Summer 2016 - Free Quick Service

[Huff]

Can you upgrade to regular dining, using your free quick service as a credit toward the upgrade? Or is it a straight offer? Thank you! I booked today, and am now wondering if that is a possibility.

Nicole

Yes, I believe it costs about $43 to upgrade to deluxe per person per night.

 

[hsmamato2]

You have to pay rack rate for a package,and they 'give' you a cheap qs meal once per day? I'm sorry,that isn't a joke? Let's see...no offense but a discounted room,and discounted ticket to park, along with that $ 8-10 meal( I don't buy or eat the desserts or sodas) ......ummm... No thank you (?)

 

[tinkerone]

if you want a laugh just look at the 'special' they are offering Canadians right now. 'Canadian Residents: Stay Near the Magic with an Affordable Stay and Play Package!'. did you get that? NEAR the magic. lol. its not even an offer to stay at wdw, you get to stay NEAR it.
the specials really leave a lot to desire don't they?

 

[dmunsil]

Can you upgrade to regular dining, using your free quick service as a credit toward the upgrade?

Yup. Disney values the "free" QS meal at $17.05 for adults and $6.95 per child, so you get that much off the regular prices for your choice of dining plan. So, for example, the normal Quick Service dining plan normally costs $42.84/night for adults and $17.47/night for children. As an upgrade from the Summer Meal offer, the same plan costs $25.79 for adults and $10.52 for children.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Yup. Disney values the "free" QS meal at $17.05 for adults and $6.95 per child, so you get that much off the regular prices for your choice of dining plan. So, for example, the normal Quick Service dining plan normally costs $42.84/night for adults and $17.47/night for children. As an upgrade from the Summer Meal offer, the same plan costs $25.79 for adults and $10.52 for children.

How do you come up with a QS meal value is $17.05? With regular QS plan, that is $34.10 for the 2 meals, and $4 for the snack. Where is the other $4.74 accounted for?

 

[dmunsil]

How do you come up with a QS meal value is $17.05? With regular QS plan, that is $34.10 for the 2 meals, and $4 for the snack. Where is the other $4.74 accounted for?

I didn't come up with the value of $17.05. Disney did; that's the amount they give you off a dining plan when you upgrade from the Summer Meal offer. The extra cost is for the refillable mug, presumably. It's a $16.49 value!

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Could bookings be down?

I was wondering the same thing - however a cheap QS meal would not entice me to book a trip. I'm also wondering if this is the beginning of Disney phasing out the "free dining."

 

[JACKNAG]

Buckle up people as stated in the 3rd quarter report , profits are up due to higher food and hotel prices , (see below).

Disney's next offer might be like this . Hurry 5 rooms available at the Poly next to the construction site. 1 free snack available per day, per family. Redeemable only at HS studios Star wars snack cart near the new Star Wars area. Monorail service limited. Book your vacation now.



Disney Reports 3rd Quarter Earnings Ahead of Expectations.

Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 4% to $4.1 billion and segment operating income increased 9% to $922 million. Operating income growth for the quarter was due to an increase at our domestic operations, partially offset by a decrease at our international operations.
Higher operating income at our domestic operations was primarily due to volume and guest spending growth, partially offset by higher costs. The increase in volumes was due to attendance growth at our theme parks and higher occupied room nights at Walt Disney World Resort and our Aulani resort in Hawaii. Guest spending growth was due to higher food, beverage, and merchandise spending, increases in average ticket prices at our cruise line and Disneyland Resort and higher average hotel room rates

 

[Huff]

You have to pay rack rate for a package,and they 'give' you a cheap qs meal once per day? I'm sorry,that isn't a joke? Let's see...no offense but a discounted room,and discounted ticket to park, along with that $ 8-10 meal( I don't buy or eat the desserts or sodas) ......ummm... No thank you (?)

Like free dining or any other discount it depends on your party and what you like. For us we average closer to $15/pp per counter service meal with drink and dessert. With 4 people thats $60 per day. What discount can save $60 per day at a value during the summer? That said, we generally never go during the summer. Room rates are inflated, heat and humidity are miserable and crowds are massive but for those that do this discount can be larger than any other typically offered.

 

[hsmamato2]

if you want a laugh just look at the 'special' they are offering Canadians right now. 'Canadian Residents: Stay Near the Magic with an Affordable Stay and Play Package!'. did you get that? NEAR the magic. lol. its not even an offer to stay at wdw, you get to stay NEAR it.
the specials really leave a lot to desire don't they?

Room rates are inflated, but for those that do this discount can be larger than any other typically offered.

That is my point.... all of these offers always required 'rack rate' (read: highway robbery prices) to get any of them. In the past, certain offers made good sense for certain people (once our fam of 4 'adults' took advantage of a mod with 'free' dining...it was quite a good deal) but just b/c Disney adds in the price of a pre-packaged brownie and oversized soda to that 'free' qs meal doesn't make it's actual value 17.00 pp....I mean IRL terms... most people paying oop at a qs meal don't buy all the sides,drinks and (IMHO icky) desserts... I agree with pp's,it's a 'grab' by Disney to make it appear they're offering something of value...a 'deal' when it is pretty laughable when compared with just about any other discount you can find....
so again- Rack Rate room+Full Price tickets= High cost for a value room-the average $8 qs meal= I can eat anywhere,anytime for less than 17 pp so that's not 'real' to me.

 

[twoplustwins]

I thought that I had read it wrong. I reread it.
No thanks.

 

[Huff]

so again- Rack Rate room+Full Price tickets= High cost for a value room-the average $8 qs meal= I can eat anywhere,anytime for less than 17 pp so that's not 'real' to me.

I think you still miss the point. For you who pays only $8 per meal any 'free' dining offer would not be a good deal based on rack rate for the room. Same reason full free dining in the off season isn't a good value for everyone. It depends on your typical dining habits and what you want. I'm a foodie!! We typically visit off season with free dining. Sure we pay rack rate in order to get it and we upgrade to the deluxe dining and make full use of the DP. That is a big part of our vacation experience. Others make do eating a few slices of pizza or a hotdog at very low cost. For the varying style of individual needs that is why Disney has room only discounts or sometimes ticket/room discounts. So, for the months of June through early August, what deal do the values have that would be better? Answer, there isn't any and rarely is during the summer. Thats why I avoid the summer...well, that and the heat and crowds.

 

[hsmamato2]

hmmm... well I see what you're saying, however I maintain that if I traveled during the summer months,I would spend time finding just about any other deal available- sorry I don't consider obscene room rates plus a big old upcharge to get actual dining per person a 'deal'. I just don't,and I LOVE to eat while vacationing at Disney. I would rather find a discounted room on a third party site,and eat my savings that way. Or one of the many other savings options that can be found,with enough research.
That said, I avoid summertime also. Whatever makes each traveler happiest,they should go with. I was just pointing out for clarification to people who might be unfamiliar with actual discounts that this is pretty dismal. (I'm not just referring to "free" dining of the past,just in general)

 

[stinkpickle]

I wonder if they're expecting a drop in attendance this summer due to recent market conditions...

 

[DebbieB]

Yes, I believe it costs about $43 to upgrade to deluxe per person per night.

That doesn't sound right with the $17.05 credit for the 1 quick service plan.

 

[dmunsil]

Yes, I believe it costs about $43 to upgrade to deluxe per person per night.

That doesn't sound right with the $17.05 credit for the 1 quick service plan.

It's $94.68 adult/$25.61 child per night to upgrade from the Summer Meal offer to Deluxe Dining. Upgrade to regular dining is $44.79/$14.01. Upgrade to Quick service is $25.79/$10.52.

 

[d-train]

Why are the AoA Little Mermaid standard rooms not included? Are they not the same amenities as in Pop, or the All Star standard rooms?

 

[dmunsil]

Why are the AoA Little Mermaid standard rooms not included? Are they not the same amenities as in Pop, or the All Star standard rooms?

Because they sell really well without needing a discount.

 

[Huff]

I would rather find a discounted room on a third party site,and eat my savings that way. Or one of the many other savings options that can be found,with enough research.

Well sure, I'd find the best deal I could. However, there isn't any and rarely is during summer. This deal is better than no deal.

For me $8 won't buy the meal I want! We eat QS at BOG, Wolf Gang's, Tangerine Cafe or maybe Pepper Market. All of which are close to $21. Remove drink and dessert and its still $14 with tax. In my younger years I went to Disney on the cheap. Stayed off site at Motel 6 and ate very cheap so I can see many doing the same today.

 

[Disneylover99]

Well sure, I'd find the best deal I could. However, there isn't any and rarely is during summer. This deal is better than no deal.

For me $8 won't buy the meal I want! We eat QS at BOG, Wolf Gang's, Tangerine Cafe or maybe Pepper Market. All of which are close to $21. Remove drink and dessert and its still $14 with tax. In my younger years I went to Disney on the cheap. Stayed off site at Motel 6 and ate very cheap so I can see many doing the same today.

Exactly. It's a pretty good summer deal at the values if you've got a family of four. Plus you can substitute your drink and dessert for sides. For us, we would share two meals at lunch (which would include a total of four sides) and two meals at dinner (again with the sides) and just ask for water. We'd still bring breakfast items and buy extra food of course, but we'd be able to save lots of money.