I see lots of people saying "free" dining, implying that it's not free. Is there something I am missing?
I have priced out the same vacation for my family using free dining and a time when it's not offered and the difference is about $700. this was for 10 days, family of 4 (one baby who is free) 2 adults, 1 child- at POP with the disney plus dining and 9 days non hopper passes.
the discounts on the value rooms are not nearly the equivalent to free dining, am I right?
You are right, for the most part.
Many (I'd even venture to say most) who claim the Free Dining promotions are not truly free have an agenda against the promotions and/or the dining plans themselves. So long as the plans work for your family and/or situation, and they are saving more money than the room discounts (which, at a value is nearly a given!), they're going to be the better deal.
The promotions are simply another discount, one that shifts the focus off of the room rate and onto the dining package. Instead of your room being cheaper, your food is. When everything is packaged up though, it doesn't matter exactly where you're seeing savings, so long as you are.
Of course, working the numbers before committing to any package is best (though, you can almost always switch later anyway). But to say "Free dining isn't free!" is just nonsense. If you run the numbers at rack rate with the same tickets and add no dining plan, the you run the numbers at rack rate with the same tickets under the FD promotion, there will be (virtually) no difference.
Room discounts can be better than free dining in a few cases:
1 - The dining plans don't work for you AT ALL
2 - You're staying for a short stay and don't need the tickets
3 - Small group and/or staying at high level deluxe (the higher the base cost of the room, the more the room discount has an effect)
4 - Solo and have a 40% code for a moderate