Have run the numbers, what would you do?

[karen230]

Hi All,

You have been very helpful to me so far so I am asking for help with this decision. I have run the numbers and IF Disney runs free dining next year at the times they have this year, it looks like both of my possible dates to go would be cheaper using free dining than if we use our friends F&F CM discount. Right now I have a RO for LM but since they do not seem to offer free dining ever I am more than willing to switch, my question is, should I go the sure route and use our friends F&F CM discount or leave things the way they are and hope Disney brings out free dining? The savings can be a few hundred bucks (even with upgrading to the regular dining plan from quick service in the values and it is of course even larger if we use a moderate resort then we won't have to get the upgrade). I would like to nail things down soon before the rates go up any higher. Also, if I book through Disney, will they automatically give me the free dining discount or will I have to call back and ask for it?

 

[Shaden]

Hi All,

You have been very helpful to me so far so I am asking for help with this decision. I have run the numbers and IF Disney runs free dining next year at the times they have this year, it looks like both of my possible dates to go would be cheaper using free dining than if we use our friends F&F CM discount. Right now I have a RO for LM but since they do not seem to offer free dining ever I am more than willing to switch, my question is, should I go the sure route and use our friends F&F CM discount or leave things the way they are and hope Disney brings out free dining? The savings can be a few hundred bucks (even with upgrading to the regular dining plan from quick service in the values and it is of course even larger if we use a moderate resort then we won't have to get the upgrade). I would like to nail things down soon before the rates go up any higher. Also, if I book through Disney, will they automatically give me the free dining discount or will I have to call back and ask for it?

Are you planning on getting the Dining plan either way ?

That is an important question. If you are not, depending on your party size and what you will actually eat. That is, what you will WANT to eat, not what you will gobble up because its given to you via the dining plan, etc. But what, if you were going to get whatever you wanted off the menu, you would eat .... R/O F&F and paying OOP for food might still be cheaper.

IF free dining IS offered, you will have to call back and have your reservation moved over to a Free Dining reservation, subject to availability at the resort you are looking at.

 

[karen230]

I will use the dining plan either way. I like the convenience of it. When we went last summer it was nice to just look at the menu and order. I do remember trying to see how much the bill was in dollars so. I could get an idea if it was worth it for us and if I remember correctly, it worked to our advantage. I don't remember looking at the prices for the snacks though because we got ice cream snacks everyday and those I know were a bit pricey.

 

[Shaden]

I will use the dining plan either way. I like the convenience of it. When we went last summer it was nice to just look at the menu and order. I do remember trying to see how much the bill was in dollars so. I could get an idea if it was worth it for us and if I remember correctly, it worked to our advantage. I don't remember looking at the prices for the snacks though because we got ice cream snacks everyday and those I know were a bit pricey.

Well, if you are concerned about a couple hundred dollars, I can't see why you would use the dining plan either way, BUT, that's up to you. For us, I just set aside the price of the dining plan, in a savings account, and then put everything on the credit card, and then pay it off with the savings account, and its always less than the dining plan would be, or it has been the 2 times we have done it. And we order what ever we want each and every time we eat. Of course, we also get garden grocer, for drinks and snacks and breakfasts and stuff ... MUCH cheaper than paying Disney for it.

Just trying to make some solid suggestions here.

IF you are going to do the Dining plan either way, free dining is probably cheaper ... its hard to compete with that, if you are going to lock in anyway. But I can nearly assure you, the dining plan is not the cheapest way to eat at wdw ...