Does Free Dining apply to DVC?

[I Run Long]

Just curious and wanted to put it out there. If they offer free dining and you want to buy points and stay at one of the DVC - could you get free dining there as well or do you only get it for non-DVC resorts?

 

[Tricia1972]

Unfortunately, free dining does not apply to DVC when using points.

I am unsure if you pay rack rate for the DVC room (based on availability) That may be different - but rack rate for those rooms is HIGH.

 

[LSchrow]

just adding to tricia's post:
you can however purchase the DDP while staying at a DVC resort on points (DVC member or rented from DVC member). under those conditions, there is no ticket purchase requirement (DDP will still have to be purchased for all ppl in room, for entire length of stay).
hth

 

[TDC Nala]

"Free dining" is a promotion used to sell rack rate room/tickets packages at the historically slowest time of the year for WDW and it has been a smashing success.

DVC doesn't need to offer its members free dining. If you're booking on your own points, you don't need to pay extra for the room. If you're renting points from a member, you're likely getting a substantial discount for the room. So there isn't any need for WDW to throw in the dining plan as an incentive to get you to book.

As posted, you can still purchase the dining plan for a DVC reservation. It's already a great deal because of the price of the room if you're renting, or the fact that you're using your own points for the room and have no extra cash outlay to make. Not only that, but there is no requirement that you buy park tickets.

If you book a room in a DVC resort with cash through CRO, you can possibly book a package with free dining, if it is available at that resort for the days you book. But you will be paying rack rate for the room.

 

[Tricia1972]

Thanks for adding that information for me. I was remiss to just answer the direct question and not post the obvious about purchasing availability. Especially since that is how we purchased the DDP both times last year.

 

[I Run Long]

Thanks very much for everyone's feedback. What a great board!