Future of free dining, room discounts and DVC

[correctcraft97]

We are on the cusp of buying DVC because our tastes have changed over the years. Our favorite thing to do was go in October at a moderate and receive free dining. We progressed to deluxe resorts and often used a "magical" promotion to receive a nice discount. I have watched the free dining slowly fade to non existence and I just looked at the 2017 dates. With free dining dwindling down, do you think room discounts will eventually be gone as well? This is just another positive in helping me to pull the trigger on a contract because discounts are never guaranteed to be there.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney will offer inducements only if they need to. As attendance and room bookings increase, offerings will decrease. A discounted room really isn't a discounted room when they set a really inflated rack rate. Maybe the discounted rate is really the rate that they want and everything else is the sucker rate!

Bill

 

[quandrea]

I like the freedom dvc brings. We can choose our unit, often one with a kitchen. Cooking saves a lot of money and doesn't detract from the holiday. We still enjoy meals out. We can rent a few points to pay out dues. Works out well. I like not being at the mercy of discounts.

 

[BillPA]

Getting a room at even 1/2 the list price is better for Disney than having empty rooms. With passes and food I would guess Disney makes much more than they do on rooms.

 

[CMNJ]

Not sure how much research you have done but just keep in mind that October is very high season for DVC. Due to good weather, special events (F&W/MNSSHP), and low point costs with the current point structure it can often be difficult to book at 7 months out (or less). If that is when you routinely plan to travel I'd make sure you choose a home resort you would be happy staying at often if you couldn't switch your booking at 7 months. Even then you may need to book at 11 months (or close to it) if you are planning on buying BWV/BCV or want the low cost point rooms (like BLT standard or AKV value). DVC members seem to flock to the "deal" rooms and they tend to go extremely quickly.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you head to WDW for F&W, you need to own at BCV or BWV and book your home resort at eleven months out. If you can't do that, you won't be walking to Epcot.

 

[correctcraft97]

I have researched (probably way more than a normal person) on the DVC seasons versus non DVC. We actually have changed it up recently from going in fall, to trying September and February for our last trips. We actually liked the February crowds and weather the best and decided that our favorite time to go will now be either January or February. I'm leaning towards AKL or BLT so the Epcot resorts are not that big of a deal to me.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have researched (probably way more than a normal person) on the DVC seasons versus non DVC. We actually have changed it up recently from going in fall, to trying September and February for our last trips.

Knowledge is good, but things change. So the important part is that you'll be booking at the 11 month time period. That you like your home resort enough that IF you can't switch at 7 months you won't hate the trip.

t our favorite time to go will now be either January or February.

Marathon and Princess Half Marathon weekends fall in those months. Heavy demand if your chosen vacation falls in those time periods. 11 months booking is key.

 

[Marionnette]

I have researched (probably way more than a normal person) on the DVC seasons versus non DVC. We actually have changed it up recently from going in fall, to trying September and February for our last trips. We actually liked the February crowds and weather the best and decided that our favorite time to go will now be either January or February. I'm leaning towards AKL or BLT so the Epcot resorts are not that big of a deal to me.

Let your dates influence the UY that you purchase. Assume that you will always stay at your home resort and you will never be disappointed. So, choose the home resort that you like better.

Given your preference for Jan./Feb., I'd recommend a Dec. UY. Possibly an October one if you think you might want to travel for F&W occasionally.

 

[mustinjourney]

Let your dates influence the UY that you purchase. Assume that you will always stay at your home resort and you will never be disappointed. So, choose the home resort that you like better.

Given your preference for Jan./Feb., I'd recommend a Dec. UY. Possibly an October one if you think you might want to travel for F&W occasionally.

I agree with this -- but would only add that OCT is preferable over DEC (even with going in Jan/Feb), since OCT gives you more flexibility in attending F&W occasionally.

I bought DEC since most of our plans were for Dec/Jan/Feb travel -- but after going to F&W one time, I'm hooked. Also, this year we have a trip end of Nov and beginning of Dec, which makes using those points a little more difficult (and confusing with the banking/borrowing that was needed). As long as we don't have to cancel, it will be fine -- but if we have to cancel -- we'll have quite a few points lost.

 

[SL6827]

In the event of another economic downturn or terrorist attack, the discounts will return I believe, like they were in the early 2000s.

 

[Marionnette]

I agree with this -- but would only add that OCT is preferable over DEC (even with going in Jan/Feb), since OCT gives you more flexibility in attending F&W occasionally.

I bought DEC since most of our plans were for Dec/Jan/Feb travel -- but after going to F&W one time, I'm hooked. Also, this year we have a trip end of Nov and beginning of Dec, which makes using those points a little more difficult (and confusing with the banking/borrowing that was needed). As long as we don't have to cancel, it will be fine -- but if we have to cancel -- we'll have quite a few points lost.

So true! Another thing to keep in mind is that a reservation cannot span your UY. So, if you have a Dec. UY and you want to stay from late Nov. thru early Dec., you need to make 2 reservations - one that ends on Nov. 30 and one that begins Dec. 1. MS can link the reservations so that you probably won't have to move, but having to wait until the 11-month window opens for the second half of your stay puts you at a disadvantage.

 

[correctcraft97]

All great info. I was thinking of an October use year just in case we do a food and wine in the future.