Free Dining ads everywhere :-(

[gk90]

No, this isn't a "Why don't DVC members get free dining" thread. I just need to vent--it's so annoying that the first day of our August trip is the first day of free dining, and it looks like every website I go to and every magazine or newspaper I pick up has an ad for free dining! Now it looks like the whole world is going to be there during what I hoped would be a relatively quiet time

It's our first trip as DVC members too. I just have to keep telling myself that our membership lasts for years and our stay at BCV and AKV on points is a much better deal compared to free dining...and that we'll still manage to enjoy some of our favorite park and resort restaurants in spite of free dining...

Any words of wisdom and encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

 

[disneydawn6]

No, this isn't a "Why don't DVC members get free dining" thread. I just need to vent--it's so annoying that the first day of our August trip is the first day of free dining, and it looks like every website I go to and every magazine or newspaper I pick up has an ad for free dining! Now it looks like the whole world is going to be there during what I hoped would be a relatively quiet time

It's our first trip as DVC members too. I just have to keep telling myself that our membership lasts for years and our stay at BCV and AKV on points is a much better deal compared to free dining...and that we'll still manage to enjoy some of our favorite park and resort restaurants in spite of free dining...

Any words of wisdom and encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

You can still buy the dining plan as a DVC member if you want it so badly.....

 

[eliza61]

Not sure if this is encouraging or not but remember the reasoning behind all the ads and free dining.
Disney reported its' 2 quarter earnings and its not good. Park revenue was down 12% from the first quarter. Operating income was down a whopping 50%. While they have managed to bring people into the parks, folks are not spending. Free dining is not helping because now they are losing revenue from the restuarants.

Almost every other sector of their company has also had double digit losses.

I worry for the parks.

 

[DVC Mike]

Not sure if this is encouraging or not but remember the reasoning behind all the ads and free dining.
Disney reported its' 2 quarter earnings and its not good. Park revenue was down 12% from the first quarter.

Exactly, Disney is doing what it can to pull people into it's parks during this period. DVC members can always bank their points and book one of the packages available to the general public if they want free dining.

 

[Sandisw]

I was there are few years ago during free dining and we didn't think it was that bad. Of course, we had always been there in July so maybe that is why.

Just remember, all these people who are taking advantage of free dining are doing so they can afford to visit the world! For some, it could be the one and only trip!!

You may find that you will have to adjust your dining plans a bit because of the business of the restaurants--but also remember, all those people have to be in the restaurants at some point so the crowds during peak dining times may not be as bad as you think!!!

As DVC members, we get to know we will be able to attend for years to come! If the parks are really crowded, then head back to your resort. You may find that spending less time in the parks and more time at the resort is still a wonderful experience!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[IggyLans]

We have been during free dining before, and it really was not crowded, with the exception of the restaurants of course. Just make sure you have your ADR's and you'll be fine.
Maybe they're running so many ads because they're not selling as many vacation packages as in previous years?

 

[Crystal_27]

When you consider that you have to pay rack rate for your hotel room in order to get free dining, it should make you feel absolutely *fabulous* that you have DVC. For a family of 4, the DDP would cost about $100/day, or about $700 for a 7-night trip. With DVC, you are "saving" the entire cost of your accommodations, at a minimum of $2,000. Even if you factor in $1,000 for maintenance fees, you are still coming ahead $300 with DVC (and that's if your accommodations only cost $2,000 -- think how much you are saving if your resort would cost $3,000).

We will continue to add the DDP when we travel to Disney because we like the convenience of the DDP, but I'm certainly not losing any sleep about having to pay for the DDP versus having to pay $350/night to stay at the Poly.

Does that help put your mind at ease a bit? Either way, you are still going to have a wonderful time!!

 

[christa112]

We have been during Free Dining three times and it was great. We pretty much walked on or waited less than 10 min on most rides. Some we used FP's like Everest, TSM, Soarin the typical rides, but we have always enjoyed going during that time.

I would say the restaurants are busy, but I wouldn't expect them not to be. People have to eat on vacation and where else are they going to eat besides the restaurants in the parks.

One observation I do have to make is that from 2005 to 2008 the crowds have definately grown, but again, not huge crowds.

Don't stress. Have a great trip!!!

 

[stopher1]

remember the reasoning behind all the ads and free dining. Disney reported its' 2 quarter earnings and its not good. Park revenue was down 12% from the first quarter. Operating income was down a whopping 50%.

Exactly. They still beat Wall Street's estimates, but they are still down. The company has such artificially high expectations to meet each quarter thanks to all those Eisner years of working to exceed expectations every quarter and keep the stockholders happy.

Maybe they're running so many ads because they're not selling as many vacation packages as in previous years?

Not being on the inside I cannot say for certain, but I think this could be the reason for more ads this year. I've noticed a lot more myself. However we went during free dining 2x in 06 & 07 and really didn't have any problems with waits or crowds other than on the buses, and we couldn't change an ADR that we decided while there we'd like to do differently (it was hard deciding where you wanted to eat 180 days prior for those trips! At least now it's a bit more sensible at 90 days, though I wish they would reserve a portion for walk-ups or resort guests, but I digress).

I think you can still have wonderful time - even if the restaurants are crowded. Just be sure your ADR's are in place and be flexible enough with the rest of your plans and you'll be ok. And like sandisw said, perhaps you spend some additional time at your resorts if you feel the parks are crowded or unbearable. Just remember there's lots to do at the world!

 

[wulfekamp]

I still get a little bent about it. My bank does the same stuff. I hate going in there. There always giving stuff to new customers luggage, airline tickets, grills and so on. All I ever get is a card wanting me to get my friends to start banking there. Some places are so busy trying to get new customers they forget about the ones they already have. It wouldn't hurt if they would throw us a bone once in a while. How about a DVC discount on dinning plan or off regular park tickets. I guess I should not forget the great little party they have for us at christmas. A glass of punch a cooky and a tree ornament so they can sell us pins and try to get us to add on. Last year they made a bunch of people mad. Would someone get a ladder and help me off this soap box. Sorry about the rant. I'm kind of a witch in the morning.

 

[mjlass11]

Several years ago, we took advantage of this special. But back then, you also received a deal on room rate and the hopper pass. This is not the case now. I just priced the same trip that we we did back then, and it's now over $200 more per person for a 4 night stay than what it used to be, and this is not including airfare (which I know has gone up). This is at a "Value" resort!!!! After having recently stayed at BWV without the dining plan, I would NEVER go back to a cramped small hotel room with the dining plan for that price. This is one of the beauties of DVC that you can make something good and quick to eat in your room, and still eat a a signature restaurant and it will be cheaper than getting the Dining Plan. Also, remember the DDP doesn't include everything that it used to as well, so I really don't think there's any reason to have dining plan envy.

 

[Tara]

Several years ago, we took advantage of this special. But back then, you also received a deal on room rate and the hopper pass. This is not the case now. I just priced the same trip that we we did back then, and it's now over $200 more per person for a 4 night stay than what it used to be, and this is not including airfare (which I know has gone up). This is at a "Value" resort!!!! After having recently stayed at BWV without the dining plan, I would NEVER go back to a cramped small hotel room with the dining plan for that price. This is one of the beauties of DVC that you can make something good and quick to eat in your room, and still eat a a signature restaurant and it will be cheaper than getting the Dining Plan. Also, remember the DDP doesn't include everything that it used to as well, so I really don't think there's any reason to have dining plan envy.

When was this? We took advantage of free dining the first year they offered it (2005) and there was absolutely no deal on rooms or admission - it was rack rate or nothing.

 

[smep013]

I understand WHY we are not eligible and do not really mind.

But - we are going with family and had planned the trip before Free Dining was announced (arriving on the very first day of Free Dining) so now my family keeps saying "I thought I saw on TV that the Dining Plan is free while we are there?" So I have to keep explaining it!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

Now it looks like the whole world is going to be there during what I hoped would be a relatively quiet time

Even in better economic times, the FD period has full restaurants, but relatively empty parks. It's like everyone's there just to eat!

Don't worry about it, you're going to have a great time.

 

[lugnut33]

Also, think about the real capacity of free dining. It's not like they can offer everyone free dining who is coming down to stay. If they did that there would be a lot of people who couldn't get ressies.

We'll be down there the same week as you and will be eating all our meals off-site in order to save lots of money as well as avoid the packed restaurants.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I like free dining and going back for our 3rd year. Being DVC owners just gives us the best of both worlds.

We get to have 5 days of dining for free for the cost of the room so it is like going for free. We did have to buy a 1 day base ticket for each of us but them we use it to upgrade our AP's.

After our 5 days we move over to our DVC and really get to feel spoiled and relax. Room to breath and always something wonderful.

Just because we have a DVC doesn't mean we are not allowed to take advantage of offers. This year I am banking points!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Maybe you'll be lucky and have a hurricane pass through during that week. It should keep the parks a bit quieter.

 

[gk90]

I understand WHY we are not eligible and do not really mind.

But - we are going with family and had planned the trip before Free Dining was announced (arriving on the very first day of Free Dining) so now my family keeps saying "I thought I saw on TV that the Dining Plan is free while we are there?" So I have to keep explaining it!!!

This is exactly where I'm coming from--having planned the trip before Free Dining was announced, not able to change dates, knowing that it's not a big deal that we DVCers don't get Free Dining--BUT having to explain to others in our party why it is that we don't get it.

Maybe I'll run the rack rate numbers for them...and to reassure myself as well. There are 9 of us so we'd have to book 2 rooms at Port Orleans Riverside or a Deluxe, or a 2BR villa. And of course 2 of the party are kids who have just turned 10 and aren't big eaters but qualify as "adults" on the DDP. We're actually getting the DDP for half of our split stay and I'm thinking of taking a couple of these kids' TS credits, having the kids order a small menu item instead (or even a kids' meal if they let them) and letting 2 of the adults have an extra TS meal. But of course that makes for complicated ADRs.

I'm also feeling pressured about having to make ADRs soon, knowing that I'll be competing with people who have Free Dining and people who don't but know that they have to make early ADRs.

Thanks to all for the ideas and reassurances. I hadn't thought of all the ads as meaning that Disney is in trouble --thanks for pointing that out. The pictures of Kidani have me thinking of spending more time at the resorts and staying away from crowded parks.

Which reminds me, I was wondering--has anyone who has been during free dining noticed whether there's a difference in crowd levels between resort table service restaurants and the parks table service restaurants?

 

[gk90]

Maybe you'll be lucky and have a hurricane pass through during that week. It should keep the parks a bit quieter.

Well, this is one reason they do Free dining and Value season, to get people to come during hurricane season, right? For what it's worth--NOAA originally predicted above-average hurricane activity for 2009 but now is predicting near-average hurricane activity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Atlantic_hurricane_season

 

[thelionqueen]

When was this? We took advantage of free dining the first year they offered it (2005) and there was absolutely no deal on rooms or admission - it was rack rate or nothing.

ITA! We were also one of the first on the "free dining train" and there were no deals on anything period.