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Thread: Need to vent

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    Wantagh, NY
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    Angry Need to vent

    We are traveling to WDW this coming Oct & taking friends with us consisting of 2 adults 1 child & 2 under age 3 (the free ones). The are staying with us in a 2 br lv at BLT free of charge as were the DVC members for 7 nights. Our guests whom have been to the world 6x before and always traveled during the 'free' dining promotion with their value resort room. They are now complaining that its going to cost them almost $3k to travel with us. (airfare, park passes & DDP) I have told them that there really is no Free dining that its already built into the price of the package but they still have a hard time believing this. Did a comparison & by them staying with us they save $343 n change so whats to complain about! We are starting to regret taking them with us for the fact they prob think we are screwing them. They have mentioned that they cant understand why we would want to be DVC members when you can get free dining as non members. They just dont get it! Yes it would be nice to get a discount on the DDP for being DVC members other than the 10% off certain restaurants mostly at lunch which does not benefit us at all as we do CS for lunches & TS for dinner.
    DVC Member as of 11/09 BLT!!
    1992 Dolphin Resort
    1995 stayed off-site
    2002 All-Star Movies Resort
    2007 (Oct) Port Orleans French Quarter
    2008 (Nov )1 night at POP
    2008 (Nov) Old Key West Resort
    2011 (Jan) BLT 2 room suite!!!
    2011 (Oct/Nov) BLT 1 bedroom suite
    2012 (Oct) BLT 2 room suite :-)

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
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    Cool

    They do understand that there's no guarantee of free dining right? Yes it's nice when it's offered, but if the economy comes back strong at some point in the future it will go away and they'll be paying full price for food and accomodations, while your accomodations will most likely already be paid for.
    Ian ºOº
    INTERCOT Senior Imagineer

    Veteran of over 60 trips to Disney theme parks and proud to have stayed in every Disney resort in the continental United States! º0º

    Next trip:

    April 2018 - Saratoga Springs Treehouse

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  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    Cincinnati, Ohio
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    Default

    I'm not too familiar with free dining or advantages of DVC but as an outsider, your friends should be grateful that you are letting them bunk with your family for FREE. That is really generous of you guys. I personally would want to offer you $$$ or buy some of your meals to show my appreciation.

    I guess if I was in your shoes I would just remind them of their options: stay with your family for free and pay for everything else, or they can stay elsewhere and pay for it and get on the dining plan, and y'all can meet up at the parks. Kindly let them know whatever they decide is fine with you.

    Like you, I am a little worried they may complain the whole time about how much everything costs and kill the buzz of your vacation. I sincerely hope it works out!
    WDW visits . . .
    April 2013 - Yacht Club
    May 2012 - Grand Floridian
    May 2011 - Grand Floridian
    March 2006 - Offsite
    2000 - 2004 Numerous trips while in college in FL
    January 1989 - First Visit! Polynesian

    Next visit:
    September - Disneyland (First trip with son!)

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Long Island, NY
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    Default

    And don't forget, DVC members are now eligible for the Tables in Wonderland card. This gives you 20% off food and alcohol at many WDW table service restaurants and some quick services for you and up to 9 people in your party. DIsney advertises that you save up to 20% when you choose the dining plan and that does not include alcohol.

    We are HUGE fans of the dining plan, but more for the convenience than saving money. We just became DVC members and are taking our first trip in August. We are going to try the TIW card and then compare to how we've done on the DDP.

    And just like Ian said, the free dining plan is not guaranteed. They change the dates each year.

    Hope you enjoy your trip! Don't let anyone ruin your time. One of the greatest things about Disney is the variety they offer! For one person the DVC is a blessing, another may find it doesn't work for them. That's why there are choices.
    Debbie
    Feb 87- off site/Nov 98-Poly
    98- Disney Magic Inaugural Cruise
    Jul 03-off site
    Sept 05/Aug. 11/Nov '20 -Pop Nov 08-POR
    Aug 09/May 10-ASMu
    Nov. 09-Disneyland/California Adv.
    Aug. 12- OKW
    Aug 13 SS
    Oct 14 AKL/AoA
    Oct. 18 POP
    Aug 19- Movies

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
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    Probably they are not taking into consideration that air is up this year. That is probably the biggest expense they are paying considering some of the smaller kids won't be charged for park tickets. That is always going to be a factor in any vacation. Either you fly or drive, but you pay either way. You still gotta get there!Also, as the kids get older, it will cost them more because they will have to pay child's, then adult's , ticket prices. And you are correct that free dining isn't free, they room is rack rates, etc.

    We took my sister's family several years ago- similar situation, they stayed for free with us in a 2 BR at SSR but had to pay their own air, tickets, food etc. My sister had never taken her family before but heard from several "know it alls" that she worked with about different things. She complained to me on the plane ride home that she would have preferred to stay at Port Orleans, we picked expensive restaurants (even though she picked with me and I told her what to budget to pay for it, they wer restaurants she wanted like Ohana, Chef Mickeys) etc. I was offended...I would never dare say anything to someone if I was staying in their room for free. I told her I was sorry it wasn't good enough for her (SSR). Of course, has she been back on her own dime since? No.
    Trips: Too Many to Count! Last Trips: April 2013 CSR; July 2013 Aloha Aulani, The Sequel, Hawaii. Multiple trips to WDW, DL, DCL!

    Coming up: September 2013 "Scary September" at Disneyland/DCA/Universal Hollywood.

    Proud DVC Members since 2004!

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
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    I think at this point I might kindly tell them that they are more than welcomed to stay at a value resort and hope for free dining if they feel that works better for them. If it were me I'd worry that this could be a sign of what I'd be listening to for the entire vacation. I'd let them know that I would have no hard feelings if they choose to go their normal route, value room, free dining (if it's offered). You've been very kind in offering for them to stay FREE at BLT, and I'd hate to see your vacation going down the drain because they complain the whole time. Nothing magical about that!
    Denise

    Resorts we've stayed at in 20+ trips: ASMo, ASMu, ASSp, PC, CSR, CBR, POR, POFQ, WL, AKL Jambo, AKL Kidani, Poly, Contemporary, BC, YC, BWV, OKW, SSR, Swan, Shades of Green, Vero Beach, Disneyland Resort

    Next Trip: ???

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Lafayette, Louisiana
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    I'm sorry your friends' attitude is putting a damper upon your vacation. You are obviously more tolerant than I am because my reaction to the complaining would have been "I'm paying for your accomodations, do you expect me to pay for your meals and travel expenses also?"


    Is it too late for you to change accomodations or offer other more grateful friends to join you for vacation? If they are complaining about a free place to stay because it means they have to pay for meals, perhaps you should offer to them that they are welcome to make (pay for) their own accomodations to take advantage of free dining and that maybe you can still meet each other for dinner during the vacation?

    Karen

    10/97 Dolphin w/ friends
    02/00 Off-site w/ DH
    09/06 POFQ w/ DD and friends
    09/07 AKL w/ DH, DD and DS!
    09/08 POR w/DS and friends
    05/10 CR w/ DH, DD and DS
    05/11 Hard Rock US/IOA w/ DH, DD and DS
    05/13 Royal Pacific US/IOA w/ DH, DD and DS
    02/16 Hard Rock US/IOA w/ DH, DD and DS

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    Default

    I'd start with not so kindly pointing out that BLT ain't no value resort. You are on the monorail, you can walk to Magic Kingdom, you have fine dining, you have boat access to other resorts, and on and on. They are getting incredibly more value, they can get to Epcot (and by extension DHS) and Magic Kingdom without ever stepping foot onto a Disney bus, can't say that about the values.

    And again I would pound into their head, there is no such thing as free dining. For the past couple years when free dining has pretty much been an ongoing promotion, there has also been pretty much an alternative room discount that could have been taken. So your friends paid more for a room then they needed to in order to get "free" dining.

    Just tell me when you want us down there, I won't complain

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
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    new york
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    They are lucky to have friends like you that are nice enough to extend such a courtesy like accomodations at BLT to the, FREE!! I agree with previous posts, maybe you should just suggest that they change their ressies to a value resort and hope the free dining is available. Let them go on their dime. You know that even now they're putting a damper on your trip, can you imagine how it will be while you're there??? And enjoy the extra room in your villa.
    10/91-Honeymoon YC Concierge
    6/92, 5/93, 9/95, 9/99-YC
    9/00-BWI,YC
    6/01-AKL,YC
    9/02-BCV,YC
    5/03-BCV
    8/03-WLV,BWV
    1/04-HH,BWV,OKW
    6/04, 5/05-BWV
    8/05, 11/07-SSR
    2/09-BCV
    11/09-BCV
    5/11-AKL
    4/12-OKW

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Too far away to go every day
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    Thumbs down

    It would be great to have someone to stay with for free...Is there really a difference if they get free dining and have to pay for a room? You are giving them a much better deal in a much more expensive place...Where would the problem be here? That's like getting a promotion for a free room...It's still a "win" in their favor...
    We usually get a pin for free dining and it's a good discount for us since we are a family of 5...This year we are paying out of pocket after adding up where we want to go and pricing each meal...I would suggest to them to look it up and see the difference...They may be shocked by the difference unless they eat dessert with every meal like you get on the DDP...
    With it being BLT, I'd bring a cooler of lunch meat to eat for the week just to stay there!!!
    Amy
    80 Camping ºoº
    89 Offsite ºoº
    05 ASM ºoº
    06-07-08-09-10-10-11-12-13-14-15 POR ºoº

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
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    Wow...if it were me, I would be seriously considering spending my vacation with them. As previously stated, this may be a warning of what a week's vacation will be like. I have taken a vacation to wdw with "complainers" before, and let me tell you, it only took once to not do it again. It takes all the magic away. "why do we have to get to the restaurant 15 min early...don't we have reservations?" "Is this ride REALLY worth standing in line for 30 min?" "These buses take a long time to get to the parks". It gets old really fast.

    I hope it works out for you!
    "por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas!"

    "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day!"

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    I too hope it works out. Its 7 months out & I should not have to feel stressed about my trip to WDW. They are also the type of ppl that dont make dining reservation ahead of time because "what if it rains the day you want to go to MK & you have reservations for dinner" my reply was we get our raincoats on & go to the park. We plan each day of our trip in advance where they plan it day by day depending on the weather. They like to take it easy & spend time at the pool etc then go to the parks in the afternoon/evening when we like to go to the parks for the entire day as that is what we are there for. We can go to the pool when were at home why do I want to sit at a pool on vacation? Yadda yadda yadda you get my point.
    DVC Member as of 11/09 BLT!!
    1992 Dolphin Resort
    1995 stayed off-site
    2002 All-Star Movies Resort
    2007 (Oct) Port Orleans French Quarter
    2008 (Nov )1 night at POP
    2008 (Nov) Old Key West Resort
    2011 (Jan) BLT 2 room suite!!!
    2011 (Oct/Nov) BLT 1 bedroom suite
    2012 (Oct) BLT 2 room suite :-)

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 1999
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    California
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    Your vacation styles don't seem compatible at all.

    I think it's time to reevaluate your plans and perhaps forgo the room sharing option. You need to be honest with each other from the get go. Have a talk about whether it is REALLY best for you to travel and stay together vs. just meeting up a few times during the week.

    They sound like a major buzzkill to me.
    Natalie
    INTERCOT Staff: Disneyland Resort-California, The Water Cooler

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
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    Quote Originally Posted by BrerGnat View Post
    Your vacation styles don't seem compatible at all.

    I think it's time to reevaluate your plans and perhaps forgo the room sharing option. You need to be honest with each other from the get go. Have a talk about whether it is REALLY best for you to travel and stay together vs. just meeting up a few times during the week.
    Ditto.

    While there is no comparison between the values and BLT, they may be the type of people who don't spend much time at the resort/don't appreciate the difference. Honestly, their kids may even prefer the theming of the values to the subtlety of BLT. This seems like a good point at which to exit gracefully from the plans to stay together: "We want you to have the kind of vacation you want, so please go ahead and make your own resort plans (and hope for free dining) and we can meet up when convenient."

    Now what will be interesting is if no free dining is made available for your dates, they realize the real value of what you have offered them, and ask to "come back." That will be your call!!
    BLT, CR; OKWX2; BCX5; YCX3; Poly; PORX2; WLX4; PopX3; DolphinX3; ASX3

    HGVC I-Drive, Seaworld & Parc Soleil, Hilton Bonnet Creek, Gaylord Palms, Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay

  16. #15
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    Aug 2007
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    I'm with everyone else...I think I'd tell them to hit the road and that you'll be glad to meet up with them at some point in the trip. And you might point out to them that Disney is currently offering free dining until Sept. 29, not in October (even though it's possible it could be extened). Vacation time is too valuable to spend it listening to other people complain the whole time. Send them to a value resort and enjoy your expansive BLT villa with just your family!
    Laura
    "Any wish is possible. All it takes is a little courage to set it free!" Jiminy Cricket
    25+ trips to WDW and counting! Stayed at: Poly, WL, Kidani, SSR, BLT, BCV, CSR, VB, POR, Jambo, OKW, CR, VGF & BW!
    Next Up: Nov 2017 - SSR!
    DVC Member & AP holder since 2008!

  17. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Hitchhiking Ghost View Post
    I'd start with not so kindly pointing out that BLT ain't no value resort. You are on the monorail, you can walk to Magic Kingdom, you have fine dining, you have boat access to other resorts, and on and on. They are getting incredibly more value, they can get to Epcot (and by extension DHS) and Magic Kingdom without ever stepping foot onto a Disney bus, can't say that about the values.

    Exactly - value resort not even close to a deluxe resort.
    Disneyland: many, MANY times!
    WDW:POR POFQ BWV WLV ASMu POLY

    Am I a huge disney fan? YOU BETCHA! I blame it all on my parents! They are the one's that walked around Disneyland all day to induce labor! Yep, I've been going to Disneyland since the day before I was born!

  18. #17
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    Sounds like you need new friends imo.

    I'll volunteer.
    Trista and Jeffrey
    Happily Ever After 10-30-11
    Disney Wedding Pavilion

  19. #18
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    How frustrating!

    Somehow, we always seem to be the "treaters" rather than the "treatees" (is that a word?). I would be thrilled is someone treated me to free accommodations at Disney World!

    My brother's family was our guests at a 2-bedroom villa at Old Key West a couple of months ago. I worried that they wouldn't like the accommodations or the location (distance from the parks) and/or wouldn't feel it was a good deal as they'd stayed under "free dining" in the past. Fortunately, they were very appreciative of both the free accommodations and the Tables in Wonderland discounts for dining.
    Linda aka: Faline
    INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
    [email protected]

  20. #19
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    I'd tell 'em to pound sand...

    Been burned once using my points for someone else, I don't offer it up anymore. If you want to tag along, go ahead, call 18004DISNEY and set something up. Maybe I'll see you in the parks.

  21. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    The nice thing about Disney is that it appeals to many people with many vacation styles. However, everyone thinks that "their" way of doing WDW is the best! Sounds like that is what is going on here.

    I agree with the others that it would be better to tell them that if they are more comfortable, that they should make their own arrangements. (You can always frame it as a "I'd hate to see you feel uncomfortable with the travel arrangements... why don't we just meet for dinner on X and Y day.")

    I also agree with the previous poster who mentioned air fare. We have had quite a few posts recently about how much more expensive it is this year.
    -Laura
    Engineer by Day... Imagineer in my Dreams!

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