Is Free Dining really free-AKL Price diff.

[mom4graceandlogan]

I just booked on line the free dining promotion for 9/11-9/15 ( 4 nights) AKL pool view bunk bed. I got one day park hopper MYW tickets with the free dining. I declined trip insurance. Total 1835.90. I just priced out the same days, same room, same one day park hopper, declined trip insurance ( with no "free dining" added). and it was $1620.00 total including tax. WHy the price difference? DO they tax the plan with the dining and then subtract the dining amount? We are AP holders and wanted to give the dining plan a try. Rack rate + free dining comes out to be the same amount we save with the AP discount and paying OOP for meals. But not if an additional $215.00 is added in for "Free Dining" for 4 nights. Anyone else Know of an explanation? I am e-mailing DIsney to ask why as well.

 

[Luv2Roam]

You probably are paying a higher room rate in the free dining.
Have you checked to see if there are AP dining packages available for your travel dates? If they don't offer them now, maybe later. The WDTC AP packages offer the varieties of DDP plans. The only difference is AP-ers do not have to buy MYW tickets with that package type.
AP guests can even buy these packages through AAA.

 

[Aliceacc]

How many people are in your party?

Free dining is about $40 per adult per night x 4 nights = $160 pp. And from what I understand, you're paying rack rate for the room-- no AAA or other discount.

We actually did better with a 40% code than we would have with free dining, by about $30 or so.

 

[ajk912]

It seems like you didn't go through the free dining link. The math was always right for me. You went through the link on the bottom with goofy, right? If you did, it seems like they didn't take off the money for dining. Did you double check to make sure you had the same room category?

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

I did go through the free dining link and our reciept says That it is the Aug-Sept. Dine Offer. There are 2 kids and 2 adults. The problem is when you book it separately it shows a nightly rate of $255.00, and then it lets you add the tickets. When you book through the free dining link it will not tell you the nightly rate. It appears as if it is a higher Rack rate, which is deceiving in my opinion. I will see what disney responds with and then probably call to clear it up. I was just wondering if anyone else who had booked online, had checked there #'s and noticed a price difference. If I can't get the price reduced to the $1620.00 I will probably just cancel and wait and see what AP rates come out.

 

[parith1114]

I checked my trip the same way that you did, and they come out to be the exact same amount. I would call Disney and ask them to price the same trip for you and see what they come up with. I made sure to run the numbers before I called and booked to make sure I was getting the best deal. Penny for penny it's the same. The rate at POP during value season is $85 a night for a standard room, and that is what I'm getting with free dinning as well. Good Luck!

 

[danceintherain]

Every time I run it I get $1646.28, so I don't know why your numbers are turning out different.

 

[Luv2Roam]

When you book through the free dining link it will not tell you the nightly rate.

That is correct. You will not be given a breakdown of package costs. That is why so many here do the $ research up front as there is no breakdown with a package.

 

[scanmom]

to figure out what your room rate is in the package, all you have to know is how much the other components of the package cost. Just subtract the price of the parkhoppers from your total, and divide that number by the number of nights you will be staying, and that is your room rate per night. If you don't have many people in your group, sometimes a good code or an AP rate will beat free dining. It is different for everyone.

 

[Seahunt]

I just booked on line the free dining promotion for 9/11-9/15 ( 4 nights) AKL pool view bunk bed. There are 2 kids and 2 adults. I got one day park hopper MYW tickets with the free dining. I declined trip insurance. Total 1835.90.

Did you hear back from WDW yet? I just wanted to add that when I priced it out just now on the website on the free dining offer using your info I didn't get $1835.90, but $1622.86:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Check In September 11, 2008
Check Out September 15, 2008
Staying for 4 nights, 5 days
Adults 2 Children 2 *note-you didn't mention kids ages in your post, so I just used 9 and 6 for the example
Room Type Pool View Bunk Bed
Tickets 1 Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper® Option
Package Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining
Special Rate August to September Magic Your Way Plus Dine Offer
Insurance Declined
Grand Total $1,622.86

Maybe something on your $1835.90 quote was added in error when you thought it wasn't, like maybe you changed something but the website didn't really change it before the total?

 

[katieandemismom]

Do you have the waterparks and more option for your tickets in the dining package? When I leave that off my package (2 adults, 2 kids - 6 and 5), it is a little over $200 less. I know this b/c we are debating btwn. the waterparks option and a Halloween party and the price is very close.

Good luck - I wish we were staying at AKL again, but I promised dh it would be a "cheap" trip this time (POP).

 

[KibbyCat]

:

Grand Total $1,622.86

Maybe something on your $1835.90 quote was added in error when you thought it wasn't, like maybe you changed something but the website didn't really change it before the total?

So true. I tried pricing a vacation on the website once, and it kept defaulting me to the water parks & more option. It made the price difference HUGE and was frustrating, because I had to keep changing it back every time I tried to get a quote on a different resort.

 

[vscohen]

not that this answers your question, but why get 1-day park hoppers if you have AP? Just get 1 day base tickets?

 

[tomu570]

In order to participate in any DD plan you must purchase at least one, one day base ticket.

 

[TJA]

We are AP holders as well and I really think the dining deal depends on what AP discount is offered at the time. For example, an AP discount at the value resorts could be $20 per night. It would be a MUCH better deal to pay rack rate (the extra $20 per night) and get free dining in that case. However, if you are staying at a deluxe resort and the AP discount is over $100 off per night, then it may be a wash or the AP discount may be better versus the free dining.

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

Speaking from personal experience.....Add on the INSURANCE!!!! We ended up having to use it the first time we went. Hurricane Rita Hit Houston the same day we were to fly home. Because of the Trip Ins. we were able to stay the 3 days it took for the airlines to get us a flight out without a worry. The Ins. covered up to $200 per day per person up to $800 per family! I hope nobody has to use the trip insurance but it was a huge weight off our shoulders.

 

[DB&KS]

I am confused. I am going for free dining and I am paying rack rate for the room which is fine because it is value season, so I am only paying, I think, about $81.00 a night for a value hotel. Plus the free dining, how could it get any cheaper than that. Everyone always says there are discounts but could someone give me an example?

 

[mygr8kdz]

free dining is really free in that the basic dining plan is added to the package free of charge.
you may miss out on other discount possibilities on the room portion of your package because of the deal, but it is up to everyone to do their math and determine what is best for their travel party.

unlike an AP rate or pin code that takes a percentage off a room rate, free dining is a flat discount depending on your party size and age.

paying rack rate at a value resort ($82) for free dining for a family of 4 (with kids 10+) is a no-brainer - they are saving $152 per night off the package price.
a party of two adults staying Poly LVCL ($590/night) should take a room discount if offered, as it will likely be better than the $76 per night they'll be saving with free dining.
To the OP - if your children are under 10, then your free dining savings is $96 per night. You are buying passes you don't need in order to qualify, so that must figure into the equation. I would bet that an AP rate would be better for your family. You can add the dining plan onto that without buying unnecessary tickets.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am confused. I am going for free dining and I am paying rack rate for the room which is fine because it is value season, so I am only paying, I think, about $81.00 a night for a value hotel. Plus the free dining, how could it get any cheaper than that. Everyone always says there are discounts but could someone give me an example?

That is fine if your plan is to stay at a value. Many guests prefer moderates and deluxes, where a good room discount can be a better deal than free dining. AP holders, who don't need tickets, have to buy tickets to get free dining. An AP discount on a deluxe room, and no ticket costs, can beat the free dining.