New Member... free dining?

[anett]

We are new DVC members (so excited) but not new to Disney. For the last few years we have add on free dining plan to our disney vacations. Now as a DVC member is there ever a free dining plan offered and if so when is the usual date/or time of year it is offered?
Anett

 

[stopher1]

The Free Dining promos are not offered to DVC members on points based stays.

You are able to purchase the package like anyone else and pay cash via the regular CRO bookings. These promos typically are in late August - September.

 

[LisaS]

Free dining is a booking incentive offered through Disney's CRO that requires booking a room at rack rate and purchasing tickets, usually offered at times when bookings are low such as hurricane season. Free dining is not an option when you book a DVC resort on points.

Since DVC is designed to operate at close to capacity all year round, we already have a booking incentive: if we don't use our points, we lose them!

 

[Lynne M]

The DVC system is completely separate from the cash reservation system you're used to from previous stays. The packages and 'deals' that you see advertised, like the 4/3 deal and free dining are offered through Disney reservations, not DVC, and cannot be applied to DVC stays on points.

You are, of course, welcome to make a cash reservation and get the free dining package if it's offered. But I think if you do the math, you'll see that you come out ahead by staying on your DVC points and paying for the dining plan.