NO FREE DINING with campground?

[MMFanCipher]

I just priced it on Disney's site.

I priced a stay from 10/4/10 - 10/9/10 with 6 day tickets.

You can stay at a tent site at FtW and pay for QS dining for $1659.41.
$1289.56 w/o dining.

Or you could stay at Disney's All-Star Music for $1643.20 w/o dining.

If you go to WDW during free dining, you would be paying more to stay at the campground and pay for dining.

I also just priced it at Disney's site and FW is $2k cheaper. I suppose I should have added that there are 6 of us: My wife, 4 kids and me. We need
a family suite to stay at Music. So for us FW is roughly $2800 cheaper.

15 days:
Music: $5332 no DDP
FW: $2546 no DDP

If you add DDP to FW then it would be roughly equal to Music with free DDP, but you would have to be able to go during free DDP to
make that work. But I also like to go camping so it's FW for us!

 

[Nayan]

I think no free dining with campground is crap!!!

People need to get a deal - having a trailer is an expense, not only buying the trailer, the insurance, the gas to get to Disney, the upkeep of the trailer and the aggrevation of having to deal with your family while you drive there! Now they're going to add pain to injury and take away free dining.

HELLO I'm staying on disney property! I'm utilize your services! I want to eat at your restaurants! I'm paying for the tickets to go to our park! What more do you want from me!!!

We were planning a trip to go next August with our trailer, but we're NOT going until 2013 now!

I could just imagine if they had FD at the Fort. It's bad enough that folks will get a site to use as a throwaway just to get the perks now. Could you imagine how many would try it with FD? Ugh, no thanks! I like to tent camp and it's hard enough to get a site as it is.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I'll agree with Dave on this also.

Unless of course I get a free mug with the free dine,, then I would disagree with Dave.

 

[DaveInTN]

The one thing I don't understand about free dining is...how is it free? Is it really a good deal? Cause I know on hotel rooms, you pack rack to get the free dining. And if you book a room without FD you can quite often get discounts up to 40% or so, depending on time of year, for the same room. I imagine it works out a bit cheaper to pay rack and get free dining than to pay a discounted room rate and add a dining package...but it's not the equivalent of being free.

Not trying to be a jerk, I've just wondered how this works cause I've always feared for what would happen if they figured out a way to offer "free" dining at the Fort. What would the campsite rates have to go up to in order to justify offering free dining for Disney's accountants?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

There is no such thing as free dining. It is the most brilliant marketing scheme Disney has come up with, and hence the reason why the thing won't die. Disney has discovered if they put the word "free" on something, people will pay almost anything to get it.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I think no free dining with campground is crap!!!

People need to get a deal - having a trailer is an expense, not only buying the trailer, the insurance, the gas to get to Disney, the upkeep of the trailer and the aggrevation of having to deal with your family while you drive there! Now they're going to add pain to injury and take away free dining.

HELLO I'm staying on disney property! I'm utilize your services! I want to eat at your restaurants! I'm paying for the tickets to go to our park! What more do you want from me!!!

We were planning a trip to go next August with our trailer, but we're NOT going until 2013 now!

I'm having some problems understanding your logic. First of all, you have made the choice to have a trailer and assume the expenses associated with it. Disney didn't tell you to do it, and they owe you nothing for it. Additionally, Disney isn't taking away free dining, they don't offer it in the first place. You can't take away something that wasn't there. Finally, how does all this impact your August trip and make you postpone it until 2013?

 

[mikmouse]

There is no such thing as free dining. It is the most brilliant marketing scheme Disney has come up with, and hence the reason why the thing won't die. Disney has discovered if they put the word "free" on something, people will pay almost anything to get it.

I for one wish free dining would go away. Just causes problems. Less choices on the menus (we've seen it change) and very hard to get ADRs. I prefer to use TIW and not worry about hand outs.

 

[mikmouse]

I might be in the minority, but I'm glad they don't offer free dining with campsites. Here are 3 reasons:

1. The Fort is busy enough. I'm afraid free dining would just pack them in more and make it harder to get a site.

2. With free dining, I'd feel all that planning pressure to score ADR's for all the meals, when in reality one of the things I like about camping is coming back to the site in the late afternoon, popping a beer, and firing up the grill. It's more relaxing to me than planning my days around all those ADR's. I do enjoy a few meals out during our trips, but like the majority of my meals to be homecooked.

3. I'm fat enough.

JMHO of course.

SPOT ON! Except for #3.

 

[Nayan]

There is no such thing as free dining. It is the most brilliant marketing scheme Disney has come up with, and hence the reason why the thing won't die. Disney has discovered if they put the word "free" on something, people will pay almost anything to get it.

Isn't that the truth! I find it's a much better deal to get 40% off my room than pay rack rate with free food, which really isn't. I too wish Disney wouldn't have offered this as they used to have incredible food and getting into a restaurant was much easier then having to book 180 days out. Heck, I can't even decide what's for dinner *today* and they want me choose 6 months out?

 

[Carrie Ellis]

We are family of 6! And....my younger twins are 10 this year and considered adults on the plan. So for me, if we would like to do the dining plan, the cabins are a better deal than our RV. We first had 40% off the cabins and we planned on doing the cabins because my parents and sister and husband are going. But, after running the numbers, we had about decided to switch ours to the RV. Then free dining came out. If we keep the cabin reservation, it is cheaper because I will also need to add on another $200 in gas (over not pulling the RV).

I don't consider it free. But, I do do the math and figure out what the best deal is.

I like the dining plan because I am a number cruncher and it is hard for me to see the cost of the meals and have an enjoyable vacation!

Also, it allows me to let the kids get what they wish without seeing the $$ signs.

And, yes we can cook at the RV but it is sure nice as a mother of 4 to get a week break from cooking!

Carrie

 

[mnsprk]

We are family of 6! And....my younger twins are 10 this year and considered adults on the plan. So for me, if we would like to do the dining plan, the cabins are a better deal than our RV. We first had 40% off the cabins and we planned on doing the cabins because my parents and sister and husband are going. But, after running the numbers, we had about decided to switch ours to the RV. Then free dining came out. If we keep the cabin reservation, it is cheaper because I will also need to add on another $200 in gas (over not pulling the RV).

I don't consider it free. But, I do do the math and figure out what the best deal is.

I like the dining plan because I am a number cruncher and it is hard for me to see the cost of the meals and have an enjoyable vacation!

Also, it allows me to let the kids get what they wish without seeing the $$ signs.

And, yes we can cook at the RV but it is sure nice as a mother of 4 to get a week break from cooking!

Carrie

But you don't get both(40% and FDP). We just rechecked our ressie at WL (45% off/paying for DP) and it will be cheaper than using the FDP for 2.

 

[YodaGirl]

There is no such thing as free dining. It is the most brilliant marketing scheme Disney has come up with, and hence the reason why the thing won't die. Disney has discovered if they put the word "free" on something, people will pay almost anything to get it.

Exactly! WDW isn't going to give ANYTHING away for free.

I'm having some problems understanding your logic. First of all, you have made the choice to have a trailer and assume the expenses associated with it. Disney didn't tell you to do it, and they owe you nothing for it. Additionally, Disney isn't taking away free dining, they don't offer it in the first place. You can't take away something that wasn't there. Finally, how does all this impact your August trip and make you postpone it until 2013?

I wondered that, too...

I for one wish free dining would go away. Just causes problems. Less choices on the menus (we've seen it change) and very hard to get ADRs. I prefer to use TIW and not worry about hand outs.

I agree. The quality of the food has diminished, as well.

 

[ntsammy5]

Disney has discovered if they put the word "free" on something, people will pay almost anything to get it.

Yeah, that word along with anything Disney has no basis in reality!

 

[DaveInTN]

Yeah, that word along with anything Disney has no basis in reality!

Not quite true. On every trip I've made to the Fort, on checkout day I've received a FREE souvenir envelope on my windshield in the morning. I always find that to be a nice touch.

 

[ntsammy5]

Not quite true. On every trip I've made to the Fort, on checkout day I've received a FREE souvenir envelope on my windshield in the morning. I always find that to be a nice touch.

Yeah, I forgot about that!

 

[Tab2Disney]

I heard a podcast once where they ran the numbers. If memory serves... which it usually doesn't They mentioned the change with the value/quick service as a downgrade. Also I believe it is better to get your discount on your room (or campsite) and go out to just a couple of special meals.
And with my family we have a yorkie that has been traveling with us. He made his First visit to the Fort in April. I can't imagine ever leaving him behind again.