DVC and Free Dining

[lovetotraveltx]

I'm staying on points in November during the newly announced free dining plan times. I assume it has to be a paid stay and isn't available to DVC members using their points. Correct?? Thank you!

 

[erionm]

I'm staying on points in November during the newly announced free dining plan times. I assume it has to be a paid stay and isn't available to DVC members using their points. Correct?? Thank you!

Points stays don't meet the requirements for free dining.

 

[moericus]

One of the burdens of becoming a DVC member is losing out on the Free Dining incentives. (Although there is a lot of contempt for the free dining program within the DVC ranks as well.)

Almost all Free Dining packages require you to purchase full rack rate vacation packages directly from Disney during down-times.

Don't sweat it too much. Deals will come and go and look good in the short term. The real value of DVC comes much later as resort prices continue to increase while we're locked in at much better rates.

If you are an Annual Pass holder there is a TiW discount. There are DVC rates for the Dining plan. And, there's always garden grocer.

 

[lovetotraveltx]

One of the burdens of becoming a DVC member is losing out on the Free Dining incentives. (Although there is a lot of contempt for the free dining program within the DVC ranks as well.)

Almost all Free Dining packages require you to purchase full rack rate vacation packages directly from Disney during down-times.

Don't sweat it too much. Deals will come and go and look good in the short term. The real value of DVC comes much later as resort prices continue to increase while we're locked in at much better rates.

If you are an Annual Pass holder there is a TiW discount. There are DVC rates for the Dining plan. And, there's always garden grocer.

Whats a TIW discount and where do you see discount rates for DVC dining plan? Thank you!

 

[erionm]

Whats a TIW discount and where do you see discount rates for DVC dining plan? Thank you!

DVC Dining Plan prices for 2016 arrival dates:

• Quick-Service Dining Plan is $42.84 per night, per Guest ages 10+ and $17.47 per night, per Guest ages 3 to 9.
• Regular Dining Plan is $61.84 per night, per Guest ages 10+ and $20.96 per night, per Guest ages 3-9.
• Deluxe Dining Plan is $111.73 per night, per Guest ages 10+ and $32.56 per night, per Guest ages 3-9.

Tables in Wonderland (TiW): http://tablesinwonderland.com/

 

[moericus]

Whats a TIW discount and where do you see discount rates for DVC dining plan? Thank you!

TiW (Tables in Wonderland)
Here's some info from mousesavers, but you'll find a ton of analysis on the board over what is cheaper (dining plan vs. TiW)
http://www.mousesavers.com/tables-in-wonderland-formerly-disney-dining-experience/

I don't know if the DVC Dining plan rates count as a "discount", but I think they have always been separate form the normal dining plan rates.

 

[LisaS]

I'm staying on points in November during the newly announced free dining plan times. I assume it has to be a paid stay and isn't available to DVC members using their points. Correct?? Thank you!

Disney offers different discounts over time to help fill its hotel rooms. One of these is "Free dining if you pay rack rate for your room and buy tickets". Another we've seen in the past is "Pay for 4 nights, stay for 7 nights", again I expect you had to pay rack rate for the room with that deal. Rack rate is expensive but for a family of four, rack rate plus free dining might end up being a good deal, at least it used to be back when you got the regular dining plan for free even if you booked a Value resort room. I'm not sure how the numbers look now that you have to book at least a Moderate resort in order to get the regular dining plan for free with the Free Dining promotion.

The discount you signed up for is "Save money by prepaying for your vacations for the next XX years". This discount requires buying into DVC. You don't have to buy tickets and it's good 365 days a year! And because you have a kitchen/kitchenette, you can save money on dining by eating breakfast in the room and maybe even a dinner or two.

 

[Lynne M]

The free dining promotion is offered by Disney to fill hotel rooms (room inventory) that they own. It's really just an alternate form of a discount. Instead of giving you a percentage off the room rate, they charge you full price for the room, and give you some free meals. The money saved often works out the same, the discount is just 'packaged' differently.

When you use your DVC membership, you're using room inventory that we, the membership, own. Disney's resort division gets zero dollars when we book a DVC stay on points. There's no reason to give us free meals, as they're getting no money from us.

To make yourself feel better, compare what your DVC resort stay is costing you, with the cost of the dining plan, to what you'd pay for the same room and dining with the free dining promotion. I think you'll find that you're getting a WAY better deal than someone booking your villa for cash is getting under that promotion. Free dining with a villa is usually a pretty awful deal.

 

[n2mm]

Not only do you pay full price for your room, you also are required to buy at least a 2 day minimum ticket for everyone listed on the reservation.

On the other hand, I was thrilled to see my trips are excluded from the free dining dates. I arrive August 3rd for a week and no free dining and again October 15th. It's made it easier to get dining reservations. I don't miss that craziness of getting a room reservation when a promotion comes out.

 

[lovetotraveltx]

DVC Dining Plan prices for 2016 arrival dates:

• Quick-Service Dining Plan is $42.84 per night, per Guest ages 10+ and $17.47 per night, per Guest ages 3 to 9.
• Regular Dining Plan is $61.84 per night, per Guest ages 10+ and $20.96 per night, per Guest ages 3-9.
• Deluxe Dining Plan is $111.73 per night, per Guest ages 10+ and $32.56 per night, per Guest ages 3-9.

Tables in Wonderland (TiW): http://tablesinwonderland.com/

Thank you!

 

[DebbieB]

In November 2013, I had to switch dates because of a work conflict about 2 months before. I saw what cash room rates really were. Could not get a DVC room so I booked a BWV studio with a 35% AP discount and wait listed DVC. It was $285 a night with Tax! Luckily I got it with points by stalking the online system and waitlist. It was 15 points a night. It would have been over $1400 for 5 nights!

 

[Supplanter]

TiW (Tables in Wonderland)
Here's some info from mousesavers, but you'll find a ton of analysis on the board over what is cheaper (dining plan vs. TiW)
http://www.mousesavers.com/tables-in-wonderland-formerly-disney-dining-experience/

I don't know if the DVC Dining plan rates count as a "discount", but I think they have always been separate form the normal dining plan rates.

Whoa that's crazy, paying 150 bucks for 20 percent off seems like a pretty lame deal. At Disneyland the premium passes all come with 15 percent off dining.

 

[ScubaCat]

Whoa that's crazy, paying 150 bucks for 20 percent off seems like a pretty lame deal. At Disneyland the premium passes all come with 15 percent off dining.

Apples to oranges really, though. There's quite a few more restaurants (and attractions) at WDW. And, it works on alcohol too.

Plus, DVC members already get 10% off all dining at DL.

 

[crisi]

Whoa that's crazy, paying 150 bucks for 20 percent off seems like a pretty lame deal. At Disneyland the premium passes all come with 15 percent off dining.

It really depends. Its an awesome deal for us this year - five nights, six people, four who are adults who will drink a lot. All signature dining.

 

[n2mm]

It really depends. Its an awesome deal for us this year - five nights, six people, four who are adults who will drink a lot. All signature dining.

It works for us too, 15 nights in May with up to 8 in our party at least half the time. 9 more days in August for the 2 of us. Then another 15 nights in October with up to 6 in our party half the trip. With a possible week trip in March 2017 and another two weeks in May 2017.

 

[crisi]

n2mm, you'd be foolish not to get it Especially if you imbibe.

 

[LisaS]

Whoa that's crazy, paying 150 bucks for 20 percent off seems like a pretty lame deal. At Disneyland the premium passes all come with 15 percent off dining.

Some years back it was $50 for AP holders. That worked well for the two of us. Once it went up to $100 it no longer made sense. If they offered a "TIW for Two" (for no more than 2 people on the check) at a much lower price we would buy it. Our next trip will be the first one without a TIW card so we will be cutting back on table service restaurants from now on.

 

[n2mm]

n2mm, you'd be foolish not to get it Especially if you imbibe.

Yep, I agree. I've been buying it since 2005 when it was called the DDE. Before that my husband was a Disney Company cast member so got a dining discount via his ID. In 2005 non Florida residents were able to purchase it for $50 (celebrating Disneyland's 50th birthday -- and mine too). Not happy about the price now, but it works for us still.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Whoa that's crazy, paying 150 bucks for 20 percent off seems like a pretty lame deal. At Disneyland the premium passes all come with 15 percent off dining.

Yes it depends. The break even point over a 13 month period is somewhere around 750 bucks. This maybe the last year for us with it too. DH drinks so the discount on the alcohol is a big one. TIW works in the lounges at the hotels as well so we use it there too. I keep a spreadsheet to see if we at least break even. Each year we've saved.
One year I only did DVC, AP, Disney Visa discounts and we didn't save as much as we did with TIW. You just gotta do the math and figure out how you like to eat when you are in the world.
Rumors are that the program maybe going away altogether so we'll have to see. I know if they raise the rate next year, I won't be buying it for sure.

 

[moericus]

Whoa that's crazy, paying 150 bucks for 20 percent off seems like a pretty lame deal. At Disneyland the premium passes all come with 15 percent off dining.

Yeah, couple that with the fact that an 18% tip is mandatory with TiW. It is really only a 2% discount in some ways.

I usually tip 20% but it's pretty annoying to have my non-drinking party of 4 automatically saddled with 18%. What if my salad never came? What if I waited 20 minutes for a scoop of ice cream? What if my soda sat empty 3/4 of the meal? 18%... No, screw your bad service. And I shouldn't have to wait even longer to argue that to a manager.