Will Free Dinning free up DVC reservations?

[Singinglizzie]

I hope this isn't a loaded question but I am wondering if free dinning will cause any DVC-ers to cancel reservations and switch over to free dinning? What do you think?

 

[El&Asmom]

Not for us. I want my DVC villa, not a full priced hotel room. We have TIW, and like to eat when we want, not because we have credits we feel like we have to use.

 

[erionm]

There may be a few that will.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Hard to say, but I doubt it. We are soooo looking forward to our villas!

 

[Granny]

They've offered "free" dining for a couple of years now. I can't say that it has affected DVC reservations much based on the feedback on these boards. Especially now that Disney is allowing segmented dining plans.

 

[DebbieB]

Just as an example, a BWV 1 bedroom in the fall is $573.75 per night. How would it make sense to cancel a points reservation and pay $573.75 per night to get "free" dining? I doubt many members would downgrade their room far enough for free dining to make sense, you would have to go to a value or moderate.

 

[disneyfanbcv]

I would not give up my villa for free food!!!! I'll cook my own.

 

[ccgirl]

Just as an example, a BWV 1 bedroom in the fall is $573.75 per night. How would it make sense to cancel a points reservation and pay $573.75 per night to get "free" dining? I doubt many members would downgrade their room far enough for free dining to make sense, you would have to go to a value or moderate.

This. Free dining isn't really "free" you have to pay full rack rate for a room. I don't like squishing my family into a hotel room. Switching from a DVC reservation to a cash room would cost more than paying cash for the DDP would.

 

[crisi]

Some, but not much. DVC members have to use their points - so they aren't going to trade a point reservation for free dining unless they have another use for their points. Some people might try and rent their points to get free dining, some might add another trip - but I think those would be the exceptions. Most people don't have time/money to add a trip (if money is a motivator for free dining, its probably a motivator to not add transportation costs, pet sitting, et.al for another trip - even if you have annual passes - unless you really live close enough and have an arrangement where visiting DVC is "almost free.").

People who rented DVC points might be kicking themselves, but unless they got a cancellation clause in the contract, they are stuck. And as to the members who might want to rent their points out in order to take advantage of free dining, free dining creates a demand issue.

 

[Sammie]

not unless some DVCers cancel to avoid the madness that free dining causes at the restaurants.

but mainly it will have little effect.

 

[disneychic]

I doubt it because as we all know....."free dining" isn't really free

 

[smjj]

Free dining..sure it is.. Disney does nothing unless there is money to be made. This is not free, you are paying in other ways and they have already been explained here...smjj

 

[sweetdana]

I think there will be a few. I think the % is low, but still someone will do it.

Someone who might have a studio, and is fine with moderates. In most aspects studios are close to mods ... and free housekeeping, coffee and mickey soaps daily.

Based on a family of 4 on reg dp, it is about 95$ - 120$ if over 9 yrs old, subtracted out of the "full price room". If you are okay with Say FQ, (195$ a night) this would be less than 100$ a night and could save the points for a diff trip if you are into borrowing. If you needed park tickets, you were doing even 1/2 DP anyway.. then this is a tough option to pass up. I would do it, if it worked out!

I personally don't own enough points (and don't always plan far enough out), to use only DVC. I LOVE my DVC more than anything, but having an extra trip once in a while, without planning 2 months out is a great way to use non DVC travels too.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I would really like to believe that free dining will pull some members in and free up some rooms. I am really surprised lately at the lack of availability lately. We had to go into to Jan to get any place to stay for over 3 nites.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not any of mine. I have no intention of booking free dining, and I'm doing the food and wine festival so I don't really care if the regular restaurants are full.

 

[DougEMG]

We took advantage of the FD offer. There are 3 of us (2 adults + one 16yr old) and we are staying for 2 weeks in Aug/Sept. We would have stayed in a studio at OKW which would have been 184 points (which I valued at $1,840 and did rent out for that price). We are instead staying at CSR and the total room cost including tax was $2,580. So we ended up paying $740 more to stay at the CSR for 2 weeks with the dining plan over staying at a studio at OKW without the dining plan. That $740 worked out to be $17.60 per person per day for food. Since I would have spent a lot more that anyway, it seemed like a good deal to me to go with the free dining discount.

 

[JKMJ441724]

They've offered "free" dining for a couple of years now. I can't say that it has affected DVC reservations much based on the feedback on these boards. Especially now that Disney is allowing segmented dining plans.

What? Segmented dining plans? MUST know more!

 

[wildernessDad]

I find it hard to imagine paying for a room at WDW now.

 

[DebbieB]

What? Segmented dining plans? MUST know more!

You can "segment" your DVC reservation to use different dining plans on different days. For example: Days 1 to 3 deluxe dining, days 4 to 6 regular dining (or no dining). Be aware though that many members have had issues with it. You have to get new keys when the plan changes and there have problems with being locked out of rooms, credits not there. Some have gone through with no problems but others have spent hours at the front desk.

 

[Sandisw]

What? Segmented dining plans? MUST know more!

WE are doing a trip next week. We got the DxDDP for just one of the three nights we will be at BLT.

We will use the credits up over two days. So, for about $79.00, we are getting the mugs, 2 snacks, lunch at CRT and dinner at 1900 Park Fare. Since we only had to get it for one night, it works out--if we had to do it for all three, then no because the other meals we chose were not expensive enough to make it make sense.

Of course, members have had some issues so we are fully prepared to have to visit the front desk and deal with it. But, given the meals that we chose (and did so because we have family coming for the first time), it made sense.