How can we take advantage of Free dining?

[Sooze]

I'm still very new to DVC and have been hearing a lot about Free-Dining coming up in September. My family and I will be there during the Free-Dining time, and would LOVE to take advantage of that. However, from what I understand, since we will be staying on our DVC points, and we have APasses, there is no way we can participate... This makes me so sad.

I feel like we're being punished for owning DVC points and purchasing APs. It just doesn't seem fair. We also have a Disney VISA, so we could be taking advantage of the early-bird special.

I love Disney so much.. just feeling a little left out. Anyone have any advice for me? Is there a way we can participate in free dining?

Thanks for listening. Any advice would be great!!

 

[Chuck S]

Free dining is a promotion to fill the resort rooms at full price. It is not available to discounted reservations, like AP of FL Resident rooms. We are NOT being punished, as we certainly are not paying full rack rate using our DVC points at a DVC resort.

If you really want free dining, you are welcome to meet the same requirements as anyone else...pay rack rate and park tickets through WDW Travel.

 

[MdmMim]

I've been reading some of the posts and seeing what people are paying for that "free" dining. Not a pretty picture, compared to a DVC stay.

 

[CarolA]

There is no rule that says you can't participate. Pick up the phone, call Disney and book a room. You will have to buy a one day ticket to go with it. Some folks rent thier points and some folks just bank them for another visit. That's up to you.

IMHO, I agree with MdmMim, those hotel prices are HIGH. So it's a lot of money for a hotel and probably more food then most of us need.

 

[Slakk]

There is no rule that says you can't participate. Pick up the phone, call Disney and book a room. You will have to buy a one day ticket to go with it. Some folks rent thier points and some folks just bank them for another visit. That's up to you.

IMHO, I agree with MdmMim, those hotel prices are HIGH. So it's a lot of money for a hotel and probably more food then most of us need.

We did the dining plan in January and ate too much and had credits left over.
No more dining plan for us!

 

[Sooze]

You all have excellent points. I knew I could count on people to get me thinking straight! I just used the DDP with my DH on our last trip and it TRULY was WAY too much food.

I think we'll stick with our 1BR at BWV and just bring groceries for our full kitchen!!!

Thanks so much!

 

[mla973]

I also think you have to purchase the MYW "package" with at least one day's worth of tickets and pay rack room rates.

 

[keishashadow]

The year free DP was 1st offered, several DVCers gleefully posted as to how they booked a value pkg only to obtain the DP for 2 A & 2 C (never intending to set foot in the room). They were able to apply the value of their unused 1 day MYW base tix to their next AP purchase too.

A few boasted of booking phantom children; morphing the credits for adult usage. Those loopholes have been rightfully closed and all must be present @ checkin for verification.

It's a heck of a deal; but have to remember it initially was designed to fill the rooms after the resort was hit hard by several hurricanes the prior year. Evidently, the bookings were still under target this year.

I'm still thankful DVC decided to offer the DP @ all

 

[HockeyKat]

I look at it like this... 5 nights in a studio at OKW would be 40 pts. Assuming a high end rental at $12/pt, that would come to $480 for the room. DVC AP for 2 people is $710. 5x$78 for dining plan is $390. Total cost: $1580.

If you take the actual cost of the points, which is more like $6.50/pt for me having bought DVC 2 months back, total cost: $1360.

OKW studio, 5 night package, w/ 6-day PH pass and free dining: $2097.
Moderate room/std view, 5 night package, 6-day PH, free dining: $1344.

So I basically pay the same amount that I would for a moderate room w/ free dining and a 6 day pass, for an annual pass, dining, and a deluxe room. I think I will take the latter.

 

[javaj]

We are doing free dining with 3 nights at the AsMo with a 1 day base pass (to be used for a future AP upgrade). Then we'll move to the VWL for 4 nights and pay for the dining plan there. We love the dining plan!

This is only our 2nd DVC stay, I'm really excited!

 

[Sooze]

I look at it like this... 5 nights in a studio at OKW would be 40 pts. Assuming a high end rental at $12/pt, that would come to $480 for the room. DVC AP for 2 people is $710. 5x$78 for dining plan is $390. Total cost: $1580.

If you take the actual cost of the points, which is more like $6.50/pt for me having bought DVC 2 months back, total cost: $1360.

OKW studio, 5 night package, w/ 6-day PH pass and free dining: $2097.
Moderate room/std view, 5 night package, 6-day PH, free dining: $1344.

So I basically pay the same amount that I would for a moderate room w/ free dining and a 6 day pass, for an annual pass, dining, and a deluxe room. I think I will take the latter.

Holy cow, that's a lot of number crunching!! Are you an accountant?
Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[HockeyKat]

Holy cow, that's a lot of number crunching!! Are you an accountant?
Thanks for the reassurance!

Hehehe... no, I am a computer programmer. Probably the same difference, though!

Actually, I did some of this because we have another couple staying with us for 6 nights in a 2-bed in September, which includes 2 point-pricey weekend nights. They are paying us for their portion of the 2-bedroom ($11/pt), and buying MYW tix and DDP. $1652 total.

We were curious if staying at a moderate w/ free dining would be better for them, and it is, but not by much. $1509.38, or $1610 for King Room. Deluxe package, which is what they were going to do as they prefer deluxe, is $2656.82.

Plus, this way they get to share a 2-bed villa at the BWV rather than staying in a hotel room.

 

[makelab]

I look at it like this... 5 nights in a studio at OKW would be 40 pts. Assuming a high end rental at $12/pt, that would come to $480 for the room. DVC AP for 2 people is $710. 5x$78 for dining plan is $390. Total cost: $1580.

If you take the actual cost of the points, which is more like $6.50/pt for me having bought DVC 2 months back, total cost: $1360.

OKW studio, 5 night package, w/ 6-day PH pass and free dining: $2097.
Moderate room/std view, 5 night package, 6-day PH, free dining: $1344.

So I basically pay the same amount that I would for a moderate room w/ free dining and a 6 day pass, for an annual pass, dining, and a deluxe room. I think I will take the latter.

kat,

i will be using this example for now and forever to convince DW that DVC is so worth it, no matter what discounts come out.

 

[JMLBrats]

Is anyone else just kind of annoyed that the FD was offered again this year? I'll prob. get burned for saying that, but honestly we planned our DVC vaca this year for the last week of August since we didn't want to pull the kids out of school this year and we just wanted to have a nice peaceful time. Oh well, we knew there was a chance they would offer the FD again...I guess I was just hoping...

Please reassure me that it won't become insanely busy this week now. DH is ready to change our dates over this, but I'm trying to convince him that the parks won't be bad. Plus we're bringing family and they already bought non refundable plane tickets.

 

[mathed101]

Jmlbrats,

Our friends went last year because of free dining and the parks were not crowded at all. Labor Day weekend wasn't too bad either except for the EMH night at MK, it was a zoo according to our friends. The TS restaurants were busy though, so have your ADR's all set ahead of time!

Hope this reassures you a bit.

 

[mikeandkarla]

I look at it like this... 5 nights in a studio at OKW would be 40 pts. Assuming a high end rental at $12/pt, that would come to $480 for the room. DVC AP for 2 people is $710. 5x$78 for dining plan is $390. Total cost: $1580.

If you take the actual cost of the points, which is more like $6.50/pt for me having bought DVC 2 months back, total cost: $1360.

OKW studio, 5 night package, w/ 6-day PH pass and free dining: $2097.
Moderate room/std view, 5 night package, 6-day PH, free dining: $1344.

So I basically pay the same amount that I would for a moderate room w/ free dining and a 6 day pass, for an annual pass, dining, and a deluxe room. I think I will take the latter.

wouldn't it be cheaper to purchase a 5 day ticket per person for the parks instead of an AP? That is, of course, you are not planning to do Disney parks @ least 10 days.

 

[Glendamax]

Basically what you all are saying is that DVC members are not eligible for the free dinning. Even though I will be there during the time it's being offered, I will have to pay for the dinning plan right?

 

[Lynne M]

Basically what you all are saying is that DVC members are not eligible for the free dinning. Even though I will be there during the time it's being offered, I will have to pay for the dinning plan right?

If you are staying on points, then yes, you are not eligible for the free dining.

If you want free dining, you must purchase an MYW package with tickets. That means that you will also pay cash, at rack rate, for your resort room.

 

[JMLBrats]

Jmlbrats,

Our friends went last year because of free dining and the parks were not crowded at all. Labor Day weekend wasn't too bad either except for the EMH night at MK, it was a zoo according to our friends. The TS restaurants were busy though, so have your ADR's all set ahead of time!

Hope this reassures you a bit.

That's what everyone on the Dis seems to say about it so I'm hoping that will be the case. We were planning on staying away from EMH mornings and night just to avoid that kind of craziness anyway. I do have most of our ADR's set so I guess we'll just have to hope for the best!

 

[Glendamax]

If you are staying on points, then yes, you are not eligible for the free dining.
If you want free dining, you must purchase an MYW package with tickets. That means that you will also pay cash, at rack rate, for your resort room.

Thank you for responding!

We were planning on staying away from EMH mornings and night just to avoid that kind of craziness anyway. I do have most of our ADR's set so I guess we'll just have to hope for the best!

The past 2 years I've gone the week after Labor Day, and have attended the EMH (pm) at Magic Kingdom. It was alot of fun. Yes there are more people, but because it's September, it wasnt crazy. Also, I make sure that I've already been there, so if the lines are long at my favorites, it's no big deal. If you do go to MK at night, make sure you ride Thunder Mountain. It's much more fun at night!