free dining

[dianeschlicht]

I look at FD as a gift as no one wants to waste credits on a TS lunch

Good point! We like doing TS midday too for those sit downs that have it.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Just as an example, I am staying at BWV the last week of October for 6 nights. I am using 170 points for a 1 bedroom boardwalk view. If I wanted to add the regular dining plan for 2 adults, it would be $500. To purchase the "free dining" package for 2 adults including two 2 day MYW tickets for a BWV 1 bedroom, it would be $3800. Using $10 per point, I am paying about $2200 incl dining plus 2 MYW tickets (we have AP's). Vs $3800 for "free dining". That's why DVC is not giving it to members, we already have a big discount.

I agree. We are DVC member but staying at a BWV studio for 10 nights in December on cash. I booked a "free dining" package for $3400 (excluding the ticket cost) and then cancelled that in favor of a 42% discounted AP rate without dining of $1900. So "free dining" would cost us $150 per day!

Even the AP rate came out to about $15 per point after tax and internet. Yeah, I am happy owning points and not getting such deals! -- Suzanne

 

[krikiter]

Be careful asking this question... i asked a similar question a few days ago and certain people get very snippy.

The snippy responses stem from this: the comment has made over and over again (ad nauseum, in fact), and the arguments that proceed from it are well-established, to the point of being supplied as rote. You don't even have to put in the effort to search for "free dining" on the forums, just browse around a bit and you'll see the threads out there. It's been covered. Repeatedly.

It's like showing up late at a dinner party, after an hours-long debate on politics has finally settled and saying "Palin in 2012! Who's with me?"

New conversation topic: they took away free valet parking. Discuss.

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL! Perhaps we need to make "No free dining for DVC" a sticky or even on going topic like the one for occupancy!

 

[stopher1]

LOL! Perhaps we need to make "No free dining for DVC" a sticky or even on going topic like the one for occupancy!

I was just thinking the exact same thing myself when I opened up this thread.

 

[TDC Nala]

but through AAA you not paying rack rate and you still get the free dining plan. Booking through them gives you 10- 15% off what Disney offers for the same room. Now I know that then you have to be a AAA member but It just urks me a bit.

I don't know what AAA is offering, but in general there are no discounts for rooms with free dining. I have heard the opposite - that you're not supposed to be able to get both through AAA. The only one I am aware of is for British guests.

There's nothing wrong with a DVC member deciding they want free dining, banking their points and booking a package. Although that 10-15% off when you're booking a DVC villa for cash is still pretty expensive. If you're okay with a value or moderate room, go for it, bank your points, maybe use them to book a bigger room next year, or take a cruise, or trade out.

Besides the fact that DVC and WDTC are two separate entities, I've never been able to think that DVC, from whom we've chosen to purchase our timeshare interest, ought to throw in free food on top of that just because WDTC does it to convince guests to book packages. WDTC has a reason for the offer, and we know what they're getting back - extra guests paying full price for their rooms and purchasing 2 day tickets. Free dining isn't a perk for those guests, it's a setoff for their paying full price and having to set their travel up in what is possibly a less convenient time (they only offer it for dates in which they think occupancy will be lower). Free food for your full DVC stay just because you booked a reservation you've already paid for seems kind of extravagant for a "perk" in this day and age.

 

[Greysword]

..... .....

Ok...ok, so to add to what krikiter said, I thought the best part of the question was how much in annual dues are paid......sorry....sorry... I have come to love this line! The topic of free dining is discussed a lot, and it is a great topic! I think we all learn something when it comes up, and I hope we continue all of the repeat topics regularly.

For the OP, there are a few really good threads about membership dues, what they pay for, what they should pay for, and the impact they have on member finances and DVC's bottomline. If enough members requested the DDP be offered to DVC members free as a part of their vacation, it could be done, but we would need to add the additional costs to the annual fees or cost of points. Since the latter is fixed, it would not be feasable for current resorts yet could be added to new ones.

We could add the costs to the annual dues, but as a member you would pay the fee for Disney dining every year, regardless of whether you go or not (or only go for a short time). This would likely add about $1,000 or more to your annual dues for a 160 point contract, as they would need to figure the number of days you could stay at your home resort(s) based on points owned there. In the end, it is probable the majority of DVC owners would not approve this idea.

The good news is that you can add the DDP to your reservation, which was not allowed a few years ago! In the past, DVC members were not permitted to add it at all, but I think a strong lobby for the option was well received and we now have this option.

Personally, we use the kitchen the most, and I'm not sure we would fully use the DDP, even if it was free. However, I would support a sort of "vacation package", where DVC members could buy length-of-stay tickets and DDP at a discount and pay for it along with annual dues (procesed by DVC management company either once a year or monthly and added to the dues payment, so it it relatively seemless).

- Chris

 

[BEASLYBOO]

"Free dining" isn't a reward for frequent guests, it's bait to lure people

Love it! There's really nothing free about it!

 

[going/again]

I don't think you can get a discounted room and free dining thru AAA. You can one or the other thru AAA. I've seen people say they did on the boards but then later shown by others that that wasn't true. I don't believe I've ever seen confirmation that you could have both.

you can in the UK, current offer is 42% off plus free dining. if they offered this in the US these boards would go mad.

 

[dcamdad]

LOL! Perhaps we need to make "No free dining for DVC" a sticky or even on going topic like the one for occupancy!

I made this recommendation last year an got a very terse response from a mod.

 

[Hunclemarco]

LOL! Perhaps we need to make "No free dining for DVC" a sticky or even on going topic like the one for occupancy!

I think this is the first question that comes up as new DVC members...I know i did.

I also agree that what a previous poster said....many don't know that DVD and "CRO" are not the same company...it's not told to us by the guides (not mine anyways), so the average disney guest wouldn't know any different. Then the "entitlement" issues come up since the overall "package" seems expensive.
Homework is necessary when purchasing DVC, and many buy "sight unseen", and since "disney" offers deals, new DVC members expect the same "deal".

I don't think that people here are getting snippy; if an answer to a question continues to be re-questioned because the answer given is not to their liking after a thorough exclamation is given, there's only so many ways an answer can be told. (ok, the word given used to many times...not good with words sometimes)

I didn't learn about the DISboards till i joined DVC, and it took a while to learn how to get around the boards. This may be why this question is asked so often.

But, i totally agree... A specific thread, or maybe a banner on top of the DVC boards would be good.

 

[El&Asmom]

It always surprises me how many threads there are about "free dining"' when in fact it is no different than any other package discount offer. Rarely do people come on here complaining about how high their dues are given that non DVC people are getting 40% off their rooms. Free dining is just another discount I guess the word FREE is what gets people all worked up. If you do the math, it's very similar to 40% off depending on the make up of your party. I'd rather have my discount on my 1-2bd via DVC than a discount on a mod or value resort. It's not much of a discount if you are staying deluxe.

 

[going/again]

It always surprises me how many threads there are about "free dining"' when in fact it is no different than any other package discount offer. Rarely do people come on here complaining about how high their dues are given that non DVC people are getting 40% off their rooms. Free dining is just another discount I guess the word FREE is what gets people all worked up. If you do the math, it's very similar to 40% off depending on the make up of your party. I'd rather have my discount on my 1-2bd via DVC than a discount on a mod or value resort. It's not much of a discount if you are staying deluxe.

update on latest UK offer its now stay at SSR/OKW 45% off rooms 5% off tickets and dine for free, are these 2 resorts not classed as deluxe

 

[vicki_c]

update on latest UK offer its now stay at SSR/OKW 45% off rooms 5% off tickets and dine for free, are these 2 resorts not classed as deluxe

SSR & OKW definitely ARE classified as Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. All DVC properties are considered deluxe.

 

[El&Asmom]

update on latest UK offer its now stay at SSR/OKW 45% off rooms 5% off tickets and dine for free, are these 2 resorts not classed as deluxe

Now thats a good offer. Too bad I don't live in the UK. If I did and I owned DVC I might consider renting out my points and using the cash to stay at one of those resorts.

I'm still happy to have my 1bd, washer and dryer, kitchen, hot tub and AP discount. I bought into DVC for the long haul. Discounts may not be here forever especially if the economy ever recovers.

 

[going/again]

SSR & OKW definitely ARE classified as Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. All DVC properties are considered deluxe.

I am aware they are, it was more of a question for post no 32

 

[TDC Nala]

British guests are different, and Disney knows it. Takes them longer to get here and they pay more to do it. So, they stay longer. They also get more time off than Americans generally get. Brits will usually stay 3 weeks or longer (British guests can get free dining for 21 nights - other guests max out at 14 nights). This is why Disney wants them on the dining plan so badly and will offer them what seems like "extra" discounts. If they can just get the British guests eating at Disney for the whole time they're in town, they can keep them at Disney, and cut down on the likelihood that they'll spend a lot of time visiting other Orlando or Florida landmarks. And there are lots of British guests, enough so it is worth it to WDW to make them offers and try to keep them hanging around.

But consider that British guests can't get the free dining at a value resort at all, and if they book moderate they get quick service dining.

 

[vicki_c]

I am aware they are, it was more of a question for post no 32

oops - bad reading! I thought you said "as they are not" vs. "are they not"!

 

[DebbieB]

SSR & OKW definitely ARE classified as Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. All DVC properties are considered deluxe.

They are usually the last 2 DVC resorts to fill, thus more discounts are offered.

 

[El&Asmom]

Deluxe or not, to pay rack rate for SSR or OKW is still paying rack rate. You could stay at about anywhere on property and get 40% off or more, (or less if staying in a mod or value).
My point was that free dining is no different than any other discount. It is a % off of a stay. With free dining, you don't get a discount on your room. The discount is built into the package by giving you free dining.

For example dh and I are staying at WL for 5n during MLK weekend. I'm in Orlando for a conference, and work is paying the bill so we're not using points.
Rack rate at WL woods view is ~300. We got 40% off and are paying ~$180 x5n= $900, (this is using last years rate. I think it's actually a bit more than that). Add in the dining plan, and its about $1350

If we booked free dining, it would cost us ~$1500. Plus we would have to pay for 2d park tickets we don't need as we have APs.

It's actually cheaper to do %40 off than the free dining.
Again, it depends on your party size and make up. If our kids were coming along, it would probably be different, but free dining is just a % off. No different than any other discount offer Disney offers.