Dining Plan Increases Punish Educators?

[willis37862]

If you don't like the taxes where you live you can move.

My point is the same people who will complain about taxes increasing are OK with Disney raising their prices.

Call me Robin Hood or a moron, but it I don't like it when ordinary people have to pay more to the government or Disney. I do not like the fact that Disney is getting beyond the reach of normal people and the day they institute a caste system to fast passes will be sad indeed (it's coming, all in the name of shareholder value, and Bob Iger's bonus).

I still don't see your point. Disney is not now and never will be a necessity it is a luxury!! You don't have to give your money to Disney , vacation elsewhere. Taxes on the other hand are paid by all whether it is sales, property or state income taxes. So I see no similarity between being angry over raising tax rates which effect everyone and Disney rates raising which you can avoid by not going there. And as for moving to avoid high tax rates , well you can just skip WDW to avoid high ticket and food prices .

I don't like WDW raising their rates either but a trip to WDW isn't something that we are all entitled to .....we go if we can afford it and if we can't we don't You don't have to like it but unfortunately the prices go up every year everywhere. We have a small amusement park and water park here and the prices go up every year....they did a free day once a year for locals , this year it was $5 a person plus parking. Call it a sign of the times but rate raising is going on everywhere.

 

[lugnut33]

I still don't see your point. Disney is not now and never will be a necessity it is a luxury!! You don't have to give your money to Disney , vacation elsewhere. Taxes on the other hand are paid by all whether it is sales, property or state income taxes. So I see no similarity between being angry over raising tax rates which effect everyone and Disney rates raising which you can avoid by not going there. And as for moving to avoid high tax rates , well you can just skip WDW to avoid high ticket and food prices .

I don't like WDW raising their rates either but a trip to WDW isn't something that we are all entitled to .....we go if we can afford it and if we can't we don't You don't have to like it but unfortunately the prices go up every year everywhere. We have a small amusement park and water park here and the prices go up every year....they did a free day once a year for locals , this year it was $5 a person plus parking. Call it a sign of the times but rate raising is going on everywhere.

Rate raising is going on everywhere, but you don't have to take it. Taxes will go up but you don't have to take that either. Matter of fact, you have more control over taxes than Disney.

Briar, I have a friend going to WDW in Dec. and because of the high prices they are doing exactly what you say: renting a condo (for considerably less than staying at the All-Stars) and eating in the condo and off-site. I only wish more people would do that.

And just from a sillyness viewpoint, isn't it crazy that Disney raises prices on everything every year, and then has to resort to offering huge incentives to entice people to come and buy? Maybe they should consider the Wal-Mart idea to pricing?

 

[jpeka65844]

Maybe they should consider the Wal-Mart idea to pricing?

Yes, but if that would make Disney LOOK and OPERATE like my local Wal-Mart....Well, maybe I'd just start staying home........

 

[BriarRosie]

I have never used the DDP, too much rigamarole for me, figuring credits and all that, so what I'm wondering is, now at $47 a day, during peak times, is there any value to it other than conveniance? Originally the meals I think came with an appetizer, now it doesn't, originally it included the tip, now it doesn't, so is it really now just a pre-paid meal plan? Is there any savings left to it at all versus just paying out of your pocket? I'm asking because I really don't know, I usually budget $50 a day for food for myself, but I usually don't spend that much every day on food, so at $47 a day, for me it'd just be something else I could pay ahead of time, but wouldn't be saving me any money.

Yes, that's exactly what the Disney Dining Plan was meant to be. A prepaid dining plan. Not a savings dining plan. But because the original plan, when compared to out of pocket expenses, showed that people could save money vs. paying OOP, they flocked to the plan in droves. There were countless posts of people who tried to maximize the plan by trying to find the most expensive menu items. I found it silly back then. I still find it silly now.

Disney changed the plan in many ways because people were complaining "it's too much food". So they took away the appetizers. I'm not completely sure why the gratuities were removed, but I seem to remember that it was a contract negotiation thing with the operating participant restaurants. Or maybe Disney was losing money by paying the tips in the bundle.

I have to wonder, if people who used the dining plan ordered their meals as if they were paying out of pocket, the "savings" would actually be closer to a break-even point. But people on the DDP don't do that, so Disney is engineering its own break-even point.

Briar, I have a friend going to WDW in Dec. and because of the high prices they are doing exactly what you say: renting a condo (for considerably less than staying at the All-Stars) and eating in the condo and off-site. I only wish more people would do that.

And just from a sillyness viewpoint, isn't it crazy that Disney raises prices on everything every year, and then has to resort to offering huge incentives to entice people to come and buy? Maybe they should consider the Wal-Mart idea to pricing?

Not silly as far as I'm concerned. I'm one of those thousands of people who bought points in DVC. So I don't get free dining, and I don't feel the need to take advantage of resort discounts.

 

[patsal]

Oh my goodness, the hilarious thing about this thread is that I just saw the spoof of Disneyland on The Tonight Show with Conan o'Brian. I'm only on page 2 right now, so I'll have to come back.

The dryer, the hose and the ketchup had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes!

Overall I just feel like WDW wants to give me lots less and take lots more. If you are going to raise prices then give me the quality and variety I have been used to and give me clean bathrooms, etc. If I am paying a price that is going to go up make sure you are not cutting corners and giving me less value for my dollar. I remember when big fireworks and electric parades were "on special nights" not every night--usually during the summer and holidays to give the extra value for the $$. If those who are going off peak are getting the same thing and it costs less then maybe it would be better to make those cuts first before increasing prices to an unreachable price.

I do think it is silly to raise prices then put stuff on sale rather than keep fair pricing standard, but maybe we have so many conditioned to believe that it is only a good deal when it is on sale so we will give you a code to bring the cost down so you think you are getting a deal and then we will get you to open your wallet. If that was our regular price and it was fixed for the majority of the year--higher at peak holiday times of course (but real holidays not made up Disney ones!)--then maybe many would say I don't pay full price for anything so I am not going to go. Perceived value versus real value comes into play and then people still pay way more than they need to. My parents only go when they can get a deal--free dining in Decemebr regular DDP with All Star stay, my sister is there now on a buy 4 get 3 free deal. Could they have done better--yup I think my parents would have saved more taking a AAA discount on the room and paying OOP for meals, they will not listen to me about it. Percieved value versus true value.

 

[FireDancer]

I would prefer Disney not raise their prices, but I am looking at it from an economical point of view and not as a fan. I am also speaking specifically about the holiday premium being charged. It makes fiscal sense. Ideally, you price any product or service at the intersection of marginal cost and marginal demand. This will maximize revenue. Pricing Disney is much more complicated because you have multiple curves (one for dining, one for hotels, one for park admission, one for merchandise...and so on) but it still boils down to that fact that more people want to go to WDW during peak seasons (increased demand) so Disney can and should (from a fiscal responsibility standpoint) match in increased demand with a rise in pricing seeing that the supply curve is pretty static.

To that extent we do have control over some part of the pricing because we, the consumer, control the demand side of the equation. It we, the customer, stop going to WDW during peak season because we don't want to pay the premium the demand will drop and the premium will follow.

I would love Disney be as cheap as possible and the fan in me wants that but the logical business brain in me says it makes sense. Remember, they are a publicly traded company and every single decision must be made to maximize the value of the shares of stock. Customer service is a tool to maximize that stock, it is the tail, not the dog.

 

[DaParkers]

Disney changed the plan in many ways because people were complaining "it's too much food". So they took away the appetizers. I'm not completely sure why the gratuities were removed, but I seem to remember that it was a contract negotiation thing with the operating participant restaurants.

Please! R U serious? I guarantee you that is NOT why Disney changed the DDP. Who would complain to Disney that they are getting too much for their money? Would you complain if you paid $3 a point for your home resort? They changed it because it is TOO much of a great deal. A 3 course meal and gratuity . I don't know if they were losing money, but they sure weren't making as much as they wished, so they cut costs.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

They removed the appetizer because too many people were using it as an entree and splitting one table service meal between two people (thereby eating at twice as many TS locations as intended).

It was rumored the gratuity was removed because some servers (a few, not all) were "padding" the bill as much as possible to receive a higher gratuity (encouraging appetizers/desserts when guests really didn't want it, etc).*

But with classic Disney style, these changes were supposedly made due to "Guest Demand".

After many years of going to WDW at least twice per year (it's a long haul for us!)...we are taking a break until PCC 2.0 -- it's going to kill me to do so, but enough is enough. I received notification to renew our APs yesterday and plan to send a letter indicating why we won't be renewing.

Disney is turning into one of those friends that always has you drive, pay the lunch tab, etc. It's okay in the beginning, but gets real annoying after awhile.

* I mean this with no disrepect to any WDW servers -- I know you work very hard for your wages and respect you for it!

 

[BriarRosie]

Please! R U serious? I guarantee you that is NOT why Disney changed the DDP. Who would complain to Disney that they are getting too much for their money? Would you complain if you paid $3 a point for your home resort? They changed it because it is TOO much of a great deal. A 3 course meal and gratuity . I don't know if they were losing money, but they sure weren't making as much as they wished, so they cut costs.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney used my example as one of their "guest demand" excuses. I really do think the appetizers were used as part of the lure to getting the dining plan, back when resort occupancy was higher. Instead of larger discounts for the resorts, the budget was swinging towards the dining plan as the savings. I'm sure Disney factored in the loss towards that budget.

They removed the appetizer because too many people were using it as an entree and splitting one table service meal between two people (thereby eating at twice as many TS locations as intended).

It was rumored the gratuity was removed because some servers (a few, not all) were "padding" the bill as much as possible to receive a higher gratuity (encouraging appetizers/desserts when guests really didn't want it, etc).*

But with classic Disney style, these changes were supposedly made due to "Guest Demand".


* I mean this with no disrepect to any WDW servers -- I know you work very hard for your wages and respect you for it!

I do think you're right about people stretching their credits by splitting meals. And at the beginning, weren't all the credits pooled, children's and adult credits? So people were able to use 2 TS credits on signature dining with some child credits? I think Disney closed that loophole really fast after that was discovered.

And sad it may be, I do believe the servers were padding the bill in the days Disney was paying the tips. And all changes nowadays seem to be due to "guest demand", especially the unpopular ones.

 

[msteddom]

I would prefer Disney not raise their prices, but I am looking at it from an economical point of view and not as a fan. I am also speaking specifically about the holiday premium being charged. It makes fiscal sense. Ideally, you price any product or service at the intersection of marginal cost and marginal demand. This will maximize revenue. Pricing Disney is much more complicated because you have multiple curves (one for dining, one for hotels, one for park admission, one for merchandise...and so on) but it still boils down to that fact that more people want to go to WDW during peak seasons (increased demand) so Disney can and should (from a fiscal responsibility standpoint) match in increased demand with a rise in pricing seeing that the supply curve is pretty static.

To that extent we do have control over some part of the pricing because we, the consumer, control the demand side of the equation. It we, the customer, stop going to WDW during peak season because we don't want to pay the premium the demand will drop and the premium will follow.

I would love Disney be as cheap as possible and the fan in me wants that but the logical business brain in me says it makes sense. Remember, they are a publicly traded company and every single decision must be made to maximize the value of the shares of stock. Customer service is a tool to maximize that stock, it is the tail, not the dog.

Logically I agree with everything you're saying. Emotionally, I'm upset and I reserve the right to complain about it!

Melissa

 

[DVCJones]

I'm not saying I am going to do this but....

If the DDP does increase to $47 a day. It may be to costly for us to do for our 6 day vacation for a family of four.

As a DVC member, what would stop me from saying just me and my DD are going and leave my DH and DD#2 off the reservation. This would allow us to use the dining plan for our 3 TS meals. Disney doesn't keep track of how you use your points. We could then eat CS meals for the rest of the vacation. We really only eat 3-4 TS meals a trip anyway and really don't need all the dessert either. If we chose do do more TS we cold choose the most expensive TS meals to use the DDP credits.

Again, I not saying I am going to do this, but WDW will be forcing some people to get "creative" with their vacation planning.

 

[patsal]

I'm not saying I am going to do this but....

If the DDP does increase to $47 a day. It may be to costly for us to do for our 6 day vacation for a family of four.

As a DVC member, what would stop me from saying just me and my DD are going and leave my DH and DD#2 off the reservation. This would allow us to use the dining plan for our 3 TS meals. Disney doesn't keep track of how you use your points. We could then eat CS meals for the rest of the vacation. We really only eat 3-4 TS meals a trip anyway and really don't need all the dessert either. If we chose do do more TS we cold choose the most expensive TS meals to use the DDP credits.

Again, I not saying I am going to do this, but WDW will be forcing some people to get "creative" with their vacation planning.

While in theory it might work, but in practice TS would be doubtful since you can only order the # of meals printed on your card--could you get creative with this maybe by splitting up your party, etc. No room keys for the others in your party would mean no EMH and may prevent total freedom on vacation since some might not be able to get into the room. Really paying OOP is many times more cost effective than a plan anyway. When you try to game the system you put a lot of restrictions on yourself.

 

[going/again]

Disney doesn't want my cash. I refuse to eat with all the free dining people. I am not going to compete with them and I'm sure the free DDP people are happy I'm not taking any of their ressies. So all my food dollars will be heading off site. Glad we are at the Tree House Villas as it's really easy to get off-site.

Sorry people, but Disney food is overpriced and the quality is not so good. Ate at Le Cellier about a year ago and was not impressed. To me the DDP is not a good deal. If you keep track of what the food cost in the restaurants and compare it to what the plan costs, of course you'll "save" a bundle because the food is way overpriced. If you look at what it actually costs Disney to make the foods you're getting gouged.

SSR is a great place to eat offsite from, and we dont have a car

 

[angelmav]

The only thing I dont understand about this is the Disney apology tour that some feel they must engage in. Seems like this same discussion took place when they gutted the plan of the app and grat, then about the ticket increases, then about the non-holiday surcharges and now this additional gouge.

I just dont understand the need to justify and defend every single move they make.

 

[Brian Noble]

As a professor, I'm also restricted to school breaks. As observed, it's not just Disney---that's just the price I pay to travel when everyone else wants to travel too. As I said in the Rant thread---I'd love to pay less, but I don't get to make that choice. If I decide not to go, and enough other people are ready to take my place, then Disney won't miss me.

Not one little bit.

 

[deide71]

As a professor, I'm also restricted to school breaks. As observed, it's not just Disney---that's just the price I pay to travel when everyone else wants to travel too. As I said in the Rant thread---I'd love to pay less, but I don't get to make that choice. If I decide not to go, and enough other people are ready to take my place, then Disney won't miss me.

Not one little bit.

And there's the rub!

For all of my ranting, unfortunately I think you are correct.