Any word if the new DVC dining plan will be extended to AP passholders too?

[rascalsmommy]

My family has AP passes, but would LOVE to get the Dining Plan for our September trip. I know that there is a new DVC Dining Plan coming out. Has anyone heard rumors about a Dining Plan for AP passholders (other than the DDE)?

Thanks!

 

[unixadm]

The reason Disney had the dining plan to begin with was to get people to pay rack rates on rooms rather than discounted rooms, have they buy park tickets for everyone in their party, and stay on property.

I think the reason it has been extended to the DVC is because we are investing a huge amount of money into Disney, cannot get discounted rooms since we are basically pre-paying for them for the next 48 years, and it's a good selling point to potential buyers that it is now a perk of ownership. I think a big thing as well is that DVC members tend to have meals in the villas more, and spend less time in the parks, so by offering the meal plan, it gets us all out to the restaurants and in the parks to spend more money.

I'm an annual passholder as well, and wouldn't mind having the dining plan as an option for those times we don't use DVC and stay at All Star Movies for a long weekend, but I don't think that Disney will do it....there isn't much to gain. I would love to see it as an option, though.

 

[bicker]

I've seen attempts at explaining why Disney is offering us DVCers the Dining Plan, for as little money as they plan to charge, before, focusing on our "huge investment" and the "good selling point" argument, and they just have not been enough to explain it for me. I think you've hit on the magic third reason that makes it all fall into place for me: We've got kitchens, and they need to get us to stop buying our food from Super Wal-Mart and start buying our food from them.

Of course, if that was the basis of the strategy, why do they store our perishables for us if we check in before our villa is ready?

 

[crisi]

I've seen attempts at explaining why Disney is offering us DVCers the Dining Plan, for as little money as they plan to charge, before, focusing on our "huge investment" and the "good selling point" argument, and they just have not been enough to explain it for me. I think you've hit on the magic third reason that makes it all fall into place for me: We've got kitchens, and they need to get us to stop buying our food from Super Wal-Mart and start buying our food from them.

Of course, if that was the basis of the strategy, why do they store our perishables for us if we check in before our villa is ready?

I'm not buying that one either. With most of the restaurants operating pretty close to capacity, there isn't a lot of lost opportunity cost for Disney they need to claim. I can't figure out why they did it, unless it does have to do with increasing sales, or keeping DVC members on site - i.e. keep them away from Universal. I'd expected a modified dining plan for DVC - more money, but you get mouseboats and minigolf.

And if they did it for DVC members, I would think AP holders would be logical.

 

[nbodyhome]

Disney is still needing to discount rooms to sell more of the resorts - even with the dining plan.

Denise

 

[goofy4tink]

As both a DVCer and an AP holder, I prefer the DDE card to the DDP. The way we eat at WDW it makes more sense for us to save the 20% on most meals. We tend to eat breakfast in our villa, then maybe a light lunch in the parks or back to our room for a quick bite. Then a sit-down meal at night someplace. The dining plan just doesn't fit very well for us. At close to $40 pp, each day, and we would have 3 adults since dd at 12 is an adult eater according to Disney, it would be close to $120 a day for us to eat. We never spend close to that when we eat. I would think that the AP holders would rather use the DDE than a dining plan. But, like everything else in life, having a choice is a good thing since we are all very different.
As far as why Disney offered it to DVC people...who knows. But you can be sure that they ran the numbers and found they could make money on us. No way are they going to lose money!

 

[bicker]

Disney is still needing to discount rooms to sell more of the resorts - even with the dining plan.

Not quite as much as in the past, though.

 

[cobbler]

I just think they should offer DDE to DVC members whether or not we are passholders. Now THAT would be a perk

 

[goofy4tink]

I decided to actually sit down and try to figure out which way would be the best way for us to eat in Oct...DDP or DDE. I only counted lunch and dinner, with that one snack daily. Well, I came out with a cost of $456 for the DDP for my dd and myself for a stay from Sat-Thurs. And we would be leaving in the morning of that Thursday, so that day is kind of a waste. With the DDE it comes to about $395. I didn't add any tips to that since the 20% discount is the same as a tip. Now, I do have to add the $60 I'm going to have to spend to renew my DDE card. So that comes to $455. Oh bother....now I have a dilemna...what to do, what to do. I'm traveling with another mom and her dd, so I guess I'll have to see what she wants to do. We do tend to eat pretty well at WDW, so maybe the dining plan could be the way to go for that one trip. Any thoughts about my figuring??

 

[debbiedoo]

As a DVC member I still prefer the DDE card

eat breakfast in room

eat one main sit-down between 4 and 6

With some of those buffets you needs that TS meal?? I feel like Disney makes a lot of money on the DDP. I have several reports of ppl that did not use credits due to they were not hungry.

I will be going to WDW in June and I have sit downs every day--

245.95(per adult)

after DDE card 196.76(per adult)


that is before tax or tips -- DVC dining plan 37.99 per day per adult--for my trip that would be 341.91 for 9 days


I am still saving in the long run--my grocery store stop usually runs about 50/75 dollars (cereal, pop tarts, sodas, water, etc)

 

[shellybaxter]

I'm glad that DVC people who want the dining plan are able to get it, but I would much rather have the DDE (as an AP holder and DVC I can now choose). With the DDE you get to choose what and where you eat. You can eat at two sit downs in one day or none. You can eat at as many signature resturants as you want. You can order an appetizer and dessert with no entree. You can have alcoholic drinks, or not. Any and all of these different choices can be covered by DDE (even the counter service if you eat in the right places) and you don't feel like you have to eat a certain way (order app, entree, dessert; eat one counter and one sit down per day) in order to get your moneys worth.

 

[crisi]

Goofy4tink - don't forget that the DDE includes a discount on alcohol. If you drink, that can be substantial.

 

[goofy4tink]

Goofy4tink - don't forget that the DDE includes a discount on alcohol. If you drink, that can be substantial.

Ah yes....with this particular girlfriend, it will get substantial. We do enjoy our wine when we get together!!! It's just so close in price. I will most likely stick with my DDE card. I have much more leeway with it.

 

[unixadm]

I do BOTH DDP and DDE!

It's the best of both worlds. Get a $50 dinner, $12 lunch and $3.00 snack for $38. Get our alcohol, and other meals at 20% off. If we want two sit down meals in a day, and don't want to use credits both both, I can use credits for the more expensive one, and the DDE card for the cheaper one.

Will work great for DVC since we tend to stay Sunday-Friday at a DVC resort, and Friday/Saturday nights via cash, many times at ASMo. We will be able to stretch 5 TS and 5 CS over 7 or 8 days by combining the two plans.