Free Fall Dining?

[circus4u]

You can only get one discount, so you would have to choose between the room discount OR free dining. Our last trip we were told we couldn't get free dining at POFQ so we took the discount room rate, but received a pin later for free dining and had to give up the discount on the room.

Was talking more about the room discount and then calling to get the dining plan added on, i.e., the ticketless package; full price for the dining plan and still keep the room discount. Not planning a trip, just wondered how they would do it.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

It all depends on what your family would purchase, If you normally add hoppers, why is the value eroded? I think that we all seem to think everyone tours the way we do, and that simply is not the case. My family usually purchases hoppers, so having to buy it makes not one penny of difference to me, it's already factored into our budget.





You were lucky. In order to "apply" the discount, you need to cancel and rebook. If there was no availability for this discount at the resort you wanted, you would have had to change resorts in order to use it.
AAA may have negotiated the details for you, but they were necessary.



You are right, nothing is "free", but the discounts are the discounts. Call them what you want, but respect that for many, FD is the better offer. My family generally needs two rooms, and we will use different FD on one and RO on another many times. Your family may benefit from a RO discount, but mine may not. Or as we have done in the past, FD on one and RO on the other. And I laugh and I laugh and I laugh when people tell me I got snookered. I am pretty clear about what my savings are, and then to double check, I ask DD to build her spreadsheet. And I move our folks around between rooms to make the most of our savings. And I save. A lot.



Free anything is based on what resorts need to increase their census. My DD booked POR in July for her family, but really would have loved to stay at their favorite, the Poly. They also decided not to buy hoppers, which they dearly like, but she thought they were not worth the money this trip. Well, once teh 30% off pin came and it also included the hoppers, she jumped on it. It was more money but stayed within her vacation budget, and gave them the resort they really wanted.

You can always book your ADR's at 180 days out, but not the +10 that comes with a resort confirmation. I have done that many times when I was in the process of deciding if we were going to go. I was not willing to make that final commitment of a resort but I also needed to be sure I would secure ADR's that would be important to my family. TO be honest, I have always followed through with the trip, but I like to be sure before I book.

Why is the value eroded? Seriously? The value of the DP has eroded significantly throughout the years. ie: The plan used to include an appetizer, now it does not. The plan used to include gratuities, now it does not. The plan did not used to require the purchase of additional items (such as water parks & hoppers) but now it does. Let's not forget how inflated the actual menu prices are now - this adds up to quite a bit of money in gratuities. If a person is purchasing the plan, the cost has risen tremendously while the value of what a person gets on the plan has lessoned. Even if going during a "free" DP window, it's still costing more by requiring the extra purchases and the fact that the inflated menu prices create a larger out of pocket gratuity. Has the dining plan been eroded? Yes, yes it has.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Why is the value eroded? Seriously? The value of the DP has eroded significantly throughout the years. ie: The plan used to include an appetizer, now it does not. The plan used to include gratuities, now it does not. The plan did not used to require the purchase of additional items (such as water parks & hoppers) but now it does. Let's not forget how inflated the actual menu prices are now - this adds up to quite a bit of money in gratuities. If a person is purchasing the plan, the cost has risen tremendously while the value of what a person gets on the plan has lessoned. Even if going during a "free" DP window, it's still costing more by requiring the extra purchases and the fact that the inflated menu prices create a larger out of pocket gratuity. Has the dining plan been eroded? Yes, yes it has.

You are correct...and that was always going to happen. It was practically introduced via carnival barker...

Here's where it would be a brutal revelation: if you compared what you paid for the plan and the menu prices when they rolled it out and compare that to those same two things today. Pretty big difference that can't be explained with "inflation" or "free market"

 

[Nancyg56]

Why is the value eroded? Seriously? The value of the DP has eroded significantly throughout the years. ie: The plan used to include an appetizer, now it does not. The plan used to include gratuities, now it does not. The plan did not used to require the purchase of additional items (such as water parks & hoppers) but now it does. Let's not forget how inflated the actual menu prices are now - this adds up to quite a bit of money in gratuities. If a person is purchasing the plan, the cost has risen tremendously while the value of what a person gets on the plan has lessoned. Even if going during a "free" DP window, it's still costing more by requiring the extra purchases and the fact that the inflated menu prices create a larger out of pocket gratuity. Has the dining plan been eroded? Yes, yes it has.

I must have misunderstood the comment I was responding to. I know that the DDP today is not what was originally offered. I was saying that if you are choosing a discount offer, and the offer includes hoppers as part of what needs to be purchased, it you wanted them anyway, you are even.

I have to say that I was one of those happy campers who always pruchased the DDP whe it was introduced with the appetizer and tip included. I was kind of shocked that people were upset that they had no control over the tip that was given to the server, were trying to figure out per hour what each server was getting even though they had no idea how may tables the server was responsible for, and how that gratuity was split, and squawking over the amount of food that the "had" to order. Well, they got what they wished for.

I am not all that sure that the DDP is the root cause of all the increases in Disney dining, and I am not at all sure it is the root cause of the changes in items offered on menus. While it may play a part in the changes, I think that as a company, Disney may have decided to increase prices and consolidate ordering DDP or not.

It is easy to surmise that the DDP is the root of change in DIsney Dining, but without hard data we are all guessing.

 

[Sweets156]

You most certainly don't need full a package to add on the dining plan. I bought my tickets through UC in the past and added on the dining plan to my room reservation. I've also done this three times when using the military discount. I just had to call to do it.

You must be mistaking another place because you cannot add dining to a room only reservation.
I never said a package includes tickets. Packages can be ticketless.

 

[SoMuchJoy]

No, it might happen it might not I'll give this disclaimer because no discount is certain.

Lets hope!

 

[closetmickey]

You must be mistaking another place because you cannot add dining to a room only reservation.
I never said a package includes tickets. Packages can be ticketless.

Then what does a ticketless package include besides the room? Thanks so much for helping me figure this all out!

 

[usd2bmd]

You are correct...and that was always going to happen. It was practically introduced via carnival barker...

Here's where it would be a brutal revelation: if you compared what you paid for the plan and the menu prices when they rolled it out and compare that to those same two things today. Pretty big difference that can't be complained with "inflation" or "free market"

We went after they first started offering the dining plan and when we checked out we got a printout of where we ate and the credits we used and what we saved by using the dining plan. It was a nice chunk of change. We never got that printout again and I assume it's because it was no longer a value ana there was no longer a savings.

 

[manning]

I must have misunderstood the comment I was responding to. I know that the DDP today is not what was originally offered. I was saying that if you are choosing a discount offer, and the offer includes hoppers as part of what needs to be purchased, it you wanted them anyway, you are even.

I have to say that I was one of those happy campers who always pruchased the DDP whe it was introduced with the appetizer and tip included. [I was kind of shocked that people were upset that they had no control over the tip that was given to the server], were trying to figure out per hour what each server was getting even though they had no idea how may tables the server was responsible for, and how that gratuity was split, and squawking over the amount of food that the "had" to order. Well, they got what they wished for.

I am not all that sure that the DDP is the root cause of all the increases in Disney dining, and I am not at all sure it is the root cause of the changes in items offered on menus. While it may play a part in the changes, I think that as a company, Disney may have decided to increase prices and consolidate ordering DDP or not.

It is easy to surmise that the DDP is the root of change in DIsney Dining, but without hard data we are all guessing.

 

[Sweets156]

Then what does a ticketless package include besides the room? Thanks so much for helping me figure this all out!

A ticketless package includes the room OR the room and a dining plan. When you plan to add components at a later date, it is recommended to book what's called a basic package, which can only have a room on it or a room with a dining plan.

A true room only starts with a number 4 components cannot be added to it.

Any PACKAGE (whether it be basic, ticketless, with tickets, with dining or without) begins with a 3 or a 6. These are the only PACKAGES that components (such as tickets or dining) can be added to.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

A ticketless package includes the room OR the room and a dining plan. When you plan to add components at a later date, it is recommended to book what's called a basic package, which can only have a room on it or a room with a dining plan.

A true room only starts with a number 4 components cannot be added to it.

Any PACKAGE (whether it be basic, ticketless, with tickets, with dining or without) begins with a 3 or a 6. These are the only PACKAGES that components (such as tickets or dining) can be added to.

I am little confused about a basic package. We once switched (by calling a CM and explaining that we needed more flexibility) a package with dining and tickets to a room only because we needed more flexibility with cancellation dates (at least, we thought we switched it to a room only) but it turns out the CM switched it to a basic package, which meant we had the same rules regarding cancellation. Later, when we started getting emails that the entire payment for the room was due 45 days in advance, I had to argue a while with a CM that our intention was to switch it to a room only- not a package. The entire reason we gave up the tickets and the dining plan was because we needed flexible cancellation. She kept saying that it was a package even though it only contained a room reservation. That makes no sense to me whatsoever. Why would anyone want a "package" that contained only a room- no tickets or dining- when it means a less flexible cancellation policy and requires prepayment over a month in advance? What is the benefit of a room that is packaged with nothing but is still called a package?

 

[Paigevon]

What is the benefit of a room that is packaged with nothing but is still called a package?

The option to add dining and/or tickets to it, I suppose.

Did you have a discount on the room price? It could have been that a package discount for that room was available, but not a room-only discount, so the CM maintained the "basic package" designation to keep the room discount. If you let them know the purpose of changing to room-only was for the more lenient cancellation policy, they should have been clear.

(But there a lots of other "should do's" in other circumstances as well)

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The option to add dining and/or tickets to it, I suppose.

Did you have a discount on the room price? It could have been that a package discount for that room was available, but not a room-only discount, so the CM maintained the "basic package" designation to keep the room discount. If you let them know the purpose of changing to room-only was for the more lenient cancellation policy, they should have been clear.

(But there a lots of other "should do's" in other circumstances as well)

We had a discount, but it was supposed to be a room-only bounceback discount. I called while on property in July and asked if we could switch a previously booked September bounceback Free Dining to a room-only bounceback (my mom was with us in July and was supposed to go with us in September where she had her own room and her own FD package, but in July she was having problems with her back and knees and said she was not sure if she would be able to return with us in September, so I called to use the bounceback offer that was available in July for September). I explained that we needed flexibility and I thought the CM booked us the room bounceback because the price was equivalent to a simple 25% off the room price, which was the July bounceback for September).

I guess the complicating factor with package vs. room only is the dining plan since Disney's system is set up that you can't just add a dining plan to a room-only - you have to cancel and rebook as a package. I think that is an odd and restricting way to handle it, but maybe they think the option of adding a dining plan is worth it to some people to lose flexibility with cancellation. It wasn't for us. Mom would not know how her physical health would be until a week or so before, so we needed flexibility with her reservation. Disney eventually switched it back to a room-only, but not before I had talked to a supervisor, who acted as if she were doing me a huge favor.

 

[Paigevon]

We had a discount, but it was supposed to be a room-only bounceback discount. I called while on property in July and asked if we could switch a previously booked September bounceback Free Dining to a room-only bounceback (my mom was with us in July and was supposed to go with us in September where she had her own room and her own FD package, but in July she was having problems with her back and knees and said she was not sure if she would be able to return with us in September, so I called to use the bounceback offer that was available in July for September). I explained that we needed flexibility and I thought the CM booked us the room bounceback because the price was equivalent to a simple 25% off the room price, which was the July bounceback for September).

I guess the complicating factor with package vs. room only is the dining plan since Disney's system is set up that you can't just add a dining plan to a room-only - you have to cancel and rebook as a package. I think that is an odd and restricting way to handle it, but maybe they think the option of adding a dining plan is worth it to some people to lose flexibility with cancellation. It wasn't for us. Mom would not know how her physical health would be until a week or so before, so we needed flexibility with her reservation. Disney eventually switched it back to a room-only, but not before I had talked to a supervisor, who acted as if she were doing me a huge favor.

I hope your mom is doing well. That sounds very complicated, and I'm sorry Disney made it a hassle for you. Glad it worked out, though.

 

[jlundeen]

Was it this thread that was talking about the luggage tags that match the magic bands?

If so , just want to report that we received our magic bands today, and their were NO luggage tags. We have reservations through that certain magical agency, which includes 2 rooms, park hopper passes for three of the four (I have an annual pass, they don't )., plus the dining plan for all four.

 

[LindyN]

A ticketless package includes the room OR the room and a dining plan. When you plan to add components at a later date, it is recommended to book what's called a basic package, which can only have a room on it or a room with a dining plan.

A true room only starts with a number 4 components cannot be added to it.

Any PACKAGE (whether it be basic, ticketless, with tickets, with dining or without) begins with a 3 or a 6. These are the only PACKAGES that components (such as tickets or dining) can be added to.

A vacation package has a combination of 8 letters and numbers. It will begin with a 1, 3, 6 or 8 depending on how it was booked.
A dining promotion will require tickets. For the last couple of years it was a minimum of a two day park hopper.

 

[Eoghann]

I am not all that sure that the DDP is the root cause of all the increases in Disney dining, and I am not at all sure it is the root cause of the changes in items offered on menus. While it may play a part in the changes, I think that as a company, Disney may have decided to increase prices and consolidate ordering DDP or not.

I don't think it's the root cause. I think it is a symptom. It is part of the endless drive to standardize food and thus lower costs through volume.

Disney aren't alone in this of course (You want lobster in your lobster bisque? How fussy of you.) but they are selling at a premium price and claiming a premium experience so the fast food standards they are applying are irksome.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't think it's the root cause. I think it is a symptom. It is part of the endless drive to standardize food and thus lower costs through volume.

Disney aren't alone in this of course (You want lobster in your lobster bisque? How fussy of you.) but they are selling at a premium price and claiming a premium experience so the fast food standards they are applying are irksome.

I agree that it is a symptom as well, but it is generally considered to be the blame for any decline in Disney Dining. I think that there is a corporate mindset that has determined that guests want an all inclusive feel, they will pay for it, and that the prices on the menu must give them the illusion that they are making a good decision. The problem is that the costs are rising, the consolidations are increasing, and we are all noticing.

Right now we do purchase the DDP but we know that the meals we choose would likely cost more if we paid OOP, and we do try to choose restaurants that still offe variety. I believe that in terms of mass purchasing, Dieny may need to realize that many have reached their saturation point.

 

[goldnvalli]

Any news or rumors about free dining? Doesn't the announcement usually come out around this time? I really want to try to get it.

 

[Disneylover99]

Any news or rumors about free dining? Doesn't the announcement usually come out around this time? I really want to try to get it.

Don't know about this year, but last year it was the end of April.