PIN or free dining

[tkbbmom]

I just received a PIN for 30% off at the time we're scheduled to go to Disney. We currently are booked w/ free dining. Is the free dining discount generally a better deal or is booking w/ the discount better and then paying for dining?

 

[smitch425]

I just received a PIN for 30% off at the time we're scheduled to go to Disney. We currently are booked w/ free dining. Is the free dining discount generally a better deal or is booking w/ the discount better and then paying for dining?

It depends on where you are staying and how many people are on the reservation. You will need to do the math to see which way comes out cheaper. You should be able to go online and go through the booking process to get the total with the PIN discount to see which way is cheaper.

 

[RedfromNL]

We are two adult, we don't have huge appetites or want a lot of snacks.

The last trip we took I could choose between an offer of 25% off or free dining. I did the maths for the dining, what would we be likely to eat, cost for that plus 10% for unexpected extras (you always forget something). I then looked at what we would save on the room.

The room discount turned out to save us about 500 dollars more than free dining....
Not a hard choice then

So calculate what you'd spend on food on average, add a few bucks for extras and see what comes out better.

 

[danceintherain]

I have the numbers on a spreadsheet for our tentative January trip, and a percent off is better sometimes, while Free Dining is better for other scenarios.
For us, 2 adults + 1 child under 3, Free Dining is usually the better option for Moderate or Value with a percent off better for Deluxe (we get to use the Armed Forces Salute 40/35/30). The difference is usually $200-500, which makes it a fairly easy decision for us most of the time.

We like to do a table service every day, but sometimes drink water and don't always order dessert. My DH needs 3 meals a day (whether TS or QS) and we probably only get snacks every other day. If we got the Dining Plan (Free or Otherwise), we would probably spend money on things that weren't included in the plan, while leaving behind things that were.

The only way to know is to figure it out for yourself. By now you should have a good idea of where you're planning on eating, so it should be fairly simple to look at menus and guess what you'll probably order. If you don't anticipate it exactly, it probably won't make a difference. I usually try to pick out something moderately priced if I don't know exactly what I'll like. It gives me a reasonable estimate of how things will pan out.
I also don't include dessert, if I don't think I'd order it etc.

 

[Missytara]

You have to run the numbers for your group and decide which works best for you.

I go alone quite often and a room discount works better for me. I tend to not do the dining plan when I go solo, because I like the flexibility of ordering a few appetizers for dinner and then dessert.

Last year, we traveled with a large group and free dining was definately the way to go. It saved us a ton of money and a few extra people were able to afford to go, since we split the room 4 ways.

You can also decide whether it is worth saving the money, or breaking even/pay a bit more to upgrade. It is essentially what is worth it to you.

 

[mickeynut1]

As others have said, you have to run the numbers to see which discount has the bigger savings. Depending on when you're going, which resort/room type you choose, how many people are in the room, their ages, etc. will all be a factor when comparing free dining to a room discount. We are a family of 4 adults and even though we stay deluxe, free dining has been the better deal over a room discount for some of our trips. Good luck.

 

[tkbbmom]

Thanks! I didn't realize I could run it myself on-line and had sent the info to our travel agent but it was late last night. I ran it w/ the same resort (POR - Royal Guest room) in Dec - we had reserved 2 rooms for a family of 6 - 3 adults, 2 teens and 1 under 9. By the time I added in the tickets that left a difference of $1848.19. In all honesty with the size of our group and one TS meal a day we'll easily go over that out of pocket. Right now we have DR at Le Cellier, Ohana character breakfast, Chef Mickey dinner, 1900 Park Fare dinner, T-Rex, Crystal Palace (those are the ones I remember off the top of my head).

 

[Nixie]

I ran the numbers for us and FD still came out ahead for us. It will just be the hubby and I. We are staying at AoA with free dining, but paid the upcharge for DxDP. I ran the numbers for the difference on price between the free dining (with our paid upgrade) and the room only discount (at the PoP) (with tickets added but paying for dining outta pocket). I then priced out what our dining would cost OOP , trying to see if we could end up with a savings. Nope. FD still won for us. That was even after I had "cut" down our ressies to one TS a day with one CS for lunch (currently under FD we have 2 TS a day; one being a 1 credit meal and one being a 2 credit meal). I could have cut our ressie down even further by dropping our signature resturants, but what fun would that have been?!?

 

[minnie mum]

Thanks! I didn't realize I could run it myself on-line and had sent the info to our travel agent but it was late last night. I ran it w/ the same resort (POR - Royal Guest room) in Dec - we had reserved 2 rooms for a family of 6 - 3 adults, 2 teens and 1 under 9. By the time I added in the tickets that left a difference of $1848.19. In all honesty with the size of our group and one TS meal a day we'll easily go over that out of pocket. Right now we have DR at Le Cellier, Ohana character breakfast, Chef Mickey dinner, 1900 Park Fare dinner, T-Rex, Crystal Palace (those are the ones I remember off the top of my head).

Try running the numbers for the room only discount + tickets + DDP. THEN compare with the FD numbers. That will give you a better idea of the cost/benefit value of the two discounts. I have the feeling that for your family the DDP would be of benefit (whether it's FD or paid).

With the mod resorts, it's very often a tossup which is the better value, and often comes down to the number and ages of the group as it relates to the DDP costs.

 

[cwt580]

Thanks! I didn't realize I could run it myself on-line and had sent the info to our travel agent but it was late last night. I ran it w/ the same resort (POR - Royal Guest room) in Dec - we had reserved 2 rooms for a family of 6 - 3 adults, 2 teens and 1 under 9. By the time I added in the tickets that left a difference of $1848.19. In all honesty with the size of our group and one TS meal a day we'll easily go over that out of pocket. Right now we have DR at Le Cellier, Ohana character breakfast, Chef Mickey dinner, 1900 Park Fare dinner, T-Rex, Crystal Palace (those are the ones I remember off the top of my head).

Remember Le Cellier is a 2 TS credit meal. so thats 2 days of credits on the std ddp.

also remember with party of 6 its automatic 18% gratuity at wdw restaurants. and its not included in any plan. gotta figure your tips into the budget. and if you eat at TS alot it adds up.

i understand you upgraded to DXDP, FYI you can use more than 3 credits a day. the plan works off off total credits for night of stays. you work down off the total. when they are used they are used. you are not limited to only 3 crdits per day and 2 snacks.

 

[Happyjen27]

I called Disney and had them run the numbers. It's one of the things we pay for with these steep prices, and I have no problem having them earn their keep a bit.

I had FD on my Poly stay, and when I found out about the 30% off, I called, and by paying for dining (which we need the dining plan because of my proclivity for cheapness) and applying the room discount, I saved $15.00, which clearly isn't significant, but I wouldn't leave 15 bucks sitting on the ground and walk by would I?

Don't be afraid to give them a call and see what they come up with.

 

[sdkuhn77]

The percent off was way better deal for us than free dining when we stayed at AKL. We even lucked out and the club level was cheaper than the regular savannah view room. We aren't huge eaters (2 adults, 6 and 2 year old) so we just ate CS for lunch and the concierge lounge covered us for breakfast, snacks, dinner and desserts.