Promotions for... Christmas?

Tom P.

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So first, Disney releases a free dining offer that runs up until two days before Christmas. Which means that you could be there for Christmas/New Year's and get free dining for all of it.

Then today, I see that Disney has released a promotional package specifically targeted at getting people to stay for Christmas itself:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/ultimate-christmas-package/

Two promotions for what is typically the busiest time of the year at Walt Disney World? Are bookings this year really that bad? Is Disney so worried that they think they are going to have trouble filling resort rooms during Christmas week?!?
 

BoarderPhreak

Well-Known Member
Things have been... Slow at the parks. Disney's trying to hedge their bet against a soft SWGE opening and greater holiday period. Especially so it doesn't look like the former is a dud (as it appears to be in Cali so far). Airfare is also set to rise due to most American airlines having Boeing 737 Max planes grounded (less seats = higher prices). None more so than Southwest.
 

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
So first, Disney releases a free dining offer that runs up until two days before Christmas. Which means that you could be there for Christmas/New Year's and get free dining for all of it.

Then today, I see that Disney has released a promotional package specifically targeted at getting people to stay for Christmas itself:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/ultimate-christmas-package/

Two promotions for what is typically the busiest time of the year at Walt Disney World? Are bookings this year really that bad? Is Disney so worried that they think they are going to have trouble filling resort rooms during Christmas week?!?

The Chrismas Package actually is nothing new. Couldn't find the articles on wdwmagic, but here is a posting from 2017 -> https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/disney-vacations/disney-world-ultimate-christmas-package and one from 2018 here -> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-years-ultimate-disney-christmastime-package/ so it's nothing new. The only difference being those were announced in Oct, this time around it's July.
 

_ZJ

Active Member
Most promotions give the illusion of a discount, but don't really save much if any money. Haven't priced it in years, but free dining used to be the same way. Yes, free dining credits, but you pay full rack rate for the room. So were you really saving money? Or did you just feel like you got a deal?
 

Tom P.

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Most promotions give the illusion of a discount, but don't really save much if any money. Haven't priced it in years, but free dining used to be the same way. Yes, free dining credits, but you pay full rack rate for the room. So were you really saving money? Or did you just feel like you got a deal?
Free dining definitely can be a savings, but it's not always. For us, we are a family of seven and we typically stay at value resorts. We have stayed moderate before, but never deluxe. At the rates we pay for the room, a 10% or 15% discount (typical for value resorts) is worth a lot less than getting the dining plan for free. We've run the numbers and we typically save a couple thousand dollars due to free dining. It's definitely worth it for us.
 

ImperfectPixie

Well-Known Member
Free dining definitely can be a savings, but it's not always. For us, we are a family of seven and we typically stay at value resorts. We have stayed moderate before, but never deluxe. At the rates we pay for the room, a 10% or 15% discount (typical for value resorts) is worth a lot less than getting the dining plan for free. We've run the numbers and we typically save a couple thousand dollars due to free dining. It's definitely worth it for us.
We usually save a bundle with free dining, too.
 

wendysue

Well-Known Member
Most promotions give the illusion of a discount, but don't really save much if any money. Haven't priced it in years, but free dining used to be the same way. Yes, free dining credits, but you pay full rack rate for the room. So were you really saving money? Or did you just feel like you got a deal?

Definitely no real discount, but for most people, all you have to mention is the word "free"
 

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