DVC and Free Dining

[DisneyBelle99]

We will be at WDW at the end of the rumored free dining. Since we will be staying on our points, are we not eligible?

 

[erionm]

Free dining is only available with full rack rate packages that include a base ticket purchase.

 

[LisaS]

We will be at WDW at the end of the rumored free dining. Since we will be staying on our points, are we not eligible?

Disney offers free dining as a way to increase hotel bookings during slow times of the year. To be eligible, you must book a hotel room at the full cash price (and purchase tickets) rather than using your points to book a room.

Since DVC is designed to be booked to capacity all year round, they don't offer special incentives to convince members to book rooms using points they already paid for. We're in a "use 'em or lose 'em" scenario when it comes to our points -- that's our incentive!

We also do not get a 30% reduction in point rates when they offer special hotel rate discounts or the "pay for 4 stay for 7" or any of the other discount programs designed to get people to book rooms at WDW during otherwise slow times of the year.

 

[Lynne M]

The division of Disney that offers free dining is doing it to fill rooms that they own, at the highest possible rate. When you book on points, you're using room inventory that we, the members, own. The division that offers the free dining gets no money from members booking on points, so they have no reason to offer that (or any other promotions) to us.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Okay, that is what I was figuring, but thought since we don't have AP, and would have to buy a few days tickets, we might luck out. Still not sure about the Annual Pass. If my sister moves down south , as she is planning to do, then that will increase our likelihood of more than 10 days in a year.

 

[zavandor]

I'm going to AKV on points, in a value studio (as big as a hotel room) for two weeks in September.
I'm going to use a total of 138 points. I've calculated that the cost per point per year, including MF and a pro-rate amount for the initial investment, if $7 per point. So I'm paying a total of $966.
For the same period, a room at AKV would cost me $4100 for a standard view (since it's a value I don't know which view I'll get, I could be lucky and score a Savanna view or get a parking view, so I'm comparing a standard view). No special offer on the UK website at the moment, let's say that this amount will include free dining at some point in the future if I wait.

So with DVC I can save $3100. With those, I'll be able to pay for food, tickets, flight and probably have something to spare (I don't want daily mousekeeping, but I could pay for it and I don't mind some wear and tear).

So not only DVC members will get free dining, but also free flights and tickets!


Disclaimer: I know I made a very rough calculation, not taking into account a lot of factors, please don't jump on me. And the conclusion of the post is just a joke. I just want to show that the benefit of DVC is on money saving on the lodging. Free dining is a differnt form of discount on lodging and DVC on the long run is still way superior to it for a frequent Disney traveler.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Okay, that is what I was figuring, but thought since we don't have AP, and would have to buy a few days tickets, we might luck out. Still not sure about the Annual Pass. If my sister moves down south , as she is planning to do, then that will increase our likelihood of more than 10 days in a year.

And...If you plan two consecutive year's trips a week short of 365 days, you'll get TWO trips on one AP.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We will be at WDW at the end of the rumored free dining. Since we will be staying on our points, are we not eligible?

No, you won't have to overpay for a subpar hotel room to get "free" dining.


Sorry, but paying twice what a hotel is worth seems to me to negate the free part

 

[com_op_2000]

To everyone who believes that DVC members should get free dining:
WHY?
Should Disney offer you something for free, when you have a contract that you agreed to.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Just asked the question for confirmation purposes, only. No feathers need be ruffled in the responses, I have my answer. Thanks.

 

[going/again]

Disney offers free dining as a way to increase hotel bookings during slow times of the year. To be eligible, you must book a hotel room at the full cash price (and purchase tickets) rather than using your points to book a room.

Since DVC is designed to be booked to capacity all year round, they don't offer special incentives to convince members to book rooms using points they already paid for. We're in a "use 'em or lose 'em" scenario when it comes to our points -- that's our incentive!

We also do not get a 30% reduction in point rates when they offer special hotel rate discounts or the "pay for 4 stay for 7" or any of the other discount programs designed to get people to book rooms at WDW during otherwise slow times of the year.

In the Uk its 35% off rack rate, free dinining , $200 per room spending money, and a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day one, includes OKW & SSR been like this for years now.

 

[LisaS]

In the Uk its 35% off rack rate, free dining , $200 per room spending money, and a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day one, includes OKW & SSR been like this for years now.

Yes, UK guests get a much better deal since they get both free dining and room discounts! I didn't know about the $200/room in spending money however.