Make sure you compare free dining to room only discount

[Schrute Farms]

I previously booked with free dining staying at the CR. By switching to the room only discount and adding tickets and dining I was able to upgrade to Atrium Level at CR for $100 less.

Had I stayed in a regular tower bay lake room the room only would have been $270 less.

The only thing I miss out on is the Planet Hollywood coupon, the mini golf, and the wave runner discount which I wouldn't have used anyway, never do.



Oh and the cast member that helped me make the changes was awesome.

 

[onelilspark]

Here's a tip too: make sure your math is right!!

We're booked at Pop for a short F&W trip, with Free Dining we get the Quick Service DP...for each person I checked the room only rate and it saves us about $30/night. So when I was looking at it, my brain went, okay, so it's pretty much a wash either way (Quick Service DP is $30/night/person.) After I booked the dining portion, I realized that since it's my boyfriend and I...that's TWO people, so really it's $60/night we're saving

...It was early.

 

[sharadoc]

Yep, we switched from Free Dining to a room only discount and were able to stay 4 more days. We were staying in a cabin and didn't really "care" about the dining plan. We were just taking it because it was free and wouldn't eat out that much if we were paying.

Now that we're planning on eating in the room more, and staying out of the restaurants, we figure we'll get more ride time when everyone else is eating!

I ran the amounts on a spreadsheet EVERY which way. It was kind of fun, but at least I know I did the right thing for us.

 

[k's greys]

I agree! My travel agent contacted me this morning to let me know that a new discount had come out for our travel times. By giving up free dining, we were able to upgrade our room at the WL and add the dining plan for LESS than what we were paying for a standard room with free dining! We are saving almost $200 more than with free dining! Make sure you call and ask someone!

 

[tjlemkuil]

I just re-priced the FD package vs room only at All-Star Music and found it to be 125.00 cheaper with FD for just my wife and I.

 

[Pirate Mom]

I thought you could not add dining on the room only discount????

 

[3boys4me]

I think the room only discount is better for those of you staying a deluxe resorts. We stay mod and have four people on the plan, 3 considered adults and 1 child, so we do much better with the FD. We save $600.00 by taking advantage of the FD over the room only. Glad everyone is saving.

 

[bytheblood]

We have 2 adults at the Wilderness Lodge and it is less for us to take the Dining Plan. It was less by $10 over the room discount.

 

[summerlady]

I thought you could not add dining on the room only discount????

Yes, you can, just not free dining, can't stack discounts. I changed my reservation with free dining this morning over to room discount and then added dining and park tickets.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I compared every which way....my CM added dining and changed it to a package ( I had a pin code room only)
so for $642 I have POP for 5 nights and DDP for one adult and one child....told DH I could do a budget trip!!

it always good to check...I have found when your party is 2 or less, the room discount works better than the FD discount.
Congrats to all the new reservations everyone is getting!

 

[candeeapril]

I also rebooked w/ free dining on Fri. and when I checked w/ disney website w/ room only code I saved $160. So I called and switched to that discount instead!! woohoo!!

Plus I made our ADR's yesterday and got everything we wanted including Chef Mickey's and CRT.

 

[kmcford]

I have been working and reworking deals all day. For my family it is cheaper to do the free dining. We are staying at CSR. My mom is also going but for her it is cheaper to do the romm only and add tickets and dining seperatly.


We were originally booked to stay at Pop but had upgraded to the regular dining. I realized that I might as well be paying the money towards a nicer room and get the dining for free. So we upgraded to a mod for just a little more.

 

[Pirate Mom]

When I check the website, it will not let me book dining with room discount. It changes it to FD??????? When you call do you just say you want the Room discount and then add dining at the end?

 

[scanmom]

what code are you all using to check which is better? I have FD Oct 31- Nov 4th (my BD is Nov 1st!), and when I checked online, the FD is better than the special they have listed. This trip is at CSR, 2 ad, no ch, 5 day PH's with the regular DP. Thanks!

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Scanmom, FD works out better than even the AP rate for us, and we're CSR also. ETA: How fun, to go on your birthday!!

 

[SHammett]

I had a deluxe club level at Boardwalk booked with free dining and one day base tickets for 5 nights for $4032. Just changed to room only for $2143. The tickets were worth roughly $500 (one day tickets for 6 people), so we're saving around $1400. Meaning, we would have to spend over $280/day on food to come out better with free dining, which wouldn't have happened. It really pays to keep checking and do the math!

 

[JoanneNC]

I had a deluxe club level at Boardwalk booked with free dining and one day base tickets for 5 nights for $4032. Just changed to room only for $2143. The tickets were worth roughly $500 (one day tickets for 6 people), so we're saving around $1400. Meaning, we would have to spend over $280/day on food to come out better with free dining, which wouldn't have happened. It really pays to keep checking and do the math!

It's reservations like your original one that makes Disney money in this FREE promotion.. People hear/see FREE and they make their booking based on what they perceive as free.. Great deal you have NOW

 

[Magic2000]

It'll just be DD & me for our trip in November, and the AP room only discount was better for us than the Visa free dining. We're staying at AKL, pool view bunk beds (which was SUPPOSED to be a surprise but I couldn't keep the secret!!), and I'm just going to pay out of pocket for our meals. That way, we get to eat where we want -- we tend to have more TS meals than CS.

Glad everyone is happy with their deals!!!!

 

[bonzarella]

We have 2 rooms @ Pop-4 nights in Dec with 2 adults/2 juniors with DDO for $1089.00. FDP for same package came to $1300 something. Difference came with factoring in tickets. That $200 will cover our MVMCP

 

[sullins5]

Originally had room only AAA for 975. Changed last Friday to DV Free Dining. Staying CBR for 6 nights, 5 day basic tickets, and had already booked CRT and Chef Mickeys. Came to 1860. When I called for room only, added 5 days and the 2 ADR's came to 1640, but I figure I still did better. Yes, we're paying 200 more, but because of it, we are getting more character and ts meals, and snacks and counter meals than we would have normally done. And basically for us, our meals s/b taken care of since we don't normally eat 3 huge meals a day.

When I called yesterday, the cm said I would have to pay 300 more if I wanted room only and then add the dining plan and tickets...think I'll keep what I have!

CBR Oct 6-12 for 25 Anniversary!