Based on WDW offering three different discounts for the same time period, mid-August to the end of September, IMO room bookings are way down for that time period. Opening "Free Dining" to AP holders whenever it is offered at all would result in a large increase in bookings and thus more $ for The Mouse.
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Why no "Free Dining" for AP Holders
- Thread starter Becky
- Start date
They do not do it because they will loose money. When you get free dining you are paying rack rate for a room and full price for tickets. Disney will still make a profit from that scenario. Remove the tickets from that equation and they start to loose money especially at the value resorts.
They have offerred free dining for AP holders at least once in the past, but I wouldn't expect it again for the reasons Yoda cites.
But if you have an AP and want free dining, just book a package with the least number of days tickets allowable (usually 2), and then save the tickets to apply towards your AP renewal or a future visit.
But if you have an AP and want free dining, just book a package with the least number of days tickets allowable (usually 2), and then save the tickets to apply towards your AP renewal or a future visit.
It all depends how many people and what kind of room. When I stayed in December, we got free food for 4 adults, vs. an available discount of about $80/day at a moderate if we didn't book the package.
mickeysshoes
Well-Known Member
I had book with the free dining back in August 2010 when it first came out for this August (3rd year in a row) and then a couple of months ago when they 40% off rack room rate came out I called and keeping my pcakge exactly the same it was a $400 saving to pay for the dining and get the 40% our Deluxe resort. Now mind you i have 2 rooms so it was really a $200 savings per reservation. It was a no brainer for us.
But the AP is twice the cost of a MYW ticket and as "Free Dining" has only been offered twice a year WDW should not lose any more money than with "Free Dining" for the General Public.
As for applying the ticket price to the AP renewal that per Disney's own site says it is not guaranteed to continue.
Clever Name
Well-Known Member
"Free Dining" is not free. It is a very expensive prepaid food plan. Also, it has caused a problem for all dining venues in WDW. The portions have gotten much smaller and the menu selection has shrunk as well.
If the AP offered only twice the days of your ticket then there would be some validity to that line of reasoning but it offers 356 days worth of admission, not to mention free parking, dining discounts, merchandising discounts, etc. Also the question comes back to why should they offer it? They already have your money for the AP. What would be the incentive for them do do this? Disney is not going to loose money to get you to come to the park.
4everDory
New Member
Why do you say "free dining" isn't free? When I book my package w/ "free dining," it costs the same thing as a package w/ no dining plan added. It's a special discount package that is only offered at certain times. At any other times, you do prepay for your food. It's a good deal only if you work it the right way and use all of the meals and snacks and use them well.
cowanfamily
Well-Known Member
Here We Go Again! I'm suprised it lasted until the 9th post.
Dining isn't free, we all pay for it some way or the other! I know it didn't cost me a dime my last 2 trips.
People beg for discounts, then get mad when they are offered. If you don't like free dining, turn it down.
I don't see that happening anytime soon.
On the practical side, every time "free dining" has been offered, there has also been a room discount offered at the same time. But you either get the room discount OR the free dining, not both. So you really are paying something for the free dining by forgoing the room discount.
I think Clever Name was really complaining about the fact that during Free Dining periods, it's hard to get a dining reservation, and that many beliee that because of the dining plan and free dining periods, the quality of food at WDW has declined.
The first paragraph above is definitely true. The second is certainly a popular view. I myself have not experienced significantly more difficulty getting dining ressies during Free Dining than at other periods, and I find the quality of the food still be pretty good, although certain establishments appear to me to have declined in quality while others seem to have actually improved.
Hakunamatata
Le Meh
The main reason they don't offer free dining to AP holders is that Disney knows you are pre disposed to come back without prompting or you would not have bought the AP.
Clever Name
Well-Known Member
Note that "package" is the key term. The package deals have inflation factors of various amounts. The bottom line is that you end up paying full price for options that you could otherwise get at significant discounts dependant upon your eligibility.
AEfx
Well-Known Member
'cause Free Dining is to entice people who wouldn't be coming but will come for free food their whole stay. AP's are already captured customers, hence the less availability of things like this.
However, I don't know if they will let you do it anymore, but people used to just downgrade to a 1-day ticket - and some even could get a hard copy of the ticket (not just on their key) so they could use it later. Even if you are out the cost of a 1-day ticket, you still make out on free dining.
But again, I don't know if that's possible anymore.
However, I don't know if they will let you do it anymore, but people used to just downgrade to a 1-day ticket - and some even could get a hard copy of the ticket (not just on their key) so they could use it later. Even if you are out the cost of a 1-day ticket, you still make out on free dining.
But again, I don't know if that's possible anymore.
This. Free Dining is a marketing strategy to lure first-time and not-so-frequent visitors to the resort. Passholders generally know how many times they plan on going when they get their AP (or have an vague notion of such).
