Free dining plan??

[Viking_53]

Hi all,

We took my DD (at 8 months old!) down to Disney World for the first time last month, when they had the free dining plan promotion.

During our visit, we went over to the DVC open house to explore the possibility of signing up. We didn't do it then, but we are considering going with a resale.

My question is really about the additional benefits you get with a DVC membership. Can you still get the free dining plan promotion when it is offered? What about reduced entry fees to the parks? We live in the Denver, CO area, and most likely won't be heading down but once, maybe twice a year, so an annual pass doesn't seem to make sense to me (but I don't know what the price of one of those is anyway.

Thanks!

 

[JaxFLBear]

Free dining is not available if staying on points, only on non-discounted cash reservations.

As a DVC member, you could purchase a discounted Annual Pass. There are no discounts on Magic Your Way tickets.

 

[Viking_53]

so how much are the annual passes vs. daily tickets?

 

[JaxFLBear]

Ticket prices can be found on any of the following: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm#tickettypes
http://allears.net/pl/ticket.htm
http://www.themeparks.com/disney/wdw/tickets.htm

 

[5forDiz]

so how much are the annual passes vs. daily tickets?

At present DVC members can save $100 off price of Annual Pass; this discount is not guaranteed and the amount of the discount can change or be eliminated completely just like any other DVC member 'perk'. An AP will often have other benefits associated with it such as room only discounts on cash reservations at WDW resorts, ability to purchase Tables in Wonderland dining discount program among those presently most notable.

Other DVC Perks when offered can be discounts at some restaurants and shops at WDW as well as some behind the scenes tours or events, etc. What may have been available as perks on one trip may not be available on next visit so since they are subject to change it probably isn't something to factor in if considering a DVC purchase.

If you want to do some price comparisons on Magic Your Way ticket pricing vs Annual Pass, etc. there is information right here on the DIS. You may also find additional information on this at mousesavers.com too. http://www.mousesavers.com/tickets.html

Best wishes

 

[Lynne M]

I think I paid about $392 for my last annual pass, that included taxes and the DVC discount.

It's important to keep in mind that the discounts change frequently, and except for the AP discount, are small. None of them are guaranteed; the AP discount is relatively new and could go away at any time. I wouldn't consider any of them when making a purchase decision.

There's no real reason for Disney to give us major discounts like free dining; those are meant to lure people who weren't planning to come. When you buy DVC, you're prepaying for decades of vacations - they've already got your money, and there's no reason to offer discounts as 'bait'.

 

[PinkTink63]

Hi all,

We took my DD (at 8 months old!) down to Disney World for the first time last month, when they had the free dining plan promotion.

During our visit, we went over to the DVC open house to explore the possibility of signing up. We didn't do it then, but we are considering going with a resale.

My question is really about the additional benefits you get with a DVC membership. Can you still get the free dining plan promotion when it is offered? What about reduced entry fees to the parks? We live in the Denver, CO area, and most likely won't be heading down but once, maybe twice a year, so an annual pass doesn't seem to make sense to me (but I don't know what the price of one of those is anyway.

Thanks!

Just for you to know, we live in Oregon and we buy AP's. We don't get to go as often as we would like, but we get to stay longer each time. We go mid August one year and then the next year we go at the end of July, so we get two trips out of one pass. It is definitely worth it for us!

 

[ILuvMulan]

Just for you to know, we live in Oregon and we buy AP's. We don't get to go as often as we would like, but we get to stay longer each time. We go mid August one year and then the next year we go at the end of July, so we get two trips out of one pass. It is definitely worth it for us!

Now THAT is very good to know!! I guess as a "newbie" I assumed (yes, I know what happens when I assume) that the passes are from Jan-Dec, but from your post I take it that they are for one year from the date of purchase? We are planning a trip in June of '09 and then in April of '10 so we would be able to use a pass for both trips?

 

[5forDiz]

Now THAT is very good to know!! I guess as a "newbie" I assumed (yes, I know what happens when I assume) that the passes are from Jan-Dec, but from your post I take it that they are for one year from the date of purchase? We are planning a trip in June of '09 and then in April of '10 so we would be able to use a pass for both trips?

I believe too that you can purchase AP's before your trip but when you get to WDW is when you have them activated. Then they expire 1 year from the activation date.

 

[PinkTink63]

I believe too that you can purchase AP's before your trip but when you get to WDW is when you have them activated. Then they expire 1 year from the activation date.

That is correct!

 

[ILuvMulan]

I love this board!!!

 

[MaryPA]

If you do a little planning.... you may get 3 trips out of one pass.

Some years we go once a year. Other years two.

example:

We went 2nd week of May 08. Going in Dec 08 and then again in May {1st week} 2009. Thats 3 trips out of one pass. We may not go back til May 2010 and start that over again.

Every other year - we go twice.

Just a thought.....

 

[PinkTink63]

If you do a little planning.... you may get 3 trips out of one pass.

Some years we go once a year. Other years two.

example:

We went 2nd week of May 08. Going in Dec 08 and then again in May {1st week} 2009. Thats 3 trips out of one pass. We may not go back til May 2010 and start that over again.

Every other year - we go twice.

Just a thought.....

3 is our ultimate plan! We would love to go during the holidays one of these years! We would love to try F&W festival too!

I think we got 28 days out of our 2 trips. Not bad!

 

[jerseygal]

Wouldn't it be great if you could use the AP at Disneyland too!!!!!!!!!

 

[anbouk]

This is such a great question regarding Annual Pass! We always stay for about 14 days!!! Do you think an annual pass would be worth it for a family of five vs. 10 day park hopper tix? What dining discounts does an annual pass exactly get? We do tend to have one or two table service per day.....so it does add up!!! Of course, we are new DVC owners
Thanking everyone for your expert advice, once again!

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is such a great question regarding Annual Pass! We always stay for about 14 days!!! Do you think an annual pass would be worth it for a family of five vs. 10 day park hopper tix? What dining discounts does an annual pass exactly get? We do tend to have one or two table service per day.....so it does add up!!! Of course, we are new DVC owners
Thanking everyone for your expert advice, once again!

That depends on how you use the parks. We have always gotten APs (yes, even before the discount) and used them for 2-3 trips before they expired. Then we take a break and wait for our next scheduled trip to buy new ones. That often means we have a break of 6-11 months without going to WDW. Then when we buy new passes (or activate vouchers if we have purchased them to avoid a price increase), we plan another 3 trips on that set of passes.

We have found we like to go into the parks at least a bit every day. Sometimes it's only to eat at a specific restaurant (usually Teppan Edo), or to take in a specific attraction (like Kilamanjaro Safari), but that's how we like to vacation. We like the idea that we can go into the parks for a part of every day, and not have to commando it. Most of our APs end up with about 28-31 days on them with the 3 trips.

Of course, right now we are in an "off year", so our last trip was the beginning of March, and we aren't going back until the end of January. It seems like a long stretch to us, but our new AP vouchers are paid for (did that right before the last price increase), and with our DVC and the frequent flyer tickets we booked for both our January and May trips, we have only our food left to pay for. We figure we'll wait and get the TOW card after we get there in January to help with those food costs!

 

[crisi]

The best annual pass discounts are with the DDE card (renamed to Tables in Wonderland or something).....You pay for the card, and it isn't cheap - $65 or something - but it gets you 20% off almost all Table Service meals and most bar tabs on property - and a very few counter service places. They do add an18% tip, so if you aren't a tipper it isn't as good a deal as it is for people who'd tip 18-20% anyway. But at 20% with four of us, we can usually save enough to pay for the card very quickly.....and when we travelled with ten of us last trip, it took one meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

NO free dining for DVC. It's offered ONLY with a room/tickets package booked through CRO.

Free dining is an incentive to get guests to book packages at "slow" times and fill the resort rooms. DVC members don't need an incentive to book.

 

[jerseygal]

Am I correct that DVC members can get the card without purchasing an Annual Pass? 20% off is certainly good..Only one $65 card is necessary I understnand for the family..Is 18% or 20% added back as gratuity?

If not, aren't there restaurants that give 10% off just by showing DVC Member card????????

Thanks very much in advance....

 

[LisaS]

Am I correct that DVC members can get the card without purchasing an Annual Pass? 20% off is certainly good..Only one $65 card is necessary I understnand for the family..Is 18% or 20% added back as gratuity?

If not, aren't there restaurants that give 10% off just by showing DVC Member card????????

Thanks very much in advance....

You must be either an AP holder or a FL resident to purchase the DDE/TIW card. It entitles the cardholder and up to 9 additional people dining with him/her (and on the same check) to 20% off food and beverages (including alcohol) at participating restaurants. An 18% gratuity is added on automatically.

There are some restaurants that give DVC members a dining discount and some of them are more than 10%. Some of the discounts are only good for lunch, others are not restricted. Some of the restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin are included which is nice for those staying at BWV or BCV. There is a table of dining discounts here.