What is the difference between the regular DDP & Free Dinning week on the DDP?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am confused about the Disney Dinning Plan, so I was wondering if someone can please answer this for me. My family & I have never used the DDP, however from what I know you pay for your meals on credits that are about 1 credit or 2 credits right? I also know your park tickets are included & you get a good rate on your room at WDW. Well what was the difference when back in August WDW was having the free dinning week? Isn't the same as the regular DDP, where you still pay for your meals on credits, plus you pay a lot less for your room & your park tickets are still included? So if anyone can please answer this for me, I would appreciate it.

 

[taraprather]

I am confused about the Disney Dinning Plan, so I was wondering if someone can please answer this for me. My family & I have never used the DDP, however from what I know you pay for your meals on credits that are about 1 credit or 2 credits right? I also know your park tickets are included & you get a good rate on your room at WDW. Well what was the difference when back in August WDW was having the free dinning week? Isn't the same as the regular DDP, where you still pay for your meals on credits, plus you pay a lot less for your room & your park tickets are still included? So if anyone can please answer this for me, I would appreciate it.

the free dining plan is the same as the regular ddp except it is free! It was offered for a little bit of august and all of september.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

the free dining plan is the same as the regular ddp except it is free! It was offered for a little bit of august and all of september.

How is it "free" as you say it is? The guests who went during the free dinning week, didn't they still pay to stay at their Resort just like on the regular DDP? Also didn't use their credits when paying for meals at counter service locations & table service locations, just like on the regular DDP? Maybe it's me but I can't see how the free dinning week was truly free.

 

[theostwalts]

The DDP is an add on feature that is paid for in addition to your MYW tickets and resort charges. From the FAQ on the DIS:

How much does the plan cost?
It is $37.99 for adults and $10.99 for children 3-9 years old. This is the cost per night of stay and is required for each night of your stay. The price of the plan includes tax & tip.

So for those who went during Free Dining, they did not pay the additional charge to have the DDP added to their package. If you go during a time when free dining is not offered you pay the above listed costs for the dining plan.

 

[n2mm]

It's not free for everyone going to WDW if that's what you want to know. You MUST book the special package when it's offered (last year April). The package requires you to pay rack rate room price at a Disney resort, plus a ticket for everyone in that room--the exact type of ticket (some of us bought one day ticket and upgraded it to what we really needed). Then the DDP is added to your package, but you don't pay for it. You must buy the special package in order to participate in the free DDP. It has been offered 2 times now and always during hurricane season (mid-August and most of September). Our UK friends have already been offered the package, but here in the US, it has not been announced yet. There are other restrictions too, like maximum stay 10 days, no splitting between resorts unless you buy 2 packages. Everyone registered in your room must be on the package. Even some folks have reported that everyone in your party must be accounted for at check in so that you can not ADD someone to your party that doesn't exist.

There are some new restrictions on the UK package, like length of stay tickets and some minor things like no desert on your counter service meal. We have no idea if these restrictions will be on our packages too, so we wait.

If you book a package, you have to make a $200 deposit (per room) and the restrictions for canceling are a little different than a room only reservation. You have 45 days before arriving to cancel for a full refund. AFter that the rules change. Insurance is encouraged because, afterall, it is hurricane season. We were lucky this year, but never know about the next year.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It's not free for everyone going to WDW if that's what you want to know. You MUST book the special package when it's offered (last year April). The package requires you to pay rack rate room price at a Disney resort, plus a ticket for everyone in that room--the exact type of ticket (some of us bought one day ticket and upgraded it to what we really needed). Then the DDP is added to your package, but you don't pay for it. You must buy the special package in order to participate in the free DDP. It has been offered 2 times now and always during hurricane season (mid-August and most of September). Our UK friends have already been offered the package, but here in the US, it has not been announced yet. There are other restrictions too, like maximum stay 10 days, no splitting between resorts unless you buy 2 packages. Everyone registered in your room must be on the package. Even some folks have reported that everyone in your party must be accounted for at check in so that you can not ADD someone to your party that doesn't exist.

There are some new restrictions on the UK package, like length of stay tickets and some minor things like no desert on your counter service meal. We have no idea if these restrictions will be on our packages too, so we wait.

If you book a package, you have to make a $200 deposit (per room) and the restrictions for canceling are a little different than a room only reservation. You have 45 days before arriving to cancel for a full refund. AFter that the rules change. Insurance is encouraged because, afterall, it is hurricane season. We were lucky this year, but never know about the next year.

Thanks for that information, now I know what the differences were between the regular DDP & when WDW offered the free DDP.