New Room Discounts - Should I Drop Free Dining??

[KRCMOM]

Okay, what I knew would happen happened - free dining was part of our 9/24-10/2 package, and today they released room discounts through 10/2. We're at BCR, so the discount would be 40%. That adds up to a savings of about $100 more on our package if we take the room discount over the free dining.

I was in the DDP mindset b/c it was free (we wouldn't have paid for a DDP package), and I was giddy with the thought of not analyzing the cost of meals etc. The new overall savings if we were to apply the room discount is about $950 total...vs. the value of about $850 for a free DP. So I guess my question is, what is realistic in terms of spending on food over eight days? DH thinks we can do it for much less, but I think it's going to add up and come out a wash, esp. if we throw in a few character breakfasts. We would probably order about $100 worth of stuff from Garden Grocer and just eat most breakfasts on the run (granola bars, etc). I'm not terribly concerned about formal sit-down dinners every night, we have three kids (DS9, DD7, DD3).

Anyway, our travel agent is doing the math and getting back to me - but I've already done the math myself. I can't help myself.

Would love any input. Is it worth bailing on the free dining?

 

[scjo68]

Last year we went with the room only discount at the Poly even though it was during Free dining.
We only do a couple of TS meals typically, and they are usually breakfast buffets, which give you the least TS value on the DDP.

So even if the DDP were free, for us, we would have to add more meals, meaning more ADRs, etc., just to get the best return on the Free dining deal. Also, we have never done a Package, always room only with seperate ticktes. I just much prefer the cancelation policy of room only.

So for us, I will always choose deluxe room only over Free dining, if available. But that's just for us. It really depends on how you tour/eat. Do you already have your ADR's booked?

 

[frayedend]

If room discount is better why not get room discount and purchase dining plan? Then you don't have to worry about meals and save.

 

[momatater]

I had a pin for 40% off. Staying GF, so it's a better deal for us. But, I did make some ADR's and considered buying the dining plan, but even for us, a family of 5, it's cheaper to pay out of pocket for meals!! I even included tax and tips and its cheaper by a few hundred bucks! Plus, I don't feel "obligated" to eat desert at every meal....too much sweets anyway!

My DH and I went last year w/o the dining plan and we saved a ton paying out of pocket. That's what made me think we'd save even with the boys with us.

Hope you have a magical vacation, no matter what you decide!

 

[KRCMOM]

Hmm, all great things to consider! While waiting to hear from my TA, I rechecked my calculations and it seems that it's actually quite a bit more savings on the hotel vs. the DP plan value. About a $350 differerence! That might sway me toward the hotel discount - we'll see what the TA comes up with...

 

[KRCMOM]

PS to scjo68 - I booked a few ADR's yesterday, but nothing major. Two character breakfasts which we would do out of pocket anyway, and one lunch TS. I'm late booking in terms of 180 day window, and some of the reservation times were bad or non-existent. I was frustrated all day yesterday trying to book ADR's and being unable to...so maybe this is a sign! We couldn't get all we wanted on the DDP anyway!

 

[maggiew]

Just something to consider, but since your kids are all under 10, the dining plan is a great deal for them. Especially when you do some character meals, etc. When your kids are over 10, it becomes less of a deal. I have a real hard time paying ~$40 for my DD14 to eat just a roll at a buffet!

Personally I would go with whatever saves you most. But I wanted to throw out there the value of the DDP when the kids are little.

On our first trip where a DDP was available, I did a calculation of what we paid non-DDP and what the DDP would have cost. We came out slightly ahead (~$50 or so). We ate how we normally do. We had a table service each day. But we shared sometimes or one of my DDs got an appetizer for a meal, etc. We would have gotten more food on the DDP, but its not how we normally eat.

Maggie

 

[scjo68]

PS to scjo68 - I booked a few ADR's yesterday, but nothing major. Two character breakfasts which we would do out of pocket anyway, and one lunch TS. I'm late booking in terms of 180 day window, and some of the reservation times were bad or non-existent. I was frustrated all day yesterday trying to book ADR's and being unable to...so maybe this is a sign! We couldn't get all we wanted on the DDP anyway!

In that case, I think I would go with the room only discount. If you have free dining, you will need to use up all your credits to make it worth it. So you could end up eating meals you didn't really want, just because it's the only place you could get a table. If you knew for sure you already had all the ADRs you wanted, and were looking forward to them, well, that would make Free Dining more attractive.

I would suggest that you check to see if the room you have booked as part of the FD package is available with this room only discount. If it isn't and you don't want to change resorts, then there is your answer. There are only a certain number of rooms available under each offer for each resort. If I understand correctly, just because you have the room booked under the package, doesn't mean it's available under this offer.

I would try checking availabilty on line, under the new offer and see what it says. Then if you want to change, call. I would have said just call first but I think with these new offers, the phone lines are really busy.

 

[ssumass]

FYI - When I applied for the room only discount for the Poly online, disney's website was suggesting I apply the dining plan at 30% to my room res. So unless I'm crazy (just alittle), You can get the 40% off the room and 30% off dining in one reservation. Not bad

 

[maggiew]

No. I don't think it works that way. What they say is something like "save 30% by getting the dining plan." They are just trying to say that you would save 30% off what you would pay if you bought the same food OOP. (Although I personally disagree with their claim). Not that you get 30% off the price of the DDP. So you either get 40% off room or the free dining, but not both.

Maggie

 

[ssumass]

I see, Thanks

 

[KRCMOM]

Well, gang, I've got it figured out! The room discounts came out today and Beach Club is 40% off. My agent ran the numbers and with the room discount and PAID DDP, it's about $350 LESS. Now, I could have cancelled the Dining Plan (b/c I wasn't really considering until I found it was free) and REALLY "saved" some cash, but we still need to put out money for food.

After figuring out the DDP cost with three kids under 10 ($10 a day per kid) it really was a better deal than out of pocket based on what I think we would have spent OOP, even if we don't eat all the offerings. I would have been on a mission the whole trip to keep our OOP dining costs well under the cost of the DDP we didn't buy. It comes out to a little over $100/day, which I think is possibly less than we would have spent per day OOP. And this way we can justify having more nice sit-down meals vs. a slice of pizza or a burger for most of our meals.

If I thought we could spend say, $500 less doing OOP, I'd do it. But frankly, I don't want the hassle if it's almost a wash between having the DDP and not having it.

I also was able to get back online today and get a lot of ADR's in that I was happy with.

Now...I need to pull a map of BCR and find out where the dang gym is. And pretend Weight Watchers does not exist that week.

Thanks MUCHO for everyone's input - it was great FOOD for thought and very helpful!

 

[frayedend]

That is great news! Glad it worked out for you. If you have kids under 10 but close to 10 then the buffet and family style restaurants are the best pick because the kids eat what you eat. Not just kids meals. We get dining free or not because, just as you described, you don't have to worry about it all week and be pinching pennies. I personally just have to keep my wife out of the stores and we do okay.

 

[sahummel]

Okay, what I knew would happen happened - free dining was part of our 9/24-10/2 package, and today they released room discounts through 10/2. We're at BCR, so the discount would be 40%. That adds up to a savings of about $100 more on our package if we take the room discount over the free dining.

I was in the DDP mindset b/c it was free (we wouldn't have paid for a DDP package), and I was giddy with the thought of not analyzing the cost of meals etc. The new overall savings if we were to apply the room discount is about $950 total...vs. the value of about $850 for a free DP. So I guess my question is, what is realistic in terms of spending on food over eight days? DH thinks we can do it for much less, but I think it's going to add up and come out a wash, esp. if we throw in a few character breakfasts. We would probably order about $100 worth of stuff from Garden Grocer and just eat most breakfasts on the run (granola bars, etc). I'm not terribly concerned about formal sit-down dinners every night, we have three kids (DS9, DD7, DD3).

Anyway, our travel agent is doing the math and getting back to me - but I've already done the math myself. I can't help myself.

Would love any input. Is it worth bailing on the free dining?

I had reservations at the Polynesian for 7 nites (9/11/10 to 9/18/10) with free dining. When I saw the 40% discount for deluxe resorts, I called to change my reservations tonight. Even paying for the dining plan I still saved another $800! At first they didn't recognize the discount code ID6, but I persisted and the CM persisted and finally it took it!

 

[KRCMOM]

frayedend - SO true! That may be problem for my husband as well, esp. since it's our first trip!

sahummel - That is AWESOME! I was just on a dining thread and everyone was talking about their crazy morning trying to get the FD now it's out for the GP, and how happy they were to get it. I jumped on and told them there are new room discounts out today, and to do the math if they are at a pricier resort - could save them money to do the room discount like we did!

 

[lucas]

and today they released room discounts through 10/2.

What room discount is this? I am waiting for an AP room discount or a Florida resident room discount for end of August.

 

[Forevryoung]

I'm just waiting to hear back from my aunt/uncle (I'm "borrowing" my cousin) about dates before I book but I was in the same pickle.

My cousin is 6 and it's either going to be just the two of us or adding my 80 year old "cool" grandma into the mix. I can't swing the Poly but I'm looking at CR (for monorail). The 40% discount would be the better discount.

I don't know if I'm going to add dining. It would be around $500 and I'd like to do a mix of meals considering the group. We might might might be able to do it for the same or less out of pocket (without dining).

I just don't know!

 

[sahummel]

What room discount is this? I am waiting for an AP room discount or a Florida resident room discount for end of August.

Code ID6. Summertime Savings of up to 40% Off

Stay dates: 8/15/10-10/2/10. Get a 30%-40% discount off regular "Rack" rates. Percent off varies by resort type. Use code ID6. Some dates will be blocked out. Rates not available for all dates and resorts.

Save 30% at Disney Value Resorts
Save 30% at Disney Moderate Resorts
Save 40% at Disney Deluxe Resorts
Save 40% at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
Note that you CAN add tickets and Dining Plan to this offer, effectively making this a vacation package. If you do this, your booking will probably fall under the vacation package rules. You must book room and tickets to get the dining package.

 

[jkh1978]

Deciding if we want to go to Disney in December or do something different in the summer. I wish the discounts of 40% went through December instead of just 10/2. I need to plan ahead... especially if I would need to book the dining this month anyways. If I had 40% off we'd definitely book but now we arent sure about going.

 

[Kudrah]

Deciding if we want to go to Disney in December or do something different in the summer. I wish the discounts of 40% went through December instead of just 10/2. I need to plan ahead... especially if I would need to book the dining this month anyways. If I had 40% off we'd definitely book but now we arent sure about going.

Follow the directions in the threads about the PIN codes, and see if you can land a 20/30/40 pin code. That is good up until Dec. 16th, and we booked during the first 2 weeks in December.