Cancelling Dining Plan - In Protest

[tiki23]

My sis and I are going in May and I am just so disgusted with Disney and the PIN mess. I'm tired of playing the odds and biting my fingernails over getting free dining or not, getting a discount or not.

We were going to pay for the dining plan (and consider free dining a bonus if we got it) but now, forget it - I'm calling our TA to cancel it. We'll eat counter service, split a couple of dinners, save ourselves some money - and calories! - and vote with our wallets.

I'm so disgusted at this point that I'm thinking about staying offsite for our trip in November.

Dear Disney: give discounts or don't, but why make it so difficult and frustrating for your guests to try to save money?

 

[sjs314]

I feel your frustration with wishing and hopeing for a pin# but on the same hand when I booked our trip back in September and there was a FD offer out I decided upon our dates to go based on the dates of the promo. Booked our Dream resort CR have been wanting to stay there since our frist trip in 1989.

I had expected a RO %off offer to come out and waited and when it came out for our dates CR was excluded but on site did give 5% off whoo hoo...not good so we had to switch resorts.

It seems the discounts have been getting less and less as Disney said they would this year. I see you have been going since 2006 in years past there were never the discounts as in recent years. All of our trips up until this one we paid rack booking 6 months before. We have stayed off site too our first 2 trips before Disney offered so many resort choices and I doubt we would ever stay offsite again even if we have to pay rack rate, there is just something about being totally immersed in the Disney theme 24 hours a day.

I hope you get a pin or a good GP offer comes out for your dates or if you do stay offsite enjoy your vacation after all your going to Disney.

I just know after my experience with this trip , I am not ever going to expect a discount to come out again, it only leads to frustration and disappointment.

 

[maxiesmom]

I just know after my experience with this trip , I am not ever going to expect a discount to come out again, it only leads to frustration and disappointment.

That is really the best way to handle it. Many businesses give out discounts to a select group of people at random times of the year. Not just Disney. There is no figuring it out ahead of time, you will only make yourself crazy.

As far as a trip to WDW goes it is less stressful to book the trip you can afford without discounts, and if one happens to come along, upgrade if you can. They stated a while back that discounts would be few and far between, so you simply can't bank one getting one.

 

[sjs314]

That is really the best way to handle it. Many businesses give out discounts to a select group of people at random times of the year. Not just Disney. There is no figuring it out ahead of time, you will only make yourself crazy.

As far as a trip to WDW goes it is less stressful to book the trip you can afford without discounts, and if one happens to come along, upgrade if you can. They stated a while back that discounts would be few and far between, so you simply can't bank one getting one.

We could have afforded to keep our reservation for CR but when looking at the numbers when the GP RO offer came out and seeing we could stay at BWI and save $1100 we just decided to switch. We are quite happy as we never stayed at BWI either and it is on our bucket list.

You are so right about making yourself crazy with waiting for discounts....just look at the threads on this board.

I got all excited last week to see a Disney Destinations email only to read the "offer" and it was for $2 off any personalized gift card I ordered.

Boy did my excitement level plummet real quick

 

[BrerMama]

Another who is officially done waiting for discounts. We're not arriving until June 15, and the current general public discounts do not cover that time period. I have called a dozen times checking for PIN codes and done everything possible to get one (saving vacations, ordering maps and DVDs, etc.). We could afford to stay onsite, I just refuse to pay their prices. Free dining for our family of 5 (all adults in Disney's eyes) would have been a great discount for us, and would have made me consider paying rack rate in order to get dining. However, I'm just tired of playing this waiting game. We'll be staying offsite. We purchased our tickets last night at AAA, so even if Disney offers a general public free dining at this point, we've got our tickets.

From my viewpoint, it's going to work out better. We'll have more room (staying at a timeshare resort, so 2 full bedrooms and 2 bathrooms), we can do a mix of table service/quick service that best fits our family (rather than Disney's dining plan which we'd have to force to fit our family), and we can explore the area as well. I'm a little sad to be missing out on the Disney magic 24/7, but I think the benefits outweight the things I'll miss.

 

[mommykds]

I agree, it's a cr@p shoot as to who gets them & who doesn't. Last year we got the FD QSDP for free which was such a cost saver!!! So far nothing for us this summer. I booked POR at rack because I fell like the rate is reasonable. Beach Club or BWI are over $350 during our stay which to me is not reasonable. Hopefully FD will come our way again.

 

[npcougar]

I'm tired of the games too. We decided we would save more over time with DVC instead of trying to get a RO or free dining pin. We struck out on all discounts in October and decided to go a different direction. We don't eat enough to make the dining plan worthwhile. We cancelled our existing reservation and have now gotten 2 free dining pins in the last month. As fun as free dining can be, it can be rather unhealthy trying to get your monies worth and the food isn't always that great.

 

[tiki23]

Yes, the discounts have been good in the past and free dining was awesome, we did take advantage of it several times. Our 1st 2 trips though I booked through AAA with their discount and paid in full for the dining plan. Of course, back then, it really was a good deal with an appetizer and the tip included.

We never plan more trip than we can afford without a discount but I am all about saving money on everything, so it's hard to resist the code watching.

Thanks for your replies I'm glad some people here understand - it's not just sour grapes over "Why didn't I get a PIN?" It's the frustration and the fact that it just makes it so not fun anymore to plan a trip.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Another who is officially done waiting for discounts. We're not arriving until June 15, and the current general public discounts do not cover that time period. I have called a dozen times checking for PIN codes and done everything possible to get one (saving vacations, ordering maps and DVDs, etc.). We could afford to stay onsite, I just refuse to pay their prices. Free dining for our family of 5 (all adults in Disney's eyes) would have been a great discount for us, and would have made me consider paying rack rate in order to get dining. However, I'm just tired of playing this waiting game. We'll be staying offsite. We purchased our tickets last night at AAA, so even if Disney offers a general public free dining at this point, we've got our tickets.

From my viewpoint, it's going to work out better. We'll have more room (staying at a timeshare resort, so 2 full bedrooms and 2 bathrooms), we can do a mix of table service/quick service that best fits our family (rather than Disney's dining plan which we'd have to force to fit our family), and we can explore the area as well. I'm a little sad to be missing out on the Disney magic 24/7, but I think the benefits outweight the things I'll miss.

This is where we are too and I also understand where the OP is coming from. I know that WDW is a business and that they don't have to offer promotional discounts, etc. but I no longer have the desire to play the waiting game and drive myself crazy checking for free dining, pins, and so on from Disney in order for our family to be able to do a WDW trip that involves staying onsite without breaking the bank. Because of the type of accommodations we need for our family's size, only two standard value resort rooms or a value resort family suite is within our reach and the cost of the dining plan for all six of us is just too much; especially considering our oldest two kids who are "Disney adults" still eat like our toddler and preschooler. We can get a spacious condo at Windsor Hills, rent a minivan, and pay for our meals OOP for half of what it would cost us to stay onsite at a value resort and pay for the dining plan. Even if we get free dining, it would still cost us less to stay offsite in a condo because we would have the option to purchase our park tickets through AAA, Undercover Tourist, or highly discounted through the Y.E.S. program.

 

[CanadianGuy]

As someone who has watched the madness every spring on these message boards .. literally for years -- I don't blame you.

There are a million better ways Disney could administering these offers ... and the seemingly capricious, ridiculously implemented and poorly thought about "PIN" program would tops in my gun sights if I were asked what "should go".

Hey Disney: Just offer discounts and for each offer, make available the amount of room inventory you need to meet your goals.

The PIN loyalty program should be costing them customers! Its that bad.

 

[Rachaelt]

Pins aren't always about meeting occupancy goals. A lot of the time they are testing reaction to an offer or how it is presented.

 

[luvmyprincesses]

I guess I don't understand why anyone would feel entitled to any discount. I just book it, and if a discount comes along I am so happy. But it doesn't take away from the fun...after all, I am going to Disneyworld!!

 

[tiki23]

I guess I don't understand why anyone would feel entitled to any discount. I just book it, and if a discount comes along I am so happy. But it doesn't take away from the fun...after all, I am going to Disneyworld!!

It's not about entitlement - it's about getting the best value for my money. You wouldn't pay more for a car if you didn't have to, would you? I don't want to pay more for my vacation than I have to. So instead of having the extras, like the dining plan and booking tours, we'll go with the stripped-down vacation model. Still fun - and it saves me some money.

 

[DisneyDiana]

I have gotten the FD pin for my June vacations the last two years. When I think back, I realize how I obsessed over checking my emails, ordering planning dvds, saving offers, etc. I've done the same thing this year and so far nothing. I do not ,in any way, feel entitled to anything. However, I think it is only natural to feel frustrated when you have gotten the FD several years in a row and then nothing while seeing many others receive it. If no one was getting it fine. I'd be okay paying rack rate. It just feels lousy this way. We have decided to go to Tennessee and visit Dollywood this year. Next June, we've arranged to rent points for a DVC studio. This way I know I'll be saving money and won't have to play the waiting for a pin game. It's not fun anymore.

 

[kadesha]

I guess I don't understand why anyone would feel entitled to any discount. I just book it, and if a discount comes along I am so happy. But it doesn't take away from the fun...after all, I am going to Disneyworld!!

It's not entitlement, it's the deciding factor as to whether some people can afford to book a Disney vacation or not....

 

[whodatdare]

It's not entitlement, it's the deciding factor as to whether some people can afford to book a Disney vacation or not....

Exactly.


I agree with Canada... put the offer out there for everyone... first however many to book wins. Seeing how quickly it fills should be a pretty good indicator of how well the offer was taken by people.

 

[cjsm&d]

I have only gotten a PIN one year, and it was 30%. It was less than the public discount we got (4/3) so we passed on it. Basically, we rely on the public discounts when they pop up and if a PIN comes along fine, but I don't really expect one.

I'd love to see the 4/3 come back again! We did it two years in a row (POR, CSR) and after adding dining,the cost was slightly better than the rack rate with free dining.

 

[Sammie]

It's not about entitlement - it's about getting the best value for my money. You wouldn't pay more for a car if you didn't have to, would you? I don't want to pay more for my vacation than I have to. So instead of having the extras, like the dining plan and booking tours, we'll go with the stripped-down vacation model. Still fun - and it saves me some money.

No, but not everyone pays the same amount for the same car. Someone will always get a better deal for the same thing. It does not stop any of us from buying cars though.

The only difference is you don't know about others getting a better deal. The forums while good for many things that have to do with planning also share info that in the past was not known and ignorance was bliss.

 

[luvmyprincesses]

Still, like a previous poster said, just book whatever vacation you can afford, if it is not in the budget, just don't book it. I didn't plan any trips for three years, just now getting back to going. If it is too much I just don't book. However I don't get mad at Disney because I can't afford it. It is up to them to do or not do discounts.

 

[Liandro]

It's not entitlement, it's the deciding factor as to whether some people can afford to book a Disney vacation or not....

So if you want to take a vacation above your means its Disney fault if you cant afford it?