Room discount, AP rate or free dining...help me do the math

[dani77]

I keep reading that for small parties or solo travelers, a room only discount is almost always the better deal over free dining. But if I compare prices, I come to a different result. Maybe someone can help me out.

Facts: Trip to the world from dec 3rd until dec 18th, total of 15 nights, annual pass owner, planning on staying at a value resort for all 15 nights.

Now I know the discounts or annual pass rates for december are not out yet but I used numbers from previous years, assuming that the max. ap discount will be 20% off rack rate (haven't seen larger discounts for ap holders and value resorts...correct me if I'm wrong). Same goes for general public room only offer. I'm also assuming there might be free quick service dining if I book a package starting before pop warner week. Booking a package would also mean booking it for only 14 nights and then getting a room only rate for the last night...so I just priced out a 14 night stay from dec 3rd until the 17th

So this is what I came up with:

All Stars rack rate: 1830,60
All stars with 20% room discount (AP or GP room only): 1464,48
All stars package with free dining and 2-day ticket (ticket to be used during a later trip) : 2019,44

Price difference room only/package with free dining plan: 554,96
That means I would get 14 days of qsdp (a 526,12 $ value) plus a two-day ticket for use during a future trip (a 187,44 $ value)....so a total of 713,56 compared to the 554,9 I actually have to pay for it. Savings: 158,6

Crunching the numbers for POP...would save me less but I'd still save a little
rack rate: 1980,00
20% room discount: 1584,00
package with free dining and 2-day-ticket: 2168,84

Price difference room onlay/package with free dining plan: 584,00
Savings: 129,56

I do know how to make good use of the qsdp, always came out ahead when using it this year and in 2012 by choosing restaurants wisely and picking expensive entrees and snacks so free dining and paying rack rate for the room might be worth it for me.

I know the savings are minimal and this onlay works out if I really come out even with the food I'd eat when paing oop with a room only discount and the free qsdp paying rack rate.

So help me out here...did I do my math right and is booking a package with free dining and 2-day tickets really slightly cheaper than using an ap room only discount on a value resort?

 

[vicki_c]

I did not review your figures, but another factor in the "which is cheaper" decision is what level of resort you have chosen

Generally, as you increase resort level from value to deluxe or decrease your party size, room discounts are often a better deal than free dining.

Assuming they are correct, I think your figures came out the way they did because you are staying in a value. 20% off a value room rate is a much smaller discount than 20% off a deluxe.

 

[hsmamato2]

And also to decide if you WANT the food on QDSP.... if you don't ,and would buy less anyway,then the numbers end up different..... YOu said you know how to get your moneys worth,and that's fine, But I know that I wouldn't actually buy OOP all the food on the plans,I'd buy less....therefore changing the numbers a bit.
Only one person in room? that changes things also....i.e. more $ for tix,and more food for 'free'