DDP Questions and Clarification

[CRZY4DIS]

As a DVC member, I am not thrilled with the idea of FREE dining for everyone and not DVC members. Not sure where I get my perks from. I am also not thrilled with the week I go, so does the FREE dining kick in. And I am a Disney Rewards Visa member and can't use that for free dining either.

But my real problem is and maybe you all can help me out -- the hours when they open phone lines -- some have said 7am. What number are you calling? The 800 DVC number they give us because I did that today to see and I got the recording that they open at 9am. So what is the deal there?

Also, I had read somewhere and now of course cannot find it so I think I really am crazy -- that DVC members can make reservations 10 days PRIOR to 90 days. I was told this was incorrect information and it was 10 AFTER the 90 days -- of which, and maybe it is just me, but that makes NO sense at all. Why would I call that late??? I am leaving on August 15 -- the little lady tells me I have to make reservations on May 17???

Can someone with knowledge clarify this all for me so I can make sure that I am calling on the right day and going to actually get to enjoy some nice restaurants . . . that is if FREE dining doesn't take them all. No offense to the free diners out there -- but why do I pay for this membership again???

 

[RMulieri]

it sounds to me that your gripe is with the fact that you bought DVC without fully understanding what it entails.I don't know what you are complaining about.Yes we can have free dining but we have to pay FULL PRICE/ RACK RATE for the resort.My nightly rate at BCV is $425/night .You can have free dining too, just you can't use your DVC points, and have to pay oop rack rate . As for dining ressies, not sure but I believe you call at 90 days out and can make ressies for 10 days just like everyone else.Call the regualr number. Dining opens at 7am.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

what is the DVC club??? i know its disney vacation club but what does it enclude?

 

[RMulieri]

what is the DVC club??? i know its disney vacation club but what does it enclude?

It is Disneys version of time share.You buy a real estate interest.For more info check out the DVC boards here.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

It is Disneys version of time share.You buy a real estate interest.For more info check out the DVC boards here.

thanks

 

[CRZY4DIS]

it sounds to me that your gripe is with the fact that you bought DVC without fully understanding what it entails.I don't know what you are complaining about.Yes we can have free dining but we have to pay FULL PRICE/ RACK RATE for the resort.My nightly rate at BCV is $425/night .You can have free dining too, just you can't use your DVC points, and have to pay oop rack rate . As for dining ressies, not sure but I believe you call at 90 days out and can make ressies for 10 days just like everyone else.Call the regualr number. Dining opens at 7am.

I understood what I signed on for -- Free Dining wasn't option then. It wasn't even done. And FYI -- the 800 Member Number does not open at 7am.

 

[RMulieri]

I understood what I signed on for -- Free Dining wasn't option then. It wasn't even done. And FYI -- the 800 Member Number does not open at 7am.

thanks.But I still stand on the Free dining plan. Disney knows DVC owners are coming,Dvc members bought in already.Why would they offer it when you are already guaranteed to make a trip? Free dining as well as 4/3, upgrade to waterparks and more, etc have NEVER been for guests staying on points.Doesn't mean you can't take advantage, just means you have to pay full price instead of points.It is to boost resort capacity during hurricaine season.Like I said you can take advantage, you have to pay rack rate for a room.I am going,But I had to pay FULL price for my room at the Beach club villas. I would much rather be an owner at DVC but I can't afford it.

 

[acpalmer]

And FYI -- the 800 Member Number does not open at 7am.

You are correct, the 1-800 Member number does not open until 9, but the regular Dining number opens at 7. You just have to decide if you are willing to wait until later to call the 1-800 number (that's what I did and I got everything I wanted) or if you want to call the long-distance number earlier. We have the same window as everyone else staying on property--90 days plus up to 10 after that.

Your perk is that you are paying way less for your room when you use points. Discount on dining or discount on room--we are getting a discount, it's just in a different place.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am a DVC member too.

Free dining is not a perk. It is a promotion to encourage people to book full price room (plus tickets) packages at the height of hurricane season. It's probably proving to be the most successful promotion Walt Disney World ever had. And they don't have to go to those lengths to encourage us to come - we come anyway.

Actually a room at a DVC resort, purchased with cash, plus the free dining and a ticket, can very often cost MORE than booking the same room through DVC and buying the dining plan, so it isn't always the deal it sounds like it should be.

And you too can book free dining at a value or moderate (deluxes cost about the same as the DVC room would for cash) - you just can't do it on points. You can book all the free dining packages you want, bank your points, and have a big bash with the points later on - get a bigger villa, or go on a cruise.

DVC Member Services opens at 9 AM Eastern.

Because we are staying on Disney property, we can make reservations 90 + 10 like any other person staying on Disney property - but if you want to make reservations at 7 AM Eastern you need to call 407 WDW-DINE (which isn't toll free, you are correct.) Make sure you have your DVC reservation number when you call because they will probably ask you for it. Unless you want a popular time for CRT or Le Cellier you will most likely get what you want calling at 9 if you don't want to call WDW-DINE. Call the toll number if you want CRT or Le Cellier (or maybe Chef Mickey's), book those, and call the toll free later to book everything else - that'll work, and less time on the phone.

90 + 10 means you can call exactly 90 days from the first day of your room reservation and make reservations for the next 10 days (including that day). It's not different for DVC members.

All Disney dining reservations are now at 90 days - there are no 180 day reservations any more.

 

[CRZY4DIS]

Thanks TDC Nala for the information and clarification. I appreciate it. I can see your points. And I didn't think of keeping the points for later for a cruise -- I still don't think with the points I bought we would be able to make it with our family without something expiring but it's something to look at.

Thanks for the info on the phone number. I would love LeCellier -- but we'll see.