Free dining in the fall?

Will you take advantage of free dining this year?

  • Yes

    Votes: 68 68.7%

  • No

    Votes: 31 31.3%
  • Total voters
    99
  • Poll closed .
Madonna3 said:
I love the attitude "don't like it, don't go". So because I don't like something I shouldn't voice my opinion? I mean, is that how this country was founded? People didn't like the taxation without representation, so they "just didn't go?" Absolutely not. And I refuse to sit down and go idly by. I am a DVC owner, I am a shareholder, I am loyal fan base so when I don't like something I am going to voice it all I want. I just refuse to be disillusioned.

And I'm still going to go. Probably.

I sincerely wonder, what will you all do when Disney stops offering "free" dining. Are you all not going to go? Doubt it.

I don't understand how you "save" on anything that's overpriced to begin with.

We have TiW. It "saves" us 20% off our bill. But in reality, no it doesn't it just pays our tip for us on the steak we just paid $128.00 for. And I paid $100 for the privilege. However, we eat enough overpriced meals at Disney every year that this actually works out for us that we don't have to tip on inflated prices.

But I'm a sucker for Disney and Disney restaurants and AMEX knows it and they love me for it.
Click to expand...

It's excuses for disney...which they neither need or are warranted.

Ok...I say this all the time so I'm harping...but the dining plan corresponded with a 100% increase in the table service restaurant prices...

So the dining prices went astronomical overnight...then the dining plan...then the "free dining"

All the while the ticket prices went from $65 a day to an average of about $110-115...and while hotel prices went up conservatively 30-40%...

These things are working together...they don't fumble around with pricing...

Please realize the backstory before making the shoulder shrug excuse.
 
Last edited:
Madonna3 said:
I love the attitude "don't like it, don't go". So because I don't like something I shouldn't voice my opinion? I mean, is that how this country was founded? People didn't like the taxation without representation, so they "just didn't go?" Absolutely not. And I refuse to sit down and go idly by. I am a DVC owner, I am a shareholder, I am loyal fan base so when I don't like something I am going to voice it all I want. I just refuse to be disillusioned.

And I'm still going to go. Probably.

I sincerely wonder, what will you all do when Disney stops offering "free" dining. Are you all not going to go? Doubt it.

I don't understand how you "save" on anything that's overpriced to begin with.

We have TiW. It "saves" us 20% off our bill. But in reality, no it doesn't it just pays our tip for us on the steak we just paid $128.00 for. And I paid $100 for the privilege. However, we eat enough overpriced meals at Disney every year that this actually works out for us that we don't have to tip on inflated prices.

But I'm a sucker for Disney and Disney restaurants and AMEX knows it and they love me for it.
Click to expand...


So you have your DVC, your AP and your TiW. It sounds like you're all set. Why do you even care if someone gets free dining?

Disney isn't going to all of a sudden bring back better food and lower prices even if they did stop offering free dining.
 
I am one that has always taken advantage of the Free Dining Deal, just because it always was the better deal for my family. We stay Value, do not Park Hop, and the last time we went, our oldest was 7 and youngest was 2. This year however, one will be 9 & the other 4. They both pay to get in, and both are entitled to dining credits (if we choose FD), with the addition of having to add the Park Hopper option to our tickets, we now have to see what deal is better for us.

I had originally booked Sports for 9 nights in September (9/14-9/23). This morning, I logged on and booked a room at Pop with the "Free Dining". I was also able to add the room discount on my Sports reservation. This time with having to add Park Hopper options....I noticed that my difference between 9 nights for 2 adults, 2 kids at Pop with Free dining VS Sports with the room discount is $826. Now I have to figure out which deal works out best for us. If we spend more than $826 on food, then "Free Dining" will be better. We have two breakfast reservations at Be Our Guest - so that alone is about $150. At this point, having the dining plan is so convenient for us. Anyone else in the same situation? What are you choosing?
 


EnchantedRoses said:
I am one that has always taken advantage of the Free Dining Deal, just because it always was the better deal for my family. We stay Value, do not Park Hop, and the last time we went, our oldest was 7 and youngest was 2. This year however, one will be 9 & the other 4. They both pay to get in, and both are entitled to dining credits (if we choose FD), with the addition of having to add the Park Hopper option to our tickets, we now have to see what deal is better for us.

I had originally booked Sports for 9 nights in September (9/14-9/23). This morning, I logged on and booked a room at Pop with the "Free Dining". I was also able to add the room discount on my Sports reservation. This time with having to add Park Hopper options....I noticed that my difference between 9 nights for 2 adults, 2 kids at Pop with Free dining VS Sports with the room discount is $826. Now I have to figure out which deal works out best for us. If we spend more than $826 on food, then "Free Dining" will be better. We have two breakfast reservations at Be Our Guest - so that alone is about $150. At this point, having the dining plan is so convenient for us. Anyone else in the same situation? What are you choosing?
Click to expand...
Someone on another thread suggested buying less days on your tickets, then "upgrading" your shorter park hopper package tickets into longer base (non hopping) tickets. A CM poster chimed in and said that shouldn't be a problem as long as the total price goes up. The down side would be that you can't schedule FPs for those extra days until you add them upon arrival.
 
EnchantedRoses said:
I am one that has always taken advantage of the Free Dining Deal, just because it always was the better deal for my family. We stay Value, do not Park Hop, and the last time we went, our oldest was 7 and youngest was 2. This year however, one will be 9 & the other 4. They both pay to get in, and both are entitled to dining credits (if we choose FD), with the addition of having to add the Park Hopper option to our tickets, we now have to see what deal is better for us.

I had originally booked Sports for 9 nights in September (9/14-9/23). This morning, I logged on and booked a room at Pop with the "Free Dining". I was also able to add the room discount on my Sports reservation. This time with having to add Park Hopper options....I noticed that my difference between 9 nights for 2 adults, 2 kids at Pop with Free dining VS Sports with the room discount is $826. Now I have to figure out which deal works out best for us. If we spend more than $826 on food, then "Free Dining" will be better. We have two breakfast reservations at Be Our Guest - so that alone is about $150. At this point, having the dining plan is so convenient for us. Anyone else in the same situation? What are you choosing?
Click to expand...

Is that CS dining only in the plan?

Easy way to figure out what is best is that kids are $35ish/day for 4 kid meals and 2 snacks...so you and your spouse will be the other $55+. So, $11.25/meal (2 at lunch, 2 at dinner) + $10/snacks. I ignore the value of the mugs b/c most people would choose water outside of their 2 drink credits b/c there's only so much soda/coffee you want in one day.

It seems you'll come out about even or a touch ahead IF you eat everything on the plan. That means no one gets sick, no one gets sick of CS and wants TS, no one gets full from an earlier meal and just wants to share, no one wants to just eat in the room, no one wants to go offsite or to a place that doesn't accept DDP, no one wants to skip a planned meal just for a snack, no one wants just water with their meals, no one always wants the cheaper CS options, etc...

Now, if you have the regular plan, you will come out ahead with FD. But now, it's a wash or a slight bennie...and in a close situation, you always choose against b/c so much can change...

Now, that being said, if you keep 2 BOG breakfasts and plan to order 4 meals each time and then seek out the most expensive CS, it will probably be cheaper with FD...but then you're focusing on choosing based on prices and not what you want...
 
Last edited:
mom2rtk said:
So you have your DVC, your AP and your TiW. It sounds like you're all set. Why do you even care if someone gets free dining?

Disney isn't going to all of a sudden bring back better food and lower prices even if they did stop offering free dining.
Click to expand...

You are correct...things aren't going backwards...

For me...and this is NOT really a free dining thing...it's the "shoulder shrug" mentality with everything they do that is really starting to become catastrophic...both to them and us.

It can't always be "oh well...Reagan said capitalism is great"....in a consumer world that is horribly out dated thinking...

The consumer must hold the seller accountable by hitting their stock price occasionally...it is a necessity...the only way to garner any value or ensure quality.

You see these accounts specifically with the FD: people talk about how it stinks now and the "deal isn't as good" and they ho hum book it.

How many people have been priced out or left out of frustration already? How many will join them next year?

And the most important: who will disney punish to get those dollars back?!?

Hate to be the anchor of happy thoughts here...but that's how disney addresses all this...shouldnt we?
 


lockedoutlogic said:
You are correct...things aren't going backwards...

For me...and this is NOT really a free dining thing...it's the "shoulder shrug" mentality with everything they do that is really starting to become catastrophic...both to them and us.

It can't always be "oh well...Reagan said capitalism is great"....in a consumer world that is horribly out dated thinking...

The consumer must hold the seller accountable by hitting their stock price occasionally...it is a necessity...the only way to garner any value or ensure quality.

You see these accounts specifically with the FD: people talk about how it stinks now and the "deal isn't as good" and they ho hum book it.

How many people have been priced out or left out of frustration already? How many will join them next year?

And the most important: who will disney punish to get those dollars back?!?

Hate to be the anchor of happy thoughts here...but that's how disney addresses all this...shouldnt we?
Click to expand...

I'm not *exactly* a Disney apologist.

But sometimes a promotion is just a promotion. Take advantage of it. Don't take advantage of it. Everyone is free to vote with their wallets. I actually hope this is the point where they have watered it down so much it stops making enough difference in bookings for Disney. But it's still a better deal for some (especially those at a value resort) than whatever else is out there. And the absolute hysteria of hatred against it is just puzzling to me.
 
mom2rtk said:
I'm not *exactly* a Disney apologist.

But sometimes a promotion is just a promotion. Take advantage of it. Don't take advantage of it. Everyone is free to vote with their wallets. I actually hope this is the point where they have watered it down so much it stops making enough difference in bookings for Disney. But it's still a better deal for some (especially those at a value resort) than whatever else is out there. And the absolute hysteria of hatred against it is just puzzling to me.
Click to expand...

See that's just it...

I didn't pay it much mind either 5 years ago when it made a lot of sense. But then this vehement cult of defense began to form and became louder. Standing in front of the mirror and convincing yourself that it will always be there...like it's a part of your life.

It's a coupon.

But you touched on the bigger problem...the "everyone can make their own choices" defense, while academically true, is collectively killing the overall population.

Everything that has been self justified over the last few years has contributed to this "pot of enabling" that the management is feasting on.

Sure, you can "take it or leave it"...but the reality on the ground is that everytime somebody "takes" it - particularly the upsells - they go ahead to turn the screws on prices and reductions across the board.

It's a snowball effect in the heat...I blame temporary insanity due to swamp gas.

Or just people so fingers clenched to the idea that "it's disney...so I'm happy about it" that they never let the fog clear about the policies...and then it gets worse in the silence?
 
lockedoutlogic said:
See that's just it...

I didn't pay it much mind either 5 years ago when it made a lot of sense. But then this vehement cult of defense began to form and became louder. Standing in front of the mirror and convincing yourself that it will always be there...like it's a part of your life.

It's a coupon.

But you touched on the bigger problem...the "everyone can make their own choices" defense, while academically true, is collectively killing the overall population.

Everything that has been self justified over the last few years has contributed to this "pot of enabling" that the management is feasting on.

Sure, you can "take it or leave it"...but the reality on the ground is that everytime somebody "takes" it - particularly the upsells - they go ahead to turn the screws on prices and reductions across the board.

It's a snowball effect in the heat...I blame temporary insanity due to swamp gas.

Or just people so fingers clenched to the idea that "it's disney...so I'm happy about it" that they never let the fog clear about the policies...and then it gets worse in the silence?
Click to expand...

I think it did still have value to certain groups of people up until now. I think that has been relegated to "marginal value" at this point. And it have faith that people will indeed make smart decisions with their money. The truth is that none of us knows how this is being accepted. Only Disney knows, and of course, they're not talking.

One thing we know for sure. Disney won't settle for too many empty hotel rooms.
 
I'm a little surprised by the reaction to the current iteration of the "deal".

People accepted the park hopper hook (to be fair some already get that regardless), accepted the upgraded room hook, and now many are accepting the quick service at a mod and having to come out of pocket even more to upgrade to the full plan.

What else can they add?

I use alot of "Disney math" to make financial "sense" out of our trips, so I get those who justify it. I wonder what September would look like without the coupon? Maybe we find out next year?
 
dlavender said:
I'm a little surprised by the reaction to the current iteration of the "deal".

People accepted the park hopper hook (to be fair some already get that regardless), accepted the upgraded room hook, and now many are accepting the quick service at a mod and having to come out of pocket even more to upgrade to the full plan.

What else can they add?

I use alot of "Disney math" to make financial "sense" out of our trips, so I get those who justify it. I wonder what September would look like without the coupon? Maybe we find out next year?
Click to expand...

Have they really accepted this? How on earth would we know at this point?
 
mom2rtk said:
Have they really accepted this? How on earth would we know at this point?
Click to expand...

Fair point.

I'm just going by anecdotal evidence via responses and comments on this board.

But it could be that the turn out has not been as impressive as the past.

I'm hoping for those that really use the discount that's the case.
 
mom2rtk said:
So you have your DVC, your AP and your TiW. It sounds like you're all set. Why do you even care if someone gets free dining?

Disney isn't going to all of a sudden bring back better food and lower prices even if they did stop offering free dining.
Click to expand...
No, but I feel this is part of the reason it went away.
I don't care if someone "gets" free dining. I care about blind consumerism that leads to higher prices for us all.
 
mom2rtk said:
I'm not *exactly* a Disney apologist.

But sometimes a promotion is just a promotion. Take advantage of it. Don't take advantage of it. Everyone is free to vote with their wallets. I actually hope this is the point where they have watered it down so much it stops making enough difference in bookings for Disney. But it's still a better deal for some (especially those at a value resort) than whatever else is out there. And the absolute hysteria of hatred against it is just puzzling to me.
Click to expand...

And the blind love for it is puzzling to me.

I've said many times, I am not a Free Dining Defender, but I don't condemn those who do take advantage of the offer. I would just like to see it be a thing of the past.
 
Madonna3 said:
Wouldn't you say everyone clamoring to book the deal and complaining they couldn't be acceptance?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. Remember, the DIS is just a small subset of the general Disney audience.

And we have no idea how many resort rooms the loaded compared with years past.

Saying that Disney IT had issues with it is no indication of it being an unusual level of acceptance. That can happen when a butterfly flaps its wings overseas.
 
mom2rtk said:
Not necessarily. Remember, the DIS is just a small subset of the general Disney audience.

And we have no idea how many resort rooms the loaded compared with years past.

Saying that Disney IT had issues with it is no indication of it being an unusual level of acceptance. That can happen when a butterfly flaps its wings overseas.
Click to expand...

Ok. I'll go along with that. So, we'll sit back and watch and wait.
 
I think I am losing the "Magic" in getting excited with booking a pkg with FD. Granted I am getting older, but the prices are really going through the roof and the parks are always jammed no matter when you go, or at least when we go. I did book a pkg for our family of 5, just as a placeholder for now, but the price of $6400 for the Yacht club has me sticker shocked. We have been going to the parks for over 40 years and something has been just a bit off with each of our latest visits. My wife loves our trips and I do too, yet there just seems to be too many people, less open rides and more congestion each year.

My senior HS trip was at WDW and imagine the entire class was assembled in front of the Train Station garden for a picture. I mean those were the days. A stroll down Main Street without getting run over by strollers, people buried in their phones and without the need to peel off an exit ramp to go in a store. I know, I know it's changed, but I wish everyone could experience that pleasure. Disney's hospitality and management used to be the benchmark of the industry and now it has melded into the meh, they'll still spend no matter what mentality.

We will see if we stick to this booking or use that amount of money to go somewhere else.
 
EnchantedRoses said:
If we spend more than $826 on food, then "Free Dining" will be better. We have two breakfast reservations at Be Our Guest - so that alone is about $150. At this point, having the dining plan is so convenient for us. Anyone else in the same situation? What are you choosing?
Click to expand...

I dunno, you do have a bigger family than me, but in my personal experience, it's not a good idea to trade real money for basically funny money. It's a gamble and often the house wins.

I'm able to see All Star Sports for $98 a night for 4 nights in October. That's a pretty decent deal if you want to stay there. I'd expect it might be a little lower in September. If you're all going to eat at Be Our Guest breakfast twice, then yeah it's probably "worth" it. But are you eating there because it's a good value, because you want to ride the mine train early, or because you enjoy it? The only way you truly will know is to get out a calculator and add it all up and be honest with yourself. For 2 of us, we are at around ~$800 in my estimations, but I have a ton of table service restaurants on my list. That's what my son and I prefer to do. I don't wanna min/max my food, there's plenty of other things to "strategize" on these vacations.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page


GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!


New DISboards Threads

Thegoatfeeder
Fort Wilderness Cabins - Accessibility
Replies
0
Views
22
Thegoatfeeder
Thegoatfeeder
D
Mattel Tarzan Jungle Heart Kala Plush
Replies
0
Views
43
DodgerGirl
D
M
The Kalamajong voodoo death revenge spells and miscarriage spell +27634900172
Replies
0
Views
94
millyhealer
M
cdurham1
Universal Partner Hotels shuttle during HHN
Replies
0
Views
79
cdurham1
cdurham1
Maistre Gracey
What does “financially stable” mean to you?
Replies
0
Views
131
Maistre Gracey
Maistre Gracey
Frank4202
Golf Cart Rental at Fort Wilderness
Replies
1
Views
103
Haley R
Haley R
NEWS & UPDATES



Latest posts







facebook twitter
Top