Are We Slitting Our Own Throats? (Yes, another free DDP thread!)

[calypso*a*go-go]

I posted this as a reply to a thread on the Budget Board but was curious about everyone's thoughts on the Resorts Board:

So many people have already booked for the dates free DDP was offered via UK/Bounceback offers, and have added the plan with the hopes it will be offered for free to the general public so they can convert and receive a credit when/if the promo is offered.

So let's think about this a minute, the marketing people get together and see occupancy levels are some of the highest they've seen for late August/Early September and most of the reservations include DDP...would you really offer it for free again?

How many people have already posted publicly that they are going whether or not free DDP is offered?

How many of those have also stated what a great plan it is and they would pay for it, rather than not use it if free DDP isn't offered?

How many thousands of people have made their ADR's already hoping for free DDP? (If any of you have called lately you've probably found out first hand that the "favored" TS restaurants are completely booked).

I called this morning and removed DDP from my August reservation (I kept the tickets on the package so it wouldn't convert to a room-only discount and be easier to add DDP later if needed). I would urge others to do the same. If April/May comes and goes with no announcements...fine, we all lick our wounds and add DDP if we still want it and are willing to pay for it.

I'm honestly not trying to get anyone in panic mode, I'm just trying to be realistic about how all this is being interpreted on the Disney side. Why give something for free if it looks like you don't have to (especially after so many were already given the opportunity with the UK/BB offer)?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Calypso:

While I appreciate your thinkingl... I think that the DIS boards is such a small piece of the Disney pie.. that our collective actions probably wouldn't be enough to 'move the needle' for the Disney Marketing types decision making.

So many other people who never even come to these boards.. have come to the same conclusion -- if free dining is offered, I want my choice of restaurants.

Time will tell but I dunno if removing DDP from your reservation will make any difference in the long run. Of course.. it certainly won't hurt either.

Knox

 

[Cleokitty]

We went last September with free dining. By reading these boards, I would have expected pandemonium in the parks and restaurants. Much to our delight, the parks weren't crowded and the restaurants weren't bad. We've been several times in Sept and the crowd levels are always about the same--very light. We've had larger crowds in early Dec than in Sept.

My point is that even with free dining, it was still slow. People book and then cancel all the time. Wait for hurricane season--if it starts out with a storm or two, loads of people will be cancelling. I hope they'll offer it again. We may not get down there this year but it's a great perk for those willing to "risk life and limb" vacationing in FL in Sept.

 

[n2mm]

Where I live they advertised the free dining to death last year. First it ran forever, then Disney still didn't have enough takers, so they promoted it again throughout the summer. It was in the Wash. Post EVERY sunday forever. I got tire of seeing Goofy with the skillet. Then when you went to the website, there was Goofy again offering us a "hot" deal. So maybe they won't have to announce it for the next 3 months like last year. I still see the bounce back promotion as a "pre-booking" opportunity to a promotion that will be released later to the public. Sort of like the AP holders get a pre-booking opportunity, then there are sometimes rooms offered to the public. I wish it would be offered or we find out it's not going to happen so that we can all put this to bed and move on. I am booked with a package without the DDP, but I only did this because we are a grand gathering and there are so many names and info to put into the files. If the free ddp is not offered, then we will convert our 3 packages to 3 room only w/AP discount. Since we are 5 AP holders traveling with non-AP holders we really don't need the one day tickets.

 

[tzuhouse]

It is very interesting that the TS restaurants are full. I have made some sort of dining change every day for several days now and have yet to have had a single problem getting the restaurant and time I wanted. Just made an Ohana today. 5:00pm. Made an LTT for 9/3, also. 5:00pm. Again, not a single issue. I got CRT for 8:10am a full day after the 180 day mark cancelled. From what I'm seeing, the restaurants are not full. Or maybe I'm just choosing differently than everyone else? I've got:
CRT breakfast
CP breakfast
Breakfastosaurus breakfast
H & V Play n Dine breakfast
Akershus lunch
La Cellier dinner
Hoop Dee Doo dinner
O'hana dinner
LTT dinner
Whispering Canyon dinner
Cape May dinner

Almost every time the CM has said, what time do you want? You have your choice. The only one I've had a problem with is Hoop Dee Doo. The Cat 2's are gone, so I've taken a Cat 3. I have no idea if I wasn't on DDP if I could have gotten Cat 1.

Mary

 

[Disneyhappy]

Being in the insurnace industry with bean counters and actuaries, I am sure Disney has their own set of top notch actuaries who's sole jobs are to try to predict attendance. Acturaries are trained to consider extrinisc factors such as "What % of bookings during Aug/Sept will be cancelled if free dining is not offered?" They are aware that people have been booking in hopes of free dining and are factoring that into their attendance estimates to see if what type of incentive they need to make to increase attendance. I'm sure Disney, just like insurance companies, have this down to a science and can make predictions within a 5% margin of error. That said, I hope for free dining for all who are looking for it! Good luck!

 

[ToyStory]

I have been changing around my ADR's after the 180 day mark. They only one I have an issue with is LeCellier on one particular day. Changing around CP, WCC, CM and Ohanas has not been an issue. I even called today and was able to get what I wanted for Ohanas and WCC.

My AAA was able to secure the AAA discount at both POR and WL for my dates. We choose POR to save some $$$ since we need two rooms since we are a party of 5 now.

Also, now that P&PP has dates in August, I feel that is another way Disney is trying to draw crowds. JMO.

 

[Tink]

I also just changed my adr's and didn't have a problem. I swapped CM for FDP at MM because we had FDP on the day the Pirate and Princess Party is being held during our stay (8/28). the funny thing is, at 180 days, when we originally made the adr's, our first choice for FDP date was sold out. Now there seems to be plenty of openings.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Time will tell but I dunno if removing DDP from your reservation will make any difference in the long run. Of course.. it certainly won't hurt either.

I figured it would just be a matter of making one phone call to add it back on, and since it will cause the price of my package to go up instead of down...there won't be any charge to make the change. Truth be told, I probably wouldn't even add it if it turns out it's not free as the last time we used it, it seemed like half the vacation was spent going from restaurant to restaurant.

Good to hear the restaurants aren't as full as others have been reporting. I was getting concerned as we were already seeing those "no room at the inn" threads.

Gosh -- isn't a shame we can't put all the brain power we've been using to strategize about free DDP into something more productive like world peace.

 

[allerobed]

I know the answer must be here somewhere but I am dizzy from trying to find it. If I arrive on 8/24 and stay until 9/2, and lets say the free DDP starts on the 26th, will I be eligible for during any time of my stay if I booked the trip within the proper dates?

 

[LakeAriel]

I posted this as a reply to a thread on the Budget Board but was curious about everyone's thoughts on the Resorts Board:

So many people have already booked for the dates free DDP was offered via UK/Bounceback offers, and have added the plan with the hopes it will be offered for free to the general public so they can convert and receive a credit when/if the promo is offered.

So let's think about this a minute, the marketing people get together and see occupancy levels are some of the highest they've seen for late August/Early September and most of the reservations include DDP...would you really offer it for free again?

How many people have already posted publicly that they are going whether or not free DDP is offered?

How many of those have also stated what a great plan it is and they would pay for it, rather than not use it if free DDP isn't offered?

How many thousands of people have made their ADR's already hoping for free DDP? (If any of you have called lately you've probably found out first hand that the "favored" TS restaurants are completely booked).

I called this morning and removed DDP from my August reservation (I kept the tickets on the package so it wouldn't convert to a room-only discount and be easier to add DDP later if needed). I would urge others to do the same. If April/May comes and goes with no announcements...fine, we all lick our wounds and add DDP if we still want it and are willing to pay for it.

I'm honestly not trying to get anyone in panic mode, I'm just trying to be realistic about how all this is being interpreted on the Disney side. Why give something for free if it looks like you don't have to (especially after so many were already given the opportunity with the UK/BB offer)?

Walt disney world knows what is going on on this board so I think they, too, know there will be cancelations if there is no free dining. What disturbs me more is when people tie up ADR's without even having a reservation in Orlando and have no intention of making one if FD is not announced. It disallows actual guests from making ADR's.

 

[tinaluis]

I made a reservation based on the "rumor" at the ***************** website. I did not book dining on the reservation, but did add tickets so it's a package. If WDW offers free dining, we'll take the trip. If not, we won't, we'll cancel it and go for Halloween but we'll stay offsite in a timeshare. It's that simple for us, no free dining no trip.

allerobed,
You would have to book 2 reservations -- one from 8/24 - 8/26 and the second one for the rest of your dates with free dining.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I know the answer must be here somewhere but I am dizzy from trying to find it. If I arrive on 8/24 and stay until 9/2, and lets say the free DDP starts on the 26th, will I be eligible for during any time of my stay if I booked the trip within the proper dates?

In your scenario, as long as you check in on or before August 26th, you'd have the free dining (should it be offered) for the length of your stay.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

In your scenario, as long as you check in on or before August 26th, you'd have the free dining (should it be offered) for the length of your stay.

Don't you mean on or *after* 8/26? Wouldn't there need to be a reservation from 8/24 to 8/26 (DDP paid for OOP if poster wants it) and then a new reservation from 8/26 until 9/02 with free DDP?

Of course, none of this will matter if the rumored dates are incorrect!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Don't you mean on or *after* 8/26? Wouldn't there need to be a reservation from 8/24 to 8/26 (DDP paid for OOP if poster wants it) and then a new reservation from 8/26 until 9/02 with free DDP?

Of course, none of this will matter if the rumored dates are incorrect!

I TOTALLY misread the question. I thought they meant if the promotion ENDED on the 26th.

You're right.

SORRY ABOUT THAT!!! OY!

 

[CoolPool]

Well I'm booked solid for end July/early August. My hope is the people who might have gone at this time have switched their booking to later in August in anticipation of free dining. That way there will be fewer people in line at the parks. This is my dream; let me encourage everyone to shift their vacation dates later in the summer, please!

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are booking restaurants for September you're probably still okay with that...nothing's full that far out. Free dining for the general public hasn't been announced yet. Once it is, those reservations will fill up fast.

At WDW on March 10, I did hear in passing that Le Cellier was booked solid for dinner through the end of April, with no walkins being permitted.

 

[n2mm]

If you are booking restaurants for September you're probably still okay with that...nothing's full that far out. Free dining for the general public hasn't been announced yet. Once it is, those reservations will fill up fast.

At WDW on March 10, I did hear in passing that Le Cellier was booked solid for dinner through the end of April, with no walkins being permitted.

Wow, but not surprised. Imagine that is with folks buying the DDP, you can imagine how hard it is to get into one free dining begins. Folks all seem to be forgetting that even though the GP is not going to be able to book the free DDP for most of August, there are 2 other groups (UK and Bounce Back) that have indeed booked their reservations and ADRs. The reason the GP is not getting it is because these two groups probably wiped out all availability, and the GP is only getting what is left.

 

[TDC Nala]

Wow, but not surprised. Imagine that is with folks buying the DDP, you can imagine how hard it is to get into one free dining begins. Folks all seem to be forgetting that even though the GP is not going to be able to book the free DDP for most of August, there are 2 other groups (UK and Bounce Back) that have indeed booked their reservations and ADRs. The reason the GP is not getting it is because these two groups probably wiped out all availability, and the GP is only getting what is left.

Well, that isn't for sure yet, because we are not at the point where it is usually announced for the public. If we get into May and it hasn't been offered, then I'd start thinking that it won't be. I tend to think if it is offered this year, it will be for a narrow range of dates, mostly in September.

Because of the bounceback offer I am already on two reservations, both of which start in August.

April is a tremendously busy month. I won't go near the place within a week before and after Easter. (I'm going down on April 21 but will mostly avoid the parks.) So I was not entirely surprised to hear about Le Cellier, except for the fact that I don't think it's that good, but others apparently do.

 

[Frosty&PixieRN3903]

What is the rumored website that is saying the the free DDP is going to be offered? Is it a reputable website? This is all making me crazy!!!