Why do MYW (even w. free dining) if you're paying rack room rates?

[TigerLaw]

Can someone help me out here - what is the thrill of doing a magic you way package w. free dining if you're paying rack rates for rooms? I was looking into a late sept stay at the beach club (2 adults, no kids, and it seems to me (assumming the std. sept. AP room discount rates come out) its better to buy APs, get the BCR room discount (which would save $100 a night) than save the $100 a night for the dining plan b/c you would have other discounts using the AP, plus you could come back free (free tickets anyway) for a year

I just feel like I am missing something on this.

 

[nowellsl]

Depending on where you stay it may or may not save you money. At a value resort it definately will. And then who knows what the AP discounts will be this year. We already have annual passes and we are doing the package. We bought 1 day base tickets and will use them to upgrade to another annual pass when our current ones expire. I figure if the passholder discount is $25 per night at a value it is worth it for free dining for 2 people.

 

[Allison]

You are right, if you are staying at a Deluxe resort where you would get bigger room discounts, i'ts not necessarily the best option. It's different when you are looking at the smaller AP discounts at a value resort.

 

[formernyer]

At the Value hotels, rack room rates during the free dining season are $79 per night and AAA offers a 20% discount on a limited number of rooms. If you're lucky enough to get one of those rooms, you'd save less than $16 a day. The meal plan, even if you are traveling alone, saves you a lot more than $16 since it runs $38/day per adult and $11/day per child under 10.

 

[Shagley]

I'm staying at Pop Century and rack rate is around $80.00 a night. My AAA discount would have only saved me around $15.00 a night, but free dining is worth $76.00 a night for two adults - so basically, even at rack rate, the value resort is costing me around $4.00 a night.

That is why I am doing the MYW with free dining. However (as everyone else has said), if you are staying in a Deluxe resort, the free dining probably isn't worth it. If you are staying in a Moderate, you might want to do the math and see which way is the best option for you. With a Value resort - it is a no brainer

 

[MyGoofy26]

For some people the value just won't be there. . .however for most people, this plan works out financially better than any room discounts that Disney offers. You *could* upgrade the tickets to APs and get the "free" admission for a year on this free dining promotion (and future discounts at hotels when there isn't a promotion going on) but as far as money saved, I think most will find that unless they're the type to eat every meal in the room, that for values and moderates the dining plan will win out every time. . . and for a lot of the deluxe they can still come out on top, especially with larger groups.

So for two people at a deluxe, the AP discount may be worth more money. . . but add a couple more family members and the difference diminishes.

Plus keep in mind that with an AP discount you aren't eligible to even pay for the dining plan. . . and while the dining plan costs $37.99 per adult, the amount spent on meals can easily reach up to double that price, making this free dining an even bigger value.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

OP: We feel the same way as you, but as others have so well written, it is a good deal if you are staying value, particularly if it's 3-4 people and they were considering getting the meal plan anyway.

We're not foodies and like the flexibility and AP-discount better ($100/night).

Everyone should run the numbers for their circumstances and not just get caught up in the hype.

 

[FINFAN]

In our case, simply getting to FL wipes out any advantage of an AP.....airfare is KILLER and our car is not reliable enough for the drive. Also our family will be way too jammed in a value, we've done it before, and while kids and I love the theming/food courts...we just can't fit anymore.
In our case a longer trip using airfare comes out better than 2 trips using AP and hoping for a great AP discount. We are also limited to summer trips...due to school and again, cost of airfare. Flying out of Chicago to ANYWHERE warm in March is insane for a family of 4.
No, we will not be getting the BEST savings possible, but we will be able to do a deluxe room/location/food experience for once...so for those looking for that in their trip, it may make it accessible. Some folks do it for the savings, some for the personal preferences...I think we should go moderate and have the best of both...a little savings and great eating choices, but so far, DS and DH are winning in the extra bed/location arguement.
Boy, do I WISH we could be close enough for AP use....but, it's not to be.


Pam

 

[dawgsgirl]

We always drive and only do a couple of meals at Disney whether onsite or off. I guess having a car makes all the difference. Disney food prices are outrageous and we just prefer to take a short drive for a meal. I would really hate to be stuck at Disney without a car!!

 

[BluOrchid2]

I would really hate to be stuck at Disney without a car!!

I would love to be stuck at Disney without a car.

 

[monalsw]

Ditto...I prefer to be stuck at Disney without a car-then I never have to go out into the 'real world'!

 

[pandora174]

What did it for us was staying at the POP. We definitely got the most bang for our buck ! 7 nights, 2 adults & 1 child with 7 ph tickets was $1332 ! So the Fl resident discount would be what $15 a day saving from rack rate ? I saved over $600 with the dining plan ! But if I went moderate I would have to spend an extra $475. Best best is the dining plan with a value to save the most.& heck the POP will be perfect for our 3 year old. He will love it !& we'll love teh extra cash for spending

 

[PortieOwner]

We went last year and I found it to be a great deal. WDW vacation including meals, at a moderate resort, with park hopper tickets, for about $1300 for a family of three (2 adults, one 2-year-old). We had a great time and the food was excellent and more than we could eat. WDW has improved their dining compared to previous trips.

Portie

 

[kath1210]

We are a family of 4 and both of my kids are over 10 years old. Therefore, the free dining saves us $152 per day. I do have an AP, but I doubt that even the deluxe resorts will offer that big of an AP discount. Plus, we love using the DDP. It is simply amazing to be able to eat almost anywhere you want and walk away without paying a penny.

We were going to cruise in August and do WDW at Christmas with the dining plan. This offer has caused us to switch the cruise to December and do the dining plan/WDW trip in August. We are still saving a LOT of money!

 

[Henlady]

DH & I are arriving 9/16 and departing 9/20 - 4 nights @ PO-R with free dining and 2 1 day park admissions = $757.

If we were not getting free dining and using an AAA room only discount the cost would be:

Room only @ PO-R $504.36 (20%discount off rack rate of $142, tax included)
8 counter svc meals @ $10 per person = $80
2 table service meals @ buffets @ $65 for 2 people per meal with tax and tip = $130
2 cheaper table service meals or off property meals $40 for 2 people = $80
8 snacks @ $2.50 each = $20
2 - 1 day park tickets = $126
Total @ Room only with out of pocket meals & tickets = $940.

With the free meal plan, we can eat whatever entree we want at whatever restaurant we want without worrying about end cost, and we are saving $147 minimum.

It made sense to me.


Kris

53 days till our "Favorite Restaurant Tour"
158 days till our Sept WDW visit.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I did the math for our party of 7. For 7 nights with free dining and 8 day MYW park hoppers (water parks plus included) AND travel insurance, we are paying $100 more per person than we would have paid for 2 rooms at the Poly with AAA discount plus equivalent park passes, but would have been on our own for food. Food is always a hefty chunk for us, because dining is a big part of our vacation. So the way I see it, we're feeding 7 people for 7 days at a cost of only $100 per person (for the week, not per day).

Perhaps the AP discounts will be better than AAA, but not THAT much better!

The bigger the party, the bigger the savings with free dining, regardless of where you stay.