Grrrr...Cant Find My Answer

[KelleyD]

So I am booked for WL 2 adults, infant 9/17-9/22 5 day park hopper ddp. So I found a link someone had about weather the 40% was better or the free dining. According to the link free dining would be better. I thought this was strange but thought i would call and see how it worked out.

CM said no - 40% off is better. I am at 1779.80 and she priced 1962.40. So I hung up. Then I started thinking, I wonder if she added insurance or something else. So I went to the Dis site - and they aren,t allowing any pricing of resrvations.

So I call back to get a different CM. She says oh no rooms are showing because you are going past the 9/20 date. I say ummmmmm are you sure, I thought you could go 10 days past...she says no and we only just started this today(?????) What??? C'mon...

DO i really have to call back a third time???? Anybody know the comparison sheet I am talking about? Has it been wrong for others...man I thought I was all done....

 

[TiggerDad3]

Free Dining is being allowed past the 20th, if your start date is on or before.
This will also depend on resort and room type.
Also free dining is only able to be booked at this time by Disney Visa Holders, general public offer opens Thursday.
Don't know exactly your situation, but sounds like you will need to keep trying?

As far as the better deal... with only 2 adults and an infant the 40% may end up being a better one, but the only way to really know is look at the menus and figure out how much you think you will spend and then compare. Remember too, that gratuities are no longer included in the dining plan, and on basic that the appetizer is also not included.

 

[scanmom]

I would call back. A lot of people are booking past the end date. You just have to check in by the 20th. Hopefully when you call back, a more informed CM will help you. If they say the same thing, I would ask for a supervisor.

 

[Antinette]

So, I am new to DIS Boards and I was wondering if anyone can give me an opinion on something. I was real happy to find out that they are offering the free disney dining plan however, my check-in date is a day before the offer date. So my travel agent suggested that I still check in on August 23 for one night, check out on the 24th and check back in on the 24th in order to get the free dining. Has anyone ever done this before? I am going to be worried until that date hoping that they do not make us physically check out and hope to get the same rooms since I am requesting connecting rooms. Any suggestions?

 

[Seahunt]

Anybody know the comparison sheet I am talking about?

This one?

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/2008FDDPConpare.htm

 

[Seahunt]

So, I am new to DIS Boards and I was wondering if anyone can give me an opinion on something. I was real happy to find out that they are offering the free disney dining plan however, my check-in date is a day before the offer date. So my travel agent suggested that I still check in on August 23 for one night, check out on the 24th and check back in on the 24th in order to get the free dining. Has anyone ever done this before? I am going to be worried until that date hoping that they do not make us physically check out and hope to get the same rooms since I am requesting connecting rooms. Any suggestions?

Lots of people have had to do this - but the connecting rooms makes it a little more difficult! You do have to go down and check out, then check back in to get your dining credits, etc. I really don't think they will be able to give you any guarantees, but it seems that it would be easier on them to let you all stay where you are in your case - well, that is if you get the connecting room in the first place as those are not guaranteed either

Also, remind your TA that it's a little more than checking out and back in, as you will also have to purchase at least a one day ticket again for everyone in your party in order to get the free dining - plus the room rate could be at rack rate on your second reservation.....

 

[KelleyD]

This one? http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS...DDPConpare.htm

Yes that is the one...did you make it? But yes thats the one that says I should go with the dining... I will call again and try to price it out on the website...

 

[KelleyD]

So if I figured it all correctly, the 40% off is still a better deal, not as much when I add the dining plan, but still a better deal...

I come up with:
room 40% = 847.50
room fd = 1412.50

add ddp to 40% room I get $1227.40 so unless I am missing something, 40% is the way to go...much less of a discount when I add the plan, but still a discount.

 

[1hero2princesses]

I think it depends on the amount of people you have on the plan and where you are staying. I had a 40% off code on my reservation. Called today to check which is cheaper and for me (2 adults, 2 kids on the dining plan) the free dining saved me $198 more than the 40% off did at POR. So I switched to free dining. $198 is a lot to me! If you are at a deluxe with just 2 on the dining plan I can see where the 40% off might save you more.

 

[wdwmaw]

So if I figured it all correctly, the 40% off is still a better deal, not as much when I add the dining plan, but still a better deal...

I come up with:
room 40% = 847.50
room fd = 1412.50

add ddp to 40% room I get $1227.40 so unless I am missing something, 40% is the way to go...much less of a discount when I add the plan, but still a discount.

This is hard when you look at the big picture. Simply look at it this way. The dining plan will cost you about $76 per day. Is your room rate at 40% more than that off per night ( take rack rate for one night and take 40% off). If it is then you are better off taking the 40% deal. There are no other factors to pull you in any other direction. You are getting dining plan and you both need tickets. Hope this helps.

 

[KelleyD]

The dining plan will cost you about $76 per day. Is your room rate at 40% more than that off per night ( take rack rate for one night and take 40% off).

It is...$113/day to be exact...so yes the 40% is a better bargain...Thanks for all the help!

 

[robinb]

It is...$113/day to be exact...so yes the 40% is a better bargain...Thanks for all the help!

Kelly, that was my spreadsheet . I think that I was sick when I was thinking that there was a difference between people who were going to buy the DDP anyway. I was wrong. Thank you for catching my mistake!

Anyway ... I changed the spreadsheet and it does indeed show that for 2 adults at WL in a Wood's View, the 40% discount is a better deal. Even after you pay for the DDP on top of your discount .

Thanks for pointing out my errors!

Here's the updated spreadsheet:
http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW%20Dining/2008FDDPConpare.htm

 

[Antinette]

Thank you for your opinion. This is my first trip as a family and I am trying to get the best deal!

 

[KelleyD]

Robin B,

Thank you so much for getting back to me about this. I wasn't really trying to point out an error, just really wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something that would make the free dining a better deal.

Thank you so much! And that spreadsheet is great! Nice work.

 

[robinb]

Robin B,

Thank you so much for getting back to me about this. I wasn't really trying to point out an error, just really wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something that would make the free dining a better deal.

I'm just sorry it was so confusing!