REALLY maximizing free dining - suggestions?

[frannn]

since your family is on the larger side. I would love to use the dining plan (free or not) because eating is one of my favorite things to do on vacation. If we could have gotten the free dining (going three days after it ends-ughhh!), I would have also been looking to go to the higher priced eateries. The reason for this is simple- I have been wanting to try a bunch of the different sit down meals, but always choose not to because of the cost. I figure if I haven't tried it, I'm not missing anything. I priced out what we normally spend at AS Movies with an AP discount and our regular dining plans vs paying full price for the resort, buying a one day ticket, and getting free meals. The costs were pretty close, but with the free dining I'd be able to try all the additional TS and character meals I've been wanting. Disney is smart in realizing that once people try and enjoy all these TS places with the free dining offer, they will most likely go back the next time they vacation, with no discount. BTW, when I did my analysis between free dining vs AP discount, I did include CRT lunch, CP lunch, CM dinner, and Nine Dragons dinner in my calculations. So, we will do some TS regardless. Using the dining plan would just allow me to know how much I am paying for food in advance, and order what I like without scoffing at the price (and I love seafood & DH loves steak, so we can order the good stuff!).

 

[DisneyAg85]

When we go in August my wife and I are using the kid's points to eat at California Grill, Citrico's and Yachtman's steakhouse because my kids love the Neverland Club and wanted to spend the time there. Of course we are also paying out of pocket to eat at V&A one night, because we couldn't go to Disney and not eat at V&A. We will also do Narcoosee's, Chef Mickey's Cinderella's Dinner at GF with DD. DS still opted for Neverland club on those nights. But we are all eating at Crystal Palace one morning.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I had to convince DH that we HAD to go now (because historically values are 49/night during the value season, so we could potentially have gone in December). To do this, I wrote out what we spent/spend on meals while at Disney and why paying FULL PRICE for a resort would be better than waiting and getting the discount, then using our standard budget for dining out at WDW. So, in essence, because of the price increase on the rooms we are staying in, the dining isn't "free" for us. kwim? Therefore, I feel the need to really show him how much this is "saving" us to go now - by maximizing our "free" dining as much as possible. Make sense?

Note the following analysis is given for this situation only. I haven't verified the numbers given. I assumed them accurate.

For you, It's already justified for you given the numbers you gave us and it isn't even close.
Assuming it was 49, that would only be $28 off rack a day. Can you feed your entire family for $28 a day for what you want to eat? Obviosly that answer is nope. Hence it's justified right there. Even one of the cheapest sit downs for Dinner, the Biergarten, costs over $40 for two adults.

Once that is established, there really is no need to try and justify the decision by eating a total of $150 menu price worth of food a day if the places you like best only cost $120. In both cases, you saved well over $28 bux for that day by getting the free food. Now if the $150 retail cost places make you happier, go for it. Or, if you really really wanted to try that one place and never did due to the expense, go for it. I sure am. I sure wouldn't be doing California Grill if I were paying. But if the $120 retail cost places make you happier, you should go for that instead. Because even with the figures you quoted, you're still saving a bundle no matter which you pick. Go where you think you'll like best whether that be a bit more expensive or a bit less expensive and have a good time. You're saving a bundle in either case.

 

[tallpkb]

What are the dates/times for the Food and Wine Festival? We're going to be at Epcot 10/1, and can easily work it into our plans!