free meal plan?

[phonyguy]

what does disney offer for d.v.c. members? what are we chopped liver?

 

[Chuck S]

You're welcome to pay rack rate for a room to get "free" dining if you wish, for a studio that will be about $300 per night. Personally, I think I can eat a lot cheaper...considering even at $10 per point studios would run DVCers $80 for weeknights at OKW, $120 at BWV and BCV.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Nothing is ever really free. I'll take my 2 bedroom villa with the full kitchen any day over a so called "free" dining plan.

 

[JimMIA]

Nothing is ever really free. I'll take my 2 bedroom villa with the full kitchen any day over a so called "free" dining plan.

I'll take my 1- or 2-bedroom villa and PAY for the dining plan, and still come out way ahead of the "free" diners!

 

[Scratch42]

Since when is anything "Free" at Disney!

I'll take my DVC and pay for my Dining plan! Thank You Very Much!

j

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

what does disney offer for d.v.c. members? what are we chopped liver?

The "free" dining is a really just another type of room discount. Pay the full rack rate for a Magic Your Way package, and get a "free" dining plan.

DVC members can pay for a dining plan. It works out well financially if you like 3-course table service meals.

 

[Dean]

Pretty much, yes. You really only have to ask yourself two questions. First is whether Disney has the right to offer perks to one group and not to another. If the answer in your mind is no, then the question is what are you going to do about it. If the answer is yes, you've answered your own OP question already. Disney is offering a package deal where you pay full rack rates, buy at least one days ticket (they hope you buy more) and the dining plan is included. It's not offered to any other group including AP discounts, AAA, FL residents, etc. It's just like the DDE or FL only pass specials. Of course none of us would turn it down if they offered it but I see no reason if I were in their position that I would agree to do what you suggest.

 

[zack'smommy]

I am hoping to rent some points off of a DVC member. If I rent from a DVC member, can I still add dining & what is the cost? Everyone in the room would need the same plan, right?

 

[Cruelladeville]

$38.99 per person per night. In the fall you can rent a moderate resort for $139 per night, and get the meal plan free. I am saving my points for Christmas, and staying the week for $1200. A studio was 104 pts for the week, $1040 if you rented points at the going rate, so Disney's plan was a better deal for us, which is why I decided to save my points.

 

[zack'smommy]

thanks for the info. now i'm not sure what to do. this will be my 1st time staying on the wdw property. i was really looking forward to staying at the bwv (location seems very convenient), but now i'm not sure that is the best idea with the "free dining" option.

 

[Judique]

thanks for the info. now i'm not sure what to do. this will be my 1st time staying on the wdw property. i was really looking forward to staying at the bwv (location seems very convenient), but now i'm not sure that is the best idea with the "free dining" option.

It depends on what kind of rooms you want - villa style or hotel style. Do you want deluxe accommodations or are you satisfied with a value room? After you've decided on your room, then add dining. I think the word free gets everyone a bit confused. Remember nothing is truly free, so make your decision accordingly.

 

[crisi]

zack'smommy - Free dining is for about six or seven weeks in the fall. Some dates and resorts are completely sold out already for this fall. Also, the BWV may be sold out for this fall - almost certainly if you are looking at those cheap "standard view" points. If you haven't rented those points yet, you'll want a backup plan. And if you HAVE rented those points, you may be stuck there, most DVC owners don't make cancellation easy - points are not a hotel cancellation situation for the owners and owners are often stuck with points.

 

[wdw_explorer]

We are staying at the Boardwalk on points in late August. According to
Disney, we are a family of 4 "adults" (the two children are 13 and 11). For our situation we found it was much cheaper to book a room at the Pop Century (80/night) and get the free meal plan then it was to buy the DVC meal plan (160/night).

Unfortunately, this leaves an empty room at Pop Century that will go to waste. We would have preferred that Disney offered the meal plan to us at the Pop Century rate ($80/night). But with all the different codes and packages these kinds of situations will occur.

wdw_explorer

 

[Dean]

thanks for the info. now i'm not sure what to do. this will be my 1st time staying on the wdw property. i was really looking forward to staying at the bwv (location seems very convenient), but now i'm not sure that is the best idea with the "free dining" option.

You may still be better off renting points at staying at a deluxe such as BWV or BCV anyway even if you could get the free dining, it just depends on the specifics. I think the price is $37.99, a dollar less than quoted.

 

[zack'smommy]

thanks everybody. a lot of good points for me to consider. i haven't rented any points yet, but someone has given me some dates. i must make a decision soon or i'll be sleeping outside the park. (then i'll have a "real" crisis) either way, whether i go w/ the "free" dining or buy dining, it will be a good value for me. (i like to eat!!!)

 

[byoung]

Staying at a DVC and paying for the dining plan will save you.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We are staying at the Boardwalk on points in late August. According to
Disney, we are a family of 4 "adults" (the two children are 13 and 11). For our situation we found it was much cheaper to book a room at the Pop Century (80/night) and get the free meal plan then it was to buy the DVC meal plan (160/night).

Unfortunately, this leaves an empty room at Pop Century that will go to waste. We would have preferred that Disney offered the meal plan to us at the Pop Century rate ($80/night). But with all the different codes and packages these kinds of situations will occur.

wdw_explorer

We are staying at AKL and getting the "free" dining. We are using the passes we had to buy towards our APs, but still, we probably would have saved more just staying on points and buying the DVC DP.

But there are only 2 of us.

DH and I were in awe of your financial wizardry. We never would have thought of booking the value AND the points like that.

If all 4 of our kids were going (2 are over 10) that plan would have saved us $$ too.


Just wanted to say:

And....can we consult you on all our future trips??

 

[nightowlky]

Staying at a DVC and paying for the dining plan will save you.

As long as the resort isn't part of the Disney Collection. The DDP isn't available if you're staying there.