Which is Cheaper 40% room or Free Dining??

[Angielynne]

I booked a trip for Nov 27th-Dec 5th at the Wilderness Lodge using a 40% off room pin code. I ended up only being able to get a woods view room because all the standard views were already taken :-(

If free dining comes out for that week....would it be cheaper to book free dining in a standard view...or to keep our woods view with a 40% off?

the reason I ask, is because if free dining is cheaper....I will be stalking for codes...if it's not, then I will just relax and not worry about it..

Any advice?

 

[jenny-d]

usually 40% off winds up being better savings than FD for deluxe resorts.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I say it depends on which resort category you are thinking about staying at. The 40% off is always going to be a better deal at the Deluxe Resorts, because with Free Dining you still end up paying the rack rate and that's why Free Dining is a better deal for the Value and Moderate Resorts.

 

[doconeill]

I think it also depends on the number of adult and child diners in the room as well, as free dining is a benefit per person, vs. a blanket amount for the room.

Also, the fact that you are required to get tickets for FD as well, when you may already have some. But that is a cost that you can recoup later (since you can use/upgrade the tickets on a later trip). And whether you'd normally eat that much - i.e. would you pay for the dining plan anyways?

I just punched in dates, and got a woods-view room at WL for $310/night. 40% of that is $124.

I believe the standard dining plan is now nominally $46/adult, so 3 adults (that includes kids 10 and over) is $138. In that case the FD still seems like a win to me.

 

[Dacky619]

I think it also depends on the number of adult and child diners in the room as well, as free dining is a benefit per person, vs. a blanket amount for the room.

Also, the fact that you are required to get tickets for FD as well, when you may already have some. But that is a cost that you can recoup later (since you can use/upgrade the tickets on a later trip). And whether you'd normally eat that much - i.e. would you pay for the dining plan anyways?

I just punched in dates, and got a woods-view room at WL for $310/night. 40% of that is $124.

I believe the standard dining plan is now nominally $46/adult, so 3 adults (that includes kids 10 and over) is $138. In that case the FD still seems like a win to me.

That's the key, you have to do the math for your own situation.

 

[DisneyGuess]

That's the key, you have to do the math for your own situation.

Totally agree. Because my family is larger & 2 of my kids count as "adults" to Disney, the FD is our better deal.
For our dates in Dec. the savings for FD equals out to right at $1400 while the 40% discount equals just at $1100. Only $300 but, $300 is souvenir money!

 

[bluejasmine]

For us when staying deluxe the room only is cheaper.. When we stay value the FD is cheaper..

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

This scenario is run over and over on the discount codes and rates board. Pop on over and someone may have already done the math on that scenario for you.