Nothings FREE with free dining???

[kaytieeldr]

Do you think a reasonable consumer should expect to be able to get 40% off a room, PLUS the $500 gift card promo, PLUS the kids play and stay and dine free offer, PLUS the QS dining plan free using a PIN? Maybe a family of 4 would end up paying a couple hundred dollars for this trip??

Well, since you asked...

Let's see. The $500 gift card was at the Moderate resorts, right? So, okay, $149 weeknights, $159 weekends. We'll go with the typical seven night vacation.
$149 x 5 = $745 + $159 x 2 = $318; $745 + $318 = $1,063 + 12.5% tax = $1,195.88
$1,195.88 - 40% = $717.53
$500 gift card = ($500.00)
kids play/stay/eat free = $0.00
Free DDP PIN = $0.00 (heck, it's a PIN code, why not upgrade it to the original plan )
Two adult one day base passes = $168.27 (using old passes or APs, bought these just to satisfy package requirements)

$717.53 - $500.00 + $0 + $0 + $168.27 = $385.80 net cost for a one week vacation for a family of four, with park access and dining.

I'm in!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope Free Dining isn't "free".

But, again - simply because we call it "free dining" doesn't make it free dining. Walt Disney calls it "the dining plan free" (with WDW vacation package purchase).

 

[kaytieeldr]

You normally buy X brand shampoo, 24 ounces, and it costs $4.99. (Forget that this is the budget board and you got it free after CVS'ing and coupons...LOL...pretend you really normally pay $4.99.) You see an ad that says 'Get 25% more FREE!' for this shampoo. So you go to buy your now 30oz bottle of shampoo and it's $6.99. Are those extra 6 ounces really free? Um, no. You're paying MORE per ounce than you were before. That's misleading. You expect that when you buy the 'bonus' bottle, the price will remain the same.

Well, no, that's not the same at all. That's a consumer affairs issue. SOMEBODY'S taking advantage of a change in the package size. I'm giving the store manager one chance to fix the mistake, then I'm calling the Attorney General's office.

That's not what Walt Disney World is doing. They're being clear about what the offer is. They're not taking advantage of anything. They're CERTAINLY not increasing any price to compensate for offering the dining plan free as a promotion.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What if there was a clear choice made in advertisements. Perhaps the ad read Free Dining OR 40% off room rate? The choice is yours as to which is better. For our group of 4 the free dining far exceeds the 30% off a value resort.

Respectfully, with so many people not being able to tell the difference between 'rack rate' and a discounted or sale rate; or the difference between "free dining" and "the dining plan free...", do you really think it would be advisable to put multiple package choices in a single advertisement?

 

[kaytieeldr]

For instance, when Ronco includes the egg separator in when you buy the inside the egg scrambler - it isn't free. The cost of goods in the egg separator has been built into the price of the inside the egg scrambler. If it was free, you could call up and just get a free egg separator.

Okay, so it's not free, it's a Gift With Purchase - just like when you go to Macy's and spend $35 on make-up and get a 'free' tote bag.

Therefore, when Walt Disney World offers its package promotion that includes a Dining Plan at no additional cost over the price of the package... it's a Gift With Purchase.

Case closed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Again, I'm only going by total cost. People can get a room for a certain amount at a discount. Of course anyone can understand that. However when said room is offered with free dining and you find that the room now costs quite a bit more, the dining no longer feels free to some people.

The room doesn't cost 'quite a bit more' with the dining plan free. It costs quite a bit less when it's discounted from the rack rate exclusive of any other promotion.

No, it's not semantics. It's fact.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What if we have four adults in a room, and the free dining is only supposed to cover 2 adults and 2 kids? Can you pay the difference to add the other adults?

No, but that's GOOD news

There's an additional per-adult charge for more than two people ages eighteen and over in the room: Value resort $10 per night per adult, Moderate resort $15 per night per adult, Deluxe Resort $25 per adult per night. Plus tax, of course .

Once you pay the extra person cost for the room, each occupant gets the dining plan free as part of their package. Say you were staying at Pop Century Sunday through Friday, so five nights. Rack rate is $82 per night, plus $20 for the two additional adults, or $102; with tax, $114.75. At the Value resorts, you get the Quick Service Dining Plan, normal cost $31.99 per night. Total for four people, $127.96. The value of your free dining plan is MORE than what you'll be paying for the room.

You could upgrade to the Standard Dining Plan for $10 per night each. This brings your per-night room rate to $154.75 including the upcharge (but no change in tax because your room rate itself doesn't change), while the value of your free dining plan also increases - to $167.96. Again, you're paying less, total, for the room than the value of your dining plan.

Trying it another way - if you were to stay at a Moderate resort, four people for the same five nights would be (and I know I did this above, but still...) $1,006.88. The value of your (basic) dining plan for four adults for the five nights would be $839.80. Not the same great bargain - but a difference of about $160, more amenities, better landscaping... and with careful planning, you could probably 'spend' more than a thousand dollars worth of credits

 

[bumbershoot]

I went from page one to page six with nothing in between...wanted to mention....


I didn't do it this year, but the last 2 or 3 years I've checked the package prices *before* "free dining" was announced, and then after. And each time, the price I was quoted before was the same price I was quoted after. Therefore, if I was only going to go with whatever package deal I was offered through disneyworld.com, the dining plan would very much indeed be free to me. If I were going to pay the price (and a reasonable price indeed, I have seen!) anyway, it would be great!

All the OP is doing wrong is looking at one discount price and wanting that discount *along with* the "free" dining plan as well. Can't do it.

 

[Tiger926]

katieeldr - I'm confused as to why you say "free dining" is different than "dining plan free"? It is one and the same in this promo as Disney clearly states that a package must be purchased - the dining is free, no matter how anyone slices it on here or anywhere else. That package component is free - there is no charge for it.

As we've already beaten to death on this thread and countless others - Disney rooms start at rack rates. They don't have to offer discounts to anyone. The fact that they do, just seems to confuse people.

If you want the free dining promo, you start at rack rate for room, and the dining plan is added to your package at no charge = free.

If you want a 40% room discount, then you get a 40% room discount off of rack rate, and the dining plan may be added at a cost, plain and simple.

Free is free - as it pertains in this case to one package component. Whether you call it free dining or dining plan free, is irrelevant in this case as all of the promos clearly state that it pertains only to package deals. Now, if Disney advertised free dining with no package stipulations, then that would be another issue entirely. That is not the case here, nor has it ever been (I think this is what you were attempting to say) as this promo clearly states that a vacation package must be purchased.

I guess this topic is one that will never truly be understood as people will conjure up their own ideas as to what "free" actually means. It doesn't mean total package free or cheapest package - all it means, as Disney is clearly advertising, is that one package component is free. The stipulations are clear about no other stacking of discounts, so rack room rates apply.

It is up to the guest to determine, just as they do with other promos: military, AAA, etc., what the best promo is for their family.

As many of us have pointed out, the OP thought he could stack discounts together - that is not possible, and so he must determine what the best deal is for his family. It's not Disney's fault at all, and those who think Disney is misleading or falsely advertising are absolutely incorrect.

Tiger

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Now you're comparing oranges and monkeys.

Where, oh where is the Tag Fairy? I am loving reading this debate, but this made me LOL. Thanks for the giggle this morning!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I guess this topic is one that will never truly be understood as people will conjure up their own ideas as to what "free" actually means.

Well, I think I've taken about fifteen posts to express what you very clearly stated in one single sentence!!!!!! You truly boiled down the entire issue to its core, and I thank you for that. It's a good thing I'm not working today, or I'd be kicking myself for staying up 3/4 of the night only to have someone synopsize all my 'hard work' into a single lucid statement

 

[kaytieeldr]

Where, oh where is the Tag Fairy? I am loving reading this debate, but this made me LOL. Thanks for the giggle this morning!

Aw, thanks - but I think the Tag Fairy doesn't like me I'm glad I made you giggle, though. Did I mention my backup career in stand-up comedy?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Aw, thanks - but I think the Tag Fairy doesn't like me

Perhaps because your self-imposed tag is already awesome - I laugh every time I see it!

But I'm still giggling over the oranges vs. monkeys comment.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thank you again. The stand-up comedy show was May 18, and we were all great... and I rocked. I'm thinking of getting into, if not stand-up, at least comedy writing

 

[Tiger926]

Well, I think I've taken about fifteen posts to express what you very clearly stated in one single sentence!!!!!! You truly boiled down the entire issue to its core, and I thank you for that. It's a good thing I'm not working today, or I'd be kicking myself for staying up 3/4 of the night only to have someone synopsize all my 'hard work' into a single lucid statement

Right back at you! The oranges and monkey comment was hilarious!!!

Tiger

 

[crostorfer]

There was a post similar to this about a month ago or so where someone was kind and generous enough to make a price comparison chart and share it with the rest of us, (I'd have to go back and find the link), so that people could decide whether their PIN codes were a better deal, or if Free Dining was better all based on where you were staying at. They broke down specific costs and gave examples for different family sizes.

All in all the general consensous was that if you are staying at a Deluxe, (like the AKL as the OP stated), you are better off taking the $40% off. You have to do your research, which is why I LOVE DIS!

And just to throw my two cents in...no, free dining isn't totally free anymore, nor should anyone expect it to be. If it was totally free, Disney would cover the tip and the adult drinks too, LOL! I kid, I kid, don't flame me please.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't partake so they can call it free dining for monkeys if they wish. (The oranges and monkeys thing is funny. ) As Tiger926 stated it depends on what people feel the meaning of 'free' actually is. I see free dining as free but still expensive in some cases. I doubt that Disney would put that in their ads though.

 

[3boymthr]

Per some comments here you didn't get the pizza free nor the tokens. Odds are you could have gotten the room cheaper than $20 off rack by bidding on priceline or perhaps some other discounted offer.

What if there was a clear choice made in advertisements. Perhaps the ad read Free Dining OR 40% off room rate? The choice is yours as to which is better. For our group of 4 the free dining far exceeds the 30% off a value resort.

Actually, at this resort, no I couldn't. They don't show up on Priceline or any other travel website and the AAA rates are higher and don't include any benefits. It's booked exclusively thru Xanterra - so in this instance I did get it all.

Really, I dont think what they are doing is wrong per-se but it definitely is a matter of perception and it's definitely not free - and unless you somehow have a deal where you are staying on points - you are paying for it some way some how - just like I'm paying for my vacation. For me nothing is free unless I'm paying absolutely $0 for it. For us "free dining" or "free dining plan" wouldn't be a good deal - not that I'm going anyway - we're going to the aforementioned Hueston Woods.

 

[DawnM]

We don't do free dining. We can't afford it!

We don't stay on property either.

Dawn

 

[deerhart]

Actually, at this resort, no I couldn't. They don't show up on Priceline or any other travel website and the AAA rates are higher and don't include any benefits. It's booked exclusively thru Xanterra - so in this instance I did get it all.

Really, I dont think what they are doing is wrong per-se but it definitely is a matter of perception and it's definitely not free - and unless you somehow have a deal where you are staying on points - you are paying for it some way some how - just like I'm paying for my vacation. For me nothing is free unless I'm paying absolutely $0 for it.

But if you book the PACKAGE with the free dining plan you ARE getting the dining plan for 0. There will be no added charge beyond your room rate and tickets.

Of course, your ALSO free to book the same ROOM at a % discount and then choose to add on other things AT FULL PRICE