Help me convince DH to go during free dining

[mickeysgirl17]

According to mousesavers, there will be free dining this year. We have Annual passes and Dh doesn't want to spend any more money. When I added everything up, the cost of staying offsite for a few days is about the same as doing a disney package w/ free dining, but he thinks it will still cost us more money. I was at a disney resort in December and miss it so much. What do I do????

 

[DisneyBugs]

I wasnt' sure about DPP the first time either. But half way thru the vaca, I was amazed at the amount of money we saved. And better yet, we had gone during a free DDP offer. I made an estimator in MSExcel to indicate for each person in our party (me, DH, DS-6, DD-3), per day, a snack, counter service and sit-down meal. Figure a snack is roughly $4, and prices for the counter service and sit-downs I pullled from the menu section of wdwinfo.com (watch for adult prices vs. child prices).
Compare that the normal cost of the DDP (which I believe is roughtly $40 per night per adult and $11 per night per child age 3 and over). I estimated for a week's trip, we would saved over $200 (based on my estimates). Remember, the DDP includes things for sit-down like an appetizer and dessert. Even if you don't normally purchase those things, you may want to include them in your estimate so you have an apples-to-apples comparison.
My husband says he'll never do Disney again without the DDP.
But then again, I don't have an AP - so I don't know how that would differ.
Good luck!!!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Thanks. When I add up food, parking (you have to pay for parking w/ the fl resident passes), and hotel offsite for 4 nights, its just a little more than paying for the package w/ free dining, but we get to go to character meals and our favorite restaurants on property. Plus, I can stay at a disney resort (which we loved in Dec). Dh is driving me crazy!! lol.

 

[DisneyBugs]

DHs should leave the planning to the DWs!!

 

[3jsmommy]

Why don't you find some pics of his favorite meals from the most expensive 1 TS rest. & casually show him what he'll be missing! My husband might be persuaded by that! Or you could always just be REALLY nice to him We are not going during free dining this year, but did it in '05 & DH loved those checks that said $0!! If you use snack credits for breakfast (donuts,muffins etc..) you don't have to pay for 1 meal!!