Dining Plan

[yaksack]

Why as a DVC member, who pays more then $2,000 anually to WDW, can we not get free dining like those who go once every several years?

 

[chalee94]

because those $2000 represent a discounted rate...and discounted rates don't qualify anyone for "free" dining.

if you want to sell your DVC and book at rack rate and buy a package to get "free" dining when disney chooses to offer it, knock yourself out. if you think your $2000 buys you a special status with the mouse, you misunderstood what you were purchasing.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Why as a DVC member, who pays more then $2,000 anually to WDW, can we not get free dining like those who go once every several years?

Because they don't have to try to fill our hotel rooms in late August and Sept and again in early Dec. Our villas are always booked.

Those free dining periods are only to fill the rooms when they have slack periods.

Why do you think they are giving such great discounts and added sales incentives on new sales at AKV, BLT and such?

 

[TDC Nala]

Free dining is not a perk. It is an incentive to book rack-rate packages when resort bookings are generally expected to be lower than Disney would like.

You can get the free dining if you bank your points, use them for a cruise or trade them, and purchase a rack rate package reservation at WDW.

 

[CarolMN]

Free dining isn't an entitlement, a thank you gift or even a reward for loyalty. It's just a marketing promotion designed to fill hotel rooms. It has nothing to do with DVC.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Don't forget "free dining" isn't free at all.

In my humble opinion, at the rate Disney on-property resturants are declining both in service and substinance, those people are getting exactly what they think they're paying for.

For the first time in the history of all of our trips to WDW, we are actually considering going off-site or cooking in the villa for the first time for supper every night. I'm sick of paying 5-star prices for 2-star meals (I'm being kind and gracious).

Wheat buns on greasy hamburgers? Jesus. You gotta be kidding me. If I wanted to eat healthy, I'd really eat healty; somewhere else. I could go on and on.

Dining used to be one of the highlights of our at least semi-annual trips. It has become a necessary evil. We're going to try to remedy that in September.

 

[DebbieB]

Free dining is a promotion to fill rooms at full price. My BWV 1 bedroom for 6 nights in early December would be about $3,000. My annual dues for that room is about $800. I could choose to pay the $3,000 and get "free dining" but I don't think so.

 

[yaksack]

I thought the free nights and free dining in June was a promo to fill rooms.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I thought the free nights and free dining in June was a promo to fill rooms.

It wasn't in June and it was to fill rooms. There isn't a problem filling DVC rooms.

 

[yaksack]

It wasn't in June and it was to fill rooms. There isn't a problem filling DVC rooms.

Are you saying free dining wasn't in june?

 

[TiaMaria]

To the OP: "Free" dining is for the people who aren't smart enough to know that they aren't getting "something for nothing". Or for people who don't care that they don't get any WDW resort discount. They are paying FULL RACK RATES for their room night and full price on tickets. Would you pay full rack anywhere else? I don't.

Full rack rates are hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars more (depending on the length of stay, resort choice) than they would pay if not for "Free" dining, or if they shopped around for decent discounts. It's basically a wash for the guest.

However Disney is very, very smart. They know full well the pull of the word "FREE" for those who don't know better. They know the word "Free" will fill resort rooms by those who aren't smart enough or who just don't care. Disney is a very profitable business because of this.

Unfortunately, I agree with a PP who feels that because of this, the restaurants are overrun, service is worn out and quality, in many instances, has declined. I don't care that I can't get "Free" dining, however since I am paying each time I go for the Dining Plan, I am resentful that MY experience is negatively affected.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's never been a free dining offer for the general public in June. There may have been some targeted PIN code offers.

 

[Glite]

Well said Wilson Flyer. I perfectly agree; next time I need to cook the meals instead of paying a fortune.

 

[pvalues]

To the OP: "Free" dining is for the people who aren't smart enough to know that they aren't getting "something for nothing". Or for people who don't care that they don't get any WDW resort discount. They are paying FULL RACK RATES for their room night and full price on tickets. Would you pay full rack anywhere else? I don't.

Full rack rates are hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars more (depending on the length of stay, resort choice) than they would pay if not for "Free" dining, or if they shopped around for decent discounts. It's basically a wash for the guest.

However Disney is very, very smart. They know full well the pull of the word "FREE" for those who don't know better. They know the word "Free" will fill resort rooms by those who aren't smart enough or who just don't care. Disney is a very profitable business because of this.

Unfortunately, I agree with a PP who feels that because of this, the restaurants are overrun, service is worn out and quality, in many instances, has declined. I don't care that I can't get "Free" dining, however since I am paying each time I go for the Dining Plan, I am resentful that MY experience is negatively affected.

I totally disagree with your 'smart enough' comment you made twice. The cost of the Standard plan is $854.75 for a family of five for five days with one child. Last September, we went on the 'free' dining plan and ate our first night in Epcot at the italian restaurant. When our check came it was for nearly $300 and we loved the food. We have eaten there on our previous trips when we didn't have the plan too. We also ate at the French restaurant on another night and so on. Bottom line, if we would have paid for each dinner alone, it totalled more than $1,000 not to mention the quick service lunches each day and the free snack each day. I'm an accountant and believe me, it takes me days to calculate how we are going to go everytime we go. I'm SMART ENOUGH to take advantage of the standard dining plan.

I also don't pay rack rates nor do I buy tickets at retail prices. I rent points for my stay and buy my tickets from a local ticket wholesaler in the Orlando area.

We are going in the middle of November this year for 5 nights in a 2 bedroom Savannah view at Jambo house, with standard dining plan, and 6 day park hopper tickets for about $3,800. Disney's rate with the free dining is about 30% higher than this.

I think the food is great everywhere we have eaten in our past 4 trips over the last 10 years to WDW. I can honestly say I have never had a bad table service meal.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[TDC Nala]

I believe the poster quoted above was referring to free dining, not the dining plan in general. That said, I don't like the dining plan. I would not ordinarily order an entree and dessert with every table service meal. I would not order a dessert with a quick service meal. I like the option of having just a couple of appetizers. And I like the two-credit restaurants, and restaurants that don't accept the dining plan - would have to forego those if I used it. I can eat for less cost and select the courses I want, not the ones Disney says I have to select.

I do agree that the restaurants have declined in quality. Are they bad? No, they're just not as good as they used to be. Some of that is due to the dining plan, some is due to Disney trying to cut corners and standardize menus and ingredients.

 

[Tara]

I totally disagree with your 'smart enough' comment you made twice. The cost of the Standard plan is $854.75 for a family of five for five days with one child. ..... I'm SMART ENOUGH to take advantage of the standard dining plan.

We are going in the middle of November this year for 5 nights in a 2 bedroom Savannah view at Jambo house, with standard dining plan, and 6 day park hopper tickets for about $3,800. Disney's rate with the free dining is about 30% higher than this.

I believe that the poster you're responding to was saying the FREE dining offer isn't necessarily a good deal (and certainly not "free"). She is saying that for the price you pay for the hotel room at rack rates, you can usually find discounted rates and pay for the dining plan for the same total cost, if not a little under the "free" dining package cost. (And renting points for a villa then adding the dining plan at its regular price is also cheaper than paying rack rates just to get the free dining, unless you are willing to downgrade your accommodations to a moderate.) What you are saying is that the dining plan can save you money over paying out-of-pocket for meals. Two different arguments.

Having done the dining plan, I don't care for it because I'm more likely to have an appetizer than dessert (I'm a big soup fan) and I prefer signature restaurants (which aren't as good a deal using credits IME). Luckily I'm able to get the Tables in Wonderland card and that works MUCH better for our family.

 

[pvalues]

What is the Tables in Wonderland card?

 

[chalee94]

What is the Tables in Wonderland card?

link.