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

[LIFERBABE]

Yep, not free at all. And has anyone noticed that the offer has lost alot of its luster of years past? I feel like I bet on DVC and won!

The last 2 years they started giving Value resort guests the QSDP and the ability to pay to upgrade. $$

I remember our free dining trip back in 2005 after the Member cruise, we stayed at PC with the promo and we received the Regular plan and tax and tip was included. That trip cost us less than $600 for a family of 4!

That trip we also purchased the minimum 1 Day base tix. This year the minimum tix is a 2 day base tix. $$

So the cash outlay required to take advantage of this offer has almost doubled for the same resort for our family.

The double beds at PC almost did us in and we havent looked back.
Love my DVC waaaaayyyy more than I love the food.

Pretty soon, at the rate WDW is going, they are going to close all the restaurants and when you check in, they are going to hand you your bucket full of rations for the week!

 

[Kuzco]

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!

I'm with you on that one. I'd almost always rather have an appetizer.

 

[TDC Nala]

Every year it comes up that DVC members can't stay on points and get free dining.

If members want the free dining they can always book a package with the free dining and save up the points for a cruise, or to trade for a resort elsewhere, or for a larger room if they want to travel sometime when there isn't free dining.

Personally I don't like the dining plan, free or not. So I am glad that I don't have to consider whether or not I would save money on a package by booking it. and I get a nicer room than I would get at Pop Century. Which gets free QS dining this year anyway.

 

[jennib5426]

I alway make my DVC reservation in October starting 11 days after free dining ends. Works out pretty well, makes ADR's a little easier and I still get to go in October.
This year we arrive 10/16 and last day to check in for free dinning is 10/2. That worked out well, a little dumb luck. We also made all our ADR's last week before they anounced free dining, more dumb luck..

 

[Micca]

Free dining is not for us.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

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!

From what I have read about next year, you won't have to wish for an appetizer or dessert, because you will be getting neither on the DDP!!!!!

 

[iwrbnd]

I wish DVC got at least a discount off of the dining plan but I've always been a dreamer!

 

[cogero]

I want to know how people eat all the food on the DP. we looked into it twice but it just didn't suit us and the way we eat.

We happen to be going in late August because that is when we can go this year and I am a bit nervous about the crowds in the restaurants, I am hoping it isn't too bad.

I would rather stay in my 2BR and pay for my meals.

 

[Tara]

I wish DVC got at least a discount off of the dining plan but I've always been a dreamer!

DVC members do get a discount of sorts on the plan for parts of the year because they are not charged the seasonal price increase.

 

[kikiq]

I want to know how people eat all the food on the DP. we looked into it twice but it just didn't suit us and the way we eat.

Before DVC, waiting on PIN codes and looking into DP, we decided that it was way too much food for us. Plus my family hates to be forced to eat at some time and then not be hungry but have to eat because we have ADRs. Nope, free dining never interested us.

 

[iwrbnd]

DVC members do get a discount of sorts on the plan for parts of the year because they are not charged the seasonal price increase.

I didn't know that! I guess it does pay to dream!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Free dining is just a way to fill the rooms when they aren't full because of (1) extremely hot weather, (2) hurricane season and (3) kids have gone back to school.

We did the dining plan once when you got the appetizer and the dessert. It was too much eating for us. We'll stick with Tables in Wonderland if we want a discounted meal.

 

[vicki_c]

I am SO uninterested in any Disney Dining Plan, even if it's free. My attitude is "who cares?"

However I am going to be sad when we go back next time (not sure when) because our APs will have expired and no more TiW card because I don't think we will be getting APs again for a while.

But I love my DVC - and wouldn't trade it for free dining ever!

 

[We_love_WDW]

I priced out how much my summer trip and Oct trip would be if I paid the rack rate for those rooms and it would come out to $11,711 So I don't feel bad paying for my DP (it works for us). I love DVC !

 

[ADP]

Free dining is an overhyped promotion. It's not even the best promotion Disney offers throughout the year. Since you have to pay rack rate for your room getting the free dining isn't really that good of a deal. I'd rather get a 40% AP discount on a room than paying rack with free dining.

As other posters have said...If you really want free dining then book it and pay rack rate for the room.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I looked into the dining plan for our last trip, but for our family, it would never be worth it. We would rather cook some meals in the room, and trying to make that many ADRs in advance would drive me crazy.

 

[TLinden16]

I would take DVC over free dining any day. Even if I bought the dining plan and stayed in a DVC room, I'd still come out ahead.


As the price of the dining plan has increased, and has changed over the years, more and more I don't think the dining plan is worth it at all most of the time. It makes me eat things I don't really want or need.

And free dining isn't really that great of a deal anymore anyways. It was great when it included appetizers and tip, or when you could get the regular dining plan at a value, but now, it isn't saving you that much (if anything).

 

[dclfun]

I'd rather have my deluxe accommodations too. The free dining was only a great deal when they had the appy's and grats included. During those years though we booked a cash ressie to get it, but it's no longer worth it to me. The only thing that irritated me was the year they gave all the free upgrades to the one bedroom villas at OKW/SSR to people who had booked at the value resorts. That stung a bit.---Kathy

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

My dining plan barely costs anything right now, because it's me, DH, one child and a child under 3 so ours for last trip was only around $550 (although we paid a lot more OOP). Like others have said, I like staying in deluxe villas, and you basically have to stay at a mod/value in order to pay the rack rate to get the FD!

 

[Crystal_27]

From what I have read about next year, you won't have to wish for an appetizer or dessert, because you will be getting neither on the DDP!!!!!

Not to go off topic, but this is the first I've heard of this! Guess I need to go frequent the Restaurant boards a bit more.