Hello all!! Very new with the DVC! Free dining and DVC?

[ekidwell0001]

Hello! My family and I are looking to possibly buy into the DVC but i have one big question! The codes that come out like for free dining and other offers, can they be added to your package?? We try to go every september using the free dining, so if we bought this, could we still do that??? TIA!

 

[DisneyDVCFamily]

Unfortunately not. That's one disadvantage to DVC, is you don't get the same sales and promotions as you do if staying as a Disney Hotel guest.

That said, DVC is still worth it!

 

[DebbieB]

Those special offers require a full price room. If you look at the price of DVC rooms over the years you are paying for, they are far from full price. Even adding the cost of the dining plan, you are still ahead with DVC.

 

[crisi]

One of my "caution lights" goes up for people who like getting bargains. Promotions never apply to stays on points, and whenever Disney offers a new promotion, a number of DVC members feel very cheated that they can't get the deal. Many DVC members feel like DebbieB - that regardless of the promos offered, we are ahead with DVC over the long term. But it will require an acceptance of that at an emotional and logical level. That doesn't mean its a bad idea, just that you should 'know thyself.'

I have a few other caution lights as well - people who stay a lot of weekends. People looking to stay places other than DVC frequenty. People who are going to finance. People who take short notice trips. People who really like the Disney Deluxe hotels. Not that DVC doesn't ever work when these factors are in play, just that these factors should require thinking about it before you sign.

 

[arthur06]

The way to go is get a Chase Disney Card and use that to accumulate Disney dollars throughout the year. Then apply that for Dining or park passes...

 

[allshookup]

A really great perk DVC offers right now is a discount on Annual Passes & with that you can get the (TIW) Tables in Wonderland card which gives you 20% off of food & alcohol, which is a really great bargain! Once you figure in rack rate on the room & park tickets, that free dining deal is not as great as it first sounds. Believe me we've done the free dining by staying at POP before we bought DVC & we don't miss those "deals" one bit! Plus if you ever decide to go during the holidays...good luck finding any discount at all. That is what finally made us decide to buy & I just wish we'd done it sooner!

 

[dvcSteve]

I would actually disagree with the above poster who suggested that a warning flag be raised re. DVC ownership for those who love Disney Deluxe resorts.

I bought points with the Beach Club as my home resort and, INMHO, that is a fine deluxe resort. I actually end up with a really huge suite at a deluxe resort which suites me just fine.

There were two hurdles I had to overcome re. DVC stays when compared with my previous deluxe resort stays. The first was the lack of daily maid service. I originally thought that would compromise the experience and make it seem like less of a getaway but as it turns out I kind of like the reduced intrusion into our room. You can always pay for daily service if you want it but we have never done so.

The second was a concern about my stays no longer being at the newest and coolest resort as new ones are built. I used to look forward to trying out the newest resort. The fact here is that there have been great additions to the DVC resort list since I purchased. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge and now the addition to the Contemporary make for lots of great new deluxe resorts to try.

Have fun!

 

[Broker]

I wouldn't necessarily agree with the financing part. I am a full time financial planner and financed mine. Some people make leverage work for them.

 

[crisi]

I would actually disagree with the above poster who suggested that a warning flag be raised re. DVC ownership for those who love Disney Deluxe resorts.

I bought points with the Beach Club as my home resort and, INMHO, that is a fine deluxe resort. I actually end up with a really huge suite at a deluxe resort which suites me just fine.

There were two hurdles I had to overcome re. DVC stays when compared with my previous deluxe resort stays. The first was the lack of daily maid service. I originally thought that would compromise the experience and make it seem like less of a getaway but as it turns out I kind of like the reduced intrusion into our room. You can always pay for daily service if you want it but we have never done so.

The second was a concern about my stays no longer being at the newest and coolest resort as new ones are built. I used to look forward to trying out the newest resort. The fact here is that there have been great additions to the DVC resort list since I purchased. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge and now the addition to the Contemporary make for lots of great new deluxe resorts to try.

Have fun!

As I said - it isn't an absolute - but its a flag. Make sure to understand the difference between a timeshare and a Deluxe resort. DVC is a very nice timeshare, and many of the units are attached to the Deluxe resorts, but staying at BCVs is not the same as staying at the Beach Club. I happen to be someone that prefers daily housekeeping and Deluxe resorts rooms over DVC. For now, DVC provides my family value - but I don't think we will keep it once the kids go to college.

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't necessarily agree with the financing part. I am a full time financial planner and financed mine. Some people make leverage work for them.

And again, not an absolute - a warning flag. Many people make leverage work for them - and many people finance who can barely afford payments - when gas prices go up or the grocery bill increases, those payments become a burden. Vacationing should never be a burden.