What do you think of Free Dining as a DVC member?

[We_love_WDW]

Before DVC we would go to WDW when it was free dining time. How do you feel about people getting free dining and we do not? Do you still feel like DVC is a better deal? Just wondering what your opinions were. After reading on another thread what people had booked and how many days they are staying it got me thinking

 

[toniosmom]

I've seen this debated many times on this board. My opinion is that if I want free dining, I can book a cash room to get it. I don't care much about free dining because I already feel like I'm ahead by staying in deluxe accomodations and we like to have most of our meals in the villa. I find that by not eating out so much gives us a lot of free time. My guess is free dining time is pretty popular and the CS places must be crowded. I'd rather spend that time in the parks or relaxing in the villa or by the pool. JMHO.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I HATE free dining...both for us and for "them". I hate it for them, because it makes the restaraunts too busy for us, and there is no way I feel we are "owed" anything like free dining, so not an issue there.

 

[Crystal_27]

The rack rate on my hotel room at BLT (which we would have to pay to take advantage of free dining) is $550/night or $7,700 plus tax for our entire stay. Our DDP cost us right at $1,400. There is no comparison. At all.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We rarely travel to Disney at that time of year, so it's not really an issue for us.

 

[rentayenta]

To take advantage of "free" dining I would have to give up a lot of ammenities. No thanks.

 

[mom of princessx2]

First I must say LouisianaDisneyFan those pictures of you 25th are beautiful!! We hope to be at the DVC in Hawaii on our 25th.

I would never consider Free Dining to be more valuable than DVC and as others have posted I hate free dining because I can't get an ADR.

 

[DizGirl20]

Yeah, it kinda bugs me but I do wonder how much more crowded it will make the parks and restaurants?!?! I think the only thing that would really truly upset me is if they lowered the cost of a DVC room per night. After all, that is what DVC is to me: excellent accommodations at an excellent price!

 

[spiceycat]

free dinning is not a big issue for me. of course dinning in general is not a big issue. have allergies so easier and quicker for me to prepare my own food.

that is one reason brought DVC in the first place.

 

[disneychic]

To take advantage of "free" dining I would have to give up a lot of ammenities. No thanks.

Agreed

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Doesn't impact us much. We really don't like dining out, but I'm with Diane... it must really pack the restaurants that are used by everyone. That part doesn't seem right.

 

[dmoore22]

The rack rate on my hotel room at BLT (which we would have to pay to take advantage of free dining) is $550/night or $7,700 plus tax for our entire stay. Our DDP cost us right at $1,400. There is no comparison. At all.

The free really isn't free when you read the fine print. It is nothing more than a loss leader in which the company makes up the difference through the rack rate and non-discounted park admissions.

 

[ajjollie23]

It kind of bothered me at first...last year when people were staying at value resorts and getting the dining plan for free while we were paying over $1500 for our dining plan. But then I really thought about it... If not for DVC I would still be staying at pop or one of the all stars...not that there is anything wrong with the value resorts I love them, but once you have stayed at the AKL or any of the deluxe resorts there really is no comparison. I am getting so much more from my DVC membership than free dining would be giving me. I stay at really nice resorts and have in the minimum a kitchenette to a full kitchen where I can make my own food.
Anyway, that being said, I absolutely LOVE DVC, so who cares about some free dining !!

 

[Tara]

Before DVC we would go to WDW when it was free dining time. How do you feel about people getting free dining and we do not? Do you still feel like DVC is a better deal? Just wondering what your opinions were. After reading on another thread what people had booked and how many days they are staying it got me thinking

DVC is definitely a better deal. Free dining won't always be offered, and it isn't really "free" - you pay rack rate for the room. Plus you are locked into a dining system that might or might not work for you, but is a LOT of food if used fully. There are plenty of debates on this topic, but my opinion is that free dining is attractive in the short term to some, but to me, I'll take my DVC any day!

I mean, look at how long the free dining 2010 thread is - that's a lot of people experiencing a lot of anxiety and angst over whether or not the deal was even going to be offered! Who needs that sort of stress about vacation? I'll stick with DVC where I already KNOW I'm getting a great deal!

 

[DebbieB]

I love my BWV 1 bedroom. I'd have to pay over $500 per night to get "free dining". No thanks.

 

[Tara]

Yeah, it kinda bugs me but I do wonder how much more crowded it will make the parks and restaurants?!?! I think the only thing that would really truly upset me is if they lowered the cost of a DVC room per night. After all, that is what DVC is to me: excellent accommodations at an excellent price!

IME, the restaurants are packed and forget trying to get a table spur-of-the-moment pretty much anywhere. The parks are a little busier I think, but the difference isn't big. The crowded restaurants are the big difference...and they're more likely to be running late for seating people, so waits can be longer.

 

[cvjw]

We've gone during free dining for years in late Sept. The restaurants are packed, but the parks are not. I am fine with free dining for other people, I am just happy that our family never has to stay in a value resort again. I would not trade my DVC 1 or 2 bedroom villa for some free food! I'll take my DVC and annual pass.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We travel to WDW several times each year both with points and with cash reservations, and never use or consider using the free dining option. It simply does not interest us at all.

Last year during one of our trips, my BIL's family joined us at the POLY for a week or so. Their travel tastes are similar to ours, but they don't go to WDW as often as we do. They used the "free dining" and reported that they were exhausted attempting to make sure they used all of their meals.

They were not successful.

 

[TiaMaria]

We're staying in a 2 bedroom at Kidani for 10 nights this summer. That same room at rack (in order to get free dining) is over $7500.00.

We are going to be paying under $1300.00 for our dining plan.

I'll stick with the DVC way instead of the "Free" way, thank you!

However, what I do not like is:

1) Dining reservations booking up faster/earlier than I like to plan for.

2) "Free" dining people bragging about making multiple reservations at different restaurants and parks because they "just don't know this far in advance what they might be doing that day" GRRRR. (Of course I'm sure it's not just the "Free" dining people doing that). WHY can't Disney come up with a way to prevent/cut down on this abuse?

3) Restaurants being overrun all day and evening - many times resulting in harried Cast Members.

What I don't like about the DDP in general:

1) Why can't the customer decide if we want to choose an appetizer over a dessert? That's on my wishlist!

 

[Nikisha421]

I can only travel to WDW during peak times and Free Dining is never during peak times...so I don't really mind!!!