Free Dining (and the Disney Dining Plan, Generally) Not the Best Deal?

WDWFigment

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
I know people get really excited about the "Free" Dining promotions, but I've done a lot of number-crunching, and it isn't always the best deal. I think people tend to forget that it's not really free (thus the quotation marks above), since you have to pay rack rate on a room that you could otherwise get discounted. Thus, instead, it's an alternative discount. A lot of the times, it is a better discount than one of the other deals you could get, but it's worth doing the math.

You can read more about this, plus my (slightly unfavorable) review of the DDP here:

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/free-dining-plan-2011-2012-cost-reviews-disney-world/
 
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Korfar

Korfar

Active Member
Maybe for 1 or 2 people and depending on where you stay a room discount might be better. For us it isn't. A family of 4 paying cash for all the places we eat at on the DDP would run us close to $2,000 for 10 days. A room discount at a moderate is about $400-$500 for 10 days. The free dining is certainly a better deal for us. Even if we didn't have all the table service and paid cash for quick service still looking at about $1,200 for 10 days. I know some people will come on here and say the free dining is the worst deal you can get but I disagree as my number crunching shows otherwise.
 
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WDWmazprty

WDWmazprty

Well-Known Member
Korfar said:
Maybe for 1 or 2 people and depending on where you stay a room discount might be better. For us it isn't. A family of 4 paying cash for all the places we eat at on the DDP would run us close to $2,000 for 10 days. A room discount at a moderate is about $400-$500 for 10 days. The free dining is certainly a better deal for us. Even if we didn't have all the table service and paid cash for quick service still looking at about $1,200 for 10 days. I know some people will come on here and say the free dining is the worst deal you can get but I disagree as my number crunching shows otherwise.
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Ditto! Its different for everyone; whether it's really 'free' or not, it's a deal that works for US. So, we'll keep doing it until it isn't a good deal.
 
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WDWFigment

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
^^As I said in my first post, "it isn't always the best deal."

I'm just stating this because a lot of people get worked up over "free" dining thinking it's the end-all be-all of discounts for everyone, but it's not. For a lot of people, it's the best discount by far, but not for everyone.

It's not just based on party and room size, either. It's based on dining habits. If you're content splitting two counter service meals per day with your spouse, and the Standard DDP would be way too much food for you, you should valuate the DDP based on what it's worth to you, not how Disney valuates it.

I do understand and agree with your points, though!

(By contrast, it's not a good deal for my wife and I, as we have to gorge ourselves on the plan, and we can do better with a 40% off room-only discount.)
 
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WDWmazprty

WDWmazprty

Well-Known Member
WDWFigment said:
^^As I said in my first post, "it isn't always the best deal."

I'm just stating this because a lot of people get worked up over "free" dining thinking it's the end-all be-all of discounts for everyone, but it's not. For a lot of people, it's the best discount by far, but not for everyone.

It's not just based on party and room size, either. It's based on dining habits. If you're content splitting two counter service meals per day with your spouse, and the Standard DDP would be way too much food for you, you should valuate the DDP based on what it's worth to you, not how Disney valuates it.

I do understand and agree with your points, though!

(By contrast, it's not a good deal for my wife and I, as we have to gorge ourselves on the plan, and we can do better with a 40% off room-only discount.)
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Yup, I agree with you too. If it was just me and my wife, we probably wouldn't get it (even though I still would be able to eat all the food, my wife wouldn't :lol:)
 
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durangojim

durangojim

Well-Known Member
I am way more excited about the AP rates that were just released. I just booked 5 nights in a garden view room at the Poly in Oct/Nov and the total is $1410! That's a killer rate!
 
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mickeysshoes

mickeysshoes

Well-Known Member
Our trip coming in 15 days..we started our booking a year ago on free dining and upgraded to deluxe and in Jan. they can out with 40% off rack rate. We are staying at the Boardwalk Inn and the 40% off saved me over $400 total on our 2 rooms. So what i would say if your family with kids (we have 2 teenage DD) you have to take what is offered at the time of booking and then keep an eye out for promos to change. One call to Disney or your travel agant and they will be able to help you figure out what is better for you.
 
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Korfar

Korfar

Active Member
WDWFigment said:
^^As I said in my first post, "it isn't always the best deal."

I'm just stating this because a lot of people get worked up over "free" dining thinking it's the end-all be-all of discounts for everyone, but it's not. For a lot of people, it's the best discount by far, but not for everyone.

It's not just based on party and room size, either. It's based on dining habits. If you're content splitting two counter service meals per day with your spouse, and the Standard DDP would be way too much food for you, you should valuate the DDP based on what it's worth to you, not how Disney valuates it.

I do understand and agree with your points, though!

(By contrast, it's not a good deal for my wife and I, as we have to gorge ourselves on the plan, and we can do better with a 40% off room-only discount.)
Click to expand...

Thats a good point about eating habits. The normal DDP works out great for us since it fits our normal habits. If you are a light eater than the DDP probably isn't a good option.
 
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docdebbi

docdebbi

Well-Known Member
i agree with you figment. you need to calculate in that a package, with "free" dining, costs more than the price of a room (even full rack rate) and tickets would cost alone. so you are paying for the extras that come in a package, like extra half hour boat rental, memories book, mini-golf, all the things i don't use and wouldn't pay for separately.
if i use my annual passholder discount and get 35 or so percent off the room and then use the table in wonderland card for 20% off all food and beverage, (and an appetizer and a cocktail and wine with dinner are not included with ddp so you pay full price, while it is 20% off with card), i save more using these.
it is indeed individual, but i spent hours calculating this out the first time using all the menus on allears and knowing what we tend to eat. for us it is indeed not the be all end all of deals
 
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Buzz2001

Buzz2001

Well-Known Member
WDWFigment said:
I know people get really excited about the "Free" Dining promotions, but I've done a lot of number-crunching, and it isn't always the best deal. I think people tend to forget that it's not really free (thus the quotation marks above), since you have to pay rack rate on a room that you could otherwise get discounted. Thus, instead, it's an alternative discount. A lot of the times, it is a better discount than one of the other deals you could get, but it's worth doing the math.

You can read more about this, plus my (slightly unfavorable) review of the DDP here:

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/free-dining-plan-2011-2012-cost-reviews-disney-world/
Click to expand...
I agree. Unless you are staying at a value, it really doesn't work out for everyone. And I still believe that the DDP killed Disney restaurants. Watered down menus to allow for free dining.
 
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Lisalyn

Lisalyn

Well-Known Member
Earlier in the year I had the option of FD or a 35% pin off my mod room. I took the room discount. I have found the FD doesn't help anyone unless it's a family of 4 or over as mentioned above.
 
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powlessfamily4

powlessfamily4

Well-Known Member
If it were just my husband and myself I wouldn't never take the free dining. The room discount would be better;however, we have our college age children, DD (22) and DS( 20) traveling with us. (son eats us out of house and home) The free dining works for us because he eats all of his and then whatever else the rest of the family doesn't use.

It is definitely a case by case situation.


Edit: Leftover meal and snack credits at the end of the trip could be $$$ back in your pocket instead of goofy candy in your suitcase.
 
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diddy_mouse

diddy_mouse

Well-Known Member
I completely agree with the fact that eating habits determine if it's a good idea. My husband and I like the sit-down meals and feel that the plan gives us our money's worth. We used it for the first time in '07 and it worked out great for us. I crunched the numbers and it looks like we'll be using it again this year. :D
 
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Korfar

Korfar

Active Member
powlessfamily4 said:
If it were just my husband and myself I wouldn't never take the free dining. The room discount would be better;however, we have our college age children, DD (22) and DS( 20) traveling with us. (son eats us out of house and home) The free dining works for us because he eats all of his and then whatever else the rest of the family doesn't use.

It is definitely a case by case situation.


Edit: Leftover meal and snack credits at the end of the trip could be $$$ back in your pocket instead of goofy candy in your suitcase.
Click to expand...

But the Goofy candy is so yummy! :slurp:

As for the people mentioning the AP discounts. Not every buys an AP so that won't apply to everyone. Maybe someday I will live close enough to make it worth it then try the TIW discount.
 
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D

DisneyDebNJ

Well-Known Member
Anything *free* at Disney or any other vacation, works for me. If the room isn't discounted, (which in our case this year isn't) I'll take anything I can get :ROFLOL:
 
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BigRedDad

BigRedDad

Well-Known Member
I completely agree. I would never purchase a DDP. The only reason I have it this trip is because it is "free" and there are no other discounts available.
 
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