Is Free Dining Really Free

[lovestigger]

There is a difference of $176 when I run my costs using the "Free Dining Plan" verus Room only plus ticket rate. Shouldn't these numbers be the same if the Dining is really free? Just trying to crunch the numbers

 

[sage210]

I thought that too when I was pricing my vacation. But after lots of monkeying with the system I figured it out. It's the same if your options are exactly the same (plus or minus dining of course). However, sometimes when you price the package deals with the free dining it'll set slightly different options that what you'd originally select. For example I was looking at Wilderness Lodge standard view rooms, and free dining only gave me the option of Woods view bunk beds or higher.

Disney's system also seems to have "memory" from your previous searches. I found that to be great when they sent me a pin or updates by email, but wasn't a fan when I was try to lower the budget and it kept defaulting to my previous options.

If you want to keep your costs the same, be sure to check the view you requested, number of days in the parks, and which dining plan you've chosen. Those were the biggest things that changed when I looked at free dining vs non. Good luck!

 

[lovestigger]

Dah! I figured it out! We are staying at a value resort and I want to updrade from QS Dining to the Regular Dining Plan. There is the difference!

 

[WSLover]

The price of the package with Free Dining should be the same as a package with rack room rate and park tickets.

I had a difficult time trying to decide whether to switch our room only 30% discount stay at CRB to the free dining package. There are just two of us going. It worked out to be $300 cheaper even with adding two days to the beginning of our trip to get FD.

 

[BuzzandWoodyMom]

Free dining is just another type of discount. It's "value" is different for each family since it depends on how many people are in your party, the ages of the people and where you are staying. Generally, if you are staying at a value or moderate resort a free dining discount will save you more money than a room only discount and if you are staying at a deluxe resort a room discount can save you more - an exception would be a family of 5 all over the age of 10 staying at a deluxe, that's about a $250.00 per night savings, so a FD discount might save you more in that instance. Free dining saves us about $170.00 per night off rack rates, whereas a room only discount would only save us about $44.00 per night

 

[TheRatPack]

Glad you figured it out Mine has always equaled exactly what it would be without...makes it easy to figure it while waiting for free dining to come out LOL. As far as the value of the 'free' dining....well it is more expensive for some people but for our family it really helps out.

 

[magsmom]

One other thing to consider:
If you are eligible for tables in wonderland you can do as well on dining when it is not free, and you have a lot of flexibility because the discount includes appetizers and alcohol should you choose to have them (important).

For us dining is only a deal when it's "free", unfortunately. It generally does not pay when we are staying on points anymore.

 

[kerplop]

If you are staying at a deluxe and can get a good room only discount, then I would always go with that. But value or with a big family that likes to eat? Free dining every time. It's not free, but it's the discount you choose.

 

[QueenElinor]

We're a family of 5 staying at the YC in Dec. I had a chance to get a great deal on tickets when I booked the room in June, so we took that plus a room discount. The FD (which wasn't released at the time) is probably a better deal financially, as I don't have a big room discount, but the DDP just doesn't appeal to me- the family isn't really into dining and I don't want to keep track of it. We've got one ressie every day to be sure we actually eat some real food, though!

I'm hoping for a better room-only discount to come out, but if not, I'm happy with it.

 

[jsw1114]

It all depends on the family, we went to Disney in 08 for 5 nights and spent 1000 on food. Which made me shudder, last year we got free quick dining and upgraded to basic. We loved every second of it! 3 kids 3 adults it was soooo worth it! This year we go back in sept again with free dining. If we didn't like to do character meals or TS it prob wouldn't b a good deal for us but we eat out 1-2 days a week during a normal week so it equals being a awesome deal for us

 

[TheRatPack]

It all depends on the family, we went to Disney in 08 for 5 nights and spent 1000 on food. Which made me shudder, last year we got free quick dining and upgraded to basic. We loved every second of it! 3 kids 3 adults it was soooo worth it! This year we go back in sept again with free dining. If we didn't like to do character meals or TS it prob wouldn't b a good deal for us but we eat out 1-2 days a week during a normal week so it equals being a awesome deal for us

That's us.....this year we'll have 3 children and 3 adults (one teen) and it just works out to be the best discount for us. As well as taking the stress off of my husband because he likes not having to carry cash, worrying about how much we have for each meal....etc.

When I've ran the numbers, the dining plan usually breaks even, or we save just a bit more than we would if we paid OOP for our meals. But again it's a convenience thing for us and even if it saves us 100.00 it's worth it

 

[buzznina]

For our family the room only discount always works out better for a few reasons.
1) We usually only do a couple TS meals during our trips and sometimes none
2) I am the only big eater in our group DW and DD's are not.
3) We are AP holders and I would have to buy a 2 day ticket for each of us, over $500 and next year when youngest DD turns 3 $700.
4) Tip for every TS averages about $15-$20

We will get the Wonderland card if we are planning any character meals and that works well for us with the room discount.

 

[buzznina]

Free dining is just another type of discount. It's "value" is different for each family since it depends on how many people are in your party, the ages of the people and where you are staying. Generally, if you are staying at a value or moderate resort a free dining discount will save you more money than a room only discount and if you are staying at a deluxe resort a room discount can save you more - an exception would be a family of 5 all over the age of 10 staying at a deluxe, that's about a $250.00 per night savings, so a FD discount might save you more in that instance. Free dining saves us about $170.00 per night off rack rates, whereas a room only discount would only save us about $44.00 per night

Just wondering what type of discount was this? It always seems when room only discounts come out the deluxes are usually 30-35%, which would be over $90 or > discount per night. In your case FD sure worked great for you