If free dining is offered for October, should I change reservation?

[BWV2001]

Just curious. My party consists of myself, dh, dsil, ds (16), dd (13) and ds (6). We are currently staying in a std. view 2 br villa at BWV. If the free dining offer comes available, that could be worth around $225/night for our party. I'd consider staying in 2 rooms at a moderate and saving my points, or possibly renting them. I've done this before when youngest was a baby and dsil wasn't with us. The 5 of us stayed in 1 room at CSR. It was a little tight space-wise. While I realize I'd be sacrificing the kitchen and washer/dryer and GREAT location, I still find the free dining so hard to pass up. Should I consider it if it comes up again? If so, which moderate would my kids enjoy the most? TIA for all suggestions.

Kathy

 

[DISNEY FIX]

You asked for opinions so....I couldn't do it personally, we bought DVC so as to not lay out any more $$$ for rooms. It goes against my grain on this one. If you got the cash to throw around go for it.
Best of luck.

 

[CarolMN]

You have to do the math for your party size - it may be a good value for your family if you were going to get the DDP anyway.

Figure out the value of your points - sounds like you value them at the amount for which you can rent them. Then compare the cost of a2-room package at the mods (or one room at a deluxe, orone room at POR or the 6 person family suite at the values) to the value of the points you would use for the 2 bedroom villa + the cost of the DDP for your party.

I think the free dining at value resorts is the Quick Service Plan. Not sure what is offered for the moderates. You'll need to verify.

Only you know if you are willing to give up the space and comfort of a 2 bedroom villa for a hotel room (s). I would not be, but some members would be.

 

[Dean]

Just curious. My party consists of myself, dh, dsil, ds (16), dd (13) and ds (6). We are currently staying in a std. view 2 br villa at BWV. If the free dining offer comes available, that could be worth around $225/night for our party. I'd consider staying in 2 rooms at a moderate and saving my points, or possibly renting them. I've done this before when youngest was a baby and dsil wasn't with us. The 5 of us stayed in 1 room at CSR. It was a little tight space-wise. While I realize I'd be sacrificing the kitchen and washer/dryer and GREAT location, I still find the free dining so hard to pass up. Should I consider it if it comes up again? If so, which moderate would my kids enjoy the most? TIA for all suggestions.

Kathy

As Carol noted, do the math to see how it fits in. One option might be looking at a BWV studio with free dining if you can change your reservation to a 1 BR or studio. Another might be getting one room at a value or moderate in addition to your time at BWV. I doubt the match will work out for two rooms and 6 people with 5 adults but check and see. Also look at the TIW card to see what value it is for you.

 

[CarolMN]

As Carol noted, do the math to see how it fits in. One option might be looking at a BWV studio with free dining if you can change your reservation to a 1 BR or studio.

Note that CRO will only allow 4 in a studio and will charge for extra adults. Obviously, they would not be getting dining credits for anyone not on the reservation.

Another might be getting one room at a value or moderate in addition to your time at BWV. I doubt the match will work out for two rooms and 6 people with 5 adults but check and see. Also look at the TIW card to see what value it is for you.

Again, the OP should be aware that the values may only offer the Quick Service plan for the "free dining". I agree that it is unlikely to work out with 2 rooms and they have 6 people, so even one room at a deluxe may not be possible. I miscounted the first time I answered - thought they only had 5, but I see now that they have 6.

 

[CarolAnnC]

A moderate, such as Port Orleans Riverside, will allow 2 adults and charge extra for any other adults in the room. There is an additional charge for the trundle bed, so the price may be more than one thinks.

Plus, paying rack rate plus tickets to get "free" dining isn't always so free...

 

[TDC Nala]

General public free dining hasn't been announced yet, so there's no confirmation as to what type of dining is being offered free to each resort. If the resevation you want gets quick service, there'll be an extra charge of $10 per night per adult and $2 per night per child to upgrade to basic, if basic dining is what you wanted. That should figure into your calculations, just in case the free dining turns out to be quick service. That can add up with six people, especially since you will need to have two rooms at rack rate plus extra adult fees.

 

[Dean]

Note that CRO will only allow 4 in a studio and will charge for extra adults. Obviously, they would not be getting dining credits for anyone not on the reservation.

Again, the OP should be aware that the values may only offer the Quick Service plan for the "free dining". I agree that it is unlikely to work out with 2 rooms and they have 6 people, so even one room at a deluxe may not be possible. I miscounted the first time I answered - thought they only had 5, but I see now that they have 6.

I'm aware of the limitations but actually getting those on the plan that would best utilize it and not those that would get less benefit is exactly one of the benefits of any one of many variations along these lines. And while they may or may not limit the values to Quick service, you can always pay the upgrade fee. Just look to see how the numbers work out. To me the bottom line is there are MANY variations that don't necessarily come to mind initially. Some have even gotten a room with free dining while having a DVC reservation and not even using the room associated with the free dining. While this last option rarely works out when you look at the overall costs, sometimes it does, esp if you use it to get less days on the DDP than the DVC reservation.

Plus, paying rack rate plus tickets to get "free" dining isn't always so free...

Usually but not always. And there has been at least one instance where the free DDP had room discounts associated for some situations.

 

[TDC Nala]

The only room discounts associated with free DDP that I am aware of were offered only to residents of Great Britain and only at Saratoga Springs...maybe you know some that I don't know about but US residents to my knowledge have never been able to combine a room discount with free dining.

 

[Dean]

The only room discounts associated with free DDP that I am aware of were offered only to residents of Great Britain and only at Saratoga Springs...maybe you know some that I don't know about but US residents to my knowledge have never been able to combine a room discount with free dining.

I was thinking there were some AP and/or FL resident specials this past year that would have been both SSR & OKW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you go with two rooms at a moderate, you might request connecting rooms, but you might not get them. So how do you split up the family if they can't come and go between the two rooms so easily? Do you really want to sleep in double beds?

 

[DebbieB]

Note that CRO will only allow 4 in a studio and will charge for extra adults. Obviously, they would not be getting dining credits for anyone not on the reservation.

Again, the OP should be aware that the values may only offer the Quick Service plan for the "free dining". I agree that it is unlikely to work out with 2 rooms and they have 6 people, so even one room at a deluxe may not be possible. I miscounted the first time I answered - thought they only had 5, but I see now that they have 6.

CRO does not charge for extra adults at the DVC resorts. I just ran a test on disneyworld.com to confirm.

 

[Sammie]

I was thinking there were some AP and/or FL resident specials this past year that would have been both SSR & OKW.

There were but they did not include free dining.

 

[jodifla]

Just curious. My party consists of myself, dh, dsil, ds (16), dd (13) and ds (6). We are currently staying in a std. view 2 br villa at BWV. If the free dining offer comes available, that could be worth around $225/night for our party. I'd consider staying in 2 rooms at a moderate and saving my points, or possibly renting them. I've done this before when youngest was a baby and dsil wasn't with us. The 5 of us stayed in 1 room at CSR. It was a little tight space-wise. While I realize I'd be sacrificing the kitchen and washer/dryer and GREAT location, I still find the free dining so hard to pass up. Should I consider it if it comes up again? If so, which moderate would my kids enjoy the most? TIA for all suggestions.

Kathy

Nope. I'd never do this for free dining. I'd get a TIW card and use that for table service, and eat most of my meals in the room-- all the breakfasts, a few lunches and about half the dinners.

MUCH MUCH cheaper.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Nope. I'd never do this for free dining. I'd get a TIW card and use that for table service, and eat most of my meals in the room-- all the breakfasts, a few lunches and about half the dinners.

MUCH MUCH cheaper.

I agree. The food is not worth the sacrifice especially when you have the ability to cook quick meals and snacks in the villa.
Just back from a week on the QSDP and it worked for us, but I would never give up my villa or deluxe resort amenities for free food. I'd rather pay for my food or plan oop.
The QSDP was too much food for us and we did not always eat it all but we always enjoyed our accomodations and location. We stayed at AKV and BCV.

 

[Sandisw]

We are doing both the DDP and the QSDP for our trip next summer. We would not change from our DVC stay to the moderates, even if offered free dining.

To us, the room and the resort matter, and the savings would not be worth it. We didn't want to stay there prior to owning DVC so not interested now.

However, for some, the room is just a room and not staying in a DVC villa is no big deal. I think it really depends on how much saving it would be and worth the hassle of renting the points, staying in 2 rooms instead of one villa where everyone is together, the washer/dryer, and the free internet.

For us, not worth it, but for you, it might be.

Good luck!!!

 

[SassyLassy]

Just curious. My party consists of myself, dh, dsil, ds (16), dd (13) and ds (6). We are currently staying in a std. view 2 br villa at BWV. If the free dining offer comes available, that could be worth around $225/night for our party. I'd consider staying in 2 rooms at a moderate and saving my points, or possibly renting them. I've done this before when youngest was a baby and dsil wasn't with us. The 5 of us stayed in 1 room at CSR. It was a little tight space-wise. While I realize I'd be sacrificing the kitchen and washer/dryer and GREAT location, I still find the free dining so hard to pass up. Should I consider it if it comes up again? If so, which moderate would my kids enjoy the most? TIA for all suggestions.

Kathy

Kathy- sorry if this seems like a silly question but I thought that DVC members could get the DDP so why would you need to step down from the BWC 2 bedroom to a mod? I normally stay at POR and love it but given the choice I would absolutely stay at BWC.

Maybe you could help me understand!? Thanks

 

[Checkers]

Another vote for keeping your accommodations and getting a TIW card if you have an AP. Maybe I missed it, but has free dining ever been offered in October?

 

[SFD998]

Like a PP we too bought into DVC so as not to shell out more $ than necessary for rooms and to get more out of them. We always get some form of the dining plan when we go and we wouldn't pay for the room to get the free dining unless it some how worked out money wise.

What I would like to see is free dining if you book a 1 bdr or larger every once in a while. Come on Disney throw us DVC owners a bone.

 

[TDC Nala]

I was thinking there were some AP and/or FL resident specials this past year that would have been both SSR & OKW.

Not with free dining.

Kathy- sorry if this seems like a silly question but I thought that DVC members could get the DDP so why would you need to step down from the BWC 2 bedroom to a mod?

To get free dining. With a DVC reservation you can purchase the dining plan, but you are not eligible for a free dining promotion. To get that, you must book a Disney resort package reservation through CRO (and pay full rack rate for the room).

Maybe I missed it, but has free dining ever been offered in October?

In past years, yes, through PIN codes. In 2009 there was a general public free dining offer good for check-in dates from September 27 to December 17 (including all of October).