Anyone canceling their DVC reservation to book free dining?

[yxe dad]

When I worked out the numbers it was better for me to cancel my dvc reservation and book the same nights with free dining and save the points.

So now I have my points back into my account and I'll bank them for a large family trip in Dec 2011. Now we are booked into a Pool View Room at the AKL instead of a Standard Studio at the Jambo House and I upgraded to the DxDP.

Anyone else looking at booking a package and saving points this year?

 

[jennib5426]

I did the math and it was not a better deal to cancel my week at AKV and book free dining in October. I had to factor in that we already have AP's so we don't need tickets. We have a Savanah view studio booked and if we down graded to a pool or standard view the family would be very upset.

If it was just me I would cancel and switch to a mod with free dining in a heartbeat.

 

[TiaMaria]

Not in a million years!!

 

[Chuck S]

No way would I change out of a DVC to a free dining cash room. But, depending uponthe ages and number of your traveling party, I can see where some may find it an advantage.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I can't imagine why someone would want to give up a reservation that is already paid for with points to having to pay to stay even if you are getting free food. But then I've never understood this entire dining plan thing. We just don't come close to eating that much food everyday. At most we may eat at 1-2 full service restaurants during a weeks stay. Other than that we eat counter service and eat in our room.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I bought DVC to stay in a 2br villa and have a comfortable relaxing time, so no! I do not travel to Disney during the Free Dining period! As a matter of fact, Disney restaurants would have to improve the quality and variety a heck of a lot before I'd even consider it!

 

[dianeschlicht]

ABSOLUTELY......NOT!!!! It's not a good financial decision just like buying the DDP isn't a good financial decision for us. We spent several trips keeping detailed accounts of costs with the DDP and without using the TIW card, and our costs were SIGNIFICANTLY less when we did OOP with the TIW card over DDP. Add to that the cost of a rack rate "regular room" (which I would have a lot of trouble going back to), and it's definitely not worth the cost.

 

[sweetdana]

I haven't cancelled a DVC for FD.. .. But I did book 9 nights at FQ (2011) Aug 24- Sept at the FQ. .. though if I find a person willing to rent me cheaper.. I will jump ship. (I won't look until much closer out.)

I don't think it comes out cheaper (at 10$ a point), but I don't have enough points to go 4-5 times a year, so I still rent points and use Disney discount.

I think it works out nearly identical for SSR at about 10$ a point verses FD at FQ. (within 200$). To be honest I think they are so similar. I love the extra bed instead of a sofa bed, I love free coffee, 1 bus stop instead of 4 and mouse keeping. SSR has free internet, bigger rooms and stuff.. but to me they are equal. (I am sure not to everyone.)

If I have another 150 points I wouldn't, but DH and I arn't sold on going 4-5 times a year forever, and although we may for a while, When DD5 is .. say DD15 probably different story. (Rules with renting/ minimum stays/MF/allocations will all change over the years, seems to make more fin. sense to risk somethings with the market than another 150 point contract.)

So for now, I will use mine, rent other peoples when available, and use Disney discounts too. I would use what ever at that moment makes the most sense.

I have a 10 day trip planned with DVC in Aug-sept this year, and 3 night trip planned in Nov, (DVC) and 9 night planned in Dec (DVC, 1/2 trans. points bought from someone else) and a 6 night planned in Memorial day (transferred points). So .. Aug is rent or FD.

 

[Bullseye]

I can't imagine why someone would want to give up a reservation that is already paid for with points to having to pay to stay even if you are getting free food. But then I've never understood this entire dining plan thing. We just don't come close to eating that much food everyday. At most we may eat at 1-2 full service restaurants during a weeks stay. Other than that we eat counter service and eat in our room.

Ditto! The one year we had dining plan it was fun, but just too much food. Disney vacation is already paid for so I can't see paying again. Over 10 days we'll do 3-4 TS/Character meals, and QS and room dining for the rest. Now that we have DVC kitchens, I envision spending less on dining each trip.

 

[Sammie]

I can't imagine why someone would want to give up a reservation that is already paid for with points to having to pay to stay even if you are getting free food. But then I've never understood this entire dining plan thing. We just don't come close to eating that much food everyday. At most we may eat at 1-2 full service restaurants during a weeks stay. Other than that we eat counter service and eat in our room.

Just curious, I can understand that some do not want Full Service daily, or less if you do signature, but as long as you are eating at least two meals a day, how is it more food.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

No, I wouldn't cancel to do the dining plan.

I'm not happy about free dining going on almost yearly now. I think the menus, service and food has changed for the worse.

 

[cogero]

I don't like free dining. I don't like regular hotel rooms for us there just isn't enough space. We like to spread out.

We eat breakfast in our room and 1 TS meal per day so the dining plan doesn't work for us. For those that it works for good for them.

 

[delmar411]

We are seriously considering switching over to free dining for the first week in Jan. But we are already staying in 2 studios so 2 other rooms is pretty much the same thing and we were going to add on the dining plan for this next trip anyway. And we need the points we are using to stay in Jan, for our trip in May. Works out that it will save us just over $500 to do the free dining vs renting or transferring points to complete our May/June trip.

 

[Bumbleink]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has ever kept their DVC reservations but also booked a Moderate etc to get the free dining plan. I presume this wouldn't be impossible to do - i guess you would just have to check in at both places.

 

[CocosMeme]

I don't like free dining. I don't like regular hotel rooms for us there just isn't enough space. We like to spread out.

We eat breakfast in our room and 1 TS meal per day so the dining plan doesn't work for us. For those that it works for good for them.

Ditto! I went with my son and his family on a spur of the moment trip in Feb. and stayed at CBR. It was O.K. but I have become a DVC snob!! I really missed my space, my kitchen, and my morning coffee on my balcony. We also eat breakfast in the condo and 1 TS meal a day. With a nice breakfast we have discoverer a snack and nice dinner are all we need.

 

[keishashadow]

We did last december & stayed @ PORFQ & allowed my oldest DS to use the points @ BLThe still thinks im 'da bomb

we had planned offsite activities during the week, including sea world & trip to Crystal River to snorkel with the manatees, so it worked out fine.

only 3 of us in the room, plenty of space, i'd be happy to stay there in the future.

I ran the numbers for our trip in Oct for FDP. I was tempted (for a second lol), it's my turn to stay @ BLT!

 

[jodifla]

NO WAY!!!

"Free" dining isn't free, but it sure is EVIL.

 

[dianeschlicht]

NO WAY!!!

"Free" dining isn't free, but it sure is EVIL.

LOL! I AGREE!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Just curious, I can understand that some do not want Full Service daily, or less if you do signature, but as long as you are eating at least two meals a day, how is it more food.

In addition to not eating a TS every day, my DH and I often split a CS meal. Even when we eat TS, we never each get an entree and a desert. We are probably paying cash for a 10 night stay at BWV and before the most recent discounts, I though FD was the only deal. I was racking my brain trying to figure out to how to use all those TS credits! - Suzanne

 

[smjj]

No, I wouldn't cancel to do the dining plan.

I'm not happy about free dining going on almost yearly now. I think the menus, service and food has changed for the worse.

I can vouch for that. Since the dining plan, the unique menus once served at OKW and other resorts with signature restaurants has gone down hill. They have vanillaized the menus to accomdate the mass production of these foods to the point the current menu and food quality is just not what it used to be. The bad think about all this is that unless you took advantage of the unique menus, you probably do not know the difference and that is just what Disney is counting on......smjj