Help from DDP users

[michelle1]

I'm sure this has been debated to death but I am not sure what to do if free dining comes out (I also have a 40% pin code). Do people tend to eat more just because the dining is free? We have done free dining before but I think we ate at more TS restaurants than we normally would just because we had to use up credits. I need to decide if we want the dining plan in case it is offered before my pin expires at the end of this month.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are asking if more people book TS restaurants during free dining - yes, they do. I usually say that anyone who wants to visit during the free dining period needs to have their TS meal reservations for every TS meal, assuming they want to eat at places that accept the dining plan.

If you don't have the dining plan, then you do have the option of eating in restaurants that don't accept the dining plan, which can be significantly less crowded.

If you're asking whether they order more food, on free dining (the basic dining plan) you're entitled to order an entree, a dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage, same as you would if you'd paid for the dining plan.

 

[michelle1]

Sorry, I guess my question doesn't really make sense. What I am trying to figure out is whether or not the free dining is really worth it if I have to pay rack rate for the room or are we going to be eating for the sake of using up credits? I'm starting to think I should use my 40% code and just pay for our food oop. We wouldn't do a buffet unless we were on the DDP and we eat at quite a few CS...when does it pay off the most to have the free dining?

 

[catne]

To figure out your best deal, what level hotel are you staying at, and what size is your party? If it's just 2 adults & you're staying at a mod or deluxe, the 40% off is probably your best deal (paying OOP for food.)

But if you have more than 2 adults in your room, and especially if you're staying at a value resort, the Free dining will probably save you more money.

Incidentally, if you prefer counter service, last year and the previous year during free dining they allowed people to trade the table service credits for counter service + snack credits so you could skip table service that way.