dvc and dining plan

[STLDisney_Freak]

Does DVC get any type of discount on the regular dining plan??? The 1 tb, 1 counter, 1 snack plan.

 

[thepops]

Not a discount, but you don't need to purchase tickets like you do with the normal dining plan packages. Also I don't beleive DVC gets the seasonal surcharge that the normal plan does.

 

[berryvic99]

This is my first time posting as a relatively new DVC member.

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the dining plan deals I am now seeing posted that go well into 2012.

This is after being told, when we asked about these at the point of purchase, that these type of deals wouldn't always be out there, so we would definitely benefit from our points purchase.

Has there been any discussion on this? Are we being penalized for our membership with this? We were going to gift friends a room for an upcoming trip, and now they can use this deal to travel for less cost and still pay for the room.

It's just a bit disillusioning. I could understand if this was an effort to fill rooms and do some last minute marketing, but this is for a year from now.

What am I missing here? I'm hoping that the owners here on this board can help me feel less like I've been sold a bill of goods.

Has there been any movement to give a discounted rate on dining plans to DVC bookings? Or on park passes (even if ONLY when these other deals are offered)?

Thanks.
Vic

 

[disneynutz]

I hate to say it Vic, but you were sold a bill of goods and it seems like you may have not done enough homework before you bought.

DVC ownership is a unique product with a lot of pluses and minuses. For some people depending on your vacation habits, expectations, ability to plan and book 11 months in advance of your trip, level of desired accommodations, and available play money, DVC can be a good fit.

For others, they get caught up with wanting to be in a club or owning a piece of Disney and the make the mistake of buying.

There has to be a reason for so many contracts for sale.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

I hate to say it Vic, but you were sold a bill of goods and it seems like you may have not done enough homework before you bought.

DVC ownership is a unique product with a lot of pluses and minuses. For some people depending on your vacation habits, expectations, ability to plan and book 11 months in advance of your trip, level of desired accommodations, and available play money, DVC can be a good fit.

For others, they get caught up with wanting to be in a club or owning a piece of Disney and the make the mistake of buying.

There has to be a reason for so many contracts for sale.

Bill

What Bill said.

 

[lions1995]

There are certainly cheaper ways to go to Disney than joining DVC. I have seen many discussion over the cost points of DVC versus staying at a resort. It comes down to the accomodations you would rather have. If you would be staying in Deluxe reports (as all the DVC resorts are considered) and it cheaper to go DVC. If you would rather go to Pop Century, than it is hard to justify DVC. AS for the "free" Dining. Well, it is never free. Disney just charges full room rate (rather than the discounted rate one gets any other time). Again, there are many discussions and analysis on the free dining plan , in some cases showing that it cost you more to use it depending on where you stay. Remeber, the value resorts get the "free" Quick Service dining plan and that does nto include any Table services.

Well, welcome to the Club. Use it and enjoy it.

 

[Chuck S]

With my current DVC Dues and initial purchase price, I pay less than $80 per night in a studio at OKW most times of the year by using my points. It would cost a great deal more to book it on cash with "free dining." Now, I could stay at POP or All Stars with free dining for about the same cost. BUT to me, I choose my DVC over a free dining promotion. It really depends upon your personal preferences...how you like to vacation. Comparing DVC to a free dining promotion at a Value is like apples to oranges, they are different vacation experiences.

 

[chalee94]

DVC "guides" are really just salespeople. and i think they were "honest" in a sales kinda way: at some point in the next 30 to 50 years of DVC ownership, "free" dining and 40% off deals will probably be hard to find.

but just like a car salesman telling you their brand is the most reliable and best car out there, they'll spin things a bit. if you wanted the unvarnished truth, looking for independent opinions would have been a better way to go.

you made a deal to get discounted villa accommodations through the expiration of your contract. that's all. that's a good thing, but if your expectations were higher and you expect disney to still work as hard to get you to come every year - to "owe you more" - then that's not very realistic.

 

[Lynne M]

This is my first time posting as a relatively new DVC member.

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the dining plan deals I am now seeing posted that go well into 2012.

This is after being told, when we asked about these at the point of purchase, that these type of deals wouldn't always be out there, so we would definitely benefit from our points purchase.

Has there been any discussion on this? Are we being penalized for our membership with this? We were going to gift friends a room for an upcoming trip, and now they can use this deal to travel for less cost and still pay for the room.

It's just a bit disillusioning. I could understand if this was an effort to fill rooms and do some last minute marketing, but this is for a year from now.

What am I missing here? I'm hoping that the owners here on this board can help me feel less like I've been sold a bill of goods.

Has there been any movement to give a discounted rate on dining plans to DVC bookings? Or on park passes (even if ONLY when these other deals are offered)?

Thanks.
Vic

I think you're misunderstanding what DVC is.

It's a timeshare. A real estate interest in a resort. It's not a discount club, and it's not a inexpensive way to go to WDW. The value in DVC comes in the reduced cost, over time, for villa-style accommodations, compared to what you would pay for a cash reservation for those same accommodations.

That's all it is. Occasionally, third parties (like Disney Parks, or various shops and restaurants) will offer nominal discounts, but you're using your ownership interest to stay, and should not expect discounts and packages like you got when you were simply making a hotel reservation.

To figure out whether you were 'sold a bill of goods' or not, work out the math. Figure out what you are paying for your lodging costs through DVC. Figure out what you would pay for comparable lodging, on a cash reservation. That's how you know if it's a good deal for you.

Now, if you really don't have an interest in villas, and would be equally happy in a moderate or value, then you're probably not going to find the value you were looking for in DVC.

If you're primarily looking to stay in villa or deluxe lodging, and you do the math, I think you'll find that you're coming out ahead with DVC, even with the promotions that Disney sometimes offers cash guests.

 

[TDC Nala]

Free Dining is really not that good a deal when you are talking about a deluxe resort (of the type you stay in with DVC) because it requires paying full rack rate for the room.

A lot of folks see that word "free" and think it's the best deal going, but it isn't, always. And as for the discount not always being there - there's no guarantee that it WILL always be there.

Are we being penalized for our membership with this?

I don't consider the inability to get free dining a "penalty." And your friends are probably happy staying at a moderate or value, which is why the deal looks better to them. Because there isn't any way they are booking the same type of room and saving over a free room.

Has there been any movement to give a discounted rate on dining plans to DVC bookings?

No, thank goodness. I am not a fan of the dining plans and wouldn't use them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Free Dining is really not that good a deal when you are talking about a deluxe resort (of the type you stay in with DVC) because it requires paying full rack rate for the room.

A lot of folks see that word "free" and think it's the best deal going, but it isn't, always. And as for the discount not always being there - there's no guarantee that it WILL always be there.



I don't consider the inability to get free dining a "penalty." And your friends are probably happy staying at a moderate or value, which is why the deal looks better to them. Because there isn't any way they are booking the same type of room and saving over a free room.



No, thank goodness. I am not a fan of the dining plans and wouldn't use them.

I totally agree with all points. No way would I give up my DVC accommodations just to get free subpar food at Disney! We have used the DDP in the past, and it is too costly for us. We find we can eat for several hundred dollars less if we use other Disney discounts than DDP. I don't think DDP is a "deal" even if it's "free". Besides that, it isn't really "free". You have to pay rack rate to get it!

 

[disfanforlife]

This is my first time posting as a relatively new DVC member.

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the dining plan deals I am now seeing posted that go well into 2012.

This is after being told, when we asked about these at the point of purchase, that these type of deals wouldn't always be out there, so we would definitely benefit from our points purchase.

Has there been any discussion on this? Are we being penalized for our membership with this? We were going to gift friends a room for an upcoming trip, and now they can use this deal to travel for less cost and still pay for the room.

It's just a bit disillusioning. I could understand if this was an effort to fill rooms and do some last minute marketing, but this is for a year from now.

What am I missing here? I'm hoping that the owners here on this board can help me feel less like I've been sold a bill of goods.

Has there been any movement to give a discounted rate on dining plans to DVC bookings? Or on park passes (even if ONLY when these other deals are offered)?

Thanks.
Vic

I understand your frustration, but also agree with what everyone else said. Our family does use the dining plan, would I like to get for free or at a discount? Sure, of course I would! But, that is not the reason we became DVC members. We love staying in the Villas and have stayed in a 2bedroom everytime since becoming members. It makes our whole vacation much more relaxing and comfortable. I know the dining plan is more expensive than cooking, but for us it is part of our "vacation experience". We love trying new restaurants on each trip and revisiting our favorites. I LOVE not cooking for one week a year!

 

[RumpleMom]

Look into buying an annual pass with the DVC discount, then buy the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount on your meals.

Then remember you can visit the parks at a slower pace because you are going back for many years to come. It gives you a whole new perspective on the pace of your vacation.

 

[Sammie]

This is my first time posting as a relatively new DVC member.

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the dining plan deals I am now seeing posted that go well into 2012.

This is after being told, when we asked about these at the point of purchase, that these type of deals wouldn't always be out there, so we would definitely benefit from our points purchase.

Has there been any discussion on this? Are we being penalized for our membership with this? We were going to gift friends a room for an upcoming trip, and now they can use this deal to travel for less cost and still pay for the room.

It's just a bit disillusioning. I could understand if this was an effort to fill rooms and do some last minute marketing, but this is for a year from now.

What am I missing here? I'm hoping that the owners here on this board can help me feel less like I've been sold a bill of goods.

Has there been any movement to give a discounted rate on dining plans to DVC bookings? Or on park passes (even if ONLY when these other deals are offered)?

Thanks.
Vic

In addition to what everyone has shared about DVC, pros and cons you have to understand why discounts at Disney are offered. To book disney resort rooms. There is no incentive for Disney to offer any discount to DVC members.

If there comes a time when resort occupany is back to a level they don't feel the need to offer an incentive, you will see these deals begin to disappear.

 

[kcount]

Look into buying an annual pass with the DVC discount, then buy the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount on your meals.

Then remember you can visit the parks at a slower pace because you are going back for many years to come. It gives you a whole new perspective on the pace of your vacation.

I have never thought of it that way before. A great way of looking outside the box!

We have used the DDP before, but found that: A) the same old menu items for the quick meal got boring after a few days, B) There seemed to be a majority of the same entrees at the sit down places, tossed with a different sauce, and C) There was just WAY too much food for us to eat if we were all to eat a snack, a sit down, and a quick meal each and every day!