Got the Free Dining Pin!!!

[apnep]

What to do????

I currently booked a moderate with a $500 gift card. But I checked my mail today and got the free dining pin which is good for the dates we are going!

Should I go with it or keep the gift card? Help!!

Angela

Ang, DH, DS (12), DD (9), DS (6)

 

[jsrj21]

Hello-

I got a pin today too but it was for free 'counter service' dining. Is this what you got? I priced out my package through AAA and WDW [website] and the savings ends up being around $500.00. We are going with this deal.

Jose

 

[gabriellyn]

Which free dining did you get? The QS FD pin? Or the basic DDP free dining? I am guessing you are staying at POR w/5 people, right? We are too, in August and for us it is definitely a better deal to do the Free Dining. But we got the basic DDP deal, so it's a savings of over $1000 for us. How many nights are you planning on staying?

 

[apnep]

Yes. Mine was for QS dining, but I wouldn't want to do the table service. I just called and the difference between what I have have already booked and what I could get with the free dining pin is $192. I don't know what I should do???

Yes, we are family of 5 and we booked POR and are going in June for 5 nights.

Thanks, Ang

 

[gabriellyn]

$192 less? I say go for it! That's a nice savings - that would be souvies for us, or gas $$$, or something!

 

[QVCshopper]

Yes. Mine was for QS dining, but I wouldn't want to do the table service. I just called and the difference between what I have have already booked and what I could get with the free dining pin is $192. I don't know what I should do???

Yes, we are family of 5 and we booked POR and are going in June for 5 nights.

Thanks, Ang

Is that $192 before or after the giftcard? And are you taking food into consideration? If it's just $192 more for free dining, you won't be able to feed your family of five for $200 for more than two or three days.

 

[apnep]

$192 less? I say go for it! That's a nice savings - that would be souvies for us, or gas $$$, or something!

Oh no, it would be 192 MORE than the deal we got for the $500 gift card.

Ang

 

[dclfun]

I just got the PIN offer -haven't had a chance to price anything out yet, but I do prefer the QSDP to the DDP so am tempted to take advantage of the offer for a short trip attached to our DVC vacation over Memorial week.---Kathy

 

[apnep]

Is that $192 before or after the giftcard? And are you taking food into consideration? If it's just $192 more for free dining, you won't be able to feed your family of five for $200 for more than two or three days.

OK, let me clarify. I booked 5 nights at POR and got the $500 gift card that I was going to use toward food during our stay.

Then I got the PIN and called and found out it would cost us $192 more if I switched our vacay to use the "free dining" PIN. Not sure what to do. It would be nice and convenient not to have to worry about "budgeting" that $500, but then again, I don't know about eating all that dessert with those 2 meals we get. BUT, I have read that people use their extra credits toward the end to purchase packaged cookies and stuff to take as souveniers. PLUS, we are going in June when it's going to be really hot, don't know how hungry we'll be, you know? The heat sometimes puts a damper on your appetite.

Hope that clears things up.

thanks, Ang

 

[apnep]

$192 less? I say go for it! That's a nice savings - that would be souvies for us, or gas $$$, or something!

Girl, if it was less it would be a no brainer!

Ha!

Ang

 

[We_love_WDW]

You would have to price out what the dining plan is worth...I think that dining plan would be alittle over $700...you also have to take into consideration that you would have to make your dining reservations....many people already have. I have always felt the dining plan is worth the $$$. You will be shocked how quickly the food adds up. A counter service meal can easily be $50 or more. The table service will for sure be worth it for your family. I say go for it! You will spend more than $500 in food.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

I would take the free dining if it was me. Would be nice to know the essentials (food, park tickets, lodging) for the whole trip are taken care of before you got there, then start saving the gas and "fun" money before you go. Plus being a "numbers" guy, you net a $200 savings as well.

 

[apnep]

I would take the free dining if it was me. Would be nice to know the essentials (food, park tickets, lodging) for the whole trip are taken care of before you got there, then start saving the gas and "fun" money before you go. Plus being a "numbers" guy, you net a $200 savings as well.

I don't get it. How do I net a $200 savings if I have to spend $200 more?

Thanks,

Ang

 

[gabriellyn]

Ah, $192 MORE. In that case, if you are careful and don't book any TS meals, you might save a small amount with your current package vs the FD. I am thinking you will probably spend more than the GC on food, but since it is 5 days, maybe not $192 more.

 

[wdwfan16]

Oh no, it would be 192 MORE than the deal we got for the $500 gift card.

Ang

Is the gift card included in the 192 or is the difference really 692?

 

[andrews_dad]

So, you don't get the $500 GC and it costs you $192 more? So, that "free" dining costs you $692, correct? Pretty pricey for just QS. If you plan to eat meals away from the park or do som esit-down stuff....

 

[apnep]

So yes. It's either pay for the room and tix and get the $500 gift card, or pay for the room and tix and get the "free dining" that costs $192 more dollars than what we already paid.

Though, I'm not really understanding why the package ends up costing more if with the room and tix I have to pay full price to get either deal. Maybe I should call back and ask them that. The guy on the phone didn't really sound like he wanted to help.

Angela

 

[crushonmickey]

You just need to figure out how much money your family would be spending on food while you are there. If you were going to do all quick service anyway, this is much easier to figure out. That way you are comparing "apples to apples."

Yes, you are spending an extra $192 + foregoing the $500 gift card, but you are getting your food for free.

Would you be spending more or less than $692 on food while you are there? If it is less than $692, I would go for the gift card discount and pay out of pocket for the food.

 

[apnep]

We were just going to use the $500 for food and only do counter service. I didn't think we'd spend more than that and if so then just pay out of pocket for whatever else we wanted. Sounds like you're onto something, perhaps we should just stick with what we've got. Thanks, crushonmickey.

 

[andrews_dad]

We were just going to use the $500 for food and only do counter service. I didn't think we'd spend more than that and if so then just pay out of pocket for whatever else we wanted. Sounds like you're onto something, perhaps we should just stick with what we've got. Thanks, crushonmickey.

Before I decided, I would call and speak with another CM. As you probably know, some are quite good and knowledgable, and some must be on loan from the DMV. I'd call until I get someone who is willing to take a few minutes to explain it all and crunch the numbers for you.