Why won't Free Dining work for you?

[StuckInKS]

Free Dining does not work for us this time because we are doing a split stay and because of kids free. Our first 3 days, 3 free kids tickets works out to be a better deal. Our last 4 days, we would have to by 2A/3C 2-day tix + lose our 40% off CR to get free dining.

 

[dskib]

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.

First of all, your kids are adorable . I can't imagine that little face being bad.

As for the topic, it really depends on the room and what you want. I'd NEVER do a bunch of expensive meals if i had to hand over cash. I can do it, though, if it's already been paid for - whether the value is there or not. All in my head for sure, but it is what it is. We usually only stay 5 or 6 nights. If we stayed longer, we'd definitely try some of the 2 credit signature meals to use up those TS credits.

I can see where the room only discount would be good if we stayed deluxe, but we don't. And usually, the room only discount on a value is not 40

This year we're getting 3 Moderate rooms, so I'll take either!! Sadly, my Oct week has been blacked out of everything so far

Deb

 

[disnee4life]

I got a pin last year for 40% off. Will I get it again this year??

 

[Celidh]

For us, the fd is better than a room discount. Feeding a family of 5 at Disney for 10 or 11 days isn't cheap. We are staying at a value so we would only get a 20 or 25% discount, which with 2 rooms is only 400 or 500 dollars. 2 of my three kids are classed as adults and although the three of them are skinny as rails, they all can eat like a horse when they want to.

Now, if I was paying oop, we probably wouldn't get dessert but since it is included, we will get it. That said, I don't believe in eating something (dessert) I don't want just because it is included.

Anyway, it's late and I'm rambling. FD is better for us, about $1,500 better!

 

[pigletto]

Free dining doesn't work for us this time. If we do a package and stay at a mod.. sure.. it's the best discount going for our family.
However.. I got tickets at almost half the price , I booked with a room only code and I was coming in 1200 dollars under free dining for the same thing. I am pretty sure we can eat for 1200 dollars.. we don't do signatures, we eat light and aren't huge dessert fans anyway.

Then I got the idea to rent points.. and if I do I am staying DVC in a studio and still for 1000 less than I was going to pay at POR with free dining.


So in my case.. it's a no brainer.

 

[2girlsR2good]

FD doesn't work for me because we are all picky eaters. Really picky. My daughters are likely to split a single order of mac and cheese, then an hour later eat trail mix and a banana. We have to carry food with us, because hunger strikes at inconvenient times. The upside is that a well-stocked snack bag means we don't have to spend time buying/eating food unless it is because mom demands the break of a sit-down meal.

 

[esmetutu]

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.

As a fellow mom of an 11 year old daughter, I'd highly recommend a girls only trip! They grow up so fast from here on out; taking the time now will be so meaningful for the both of you! Your son is young enough that he won't even remember you guys going away without him. He doesn't like to be bad and can't help it because of his age. WDW is probably just too much for him (it is even for my 65 year old mom!). Wait a few years to take him again, but definitely take your daughter!

 

[shellcruiser]

We got the free dining pin for the time we will be there, but we are camping this trip so it does not apply. We considered FD and staying at POP, but really want to use Fort Wilderness (and take our dog). Looking for a room discount PIN - hoping, waiting...

 

[janiejake]

Now you've really got me thinking. The DDP has always intrigued me, but never wanted to spend the $$. Next trip will just be DH and me, so will really have to start playing with numbers. We generally do a few TS meals each trip, but certainly not every day. Don't think I'd care to. Have never paid rack, so not sure I could stand to pay that, even if FD were an option. We've always stayed moderate. Hmmm.

 

[Ziggy]

To me its too much organizing, I don't know what I'm having to eat tonight let alone in 6 months. If I eat in a park I feel I'm wasting time when I could be on the rides. My daughter is a very fussy eater and when we've done it in the past has only ate salad. That said with the free dining we have the opportunity to eat at places I would not have considered because I'd be worried about the cost or my family not liking the food. Given the choice though between free dining and a 40% room discount I'd go for the room discount.

 

[aubriee]

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!!

Not necessarily. For solo travelers like me the AP room discounts are a much better deal than FD at the moderates. As an AP holder I can still buy the DDP without having to buy those stupid two day park tickets that the FD deal requires you to buy. Between the 35% off and not having to pay over $170.00 for park tickets I don't need, the AP discount easily beats FD for me.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

It worked for us for our December trip. However, the standard was still the regular plan for moderates, and we also decided that we really don't like quick service meals. We really prefer to pre-pay for meals so that we don't have to worry about meal costs during the trip. All that considered, if free dining is offered during our next trip, we would probably still decline in favor of the room discount and purchase the DxDDP.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Our first trip we were lucky to get FD. We stayed at a value and I feel we really got our money's worth. It was nice to get all those dining experiences in. We went during value season and even with rack rate and upgrading, it was $115 incl. tax per night for our room and dining!

However, next trip we are planning on a Mod and not at value season. Now that they seem to be offering QS only with the Mods as well, it would be an extra $30/nt on top of rack rate to upgrade to Regular Dining Plan. Also, as first timers we were pretty commando - next trip we'd like to hang out at the pool a bit more, maybe do a TS every 2nd day.

Also, my kids would like to do a YES program.

So in that scenario, a room discount would work better as we would be getting a discount on the tickets. (Or renting DVC points, which is what I'd like to do!)

 

[jeni16]

For DH & I, the 40% off is a much better deal. We did the dining plan the last couple of years & like it for it's convenience but it actually costs us more than if we paid out of pocket. We definately don't need or even eat all of the desserts & I find myself ordering something more expensive than what I want to make it pay for itself. This year we're just going to put money on a gift card & use that instead. I'm going to like the option of being able to order whatever I want & eat wherever I want.

 

[5boyz]

For us oop is cheaper, but....this year I was paying rack rate in July as only decided in Jan to go again so missed all the deals expiring Dec 2010. I got free dining so it was cheaper for me because now I dont have to pay for the food I was going to have to pay for w/o fd. We dont eat desserts but lots of times we give packaged items and yogurts to tables around us or just dont take the dessert at all. I would take drinks to the park but now I dont have to lug them ..... lol! We stay at POP as that is Disney to my kids... and I am good with that.

 

[bluejasmine]

We find that the room only discount works so much better for us since we stay CL at deluxe.. We do plan on going value when we take DH, DS since it will be his first WDW trip and we think he would enjoy ASmu or the new Art of Anmation and QS will be just fine for the three of us then so that we can have more park time..

 

[DisneyCher]

We liked it (we had the DDP with one CS, one TS and snacks), but we didn't feel compelled to clean our plates at each meal. In fact, DH, who is diabetic, routinely left the bread/starch on his plate and only ate the meat and veggies. Also, we found that as we are getting older, we really needed a break from walking around and sit down meals [non buffet] did the trick. We are not drinkers and will pick either dessert or an appetizer, so that worked for us.

 

[bjscheel]

Sure I'll take FD if I am not getting another discount. We like handing over the card and getting all this free food. I was feeling kind of left out when the FD pins went out and I was overlooked. But, I have a room discount, and the way we want to eat, we wouldn't be using the dining plan very efficiently. We will eat breakfast in the room (the faster to get to rope drop), QS most of the time, and 2-3 TS over 6 night stay. There is no dining plan that fits that! We do prefer the QS plan if we get a plan- an ADR every day is too much schedule.

So, I got over my disappointment and bought some Disney gift cards. We can still just hand over a card to pay, and we can order whatever we want.

After this year I won't even consider paying for dining plan when younger DD is over 10. She will not get her money's worth out of an adult plan. Now we went when older DD was 10 and she was thrilled to order the grown up food. DD9 on the other hand is happy with uncrustables and grapes.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Just depends on what you want. We're booked with a 35% off pin and DDP so if FD was offered, even QS at the moderate, the price would still be lower and lower is lower! I'll save every $$ I can! Can't wait to see what the new offer is, hoping it will save us some more whatever it is.

 

[LisaTC]

I look at FD maybe differently than some, I look at it as much of a convenience if you eat like the plan as a savings. We don't eat the plan. We don't do dessert, my DD7 would tire of the kids menu after 2 days. Some days on vacation we only eat 1x/day with some snacks in between. We don't eat a big breakfast, especially prior to going on rides (could go horribly wrong! ) Now we are doing 1 character breakfast and that's it. If we were doing more, the DxDP would be awesome, however, we'd probably waste a lot of meals.