So if there is free dining...?

[frayedend]

We just booked a Pop Century 9 night at the end of August. We did this only because we have a friend that is giving us free park passes so it was too good an opportunity to miss. We definitely want the regular dining plan since we like to do 1 table service most days.

If they end up adding free dining do you think they will only have the quick service dining plan for values? It seems like they switched this last year but I'm not sure if it was a permanent change or just a change for the late part of the year free dining.

Nevertheless, here is my plan in either case, let me know if it sounds good.

If they offer free regular dining for all resorts: Add 1 day park pass and get free dining.

If they offer free dining with regular dining only for Mods and up: Drop Pop Century and book a Mod, add 1 day park pass, and get free regular dining.

No free dining offered: Keep Pop, add AAA discount, purchase regular dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

Nobody knows yet whether August/September general public free dining will be basic dining for values or quick service for values. Historically August/September has been basic dining for all resorts. The bounceback offer was basic dining for all resorts. But, some of the PIN offers for the same time period have been quick service for values. Could go either way.

If it turns out to be quick service, you could also stick with Pop and upgrade quick service to basic dining. That would cost $10 per night per adult and $2 per night per child. Depending on when you go it might cost less than upgrading to a moderate resort.

 

[frayedend]

Thanks! It's great to know I can upgrade. That is only $216 for us to upgrade. That would be about $280 less than the mod. Of course knowing us we'll end up moving to the mod anyhow. We are easy to upsell

 

[BebopBaloo]

Am I reading this right..that you only have to add park tickets for one day in order to have the free dining for your whole trip?

 

[frayedend]

Am I reading this right..that you only have to add park tickets for one day in order to have the free dining for your whole trip?

Yes. Everything I have read states that you have to have a package that includes at least one day park passes for everyone in your room/reservation. My wife also went online and planned a trip with dining and did only 1 day passes and was able to get the dining plan no problem (of course for free dining it depends on if they offer it. It seems like they will). The dining plan is based on the number of nights you stay. We would have to add the 1 day ticket because we already have tickets from our friend.

She paid full price for the tickets. I wonder if they would link the tickets to the resort and call it a package.

 

[BebopBaloo]

That is great to know! We can get tickets a bit cheaper through my husband's employer, so that will help with budgeting

 

[MelanieC]

That is great to know! We can get tickets a bit cheaper through my husband's employer, so that will help with budgeting

But keep in mind you pay the one day price for the ticket adding on to the package. Then if you buy them from your DH's employer, you still have to pay the one day price plus the add on's (each day over 3) is really not much of a cost. Price it both ways - doing it through DH's work and doing it through the package and make sure you are saving.

Example using adult base ticket w/out hopper etc:

1 Day through package $79 pp
7 Day through package $234 pp
Difference is an extra $155 per person for the entire 7 day through package.

If your 7 day ticket is less than $155 per person buying them through DH's employer than it's a good deal - If not, you would save by buying through the package.

Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Yup, it makes sense. I priced it out earlier this a.m. after posting here and it doesn't really help this scenario. It is actually cheaper to just book the full package of room plus tickets. If we were not concerned about dining it would be cheaper to book room only and then buy the tickets through his employer. Alas though, food is important

 

[TDC Nala]

She paid full price for the tickets. I wonder if they would link the tickets to the resort and call it a package.

No, they won't. That is why you have to buy one-day tickets even though you already have tickets. If you purchase or receive the tickets separately, it isn't a package. In order to book a package you must book room and tickets together.

So even though you already have tickets through another source, you will still have to pay Disney for more tickets to get a free dining package. The good news is that you only have to pay for one day's worth of tickets and you'll still get free dining.

 

[jebiford29]

EDIT: Nevermind. I should READ before I post