free dining

[DebbieB]

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.

But the UK people are being offered 40% off PLUS free dining at OKW or SSR. They are not paying rack rate for the room.

 

[Sammie]

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.

my point is, many seem to think that DVC members cant get free dining. They can, just not using points. They have to pay cash.

 

[crisi]

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".

This confused me the first times I saw it - one of my first jobs with in financial accounting doing consolidations for a big company - so it never occurred to me that "Disney" was one big entity. And I've been a shareholder for years - so the annual report comes to my door talking about this division or that and this joint venture and that one.

Part of the homework when investing a lot of money in "Disney" - either through a timeshare or through stock - should probably be getting and reviewing the annual report. We all have quite a bit of money tied up in the health of Disney, and an interest in understanding its organizational structure. But I'm willing to bet its the rare DVC owner who has any idea of "Disney as a Business."

As customers we want Disney to do things in a way that is pleasing to the customer - and they should. As invested customers, its worthwhile to stop and think - we are in this for the long term and Disney has to run their business so it will be there at the end of our 50 year contracts.

 

[going/again]

But the UK people are being offered 40% off PLUS free dining at OKW or SSR. They are not paying rack rate for the room.

latest offer is 45% off 5% off tickets and free dining, my point is if you owned DVC and they offered this in the US many US owners would think differently.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

But the UK people are being offered 40% off PLUS free dining at OKW or SSR. They are not paying rack rate for the room.

But what seals the deal & makes it worth it for Disney is the typical 3 week stay and all of the add-ons, merchandise, special shows, etc., that these families end up purchasing.

Very few American families have more than 2 weeks vacation, and it would be interesting to see a pole on the typical American family DVC stay, I bet it's a week!

 

[Chuck S]

Very few American families have more than 2 weeks vacation, and it would be interesting to see a pole on the typical American family DVC stay, I bet it's a week!

Given the economy, I would bet that any major vacations now avaerage less than a week. I would guess 5 days with hotel stays. Longer stays if "visiting" relatives, and using their home as a travel base. Even with the Texas economy not having as severe a problem as many other states, more people are doing "staycations" or weekend trips to the coast, or local things like museums and zoos, rather than extended hotel stays.

 

[Brian Noble]

It isn't just the economy---average stay length has been trending downward for many years now. This is an article from 2003 on the trend.

http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Benefits-Leave/Vacations/Vacations-Getting-Shorter-Less-Restful/

This is one reason why I don't expect to see WDW add a fifth gate unless there is some major sea change. It would only cannibalize existing parks, because most guests just don't stay long enough.

As an example of a sea change: suppose oil prices spike to the point where travel costs dominate the price of a WDW vacation. That would encourage guests to come less often, but stay longer---and that would be what it would take to build that fifth gate.

 

[crisi]

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.

I don't think you are offending anyone. But part of the 'snippiness' comes from how often we answer this question. But there is something else....

Ideally, people understand that when they buy DVC points, they aren't eligible when using those points for all the deals they can get through CRO before they buy. And they take that into account when they figure out DVC is for them.

We get our share of folks who come here having plunked down $20,000 on DVC incensed to discover they bought a timeshare, and believing that the rest of us should all be up in arms about it and lobby for a change in a system we are satisfied with. There isn't always a lot of patience with people who didn't understand what they bought. Its either a good deal for you, or it isn't - and few people here will argue its a good deal for everyone. And for people happy with DVC, its because in some way its a good deal for them. Most of us here are happy with it.

It sounds like you are happy with DVC - and it does take some getting used to when you are used to hotel stays - whether that is the bargain hunting or the daily housekeeping. But you might discover that you aren't disappointed to be on the edge of your seat year after year wondering if free dining is going to happen, or if the dates will work for you,, or if the terms will change. At some point, the shape of Disney promotions will change - and it might not be something you are as interested in. A lot of us have found not being dependent on Disney's promotions to be a benefit to owning.

 

[going/again]

We get our share of folks who come here having plunked down $20,000 on DVC incensed to discover they bought a timeshare, and believing that the rest of us should all be up in arms about it and lobby for a change in a system we are satisfied with. There isn't always a lot of patience with people who didn't understand what they bought.

We knew what we were buying was a timeshare, and we don't expect people to lobby for change, our problem is with the way it was sold to us, ie own a peice of the magic, then only to find our home resort is now being sold in travel brochures for 42% off plus free dining, and finding out people who had booked values being upgraded to 1 bedrooms, both of which get full mousekeeping, don't forget its our dues which pay for the upkeep of the resort, We feel like we are being used to subsidize other peoples vacations, and before someone puts (then sell) what they have done has devalued our home resort to an extent selling is not an option at this time, like I said in a pp if they were offering these deals in the US I believe US owners would not like it.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We knew what we were buying was a timeshare, and we don't expect people to lobby for change, our problem is with the way it was sold to us, ie own a peice of the magic, then only to find our home resort is now being sold in travel brochures for 42% off plus free dining, and finding out people who had booked values being upgraded to 1 bedrooms, both of which get full mousekeeping, don't forget its our dues which pay for the upkeep of the resort, We feel like we are being used to subsidize other peoples vacations, and before someone puts (then sell) what they have done has devalued our home resort to an extent selling is not an option at this time, like I said in a pp if they were offering these deals in the US I believe US owners would not like it.

I agree with you on most of your points, but..

- We don't pay for the upkeep on the portion of the resort that is rented by CRO.
- I would hate full housekeeping.

MG

 

[going/again]

I agree with you on most of your points, but..

- We don't pay for the upkeep on the portion of the resort that is rented by CRO.
- I would hate full housekeeping.

MG

you do if CRO is using points that have been used for transfers. the owners that have transfered have already paid dues.

we don't like full housekeeping either but if our dues are paying for full mousekeeping for others is my point

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney has the rooms open, if they've been traded they're not open for DVC inventory, so what exactly should Disney do with the empty rooms? Can't understand why should they not offer them to British guests at 45% off if it will help Disney reap profits by keeping the Brits on property, even if it makes DVC members feel like they're being ripped off because they're not being offered a "deal" (never mind that we already took the deal offered when we bought in).

I've already got a discount on the room, although mine is spread out over years and not a one-time thing. It doesn't really make much difference to me if someone else is getting to stay in the same place on a discount. I guess I don't really understand the objection. It's as if we're not getting discounted rooms at all by having a membership, and we are.

 

[going/again]

Disney has the rooms open, if they've been traded they're not open for DVC inventory, so what exactly should Disney do with the empty rooms? Can't understand why should they not offer them to British guests at 45% off if it will help Disney reap profits by keeping the Brits on property, even if it makes DVC members feel like they're being ripped off because they're not being offered a "deal" (never mind that we already took the deal offered when we bought in).

You feel the same if they offered these deals in the US.

 

[TDC Nala]

I wouldn't care if they offered those deals in the US either. (Although with full disclosure, I don't like the dining plan and couldn't care less about free dining.) If DVC members don't book the rooms or they trade out the rooms, it's Disney's call as to what to do with them.

I wouldn't rather see them sit empty than hear others are getting discounts to stay in them.

 

[LIFERBABE]

The point is we live in the US and not all deals are available to us. UK guests have always received disproportionate discounts and special length tix to accomodate their vacation styles. Am I moving to the UK so I can get 40% off SSR and free dining and tix? NO! Im sure it's a lovely place, but the airfare is killer!
Florida residents received great DCL discounts on our cruise. We paid $500 and have OV, FL residents paid $500 and have verandahs. I could be upset, but Im not.
Im too busy planning my 6 DVC stays a year to worry about what others are getting or the resale market price. DVC still works for me and my family and we cant wait to check into AKV next week!

 

[Greysword]

you do if CRO is using points that have been used for transfers. the owners that have transfered have already paid dues.

we don't like full housekeeping either but if our dues are paying for full mousekeeping for others is my point

I was going to mention this, but it seems you know how this works. To that end, I am a bit confused why this concerns you. In essence if I request a stay in another DVC resort than my home or trade into one of the other collections, I basically sell my points to Disney (or RCI) and buy the traded room/vacation. Implied in the sale is a properly maintained room at my home resort. This is paid for by my dues.

Thus, Disney CRO purchases my room at SSR for cash value and sells me another room at BCV or on the DCL using this credit, so why should I be concerned if Disney chooses to resell my SSR room at a discount or even give it away free? They paid me fair value for it, and if they didn't occupy it, then they would be loosing money. If the tenants they sublet the room to destroyed the room and Disney hotels and resorts did not offer to pay for the damages (leaving me ont he hook for them through higher dues), then I would be upset. Otherwise, they bought my room (points), so why can't do what they want with it?

- Chris

 

[going/again]

I wouldn't care if they offered those deals in the US either.

Easy to say when they don't.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

you do if CRO is using points that have been used for transfers. the owners that have transfered have already paid dues.

Not really.. The dues the owner already paid, in a round about way, actually pays for the upkeep on the accommodations the owner traded into.

MG

 

[going/again]

I was going to mention this, but it seems you know how this works. To that end, I am a bit confused why this concerns you. In essence if I request a stay in another DVC resort than my home or trade into one of the other collections, I basically sell my points to Disney (or RCI) and buy the traded room/vacation. Implied in the sale is a properly maintained room at my home resort. This is paid for by my dues.

Thus, Disney CRO purchases my room at SSR for cash value and sells me another room at BCV or on the DCL using this credit, so why should I be concerned if Disney chooses to resell my SSR room at a discount or even give it away free? They paid me fair value for it, and if they didn't occupy it, then they would be loosing money. If the tenants they sublet the room to destroyed the room and Disney hotels and resorts did not offer to pay for the damages (leaving me ont he hook for them through higher dues), then I would be upset. Otherwise, they bought my room (points), so why can't do what they want with it?

- Chris

It concerns me because as you have pointed out you trade your room for as you say a BCV, you then only get DVC mousekeeping, but the person using your home resort gets full mousekeeping as you said paid for by your dues, if this keeps going the way it has for the last few years my resort dues SSR are going to spiral. thats why I'm concerned.

 

[erionm]

It concerns me because as you have pointed out you trade your room for as you say a BCV, you then only get DVC mousekeeping, but the person using your home resort gets full mousekeeping as you said paid for by your dues, if this keeps going the way it has for the last few years my resort dues SSR are going to spiral. thats why I'm concerned.

If someone pays cash to CRO for a room at a DVC resort, part of that cash rate is covering their daily housekeeping.