Tickets and Dining?

[ransom]

Does being a DVC member reduce your costs for tickets and/or dining if you expect to go once a year for 7-10 nights? Or do you end up paying more for your tickets and/or dining than someone who does the whole Magic Your Way package deal inclusive of the resort stay?

 

[Muushka]

Does being a DVC member reduce your costs for tickets and/or dining if you expect to go once a year for 7-10 nights? Or do you end up paying more for your tickets and/or dining than someone who does the whole Magic Your Way package deal inclusive of the resort stay?

We only get the AP discount, which is pretty sweet ($100 off). I read your post about going to WDW every year during the beginning of Dec (staying at VWL, great choice ). You might consider arranging your trip so that you can squeeze 2 trips a year on 1 AP, getting 14 to 20 days out of it. Then you only need to buy 1 AP every 2 years which is what we do. You can add on the DDP without the constraints that regular guests have.

 

[Chuck S]

You pay the same amount for the park tickets (unless you buy an annual pass, they are discounted). The Dining Plan, if you get it, is the same cost, but does not require you to purchase a specific type of park ticket (you will still need tickets to enter the parks, of course.)

If you want to pay cash for your meals, there are some dining discounts, mostly 10%, through DVC. If you buy the Annual Pass, you can get a Disney Dining Experience card for $60 (maybe more next year) and save 20% on almost all table service meals and "adult beverages." One card is good for up to 10 people...they must dine together on the same check.

 

[crisi]

When Disney offers package specials (like Free Dining) DVC members staying on points are not eligible for those discounts.

The only current ticket discount is APs. We buy our hoppers through the Mousesavers link. If you are going for ten days an AP makes sense (with the DVC discount it may make sense for a shorter stay as well).

You can buy the DDP for the going rate. A lot of members perfer the DDE which is available to AP holders - the DDP is a lot of food. Which works better will depend on how you eat.