Changes to the dining plan - a big conspiracy theory

[RickinNYC]

I've been thinking about the new changes to the Disney Dining Plan for '08. Not thinking too much, certainly not thinking too hard about them, just pondering. I personally don't care too much about the dining plan in general.

But this is what I'm thinkin':

Horror of horrors, they remove the appetizer and worse yet, take off the tip! It's the end of the world as we know it, we're all up in arms, we have been forsaken, nobody asked us our opinion, I'll-never-go-to-Disney-again, how dare they, yadda yadda yadda.

Why in the world would they do something like that, and only drop the per adult charge by $1.00? Frankly, I still think that $38 is a fantastic deal for what you're getting, but that's just me. How can they do something so heinous? So horrifying? So bloody awful? Here's my thought. They offered free dining a number of times during slower seasons over the past year and a half. It was a test to see just how much free dining would incent people to travel when they normally wouldn't. The powers that be saw that people FLOCKED to Disney World because they were enticed by freebie Mickeybars and all the character buffet food you cared to stuff in your fanny pack (I saw you, I know you did it, you were watched).

What the powerful big wigs didn't count on was how so many people simply ordered food for the sake of ordering it. Heck, it's free so let's order it. Don't care that I didn't eat it. It's mine so gimme. Mine mine mine mine, free free free free. Plus, it was to the best interests of the cast member to encourage the guests to order more, even if said guest was to the point of exploding from too much food. Heck, more food equals higher cost, higher cost equals better tip. They were getting 18% anyway right? I think they were genius to do so. If it'd been me, I'd have suggested every single guest at the table, even the newborn, order surf and turf at every single ding dang meal. So Disney started losing money here and there. How'd they react? They changed their menus and took off pricier items. Yet the restaurants still remained packed to the gills.

"Eureka!" the Disney wigs of big exclaimed. They realized with some tweaking to the dining program in the past year and half, they found the perfect inducement to get their resort rooms packed during the off season, hence bringing their numbers skyrocketing. Two words: Free Food. Then they realized that they could still make yet more money but not lose as much when it wasn't free during the busier times. Nine Words: Sorta Free Food But Not As Much As Before. Then they finally understood that they could offer a free dining package in 2008, but if they were to take off a couple of more things (after all, they tweaked and cheapened the menus too much, right?) it would still benefit them because there are still millions upon millions of other folks out there who haven't used the dining plan in the past, had hear it was good, won't know what they're missing, and will be enticed by FREE FOOD!

The new dining package isn't priced out so that Joe Blow and his family would ever truly want to pay for it. Pish posh on that! It's priced just so that it could be offered if someone actually wanted to pay for it (but Disney doesn't think many will) and STILL have something to refer to when they offer it free for nothin'. Imagine the marketing, "Stay at the Contemporary Polynesian Pop Coronado Lodge Resort and purchase a length-of-stay pass and get free dining! That's up to $38 per day savings per person!" Sounds pretty darn good doesn't it?

So there you have it. Guests wanted more free dining. Guests fell over themselves over free dining. Guests trampled and slapped down anyone that begrudged free dining. It's clear that Disney discovered the holy grail of full resorts was (say it with me) free dining. Now that they've perfected the package so that it behooves them the most in terms of the bottom line, they can now offer what guests will continue to clamor for, it just won't be to the level that it originally was. My guess is that Disney will offer more frequent free dining packages to paying guests in 2008, rather than lowering room costs. It's a win-win for all.

So everyone can stop complaining about the changes to the dining plan. It's gonna be free anyway. It's a conspiracy I tell ya.

 

[formernyer]

Interesting reading.

Personally, I wouldn't pay for the DDP under the new plan. The tip issue makes the new plan cost-prohibitive.

I'd take the free DDP again, but it certainly wouldn't seem free anymore...it would cost more in tip each day than I normally spend on groceries for 2 days. Then again, it's vacation, so I'd do it.

I just think it's horrible that they are making such drastic changes all at once, rather than easing into it.

 

[TruBlu]

I think you might have something there Rick!!! I would NEVER pay for the new plan, but I'd sure take it for "FREE".

You should work for Disney!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Rick, you big stuf muffin, you are risking the wrath of the budge board people. I hope you have your big boy panties on and ready for it.

I also agree with you but that's besides the point. We also do one TS a day when at WDW and it's important to us to enjoy the different places to eat since we have done the parks so much. We also do a signature dining one a visit and have the dining plan helps ease that pain.

I do agree about some people trying to get all they can out of the dining plan even if they don't like or want it or can eat it. I love the dining plan because I don't have to worry about paying the check when it comes and to be honest we've usually left an extra tip anyways unless service sucked. I haven't seen the quality of service gone down but I have seen the quality of food go down. Places like Le Celier aren't near as good as they used to be as well as *darn it* I can't remeber the seafood place in DTD. It has gone downhill quite a bit since we first ate there 4 or 5 years ago. I hope that the quality of food will start improving if so many people don't want the dining plan. Part of our vacation is sitting down to great food with good atmosphere and great company. I can't wait until I have that all again.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Rick, I think you are spot on with your observations!!!

 

[Stacerita]

I think you might have something there Rick!!! I would NEVER pay for the new plan, but I'd sure take it for "FREE".

You should work for Disney!

I think a lot of people are going to feel like this.

 

[ducklite]

Three thoughts:

1. I think Rick is about right with his comments.

2. I think they should have allowed the choice of either an appetizer OR a dessert.

3. I think the servers are going to get hosed by people. People think they were getting attitudes from servers when they were using the dining plan as it currently stands? Wait until those same servers get stiffed or left a $5 tip on a $125 check.

Anne

 

[usewickhouse]

Just a curiousity question...Do you think people will start "stiffing" the waiters/waitress's? I think they will, not all of them but a lot will!!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Hi Ricky Baby!!!! Smooches!

I have to say that I am loving the "demise" of the dining plan. It has ruined dining for us locals that don't want to plan 100+ days in advance of a DAY trip. Holy crap, we couldn't even get into Marrakesh last time we tried without an ADR. Marrakesh!!! Who goes there???!??!! That was always our safety net.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I think you are right on with those observations HOWEVER -

Am I the ONLY person that likes the new plan?

1.) I typically forced myself to eat all of my meal - at least part of each - appetizer, entree, & dessert. Then I was usually uncomfortable for trying to, or succeeding to, eat it all. But I hated to waste food.

2.) I like the idea of being able to tip based on my waiters service - not them getting 18% just because. I definitely saw a dip in service when we were there using free dining the past two years. And I'm not chintzy - I will even tip 10% for really poor service (the kind that deserves NOTHING). And on average we tip 20%.

3.) A dollar less - hmmmm don't know if that really matters - I'll take advantage of it when it's free - the jury is still out on ever buying. I like the freedom of not having so many ADR's. But I can't turn down free food either. I think we would definitely come out ahead not buying the plan because we usually don't ever order dessert anyway and we certainly don't have a table service every day. But I do like trying places that we normally wouldn't eat - which is to Disney's advantage too because now I might GASP pay out of pocket to eat there in the future.

I have seen multiple posts about how they have ruined the dining plan and I just don't see it. I guess that really goes to show how we are all so different! I am sorry it was changed for all you guys that liked it the way it was though because although I like the changes I wasn't unhappy before.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Well, after this go-round with FREE dining I am finished with DDP.

Last summer we had 9 nts. with DDP that we paid for as a AAA package. This year same package, not through AAA but through CRO as a bounce back. Great! FREE dining! We'll save over $1000! And our dates are before the dates offered to the general public! What a fabulous deal! Soooo, why is my total cost this summer not that much less tahn last summer? WHERE did my $1000 go?

Let's think. Last year we got a 20% discount on the room portion of the package because of AAA. In 2007 hotel rates went up and we lost the AAA discount because we booked through CRO. Multiply by 9 nights, and it is costing $500 more for the same exact type/class of room and FREE dining. This is not such a fabulous deal anymore!

Our DS11 eats NOTHING. We wouldn't buy the DDP because he doesn't eat $38 worth of food in a day. We limit our buffet ADRs because I don't like to pay $30 for a chicken strip and a handful of grapes, and that is what DS eats at buffets. Nice to get them for free this trip, but not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

I didn't run the numbers to see what this trip would have cost us with an AP discount on the room and OOP dining with the DDE card because I suspect it would have been cheaper than FREE dining, and I don't want to face that in writing. Free or not, no more DDP for us!

Totally OT, but Rick, I had a dream the other night that we were talking to each other on the phone. Kind of odd since we don't know each other and have never spoken before!

 

[ducklite]

Hi Ricky Baby!!!! Smooches!

I have to say that I am loving the "demise" of the dining plan. It has ruined dining for us locals that don't want to plane 100+ days in advance of a DAY trip. Holy crap, we couldn't even get into Marrakesh last time we tried without an ADR. Marrakesh!!! Who goes there???!??!! That was always our safety net.

I hear you--we've found that the resort restaurants are often the best bet during free-for-all-dining.

Anne

 

[pearlieq]

I think you might have something there Rick!!! I would NEVER pay for the new plan, but I'd sure take it for "FREE".

That's exactly how I feel!

I loved the old dining plan since I didn't have to buy tickets to get it as a DVC member. The cost for DDP was roughly the same as what I would have paid OOP, but I liked the added value being able to try a variety of appetizers and desserts that I ordinarily wouldn't be willing to pay for. I was basically getting more for the same money.

The changes are an incredible loss of value, no one can dispute that, but I would be happy to have it for "free"!

 

[Youarehere]

I've been thinking about the new changes to the Disney Dining Plan for '08. Not thinking too much, certainly not thinking too hard about them, just pondering. I personally don't care too much about the dining plan in general.

But this is what I'm thinkin':

Horror of horrors, they remove the appetizer and worse yet, take off the tip! It's the end of the world as we know it, we're all up in arms, we have been forsaken, nobody asked us our opinion, I'll-never-go-to-Disney-again, how dare they, yadda yadda yadda.

Why in the world would they do something like that, and only drop the per adult charge by $1.00? Frankly, I still think that $38 is a fantastic deal for what you're getting, but that's just me. How can they do something so heinous? So horrifying? So bloody awful? Here's my thought. They offered free dining a number of times during slower seasons over the past year and a half. It was a test to see just how much free dining would incent people to travel when they normally wouldn't. The powers that be saw that people FLOCKED to Disney World because they were enticed by freebie Mickeybars and all the character buffet food you cared to stuff in your fanny pack (I saw you, I know you did it, you were watched).

What the powerful big wigs didn't count on was how so many people simply ordered food for the sake of ordering it. Heck, it's free so let's order it. Don't care that I didn't eat it. It's mine so gimme. Mine mine mine mine, free free free free. Plus, it was to the best interests of the cast member to encourage the guests to order more, even if said guest was to the point of exploding from too much food. Heck, more food equals higher cost, higher cost equals better tip. They were getting 18% anyway right? I think they were genius to do so. If it'd been me, I'd have suggested every single guest at the table, even the newborn, order surf and turf at every single ding dang meal. So Disney started losing money here and there. How'd they react? They changed their menus and took off pricier items. Yet the restaurants still remained packed to the gills.

"Eureka!" the Disney wigs of big exclaimed. They realized with some tweaking to the dining program in the past year and half, they found the perfect inducement to get their resort rooms packed during the off season, hence bringing their numbers skyrocketing. Two words: Free Food. Then they realized that they could still make yet more money but not lose as much when it wasn't free during the busier times. Nine Words: Sorta Free Food But Not As Much As Before. Then they finally understood that they could offer a free dining package in 2008, but if they were to take off a couple of more things (after all, they tweaked and cheapened the menus too much, right?) it would still benefit them because there are still millions upon millions of other folks out there who haven't used the dining plan in the past, had hear it was good, won't know what they're missing, and will be enticed by FREE FOOD!

The new dining package isn't priced out so that Joe Blow and his family would ever truly want to pay for it. Pish posh on that! It's priced just so that it could be offered if someone actually wanted to pay for it (but Disney doesn't think many will) and STILL have something to refer to when they offer it free for nothin'. Imagine the marketing, "Stay at the Contemporary Polynesian Pop Coronado Lodge Resort and purchase a length-of-stay pass and get free dining! That's up to $38 per day savings per person!" Sounds pretty darn good doesn't it?

So there you have it. Guests wanted more free dining. Guests fell over themselves over free dining. Guests trampled and slapped down anyone that begrudged free dining. It's clear that Disney discovered the holy grail of full resorts was (say it with me) free dining. Now that they've perfected the package so that it behooves them the most in terms of the bottom line, they can now offer what guests will continue to clamor for, it just won't be to the level that it originally was. My guess is that Disney will offer more frequent free dining packages to paying guests in 2008, rather than lowering room costs. It's a win-win for all.

So everyone can stop complaining about the changes to the dining plan. It's gonna be free anyway. It's a conspiracy I tell ya.

Free dining doesn't help with my DVC! *stomps and pouts* I will probably just buy the stinking plan- all the apps were meat or seafood anyways and I don't eat either.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Just a curiousity question...Do you think people will start "stiffing" the waiters/waitress's? I think they will, not all of them but a lot will!!

Yup they complained about the CMs getting lazy because of getting it anyhow. Wait until they have to serve all that stuff and get nothing.

Many People still don't tip I know it sounds crazy but it's how it is . They come to Disney and think it's McDonalds and they don't tip there.


Rick You are Spot on and this is with everything. My only argument is I think they got the Info here on the DIS about not wanting the automatic tip as the servers are getting lazy with the service. And people only ordering the food because they could.

We don't eat enough to ever justifie it and eat alot in our rooms now that we have DVC. But also relise it works great for others.

 

[Redbudlover]

I've been thinking about the new changes to the Disney Dining Plan for '08. Not thinking too much, certainly not thinking too hard about them, just pondering. I personally don't care too much about the dining plan in general.

But this is what I'm thinkin':

Horror of horrors, they remove the appetizer and worse yet, take off the tip! It's the end of the world as we know it, we're all up in arms, we have been forsaken, nobody asked us our opinion, I'll-never-go-to-Disney-again, how dare they, yadda yadda yadda.

Why in the world would they do something like that, and only drop the per adult charge by $1.00? Frankly, I still think that $38 is a fantastic deal for what you're getting, but that's just me. How can they do something so heinous? So horrifying? So bloody awful? Here's my thought. They offered free dining a number of times during slower seasons over the past year and a half. It was a test to see just how much free dining would incent people to travel when they normally wouldn't. The powers that be saw that people FLOCKED to Disney World because they were enticed by freebie Mickeybars and all the character buffet food you cared to stuff in your fanny pack (I saw you, I know you did it, you were watched).

What the powerful big wigs didn't count on was how so many people simply ordered food for the sake of ordering it. Heck, it's free so let's order it. Don't care that I didn't eat it. It's mine so gimme. Mine mine mine mine, free free free free. Plus, it was to the best interests of the cast member to encourage the guests to order more, even if said guest was to the point of exploding from too much food. Heck, more food equals higher cost, higher cost equals better tip. They were getting 18% anyway right? I think they were genius to do so. If it'd been me, I'd have suggested every single guest at the table, even the newborn, order surf and turf at every single ding dang meal. So Disney started losing money here and there. How'd they react? They changed their menus and took off pricier items. Yet the restaurants still remained packed to the gills.

"Eureka!" the Disney wigs of big exclaimed. They realized with some tweaking to the dining program in the past year and half, they found the perfect inducement to get their resort rooms packed during the off season, hence bringing their numbers skyrocketing. Two words: Free Food. Then they realized that they could still make yet more money but not lose as much when it wasn't free during the busier times. Nine Words: Sorta Free Food But Not As Much As Before. Then they finally understood that they could offer a free dining package in 2008, but if they were to take off a couple of more things (after all, they tweaked and cheapened the menus too much, right?) it would still benefit them because there are still millions upon millions of other folks out there who haven't used the dining plan in the past, had hear it was good, won't know what they're missing, and will be enticed by FREE FOOD!

The new dining package isn't priced out so that Joe Blow and his family would ever truly want to pay for it. Pish posh on that! It's priced just so that it could be offered if someone actually wanted to pay for it (but Disney doesn't think many will) and STILL have something to refer to when they offer it free for nothin'. Imagine the marketing, "Stay at the Contemporary Polynesian Pop Coronado Lodge Resort and purchase a length-of-stay pass and get free dining! That's up to $38 per day savings per person!" Sounds pretty darn good doesn't it?

So there you have it. Guests wanted more free dining. Guests fell over themselves over free dining. Guests trampled and slapped down anyone that begrudged free dining. It's clear that Disney discovered the holy grail of full resorts was (say it with me) free dining. Now that they've perfected the package so that it behooves them the most in terms of the bottom line, they can now offer what guests will continue to clamor for, it just won't be to the level that it originally was. My guess is that Disney will offer more frequent free dining packages to paying guests in 2008, rather than lowering room costs. It's a win-win for all.

So everyone can stop complaining about the changes to the dining plan. It's gonna be free anyway. It's a conspiracy I tell ya.

I totally agree with you - and am just as funny aobut it! Imagine my shock the other day as I figured out that the cost of my package for me my DS, my DDIL, and my DGD that included "Free Dining" was exactly - the the penny - the same as the cost of the room and tickets with an AP rate.... DUH! No matter what you want people to do, just give them free food and they will show up with smiles - whether it is a legislator to a lobbyist's lunch or a kid to a birthday party. Free Food!!! Bring it on.

 

[mtblujeans]

Rick, I don't think you are telling the whole truth....I think you have put A LOT of thought into this conspiracy idea of yours! And the process probably had you up late last night! Tsk, tsk!

Anyway, your thoughts make more sense than anything else right now. People will accept any changes to the dining plan if they don't have to pay for it.

 

[CarolA]

I travel to Disney alone quite often. So that gives me a chance to "people" watch.

I also travel a lot on business.

My view....

There is more food wasted at Disney then just about anyplace I have EVER been. Get the desert, eat one bite. Hmm... would you have "gotten it' if you were that stuffed if it wasn't "included". Order the filet for your 10 year old because "Dad will help with it" Kid would rather have had the Mac N Cheese LOL! Most of that meal goes back to the trash. I once saw a man order the Duck appetizer because "it's got the highest price" LOL!

I am not sure how "waste" fits into Disney's model, but I somehow don't think that now that the appetizer has been eliminated people on the dining plan are going to bed hungry!

What I must admit has been TRULY amazing to me, is hearing just how much some folks eat at Disney. I can't take a TS meal two or three times a day for a 10 day vacation, but...... (Heck I can't do one TS meal a day for more then about two days in a row!)

I expect that those who "whined" about service before will really be in a tizzy if they stay on the DDP and get worse service since "we know those DDP folks don't tip" I would bet that a good number of DDP members will use the "well this probably onlly cost $20 of my DDP money so I will tip on that" as the basis for thier tips.... I have read too many posts on the DIS to think otherwise. I mean what's the difference between stiffing the wait staff, using a 10 year old mug or smuggling in an extra adult. After all "The Right to a Cheap Disney Vacation" was guarnteed at birth and if you have to "stiff the wait staff" to make it happen, well you won't ever see them again. (The only part of the above I made up was the part about a "Right to a Cheap Disney Vacation" I have heard and/or seen the "tip discounting" "no tip because I won't see them again" all posted on the DIS in the past. I once heard a diner at the Rose & Crown say " you don't tip in Britian so we don't have to tip" WHAT? Did the resturant get magically moved by Harry Potter to London?)

 

[CindyCharming]

I think you are right on with your comments. The only thing I have to disagree with is:

What the powerful big wigs didn't count on was how so many people simply ordered food for the sake of ordering it. Heck, it's free so let's order it. Don't care that I didn't eat it. It's mine so gimme. Mine mine mine mine, free free free free.

You would have to have never set foot in a warehouse club/store to think people aren't going to take free food they won't eat and grab grab grab to their heart's content. Somehow I don't think Disney execs would be so naive to assume people would eat like normal human beings when on Free Dining.

 

[ldbrown318]

I wholeheartedly agree with you. there was an incredible amount of wasted food with the DDP. We are still going to get the plan, not the deluxe one, because it still is a good deal, IMO. I would like the option of getting an appetizer instead of dessert, because I normally dont get one when I eat out at home. And as far as the tip goes, that I will miss because it was a nice convenience.