Dining & DVC

[Chuck S]

In the long run paying customers are going to pay more for their single meal that day then DDP.

Not necessarily. During our trips, we tend to eat a table service meal daily for lunch. Sometimes we have a TS breakfast and a late lunch. Even so, over the course of the trip, I've always saved $ paying out of pocket vs the cost of the DDP. Some days we do pay more, but overall we pay less.

 

[JimMIA]

Couldn't non members see some of our current perks that way? AP discounts, restaurant discounts, pool hopping, shopping discounts, etc. I didn't really mean to harm anyone. Just thinking it would have been nice.

On most of the "should I buy DVC" threads, you will find one very consistent piece of advice: "DON'T even consider perks in your decision making process." And the reason is quite simple. Perks come and go at the stroke of a Disney pen.

Anyone who would use a dining perk (or any other perk, IMHO) as a justification for buying DVC is just grasping at straws to justify getting what they WANT, but probably shouldn't buy. Perks are a sucker's bet for prospective DVC purchasers.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Not necessarily. During our trips, we tend to eat a table service meal daily for lunch. Sometimes we have a TS breakfast and a late lunch. Even so, over the course of the trip, I've always saved $ paying out of pocket vs the cost of the DDP. Some days we do pay more, but overall we pay less.

A lot of it depends on how much you eat... if each person normally wouldn't order their own appetizer and dessert, then it will usually be cheaper overall out of pocket. DDP was a much better deal when the tip was included. There was a guarenteed 18% savings right there.

 

[UConnJack]

I never really understood this "I'm getting my room at something around $80 a night" (for DVCers who bought OKW fifteen years ago and stay in studios in low points seasons), but I should get priority over people who are paying $400 a night for a room at the Beach Club. We can't necessarily play the loyalty card - anyone who has spent any time on the resorts board knows there are people who spend $400 a night for the Poly year in and year out.

Yes, there are many people who visit WDW regularly as CRO resort, but DVC members have basically committed to going multiple times a year for 30-50 years. Sure, the equivalant room "cost" may be relatively inexpensive, but I'd be willing to bet that DVC members are likely to spend more money at WDW over their lifetimes than guests who frequent the cash resorts. While DVC is a great deal for us, it's an even better deal for Disney. DVC provides Disney with a loyal and relatively stable pool of visitors, so yes, I would like to see more perks for DVC members, because frankly, the ones they have now are generally pretty lame.

But of course, DVC/Disney is a buisness, and the perks are all marketing driven. The perks were great over the first several years of DVC, but since it has taken off and people continue to buy in at record numbers, perks will just continue to dwindle away. And there certainly won't be any new significant new ones offered until it hits the skids (if that ever happens.)

 

[JimMIA]

...I would like to see more perks for DVC members, because frankly, the ones they have now are generally pretty lame.

Well, we have some pretty good perks. The big one - though not for our family, because we do MUCH better with the FL resident seasonal pass - is the AP discount.

To be perfectly honest, we hardly take advantage of perks. We almost never remember to ask for the shopping or dining discounts, for example. We did get the 30% La Nouba discount last trip and LOVED that one!

But if I were going to lobby for perks, I'd want perks that almost everyone could use on every visit. The big one I'd like to see is a preferential Fast Pass for all onsite guests. It wouldn't even have to be an all-inclusive Front of the Line thing like Universal gives their onsite guests. A limited onsite Fast Pass like they give to birthday celebrants now would be a huge plus.

But an extra day, week, month to make ADRs? No thanks.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Yes, there are many people who visit WDW regularly as CRO resort, but DVC members have basically committed to going multiple times a year for 30-50 years. Sure, the equivalant room "cost" may be relatively inexpensive, but I'd be willing to bet that DVC members are likely to spend more money at WDW over their lifetimes than guests who frequent the cash resorts. While DVC is a great deal for us, it's an even better deal for Disney. DVC provides Disney with a loyal and relatively stable pool of visitors, so yes, I would like to see more perks for DVC members, because frankly, the ones they have now are generally pretty lame.

But of course, DVC/Disney is a buisness, and the perks are all marketing driven. The perks were great over the first several years of DVC, but since it has taken off and people continue to buy in at record numbers, perks will just continue to dwindle away. And there certainly won't be any new significant new ones offered until it hits the skids (if that ever happens.)

Well i will say if a Poly DVC opens, I'm sure the people Crisi refers too will probably buy, but then I could be wrong.

Basically, we should NEVER feel entitled because we are Disney owners. That's just plain wrong. But we also are ALWAYS going to look out for the "best interests" of our little DVC family (which also means looking out for ourselves as part of said family.) I don't feel we are entitled to ANY of the discounts we get... I bought DVC because I found it to be the best way to stay in much nicer rooms at Disney than I could usually afford. Staying in even a Studio Villa is much nicer than any of the Moderates or Value resorts, IMHO. That and the fact we go as often as we do is the chief reason most of us are DVC members.

NOW, that being said, I love ANY perk that is thrown our way. I love the AP discount especially so I can do TIW. So I would love to see early ADRs, but I don't feel Disney HAS to do that because we own DVC.

I could make a couple of potential arguments though of WHY adding perks like that can be beneficial... One, it might push fence sitters into DVC (even if you shouldn't buy it for the Perks as they could change at any time)... Two, it might make current owners more likely to add on and want to spend more vacation money there.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Well, we have some pretty good perks. The big one - though not for our family, because we do MUCH better with the FL resident seasonal pass - is the AP discount.

To be perfectly honest, we hardly take advantage of perks. We almost never remember to ask for the shopping or dining discounts, for example. We did get the 30% La Nouba discount last trip and LOVED that one!

But if I were going to lobby for perks, I'd want perks that almost everyone could use on every visit. The big one I'd like to see is a preferential Fast Pass for all onsite guests. It wouldn't even have to be an all-inclusive Front of the Line thing like Universal gives their onsite guests. A limited onsite Fast Pass like they give to birthday celebrants now would be a huge plus.

But an extra day, week, month to make ADRs? No thanks.

Not sure what the BDAY fast pass is, but I'd love to be able to pick up a fast pass like they give you when you go on the DVC tours... letting you have instant access to a few rides in each park. That would be great.

Some more shopping and dining discounts would be nice... Frankly, I'm surprised they don't offer more, as Discounts like TIW make it more likely people will eat at the Restaurants... or let us buy into TIW without an AP... Even if they charged the FL resident or a little more than that, I'd be interested.

But as with you, the AP is the big one I hope they never get rid of. That would really suck if they did.

 

[JimMIA]

Not sure what the BDAY fast pass is, but I'd love to be able to pick up a fast pass like they give you when you go on the DVC tours... letting you have instant access to a few rides in each park. That would be great.

It's something like that. We haven't used it because our B-Days are in September and there is NO WAY we're going to WDW then!

But if they let us get a couple of extra fast passes a day, in whichever park we visited, that would be great. Somebody recently did the B-day FPs and between those and the ones they got with their room cards, they were good all day with little or no waiting. Hopefully one of those folks will post the details of the B-Day FP.

 

[Tara]

On most of the "should I buy DVC" threads, you will find one very consistent piece of advice: "DON'T even consider perks in your decision making process." And the reason is quite simple. Perks come and go at the stroke of a Disney pen.

Anyone who would use a dining perk (or any other perk, IMHO) as a justification for buying DVC is just grasping at straws to justify getting what they WANT, but probably shouldn't buy. Perks are a sucker's bet for prospective DVC purchasers.

I totally agree with this.

I can't imagine Disney making separate criteria for booking ADRs based on DVC/not...but if they were to give some group an advantage, I think DVC wouldn't make the cut - at least not at the top of the list, anyway. They want to sell the dining plan, so I would guess they'd give preference to people purchasing the dining plan over those who are not.

 

[JimMIA]

Getting back to the OP's point about competing with Free DDP...if you visit that time of year, you're going to just work around the ADR mess.

You may have smaller crowds in the parks, but the restaurants are going to be jammed with "Free diners." Getting ADRs will be ugly, and the dining might even be worse than the ADRs, because the restaurants will resemble NYC subways during rush hour!

 

[Caren]

I feel your pain! I called the first morning I could & I tried getting reservations for the week of 8/17 & it was slim pickings. I did manage to get a good California Grill time for the end of the week, but I only managed to get mama melrose mid week for a late lunch at 3:35 since I couldn't get dinner at all, and many of our first choices were booked for the other days. It was very disappointing, but I'm not sure how WDW could handle it. I agree that it's not very disney-like to give DVC members extra booking power or to distinguish between the resort classes in deciding who gets to call first. If I was non-DVC or if I was at POP (which we've done many times) I'd feel very put out by that. Not sure what the answer is or even if there is one.

I think part of the problem might be the way their computer system works since it's not very flexible as far as rearranging tables for different party sizes and I think it tends to show restaurants as being booked solid when they really aren't. We were told at BWVs concierge desk one summer week that Ohana was waaaay overbooked all week with no chance of getting a last minute reservation, but when we went there the tables were half empty & we were seated within a half hour. I know sometimes people don't show for their ADRs, but that many?

Last September we were caught in a downpour at the Beach Club and stopped by the lobby concierge to see if there was an opening for two at the Captain's Grille. There was not. But when we strolled down there, the place was near empty and we were seated immediately. It seems the problem was that the computer wouldn't put two people at a table for four and ALL the tables in the place were for four. There are definitely issues to be worked out.

 

[cheezNE1]

I am very unhappy and disappointed with the new 90 day rule for dining. This past week I called at 9am on my very first day (90 days out) and I could not getting Le Cellier for my whole trip! Also, I could not get the Spirit of Aloha in section 2 or 3 (which is what's allowed on the dining plan). All the ressies I did get are either very early or very late. Why is it so impossible to get dinner ressies? I called as soon as I was allowed to do so.

Being DVC, I think there should be some extra perk when booking ressies. Like 100 days instead of 90 or guaranteed tables at popular resorts for DVC only. I don't know, but it is very disappointing to call exactly 90 days out at 9am and get very little. Sorry, just needed to rant.

I've had no luck on my past 2 trips with Le cellier 90 days out. For some reason, that place is hard to get a ressie. Are the steaks that good there...

 

[Chuck S]

I've had no luck on my past 2 trips with Le cellier 90 days out. For some reason, that place is hard to get a ressie. Are the steaks that good there...

In my experience the steaks were good, but not any better or worse than the now closed Contemporary Steakhouse, Jiko or even Olivia's.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We had the same problem in April during Easter week.

I remember you could wake up and decide that day (in Disney) where you wanted to eat and just walk up to the restuarant and get in.

The DDP has definitely changed things.

But I would definitely try back to see if anything is available. I know I had to change my reservations several times during my trip. In fact, we had ADR for the Yak & Yeti for 5:00 pm and decided that we wouldn't be in the AK that long and went at 10:00 am and asked if we could reschedule our ADRS and they let us come back any time we wanted. I also, had to cancel my ADRs in England (2 days before) and make a new one for the same time elsewhere and it was available .

Good Luck!!!

 

[dischick4778]

Just to give an update, I had sent DVC an email last week with my concern and they actually called me today. The CM apologized for the trouble and admitted that by me calling member services instead of WDW Dine that I missed out on 2 hours of time where I could have been making ressies. She said this is a flaw and that she was recommending the process be looked into. She offered to check into ressies for me and see if there was anything she could do now. But she said she felt there needed to be a better way for DVC members to make their dining ressies.

I'm sure she was just being nice, but it is comforting to know that at least they took my email to heart and felt it deserved a phone call. It did make me feel better.

 

[JimMIA]

In my experience the steaks were good, but not any better or worse than the now closed Contemporary Steakhouse, Jiko or even Olivia's.

There was a time when the food was somewhat better than it is now, and you could walk right into LC. It used to be our favorite onsite restaurant, even back in the day when we were paying cash for all our meals (long before DDP)

In fact, before DVC came out with the slogan, we used to call LC "Disney's Best Kept Secret!" And so did the Canadian CM's. I've always sorta thought DVC stole that from us!

But the food just about everywhere at WDW has deteriorated in the last 4-5 years. Many blame the deterioration on DDP, but I think it's more the corporate "cut expenses - maximize profits" mentality. I don't own Disney stock, but as a shareholder in other companies I understand the mentality. Still, it has caused the Mouse to lose some of his luster in recent years -- especially in the dining area, but also in places like housekeeping in DVC.

 

[CHD New York]

I am a DVC Member, and the free dinning is causing vacation problems for my further trip. I feel that DVC Members should have Dinning perks for which allow us to book early than the 90 days out window.

I would like every DVC Member to email Members Services about the problems that free dinning is causing us, and request the we should get more perks and should be able to book dinning early than 90 days out. Being that we invested so much money into DVC I feel we should get more than the regular Disney Guest.

Please replay to this thread if you email DVC Members Services

 

[Chuck S]

There was a time when the food was somewhat better than it is now, and you could walk right into LC. It used to be our favorite onsite restaurant, even back in the day when we were paying cash for all our meals (long before DDP)

In fact, before DVC came out with the slogan, we used to call LC "Disney's Best Kept Secret!" And so did the Canadian CM's. I've always sorta thought DVC stole that from us!

But the food just about everywhere at WDW has deteriorated in the last 4-5 years. Many blame the deterioration on DDP, but I think it's more the corporate "cut expenses - maximize profits" mentality. I don't own Disney stock, but as a shareholder in other companies I understand the mentality. Still, it has caused the Mouse to lose some of his luster in recent years -- especially in the dining area, but also in places like housekeeping in DVC.

Do you remember way back when Le Cellier was a cafeteria/serving line and not a Table Service venue? They had really interesting foods.

As far as the deterioration in overall offerings and quality, I think the DDP was a contributing factor, just like the corporate profit taking mentality. I don't think the decline can be directly linked to any one cause...just a lot of little spears all taking a chink out of the armor adding up to lower quality and fewer selections.

 

[Sandisw]

I just want to say I am sorry that your planning isn't going as well as you expected as I know how frustrating things can be when you have it all planned out and then it doesn't work.

Here is some pixiedust in hopes that something opens up for you and your dining wishes come true!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Although I would love the opportunity, no one has a benefit in the current scenario so I don't see any harm done.