Changes to the dining plan - a big conspiracy theory

[rdsx28]

IMHO I think the new plan stinks! This will be our second year with the DP. I loved it fo rthe sheer fact that I was able to budget everything out. Basically we could go eat and give the card and we were good to go. We tried a number of places that we would normally have not because of the prices. To be honest it was a great deal of food and normally I never get an appetizer and often did not.That's the point however that the appetizers are $6 0r $7 dollars if not more and they are taking a dollar off? Big Deal! The children's cost was over priced to begin with as many youngsters such as mine want chicken nuggets and fries. Then to have to now tip on top oop lousy! The service was never the greatest on the DDP as soon as they found out you had the plan they knew they would get the tip so the service wasn't a priority. I always wished it was up to the customer to designate the amount they recieved. I bet we'd see some change in attitude. Between rise in ticket prices, new room rates, and the new dining plan I feel Disney is pricing many people out which is very sad. Free dining take it or leave it you can find some nice places outside the world that are very reasonable or some coupons from Restaurants.com to help out as well.I think the whole thing really stinks!

 

[musicmama]

As a visitor who has only managed "free" DDP once in 3 trips, I can say that I WON'T be buying the plan again. You lost me by dumping the tip, Disney folks, not by dumping the appetizer. I WAS willing to buy again (I did for my upcoming trip because I missed free dining). I bought because of the great flexibility and the whole pre-paid idea - DH never knew how much it cost so he couldn't complain, we ate what we wanted in places I'd never allowed before, and DD was never less than an adult under the plan, so the age thing didn't matter, and if we didn't order all 3 appetizers or all 3 desserts, then that was still OK with us.

But the pre-paid aspect is now gone with the loss of the tip. I don't want to have to worry about MORE room charges (and yes, I did tip extra to those servers that went over and above - and there were several!) or carrying extra cash to tip with.

Plus, I budget somewhat strictly for a trip - and the more expensive the trip, the less the 'extras' like mini-golf or trips to DTD and the World of D store or the in-park shops. I'm probably not alone in that thought. Which means that Disney won't necessarily be making more money - the cash/charges that would have gone to souvenirs or mini-golf will go to the servers. Hmm.. not so hot for the bottom line now, is it?

 

[kjs1976]

I agree w/ MusicMama, WDW lost us with the loss of the tip, not the appetizer. We could take that or leave it. The gratuity was a big deal for us. We've only had the DDP on our shorter 4-5 day trips; last year during free dining, this Spring, and now in a couple of weeks. We're ok on the shorter trips because it seems to work out better for us budget wise. We like to do more of the out-of-park entertainment, i.e. DTD and resort restaurants, on shorter trips, and therefore enjoy having bigger meals. Not that we eat it all, mind you! I like the idea one poster said about offering an appetizer or dessert choice. But in theory on that plan, DH would order the appetizer and we'd share it, and I'd order the dessert, and we'd share it so I wonder if Disney was wise to this notion and would prefer people pay OOP for the more expensive appetizers.

We probably won't do DDP in the future. It would probably be more cost and waist effective to do our 2-3 fav TS places on our 8 day trip and do 1-2 TS places on our 4-5 day trips OOP.

BTW, love your commentary, OP!!!

 

[usewickhouse]

I have another thought...some of the restaurants add the gratuiuty on to your bill, especially in large groups of 6 or more. How will this effect the dinign plan changes. Will they hand you a bill for the tip? Or somehow charge to your room?

 

[CarolA]

Groups of six are more will be charged an automatic tip of 18%

In any instance I expect that tips can be charged to your room. If you look, you now get a bill showing you the "total" charge that you don't pay. That should continue and you will give the server some way to pay the tip (room charge, credit card, cash etc...)

 

[RickinNYC]

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!

First and foremost to all, I'm glad you guys realize that my observations were written with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Although I do think there's some truth in my inane babblings only because of comments like the above. Like you TruBlu, heck yeah I'd go for it if it were free fer nothin'.

It's the foodie version of Field of Dreams. Only replace the field with a gigantic free Mickeybar and folks will come in droves! Now we just gotta get a good Kevin Costner like spokesperson. Any takers!?

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

It's the foodie version of Field of Dreams. Only replace the field with a gigantic free Mickeybar and folks will come in droves!

Did you say free? You do realize that you are posting on the budget board. A place where 1 can of tuna can feed 15 people

 

[IDoDis]

We paid for the dining plan when we went. Unfortunately, because DH and I are both teachers and school starts next week we can't take advantage of the "free" dining when it's offered. Disney will most likely NEVER offer it in the summer which is the only time we can go. Therefore, we are still getting the short end of the stick, assuming we would be paying for the DDP (which we never will again).

Take out the appetizer and dessert, but not the $25 tip. All inclusive resorts don't do this. That is the justification for buying the plan (not having to worry about $$ later on). I know you feel like the plan will be offered free, and if that's true, it will only be free during the slowest times which isn't when most people are able to go.

 

[ducklite]

Did you say free? You do realize that you are posting on the budget board. A place where 1 can of tuna can feed 15 people

Only when you add five slices of bredd-cost $.15 and half an appel cost $.08.

Anne

 

[mtblujeans]

...It's the foodie version of Field of Dreams. Only replace the field with a gigantic free Mickeybar and folks will come in droves! Now we just gotta get a good Kevin Costner like spokesperson. Any takers!?

I think we all know that would be you, Rick! I mean, look at that handsome face!! (oh, you know you were ALL thinking it!)

 

[almburr]

Okay looked at the WDW site. Children still get and app. and dessert at TS, adults only get dessert

 

[usewickhouse]

Okay looked at the WDW site. Children still get and app. and dessert at TS, adults only get dessert

SHH...don't say that too loud. Disney might over hear us and take that away too! LOL!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

My butt wants the salad but Disney wants me to have a Sundae!!!!


That will be my excuse next fall

 

[tasha99]

I don't understand why they made it only dessert instead of a choice between dessert and appetizers. Then it would almost be like how we normally eat--some people would order apps, some dessert, and we'd share.

It doesn't really matter though since with no tip included, it's no longer an all inclusive plan. Maybe I'd consider it for free, but maybe not. I'm thinking there are a lot of offsite restaurants I would love to eat at, and I'll rent a car (Texas de Brazil, Joe's Crabshack, Rangetsu, Chevy's, here I come!)

 

[JustSayin]

I believe that your observations are probably right on Mr. Rick.

I happen to think that the new DDP is almost certainly a losing proposition for most people, but I am sure that people will still fall all over themselves in droves for all that free food. All in a structure that costs the Mouse quite a bit less. What's not for them to love?

 

[Homer Simpson]

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 disagree. I doubt its anything so elaborate as you suggest.

Its simply another example of Disney cutting back and giving the public less product for the same price.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I disagree. I doubt its anything so elaborate as you suggest.

Its simply another example of Disney cutting back and giving the public less product for the same price.

As does every company in America it feels like. One area I've noticed in particular is in pet products....we have cats and I have noticed a repeated price increase with a smaller bag on both cat food and cat litter. And it's done in all the people products too - I just don't typically buy 20lb - Oh I mean 18lb - oh wait that was 16lb - oops they did it again 14lb bags of people food.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I could never understand how people think the Dining Plan is free when you have to pay the rack rate for a room.

I would rather have a discounted room.

I've never been excited over any restaurant at WDW, because IMHO, they are all mediocre at best.


Does anyone remember the old Food and Fun Plan?

 

[mom2my3kids]

I would not pay for it before or now, it just would not work for us. But I will take it for free and we are going to enjoy it.

 

[kwnancy]

The true 'cost' of dessert or an appetizer, assuming a 35% food cost is $8 * .35 = $2.80 whereas the 'cost' of the tip is 100% cash dollars to the server -- if the calculated tip is $8, $8 goes to the server vs. $2.80 to buy the ingredients to make the dessert or appetizer.

WDW will be making a 'boatload' of money on this deal