Why won't Free Dining work for you?

[esmetutu]

I'm interested to know why you think Free Dining won't work for your stay.


I feel like the black sheep of the DisBoards! I just don't think I want FD offered during my stay in October. I'm totally on the fence, though. I crunched the numbers and I think we'd save a lot, but my gut feeling is that it wouldn't work as well for us as a room discount.

Being booked currently at POP we'd get QS which would not be a great savings for us. We have an 11 year old daughter who eats like a bird(kids' meals are too much!), and I'm a light eater myself, plus we don't eat desserts that often and need to have a "real" hot breakfast every morning (waste of a credit). Furthermore, I think FD makes getting ADRs a real pain. Also, I have some social anxiety and trying to figure out what would work on the DDP in terms of snacks, making mistakes in ordering, etc. I don't know! It just seems easier to pay OOP. I'm hoping for a nice room discount as we'd love to stay at POFQ again!

 

[Lindsayrg3]

Same for us. It's just Husband and I going, and after analyzing the Disney Dining Plan, we determined that it just wasn't right for us.

1. I am a very picky eater (no chicken, pork, etc.), and would usually rather have 1-2 appetizers for my actual meal than an entree.

2. I drink only water with meals, so the drinks would be a total waste on me.

3. As much as I LOVE all things dessert and sugar, 2 desserts/day is still too many!

4. I want to eat what I want, when I want, and not have stupid restrictions!

5. We don't have kids, so no character dining for us to help justify the use of the DDP.

Cheers!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

We have found that having TS ADRs can tie up your day. A person can't go on that ride, because they have to leave, and catch as bus to arrive early, for an ADR. A lot of time is involved. My family can also share meals, as some portions are large. And if a toppings bar is available . Dessert is something we would not get, as well. And when eating at a resort food court, the refillable mug is with each of us. Also, we always say, "we could go to Disney and not have to go to the parks." We occupy our time with a lot of nothing.

 

[esmetutu]

2. I drink only water with meals, so the drinks would be a total waste on me.
3. As much as I LOVE all things dessert and sugar, 2 desserts/day is still too many!

I forgot about the extra drinks! We only rarely get one drink(and it has to be diet, caffeine-free) with our meal to share, so that's another "tick" on the con side.

I'm with you about dessert. I have such a sweet tooth, but have never ever gotten a dessert at QS/CS before. Rather use a snack credit for something more "special". I know you can get fruit instead of dessert but that won't stay fresh for very long.

My family can also share meals, as some portions are large. And if a toppings bar is available .

Also, we always say, "we could go to Disney and not have to go to the parks." We occupy our time with a lot of nothing.

I'm really looking forward to the Pecos Bill's toppings bar!

We often go to Disneyland and do a lot of "nothing" too!

 

[TCups4Me]

I couldn't agree with you more. We did the DDP once and really didn't like it - and this was when it truly was a deal with apps and tips included. We can eat cheaper oop, and the trip is so much cheaper because we use room discounts. It doesn't fit the way we vacation or eat. I can't imagine paying rack rate and thinking I'm getting a deal because of free dining.

And to add more fuel to the fire, I'm convinced the food quality has gone down since the dining plan became so popular. We were pretty disappointed about some of our options on our last trip. I think the overall restaurant/dining experience was much better before the free dining madness.

But it will never go away because people will continue to think they are getting a deal. And some people are. So we ignore the free dining discounts and covet the room only discount pins. And we've lowered our dining expectations.

 

[Lindsayrg3]

I couldn't agree with you more. We did the DDP once and really didn't like it - and this was when it truly was a deal with apps and tips included. We can eat cheaper oop, and the trip is so much cheaper because we use room discounts. It doesn't fit the way we vacation or eat. I can't imagine paying rack rate and thinking I'm getting a deal because of free dining.

Amen! I'm going to sit back and watch everyone else stress over Free Dining while I wait for my 40% room code!

 

[Timon71]

Agree with you guys! If you do the math.....a 40% discount and paying for the dining SAVES you more money then the "FREE DINING". I feel everyone just looks at it as FREE just sounds better, which means a better deal. NOW, before anyone jumps on me......YES FREE DINING at values, where discount is typically 25% is a better deal and if the FD is TS dining plan at moderates(30-35%). The FD is a better deal.
Just my two cents again!!

 

[poohfriend]

have a friend who was booked under a 40% off code and had the dining plan. then she got another PIN for free dining. With 2 kids over 10 and 2 adults, she saved $200 more with the free dining on a 6-night trip.

so if you like dining, it CAN be a fabulous deal.

 

[ColoradoK]

We don't eat dessert every day let alone TWICE a day. We usually drink water with all our meals as well...our boys too. We most definitely could and would eat cheaper paying OOP.

BUT...

I still hope for Free Dining because, even though I could DEFINITELY eat cheaper out of pocket, I like the idea of having it paid for in advance and hubby can't be all, "You want to do FOUR character meals?" or I can order something special for dinner, without looking at the price, instead of trying to find something cheaper. Or we'll have two kids meals for our 3 to share instead of buying 1 for all 3 like we do when we go out here at home.

I don't know that I'd opt for Free Dining vs. a room discount EVERY time but it's going to be our first trip as a family and I like that it will feel more magical TO US having paid for it all and feeling like we can splurge on an already paid for snack (we never did when we went to Disneyland). We've been saving up for this big WDW vacation and paying rack rate for a room while hoping for FD is going to be part of it for us.

But...it's not even been offered yet and we might pay for the dining anyway. We shall see.

 

[dskib]

It's not for everyone. That's it. We did it last year for the first time, and for the most part, it was great. The TS dinners did suck up a bit of park time, so we learned that next time, we'll use 1 on arrival night, 2 for character breakfasts in the parks prior to park opening, and the last 2 in the parks.

My MIL is taking all of us in the fall, and we felt that including the dining plan would just be easier. Desserts or not, the meals we pick are expensive ones, and the plan saves us money. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE having everything paid for in advance.

Deb

 

[TCups4Me]

I think that people sometimes forget that you are not necessarily going to save money with the dining plan vs paying oop. Yes, if you compare what disney charges for the ddp vs a room discount on a particular package, then the free dining discount may appear cheaper.

BUT, you also have to compare what you would spend without the dining plan altogether. The ddp is expensive so it is always wise to consider how you would eat if it were not in the equation at all. Would you be ordering soda with meals, getting dessert, doing character dining, etc.? It all depends on the priorities of the traveler. I'd much rather spend my dime on a nice room than a ho-hum buffet with Mickey. Again, it depends on the traveler's priorities.

 

[always]

I will book with my free dining pin by the end of April if nothing is offered for late July/early August but it is the smallest discount for my sister and me. Room discounts are better for 2 people staying deluxe. We pay for the dining plan if we get a room discount however.

I've already made my ADRs.

 

[Colleen27]

The numbers work for us, but DD9 would like to do a YES program this trip and if we register her for that we won't be getting tickets through Disney so the room only might work better.

For my family - 5 of us and only one still a Disney child -there really isn't any better discount unless we're looking at VERY expensive room categories (club level or villas). Even a 40% off code would have to be applied to a room rate of more than $490 per night to be a better dollar-for-dollar savings than free dining. And saving money on food by hauling our own drinks/snacks, sharing meals, and eating only quick-service just isn't our vacation style. But sometimes the specifics of a trip make booking a package less desirable and in that case free dining is no help at all.

 

[esmetutu]

YES FREE DINING at values, where discount is typically 25% is a better deal and if the FD is TS dining plan at moderates(30-35%). The FD is a better deal.
Just my two cents again!!

That's where I'm on the fence... Because we can only consider, due to budget, staying at the values and moderates, the FD *does* sound like the better deal. And I guess it truly is! But when I think of how we like to eat, it just doesn't seem like the right thing for us.

 

[FosterA]

Although I think it would be cool to have the dining plan so you can feel like everything is already paid for and order what you want, it really isn't a good financial choice for us. We haven't been to WDW before as a family but I'm planning a trip for November. We wont do the plan and luckily I did get a bounceback offer when I went w/ a friend to do Princess Marathon in Feb. If I didn't get the bounceback (40% off at Poly), I'd take free dining if that was all that was available but I WOULD NOT buy the dining pkg.
When we go, kids will be 11 and 14 and both eat like little birds and the youngest would pick chicken nuggets all day long so I just don't think it would pay for itself. I also think I would tend to get obsessive over it trying to get the most bang for my buck instead of just ordering what I want! I'd probably order the biggest most expensive thing on the menu even though deep down I really just wanted a grilled cheese sandwich! Thirdly, I really don't like having to deal w/ so many table service meals on a trip. We are going 7 nights in Nov, and I think I just want to book maybe 3-4 table meals because they seem like such time wasters. We're all about the attractions versus the meal planning, I just want to pop in to a counter place and grab something and go! When I went in Feb, I felt like there were plenty of variety w/ the counter food, maybe I'm weird though??

 

[esmetutu]

I still hope for Free Dining because, even though I could DEFINITELY eat cheaper out of pocket, I like the idea of having it paid for in advance and hubby can't be all, "You want to do FOUR character meals?" or I can order something special for dinner, without looking at the price, instead of trying to find something cheaper. Or we'll have two kids meals for our 3 to share instead of buying 1 for all 3 like we do when we go out here at home.

I like your thinking on that, though! It's a vacation and the FD allows you to splurge a bit.

 

[g3pak]

FD works for our family- I have run the numbers several times. We do a LOT of character meals (a sacrifice we make for our DD's) and one DD is 10 so she is adult price. We stay Value because we spend as much time as possible at the parks. For us the TS restaurants are a big part of the WDW experience so we upgrade the FD QS plan. I ask my family "which TS restaurant would you give up?" and they always say "we want to keep doing them all!"

I had not thought of it until reading some of the other posts, but knowing my personality I can see myself thinking or saying "we can't go there because it costs $$$" or "you can't order that because of the money" or "can't the 3 of you share a meal?" It may be a really nice blessing to my family to do the DDP so it is paid for in advance. Otherwise I may ruin the vacation- lol

 

[happymomof1]

I definately think that it depends on how many are in your party and of any other discounts are being offered.
A family of 5 can spend more on food than they will on a value or moderate room . It just depends on who's going and their particular situation. I looove a 40%off code more than I do a free dining code, but that's what works best for us. Everyones different!

 

[happymomof1]

I definately think that it depends on how many are in your party and of any other discounts are being offered.
A family of 5 can spend more on food than they will on a value or moderate room . It just depends on who's going and their particular situation. I looove a 40%off code more than I do a free dining code, but that's what works best for us. Everyones different!

 

[dhardawa]

I'm really torn. I have a reservation in November at POP that I was able to use a 35% PIN for. On average, it is saving me about $40 per day. If my daughter and I go, we can eat for less than $40 a day at QS (what we'd get with free dining). If my daughter, son, and I go, I will be better off with the dining plan. My problem is, I don't know if I'm taking my son or not. He was pretty bad when we went in February and I would love to spend some one on one time with my daughter. We never get to do that.