Hard Sell By CM

[JVig]

Has anyone had an experience with the CM telling you absoultely false things in an attempt to convince you to get the dining plan?

I just got off the phone and the CM told me I could get the dining plan for my family (2 adults one child) for $128.34 per night. She said this was a deep discount because adults are usually $58 per night and children $30 per night. (Not true from what I've read elsewhere). She also said if I eat one table serve per day it will be over $100 out of pocket right there. (I just looked over several menus and that's not true either).

I am sort of surprised that she was outright lying to me. She also told me I could only book the dining plan at that price through July 31.

 

[jen1977]

We were at Disney, and every one of our sit down meals were over $100. There are 4 of us. We have never had a cm lie to us about the ddp.

 

[Marionnette]

Has anyone had an experience with the CM telling you absoultely false things in an attempt to convince you to get the dining plan?

I just got off the phone and the CM told me I could get the dining plan for my family (2 adults one child) for $128.34 per night. She said this was a deep discount because adults are usually $58 per night and children $30 per night. (Not true from what I've read elsewhere). She also said if I eat one table serve per day it will be over $100 out of pocket right there. (I just looked over several menus and that's not true either).

I am sort of surprised that she was outright lying to me. She also told me I could only book the dining plan at that price through July 31.

I does sound like she has her numbers off. Perhaps not so much of a hard-sell as just plain old misinformation.

Fact: The cost of the DDP for 2A, 1C would be $128.34/night during most seasons, including the dates that you're visiting.

Misleading Info: The cost of the DDP for an adult is not $58/night, it's $55.59. And the child's plan would be $17.16/night, not the $30 that she stated.

Fact: It is quite easy to go over $100 OOP for TS meals for 2A/1C, especially when doing character meals. Don't forget that the menus do not include taxes or gratuity (except in rare instances).

Misleading Info: While you may spend over $100 OOP for TS meals, that would also include the tip. Since the DDP does not include gratuities, it's misleading to say that you will save that entire amount.

Fact: If you're booking the Late Summer Discount or the Free Dining Discount, then you need to do so by 7/31/13.

Misleading Info: If you're paying for the DDP, you can add it on at any point up to 72 hours prior to your arrival. You do not need to book it by 7/31/13 in order to add it to your package. There is no promotional pricing out for the DDP. The price that she quoted to you is the price that you would normally pay.

 

[peanut520]

The $128.xx is what I was quoted and I even called back after seeing lower prices posted here and other forums. I think there was a price increase. These are the prices I was quoted:
Dxdd $102 / $28 child
Ddp $58 / $20

 

[vicki_c]

The $128.xx is what I was quoted and I even called back after seeing lower prices posted here and other forums. I think there was a price increase. These are the prices I was quoted:
Dxdd $102 / $28 child
Ddp $58 / $20

You don't happen to be going at a peak dining plan price time, are you? There are higher prices at certain times of the year.

 

[mickeynut1]

The $128.xx is what I was quoted and I even called back after seeing lower prices posted here and other forums. I think there was a price increase. These are the prices I was quoted:
Dxdd $102 / $28 child
Ddp $58 / $20

These are peak season prices for the DDP. As vicki_c posted, the DDP fluctuates depending on what time of year you go.

 

[peanut520]

You don't happen to be going at a peak dining plan price time, are you? There are higher prices at certain times of the year.

No we are not. We are going in sept during value season. I asked if there was a price difference for peak season and was told it was about $2 more per person. Sorry I didn't write down those price since we would never go during those times. I spoke to 3 reps this week about ddp.

 

[Cafeen]

The phone CMs have been in a habit of quoting either high season pricing, or sometimes even next year's (before they are released!) Beyond the seasonal upcharge, pricing for the plans has historically only risen when next year's packages are released (usually around August, for trips starting in Jan). I'm pretty sure it's simply in their current information and they have no clue how it actually works.

Take a look at your current total package price, make the changes on your own on paper to see the total package increase. When you speak to the CM, have her do the same thing in the system and see if your numbers match. There have been many cases where someone was quoted a much higher daily price for the plans, but when it was input into the system, it turned out to be the lower, expected, price.

You can also try pricing it up online on the wdw site, including all your new changes, and see what it says vs what the CM says.

--
As for the hard sell, it's known to happen. The CRO CMs are sales people first, and support people second. They run off commission to some extent, so they will try and sell you stuff you don't need (/shakefist at the WPF&M tix I bought in 2009....) Simply need to stick to your guns and if something sounds fishy, get a 2nd opinion from someone not making commission off of you (e.g. us ).

 

[aaarcher86]

Phone CM's also quote 'less than pricing.' It's 'less than' $59 per adult per night, etc...

They don't have the prices like the DISboards have listed. None of the phone CM's I've known have ever made commission, most of the time they're just misinformed or new.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Has anyone had an experience with the CM telling you absoultely false things in an attempt to convince you to get the dining plan?

I just got off the phone and the CM told me I could get the dining plan for my family (2 adults one child) for $128.34 per night. She said this was a deep discount because adults are usually $58 per night and children $30 per night. (Not true from what I've read elsewhere). She also said if I eat one table serve per day it will be over $100 out of pocket right there. (I just looked over several menus and that's not true either).

I am sort of surprised that she was outright lying to me. She also told me I could only book the dining plan at that price through July 31.

Every TS meal for our party of 3 (Mom,dad& pre-teen son) is always $120-$150 plus gratuties. Now is saying this. This includes Drink , Entree & Dessert for us 3. Or a character meal buffet. We eat at more of the "Expensive" places as well (Rainforest , Le Cellier , Cape May, Chef Mickey's). If you plan right you may be able to eat less then $128. If we weren't on the dining plan then we wouldn't eat dessert and would probably eat at "cheaper" places.

example of one of our days "eating" on the dining plan
Rainforest meal
Entree
[*]1- Filet $38.99
[*]2-Pasta $21.99
[*]3- Steak $36.99
[*]Drinks $1.99 x3
[*]Dessert $6.99 x3
plus taxes is approx. $131 not including grat's.
She quoted correct. $128.34 is the correct price for the dining plan for 2 adults and 1 child.
Throw in your 3 Qs meals.... with drinks and dessert would coust about $15 out of pocket. approx $45
plus 3 snacks - approx $12.
$131 + $45 + 12 = $188
Dining plan for us costs $170 approx.
Is it really saving us anything....Nope
Ease of food paid for ahead of time...Yes!

If we were not on the dining plan could we eat for less - ABSOLUTLEY!!!


Standard Dining Plan
(Value and Regular Season)
$55.59 per night ages 10 and up
$17.16 per night age 3 to 9
2012 was $51.54 and $15.02.

(Peak Season)
$56.94 per night ages 10 and up
$18.16 per night ages 3 to 9
2012 was $53.54 and $16.02.



Sometimes they offer packages where they discount the dining package Stay/Play/dine... i think it was called.

The only place that you should check for current dining plan prices is the Disney website itself. There is alot of old and misleading info on these boards

 

[JVig]

I understand she gave me the right price, but she's telling me it's some kind of special deal. Which it isn't.

As far as over $100 for table service for 2 adults and 1 child, I can see if I get dessert that isn't unlikely. But we generally don't. For character meals, I don't see it. I'm doing Tusker house breakfast, it's 28.75 per adult and 15.97 per child. So about $75 before tip. Even our pricier plans, like Ohanas, comes to about $90 before tip. The only meals I have that would be more than 100 pretip would cost 2 credits on the dining plan.

I think it's more that the way we eat (rarely eat dessert), it doesn't make sense. Which I said to the CM. it just shocked me that he wouldn't accept my answer and then started giving me misinformation, that's all.

 

[amomma23]

The "special deal" is that you can get free dining in September. If you book by July 31. Is that what the CM (maybe not too well) was trying to tell you?


Off topic...
We have the same countdown, cool!

 

[JVig]

The "special deal" is that you can get free dining in September. If you book by July 31. Is that what the CM (maybe not too well) was trying to tell you?

Off topic...
We have the same countdown, cool!

I don't think that's what she was saying. She was impressed by the 128, telling me that was an amazing price for the dining plan. Maybe she was just confused!!

I can't see countdowns on my phone. Do we have the same image, or are we visit g at the same time?

 

[amomma23]

I don't think that's what she was saying. She was impressed by the 128, telling me that was an amazing price for the dining plan. Maybe she was just confused!!

I can't see countdowns on my phone. Do we have the same image, or are we visit g at the same time?

Who knows? Sometimes I think my 3 year-old could work the call center and give out better info.

We'll be there at the same time.

 

[JVig]

Who knows? Sometimes I think my 3 year-old could work the call center and give out better info.

We'll be there at the same time.

Awesome-this is our first visit and I'm so excited!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

And at some TS places you could easily go in and feed 2 adults and one child for $50 plus tax easily. Especially if you aren't trying to order Steak at every meal or get the most expensive thing on the menu.

Places like T-Rex, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest, House of Blues, Olivia's...you can easily get entrees for an adult for $20 or less. Kids $10 or less.

If we aren't using the dining plan we would never order desserts anyway. We just don't eat desserts even at home. So I don't consider that part of our expense when comparing how cheaply I can eat paying OOP vs Dining plan.

Everybody getting dessert pads the bill and pads the servers tip. Even if you don't want dessert they really push it on you hard to pad the bill.

Even at an expensive buffet like Cape May you can feed 2 adults and one child for less than $100.

The benefit to having the dining plan comes in if you do want dessert at every meal and you plan on using up your snack credits and using your mug.

 

[JVig]

And at some TS places you could easily go in and feed 2 adults and one child for $50 plus tax easily. Especially if you aren't trying to order Steak at every meal or get the most expensive thing on the menu.

Places like T-Rex, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest, House of Blues, Olivia's...you can easily get entrees for an adult for $20 or less. Kids $10 or less.

If we aren't using the dining plan we would never order desserts anyway. We just don't eat desserts even at home. So I don't consider that part of our expense when comparing how cheaply I can eat paying OOP vs Dining plan.

Everybody getting dessert pads the bill and pads the servers tip. Even if you don't want dessert they really push it on you hard to pad the bill.

Even at an expensive buffet like Cape May you can feed 2 adults and one child for less than $100.

The benefit to having the dining plan comes in if you do want dessert at every meal and you plan on using up your snack credits and using your mug.

Even if you DO order steak, its not over $100 from what I've looked at. If I go to Be Our Guest and my husband and I both order steak and my daughter also gets steak, the total for food is $76.57 (32.99 per adult steak dinner; 10.59 for child). Add soft drinks at 2.99 each, I'm still not hitting $100. Like you, we are not big dessert eaters so I'm not including that because we wouldn't normally order it if paying OOP.

 

[Tanyabeth8]

If you're going in September can you get the free dining plan that is offered in September? I wonder if that is what she was trying to offer you because September's free dining is offered if you book before July 31st. I have a feeling she was trying to help you out because FREE dining is a great deal

 

[TDC Nala]

I've never had them tell me anything false, but I have had them try to sell me the dining plan at CRO, like "are you sure you don't want it, it's a great deal" sort of thing. Sorry, but I've already decided it's not a great deal for me. that's why if I need to book a resort that isn't DVC, I book online now.

DVC always asks if I want it, but they don't push if I say no.

The phone CMs have been in a habit of quoting either high season pricing, or sometimes even next year's (before they are released!)

Where are they getting $30 per night for children? Even the deluxe plan isn't $30 per night for children.

 

[Cafeen]

Where are they getting $30 per night for children? Even the deluxe plan isn't $30 per night for children.

The only thing that makes remote sense is the seasonal/holiday pricing of DxDDP kids rounded up to the nearest 10 (it's like $28.91 I think if I remember from 20 seconds ago when I checked...) (They could very well have said "around $30"). Of course, it's still wrong in general...

I do remember them for the past couple years quoting the next year's pricing though. We had a thread on it here at one time . I remember it specifically because I was bored and laid out the proof that it wasn't true. (Then, surprise surprise when next year came out and the prices matched the original quote!)