Uh oh! We don't support IE due to its failure to integrate new web standards.
For the best browsing experience, please use

More Info →

  • Podcast
  • Become a WDW Prep Patron
  • About
  • Get a Quote
  • Things We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Search
MENUMENU
  • Crowd Calendars
        • January Crowd Calendar
        • February Crowd Calendar
        • March Crowd Calendar
        • April Crowd Calendar
        • May Crowd Calendar
        • June Crowd Calendar
        • July Crowd Calendar
        • August Crowd Calendar
        • September Crowd Calendar
        • October Crowd Calendar
        • November Crowd Calendar
        • December Crowd Calendar
  • Parks
        • Magic Kingdom
        • Epcot
        • Disney World Tickets
        • Hollywood Studios
        • Slinky Dog Dash
        • Animal Kingdom
        • Typhoon Lagoon
        • Blizzard Beach
        • Disney Springs
        • Featured: Planning Tips for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
  • Resorts
        • On-Site
        • Off-Site
        • Disney World Value Resorts
        • Disney World Moderate Resorts
        • Disney World Deluxe Resorts
        • Disney World Villa Resorts
  • Dining
        • Dining Basics
        • Disney World Dining Plan Satuli Canteen
        • Disney Dining Plan
        • Animal Kingdom Disney World Dining Plan
        • Our top Table Service restaurants
        • Our top Quick Service restaurants
        • Guide to all Disney World character meals
        • Best restaurants for fireworks views
  • Planning and Tips
        • 6 Step Planning Process
        • Disney binder planning workskeet
        • Planning Basics
        • Big Thunder Mountain exterior
        • What is coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 (and beyond!)
        • Disney Movie Magic
        • Trip Planning for Families
        • Special Needs
        • Money and Shopping
        • Downloadables
  • 2021 Planner
        • Mask tips for Disney World trips
        • Cast Member with a mask
        • Step-by-step guide to the Disney Park Pass System
        • Disney Park Pass choose day
        • Where to find characters right now
        • Joy
        • 13 ways Disney World planning has changed
        • How to tour Disney World right now
        • Budgeting for food (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
        • Mask-Free Relaxation Stations (w/maps & comparisons)
        • Choosing when to visit in 2021
        • Where to dine outdoors at Walt Disney World
        • How transportation works now
  • Mobile
      • Podcast
      • Become a WDW Prep Patron
      • About
      • Get a Quote
      • Things We Recommend
      • Contact
      • Search

Free Dining worth it? + maximizing Extra Magic Hours – PREP086

Share on pinterest
PIN
Share on facebook
FB
WDW Prep School → WDW Prep To Go Podcast → Featured → Free Dining worth it? + maximizing Extra Magic Hours – PREP086
  • Shannon Albert
  • April 19, 2015
  • June 16, 2017

Lots of people get excited about the possibility of Free Dining for their trips, but what if it’s not the best deal? I’ve got info today on who usually saves more by using Free Dining and who doesn’t.

I also have a quick tip about maximizing Extra Magic Hours (including which attractions are open at each park).

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

These are notes from this episode. There’s much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

In this article (click for table of contents)

  • Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron
  • Is Free Dining worth it?
  • Recent news
  • Quick tip of the day
  • Subscribe to get new episodes

Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron

WDW Prep To Go Patrons pay a little to unlock even more content than what’s on the main podcast feed, such as a private FB Group and exclusive audio that’s released on a private podcast feed.
 
Become a Patron Now

Is Free Dining worth it?

With the regular/basic Disney Dining Plan costing $60/day for adults and $19/day for kids 3-9, sometimes the room-only discounts work out better than Free Dining (when/if it’s available).

In addition, not everybody eats the same amount of food provided on the Disney Dining Plan so paying out-of-pocket and using a room-only discount might make more sense.

For people who do eat the amount of food provided with Disney Dining Plan credits, here’s what promotion usually makes the most sense during times when Free Dining is offered:

  • Families/groups of 5 – Free Dining is usually the better deal no matter where you stay
  • Families/groups of 3 or 4 – Free Dining is usually the better deal unless staying at 1 of the more expensive Deluxe Resorts
  • Families/groups of 1 or 2 – Free Dining is usually the better deal at Value and Moderate Resorts, but the room-only discount will save more at Deluxe Resorts

If Free Dining is announced, be sure to listen to my podcast about preparing for Free Dining and check out my charts on maximizing Disney Dining Plan credits.

Recent news

  • Beginning on April 20, a new bus route from Magic Kingdom to Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is being tested.
  • The Sounds Like Summer concert series (which runs from June 7 – July 25) lineup has been announced.

Quick tip of the day

Brittany called in with a tip that not all Extra Magic Hours are as valuable as others, as she found out when visiting Epcot during a morning Extra Magic Hour.

Here’s what’s open during AM and PM EMH. Pin it or save to your phone to have as a reference later.

Have a quick tip of your own? Call it in at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo

Subscribe to get new episodes

There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep To Go (if you’re used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone)

  • Subscribe in iTunes (and please leave a review!)
  • Subscribe to the feed
  • Listen on Stitcher

Read this next

Popular Related Articles

Related Posts:

  • Free Dining! Free Dining! Free Dining! – PREP004
  • 5 things I don’t think are worth it on Disney World trips – PREP037
  • Ranking the moderate Disney World resorts – PREP081
  • How park hours changes can affect you – PREP076
  • Tips for getting Free Dining – PREP073
  • My thoughts on Extra Magic Hours – PREP044
  • Jay’s Disney World trip redo – PREP114
  • My January trip report – PREP140

In this category

More Tips and Tricks

  • WDW Prep To Go Podcast

Ready to book a trip for 2021?

The team at Small World Vacations is ready to help get you started.

Get a quote now

7 Comments

  1. Janiejaneo April 27, 2015 Reply

    How easy are RO discounts to get? Are they limited like the FD discounts? I have currently have two reservations – one w FD in a more expensive room and one without FD in a cheaper room. I’m leaning toward keeping the reservation w/o FD, dropping the DDP and trying for a RO discount in July. I just don’t want end up unable to get the RO discount after this morning’s disappointment.

  2. Brianna Rhodes April 27, 2015 Reply

    Hi! You mentioned that the meals sometimes include tons of food. When you are on the dining plan do you get to take leftovers back with you?

  3. Tracy April 21, 2015 Reply

    Thanks for the tips! I wanted to add that when you think about how your family eats, also consider whether you like to order appetizers and alcoholic drinks at sit-down restaurants. Those aren’t included in the cost of the regular dining plan. Tips aren’t included either (whatever you order).

  4. Adrian April 20, 2015 Reply

    You can still share while using the dining plan (except for buffets/character meals I think). This is a stategy we use to do a two credit meal, then share some other meals to make up for that extra credit used. Also, quick service meals are not allocated between child/adult meals. So if you have a child who doesn’t eat much (or any it sometimes seems!), get an adult meal for that quick service to share with your child. This also generates extra credits which can be used for more meals. Essentially subbing some quick service for table service and saving table sevice credits to do a two credit meal or two.

  5. TJM April 20, 2015 Reply

    We are looking at going to WDW the first week of December. I noticed that free dining was blacked out during this time last year. I am leaning towards Art of Animation, Little Mermaid rooms, since we can’t get free dining during that time. Are those usually part of the room discounts offered? Are the room discounts blacked out the same time as free dining? IF free dining happens to be offered during that time we might switch to Pop Century or a moderate resort.

    • Shannon Albert April 20, 2015

      Little Mermaid discounts have never been part of a promotion. They’re popular and don’t need a discount to get people to stay there.

    • TJM April 20, 2015

      So do the room discounts at Pop Century or a Moderate resort usually have blackout dates for early December?

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Start here

  • Crowd Calendars
    • January Crowd Calendar
    • February Crowd Calendar
    • March Crowd Calendar
    • April Crowd Calendar
    • May Crowd Calendar
    • June Crowd Calendar
    • July Crowd Calendar
    • August Crowd Calendar
    • September Crowd Calendar
    • October Crowd Calendar
    • November Crowd Calendar
    • December Crowd Calendar
  • Parks
    • Magic Kingdom
    • Epcot
    • Hollywood Studios
    • Animal Kingdom
    • Typhoon Lagoon
    • Blizzard Beach
    • Disney Springs
    • Featured: Planning Tips for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
  • Resorts
    • On-Site
    • Off-Site
    • Disney World Value Resorts
    • Disney World Moderate Resorts
    • Disney World Deluxe Resorts
    • Disney World Villa Resorts
  • Dining
    • Dining Basics
    • Disney Dining Plan
    • Our top Table Service restaurants
    • Our top Quick Service restaurants
    • Guide to all Disney World character meals
    • Best restaurants for fireworks views
  • Planning and Tips
    • 6 Step Planning Process
    • Planning Basics
    • What is coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 (and beyond!)
    • Trip Planning for Families
    • Special Needs
    • Money and Shopping
    • Downloadables
  • 2021 Planner
    • 13 ways Disney World planning has changed
    • Mask tips for Disney World trips
    • Budgeting for food (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
    • Step-by-step guide to the Disney Park Pass System
    • Choosing when to visit in 2021
    • How to tour Disney World right now
    • Mask-Free Relaxation Stations (w/maps & comparisons)
    • Where to dine outdoors at Walt Disney World
    • Where to find characters right now
    • How transportation works now
  • Mobile

More Goodies

  • Podcast
  • Become a WDW Prep Patron
  • About
  • Get a Quote
  • Things We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Search

I just got back from a five night stay at Coronado Springs and had the best time! Even though I went during the busy season I barely waited in any lines and was able to do everything I wanted!

Jonathan C.

Meet us there


IG

FB

PI

TW

YT

EM

WDWprepschool.com is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, the Walt Disney Company.

PRIVACY POLICY

© 2021 PREP SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS, INC.

WDW PREP SCHOOL ON INSTAGRAM​

It. Is. Time. 🦁 Festival of the Lion King retur It. Is. Time. 🦁 Festival of the Lion King returns this summer!

It’ll be in a modified form for safety purposes. No specific reopening date given, but so happy the list of things to look forward to keeps growing. 🙌
Officially closed for refurbishment (no reopening Officially closed for refurbishment (no reopening date available yet).

Now can we work on getting women included in the sequel?
Anybody else fall in love with the Hollywood Studi Anybody else fall in love with the Hollywood Studios decor and want to have these vintage Christmas ceramics at home? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Here’s how.

For original vintage pieces, search “Lefton Christmas ceramics” or “Napco Christmas ceramics.” These often run you $100+ and can usually be found on Etsy, eBay, and other resale stores.

For less expensive replicas, check out VermontCountryStore.com which has a small - but more affordable - collection, including the trio of candy cane girls.
It appears the Frozen promenade (cavalcade) is out It appears the Frozen promenade (cavalcade) is out at Epcot, and random popups of Anna and Elsa in Norway are in.

They haven’t been appearing as reliably as Alice, Mary Poppins, Joy, and Winnie the Pooh, but be sure to be on the lookout when passing the Royal Sommerhus in Norway where they might just show up.
Load More... Follow on Instagram