We are skipping free dining

[Lizzybee]

especially since sprite is a coca-cola product

If I really wanted a Sprite and was told I could only have Coke, I'd probably say "ok can you bring me a caffeine free clear colored coca cola beverage which is lemon lime flavored?"

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Why would you give up the free dining? It's free. The AAA discount will save you some money, but food for the entire trip? I'd reconsider if I were you.

In some of the deluxe rooms of the deluxe resorts, the AAA or AP discount ends up being more than the cost of the meal plan. For them it would make better sense to keep the hotel discount and buy the meal plan or go it on their own. In a value or moderate resort, the free food will dwarf any other discount.

 

[aubriee]

As far as spending big $ for tickets you do not need, that is not necessary. I believe you would still come out ahead by paying rack rate, getting 1 day of passes to qualify for the free dining for your entire stay (which you would not have to use but could save for future use) and then using your AP for visiting the parks. Plus, if there is something that you want to pay OOP that the plan doesn't offer, you would still have the AP discount.

This is exactly what I'm doing. I have an AP and a DDE card. I had a room booked with the AP code, however for our bunch the free dining was a much better deal. I have a 23 y/o who is never seen without food in his hand and especially in amusement parks. I cancelled my AP room, rebooked at rack rate, and bought myself a MYW ticket which I will save to use next year after my AP expires (as I don't plan on renewing my AP). I bought into the free dining not expecting it to provide all of our dining needs. I knew we'd be buying extras snacks and even a few extras at meals. My D-I-L and I plan to share some meals and if we run out of credits will simply pay OOP. No big deal! I have the DDE card for 20% off extras and alcoholic beverages that we might want. I don't intend for us to be limited in our dining whatsoever. If something is not on the plan we'll just be out a little extra cash. However we like TS and know we'll get our money's worth just for the TS meals. How can you argue with free? Sure I gave up the AP room discount and had to buy a MYW ticket, but I chose to go ahead and buy a 7 day ticket instead of a 1 day just so I would have the ticket already to use next spring.

If my AP wasn't still good for my Dec trip I'd be buying the dining plan then. However I want to get one last trip from my AP before it expires, so booked using the AP Best Rate Plan for that trip. However, in the spring when I go back to use my leftover 7 day MYW ticket I plan to buy a 1 day base ticket and then try to buy the dining plan for the length of my stay. There is no way I could eat at the TS I want plus do a CS and snack for $35.00/day. I spent more than that when I went last May.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I guess I've just missed where the plan is actually "complicated".

I've seen lots of posts where people were ill informed as to how the plan worked, but it's very simple. The only true problems I read about at this point are people who try to add skewers of shrimp, or have 2 apps instead of an app and an entree (which is not what the plan entails).

You get to choose one appetizer from the menu, one entree (without additions), and one dessert, OR you get one full buffet/family style meal. You can't get things that are labeled "for two" or things that add an additional cost to the entree.

It's a tremendous value. It's really going to change our trip - no longer worrying about spending too much on too many sit-downs, and getting to try things off of menus I normally wouldn't (never usually try apps, for instance).

Everyone has to make the decision for themselves, but if I went by some of the posts I read I'd think it was as complicated as Federal Tax code. It's pretty straight-forward, and any questions can be answered by your server before you order so there are no surprises.

We had to give up an AP discount to get the plan - for a 7 night stay that cost us $140. The discounts buying from MapleLeaf are like $3 on 7-day MYW hopper tickets (and yes, I am including tax on the Disney prices - with tax a 7-day hopper is $237 with Disney, $234 with maple) - which isn't worth the hassle of buying from a non-Disney company to me.

So, by giving up about $150 in discounts, we'll be able to have over a thousand bucks worth of food (conservative estimate).

It may not work out for everyone financially, but the vast majority of people are going to do VERY well on it.

N.E.D.

 

[maxaroni]

I guess I've just missed where the plan is actually "complicated".

I've seen lots of posts where people were ill informed as to how the plan worked, but it's very simple. The only true problems I read about at this point are people who try to add skewers of shrimp, or have 2 apps instead of an app and an entree (which is not what the plan entails).

You get to choose one appetizer from the menu, one entree (without additions), and one dessert, OR you get one full buffet/family style meal. You can't get things that are labeled "for two" or things that add an additional cost to the entree.

It's a tremendous value. It's really going to change our trip - no longer worrying about spending too much on too many sit-downs, and getting to try things off of menus I normally wouldn't (never usually try apps, for instance).

Everyone has to make the decision for themselves, but if I went by some of the posts I read I'd think it was as complicated as Federal Tax code. It's pretty straight-forward, and any questions can be answered by your server before you order so there are no surprises.

We had to give up an AP discount to get the plan - for a 7 night stay that cost us $140. The discounts buying from MapleLeaf are like $3 on 7-day MYW hopper tickets (and yes, I am including tax on the Disney prices - with tax a 7-day hopper is $237 with Disney, $234 with maple) - which isn't worth the hassle of buying from a non-Disney company to me.

So, by giving up about $150 in discounts, we'll be able to have over a thousand bucks worth of food (conservative estimate).

It may not work out for everyone financially, but the vast majority of people are going to do VERY well on it.

N.E.D.

I agree.....I found I was getting more confused by reading some of the posts here. However, once we sat down (months ago) and figured it all out, it really is a savings. Now, it may not be for everyone, depending on their individual situation but I'm going into it with an open mind, it is what it is. If there are a few minor changes, once we are down there, so be it. I'm still saving lots of cash and that's the bottom line. We are a family that enjoys a TS dinner and this just makes it much nicer and easier (even if we had to pay for it as it would be all pre-paid)

 

[AydensMom]

I agree with the majority and would not give up the free dining. We too have free dining and are bringing along a child. Have you looked at the menus on Debs? There are lots of choices for kids other than the standard fare.
Concourse Steakhouse has a petit filet mingon, there are numerous buffets with lots of choice, and some counter sevice like Liberty Inn or Cosmic Ray's have drumsticks with mash potatoes or a garden chicken salad. Why not try a sig retaurant that you might not try otherwise like Coral reef where kids menu includes grilled chiken or grilled Mahi, or one of the others that have great kids choices Artist Point, Citrios, Narcoosee, or Jiko.

Free dining is to great a deal to pass up. If you want to eat off site a couple of times do so and use the credits for Breakfast

 

[princesspiglet]

I agree with the OP. When we go in November 2006, we will not using the dining plan. Even if it was free, we would not use it. My daughter eats "grown up" food at 3 years old, I know next year will be the same. She hates chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, etc. Also, all we have planned is TS service meals and we hardly ever get a snack. We never get CS meals, so it would be a waste for us. I also hate following a plan, I would rather eat what I want, where I want and when I want without having to worry about what credit I am using.

 

[HillPete]

When the free dining plan came out, we switched from a AAA rate to rack rate, kept our AAA discount on the park tix and deleted the dining plan we were going to pay for. We still came out $400 ahead. If we don't use all the dining credits, I don't care. They are free!!

 

[slk537]

I can certainly understand why someone would want to opt out of the free dining plan if they were going to save more money on discounts or offsite...but I guess to me, if it's just a case of ease of use vs freedom to eat whatever you want...well...then the free dining seems the way to go.

Our plan is to combine the two. We will go where we want, which all happen to be on the plan (not chosen for that reason) and we will order what we want. If it's not on the plan, then in our minds, we are getting a very reasonable meal. Example: we'll be at 'Ohana the evening of our DS's birthday. I absolutely fully intend to order him the sand pail snowcone. He'll love it. I know it's not on the plan. DH and I just may want a different dessert too. Let's assume we order them. Then a lovely meal at 'Ohana will actually be the cost of 3 desserts. Works for me. I see this as a way to indulge in the extras we might normally skip - speciality drinks with glow cubes, dessert samplers, etc - since we'll be paying for the extras and not the main entrees/drinks/food/etc. We do have the DDE card as well, so we have that savings for when we don't use credits.

DH and I have decided that we just get what we want and pay extra for it if need be. And we're really excited about all the new TS restaurants we'll be trying because of the DDE and free dining. Did we choose to vacation because of the free dining? Nope. It's DS's birthday. Did we choose to stay on site because of it? Nope. We had WL booked with the AP discount before this happened. Why did we switch? Well...we love the idea of paying as much of the trip in advance as we can.

I say, to each their own. We're going and we'll enjoy it. We may even miss it at Thanksgiving when we're staying on DVC points and can't take advantage. But for September? I can't wait.

 

[aloha35]

I started a thread about this a few weeks ago, and lots of folks didn't understand why we were not doing the free dining plan. But as others have mentioned, it truly depends on your situation, so go with your gut.

I still feel the plan is excellent, if someone had no plan to do Disney in the fall and now can't resist with the free dining (Disney's not stupid!). But if people already have tickets, are staying concierge, and are staying at an expensive room (where that AAA discount is a good chunk of change), it doesn't make sense to buy more tickets, blablabla.

To each his own. No one's wrong on this subject because it depends on your situation!

 

[Joan1]

Free food isn't really free if you can get the room with a AAA discount. You have to pay rack rate for the room, have to purchase your tickets from Disney (instead of a discount company like Mapleleaf) and have to put everyone one on the plan that is staying in your room. The combination of the rack room cost and the no discounted tickets and not being able to use your APs for anyone if someone has one, would make the "free dinning" kind of expensive.

I can see why someone would choose to decline. As an AP holder with DDE I would MUCH rather eat where I want (all TS if I want and no CS), order what I want(sometimes an app sometimes not, sometimes a dessert, and sometimes just an app and dessert and no entree) get 20% off everything (including alcohol and specialty drinks, dessert samplers, and highest price meals and add ons) and not worry about following the "plan".

Shelly

Yes but for people without the AP and DDE card why would you want to give up the free dining plan? I have friends going at the end of September, they are a family of 5 with two of them being teenagers (boys) that can really eat. They are saving a whole lot more then they would save with only the AAA Discount. If they were to add the dining plan for the 5 of them for 7nights it would have cost them $1050.00. They would have easily spend that out of pocket, if not more, if they didn't get the dining plan.

With AAA They would have saved $250 on the room. Even giving that up they are still saving $800.00. If you deduct the two
Why would they give up a discount of $800?????

As always some discounts work for some people and not for others

 

[Joan1]

my only point was how complicated the plan appears to be based on what you can and cannot get. i agree that it is great if you are 4 adults but with four year old twins with the appetite that varies from day to day and sometime just likes the pintos and cheese at taco bell (which isnt health food i know but at least it has protein!)

if we lose the aaa rate it amounts to $160.00 plus full price for tix which we can get for $175 less than full price we have now paid $335 for "free food". granted we will probably eat more than that amount but it may be at jungle jims (great peanut butter burger) or cici's (i know not everybody likes them but our girls love the pasta and breadsticks and its cheap)

i am not telling anyone else to forgo the "free dining plan". all i was saying was that based on circumstances and concern about information which is readily available on this board and information about how servers pushed my friends to order food that they did not want, even bringing it inspite of refusing it (in a doggie bag) and Yes, after specifically asking for a 20oz sprite at a stand in frontierland and being told that the plan only covered coke (I know that this is not the norm but it did happen)...

based on this we have decided to enjoy our vacation and not use the package.

then again i suppose you could ask why i am sharing...i'm not sure but i thought somebody else might benefit from a different point of view on the dining plan.

what a wonderful world.... walt disney world that is!

Well if you plan on eating offsite then it is a different story but personally I think it is a hassle to drive off property and find a place to eat especially since most of the chain places do not offer reservations and you never know what the wait will be. Rather eat at a Disney restaurant and walk out of the restaurant and see the parade, fireworks, etc. much more relaxing

 

[gigi1313]

the easiest way to use the plan and get your kids "real food" (mine are "real food" eaters too!) is to go to buffets... we do a lot of all-you-care-to-eats and buffets so the kids don't have to suffer thru too many pizza/chick nuggets/hot dog/hamburger/mac&cheese meals unless they want to!

 

[ElizabethB]

The "free" dining is a great deal if you're paying rack rate anyway. If you're not paying rack rate due to AP or AAA, for example, you have to realize that the "free" dining is the cost of your discounted room versus your rack rate room.

At a value resort, the difference is not that great, so it's probably worth it to pay rack rate and get the "free" dining.

On the other hand, if you're at a deluxe resort, it may not be worth it to give up the discount. For us, the difference between GF AP rate and GF rack rate was about $650. Plus, we needed trip insurance at $85.

We figure we can eat quite a bit of food for that $700 -- and do it eating exactly what we want, when we want it, where we want it. And, if we're not hungry, we won't eat. We won't already have a "sunk" cost of $700 that we can only recover by stuffing ourselves with food.

Works for some -- doesn't work for others.

 

[NCombs]

The "free" dining is a great deal if you're paying rack rate anyway. If you're not paying rack rate due to AP or AAA, for example, you have to realize that the "free" dining is the cost of your discounted room versus your rack rate room.

At a value resort, the difference is not that great, so it's probably worth it to pay rack rate and get the "free" dining.

On the other hand, if you're at a deluxe resort, it may not be worth it to give up the discount. For us, the difference between GF AP rate and GF rack rate was about $650. Plus, we needed trip insurance at $85.

We figure we can eat quite a bit of food for that $700 -- and do it eating exactly what we want, when we want it, where we want it. And, if we're not hungry, we won't eat. We won't already have a "sunk" cost of $700 that we can only recover by stuffing ourselves with food.

Works for some -- doesn't work for others.

I agree. It's great for a lot of people but not for everyone including my family.

 

[RedRuby]

The "free" dining is a great deal if you're paying rack rate anyway. If you're not paying rack rate due to AP or AAA, for example, you have to realize that the "free" dining is the cost of your discounted room versus your rack rate room.

At a value resort, the difference is not that great, so it's probably worth it to pay rack rate and get the "free" dining.
(snip)

Works for some -- doesn't work for others.

Yes, it's definitely dependent on where you stay and how much you'd order/spend off the plan. Before the free dining code was released for the public, I had determined that we'd probably spend the same amount of money or less off the plan by getting an AP and then discounts on room and tickets, as paying rack rate for room,tickets and dining (for us, that was $70/day; our "princesses" are 2 yo). The AAA deal was slightly better including dining but I wasn't sold on it. I was kinda torn -- I figured it would be possible to get as much or more out of the plan, so I thought we'd likely go for it (if we were going).

Then the free dining was released, and the difference was much greater -- the rack rate for room and tickets and"free dining" is $180-$200 more than AAA room rate alone, but we get *well* more than $200 worth. (And we'd definitely spend $200 on meals in eight nights and nine days) Technically we're getting a dining package worth $560+tax for under $200, but the plan is *worth* more than that still, depending on where we eat and what we order

I crunched the numbers today for fun and found that the "free dining" is costing us about $23 a day for two adults, rather than $75 ($79+tax; side note: is the dining deal $35/day plus tax? I think so---but not sure of the tax rate. I'd assume 8% tax).

So, it's more like two-thirds off (and a bit). But "70% off sale" doesn't have the same ring as "free" Well, and I get the 70% by comparing rack rate to AAA, but obviously Disney is comparing rack rate with paid dining to rack rate with "free"dining, so it *is* free.

'Whew! Enough Disney math for one night.

 

[TnTsParty]

I too agree that the free dining may be for some but not for others. When we go in September we opted not to do the free dining. First of all we are FL resident's and AP's so we have a decent discount. My DH eats like a bird anyways - and we don't eat breakfast and maybe will catch something for lunch so at a "cost" of $70 a day it wouldn't have been worth it for us.

 

[spacemtn1971]

what is most interesting about this discussion is that some people seem to think that a package which includes free dining is the best way for everyone. i go back to the concept that "sometimes" pay as you go is not a bad thing.

will we lose our hard earned money not doing the dining plan? it really doesn't look like it to me. will we enjoy disneyworld any less? i don't think so.

if you find that the dining plan is a great deal, that it will make your experience more enjoyable go for it!!

all i was trying to point out was that some people, for a huge variety of reasons, are not participating in the "free dining plan".

but i also agree with the concept that if you were planning on using free dining you should not be swayed by any of the discussion boards. it is a personal decision just like anything else about vacation. enjoy it!

have a disney day.

 

[calgarygary]

People do have to make the decisions that are right for themselves. However, I seem to notice that many people include the cost of park tickets for their entire stay when getting the free dining plan only requires the purchase of 1 day's tickets to obtain free dining for your entire stay.

 

[iceprincess]

so, what aren't you allowed to get then?
what percentage of items on a menu aren't the "approved" items?