Disney Food Blog reported late last week that PIN codes were being sent out for Free Dining in the summer and fall. However, this latest batch of PIN codes is only good for Quick Service dining when booked at a Value or Moderate resort (the standard Disney Dining Plan is still free at Deluxe resorts). This is the first time I’ve seen the Quick Service limitation applied to the Moderates, so I decided to break out Excel and do some math.
I chose September 4-10, Labor Day week, as the dates to use in this example. It’s value season and there are also general room discounts available to book. These examples assume two adults, one child and one infant staying in a standard room at the respective resort with 7 day Magic Your Way Base Tickets.
Value Resorts:
The value resorts currently have a 25% discount during this timeframe.
Pop Century:
Normal package price with quick service dining: $1,847.51
Free dining discount price: $1,335.69
Difference: $491.82 (26.6%)
Room only discount (with tickets and quick service dining included): $1700.65
Difference between normal package price and room only discount: $146.86 (7.9%)
Moderate Resorts:
Port Orleans French Quarter currently has a 25% discount while the other Moderates have a 30% discount.
Port Orleans French Quarter:
Normal package price with quick service dining: $2,344.47
Free dining discount price: $1,852.65
Difference: $491.82 (21%)
Room only discount (with tickets and quick service dining included): $2,073.35
Difference between normal package price and room only discount: $271.12 (11.6%)
Caribbean Beach Resort:
Normal package price with quick service dining: $2,344.47
Free dining discount price: $1,852.65
Difference: $491.82 (21%)
Room only discount (with tickets and quick service dining included): $2,019.15
Difference between normal package price and room only discount: $325.32 (13.9%)
Deluxe Resorts:
Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian currently have a 30% discount for these dates, while the rest of the Deluxe resorts have a 35% discount.
Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Normal package price with standard dining: $3,090.65
Free dining discount price: $2,466.83
Difference: $623.82 (20.1%)
Room only discount (with tickets and standard dining included): $2,581.11
Difference between normal package price and room only discount: $509.54 (16.5%)
Contemporary Resort:
Normal package price with standard dining: $3,765.75
Free dining discount price: $3,141.93
Difference: $623.82 (21%)
Room only discount (with tickets and standard dining included): $2,802.89
Difference between normal package price and room only discount: $962.86 (25.6%)
The results here are a bit different than the results from the last time I ran free dining figures. Even though the Moderates have been reduced to free Quick Service dining, the free dining promotion is still the better discount. Also, the reduced room discount at Animal Kingdom Lodge as compared to the rest of the Deluxe resorts makes the free dining discount a better deal than the room only discount. The Deluxe resorts discounted at 35% seem to be the only resorts where the room only discount is a better deal than free dining.
Discounts at Walt Disney World are always changing; a worthwhile discount in the past may not be as good of a deal today. On the other hand, the free dining promotion seems to be living up to its hype unless you’re staying in the upper class of the Deluxe resorts. However, this discount is currently limited to PIN codes sent out individually. Disney may release this discount publicly later in the year so keep an eye out for it.
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