I don´t want to bring bad news but....

[New To Mom]

I'll be booking our first trip soon. Does anyone know what the upgrade cost is to upgrade from a free QS dining to the other dining plan?

 

[MamaJessie]

I'll be booking our first trip soon. Does anyone know what the upgrade cost is to upgrade from a free QS dining to the other dining plan?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2772063

 

[New To Mom]

Fantastic! Now it sounds like I need to do the math to see what works the best. Our original plan was to stay at a value and pay for the DDP or upgrade from free QS to DDP. But now it sounds like well have to stay at a mod just to get QS and then pay to upgrade. Do I have that right? Maybe it's cheaper to just stay at a mod and pay for dining?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

The only way Disney will get the message is to stop making reservations in hope if a discount later. I think we are all shooting ourselves in the foot when we give Disney the message we will go no matter what. The changes to the dining plan next year are disappointing as well. My kids love the pre fix meals. I won't pay extra for them though!

 

[tink1953]

It's not like if they decide not to they'll make the character buffets cheaper

I was just commenting on the Fantasyland expansion and how much it cost to build...hoping they didn't spend millions on Avatarland and then raise the price of everything to pay for it.....that would make a difference in the cost of a character buffett....

 

[aaarcher86]

Fantastic! Now it sounds like I need to do the math to see what works the best. Our original plan was to stay at a value and pay for the DDP or upgrade from free QS to DDP. But now it sounds like well have to stay at a mod just to get QS and then pay to upgrade. Do I have that right? Maybe it's cheaper to just stay at a mod and pay for dining?

You do. I'd run the numbers with a value and paying for the DDP (with a possible room discount) and then the mod with the free QSDP and paying the upgrade.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I'm actually not surprised at all, this fits with the other 2013 promotions we've seen so far. SPD was a very watered-down FD, and the spring discount has been a disappointment to many (though we really lucked out with a nice YC deal).

Despite what many are claiming, the economy IS getting better, and Disney is able to fill their rooms and parks without giving so much away for free. You can't blame them for following simple supply and demand laws, they are a business not a charity.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Are there any offers currently being offered past March 7, 2013 or is everyone speculating about what might be offered next? I can't seem to find anything after March 7th.

 

[KELLY]

I wonder if Values will be included in Bounceback offers for FD, or if it's going to be completely eliminated

Ugh we have booked FD at a value for the past few years BB. I am perfectly happy with QSDP but if we have to book a moderate we will be going for less time that is for sure. I will soak up my last year of 2 weeks in the world!

 

[ironpig70]

In some ways this is alright news.

For me and my family party of 5 the only hotel we can stay at is a moderate or value suite. The suite is more and was not covered last go round(IIRC)


I am with the rest of those here this is what makes the trip affordable.

 

[saskdw]

I'm actually not surprised at all, this fits with the other 2013 promotions we've seen so far. SPD was a very watered-down FD, and the spring discount has been a disappointment to many (though we really lucked out with a nice YC deal).

Despite what many are claiming, the economy IS getting better, and Disney is able to fill their rooms and parks without giving so much away for free. You can't blame them for following simple supply and demand laws, they are a business not a charity.

How do you know they are filling their rooms? I could book FD pkg for Dec. dates right up until the last day with availability at every resort this year. Last year most rooms were booked by October. Although Christmas week was busy as always the week leading up to Christmas the crowds were way down. I think Disney is taking a shot in the dark here that will fail. The rooms won't fill with price increases and watered down discounts. Especially when vacation prices haven't gone up anywhere else.

 

[utkscvol1]

That sucks we booked bb last October for our sept trip so we are good this year- but if they take away fd as we know it now out tips will be over I remember when we first started going to Disney and the value resorts got the regular dining plan free- then they switched it to moderates and above.

 

[spritna]

how ironic is this...just got a book for christmas called "1,000 places to see before you die".....with this new FD news...guess its time to see the other 999 places

 

[DisneylandDad]

The only way Disney will get the message is to stop making reservations in hope if a discount later. I think we are all shooting ourselves in the foot when we give Disney the message we will go no matter what.

I have wondered about this too. If we book up rooms (hoping for a discount), then all of the rooms could fill up and Disney won't see the need to offer a discount to book them up Maybe I am over-thinking this!

 

[Bearwater]

This is seriously making me reconsider our booking date...Which will make my family very disappointed. We are planning on going March 24-28 (second week of Spring Break) only because my hubby has a work obligation the first week. So far there are NO discounts for these dates and the crowds will be quite a bit more compared to our trip in October 5 years ago. Had our hearts set on March but now I am rethinking our trip

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

Well, I've already booked our vacation at POR in September because we would have been going regardless of the discount. We were hoping for free DDP, but wasn't looking for that to happen after early 2013 discounts were released. So, I guess I'm kinda ok with free QSDP and paying to upgrade to DDP..I would have been MORE happy about free DDP, but free QSDP is better than nothin!

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

This is just how "I" look at Disney vacation. When my family plans a trip, I book for what my budget allows, which typically includes ordering from Garden Grocer all breakfasts and lunches. But, my point is IF Disney comes out with a discount, AWESOME! If not, then I am not out anything. Disney prices based on what people will pay. I look at the vacation as time with family and I budget my vacation not worrying or needing the discount, BUT they sure are nice to get.

 

[TJA]

This is seriously making me reconsider our booking date...Which will make my family very disappointed. We are planning on going March 24-28 (second week of Spring Break) only because my hubby has a work obligation the first week. So far there are NO discounts for these dates and the crowds will be quite a bit more compared to our trip in October 5 years ago. Had our hearts set on March but now I am rethinking our trip

With this new spring offer, I called with my Visa hoping to hear a deal since there are no said "black-outs," but my March Easter dates were rack rate. I think the tix are at a slight discount, but we have AP's already.

Do you have AAA? We currently have a 15% room-only deal at BC. If no AP discounts are released, I will just call and reduce our number of nights there. There are tons of empty rooms at this time, same as last Easter, so I guess we can still hold out a little hope....

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

Sorry this was duplicate of my previous post. (Learning how to use my Disboard App on my Nexus 7).

 

[saskdw]

This is just how "I" look at Disney vacation. When my family plans a trip, I book for what my budget allows, which typically includes ordering from Garden Grocer all breakfasts and lunches. But, my point is IF Disney comes out with a discount, AWESOME! If not, then I am not out anything. Disney prices based on what people will pay. I look at the vacation as time with family and I budget my vacation not worrying or needing the discount, BUT they sure are nice to get.

Disney needs to earn my business with a fair price. It's not about what we can afford. We have taken 4 Orlando vacations in the last 5 years that cost around $10k each. Just because I can afford to be gouged doesn't mean I will allow that to happen. There are lots of great places to vacation with family that have fair prices. Right now Disney is attempting to raise their already to high rack rate and offer less of a discount which is a double whammy. The cost of our 14 day December vacation would go up $2k from last year with this pricing. This will cost Disney my business. It's way over market value. I will spend my $10k somewhere else if they don't come to the party.