Ok, something confuses me about free dining?

[littlejewel]

Ok, I have been reading threads on here regarding free dining. I have checked prices for a stay at PORFQ for September 6-10, four nights with three days of park tickets. The price is around $1497.xx for a standard room. If free dining were to come up, would this affect the price I am getting quoted as of now? This kind of confuses me as I see people who say free dining is not essentially free, etc. If my price doesn't go up from $1497.00, how can free dining not be free? Or do they jack up the prices on your stay/tickets to justify offering free dining? Sorry if this is confusing and thanks for any help in understanding this

 

[smitch425]

Ok, I have been reading threads on here regarding free dining. I have checked prices for a stay at PORFQ for September 6-10, four nights with three days of park tickets. The price is around $1497.xx for a standard room. If free dining were to come up, would this affect the price I am getting quoted as of now? This kind of confuses me as I see people who say free dining is not essentially free, etc. If my price doesn't go up from $1497.00, how can free dining not be free? Or do they jack up the prices on your stay/tickets to justify offering free dining? Sorry if this is confusing and thanks for any help in understanding this

Free dining promotions require you to pay the rack rate for your hotel room. If you price a room and tickets it will be the same as what you will pay if you receive free dining. (unless you choose to upgrade to a different dining plan, of course)

Some people say it isn't really free because depending on when and where you stay, you could actually save more with a room % discount. Free dining is, in fact, free as it does not affect the rack rate at all.

 

[littlejewel]

Thank you! If that is the case, then I think free dining is just what it says "free" dining. Here's hoping for FD for September!

 

[smitch425]

Thank you! If that is the case, then I think free dining is just what it says "free" dining. Here's hoping for FD for September!

AND October!

 

[wdw4rfam]

If you are pulling up a package with no discount now- it will be just that with free dining!! So it IS free!! Don't get all those who say it's not really- it is, just if there's only 2 and you are staying deluxe- sometimes a room discount is better. It saved our family $2100- so I can say it's the best for us.

 

[beroh2253]

AND October!

I agree October I hope for free dining again

 

[Faldred]

Thank you! If that is the case, then I think free dining is just what it says "free" dining. Here's hoping for FD for September!

Yes and no.

It's a resort + tickets + dining plan package discount, with the discount amount being the cost of the dining portion of the package. So, in that sense, the dining plan is free.

However, since you may only have one discount applied per package, a free dining discount comes at the cost of being able to apply other potential discounts to your package. Compared to these other savings, the free dining discount may or may not be the best discount available, especially if your subjective valuation of the dining plan offered is less than what the actual rate is.

The adage of "free dining isn't free" is really just a caution to make sure you consider the pros and cons of the package you're buying, as compared to other available options.