Room Discounts vs Free Dining

[Step]

I posted some of this in a response to someone else, but I figured it would be buried there and someone else might want the information.

Here are the costs I figured out for a trip with 4 adults in 2 rooms for 7 nights during value season. It compares free dining with room discounts. ( I got my data from mouse savers.com and from memory, correct me if I have something wrong)

Ticket and airfare costs are the same cost regardless of which room discount type you get. Lets say $2000 for 4 adults (in my case).

Free dining for 4 adults for 7 nights is a flat discount of $38x4x7 = $1054

Possible room discounts available:
value 20% off
moderate 30% off
deluxe 40% off

2008 standard rates (value season):
value $82
moderate $149
deluxe $225-$385

Results from 7 nights in 2 rooms:

Value ($82x2x7 = $1148)

20% off room
+$1148(room)
-$229(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$3973(total)

free dining
+$1148(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$3148(total)

Moderate ($149x2x7 = $2086)

30% off room
+$2086(room)
-$625(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$4515(total)

free dining
+$2086(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$4086(total)

Deluxe ($225x2x7 = $3150)

40% off room
+$3150(room)
-$1260(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$6044(total)

free dining
+$3150(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$5150(total)

Deluxe ($385x2x7 = $5390)

40% off room
+$5390(room)
-$2516(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$5928(total)

free dining
+$5390(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1054(dining)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$7390(total)

Free dining clearly beats out room discounts until you stay at the most expensive deluxe resorts.

Hope these calculations help someone out.

 

[dclfun]

Also remember though that if you're factoring in costs, someone who doesn't choose "free dining" may not wish to dine at a TS restaurant that often during their trip or (gasp)...might want to dine off property if they have a car thus changing the financial comparison. Those who eat mostly CS meals may be better off with a room discount vs. the free dining promo, plus those who eat at TS restaurants with the promo will now need to factor in the gratuities each day for that "free" TS meal. When the grats were included it was easier to figure out which way to book for a savings. To the OP, thanks for doing the homework! ---Kathy

 

[CarolA]

Well for me Free Dining has never made sense.

I don't need or want that much food. So MAYBE if I was going on a very short trip and doing a Signature Resturant.... but otherwise the discount works out better.

I know folks on here love it, but.....I don't want a "sit down" meal with desert every day.

I think to do a REAL comparision you have to add in the COST of what you would spend on dining to the 40% off rate and the tips etc to the Free Dining.

So if like me you would probably only have one or two sit down meals over a week it's probably cheaper to do the 40% off. If you eat at a sit down every night then you still have to add 15 to 20% of the retail price of your meals to your total to see what the Free Dining plan costs. (Plus things like appetizers, wine.....)

 

[christa112]

We love the DDP because of the ease of not worrying about if we have enough money for each place to eat and when it is free we love it even more!!! LOL

I actually turned down a code in hopes of free dining in Sept. When I called to book they offered me an upgrade to stay at Corondo Springs for about $60.00 more total onto my package vs staying at POP.

 

[Step]

Also remember though that if you're factoring in costs, someone who doesn't choose "free dining" may not wish to dine at a TS restaurant that often during their trip or (gasp)...might want to dine off property if they have a car thus changing the financial comparison. Those who eat mostly CS meals may be better off with a room discount vs. the free dining promo, plus those who eat at TS restaurants with the promo will now need to factor in the gratuities each day for that "free" TS meal. When the grats were included it was easier to figure out which way to book for a savings. To the OP, thanks for doing the homework! ---Kathy

I agree that does effect the calculation, but you can easily find out what you can afford:

Lets assume each of the 4 adults spends and outrageous $50 per TS meal for 7 nights. The tip is $50x4x7x0.20 = $280
Lets also factor in breakfast which I believe I budgeted about $10 per adult for each each last time I went. The cost is $10x4x7 = $280


Going with the value equations:1185

Value ($82x2x7 = $1148)

20% off room
+$1148(room)
-$229(savings)
+X(dining including tips)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$2919 + X(total)

free dining
+$1148(room)
-$1054(savings)
+$1614(dining including tips)
+$2000(air/tickets)
=$3708(total)

We want to find X, which is how much we can afford to spend on dining if we take the room discount instead and eat more cheaply.

2919 + X = 3708
X = 3708 - 2919
X = 789

If you can spend less than $789 on four adults for 7 days including all meals and all tips, then you would get a saving over free dining. It is possible to do, but I personally prefer using my original $800 in savings towards paying for the tips, breakfasts and souvenirs.

I also did the moderate calculation for myself using the same formula and the amount you would have to spend on dining would be $1185.

 

[Step]

Well for me Free Dining has never made sense.

I don't need or want that much food. So MAYBE if I was going on a very short trip and doing a Signature Resturant.... but otherwise the discount works out better.

I know folks on here love it, but.....I don't want a "sit down" meal with desert every day.

I think to do a REAL comparision you have to add in the COST of what you would spend on dining to the 40% off rate and the tips etc to the Free Dining.

So if like me you would probably only have one or two sit down meals over a week it's probably cheaper to do the 40% off. If you eat at a sit down every night then you still have to add 15 to 20% of the retail price of your meals to your total to see what the Free Dining plan costs. (Plus things like appetizers, wine.....)

Yeah, my hope is that you can use the equation to factor in your own costs and habits to see if you can get a better savings depending on your room type.

Even with a 40% discount the deluxe resorts are just out of my range for this trip. I'll be shooting for a value or moderate, so it works out for me.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Ok, you people are clearly smarter than me so maybe you can help me figure this out. I am math challenged. I have been trying to evaluate this in case the free dining is announced. We are staying at Port Orleans (moderate) and we already have a 40% off coupon applied. We are doing the dining plan either way (we have a baby under 3 who eats a lot and will do a lot of character meals). We will have 2 adults and 2 children on the dining plan. So what is cheaper the 40% off or the dining plan in this senario? The way I was thinking it was about the same? We are staying 9 nights if that matters. Please help.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Thanks for doing the homework for me. I love numbers but have never been able to get a clear grip on the cost of FDP vs. Room discounts.

I still can't go to Disney but I now I have more information. I am going to print your calculations out and put them in the folder.

 

[dclfun]

I agree that everyone has to figure out what they are looking for- free dining used to give a real freedom as well as the obvious savings with all costs covered up front, now you need to calculate the gratuities which can get pretty hefty on some of the TS meals. I know we ate at more TS restaurants and spent more time dining than we ever did before when we had free dining thus spending less time enjoying the parks. If you're a go, go, go person who wants to get in as many attractions as possible and a sit-down meal isn't your thing, then it's probably best not to be locked into the dining plan and you'll save more by paying OOP. If you're someone with small children who needs a break and wants to do lots of character meals, or a family who likes to sit and relax over a longer meal, then the dining plan makes sense for you because you'll actually use the TS credits anyway without changing your touring plans to fit the dining plan constraints. Most people I know are really watching their budget so doing what the OP did by calculating out the pricing is a great way to figure out your own vacation budget and to make your own decisions. The first year of free dining I met many, many families who said they could not otherwise have afforded a vacation to WDW- now that the plan has changed I have to wonder how many people will still say the same.---Kathy

 

[Step]

Ok, you people are clearly smarter than me so maybe you can help me figure this out. I am math challenged. I have been trying to evaluate this in case the free dining is announced. We are staying at Port Orleans (moderate) and we already have a 40% off coupon applied. We are doing the dining plan either way (we have a baby under 3 who eats a lot and will do a lot of character meals). We will have 2 adults and 2 children on the dining plan. So what is cheaper the 40% off or the dining plan in this senario? The way I was thinking it was about the same? We are staying 9 nights if that matters. Please help.

Here are the calculations I came up with for 2 adults, 2 childen:

Total package: $3659

Breakdown:
One room at POR for 9 nights: $1509
Basic Dining plan: $864
Tickets with park hopper/water parks/10 days: $1286

I have no idea what your airfare would be so I'm entering AT for the combined total of tickets, airfare, tips and misc expenses. You can fill that in yourself.

40% off room
+$1509(room)
-$603(savings)
+$864(dining)
+AT(air/tickets/tips etc)
=$1770 + AT(total)

free dining
+$1509(room)
-$864(savings)
+$864(dining)
+AT(air/tickets/tip etc)
=$1509 + AT(total)

You save $261 if you get free dining instead of 40% off.

I am assuming both your children are young enough to be on the child plan, if not, your costs will be a bit higher and your savings even better on free dining.

Hope that helps.

 

[Aliceacc]

Ok, you people are clearly smarter than me so maybe you can help me figure this out. I am math challenged. I have been trying to evaluate this in case the free dining is announced. We are staying at Port Orleans (moderate) and we already have a 40% off coupon applied. We are doing the dining plan either way (we have a baby under 3 who eats a lot and will do a lot of character meals). We will have 2 adults and 2 children on the dining plan. So what is cheaper the 40% off or the dining plan in this senario? The way I was thinking it was about the same? We are staying 9 nights if that matters. Please help.

You're a family of 5, right? With 2 kids between 3 and 10?
Free dining would save you $100 per day over the price with the dining plan. That means $900 saved.

Taking 40% off a $150 per night room would save you only $60 per night. That means $540 saved.

So free dining is the far better deal.

 

[dclfun]

Free dining is only a better deal if you want what is included...which is one TS per day, one CS per day, and one snack per day, pp. If you don't dine at TS restaurants every day, then figure your meal costs separately with the room only discount. Figure your tips on those TS meals too which aren't necessary if you dine at only/mostly CS restaurants. Just like shopping at the mall, something on sale isn't a bargain if you're not going to use it. (I think we get all worked up when we hear something is free- I know that I do). For those that can get the DDE card and get a discount on dining, there are more calculations to do- good thing we have some really good math whizzes here!---Kathy