Is dining plan offered to DVC members?

[ktyler1320]

We are planning our 5th disney trip for December. We are considering renting DVC points but there is a free dining offer for the dates we will be there. So I'm trying to consider the price both ways and determine which is better for us. We want to have the plan with 1 table service, 1 quick service, and 1 snack a day. My question is, is the free dining ever offered to DVC members or do they always have to pay for it? It seems like years ago when we rented points we got the free dining, but I can't remember for sure.

Thanks for any help!
Kim

 

[ses1230]

We are planning our 5th disney trip for December. We are considering renting DVC points but there is a free dining offer for the dates we will be there. So I'm trying to consider the price both ways and determine which is better for us. We want to have the plan with 1 table service, 1 quick service, and 1 snack a day. My question is, is the free dining ever offered to DVC members or do they always have to pay for it? It seems like years ago when we rented points we got the free dining, but I can't remember for sure.

Thanks for any help!
Kim

DVC reservations using points are not eligible for the free dining promation. If you want free dining, you need to book a package paying rack rate for your room.

If you want to add the dining plan, the member has to add it via member services, and it has to be paid for at the time it is added on. (This is a change, you used to be able to pay on arrival.)

 

[ktyler1320]

DVC reservations using points are not eligible for the free dining promation. If you want free dining, you need to book a package paying rack rate for your room.

If you want to add the dining plan, the member has to add it via member services, and it has to be paid for at the time it is added on. (This is a change, you used to be able to pay on arrival.)

Thank you for the reply, I saw it wasn't eligible for the free dining promotion that is going on now. I was just curious if it's ever offered? We really want to stay at a DVC resort, but I would hate to book it and then the free dining be offered after I had paid for it already. I remember us paying at arrival last time we rented points from someone, I didn't know that had changed. Thanks again!

 

[ses1230]

We have been DVC members since 2006, and we have never been able to take advantage of free dining. Free dining is used to put people in the rooms and I guess they figure we DVCers have already paid for our rooms.

 

[ktyler1320]

Thank you! That makes sense.

 

[DCL rookie]

Renting points on DVC and paying for DDP will probably save you more money than getting the free dining plan!!!

 

[Faldred]

We have been DVC members since 2006, and we have never been able to take advantage of free dining. Free dining is used to put people in the rooms and I guess they figure we DVCers have already paid for our rooms.

"Free dining" is a resort package discount for the amount of the dining plan. DVC members get their own form of discount by having lower point costs during off-peak seasons.

 

[momtwoboys]

when renting points from a DVC member, can we give the DVC owner our credit card to charge the dining plan when she books our DVC ressie? We are looking into renting points for our April trip, but want to add the dining plan on too!

 

[vicki_c]

when renting points from a DVC member, can we give the DVC owner our credit card to charge the dining plan when she books our DVC ressie? We are looking into renting points for our April trip, but want to add the dining plan on too!

You can pay the member for the dining plan in whatever manner you can work out with that owner. Many people have suggested purchasing gift cards in the amount of the dining plan and sending them to the owner (or giving them the info from the cards) and they can use those to pay. Or paying the owner by Paypal and letting them pay for the DDP however they want. I personally would not give out my credit card number to the owner I am renting from, that is too risky, IMO. I can't remember if DVC Member Services will take someone else's credit card from the owner either.

In the end - it's whatever you and the owner work out.

 

[momtwoboys]

thanks for the info! The person we are renting from works with my DH. She is going to come over to my house and do all this at the kitchen table I just wasn't sure how the payment had to be. She does not have paypal, or internet, or a cell phone, but she if willing to come here and make the call to member services with us sitting by to see what's available. All we know is that no matter where we stay we will still want the basic dining attached to our stay thanks! off to check out the prices for the 2012 dining plan

 

[jlk806]

I rented points through David's DVC rentals. I am leaving WDW for home tomorrow Everything went very smoothly and I purchased a Disney gift card that I gave the numbers to the rep at David's and she passed it on to the member who added the dining plan for me. Everything was so smooth and the accommodations are wonderful I will not hesitate to rent points again!

DVC members or those renting points can never get free dining though.

I would like to point out one benefit to renting points and adding the dining plan - you dont have to add any tickets to your package to purchase the dining plan when staying on points. When making a cash ressie, you have to add at least a 1 day ticket to add the dining plan. It worked out for us because we did a split stay (Pop, cash ressie with tickets & FD), and Kidani (rented points, no tickets needed, added dining plan)

Or if you have an Annual pass or unexpired tickets from past visits renting points is a good way to add the DP without having to buy tickets.