kind of discount. History shows that there has been some sort of discount available in August every year. Free Dining may or may not be your best deal. We had free dining on a trip a few years ago and it was a great deal. We decided not to do "free" dining last year because it required the purchase of park hoppers and it was only free when staying at a Deluxe. (staying at a moderate required us to pay to upgrade from quick service)

I agree. Sometimes you can make out better financially if you book room only discounts and pay out of pocket for meals (depending on your families eating habits). The requirements for "free dining" now are geared to make you spend more (must stay moderate or deluxe, must get park hopper). Truly "free dining" as it existed years ago is a thing of the past, I think.

 

[MainMom]

Personally, I would book what you want now and then do the math if the free Dining is worth it vs. a room only discount if they are released. I have always found room discounts better for my family than any Dining offer or plan.

 

[disneyvoice]

I agree to book what you want now and check later but I also wanted to share that we have made several week long trips this past year (June, July, October, November, January) and BY FAR the lowest crowds that we experienced were in June and July in the height of school summer break season. We had assumed that those trips would have been the most crowded. I think summer will be much better in terms of crowds that you think!

 

[Sue M]

I’d do the Disney Math to see if the free dining and paying rack rate will be a savings. As already mentioned the moderates were downgraded to the same plan as values, only quick service Now only Deluxe has the regular DDP.
With 5 people you’d have to do the math with paying rack rate vs a room discount and paying oop for meals. For myself and daughter I usually budget $50/day ea for meals. And we get Resort mug. We prefer water with meals, and we usually end up sharing the occasional dessert or snack.
We also have breakfast in room. I pack bagels and instant oatmeal packets in our luggage. Can use the resort food court toaster for bagels, and coffee machine in room for hot water for oatmeal. Also pack granola bars.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We are looking at a late August trip for our family of 5. DH38, DW39, DD14, DS12, DD10. It has been 4 years since we were at Disney World and at that time we had free dining one trip and a stay,play dine deal in late January(low crowds) during those trips. My wife is now a teacher and we are stuck going either during the summer or during school breaks, to avoid school break crowds it seemed late summer would be best even with the heat.


Right now there is a mediocre one free QS meal plan available that would fit our schedule, but there is rumored of the possibility of free dining promo coming later in the Spring for summer/fall months. Do I book now to lock in and if a free dining plan comes out re-book to that if possible?

Yes, I would book now and I mean today! With the rumors of imminent ticket price increases this weekend, if you book today, you not only lock in the measly one free QS, you also lock in today's ticket prices which for 5 Disney ticket adults can be a substantial savings over waiting for that potential free dining deal which will include the new ticket prices. Essentially, if you book today, you are getting the one free meal, plus the lower priced tickets. Lock it in and then do the math when another promo is released to see which will save you the most money.

 

[alm99]

Thanks all. I was running the numbers for one meal QS meal plan against standard room rates with adding a full QS meal plan and that meal plan is terrible. It would be less expensive get a room and the full QS plan than the forced suite requirement and 1 meal plan.

I like the idea of the meal plan because then i don't have to count how much I am spending daily. I realize I would spend a little more in the end, but its more of a vacation if all I need to think about is $$ for souvenirs, but who doesn't like saving their money too...

 

[rdaky]

I like the idea of the meal plan because then i don't have to count how much I am spending daily. I realize I would spend a little more in the end, but its more of a vacation if all I need to think about is $$ for souvenirs, but who doesn't like saving their money too...

What we did last year was purchase Disney gift cards in the amount that a dining plan would have cost us. We used those cards to pay for all of our meals and snacks (actually we just charged everything to our room and paid the balance with gift cards), and even with buying whatever we felt like eating, we still had a few hundred dollars left on our gift cards that we used to let the kids buy souvenirs.

 

[MainMom]

Thanks all. I was running the numbers for one meal QS meal plan against standard room rates with adding a full QS meal plan and that meal plan is terrible. It would be less expensive get a room and the full QS plan than the forced suite requirement and 1 meal plan.

I like the idea of the meal plan because then i don't have to count how much I am spending daily. I realize I would spend a little more in the end, but its more of a vacation if all I need to think about is $$ for souvenirs, but who doesn't like saving their money too...

I really wanted a meal plan for convenience for our trip next month. However, I just could not get the numbers to make any kind of sense with our projected ADR’s.

 

[Wild4Walt]

We're going in September and I booked my trip last year as soon as I was able. When I spoke to the wonderful cast member who confirmed by trip, he recommended that if we were hoping for Free Dining that we should book the dining package at the time of booking because he advised it was easier to convert to the special dining package that way. We did it and we'll see in April if a package comes out. If it does, great. If it doesn't we can always cancel before final payment.