Free Dining Throw Away Room

[gskywalker]

Plan: We have 2 bounceback rooms(7 people) booked for next August with free dining but we now have a DVC stay at Baylake booked for the same dates. My plan is to get free dining(possibly upgrade to deluxe) and spread it out among the 7 of us during our stay for park meals. Here is my plan:

Reservations:

1 Room Aug 29-Sept 6 All Star Sports Free dining
1 Room Aug 29 Room Only(Through some discount, passholder, etc)

1 Room Aug 30-Sept 6 2BDRM Bay Lake

We would stay at All Star Aug 29 night only, then stay at Bay Lake the rest of the time.
We would likely then give the other nights to a friend/family to use.

Numbers:
$1759.92 Free Dining Savings
$1015.86 All Star Room 7 nights unoccupied/Unused
=
$744.06 actually gained Dining plan savings

I am wondering who else has thought of this and did it work out? Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

Are those numbers correct? The room price looks correct. But the quick service dining plan for 4 adults (assuming 4+3 split in the rooms) is 55 * 4 * 7 = 1,540 in room one and 1,155 in room 2. Its even less if there are kids involved. Still makes sense, but just thought I'd point out the numbers.

 

[IrishEye]

Between maintenance fees and points purchase price, I calculate our cost is roughly $8 per point, this will of course depend on what one paid for original purchase. One could argue the real number to be between $12 and $15 per point which is what is available to rent them out. Anyway, I would add the total points for the stay at $8 per in order to calculate whether I am saving any money by throwing away a cash reservation in order to get the dining plan.

 

[LSchrow]

Are those numbers correct? The room price looks correct. But the quick service dining plan for 4 adults (assuming 4+3 split in the rooms) is 55 * 4 * 7 = 1,540 in room one and 1,155 in room 2. Its even less if there are kids involved. Still makes sense, but just thought I'd point out the numbers.

In addition: if there are all adults & no children (with lower DP cost), then there is the additional adult charge at regular resorts to deal with.

 

[DebbieB]

Did you consider the required ticket purchase?

 

[gskywalker]

Are those numbers correct? The room price looks correct. But the quick service dining plan for 4 adults (assuming 4+3 split in the rooms) is 55 * 4 * 7 = 1,540 in room one and 1,155 in room 2. Its even less if there are kids involved. Still makes sense, but just thought I'd point out the numbers.

We are only going to keep one room with free dining for the 4 people. The other room will be a one night room only booking. No disney kids.

 

[gskywalker]

Between maintenance fees and points purchase price, I calculate our cost is roughly $8 per point, this will of course depend on what one paid for original purchase. One could argue the real number to be between $12 and $15 per point which is what is available to rent them out. Anyway, I would add the total points for the stay at $8 per in order to calculate whether I am saving any money by throwing away a cash reservation in order to get the dining plan.

Not sure what the point prices have to do with whether it is worth getting a throw away room? I am not following at all unless you are referring to figuring out whether it makes more financial sense to just stay in the 2 free dining rooms, it may make sense for that but these aren't our points we are renting them from a friend for $9 a point and want to experience Bay Lake either way, its a just a matter of whether we keep one free dining room to get the discounted dining.

In addition: if there are all adults & no children (with lower DP cost), then there is the additional adult charge at regular resorts to deal with.

The room will be 2 adults, 2 under 18's, so no extra adult charge but thanks for thinking of it.

 

[gskywalker]

Did you consider the required ticket purchase?

Thankyou, yes I did think of it. For us it won't make a difference as we will just use them towards our annual pass renewals, so the tickets are essentially the same as cash for us and won't add any extra expenses.

 

[Sandisw]

We are only going to keep one room with free dining for the 4 people. The other room will be a one night room only booking. No disney kids.

You will not be allowed to use dining plan credits for sit down meals for other people who are not on the dining plan.

If you have a dining plan for 4 people, then that is all that will be allowed.

Just a reminder to all..we do not allow ideas to be shared on the Dis that would be work arounds policy...thanks!

 

[gskywalker]

You will not be allowed to use dining plan credits for sit down meals for other people who are not on the dining plan.

If you have a dining plan for 4 people, then that is all that will be allowed.

Just a reminder to all..we do not allow ideas to be shared on the Dis that would be work arounds policy...thanks!

My apologies, I am not sure what would be a work around. I am familiar with the Dis policy and definitely did not intend to break the policy. We would have 4 of us there on the dining plan and would be ordering 4 meals each meal and sharing them(I did the math it works out to 4 meals for 3 meals a day for our entire trip). US size portions, plus an app and dessert every meal is far too much for any of us.

 

[Sandisw]

My apologies, I am not sure what would be a work around. I am familiar with the Dis policy and definitely did not intend to break the policy. We would have 4 of us there on the dining plan and would be ordering 4 meals each meal and sharing them(I did the math it works out to 4 meals for 3 meals a day for our entire trip). US size portions, plus an app and dessert every meal is far too much for any of us.

Your post mentioned 7 guests. I thought you meant all 7 would be eating and sharing the credits. Disney does not allow that. If only 4 of you are eating, and all are on the dining plan, then I misunderstood.

 

[CarolynFH]

I would ask your question on the Dining Plan sub-forum at https://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-dining-plan.116/. Those folks know all the rules and ways to calculate whether you'd save money or not.

 

[mort1331]

Your post mentioned 7 guests. I thought you meant all 7 would be eating and sharing the credits. Disney does not allow that. If only 4 of you are eating, and all are on the dining plan, then I misunderstood.

Just FYI, they now ( as of couple of years ago) allow you to use your dining credits anyway and for anyone you wish. I have met my folks for dinner a few times and use our credits on them. You can not buy extra credits if you run short at the end.

 

[cvjw]

Your post mentioned 7 guests. I thought you meant all 7 would be eating and sharing the credits. Disney does not allow that. If only 4 of you are eating, and all are on the dining plan, then I misunderstood.

disney does allow this. They changed the rules a couple years back so that you can use your dining plans anyway you want, for whoever you want. We have done this several times, and servers do not bat an eye.

 

[Disneylover99]

Agree with others. It’s not a work around. Disney allows you to use your credits how you wish, and I find when I dine with friends who are not on the dining plan, the servers always ask if I want to use my dining plan credits on them.

 

[piccolopat]

The only question I have is if OP gives the room to another family, aren't their names now associated with the room? I don't think Disney would allow them to register or link MBs if they aren't on the reservation. If so, how can the OP use the dining plan associated with that room?

 

[Disneylover99]

The only question I have is if OP gives the room to another family, aren't their names now associated with the room? I don't think Disney would allow them to register or link MBs if they aren't on the reservation. If so, how can the OP use the dining plan associated with that room?

Everything would still be in the OP’s name. I would imagine the OP would just give their friend/family member one of their magic bands to enter the room. It wouldn’t affect the OP’s ability to use the dining plan.

 

[piccolopat]

Everything would still be in the OP’s name. I would imagine the OP would just give their friend/family member one of their magic bands to enter the room. It wouldn’t affect the OP’s ability to use the dining plan.

I guess this also means the other family can't link their tickets to the room and get their FP+ as onsite guests, use DME or charge anything to the room. If they aren't paying for the room or getting a considerable discount from OP that might be worth it.

 

[Disneylover99]

I guess this also means the other family can't link their tickets to the room and get their FP+ as onsite guests, use DME or charge anything to the room. If they aren't paying for the room or getting a considerable discount from OP that might be worth it.

I really have no idea what the OP is thinking in that regard, but I was just thinking it was more of a place for another family or friend to spread out if they were already staying at that resort, or it would be a place where maybe local friends who had AP’s would want to use for a few days.

 

[Sandisw]

Agree with others. It’s not a work around. Disney allows you to use your credits how you wish, and I find when I dine with friends who are not on the dining plan, the servers always ask if I want to use my dining plan credits on them.

It is indeed a change. Thanks for sharing