reaction to all the free dining and deals from Disney

[goofy4tink]

I totally agree with Zulaya. I think the free dining is pushing us away from traveling to Disney as much as we used to and as much as we would like to. We aren't ones to go off-site for meals, and the free dining is changing too many things in the dining department at Disney. First off, it's making the food all the same no matter where you eat....yuck! Secondly, it's making it almost impossible to find "white table cloth" type food and service in even the signature restaurants anymore. I do in fact blame this on "free dining". The inflated prices for what has become substandard food is pushing us into shorter stays and vacations elsewhere.

Yep!! And I don't think it's only free dining that has done this. Just the fact that there is a DDP has made the food at WDW less enjoyable. I used to love eating at WDW..you could find something a bit different at various restaurants. Not anymore. Unless you are paying for really expensive restaurants, you aren't getting anything special. And now, with the DDP, you find restaurants that used to be nice, crowded with guests who would never have been at that restaurant..it would have cost too much for their entire family to eat there. Add to that the availability of free dining and it's become a free for all...pardon the pun. You can't get the nicer restaurants anymore..not unless you book at the end of your stay and even then it's tough.

We are eating more and more in our villa....not a true vacation for me that way, but what can you do. When Disney restores some quality and variety to their restaurants again, I'll eat out more often.

When I bought into DVC, I bought the right to book a villa....period. If I want to go to WDW and just hang at my resort, I can. If I want to go and hit a park every day, I can. I don't expect Disney to offer me anything special.....just a well maintained resort/villa. I love the discount on the AP. That's a huge help in keeping my costs down. If I want to take advantage of free dining, I'll book a resort other than DVC. Oh wait...I did that for my Dec trip. Staying at POP for 5 nights, with free dining, after my stay at BWV and VAKL!!! But you can't have it both ways...you can't book using points and expect Disney to offer you the sun and the moon.

Why?? They already have our money people! They don't need to entice us with great room rates or free dining. They have our money, in hand...have since we signed at the ole Mickey heads!!!

 

[Melrosgirl]

If I had bought DVC recently, I'd be really mad, but bc I bought so long ago and my hotel stays are basically "free" now (besides annual dues), I let it slide.

I do not like the fact that I book 11 months in advance and can't make reservations for dining until 3 months out...same time that the people who are booking right now for their free trips this fall can make theirs. That's where I get upset.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We should all stop paying our annual member fees and let Disney foreclose on our points. Then they would own all the points and none of us would. That would show them.

 

[PghLybrt]

They would have to have some stipulations like if owning parties aren't married then the lock is for those two only and not both families and that would keep brother/sister ownership and giving both spouses and all kids the discount.

.

I am really interested as to how you would think this works. So my GF and I cannot be married so only we should get tickets but not the kids? It would never work with divorce, remarriage, death......


As for the other ideas.....

I actually just bought my 3rd contract. I do not feel sorry in the slightest that I did. I for one would turn down free dinning. I am not a fan of counter service at all.

Also, if you want to complain about ticket prices be proactive and go and buy some today for future use. I have a stack (My grandma even has old Mk date satmped tickets with days left! We have no intention to use them, ever). I just bought tickets for this trip as well as a 10 day hopper no expiration so that way when we go down for a weekend we can get the most out of it. That one will last us 5 years.

 

[going/again]

But look at the results of your poll. It's clear that the "group" here doesn't feel that way. Some do, but the vast majority that took this particular poll here do not. Most of us don't see that there's anything to complain about.

It would be interesting to see where members who voted own. as I see it all the free upgrades to OKW/SSR are making a mockery of buy a piece of the magic at these resorts, just my opinion,

 

[Slakk]

Exactly, "Free" anything is a marketing ploy whose cost will be made up in volume or the item being given away is very inexpensive cost-wise to the company providing it.

Much like "Buy 2 get 1 Free" is better for a retailer's bottom line than offering a 33% discount on a single item.

The problem is that someone has to pay for that *free* and we are paying for something we are not getting. Since the Dining Plan started I have seen food choices and quality go down. The same menu offerings at many restaurants.

Getting a reservation is like winning the lottery. I called at exactly 90 days and had three restaurants: Le Cellier, Teppan Edo and Chef Mickey's. I got one.

Because they added Free Dining to October the restaurants booked up and the 90 plus 10 rule totally screwed me.

We used to own 330 points, we will be down to 230 soon and 50 is for HHI which we use there. We are selling 2 50 point contracts to pay for a new EOY Marriott.

Why? Because MVCI seems to care about it's owners more. When you own MVCI you actually get priority room requests - I got one of the best rooms at the resort because I owned there. At DVC being an owner is meaningless - I usually get the crappiest rooms on the place.

I am tired of having to neurotically plan for WDW, you know I don't want to have to decide three months ahead what restaurant I want to eat at or figure out how to zig while others zag. I just want to have a nice relaxing vacation.

And we keep hearing these specials will be going away but I think Disney has set itself up for people EXPECTING these as part of the package. Instead of being at WDW I will be sipping a drink somewhere else.

 

[vicki_c]

It would be interesting to see where members who voted own. as I see it all the free upgrades to OKW/SSR are making a mockery of buy a piece of the magic at these resorts, just my opinion,

Actually I own at SSR. And I voted in the "doesn't bother me" groups.

 

[DebbieB]

It would be interesting to see where members who voted own. as I see it all the free upgrades to OKW/SSR are making a mockery of buy a piece of the magic at these resorts, just my opinion,

If you feel that way, then by all means write to DVC. I don't think anyone said not to write if you have a complaint.

 

[Chuck S]

It would be interesting to see where members who voted own. as I see it all the free upgrades to OKW/SSR are making a mockery of buy a piece of the magic at these resorts, just my opinion,

I own at OKW, and have since May of 1992. I have no problem with the upgrades at all. The "Free" Dining, and DDP in general, though, I think has contributed to a lot of problems in restaurant quality and selection. But that is different from the "impact" on DVC and it's ownership, as far as resorts, I think is negligible.

 

[going/again]

Actually I own at SSR. And I voted in the "doesn't bother me".

so do I, and it does bother me I have written and they have called me back to be fair to them.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm curious why anyone thinks complaining will have any influence over rooms that are controlled/owned by Disney, not DVC members? ?

I mean, do you let other DVC members tell you how much to rent your points for, or your neighbors tell you how much you could rent your home for?

If someone decided to rent their points for $2, would that upset you? Would your neighbor renting his house out for barely enough to cover the utilites bother you?

How about if a member gives a vacation away as a gift, does that bother you?

How are any of these scenarios different from Disney upgrading?

 

[Starr W.]

We should all stop paying our annual member fees and let Disney foreclose on our points. Then they would own all the points and none of us would. That would show them.

You're too funny.

 

[MrsNick]

I own at SSR and am not upset about free dining or upgrades. If I could (and the economy and thus my finances were better), I would in fact add on 50 pts. at SSR. DH and I really like SSR, and it doesn't matter to me whether the people in the villas next door are members or whether they paid cash or were upgraded from Pop. I couldn't care less, as long as they are courteous neighbors And so far, we haven't encountered anything else.

I also don't follow how I am paying for someone else's free dining Someone please explain.

 

[keishashadow]

we jumped on the free DP train for Dec.cancelling another trip we had planned (cruise & saving 2/3rds of the cost).

im shy on points, was going to add on @ BLT until economy got shakey & then the point restructing left me unhappy

so i sit pat, and will continue to do so, enjoying whatever offer WDTCo has that fits in my vacation plans, im flexible and not locked into using a large number of points.

re dumbing down of disney restuarants, it began after the DP was initiated, assume they'll continue to run lean until profits rise.Surprised there aren't more restuarants reverting to 2 TS credits and bringing back better quality of food; believe there is an audience for it, especially those who will pay OOP entirely or via the plan.

 

[honeymo78]

I'm still confused on what my DVC contract has to do with the quality of restaurants and the overall non-dvc resort experience.

 

[Chuck S]

Surprised there aren't more restuarants reverting to 2 TS credits and bringing back better quality of food; believe there is an audience for it, especially those who will pay OOP entirely or via the plan.

I could go for that. We do like the Brown Derby, and pay OOP. If every park had a nice two credit place, those of us that pay OOP would have an easier time making ADR, and the quality may be worth the price. Although I have to admit, I really like Picnic In The Park at AK.

 

[MrsNick]

I could go for that. We do like the Brown Derby, and pay OOP. If every park had a nice two credit place, those of us that pay OOP would have an easier time making ADR, and the quality may be worth the price. Although I have to admit, I really like Picnic In The Park at AK.

Count me as another fan of the Brown Derby (and their Sidecar ). I don't mind paying OOP for a really enjoyable dining experience.

 

[TagsMissy]

sorry but i see no issue to whinge about. we knew what we were getting when we signed on the dotted line.

 

[Donna]

sorry but i see no issue to whinge about. we knew what we were getting when we signed on the dotted line.

that is SO easy for newbies to say! of COURSE you're not going to feel slighted, your ink isn't even dry yet!!!

yes, everyone is entitled to their own feelings on the matter.

 

[phyllisnnj]

Now, I never went to Disney before a few years ago, not for lack of want but lack of affordability. The first time, I rented DVC. the 2nd time I went and stayed club at AKL. After that, we bought in and look forward to each visit. We finally have the means to stay in Disney but slowly the affordability to buy tickets and visit the parks is going out of reach for my family of 6. This January will be the last visit that we have two child tickets and soon after it will be all adult tickets for 8 people!!!

I voted - No, we all knew what we were buying into BUT it would be nice if Disney offered more discount incentives to DVCers

I think when folks first buy into DVC everything is wonderful but after a few Disney trips reality kicks in and expenses start to add up. It costs a lot to visit WDW when you add up the initial cost, ongoing fees, transportation costs, ticket prices, meals, and souvenirs. Not everyone can afford to take multiple luxury vacations a year. Some DVCers end up selling or reducing their ownership.

With constant rising prices, a DVCer has to think about their options. I think you have several options:
(1) Buy the expiring ticket for your family and do longer stays to maximize your ticket value (depending on the number of points that you own that might mean visiting every other year or every three years )
(2) Plan more non park visits - Spend more time at the resorts and take advantage of the onsite resort activities. AKL is a great non-park resort trip. See mousesaver's "FREE and Cheap Stuff to Do at Walt Disney World" - http://www.mousesavers.com/freestuff.html
(3) Most kids love waterparks so try a DVC trip where you skip the major parks and buy the Water Park / DisneyQuest Annual Pass pass.
(4) Take advantage of the other Orlando attractions during your DVC stays(see Mousesavers for tips - http://www.mousesavers.com/otherparks.html)


Here's what I posted back in Feb 2009 regarding WDW ticket prices....
(NOTE: click on the arrow to view the entire post)

.....(6) I always purchased non-expiring ticket but never expected non-expiring tickets to increase so dramatically.
10 Day Park Hopper & Water Park Fun - No expiration went from $388 (in 2005) to $507(in 2009) which is much higher than the rate of inflation.
Here's a link to WDW's ticket price history - http://allears.net/tix/tickethistory.htm

The discounted Annual Pass doesn't help me since I enjoy traveling to various places throughout the year. I already owned two other timeshares before buying into DVC. I also bought DVC for extended family vacation so the additional cost of buying tickets for extended family members was getting to be too expensive. Since I don't plan to go to the Disney parks as often, I ended up selling most of my DVC points. I now own enough points to stay a couple of nights at the beginning or end of my Orlando vacation with my extended family members (which will be either onsite via an exchange or offsite). Also if at anytime I really want to stay onsite longer, I can always opt to rent additional points on an as need basis.

Here's a helpful response...
(NOTE: click on the arrow to view the entire post)

A few years ago we would buy non expiring tickets - but the cost to make them non expiring is what has really gone up - the base tickets with the hopper option aren't too much pricier than they were five years ago. For us now, we buy non-expiring waterpark option tickets when we run out of pluses. But for most trips we are using expiring tickets - hauling along the old non-expiring tickets that still have pluses on them.

It also turned out that I was crummy at putting the tickets (and the copies) "somewhere safe" and then spacing where somewhere safe was. So preparation for each trip has turned into half an hour of "where are everyone's tickets" - generally with one of the kids having hung onto their ticket in their fanny pack on the last day where I find it two days later having determined I will need to buy another ticket.

Good Luck