Please please help me understand what free dining exactly is...

[grumpymakesmehappy]

This may sound like a really silly question but is there any other discount I can use with free dining? I'm thinking I probably can't but just in case I want to have my bases covered. In the past I have booked room only reservations using either an AP or AAA discount. Since I've never been able to go during one of the dining promos I really never paid any attention to the guidelines. How can I figure out how much I am saving with the free dining? It will be DH and I. Is it really better than a AAA or AP room only rate? Packages confuse me so much. Since it's a package does that mean I have to purchase a ticket? I have an AP. Like everyone else, I'm just trying to figure out my best option for booking. I enjoy my Disney vacations even more when I know that I am saving money!!!!!

 

[CanadianGuy]

The Disney Dining Plan - a list of what it's all about and FAQ's located here

It costs 39$ per adult per day if you were going to pay for it. So it would save you and your husband roughly 78$ a day, over paying for the DDP separately. And probably way more than paying for eating at the same places out of your pocket.

To book - you must book a package including at LEAST a one day base ticket to the four major theme parks for each adult and then of course your room for however many nights. You can book a room for 10 nights.. and still only buy a one day base ticket. At least you could last year.

Saving 78$ a day is decent but you are paying 'rack rate' for the hotel and you already have an AP. You CAN use the one day pass you purchase under this plan towards the purchase of your next AP if you like. You can apply 1 ticket against 1 AP. Presuming you and your hubby both have AP's, at least you are not wasting the value of the one day ticket.

So.. depending on your eating habits.. you may or may not consider this a deal. So many people enjoy using the DDP to try as many of the restaurants as they can.

Knox

 

[ga9497]

Remember that the free dining also includes 15% gratuities on your table service meals so figure that out into your equations

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Thanks CanadianGuy. I took your advice and checked out the thread. Free dining appeals to me but an AP rate appeals even more I guess. What about the DDE? Can I use it if I get an AP rate for my room?

 

[CanadianGuy]

The DDE question would be better asked on the restaurants and dining board.

But the Disney Dining Experience or whatever.. is a discount card that gives you 20% off your meals at select restaurants. I can't see how that would be tied to your room rate in anyway.

Knox