which is a better deal? 40% off room or free dining?

[CampbellScot]

I'm just trying to figure out which would be a better deal if we are staying in a deluxe...2 adults 2 children...

I love planning!!! It's so exciting!!!!

 

[mking624]

If you're staying at a deluxe, the 40% off is a better deal.

 

[CampbellScot]

that's what I figured...just another reason to stay in a deluxe...what a shame...

 

[MagicKingdom05]

that's what I figured...just another reason to stay in a deluxe...what a shame...

I agree. Depending on when your going 40% off can save you a ton of money.

 

[CampbellScot]

We are planning on going the third week of August...we had initially wanted Beach Club, but I prefer Wilderness Lodge..though I am getting the impression that WL doesn't have a lot of rooms available for the discount...I guess we'll see!!

 

[kutchyone]

I think if your staying at a moderate free dining would be better, or at least for three adults it would be. I would imagine the free dining if staying a value would be much better.

 

[lauritagoddess]

I'm staying at ASMu for 7 days 8/26-9/2. With the 40% discount it worked out to be almost exactly the same as free dining. Before the code I had a package without the dining for $1303 and when I rebooked with the code, I had to add dining (no problem since I was hoping for free dining anyway) and with the 40% discount the package came to $1295. So essentially it was like getting free dining, plus a few dollars off.

 

[kutchyone]

So it isn't just 40% off the room then.

 

[lauritagoddess]

I think with the values it works out to be like free dining when you factor the cost of the room discount and the cost of the dining, but with a moderate or deluxe, as others mentioned I think that the 40% room discount would be alot greater than the free dining. Although I guess that would depend on how many people you're going to have on the dining plan, I just have myself and my DS.

 

[CampbellScot]

We'll have 2 adults and 2 children on the dining plan...I think that 40% off a deluxe room works out to be a better deal for us all around...if we do a mod or a value we'd have to have adjoining rooms...so darn, Deluxe will be the best deal for us! My hubby can't argue with that! Yee HAW!!

 

[mking624]

We'll have 2 adults and 2 children on the dining plan...I think that 40% off a deluxe room works out to be a better deal for us all around...if we do a mod or a value we'd have to have adjoining rooms...so darn, Deluxe will be the best deal for us! My hubby can't argue with that! Yee HAW!!

Don't you hate it when you're forced to stay in a deluxe? Darn bargains....

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Don't you hate it when you're forced to stay in a deluxe? Darn bargains....

I know what you mean. This might be our only chance to stay at Poly let alone a deluxe so I guess the discount is causing us to stay at a deluxe as well. What a shame .

 

[beth_cam]

2 adults 2 kids(under 10)


Free dining saves about 101 per night.


wl value season 40% off
standard room 215= savings of about 96.75 per night
ddp saves an extra $5 per night
Woods View 240 or 260(bunk beds?) = savings 108 or 117 per night
40% saves an extra 7 or 16 per night
Obviously anything higher room categories, 40% off room saves over DDP by an increasing amount.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I think the OP needs to also factor in what the cost of dining out of pocket would be for them and factor that cost in as well. If you usually eat at counter service, then I think the 40% off the room rate is a better deal. Itemize and then compare, that's how we figure out the best deal.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I saved over $200 more at the Poly than I would have last year with the free dining promotion ( we ended up at CSR last year; I just couldn't justify the Poly prices). We are a party of 2 adults staying for 5 nights. My friend and I priced out a room at POP with the discount, and the free dining would be much better for her as both her kids are "adults". This is assuming she buys the DP... My point is, it depends on your party size and the resort you choose whether or not the 40% is better than the free dining.

Marketing wise, I think this is a better deal for Disney than the free dining. During free dining people were packed into the values with 4 people. Many people payed less than the cost of dining for their room and the DP every night. This promotion seems like it would encourage people to book the more expensive resorts. Either way, with paying for dining maybe they won't end up with no restaurants to eat at.

 

[Dicecatt]

This deal is much better for me...it is saving me $1700, free dining would save me $1100.

Howevere, a friend emailed me and asked me how I saved so much, because for him, it was turning out that free dining is a bigger savings, but he stays at Pop, and has more people than I do on the dining plan as adults.

 

[beth_cam]

I think the OP needs to also factor in what the cost of dining out of pocket would be for them and factor that cost in as well. If you usually eat at counter service, then I think the 40% off the room rate is a better deal. Itemize and then compare, that's how we figure out the best deal.

When I did my price analysis I assumed OP was comparing exact same packages. Purchasing the 40% off room package that included dining - or a Free dining package. Then the difference in price comes down to comparing how much each promotion can save you. That way you are comparing apples to apples.

2 adults 2 kids(under 10)
Free dining saves about 101 per night.
wl value season 40% off
standard room 215= savings of about 96.75 per night
ddp saves an extra $5 per night
Woods View 240 or 260(bunk beds?) = savings 108 or 117 per night
40% saves an extra 7 or 16 per night
Obviously anything higher room categories, 40% off room saves over DDP by an increasing amount.

Comparison would get much more tricky if you are comparing a room only ressie with a Free dining package...but...if you want to look at it that way compare full price tickets to the fact that 40%of woull leave you (comparatively) with atleast a $96 savings to use as a 'food budget' and figure how much you would spend. If you want to be more economical and not do table service of course you would realize that much greater of savings that way.

 

[MEK]

For me and DS 12 staying 6 nights in August:

Value - free dining would save us $200 compared to the 40% off

Mod - free dining would save us about $50 compared to the 40% off

Deluxe - 40% off would clearly save us the most - at least an additional 100 or more over free dining.

But alas - I was unable to use the "code" without the pin. So I won't be saving anything but my AAA discount.