How Free is Free Dining?

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

My DH and I were discussing a 4 day trip during the Free Dining promotion. For the four day trip with the free dining it would cost us $665.74, however, a room only rate would cost us $423.04 - which led us to wonder how free is free dining?

Any thoughts on this as we're confused??

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

In order to be eligible for Free Dining you must book a package, which is minimum of 3 nights stay and one day's theme park admission. You then receive credits for one table service, one counter service and a snack for each person included in the package for each night of your stay. Normally the dining plan is about $38 per person per day.

If you are running the numbers on Disney's website, make sure you are following the link for the promotion, otherwise the price will be inclusive of the paid dining plan.

 

[argue]

My DH and I were discussing a 4 day trip during the Free Dining promotion. For the four day trip with the free dining it would cost us $665.74, however, a room only rate would cost us $423.04 - which led us to wonder how free is free dining?

Any thoughts on this as we're confused??

free.

 

[HockeyMomR]

What kind of Park tickets are included with your free dining package price? The dining is free not the park tickets which you need to purchase to get the dining plan. Maybe that is the difference?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

What kind of Park tickets are included with your free dining package price? The dining is free not the park tickets which you need to purchase to get the dining plan. Maybe that is the difference?

One - one day park ticket for eligibility since we have APs - which doesn't cost over $200

 

[HockeyMomR]

O.K. I was no help. Sorry....good luck figuring it out.

Did you try the Disney Web site and use the link for free dining? We have never had free dining, but have priced it for fun. It is really free.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

To clarify my early post, this year WDW is requiring a minimum 5 night/6 day stay.

$455 per adult based on adult double occupancy.
Prices valid most nights Aug 26 - Sept 22, 2007 in a standard room in a Select Value Resort. Add a child (ages 3-9) for $184 when occupying room with adult.
That's a savings of $194 per adult!

 

[DizneyNutz]

Nothing is free. They used to offer discounts on the rooms, now they call it free dining and charge full price for the rooms. Disney is not in the business of giving things away for free. They want everyone there for as long as possible or at least returning, thus the 10 day ticket. We are sold on the 10 day ticket because we do plan on returning

 

[auntie]

I personally think if you stay at a value or moderate resort during a "free dining" promo..it's a much better value, than if you are staying at a Deluxe resort. As you will be paying full rack rate for a room. So...free dining?...ahh...I'm not so sure. To me that would depend on where we stayed. Also...if I had a room only discount..and the discount card for the dining with an AP pass...I think I'd skip the "free dining" time periods all together.
We are staying at the WL next week. This is our first trip using the dining plan. We paid the $40.00 a day...to make it a package..and then our park passes. However...I did receive a pin code mailer..which gave us a discount on the room,..then they added on the dining and park passes. I actually had cancelled a trip back in October during the free dining promo..and wasn't able to secure ADR's anywhere we wanted to eat. For that...and a number of other reasons..we change our plans for this month.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Did you try the Disney Web site and use the link for free dining? We have never had free dining, but have priced it for fun. It is really free.

Yes, used the free dining link

 

[CanadianGuy]

One - one day park ticket for eligibility since we have APs - which doesn't cost over $200

Not sure where you got your numbers exactly. I can't make the either the free dining link or the regular website spit out a total like yours for a value room for free dining dates with a four night stay. (There is no five night minimum.. there is however a THREE night minimum)

Four nights in preferred room
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = 424.88

Four nights in standard room
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = 370.64

-----------

Four nights in preferred room /w 1 day base MYW & Free Dining:
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = $ 569.90

Four nights in standard room w/ 1 day base MYW & Free Dining
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = $ 515.66

I see a difference of $145.02 (in either standard or preferred) which does roughly equal 2 one day base tickets.

 

[HockeyMomR]

Yes, used the free dining link

Did you make sure to remove the park hopping and water parks?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Just for fun... I did it with you PAYING for dining..

Four nights in preferred room /w 1 day base MYW & PAID Dining:
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = $ 569.90

Four nights in standard room w/ 1 day base MYW & PAID Dining
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = $ 881.82

Do you mind posting the dates you're trying to plan for and then I can run quotes with your exact dates.

Thanks,

Knox

 

[CanadianGuy]

Did you make sure to remove the park hopping and water parks?

I tried when I was doing my quotes with adding and removing each of those features one at a time and together, and I still can't make it add up to $665 as noted in the original post.

Knox

 

[joy13]

Nevermind, I miss understood your point I do see what you are saying now. I do know when I booked my trip I was originally booking for a week later without any dining plan. When I realized the free dining was going on, I changed my reservation to a week earlier - doing everything the same (days of the week etc.) and I got the exact same price except with the dining plan included. But I was doing a package price all along - I never tried room only reservations.

How many MYW ticikets to you need to buy to get the dining plan for everyone? Is it one per person or just one in the party? 2 MYW base tickets with tax is around 142 dollars.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Not sure where you got your numbers exactly. I can't make the website spit out a total like yours for a value room for free dining dates with a four night stay. (There is no five night minimum.. there is however a THREE night minimum)

Four nights in preferred room
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = 424.88

Four nights in standard room
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = 370.64

-----------

Four nights in preferred room /w 1 day base MYW & Free Dining:
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = $ 569.90

Four nights in standard room w/ 1 day base MYW & Free Dining
@ ALL STAR MOVIES : September 4-8 = $ 515.66

I see a difference of $145.02 (in either standard or preferred) which does roughly equal 2 one day base tickets.

Dates - September 2 - 6/07

Room Only - Preferred Room
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Vacation Total: $423.04

Special Rate Type : September Magic Your Way Package plus Dining (using link on DisneyWorld.com travel page)
One day Magic Your Way ticket with park hopper
Disney's Pop Century Resort - preferred room
Vacation Total: $665.74

 

[HockeyMomR]

O.K. I just got the same quote as the OP. 4 nights 8/26 - 8/30; 2 adults with park hopping and dining $665.74 at All Stars preferred room. Interesting.......

 

[CanadianGuy]

One day Magic Your Way ticket with park hopper

The park hopping is the difference. You pay for the park hopping.. Works out to about 50$ each or so.. Not exactly obviously. Since these are one day passes and you have AP's.. I'd drop that.

Knox

 

[HockeyMomR]

I just dropped the park hopping off....quote is now $569.90. Which should be about right. Mystery solved?

 

[CanadianGuy]

I just ran the quote for Pop Century - September 2-6 and it came out to 569.90 with free dining - no park hopping.

Turn on park hopping (which you pay for ) and it's $665.74.

Mystery solved. Good Detective work HockeyMom! You can be my Velma to my Scooby Doo!



Knox