Help me stay sane - RE: Free Dining

[SnowPeas]

I have spent the last week living on the DIS. I have devoured massive threads in an attempt to better understand how Disney World works. I think I'm getting it but there's one thing...

I know that I cannot be the ONLY newbie who is completely confused by the Free Dining issue....right?

I totally understand how the actual dining plan itself works, but I don't understand this branch. Can y'all PLEASE help me to remain sane and add a step or two, so that by the end of this thread we've walked through the entire process?

Okay, so...I'll start us off.

1. Hey, honey, I think we should go to Disney and stay on-site. Seems like late August-September is the best time for us to go. Let's book it!!

 

[treehugnmama]

whatnis exactly do you want explained? We go at least once a year so maybe I can help.

 

[ReneeA]

If you book and check in within the free dining dates(cannot check in even one day earlier), buy park tickets, and pack rack rate for a Disney hotel room, they give you the dining plan with your package. Free.

It really is that easy. Some argue that it's not "free" because you are paying rack rate for your room, and they often offer a discount (ie 20% off you rack rate on your hotel room). You must pay the full price for your room in order to get the deal.

We've ran the numbers, and free dining has always been the best deal for us. Your mileage may vary.

 

[SnowPeas]

whatnis exactly do you want explained? We go at least once a year so maybe I can help.

Okay...you asked for it...

The things I'd like to know are:

• 
  
  What are the minimum and maximum stays allowed in order to get the deal?
  
• What exactly IS the deal?
• If I get a family suite (I have 5 in my family), do I no longer qualify?
• Do I just book my hotel, plug in the code, and voila! It's free?
• What if I am spending 14 days on-site, but only plan to be in the parks for 7 days, is it wise to buy the 10-day tickets so that I can get the extra dining credits for things like Character Meals etc?
• Can any travel agent etc use the code for free dining? Or do I have to book directly through Disney?
• Is everything the same, or are the restaurants further limited that you can spend the credits at?
• If I buy a child's ticket, must the child eat off the child's menu? May an adult eat off the child's menu?
• Would it work if we had two book to standard rooms?
• Can the offer be combined with any other offer since EVERYONE stay on-site gets this deal?

And just a general "I don't understand how to do this" aura here. Like, I pick my dates and book and HOPE it's the right dates? But off-site is cheaper, so I will HAVE to stay on-site which saves me no money, AND eat in the parks because I have already added the dining plan, which saves me no money...

Or I wait for the codes, then HOPE to book? If everything is booked then I just have to go at a different time?

I just don't understand how people do this!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

My answers are in bold.

Okay...you asked for it...

The things I'd like to know are:

• 
  
  What are the minimum and maximum stays allowed in order to get the deal? Min. 3 days, max. 14
  
• What exactly IS the deal? You get free DDP for all members in your room-
• If I get a family suite (I have 5 in my family), do I no longer qualify? I believe the family suites are exempt from the deal
• Do I just book my hotel, plug in the code, and voila! It's free? I use the link for Special offers on the website and go from there. Yes it's free-voila. I booked mine this way about a week ago.
• What if I am spending 14 days on-site, but only plan to be in the parks for 7 days, is it wise to buy the 10-day tickets so that I can get the extra dining credits for things like Character Meals etc? Your credits are tied to how many nights you stay on-property. Not how many days tickets you purchase. You only have to buy a 2 day base ticket to get the free DDP
• Can any travel agent etc use the code for free dining? Or do I have to book directly through Disney? Your travel agent can our you can.
• Is everything the same, or are the restaurants further limited that you can spend the credits at? You can picked from anything on the menu
• If I buy a child's ticket, must the child eat off the child's menu? May an adult eat off the child's menu? A child must eat off the child's menu except for the few who don't offer a kid's meal. An adult can get an kid's meal (up the upsized Junior meal.) but it's not a good use of a credit. My DD got Junior meals at a few TS locations the year she turned 10 but still wanted a kid's meal, or two
• Would it work if we had two book to standard rooms? As long as you are paying a non-discounted rate, yes.
• Can the offer be combined with any other offer since EVERYONE stay on-site gets this deal?

Can't be combined with any other offers.

And just a general "I don't understand how to do this" aura here. Like, I pick my dates and book and HOPE it's the right dates? But off-site is cheaper, so I will HAVE to stay on-site which saves me no money, AND eat in the parks because I have already added the dining plan, which saves me no money...

Or I wait for the codes, then HOPE to book? If everything is booked then I just have to go at a different time? The free DDP for Sept is out now. Book it while you can

I just don't understand how people do this!!

Hope this helps. Any more questions feel free to ask. We've done the regular DDP 6 times now and the QSDP twice.

 

[dmoore718]

Okay...you asked for it...

The things I'd like to know are:

• 
  
  What are the minimum and maximum stays allowed in order to get the deal?
  
• What exactly IS the deal?
• If I get a family suite (I have 5 in my family), do I no longer qualify?
• Do I just book my hotel, plug in the code, and voila! It's free?
• What if I am spending 14 days on-site, but only plan to be in the parks for 7 days, is it wise to buy the 10-day tickets so that I can get the extra dining credits for things like Character Meals etc?
• Can any travel agent etc use the code for free dining? Or do I have to book directly through Disney?
• Is everything the same, or are the restaurants further limited that you can spend the credits at?
• If I buy a child's ticket, must the child eat off the child's menu? May an adult eat off the child's menu?
• Would it work if we had two book to standard rooms?
• Can the offer be combined with any other offer since EVERYONE stay on-site gets this deal?

And just a general "I don't understand how to do this" aura here. Like, I pick my dates and book and HOPE it's the right dates? But off-site is cheaper, so I will HAVE to stay on-site which saves me no money, AND eat in the parks because I have already added the dining plan, which saves me no money...

Or I wait for the codes, then HOPE to book? If everything is booked then I just have to go at a different time?

I just don't understand how people do this!!

Must travel between 8/25 and 9/29

1. You must book a 5 night stay at least 2 day park tix (pretty sure that it's still 2 days)
2. Family Suites are excluded from this offer
3. Go to disneydestinations.com, click on special offers, free dining deal and then you put in your dates and resort choice.
4. Dining credits are tied to nights per resort stay and not days of your park tix. There are tons of restaurants at the resorts and downtown disney that are on the dining plan, so you'll still have lots of great places to eat.
5. You can use a travel agent, at no cost to you, who can help with dining reservations etc..just be sure it is one that specializes in Disney. Or you can book it yourself at disneydestinations.com
6. Most restaurants in WDW participate in the dining plan, some are 2 credits like Cindarella's Royal Table.
7. If the child is under 10 and you purchased a child tix for them, they must order off of the adult menu, this is not an issue at buffets, of course. I've heard mixed reports about whether adults can order off the kids menu, I believe that in most cases they cannot.
8. The deal would work with 2 standard rooms as well.
9. The offer cannot be combined with any other offer. However, with a family of 5 (mine is also), we always save with free dining versus the room discount.

I hope this helps!! Anyone feel free to correct anything that I got wrong.

 

[ReneeA]

Okay...you asked for it...

The things I'd like to know are:

• 
  
  What are the minimum and maximum stays allowed in order to get the deal?
  3 nights is minimus, 14 nights is maximum.
  
• What exactly IS the deal?
  Free dining for a stay between 8/25-9/29. Resorts are becoming limited. They only hold a certain number of rooms for the free dining offer per resort. And apparently if the resort is at a certain capacity prior to the offer, there is no availability there (makes sense - they are trying to fill rooms). Anyway, book a value room, get the Quick service plan free. Book a mod or deluxe, get the regular plan free. You must also purchase at least 2 day park tickets with the package as well.
• If I get a family suite (I have 5 in my family), do I no longer qualify?
  
  Depends on if there are any family suites still available for the offer right now. You'd have to price it out on their website, or call them.
• Do I just book my hotel, plug in the code, and voila! It's free?
  
  There's a link on their website to follow. Click on it, plug in your info, and yup...voila...it's added to your package at no additional cost. If your resort/room still has free dining availability.
  
• What if I am spending 14 days on-site, but only plan to be in the parks for 7 days, is it wise to buy the 10-day tickets so that I can get the extra dining credits for things like Character Meals etc?
  
  If you stay 13 nights/14 days onsite, you get 13 "days" worth of credits per person. It's based on the number of nights booked, not days...and not how many days on your tickets. There are all kinds of restaurants (even character meals) at resorts, so you don't necessarily need park tickets in order to eat at sit down restaurants. Book a resort TS meal on the days you won't be in the parks. Now, the price difference between a 7 days ticket and a 10 day ticket is so little that we buy the days just so we have the option if we decide just to go to a park for the fireworks. Check your options.
• Can any travel agent etc use the code for free dining? Or do I have to book directly through Disney?
  
  You can book through a travel agent. However, be aware that if you want to make changes later, THEY have all the control. Your agent must make the changes. You won't be allowed to, even though you are the one paying for it. You also must be really clear on what you are getting from them. I've read instances where people show up to Disney after going through an agent only to find that they don't have free dining attached to their package...and there really is very little recourse at that point. Maybe I'm a control freak...but I want to be able to make changes.
• Is everything the same, or are the restaurants further limited that you can spend the credits at?
  
  There are very few limitations. 95% of all Disney restaurants onsite participate in the DDP, and 95% of the menu items are available to order using your credits. There are some that are dinner shows or signature dining (cost you 2 credits per person). Know before you book so you don't run out of credits.
• If I buy a child's ticket, must the child eat off the child's menu? May an adult eat off the child's menu?
  Children between the ages of 3-9 must eat off the children's menu. They do enforce it.
• Would it work if we had two book to standard rooms?
  
  As long as they had the rooms in inventory under the free dining offer. The only way to know is to call or go online and plug in your info.
• Can the offer be combined with any other offer since EVERYONE stay on-site gets this deal?

No. It cannot be combined with any other offer. Also, you will be surprised at how many people end up not knowing about the free dining once your there. If you don't do your research, then you wouldn't know and therefore not book with a discount code. I was shocked at the amount of people during several trips that did not apply a discount code to their stay.

And just a general "I don't understand how to do this" aura here. Like, I pick my dates and book and HOPE it's the right dates? But off-site is cheaper, so I will HAVE to stay on-site which saves me no money, AND eat in the parks because I have already added the dining plan, which saves me no money...

You have to decide that for yourself. It's harder for a family of more than 4 since most of their resort rooms only hold 4, and therefore, the majority of the "free dining" offered rooms obviously only hold that many. Your options get more limited, and your cost goes way up with more than 4 in your party. Your most reasonable offer for a party of 5 is Port
Orleans Riverside. It's a moderate, and has rooms that hold 5. I don't know if they are still available for free dining.

Or I wait for the codes, then HOPE to book? If everything is booked then I just have to go at a different time?

Free dining has been offered the last Saturday in August through the end of September (give or take a week on one side or the other) since 2005. I book my stay the day it's offered knowing we go for 10 day trips every year the last week of August through Labor Day. It's hot, there is a chance at bad weather, but I do it knowing that free dining will be offered and we can afford it then. You have to play with the dates/resorts/tickets/etc in order to find out what will work for you. It's also very beneficial to call, as cast members do a great job checking different options out if what you want isn't available.


I just don't understand how people do this!!
It gets easier and easier every time you do.

I answered in red above.

 

[SnowPeas]

A child must eat off the child's menu except for the few who don't offer a kid's meal. An adult can get an kid's meal (up the upsized Junior meal.) but it's not a good use of a credit. My DD got Junior meals at a few TS locations the year she turned 10 but still wanted a kid's meal, or two

How is it not a good use of credit if said credit is free?

Must travel between 8/25 and 9/29

9. The offer cannot be combined with any other offer. However, with a family of 5 (mine is also), we always save with free dining versus the room discount.

But staying onsite with 5 is SO expensive! I mean, don't you have to either get two rooms, or pay an arm and a leg to not feel ridiculously cramped? How in the world do you work out the bathroom situation? Why would you choose this over off-site? These are rhetorical questions, I don't expect an answer there. I'm just thinking out loud.

In any case, thank you both so much for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it. I guess more math is in my future...

 

[ReneeA]

A children's meal at a TS restaurant is worth on average, $9.00. That's what you would pay out of pocket for it if not on the plan. An adult meal averages about $35-40. That's what people mean about value for your credit.

As for the space, we are a family of 4, we stay for 10 days on average per trip, and we are in the room to sleep and shower. That's it...even on our rest days, we are out at the pool, etc. The perks to staying onsite are worth the tight squeeze for the very short period of time we are in our room during the day.

 

[Dizneydaz]

A children's meal at a TS restaurant is worth on average, $9.00. That's what you would pay out of pocket for it if not on the plan. An adult meal averages about $35-40. That's what people mean about value for your credit.

That's exactly what I meant. Which is why we have paid OOP for kid's meal for my DD so we could use the adult credit for another meal. Say a Signature meal requiring 2 TS. We did this a meal or two when she turned 10 during our trip. BTW we only paid for DDP the first time we used it in Jan. 2005. We got it free the other 7 times.

As to room size, we are usually a family of 3 (2 Adults and a now 13 y/o) A few trips we have added in an extra adult (all females). We find even the value resort room size fine since we really spend very little time in our room. Even on the days when we don't go to one of the 4 major parks we are still out of our room a lot.

 

[txnana]

"But staying onsite with 5 is SO expensive! I mean, don't you have to either get two rooms, or pay an arm and a leg to not feel ridiculously cramped? How in the world do you work out the bathroom situation? Why would you choose this over off-site? These are rhetorical questions, I don't expect an answer there. I'm just thinking out loud." - - Two of us staying 14 days at ASMu with upgraded to regular ddp with 10 day tickets comes out to 180$ per night would be much less with more folks to a room - seems like a great bargain to me - I have priced out hotels of a similar quality and those rooms alone would be 100-120 per night - then we would have to buy food, transportation, parking each day, park tickets, and not get the "on site" perks of early and late hours in the parks.