How much would free dining really save me??

[JanineandMike]

also, they told us we could check back after being approved for the card and try to apply the code.

 

[Jenna319]

I also had the fall discount code booked for me and my DH, 7 nights at CSR 10/4-10/11, MYW package with just a 1-day base ticket because we have left over tix, with the dining plan, originally came out to $1465.... saving us over $500!! I was trying to compute the difference on the DW website if I wanted to try for the Disney Visa free dining code.... the numbers I was getting was only a $12 difference..... so I wasn't even going to bother calling, well I'm glad I did! Somehow I saved another $138, bringing my total for the trip down to $1326.88!!!! I don't know how they get there numbers and this was also including the fee for changing my package so close to the date! I would give them a call, it doesn't hurt!

 

[cjnix29]

People should really consider how they travel and whether or not they will really utilize the free dining plan. People are completely forgetting that not all with the free dining is free. Tips are not included. Plus, you get a LOT of food and spend a lot of time in restaurants. We have done free dining three times, and after the last time, we decided it is not worth it to us. We do not eat that much food! And for us, having to have everything decided as to where we will eat every day takes away from some of our fun. Granted, if there are places we REALLY want to eat (not too many anymore) we make ADRs. But to us, the flexibility, the additional room discount and the more time we have by simply doing counter service really make a difference to us enough to avoid the free dining plan. Just something to think about!!

And to whomever it was that only budgeted $60 a day for food, was that per person or total?

 

[cjnix29]

Just found out about the Disney Visa Free Dining offer - have a call into my TA but in the meanwhile, I've been trying to crunch some numbers to see if switching around our reservations would be worthwhile.

Current "package" for 2 adults
* Pop Century AP Room Rate 12/11 - 12/22 - have put 1 night deposit on this
* 1 Standard AP & 1 10-day MYW PH ticket - both already purchased
* Budgeted $60/day for food plus $125 for character meals

After reading the other thread (all 15 pages!) - I think we can do the following - any corrections would be appreciated:

* Keep our AP Rate Room for 12/11 - 12/13 on one resv
* Create a new resv for 12/14-12/22 - rack room rate + free dining + 2 1-day MYW tickets
* Keep our existing tickets & still budget $60/day for the first 3 days

It may not save us much money (between $40-$60) , but we'll be eating more TS meals if we can get on the dining plan (assuming ADR's can be gotten) than we would otherwise.

But then you also are paying for tickets you wouldn't need to pay for....

 

[Luv2Roam]

Every three digit package code is for a different type package. Some are AAA, some may include Wine, some Dlx Dine, some are MYW and Dine. It depends by what means you book a res. Each package most likely will have alternative packages you can choose to book against also.
I believe QXZ is the credit card MYW w/free dine

 

[corinascot]

People should really consider how they travel and whether or not they will really utilize the free dining plan. People are completely forgetting that not all with the free dining is free. Tips are not included. Plus, you get a LOT of food and spend a lot of time in restaurants. We have done free dining three times, and after the last time, we decided it is not worth it to us. We do not eat that much food! And for us, having to have everything decided as to where we will eat every day takes away from some of our fun. Granted, if there are places we REALLY want to eat (not too many anymore) we make ADRs. But to us, the flexibility, the additional room discount and the more time we have by simply doing counter service really make a difference to us enough to avoid the free dining plan. Just something to think about!!

I agree! The free dining looks like a great deal, but when I went back and looked at what we spent on our past trip for dining, it was seldom more than $30 pp per day. We always have cereal in our room in the morning so we can get moving. We have a table service meal most days, but not all. We don't like to spend that much time eating. Two of us often split an entree. I do think it's a good deal for many people, but not for us. Now if alcholic beverages were included..THAT would be a deal .

 

[PrincessTiffany]

People should really consider how they travel and whether or not they will really utilize the free dining plan. People are completely forgetting that not all with the free dining is free. Tips are not included. Plus, you get a LOT of food and spend a lot of time in restaurants. We have done free dining three times, and after the last time, we decided it is not worth it to us. We do not eat that much food! And for us, having to have everything decided as to where we will eat every day takes away from some of our fun. Granted, if there are places we REALLY want to eat (not too many anymore) we make ADRs. But to us, the flexibility, the additional room discount and the more time we have by simply doing counter service really make a difference to us enough to avoid the free dining plan. Just something to think about!!

And to whomever it was that only budgeted $60 a day for food, was that per person or total?

We are a family of 6 and free dining is a phenominal deal and savings for our family. Even before there was a "dining plan" we ate at least one sit-down/table service meal per day, so the basic dining plan is perfect for us. We have never thought that it was too much food, even when we used to get the appetizer. Even if we don't get the dining plan for free and have to pay for it, it still saves us a lot of money. The dining plan would have saved us almost $500.00 on our December trip. Now with the free dining code we are saving $1,600.00.

Come on December - bring on the free dining!!!!!

 

[3darlings]

We never do the dining plan and try to go pretty cheap with our food (bring it to the park, etc.) Free dining ended up adding $ 220 to our package. That is $ 37 dollars a day for food for 3 people. I figure we would definitely spend that so I decided to go with FD. This is going to be a whole different experience!

 

[GCM]

3darlings, that is kind of what we figured too. We were going to eat strictly CS meals and bring snacks from home. Even with having to pay the gratuity, we will save money by going with free dining. We have had free dining in the past and you will really like it. Not only is it a good meal, but you get a nice little break from the parks each day. Also, the character meals are such a treat.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Am I reading this offer correctly? $63 a day per person which includes room, food and tickets? $126 for my dh and myself a day???

Over Christmas!!!??? If I book in later in the days I could stay for the holidays???

I just came back and I turned most all of my TS into CS which worked for me as it gave me two CS and 3 snacks a day. I prefer that to character meals and having to be a certain place at a certain time, not to mention paying a big tip for a meal that I really do not want in the first place.

For free that works for me if the above assumption is right.

Thank you for any clarification.

Slightly Goofy

 

[cjnix29]

I understand that for some people free dining is a good deal, after all, we thought so the last three years. But what I was saying is that people should look beyond the word "Free" and see if the total package is a good deal for you. For us, not so much! We're all different, that is why some love Pop, and others would never stay anywhere but deluxe!

 

[lisa3383]

For us free dining saved us tons! We had two room reservations, one room had 3 adults, the other had 2 - this is how it worked out:

Room 1 (3 adults, WL, deluxe meal plan): $1,522 saved!
Room 2 (2 adults, WL, deluxe meal plan): $1,294 saved!

Grand total saved off rack rate: $2,816!

I'm not sure, but we may have got a room discount in addition to the free dining all with that one Disney Visa code!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Gotta love fuzzy Disney math.....

What did I save????? (all numbers rounded to nearest $5)

Orig res.
$815 -7 nights (Value) room only booked in March @ rack rate
$170 - Thanksgiving at the Fort Dinner (Prepaid)
$985

changed to:
$670 -7 nights (Value) + 1 day tix booked w/Fall Code in Aug
$170 - Thanksgiving at the Fort Dinner (Prepaid)
$840

changed again to:
$1095 -7 nights (Value) + 1 day tix and "Free" dining just booked
($ for Thanksgiving dinner now refunded)

--------------------------------------------------------------
$1980 - current res., but full rack rate for comparison

$300 cost of tix that I didn't need, but had to buy to get package

---------------------------------------------------------------
I guess it all depends on how you look at it!!

 

[disneyfan55]

Gotta love fuzzy Disney math.....

What did I save????? (all numbers rounded to nearest $5)

Orig res.
$815 -7 nights (Value) room only booked in March @ rack rate
$170 - Thanksgiving at the Fort Dinner (Prepaid)
$985

changed to:
$670 -7 nights (Value) + 1 day tix booked w/Fall Code in Aug
$170 - Thanksgiving at the Fort Dinner (Prepaid)
$840

changed again to:
$1095 -7 nights (Value) + 1 day tix and "Free" dining just booked
($ for Thanksgiving dinner now refunded)

--------------------------------------------------------------
$1980 - current res., but full rack rate for comparison

$300 cost of tix that I didn't need, but had to buy to get package

---------------------------------------------------------------
I guess it all depends on how you look at it!!

I guess by getting tickets you aren't using now, that's kind of a savings on a future trip. That's how I looked at it when we changed from a $54/night AP rate to paying the rack rate but getting the free dining. For 194 for the 2 of us we will have the food and I know we would have spent more than this for 6 days of food even if we didn't have a TS each day. We also each have a 1 day pass that can be used in the future to apply towards an AP or multiday ticket. Also, my daughter ended up coming and to add her to the room cost 146 (ticket which she needs to upgrade to a multiday pass, no waste and about 60 for her to eat for the 6 days) I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[JanineandMike]

we were originally staying at POR, but just called back today and for $400 more we are staying at AKL with the VISA FD package for 12/14-12/20!!! that's almost a $700 savings at AKL.

 

[MAGGIED]

Wow... I am not sure if I figured this right... please correct me if I am wrong... what I am thinking about is what kind of savings I might see IF they were to do FREE Dining in January.... I know that is a big IF... but you never know....traveling will be 2 adults , 2 teenagers

currently we have
6 nights at CBR, preferred room, 1 day base ticket, w/ dining AAA package - $2223

so IF they were to offer free dining... I looked on the Disney website for those days..
6 nights at CBR, preferred room, 1 day base ticket would be $1498...

thats a savings of $725... is that possible?????????????

 

[antmaril]

It is costing me $21 per day more with the UWI Code than if I booked the Disney Visa Free Dining deal. However, by using the UWI Code I do not have to split the reservation. My sister and I are staying at the Yacht Club. With free dining, the room is $325 per night. With UWI code, the room is $270 for a difference of $55. Dining is $76 per day for the two of us, for a difference of $21 per day. It's worth it to me to just check into the Yacht Club on December 13th and be done with it.

 

[MPS4124]

Wow... I am not sure if I figured this right... please correct me if I am wrong... what I am thinking about is what kind of savings I might see IF they were to do FREE Dining in January.... I know that is a big IF... but you never know....traveling will be 2 adults , 2 teenagers

currently we have
6 nights at CBR, preferred room, 1 day base ticket, w/ dining AAA package - $2223

so IF they were to offer free dining... I looked on the Disney website for those days..
6 nights at CBR, preferred room, 1 day base ticket would be $1498...

thats a savings of $725... is that possible?????????????

Yes that's possible! I am saving $797.00 over Thanksgiving! We check in on 11/21 and stay till 11/28. I get free dining the whole week! Plus I will have 2 one day MYW tickets to apply to our annual passes next year! We did have to switch from Pop to Sports though.

 

[lisa3383]

It is costing me $21 per day more with the UWI Code than if I booked the Disney Visa Free Dining deal. However, by using the UWI Code I do not have to split the reservation. My sister and I are staying at the Yacht Club. With free dining, the room is $325 per night. With UWI code, the room is $270 for a difference of $55. Dining is $76 per day for the two of us, for a difference of $21 per day. It's worth it to me to just check into the Yacht Club on December 13th and be done with it.

Maybe you have already done this, but I would call Disney and get a quote for your dates with the Disney Visa offer. I think I got free dining and a 20% discount (I'm saving $2800 with 4 adults). If you check this out let us know what they say!

 

[su_A_ve]

Am I reading this offer correctly? $63 a day per person which includes room, food and tickets? $126 for my dh and myself a day???

Over Christmas!!!??? If I book in later in the days I could stay for the holidays???
Slightly Goofy

No. The "per person per day" are based on a family of 4 (2A, 1J, 1C) with base tickets for the number of days.