"Free" DDP vs Room Discount

Belleandtinker · Feb 17, 2019

I've spent the most of part today researching the price difference. Am I right - the room discount really isn't that great?

We mostly stay at POFQ (which past history states 10% discount) so maybe a $25 per night.

I'm not a fan of counting and calculating food credit when we get there but told my DH that it's more like a supplemental plan.

Thoughts?

Hi Pluto · Feb 17, 2019

You'd have to see the actual discount when it comes out. Price out how much the dining plan costs for your length of stay & number of people, then compare.

More people in your room will mean the free dining is worth more. But your room only could be coming from a TA or other source besides Disney and can be a bigger deal than 10% off.

Plus, I should add that there's not always the option for free dining. It's only offered certain times and (I believe) with certain resorts.

DCLPrincess · Feb 17, 2019

The room discounts depend on the resort so sometimes it can be a better deal than free dining. As you mentioned the discount for POFQ is only 10% but for my upcoming trip I got 35% off my room. So you'll have to compare and see.

Belleandtinker · Feb 17, 2019

DCLPrincess said:
The room discounts depend on the resort so sometimes it can be a better deal than free dining. As you mentioned the discount for POFQ is only 10% but for my upcoming trip I got 35% off my room. So you'll have to compare and see.

You got 35% off POFQ? Which source did you boo through?

sharonabe · Feb 17, 2019

Belleandtinker said:
I've spent the most of part today researching the price difference. Am I right - the room discount really isn't that great?

We mostly stay at POFQ (which past history states 10% discount) so maybe a $25 per night.

I'm not a fan of counting and calculating food credit when we get there but told my DH that it's more like a supplemental plan.

Thoughts?

For what it's worth, free dining hasn't been offered at POFQ for years now, so even if there is another free dining deal for later in the year, it's highly unlikely you'll get it at POFQ.

Checking the current room discount offer, there was nothing at POFQ, and it looks like POR does have just a 10% off, but Coronado has more like a 30% discount which amounts to the price of one adult regular DDP cost. So if you're willing to change your resort, you may find a better deal.

Queen of the WDW Scene · Feb 17, 2019

You really just have to do the math for yourself.
BTW FD hasn't been offered atPOFQ in years.
I've done FD 8 times but for my next trip the RO discount actually works out better for me as I'm staying CL at the Contemporary.
Also just an FYI FD has already come and gone to book for this year unless they extended it or they release it again.

DCLPrincess · Feb 18, 2019

Belleandtinker said:
You got 35% off POFQ? Which source did you boo through?

The 35% off was not POFQ. Like I said the discounts depend on the hotel so if you're flexible you can get better deals.

Nancyg56 · Feb 18, 2019

First, I suggest you do not get locked into any resort if you are looking to secure a discount. That is teh path to a letdown.

I always cost out my trip in advance, breaking down each componant of the trip. DIning plan. TIckets. Lodging at any one of the resorts I will consider staying at. Now I know the breakdown, I can compare apples to apples when the discounts are dropped, if they drop.

POFQ has not been included in FD for years now, and the best discount I have seem is only about 10% off the room.
If you are looking for the best discount, just chop it off your short list.

You know your family dynamic, so the math is essential for determining what discount is the most economical. Be sure you consider that if you book a moderate with FD you will be getting the QS plan, and need to upgrade if you want the regular plan.

Belleandtinker · Feb 18, 2019

This is why I like these boards - good solid information. Thank you everyone!

angierae · Feb 21, 2019

It makes a huge difference depending on how many people in your party. When we got a room at POFQ for $200 a night and got DDP for free for 4 people, it was a steal. Now you only get DDP at the deluxes, so it's not quite as good of a deal.

And yeah, you can't get FD at POFQ anymore anyway - but just insert any other moderate.

pebblesjns · Feb 22, 2019

Free dining has always been the best option for us. We are a family of 5 and chose to stay at the Contemporary this year. I priced it out as a room only discount vs. free dining, and free dining is hands down a better deal. It actually worked out the same price for room only discount without dining as it did for the free dining. So we are essentially actually getting the dining plan for free. We would have to pay for food if we booked room only discount anyway, so it's a no-brainer for us.

mamamelody2 · Feb 23, 2019

Well, we are staying at POP over Labor Day. Only DH and I are going. The room only discount was about $15 a night. Obviously 2 adults can't eat for that. So free dining was definitely the best discount for us. Last year, we took our 2 boys who are Disney adults, and stayed at All Star Sports. Again, room only discount was about $15 a night. So basically all 4 of us were able to eat for $15 a day. Great deal!!

LovePug · Feb 24, 2019

Don't forget that you have to add in the required tickets with hopper (correct me if I'm wrong). If you don't normally purchase the hopper (and if you don't purchase from an authorized ticket merchant), that is part of the math you should be adding in, also, to see where you come out. I haven't done the math for this, so it may still be a better deal. I just wanted to mention it.

MichaelWill&Megan'sMom · Feb 26, 2019

Belleandtinker said:
I've spent the most of part today researching the price difference. Am I right - the room discount really isn't that great?

We mostly stay at POFQ (which past history states 10% discount) so maybe a $25 per night.

I'm not a fan of counting and calculating food credit when we get there but told my DH that it's more like a supplemental plan.

Thoughts?

We are visiting July 2019 with the free dining promotion, staying at BC. We are a family of 5, and all of my kids qualify as "adults" on the dining plan. For us, the trip with free dining is about $2000 cheaper than booking with room discounts and paying OOP for the dining plan.

tguz · Feb 27, 2019

It is a no brainer to take the free dining if you have a party of 3 or more people age 11 and up (and will be buying the meal plan if you take the discounted room) unless you are staying in a room that costs over $500 a night with a 30% discount. Any room less than $500 a night at 30% off won't save you enough money as the DDP is 52.50 pp if we are talking quick service meal plan.

Micharlotte · Feb 27, 2019

tguz said:
It is a no brainer to take the free dining if you have a party of 3 or more people age 11 and up (and will be buying the meal plan if you take the discounted room) unless you are staying in a room that costs over $500 a night with a 30% discount. Any room less than $500 a night at 30% off won't save you enough money as the DDP is 52.50 pp if we are talking quick service meal plan.

And any room that is $500 or more will come with the regular ddp, so it’s an even better deal! We were a party of 4 Disney adults last year and we could have upgraded to OKW or SSR for the cost of a moderate upgraded to ddp. This year we are only 3 and upgraded to AKL from CSR for $300 more. As soon as they got rid of the ddp included in a moderate we’ve stayed deluxe. It’s over $1000 more than we paid in 2015 for the same resort and package because of price increases and the qsdp.

sbd78 · Feb 28, 2019

We have CBR booked with free dining for this July. CBR has a much better discount under the sun & fun discount than POFQ. I priced it out with the room discount, no hoppers (since we don't normally get them if they aren't required) and quick service dining and came out way ahead with free dining. We are a family of 5 and one of my 3 kids is a Disney "adult" so free dining is a great deal for us.

MarkinNM · Mar 22, 2019

I personally believe it is a wash with these "discounts".........

In my case with the 30% discount, I was able to book a deluxe, AKL, I was surprised on how much a "rake rate" is, wow, we have done the free dining but the QS was good but how much fast food can one eat in a week before saying enough.....

I have found the Regular DP works out pretty good, and this trip we are doing the DxDP with the room discount money saved.....you have find out what works best for you and what you want and go for it.......

KTR · Mar 22, 2019

At value resorts free dining is pretty much always better as the room only discounts are a small percentage off a lower cost room to begin with. Factoring in the park hoppers does make a difference though and shouldn’t be ignored. Also if you have annual passes or cheaper tickets through a different option then that would make free dining impossible since it requires booking the full package with park hoppers.

"Free" DDP vs Room Discount

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