did you do free dinning what did you save

[Boss Hogg]

I guess I'm with Simon's opinion of the costs and whether there is a saving. One ought to factor all costs in, be they accomodation, tickets or whatever else.

It does keep going though my mind that Disney have to be losing out on it, but at the same time a company as savvy as Disney must know what it is doing??

The other thing for me (personally and selfishly) which makes it a bad idea, is that the restaurants must be over-run with people eating in them that would not normally, which means it's harder for me to get in!

 

[cleo]

I think there is a relatively small group for whom the free DDP is worthwhile. If you would normally stay on site, eat a great deal of food on a regular basis and your primary focus is the Disney parks, you may save with DDP. Otherwise, I do think you have to factor in your 'normal' holiday habits and decide if you are REALLY saving. I personally would rather have a room and/or ticket discount than be committed to eating huge amounts of food every day. I could not feel right about ordering all that food and then throwing much of it away, and I certainly couldn't eat that much.

I agree with SimonV....Disney isn't going to do something that loses huge amounts of money for the company and their stockholders. Much of the savings is PERCEIVED VALUE, which is exactly what any good company offers their clients. In my mind, their real goal is to keep guests on site, which generates more income for the company, period.

I do wonder if these sorts of offers begin to breed the attitude we see in other areas of the tourist industry; guests expecting competitors (be they parks, villa, restaurants, etc) to undercut each other to the point where someone is forced out of business. That, in my mind, is what the free DDP is REALLY all about.

 

[paulh]

we seam to have lost track of my OP .Which was did you do free ddp and how much did you save .
Were going to pop anyway so when we booked the offer was on, all we had to do was add 1 base ticket for each person in room for each week(had to do it like that as us web site only lets you book 10 nights) So that was $400.00 + or - $30 .We ate on plan and momount came to $3000.00 (this dossent include the 12 CS meals we gave to sil)
So basic maths say were better of by $2600.00
Normaly we would spend on food $2100 so even then we would save(we are in dvc so we wouldent have to buy tickets to get it)
All in all it was a great experiance and would recomend it to anyone paid or free
Paulh

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Isn't the amount you save on DDP only part of the picture?

I suspect that many people on DDP will be at best cost neutral and may even spend a little more than usual on food (assuming they bought the package and it was not free).
Surely one of the great advantages is that you can eat in some lovely restaurants every night if you choose to and can have anything off the menu. It's a sort of buy-up-front pacakage that allows you to pamper yourself a little while on holiday.

Obviously if you do not want to eat often in Disney restaurants then this package is not for you.
It goes without saying that the DDP works to Disney's advantage, they wouldn't do it otherwise, but it can also work to the advantage of the guest.

Kev

 

[SimonV]

Hi Kev. I think the basic idea is that Disney are currently offering DDP free (i.e. not at the usual cost of $37.99/day per adult) for all bookings up to Nov 6 and covering vacations up to Sept 29 next year. So it is not the usual debate of whether you can eat $37.99 worth of food each day to justify the Plan, but whether you are actually spending more to get the 'free' dining, i.e. by being tempted to a more expensive on-site hotel if you would normally stay on I-Drive or in a villa (for example), by buying more tickets than you would normally buy (which the deal is dependent on) and by spending more time in the parks than usual (and increasing your overall spend). Some people obviously feel they are making some very real cost savings, but it is interesting to see and hear what others feel, too, and we feel people should be aware it is not exactly 'free' when there are other costs which are dependent on the DDP offer.

 

[paulh]

but it is interesting to see and hear what others feel, too, and we feel people should be aware it is not exactly 'free' when there are other costs which are dependent on the DDP offer.

I think that was my origanal point i have not tryed to make out it was "free " more what you saved .Note post above.But have included the costs to get it tin the first place.
Early on i was chalanged as to how much a meal was so posted prices from all ears to prove what we paid
As i have stated food is a cheap comodity so its easy incentive for disney
I looked at ME when it came in as disney trying to kill the opposition,And disney have stated themselfs that they would drop it and its accocation with mears if Light rail link was built from airport(this would bypass I drive and go down to tampa if i recall)
Disney are in it to make bucks and even during free dinning they will make money,There contunuation of ME proves this
Paulh

 

[cleo]

Early on i was chalanged as to how much a meal was so posted prices from all ears to prove what we paid. Paulh

Well gosh, paulh, that could be why your prices and mine didn't match. I used the actual prices off the menu, you used prices from a website. I thought you were quoting your actual reciept.

Not that it matters. It just solves the question of why you had different prices than I did.

 

[paulh]

Well gosh, paulh, that could be why your prices and mine didn't match. I used the actual prices off the menu, you used prices from a website. I thought you were quoting your actual reciept.

Not that it matters. It just solves the question of why you had different prices than I did.

the recipet you get says $0 for every thing you eat i would just scrible amount on top before they took proper bill away thats why had to use all ears site
IMHI found that site prity close to what you paid in resaturants
Also we ate at yachtmans steakhouse where bill came to $290 but i am not doing a break dowm for you cleo you will have to take my word for it
Paulh

 

[Lizzybear]

I personally would rather have a room and/or ticket discount than be committed to eating huge amounts of food every day. I could not feel right about ordering all that food and then throwing much of it away, and I certainly couldn't eat that much.

I know I won't be ordering more food than I can manage. I compared how much we'd spend on food with splitting our stay and not getting free dining (or only getting it for the half our stay) and it worked out cheaper for us even if we only had 2 courses for our TS (we'll probably do that and only have a starters each a couple of times or share them) I've heard Disney sell their leftover food to pig farms but I find it hard to believe that is true because of the meat.. Wouldn't that be like cannibalism for the pigs (not to mention how CJD started!)

 

[mozzman]

just found this thread its great,i got flamed over chocolate once now pauls getting it over the ddp fantastic,seems jamie oliver was wrong people do care about food

 

[saratogagirl]

Isn't the amount you save on DDP only part of the picture?

I suspect that many people on DDP will be at best cost neutral and may even spend a little more than usual on food (assuming they bought the package and it was not free).
Surely one of the great advantages is that you can eat in some lovely restaurants every night if you choose to and can have anything off the menu. It's a sort of buy-up-front pacakage that allows you to pamper yourself a little while on holiday.

Obviously if you do not want to eat often in Disney restaurants then this package is not for you.
It goes without saying that the DDP works to Disney's advantage, they wouldn't do it otherwise, but it can also work to the advantage of the guest.

Kev

I agree with you Kev, this is the main reason we are doing the plan in October (not free), to be honest we haven't much thought of how much money we might save. We think it is just nice that to a certain extent we will be able to eat where we want and what we want. When we booked this in April it was based on us pampering ourselves a little.

 

[joemo]

The Dining Plan sounds excellent value - especially when its free!

However, Virgin only seem to offer it during the free times - does anyone know if I can somehow add it on to out trip to the Yacht Club next April (all booked via Virgin)?

Thanks

 

[SimonV]

Hi Joemo. I don't think you can pick this up retrospectively, i.e. for bookings before the 'free dining' was offered, but it is certainly worth asking Virgin about, as it seems a bit of a slap in the face for anyone who booked earlier (and certainly for anyone who paid for DDP during the period when it is now free). I suspect it will not cut much ice with the tour operators, but it can't hurt to ask.

Saratogagirl also makes a very good point here about using the Plan to make your stay more hassle-free and enjoyable. That is certainly worth factoring in to the debate, even though it's not something you can really put a price on.

Ultimately, it's not really about how much you can eat or much you 'saved,' but whether it is worthwhile for your holiday style and whether it adds to the experience. I'm hoping the park restaurants (and the resort food courts) start to cope with the free DDP a bit better, as there has certainly been an uncomfortable edge to many of them in recent weeks.

 

[paulh]

just found this thread its great,i got flamed over chocolate once now pauls getting it over the ddp fantastic,seems jamie oliver was wrong people do care about food

i now know how obi one knobie feels now,after the lambasting over the weather
joemo as you are going in April this isnt in the free dinning time frame,also virgin dont offer it as a paid option so you wouldent have been able to pay for it
If you wanted to pay for it for the uk you have to buy at least 5 day ticket and cost would be £21.00 for DDP per addult per booking (dont know kids price think its £6-£7)and has to be for the duration of booking
If you are in dvc you dont have to book park tickets but has to be added to resservation at least 24hrs before check in
Paulh

 

[saratogagirl]

Joe
I think from your post that you seem prepared to pay for the DDP as we have done. I think it is definately worth you contacting Virgin to see if you could add to your booking. I know that when I was pricing up for next year on Virgins website earlier this year, it gave me the option of paying for the DDP. I have checked this for you today by doing a virtual booking and it no longer gave me the option. I certainly see no harm in giving them a ring though if you think that it is the right thing for you and your family ...

 

[joemo]

Thanks all, yes I know I have to pay for the DDP in April, but I think its better its a good deal and its better to know the cost up front.

Will call Virgin today.