Free Disney Dinning Plan for DVC Members?

[RTDouglas]

Does anyone know if being a DVC memeber means you are not eligible for the free DDP if you are there during the time it is offered? We just joined the DVC and planned a trip and have found that we might be there during this time. Look forward to the input.
thanks

 

[eva]

Sorry, it is not available for stays on DVC points. To be eligible for the free dining, you must be paying rack rates at a WDW resort. So if someone were to use some type of discount (like an AP rate), they would not be eligible either.

 

[disneynutz]

Sorry, it is not available for stays on DVC points. To be eligible for the free dining, you must be paying rack rates at a WDW resort. So if someone were to use some type of discount (like an AP rate), they would not be eligible either.

You also have to buy the "package" which includes park admission.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, you would have to buy a rack rate room and tickets package.

"Free dining" is a promotion. WDW uses it to entice people to book rack rate rooms at the height of hurricane season. They don't need an incentive for DVC members to book.

DVC members can add the dining plan to their reservation, and pay for it. We're not shelling out cash out of pocket for the room, and we're not required to buy tickets at the same time. Renters are already getting a substantial discount on the room. I wouldn't expect Disney to offer us "free dining."

 

[RTDouglas]

we are taking 12 people with us so it would have been a big thing for us! Still going to be all Ears while we are there.

 

[kimberh]

Does anyone know if being a DVC memeber means you are not eligible for the free DDP if you are there during the time it is offered? We just joined the DVC and planned a trip and have found that we might be there during this time. Look forward to the input.
thanks

DVC properties are Deluxe properties, which I am sure you know. If you want "Free Dining" you can cost compare (I have) it's nice to compare apples to apples. Disney will charge full price for the Deluxe room or Studio, one or two bedroom, which ever one you choose, then you can get by with a one day ticket purchase, if you happen to have a Annual pass.

Most people on "Free Dining" purchase the Value properties first. There is not any comparison between Value and DVC resorts. We have been at Disney during this time of year also, you still come out ahead with DVC, this was with the old DDP. I wonder, if they offer "Free Dining" this year, if guests will have to pay tip? I am guessing, Yes. Just a guess, of course. Not much of a deal, if you ask me. Especially paying rack for a room.

I edited this to say, that after Value, then Moderate is a hot mover. From what I have read on the dis, once Free dining is offered, the Deluxe properties are the last to fill up. I guess it would really depend on what resort you are wanting to stay at. Taking 12 people, what room size are you booking? The DVC resorts are a class all their own. If you have not stayed at them, then you need to stay to see what I am talking about. Has if been announced that "Free Dining" has been offered? It is not offered every year.

 

[TDC Nala]

I wonder, if they offer "Free Dining" this year, if guests will have to pay tip?

They will. Tips are no longer included in the dining plan.

It's already been offered as a bounceback promotion - if you were staying at WDW last September, you could book your package for this September and get the free dining. If it's offered to the general public, it'd probably be available for booking in early April.

 

[RTDouglas]

we are actually using our DVC to book several rooms for the family so we can all have a little different experience, and we are not all staying the same length of time. The DW and I with littles are going to be at 3 different DVC resorts just to check things out and also that is what best fit the accomodations we could get for the time we wanted to be there. We know how nice the Villas are and expect to use the kitchens as well it is just one of those things that the DDP worked so well for us last year when we did stay at a resort hotel that I thought I would ask.

 

[Deb & Bill]

we are actually using our DVC to book several rooms for the family so we can all have a little different experience, and we are not all staying the same length of time. The DW and I with littles are going to be at 3 different DVC resorts just to check things out and also that is what best fit the accomodations we could get for the time we wanted to be there. We know how nice the Villas are and expect to use the kitchens as well it is just one of those things that the DDP worked so well for us last year when we did stay at a resort hotel that I thought I would ask.

You know, if you are a DVC member, you'll be staying at DVC a lot. So you won't really need to stay at three on one trip. They will be there on your next. The nicest thing about DVC is unpacking and settling in. If you move two more times, you'll be homeless for two more days. That's just something our family doesn't want to do.

 

[crisi]

Some DVC members have booked four adults in a Value room to get free dining, then not used the room. I'm not sure with the new dining plan if that would still be the money saver it was.

 

[CarolA]

Some DVC members have booked four adults in a Value room to get free dining, then not used the room. I'm not sure with the new dining plan if that would still be the money saver it was.

Also, Free Dining plans have already been offered to UK based guests and they EXCLUDE the value resorts.

Now, I don't know if that trend will continue but it would not surprise me. Last year the UK guests were the first with the new changes to the DDP and in spite of SCREAMING on these very boards that "Disney isn't changing it for US, they did" LOL (Remember the poster who kept calling Disney and telling us how they told him it wasn't changing LOL!)