2011 DPP concerns & Disney email address

[divawife]

As most of you know, there are rumors about the 2011 Dining Plan desserts being removed due to the UK brochures. I called Disney and they gave me this email address to use to write directly to them. Now I know I may simply get an automated response about the changes and prices will not be out until August 2010. That is ok as long as they know that people are concerned and they care.

The email address is wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

I encourage you to do the same if you have the same concerns.

Here is what I wrote to them:
My concern is this: it is all over the web that Disney will be changing
their Dining Plan again. Last time the appetizer & gratuity was removed.
This time the rumor (which is based on UK and Virgin Airways brochures for
their 2011 Disney packages) is that the desserts will be removed. Please do
not do this. The tableservice "fancy" desserts make the meal so special.
If you cut out the desserts you will really face a lot of disappointed
guests.
We can all assume that the UK rumors are true since I doubt Disney would
have one plan for UK guests and another for US guests. But before the
official announcements-please, please reconsider. Don't take this magic
away. Take a quick look at the Disney Boards like DIS Boards and test the
waters, although people are telling each other not to get upset until Disney
makes an official announcement-once you do make that announcement there is
no going back. People are reacting and are simply not happy. It is too
much to take away - it no longer is an actual plan but just ...entree.

 

[lnh'smom]

I am sending an email! I really hope this isn't true!

 

[MzDiz]

The pricing is already at the point where I wouldn't pay for it and only use the dining plan if I can get it for free. Aside from a handful of restaurants, I wouldn't pay out of pocket for most meals in table service spots either. The last time I actually paid for the dining plan was 2006 when everything was included and it was actually worth it. I'm by no means cheap, but I'm not a complete fool either.
They keep making counter service or off-site dining look better and better.

 

[Tricia1972]

The pricing is already at the point where I wouldn't pay for it and only use the dining plan if I can get it for free. Aside from a handful of restaurants, I wouldn't pay out of pocket for most meals in table service spots either. The last time I actually paid for the dining plan was 2006 when everything was included and it was actually worth it. I'm by no means cheap, but I'm not a complete fool either.
They keep making counter service or off-site dining look better and better.

This is the key. Emailing your concerns is great, and might make them think about things, but ultimately Disney is driven by money. We can send emails all day long, but if everyone still buys the plan Disney is right and they win. If people stop buying the plans and dine off site, then they may consider adding more back into the plan.

If they can strip it down to nothing, we still come every year, and their restaurants are full, they have no motivation as a business. Adding more back to the customer would decrease their profit margin.

 

[dandave]

I agree with Tricia - where's the motivation for Disney?

No matter how much Disney strips down that plan, some people are still going to buy it. It stopped being a good deal for me to purchase, when they removed the included gratuity.
If the the emailers were threatening to eat offsite, then Disney may look to see if they carried out that threat. Threatening not to buy the plan isn't going to do anything, if you still eat at the World.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We've also stopped buying the DDP. We weren't saving a lot of money anyway so when they raised the prices of the DDP in 2009 it ended the speculation of whether I should get it for future trips.

If Disney lowers the price if and when they eliminate desserts we might consider buying the DDP again. But I'm guessing that the price will stay the same and the dessert will be taken away just like the appys and the gratuity.

So we're getting the TIW card for our next trip since we are upgrading to APs. This will give us more flexibility order what we really want.

OP, Good luck with your e-mail campaign. I hope it works.

 

[divawife]

Its not so much threatening to eat off site or not to buy the plan...yet. Its making your voice heard so that they get a clue that we pay attention. Of course they are motivated by money, they certainly panic enough about money when they offer free dining and 4/3 and pin codes. They want people to spend money. But if you don't tell them your opinion they will not know you care or not. It is information for them, they use it or not. I think it is worth a shot, what can you lose? Tell them exactly what you have been writing on this thread. Let them know what you think.

 

[sunshineNJ]

I heard that they might remove the dessert but add another snack. I agree it does make the meal more special to have the dessert included. If we were not on the dining plan we would NOT be ordering dessert in most cases. But, there are many times that we are so full after a table service meal that we take a bite or two of dessert and that is all we can fit. So, if they add a second snack it gives you the flexibility to have those snacks when you want to.

 

[sherabby]

I sent an email as well. My son has multiple food allergies and the desserts have always been the most special part of our dining experiences! He's had his first milkshake and brownie sundae too!

 

[2Tiggies]

I heard that they might remove the dessert but add another snack. I agree it does make the meal more special to have the dessert included. If we were not on the dining plan we would NOT be ordering dessert in most cases. But, there are many times that we are so full after a table service meal that we take a bite or two of dessert and that is all we can fit. So, if they add a second snack it gives you the flexibility to have those snacks when you want to.

That second snack that was in an initial brochure is no longer reflected in any of the recent editions, including Disney UK. It is simply removal of the mug with the QSDP and no dessert with the CS meals. Of course there is nothing to say that this won't change again. The inconsistent publications lead me to question whether any of the rumored changes are yet finalised.

Plenty folk will buy the plan. TA's and Disney CMs push sales on this. The majority of the public are none the wiser. They are told it will add convenience and save money and they add it to the reservation. We represent a tiny percentage of the overall consumer market. Nothing wrong with communicating a point of view though. The more such correspondence Disney receive, the more likely they are to at least give these opinions some consideration.

 

[shellybaxter]

I wonder if the idea is to extend free dining to cover all of the slower times of the year and they want to "give away less". Free dining seems to bring people in - even though they pay top dollar for their rooms. Just a thought - it seems to me that each year they extend free dining longer

 

[2Tiggies]

I wonder if the idea is to extend free dining to cover all of the slower times of the year and they want to "give away less". Free dining seems to bring people in - even though they pay top dollar for their rooms. Just a thought - it seems to me that each year they extend free dining longer

You raise a good point. I personally don't see free dining as any better a discount than the others that they offer. But for some reason FD seems to get the biggest response because it is labeled as "FREE", which is more like a trade off for a different discount. Not everyone does the math. I would go as far as to say that most don't even understand the system sufficiently to attempt to do so. It is the story of perceived value vs actual value.

 

[sherabby]

That second snack that was in an initial brochure is no longer reflected in any of the recent editions, including Disney UK. It is simply removal of the mug with the QSDP and no dessert with the CS meals. Of course there is nothing to say that this won't change again. The inconsistent publications lead me to question whether any of the rumored changes are yet finalised.

Plenty folk will buy the plan. TA's and Disney CMs push sales on this. The majority of the public are none the wiser. They are told it will add convenience and save money and they add it to the reservation. We represent a tiny percentage of the overall consumer market. Nothing wrong with communicating a point of view though. The more such correspondence Disney receive, the more likely they are to at least give these opinions some consideration.

So is it only the dessert with the CS meal and not the TS meal? I wouldn't mind that since quite often we don't have room to eat the dessert at the CS and take it with us to go. We're going deluxe this August and even though it will be a treat to dine in all TS locations it's going to be a lot of food! We did book a few 2 credit meals so we are not eating three meals a day every day. I keep having this feeling that we are going to explode this trip!

 

[TDC Nala]

If people stop buying the plans and dine off site, then they may consider adding more back into the plan.

Or, they may decide they don't need the plan. There isn't really a lot of good ways to anticipate what Disney might do.

 

[Lewisc]

Sending an email in response to an internet rumor isn't likely to have any effect. A regular (snail mail) letter after the 2011 DDPs are announced might have a little impact.

Guests deciding the 2011 DDP isn't worth purchasing has a better chance of having some impact. PP is correct, Disney may prefer guest not purchase a dining plan. There is no upside filling restaurants with DDP guests making reservation 6 months in advance if later guests, not on a dining plan, would have taken those slots. Particularly if those guests are more likely to order adult beverages and order menu items that cost more then the reimbursement would have been from DDP guests.

It may be the 2011 DDP are being structured so Disney can profitably continue to offer free dining. I don't think I'd pay for the 2010 DDP and I'm sure I wouldn't pay for the 2011 DDP if the rumored changes are implemented.

 

[Tricia1972]

Or, they may decide they don't need the plan. There isn't really a lot of good ways to anticipate what Disney might do.

They could always do that too. They'll certainly leave the plan a thing of the past if they can fill restaurants without it.

My point was that it's a pretty safe bet that Disney will take some action to fill their restaurants if their restaurants are empty as a result of changes they make. If the DDP is no longer purchased and if people are eating off site, then they may consider adding more back to the plan. The assumption there, of course, is that people eating off site = empty restaurants.

 

[YanksWinAgain]

I think the dining plan gives people structure to follow and gives them boundaries on the meal. If you "pay as you go" some people are apt to splurge a bit more on the meal (add in apps, etc.) and then be surprised with the bill for all the meals at the end (assuming they charge it to the room).

It is sort of like the casino concept with chips - you don't think of it as real money so you keep spending.

We had the 40% PIN and saved about $150 by switching to the free dining. There are five of us, so I think the PIN would be better if there were fewer people. I agree that my out of pocket is probably a wash with the dining plan, but it helps us to avoid the arguments with the kids - and just say "this is what we paid for... this is what you get"

 

[divawife]

So is it only the dessert with the CS meal and not the TS meal?

It is for the TS meals too. Those are the desserts that are really special not the chocolate cake in a plastic container at CS.

 

[kawing123]

I think it is a possible response to the gradual elimination of Free Dining.

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't think I'd pay for the 2010 DDP and I'm sure I wouldn't pay for the 2011 DDP if the rumored changes are implemented.

True. Of course Disney could make the plan appear to have more value by raising prices in the restaurants.