Free Disney Dining or Not?

[pixie dust]

Is it just me or do any other DVC members feel a little hard done by when other guests staying in Disney Hotels qualify for the free Disney Dining Plan and we get zilch?

For example a Studio at Old Key West in Sept next year will cost a family of 4 approx £1200 for a two week stay but will include the free Dining Plan.

As a DVC member who has paid £0000s to join the plan and £000s in annual dues each year if I stay in a Studio next Sept with 3 other people I will have to pay £1200 for the Dining Plan.

Shouldn't DVC members at least get a 50% discount on the plan?

What do you think?

 

[dianeschlicht]

You are buying a timeshare, not paying rack rate for a room. Think of it like buying a home. You don't expect the realtor to throw in groceries, do you?

 

[Deb & Bill]

The purpose of free dining is to fill rooms that would ordinarily be vacant because kids are going back to school and hurricane season is in it's prime. Plus it's before Food & Wine Festival.

They already have your money. They don't need to entice you to come.

If you want free dining, book a room at rack rate during that time. And don't forget those tickets you'll have to buy with the package.

 

[WolfpackFan]

It doesn't really bother me. When we bought our points, we knew what we were getting. Yes, some folks might get free dining at a slow time of the year; but we also get the benefit of points being lower in September also. Plus as long as we get the DVC discount on AP's, I feel like we're getting plenty of perks.

 

[CapeCodFam]

I feel quite the opposite. I pay about $1500/yr for maintenance and I get a 1BR for about 2 weeks. The rack rate for that room is in the range of about $7000. I'd say we are getting a better deal.

 

[Dean]

Is it just me or do any other DVC members feel a little hard done by when other guests staying in Disney Hotels qualify for the free Disney Dining Plan and we get zilch?

For example a Studio at Old Key West in Sept next year will cost a family of 4 approx £1200 for a two week stay but will include the free Dining Plan.

As a DVC member who has paid £0000s to join the plan and £000s in annual dues each year if I stay in a Studio next Sept with 3 other people I will have to pay £1200 for the Dining Plan.

Shouldn't DVC members at least get a 50% discount on the plan?

What do you think?

I think Disney should offer DVC members a discount during those times but certainly no where near the free dining and they certainly have no obligation to do so. As noted, one has to pay full price for the rooms other than at SSR & OKW where you might get a 30% discount. You also have to buy a ticket for each person. For a family or 3 or 4 people that qualify as adults, it likely would be about as cheap to stay at OKW or SSR on cash, those are the breaks. This is just one example of reasons I feel members should try to buy only the points they'll actually use at DVC resorts and not get too many extra as there is almost always a better way to do the non DVC stays and in some cases, DVC stays as this example illustrates.

 

[tjkraz]

I think Disney should offer DVC members a discount during those times...

Interesting suggestion. After giving it all of 30 seconds worth of thought, I'm going to agree.

September seems to be a period of very low occupancy for the DVC resorts as well. If we could get more people using their points for the slow "free dining" period, it would undoubtedly help occupancy during other periods.

 

[CarolA]

No, I am NOT paying five star prices for a three star hotel... Hard to say I am being let down. I am not being "ripped" off by overpaying for a resort IMHO! I have owned my DVC long enough that the avg cost per night even with dues is less then a value resort LOL!

If Disney provided hotel quality to match thier pricing maybe I would see Free Dining as a better deal, but... now it's more like "bringing pricing somewhat closer to what we provide"

Not to mention that I have done dining... Been There Done That... probably not doing it too often. I don't care WHAT folks on here say. MOST of us Do NOT burn that many calories at Disney.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I also do not feel that we "deserve" free dining. Over the span of our membership we will pay FAR less per night than those paying rack rates and getting the "free" dining. Just because something is labeled as "free" doesn't mean there is no cost involved. Financially, we are better off with our DVC membership and paying for dining than we would be by going every year and getting a "free" dining package.

 

[Claire L]

Is it just me or do any other DVC members feel a little hard done by when other guests staying in Disney Hotels qualify for the free Disney Dining Plan and we get zilch?

For example a Studio at Old Key West in Sept next year will cost a family of 4 approx £1200 for a two week stay but will include the free Dining Plan.

As a DVC member who has paid £0000s to join the plan and £000s in annual dues each year if I stay in a Studio next Sept with 3 other people I will have to pay £1200 for the Dining Plan.

Shouldn't DVC members at least get a 50% discount on the plan?

What do you think?

Not sure where the £1200 for 2 weeks in an OKW studio came from as rack rate is $295 per night plus tax so 14 nights is $4646.25 with the $ to £ at the moment that is £2552. To get the dining plan for 'free' you would need to be paying rack rate.

Claire

 

[Dean]

Not sure where the £1200 for 2 weeks in an OKW studio came from as rack rate is $295 per night plus tax so 14 nights is $4646.25 with the $ to £ at the moment that is £2552. To get the dining plan for 'free' you would need to be paying rack rate.

Claire

Likely the 30% discount for OKW and SSR that can be combined with the free dining.

 

[Claire L]

Likely the 30% discount for OKW and SSR that can be combined with the free dining.

I didn't think any discounts could be included with free dining?

Claire

 

[crisi]

Either DVC without promotions is a good deal for you, or its not.

Likewise, either free dining is a good deal for you, or its not.

The important word in these sentences is 'for you.'

We don't travel in September, therefore, free dining has never been a good deal for us. DVC has been. If we were regular September guests, we'd have taken the liklihood of Disney promotions during that timeframe into account when deciding on DVC - and perhaps decided that travelling in September and counting on promotions was a better deal.

 

[Dean]

I didn't think any discounts could be included with free dining?

Claire

From Mousesavers

For select dates you can also get a 30% discount on the room portion of your package if you stay at Saratoga Springs Resort or Old Key West Resort. This is in addition to the FREE Dining Plan.

 

[Claire L]

Thanks Dean that is interesting, but as others have said unless you always travel in Sept then DVC is a much better deal, plus the free DDP can be stopped at any time Disney wishes.

Claire

 

[wilma-bride]

Not sure where the £1200 for 2 weeks in an OKW studio came from as rack rate is $295 per night plus tax so 14 nights is $4646.25 with the $ to £ at the moment that is £2552. To get the dining plan for 'free' you would need to be paying rack rate.

Claire

Claire, I think the PP is referring to the current offer with VH where you can get a discount on OKW or SSR studio or 1 bed and also get the free DDP - I must admit, I thought it was only the quick service plan that was included though Normally you are right in that you have to pay rack rate (and purchase a 1-day base ticket) to qualify but not when booking a package through the UK tour operators.

 

[disneygrandma]

I get extrememly upset when people book free dining at a Value Resort, and then are upgraded to a DVC studio for free!!! Many of these people tell Disney that a studio is not good enough, and want a 1 bedroom......and they get it!!!! So these people are paying for a value room and getting a DVC villa instead, and free dining on top of that. There have been several posts both this year and last year concerning just this. In addition, we were at SSR last September, and heard all the people bragging about doing just this. Of course, we had to pay full price for our DP, and the cost to stay at SSR.

I wish Disney would offer more perks for DVC members when staying at WDW. It would sure take the sting out of being at the bottom of their totem pole. How about something like free anytime fast passes?? (Similar to Universal's Front of the Line Pass) There wouldn't be any dollar cost to Disney for this, but imagine how great we DVC members would feel, not to mention the feeling of being appreciated. I'm sure there are many $ discounts they could give as well that would cost Disney less money than what the Free DP does. Disney has had so many different "Year of a Million Dreams" that they bestowed on people in the park. What about something that they could give DVC Members when checking in? Some kind of special experience in the parks?

Last September I was so disenchanted with Disney, that I wondered if I would ever return. I don't want to go again during Free Dining and have those feelings. Yes, I think Disney should do something for DVC members.

 

[CarolA]

Thanks Dean that is interesting, but as others have said unless you always travel in Sept then DVC is a much better deal, plus the free DDP can be stopped at any time Disney wishes.

Claire

And has anyone noticed.....

We now have the third named storm heading towards the US....

There's a reason Free Dining comes in Sept!

Having been there during a storm Disney does a GREAT job, but if you can't leave the hotel "Free Dining" isn't really that useful!