free dining

[Patty3976]

So someone explain to me why that as an owner if we stay during free dining we can't get it? I pay 1K in dues each year even if I don't visit. Its like they "got" us so why keep us happy. Is this ever going to change?

 

[erionm]

No it will never change. It's a marketing tool to get people to pay full rack rate for rooms during slow times.

 

[TDC Nala]

"Free dining" isn't a reward for frequent guests, it's bait to lure people who wouldn't ordinarily consider going to WDW at all to book a full price room plus tickets package, at times when room occupancy isn't generally high.

DVC doesn't need to offer us "free" food to get us to book. We're already getting a substantial discount on the rooms just by being members, and we can purchase a dining plan if we want one.

Remember that anyone who books free dining is paying full rack rate for the room and buying at least 2 day park tickets. That may be a great deal if you book a value, or even a moderate, but to book a DVC room with free dining, at rack rate, would cost.

 

[vicki_c]

So someone explain to me why that as an owner if we stay during free dining we can't get it? I pay 1K in dues each year even if I don't visit. Its like they "got" us so why keep us happy. Is this ever going to change?

You pay $1K in dues for the upkeep of the already discounted DVC property you own. It doesn't entitle you to anything else than your room, hopefully maintained in an appropriate manner.

DVC members ALREADY get a discount -- it's in the room price we are paying.

You can get free dining - book a resort room at rack rate, buy at least 2 days of tickets for everyone in your party, and you can have it.

 

[Patty3976]

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.

 

[78thrifleman]

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.

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

 

[Patty3976]

oh sorry I am not trying to offend anyone. I am in no way disappointed about having our points. Its just a vent I had.

 

[Sammie]

Mainly it has to do with you bought a timeshare from Disney Vacation Club.

Free dining is offered as part of a package deal with a room rate, tickets and free dining offered by Disney Travel company.

While both are owned by Disney they are truly not one and the same.

As a DVC member you can still get free dining as long as you meet all the requirements set forth by the package.

I am sure there are some guests that booked suites at the Grand Floridian and pay thousands for just a room that would love $100 off an annual pass. But they don't qualify.

It's the same type of situation.

 

[vicki_c]

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.

 

[Patty3976]

ah no you can get it. I did 2 years ago before being a member and my Sister in Law SIL just did it now. And it was her agent who told her about free dining on aug 19th. she was originally booked for the 17th but moved it to the 19 to get free reservations.

 

[Patty3976]

Sammy I called DVC and asked about the free dining. They told me that members are not eligible to receive specials that Disney is offering to the public.
So I am not sure what you mean by DVC can get the free dining if we meet requirements set forth by the package b/c she said we can't unless we pay cash for the room.

 

[Hopefully]

Sammy I called DVC and asked about the free dining. They told me that members are not eligible to receive specials that Disney is offering to the public.
So I am not sure what you mean by DVC can get the free dining if we meet requirements set forth by the package b/c she said we can't unless we pay cash for the room.

That IS the requirement. If a DVC member wants free dining, they are free to book a package, which includes a full price room at a Disney resort and at least 2 day ticket - just like any other visitor to WDW. You could book a Deluxe Villa through CRO for full price - which is VERY EXPENSIVE.
There is nothing stopping a DVC member from participating.
There have been some reports here of DVC members booking a Value resort for the "free" dining promo.
"Free" dining isn't really "Free"
Hope this helps.

 

[goofy4tink]

Stop and look for what rack rates are for your DVC resort...then, if you want, go ahead and book a free dining pkg while paying oop for that rack rate villa. You are actually paying for very inexpensive stays at a deluxe WDW resort when you buy into DVC.
Free dining isn't all that terrific a deal. Sure it can be if you do your homework, but for the vast majority it is a convenience.
We continually hear from DVC owners who feel that they are getting the short end of the stick when they hear of 'special offers' that Disney puts out there. I always tell people that if they primarily look for those 'special offers' then perhaps DVC isn't the right thing for them. Most of us were thrilled with Disney allowed us to buy the DDP when we were staying on points.

You can not combine any 'special' offers and get free dining. I'm not sure how AAA could do that..it is against Disney policy.

 

[dianeschlicht]

So someone explain to me why that as an owner if we stay during free dining we can't get it? I pay 1K in dues each year even if I don't visit. Its like they "got" us so why keep us happy. Is this ever going to change?

Well, let me put it this way. Do you expect your homeowner's association to buy your groceries? Or maybe your mortgate company should give you restaurant coupons? How about your local government giving you free meals for your taxes? We don't expect these things for our primary home, so why should be expect them from our vacation home?

Remember that DVC is a TIMESHARE, not a hotel.

 

[dianeschlicht]

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.

But if it irks you enough, you can always go back to AAA and buy that "HOTEL" room for free dining. Many here have done just that. The problem is that most of us don't see the value in paying rack rate for just a room when we already own a piece of the magic in villa size.

 

[Lynne M]

I think there's a big misconception that pops up every time this topic comes around...that we as DVC members are dealing with the same entity that offers those promotional deals, and that that entity doesn't value our business and feels like we're coming anyway.

You purchased your DVC contract from a real estate developer - Disney Vacation Development. The only connection that they have with Disney Parks and the Disney travel company (which offers free dining,etc.), is that they belong to the same parent company. DVD exists to sell timeshares. That's their business. They don't care if you ever set foot in a theme park or eat in a restaurant on property.

The Disney travel company - the part of Disney that books cash resort stays and offers free dining - offers those promotional deals in order to get people to book cash reservations at their resorts.

The pool of villas that we have available to book - the 'member inventory' - is owned by us, the members. We do not give the Disney travel company any money, either when we initially buy in to DVC, or when we use our points. They have no reason to give us free dining, or a 4/3 deal, or any other kind of deal. They exist to book resort rooms that are not part of DVC. We don't do business with them. Even the computer systems are separate.

It's the difference between timeshare ownership and booking a cash reservation at a hotel. As for what's the better deal.....as others have said, price a free dining package at a DVC resort. Then figure what you're paying per night for the use of your villa. The answer is pretty clear.

 

[Hopefully]

Sammy I called DVC and asked about the free dining. They told me that members are not eligible to receive specials that Disney is offering to the public.
So I am not sure what you mean by DVC can get the free dining if we meet requirements set forth by the package b/c she said we can't unless we pay cash for the room.

That IS the requirement. If a DVC member wants free dining, they are free to book a package, which includes a full price room at a Disney resort and at least 2 day ticket - just like any other visitor to WDW. You could book a Deluxe Villa through CRO for full price - which is VERY EXPENSIVE.
There is nothing stopping a DVC member from participating.
There have been some reports here of DVC members booking a Value resort for the "free" dining promo.
"Free" dining isn't really "Free"
Hope this helps.

 

[dianeschlicht]

oh sorry I am not trying to offend anyone. I am in no way disappointed about having our points. Its just a vent I had.

No offense taken by anyone. It's an often asked question here, and it often takes a lot of explaining to get the real point across. My analogy about home ownership is the easiest one I know to explain it. We aren't really in the same realm as those who book hotel rooms.

 

[DebbieB]

That IS the requirement. If a DVC member wants free dining, they are free to book a package, which includes a full price room at a Disney resort and at least 2 day ticket - just like any other visitor to WDW. You could book a Deluxe Villa through CRO for full price - which is VERY EXPENSIVE.
There is nothing stopping a DVC member from participating.
There have been some reports here of DVC members booking a Value resort for the "free" dining promo.
"Free" dining isn't really "Free"
Hope this helps.

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.

 

[Anthony1971]

I just came back....
Here is what we enjoyed using our points.. a room at BLT that cost us about 100.00 a night over 7 nights (includes weekend points)
Food-TS was EMPTY EMPTY EMPTY for luch which is what we prefer.. CS should we want to eat two full meals was EMPTY EMPTY EMPTY after 5 and for Breakfast... I got to eat where I wanted when I wanted and spent way less then the the QS plan would cost and eat at TS almost every day-one day we did not.
We have a 4YO so our habbits differ form others (when we did not have a child) a lunch TS is a much better option as by 8 he was out and between 6-7 he was cranky most of the time....
In the end we saved a lot more then FD as we do every year when we go in September... and sadly this will be our last for a while as 4YO starts real school next September...
I look at FD as a gift as no one wants to waste credits on a TS lunch