Anyone ever do this or is it a hairbrained scheme I am thinking about?

[Perdita&Pongo]

We are booked in a AKV SV Studio in late August. With the supposed impending announcement of the Free Dining packages, I was wondering why couldn't you keep your DVC accomodations, but also book a Value Resort MYW Package w/free dining?

You wouldn't actually occupy the Value room, but for a family of four it would still be cheaper ($82/nt + 13%tax) than adding DDP onto your DVC ressie.

We need to buy park tickets anyway, so that part of the Free Dining requirement is not a negative.

Thoughts?

 

[msabol01]

I would only question whether the reservation computers would catch duplicate names in the sytem (ie same guests at the value resort as at AKV)?

 

[lovinthemouse]

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Clever - Very Clever !! I think you may have found a loophole in the program.

This could cause major havoc in many areas of the value resorts and the parks as they could potentially be booked at full capacity at the value with a much lower rate of actual people which would throw off the park estimate numbers as well. This would drastically affect their staffing levels accross the board, it would cause them to over purchase on perishables, it would increase the bus services, it could cause alot of other things to occur having "scewed numbers". If this were done on a grand scale by DVC members as a whole this could really spin things out of whack for management in many, many areas.

 

[Princess Roo]

It has been discussed over on the DDP boards, with some saying it is very clever and others saying it is unethical and cheats other people out of the room that can't afford anything but a value. Honestly, I'm surprised Disney continues to offer free dining for 4 people in the value rooms.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Unethical for sure. I too am very surprised Disney continues to offer Free Dining. It must be a wining situation for them though, or they wouldn't continue to offer it on low occupancy times. If all DVC members did as this thread suggests though, it would probably force them to give up free dining faster. This whole suggestion made me feel like shocked. Where is that slack jawed smilie when you need him? It never ceases to amaze me at how much dishonesty creeps in when a company tries to do something like this.

 

[hansel1]

Here's the thing: You just shouldn't do it.

Having said that, the real problem is that the money you are paying for the extra room isn't just $82 plus tax. That price doesn't include more than two people. Any additional person over 2 years old is charged $10 per night.

So you will be paying $102 plus tax each day ($117 roughly) to get free dining.

The dining plan costs $37.99 per adult (tax included) and $9.99 per child under 10 (tax included).

So, if you have 2 adults and 2 children your dining plan cost is only 95.96 per day. If you have 3 adults and 1 child ($123.96). 4 Adults ($151.96).

It would only be cost effective if one or more of your 2 children are older than 9 years of age. Then you have to weight the moral issue of reserving a room that others may need.

One other big problem is the changes that DDP has made since 2007. No tip included, no appetizers included. You might end up losing any savings by the tip amounts alone.

You really shouldn't do it!

 

[Inkmahm]

It has been discussed over on the DDP boards, with some saying it is very clever and others saying it is unethical and cheats other people out of the room that can't afford anything but a value. Honestly, I'm surprised Disney continues to offer free dining for 4 people in the value rooms.

Much as we love it, Disney is a business. It's a corporation, not a living being. IF there were an advantage to paying for a room to get free dining rather than just signing up for dining with your DVC reservation, I don't see it as being unethical. Disney gets their $ on terms they set up. If they don't like the terms, they can change them at any time.

 

[alldiz]

Definately unethical....

people were doing it and staying offsite.

there is always a loophole...unfortunately it's the abuse of a system that
ruins it for everyone.
Let your conscience be your guide.
Kerri

 

[JudyS]

Does Disney actually have a requirement that you stay in the room that you book? If not, I'm not sure why this would be unethical.

I've heard of other people booking multiple rooms for various reasons. For example, I've heard of families staying in, say, a 2-bdrm at OKW but also having a room at a Monorail hotel so the kids could have a nap during the day. Now, I can't afford this, but I don't see it as unethical.

 

[cpbjgc]

If you were staying more than two days, don't you think housekeeping would notice the room is unoccupied? I'm just curious what they would do if they saw an empty room sitting there. Would they potentially cancel the reservation which might then screw up your free dining and park tickets?

I don't know the answer, just musing.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I guess I do not see why this is unethical.. you are paying for the room you can do what you want with it. I personally would not burn the points I would just stay at a moderate, get my free dining and bank my points. I would not think you are doing a bad thing if you did it the other way though. JMHO..

 

[DMKEDM]

OK...maybe I'm fatally flawed on ethics, but I'll be switched if I see anything dishonest or unethical in this plan!! I do see it as not saving very much money by the time you pay for the various MYW package elements that are required to get free dining...but if you get lucky and get one of the least expensive rooms and have a group of four that "works" (kids ages, etc), you might save a penny or two. (Don't forget you'll have to go check in at the value, and "show" all your people on the reservation, or so I've read, to get the free dining, so for it to work you wouldn't be able to "make up" your party size...it'd have to be real. And you'll have to carve out valuable vacation time to check in to make it work.)

But what's so wrong with this? It's low season (hence free dining)...not like there will be huge competition for those rooms. And truth be told, why would it be wrong to "use" two rooms (whether for free dining or just because you might happen to want to) if you can get them and pay for them?

I just don't get what's "wrong" with this plan (other than, for me, it being too cumbersome and troublesome to make it worth a pretty minor savings)...no doubt you-all will tell me and then I'll know. BUt I not only don't see anything particularly wrong with it, I'm mystified at the intensity of the reaction...

I'd actually welcome someone explaining it to me...particularly if that can be done w/out suggesting that I'm a slime ball. Keep in mind, even tho I see nothing at all wrong with the idea, it's not my idea and I'm not going to use it!

Thanks...

 

[alldiz]

I guess it "bothers" me because I like the opportunity to get free dining and I think they might taketh away if they are not "making" enough money.

4 adults could be in POP. Only 1 person has to check in for everyone. I didn't need my family with me when I checked into POFQ.

I guess maybe I want someone to get to go to WDW who really needs the free dining available to afford the trip.....If all the rooms are taken up by noone it won't be available
Kerri

 

[CarolA]

It's not a loop hole. Folks have been doing it for the past few years.

Here are the things you do have to do...

1. Check in at your resort. ALL family members staying on Free Dining must be present at check in. This is Unique to Free Dining. Disney has learned that folks make up family members LOL!

2. Go to room, put "Do Not Disturb" sign out.

3. Have fun. (It is good to go back at the end of your stay and check out and remove sign LOL!)

You aren't ripping Disney off, you are paying the same as everyone else. There is always this "outcry" when folks do this, but it's been done for years. (You should read the resort board when someone suggests booking a campsite at FW to get EMH LOL!)

And what's "unethical" about it? From Disney's point of view it's actually a winning situation. You just paid for a room.... since you don't USE the room it won't take the maid long to clean it, saves them money. They got thier $82 no matter what! They don't care. The only "unethical" part would be if you "made up" family members to get more free meals. (which is why they know want ALL of you there at check in during Free Dining LOL!)

NOW the BIG unknown.... Will Free Dining include the Values? For bounceback it did, for the UK bookings for their Free Dining it didn't. If it doesn't the deal is not as good.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

But what's so wrong with this? It's low season (hence free dining)...not like there will be huge competition for those rooms. And truth be told, why would it be wrong to "use" two rooms (whether for free dining or just because you might happen to want to) if you can get them and pay for them?

I just don't get what's "wrong" with this plan (other than, for me, it being too cumbersome and troublesome to make it worth a pretty minor savings)...no doubt you-all will tell me and then I'll know. BUt I not only don't see anything particularly wrong with it, I'm mystified at the intensity of the reaction...

I'd actually welcome someone explaining it to me...particularly if that can be done w/out suggesting that I'm a slime ball. laughing: added by me, Mare.) Keep in mind, even tho I see nothing at all wrong with the idea, it's not my idea and I'm not going to use it!

Thanks...

I had never heard of such a thing (booking a room just for free dining, and I know nothing about dining plans/free dining), but I have to agree on every point. If you're paying for the room, and not creating imaginary guests, so what?

The dining plans themselves seem like "work" to me, having to book things so far in advance and be there at a certain time. We USED TO do Disney like this, 10 years ago. Now, I'm way more into winging it. It does mean we don't get sitdown meals sometimes when we want them, but . (We have just a few special meals booked for our upcoming trip.)

My DD and her friend kept their "Do not disturb" sign up for a week, and were left items daily outside their room. Wonder what would happen after they accumulate for a few days.

 

[hansel1]

OK...maybe I'm fatally flawed on ethics, but I'll be switched if I see anything dishonest or unethical in this plan!! I do see it as not saving very much money by the time you pay for the various MYW package elements that are required to get free dining...but if you get lucky and get one of the least expensive rooms and have a group of four that "works" (kids ages, etc), you might save a penny or two. (Don't forget you'll have to go check in at the value, and "show" all your people on the reservation, or so I've read, to get the free dining, so for it to work you wouldn't be able to "make up" your party size...it'd have to be real. And you'll have to carve out valuable vacation time to check in to make it work.)

But what's so wrong with this? It's low season (hence free dining)...not like there will be huge competition for those rooms. And truth be told, why would it be wrong to "use" two rooms (whether for free dining or just because you might happen to want to) if you can get them and pay for them?

I just don't get what's "wrong" with this plan (other than, for me, it being too cumbersome and troublesome to make it worth a pretty minor savings)...no doubt you-all will tell me and then I'll know. BUt I not only don't see anything particularly wrong with it, I'm mystified at the intensity of the reaction...

I'd actually welcome someone explaining it to me...particularly if that can be done w/out suggesting that I'm a slime ball. Keep in mind, even tho I see nothing at all wrong with the idea, it's not my idea and I'm not going to use it!

Thanks...

I don't think anyone is suggesting that this tactic is "slime ball" worthy, but what it does is take one room out of the rotation for a family that may not be able to afford anything better than a value resort room with free dining.

During the last few free dining periods the rooms were limited in availability. So if someone takes the value room only to get a savings on dining, then that is one less family that could possibly get the free dining program.

Whether it is ethical or not depends on the individual. If you don't see it as unethical, then its not. If you don't do it because you believe it is unethical, then that is ok too.

I wouldn't do it and I would advise other's not to do it either.

 

[marynvince]

dining and then stay in the value. Is this unethical? Am I cheating a fellow vacation club member because they may not be able to get a room at their resort of choice? Is Disney losing money on this proposition?
No they are not. They are glad to see me use my points and I am paying $82 for a room that would likely set idle anyway. So what I am paying $82 for, or more depending on the kid breakdown, is overpriced food that Disney is making a profit on. Money they would not have gotten from me otherwise.

Since most would say it is stupid to book both and then use value just to justify the "free" meals, the hangup is where you sleep. Who cares, you paid for both use them however you want to use them.

I commend those that find ways to maximize value in their trips to Disney. Isn't that what we all did by joining DVC?

 

[global_mom]

I'm confused . People have time on their vacations to jump thru all these hoops to save a few (very few) bucks? Who thinks up this stuff???

You still paid for your DVC points, where is there any savings in this plan? Plus, the "new" dining plan is not that great. Sounds like waaaayyy tooooo much effort.

 

[Tine731]

Here's the thing: You just shouldn't do it.

Any additional person over 2 years old is charged $10 per night.

This is not correct. The $10 per night charge is for the 3rd/4th guest 18 years or older.