Meal Plan and DVC Members

[doberlady]

I am sure this has been discussed somewhere before.

I do not understand why DVC members can't buy the meal plan. Not like DVC members are getting a free stay.

I would think DVC members should be entitled to the same benefits as non members.

 

[puffkin]

I think that the meal plan would be nice for DVC members, but I can see why it is not offered. Here are some reasons:

1. By encouraging people to book packages, they are ensuring that they keep guests on Disney property longer. This leads to higher resort fees, souvenir fees, and park admission fees. DVC members are not on "packages" and have prepaid their resort fees through the membership.

2. They recoup their money on the dining plan by being able to charge rack rate for the resort rooms. They would not be able to do this for DVC members.

3. The dining plan is a way to entice more guests to visit Disney. When you commit to DVC, they know they have you for 30+ years, so why do they need to entice you further.

I don't think it is a question of fairness, like it or not, Disney can do what they want. I do wish they would offer the DDE card to DVC members. That would be a nice perk. We were able to get one because we have AP's this year, but we may not always in the future.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, DVC members are entitled to more benefits than the general public, such as the ability to purchase discounted tickets including Annual Passes.

Second, if you are willing to pay full rack rate for the room you are staying in (rather than using points) and are willing to buy undiscounted tickets you too can get the dining plan.

 

[Chuck S]

Given what we DVC members actually "pay" for our rooms, and the AP discount, I think I can pay for my own meals, Don't forget that AP and FL resident discont rooms also can not buy the meal plan. WDW does treat us like any other non-package guest.

 

[SB in KY]

Well according to our last newsletter, they are planning on some type of dining plan for DVC members begining in the spring of 2006...no word on what it will be or how much it will cost. Allegedly the reason they gave for not offering MYW dining to DVC members was because the reservation systems are completely seperate and they could not interface for MYW tracking.

DVC members do get $100 off of AP's and can get the DDE card....so they have made some nice arrangements for us. It will be interesting to see exactly what kind of a dining plan they come up with for us.

 

[ktbugsmom]

I would be all over a dining program for DVC members... I looked into the DDE card, but my annual pass expired in August and our next trip is in January. I am not sure if I am doing the annual pass this time, because I can't commit to 2 WDW trips in 2006... and if I buy the AP, then that means I will be "forced" to take another trip , which will require buying more points... so I am not sure I would be saving any money!

 

[CharmedLife]

Look at the meal plan as an "incentive" and not a "benefit". Like a previous poster said, Disney already has us locked in to coming - they don't need an additional incentive to get us there.

I actually think I would not do a dining plan even it was offered (unless it was free!). I read these reports of folks eating so many big meals on their trip that I think I would be sick by the end of the week! Plus I do like to do a few "normal" meals in my room, esp. breakfast and occasionally lunch - that's why we have the kitchen!

Then again, if it were free... Wishful thinking!

 

[Frantasmic]

The dining plan should be related to the park ticket, not the room ticket, IMO.

It would simply be another option to add to the base ticket to the parks.

You add the dining option, it multiples the number of credits and adds it to your ticket.

 

[Chuck S]

The dining plan should be related to the park ticket, not the room ticket, IMO.

It would simply be another option to add to the base ticket to the parks.

You add the dining option, it multiples the number of credits and adds it to your ticket.

The problem with that is what about the folks that buy a 10-day non-exp park ticket and use it over the course of years...if they had to get 10 days worth of food credit, and assume non expiration, Disney couldn't discontinue the plan...ever. Or, what about folks that would buy tickets, even base tickets, and not activate them for years. Adding the dining would be a real problem.

 

[karrit2000]

If they offered DVC members a meal plan it would be an "Incentive" for us to use the restaurants more. I do very little TS due to the cost of the meals. We do more CS. A package would be an incentive to me to do more TS.

The DDE card isn't a big draw to me because the discounts are primarily for TS with a few CS available. Paying $50 for something I wouldn't get my money's worth back is no bargain.

 

[crisi]

Given how packed the restaurants are, it doesn't seem Disney needs an incentive to get anyone to eat table service right now. I'm willing to bet they wish LESS people ate table service because I'm willing to bet they have a whole lot of dining plan guests complaining that they didn't get to eat meals they paid for because nothing was available when they wanted to eat.

 

[DoxaWeKnee]

First of all, DVC members are entitled to more benefits than the general public, ..............

Actually, we're "entitled" to nothing more then our contract provides. Any benifit we receive is strictly at the discretion of DVD,DVC and WDW. We get several great "perks" for being members but they could all disappear overnite.