Room discount vs Free Dining

[tweetie]

We booked PORS for the middle of September with a 30 percent off code, I know that free dining is usually offered during that time frame. With the 30% we saved almost 400.00, do you think that 2 adults for 6 night would spend that much money on food? We plan maybe 2 no more than 3 TS meals, nothing fancy and the rest QS. Just would like others experiences with this.

Thanks

 

[Wood Nymph]

We booked PORS for the middle of September with a 30 percent off code, I know that free dining is usually offered during that time frame. With the 30% we saved almost 400.00, do you think that 2 adults for 6 night would spend that much money on food? We plan maybe 2 no more than 3 TS meals, nothing fancy and the rest QS. Just would like others experiences with this.

Thanks

I kept track of my meal costs when my husband and I went for a five night stay back in April 2011 and we spent about $470.00. I can't remember exactly where we dined but we most likely had two ts dinners and one ts breakfast. If the free dining was for the DDP with six TS, six QS and 6 snacks, you would probably get a better value taking it.

 

[trekker93]

The rumor has it that they will not be offering free dining to people staying in Value resorts. I just looked at it and it may be better to stay in a moderate hotel on site with feee dining than stay at a value resort and pay for your meals. We'll need to wait and see on the programs offered!

 

[AliceIn]

It really depends on how you use the dining plan and how many people are in your room. For my family of 5, 3 of whom count as adults, free dining makes a lot of sense. We like to do one table service every day, and we sometimes like to do character meals or buffets. This year we are staying at the BC and have a CL room. We figured out what we would spend on food for lunch, dinner, and snacks, and then compared that cost vs. a room discount. For us, FD had an slight edge of about $100 vs. a 35% room only offer. So for it to be worth it for us, the room discount would have to be more than 35%.

If you have fewer people in the room, or if most of the people in the room are children, FD would likely look less attractive. If you have two adults and 3 teenaged boys, FD would probably be a huge benefit.

 

[HM]

I'd think for two adults that a room discount would be better than free dining. It would also give you more flexibility....as it seems you aren't set on having a TS meal each day.

 

[snykymom]

Have you used the dining plan before? Does it work the way you like to eat?

I know that, for us, the dining plan doesn't work, even though we eat a lot of TS meals. Often, we prefer appetizers to desserts. Sometimes, we order only multiple appetizers. We'd eat lunch at one place and go somewhere else (especially if we're at Epcot!) for dessert.

Even if it might save me a couple of bucks, I don't want to be forced into the parameters of the plan.

 

[catra121]

I agree that the room discount is probably your best bet if you are looking strictly at savings. Especially if you only want 2-3 table service meals. The dining plan really only provides the best value if it fits how you would eat anyway (6 TS and 6 QS meals for a 6 night trip). You will definitely save more with the room discount. Plus...until it's released you don't know if it would be the regular or QS dining plan...the first wouldn't fit your plans and the second wouldn't save you enough money.

If the savings were close I would recommend the free dining just for the convenience of it...but in your case I think you will save more and be happier just saving that money and eating OOP.

 

[Missytara]

The dining plan works for many situations for me; mostly when I travel with friends that are on a budget. It is easier when it is pre-paid.

Also, the dining plan works well when you have multiple people in a room; with two or less (like when I do solo trips), a room discount goes a long way - since I am just about paying double occupancy for the room.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

For us, I came to find the FD always is the better deal when we are staying at a value or moderate resort. Staying deluxe, the % off the room is the better discount.