Dining Plan Increases Punish Educators?

[*NikkiBell*]

I just listened to this segment in the show and have tears in my eyes. I have a lot of anger and sadness built up. I will post my thoughts tomorrow when they're not so jumbled. I'm fuming.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

I'm listening to it for the first time also (and im hearing petes rant)

Boy Cott dining plan!

 

[elaine and the boys]

It's not just the new dining plan prices....it's the resorts, too. I'm an educator and our trips are always during President's week or Christmas week (waaaay too hot for me in the summer!).....when resort prices are the highest. And Disney always seems to have a price increase on their buffet style meals during the holiday season anyway. But then, every other hotel/airline has increased prices at these "teacher friendly" times, too.

 

[msteddom]

Nikki I couldn't agree with you more. I'm not a fan of the dining plan to begin with, but the whole idea of seasonal pricing just seems so unfair! The product that I am being offered during the Summer is not any different that the one being offered in November, so why am I being charged more? I go during the summer and Christmas breaks because that's when I can go. Trust me I would love to be able to head to Disney World for the Food and Wine Festival, but I might not have a job when I return!

Melissa

 

[tootie626]

I am so with you.
We were there for my birthday during the increased holiday pricing and we refused to book the buffets with the price increases. We also stayed at Buena Vista Suites because we were unable to find good value staying on property. We tried a few of the local restaurants suggested on the DIS and found great value and enjoyed our meals. Disney needs to realize there is a whole world just outside their gates. Unfortunately, a lot of travelers become a captive audience and are forced to pay these prices. Magical Express is really not free, you will pay once you become part of the captive audience.

 

[deide71]

It's funny that whenever anyone tries to complain about increases in ticket prices or this stupid new dining plan pricing they are shot down on the other boards. I wonder what it will take to get some of the other members of the Dis to realize how much of the value of a Disney vacation is being lost?

I am wondering if Disney is starting to go the the Kohls mentality of pricing. Make your sticker price so high that you can offer sales that make people think they are saving sooooo much money, but honestly they are just paying what it should have cost to begin with.

Honestly I've been getting more and more fed up with these guest hostile policies over the last few years. I sold some of my DVC points, I now have enough to stay every other year in a2br for a week, the off years we stay in a condo or townhouse (that is where the real value in an Orlando vacation is). We still get the DVC perks, and discount on AP's, but it is good to get offsite and gain a little perspective on how the "Disney Magic" is what you make it...not a towel animal or an overpriced character meal!

I found my breaking point, I just wonder where it is for the other Dis'ers?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

If the Disney company doesn't watch out, they're going to price themselves right out of the market. The Disneyland CA premium AP prices are causing some people rethink the value of an AP altogether. Suddenly 4 trips and 12 days a year, always eating in the parks on those trips, becomes one trip for 3-5 days.

And while Disney raises prices, many other vacation options are waiting to pounce. There may come a day when the "magic" will be created at home with a DVD and some imagination because only the truly wealthy can afford Disney.

 

[elaine and the boys]

I know I may be playing devil's advocate here, but this whole idea of price increases during the peak/holiday times is nothing new....and getting upset about it again and again seems like a waste of energy. From what I can see, all hotels and airlines do the same thing on a daily/weekly/peak time/holiday time basis. It costs more to fly on certain days of the week or certain times of the year (that's why we always drive from Cape Cod to Disney, as we can't justify the inflated airfare prices during peak times). It's always cost more to stay in a hotel on Friday and Saturday nights, as that's the popular time to stay....and it wasn't until last year that Disney resorts started charging up on weekends like the rest of the non-disney hotels across the nation. Supply and demand can be unpleasant, but it's reality....and always has been. An increase in Disney's dining plan during the holidays, forgive me for saying, makes sense....I never get the dining plan and I've had to pay the extra cost for meals during Christmas in the past, why shouldn't the folks on the dining plan have to pay the same increase that I do?

I hope I don't make anyone angry with this post, but nothing has really changed and it's really sad to think that we should be wasting one minute of our happiness "re-hashing" the price increases again and again. I look at it this way: I make the choice, as an educator and parent of teenage sons, not to take time off or take my kids out of school for Disney....or any other vacation. I make the choice not to travel to Florida in the summer because I don't like the heat. I make the choice to go to Disney when I, and my children, have a week's vacation from school. We know what the cost will be, and we adjust our plans/vacation savings, etc. to account for that. I also search for discounts and have saved money by being smart and planning far in advance. But then, I think we all do that here on the Dis. Let's just not waste another moment of our lives worrying about what Disney does....remember that it's always OUR FREE CHOICE if we decide to spend the extra money that they charge or that any other hotel, store, restaurant, amusement park, movie theatre, college, etc. charges.

Peace!

 

[Decorated_Dust]

I know I may be playing devil's advocate here, but this whole idea of price increases during the peak/holiday times is nothing new....and getting upset about it again and again seems like a waste of energy. From what I can see, all hotels and airlines do the same thing on a daily/weekly/peak time/holiday time basis. It costs more to fly on certain days of the week or certain times of the year (that's why we always drive from Cape Cod to Disney, as we can't justify the inflated airfare prices during peak times). It's always cost more to stay in a hotel on Friday and Saturday nights, as that's the popular time to stay....and it wasn't until last year that Disney resorts started charging up on weekends like the rest of the non-disney hotels across the nation. Supply and demand can be unpleasant, but it's reality....and always has been. An increase in Disney's dining plan during the holidays, forgive me for saying, makes sense....I never get the dining plan and I've had to pay the extra cost for meals during Christmas in the past, why shouldn't the folks on the dining plan have to pay the same increase that I do?

I hope I don't make anyone angry with this post, but nothing has really changed and it's really sad to think that we should be wasting one minute of our happiness "re-hashing" the price increases again and again. I look at it this way: I make the choice, as an educator and parent of teenage sons, not to take time off or take my kids out of school for Disney....or any other vacation. I make the choice not to travel to Florida in the summer because I don't like the heat. I make the choice to go to Disney when I, and my children, have a week's vacation from school. We know what the cost will be, and we adjust our plans/vacation savings, etc. to account for that. I also search for discounts and have saved money by being smart and planning far in advance. But then, I think we all do that here on the Dis. Let's just not waste another moment of our lives worrying about what Disney does....remember that it's always OUR FREE CHOICE if we decide to spend the extra money that they charge or that any other hotel, store, restaurant, amusement park, movie theatre, college, etc. charges.

Peace!

I have to agree here.

I think it's rotten, but it's a travel industry norm. Flights for Christmas or Thanksgiving or July 4th are always more expensive than flights during other times. Same thing with weekends. I have not seen a single hotel that does not follow the same pricing model. I very much understand how it can be frustrating for teachers (my mom and aunt are teachers) and families with kids, but the holidays from school are a more popular time for travel everywhere, and the price hikes act as a form of crowd control. It's supply and demand 101.

Of course, implementing this dining plan hike during an economic recession was a stupid move. I totally agree there, and Pete's rant was right on.

 

[GAN]

I have to agree here.

I think it's rotten, but it's a travel industry norm. Flights for Christmas or Thanksgiving or July 4th are always more expensive than flights during other times. Same thing with weekends. I have not seen a single hotel that does not follow the same pricing model. I very much understand how it can be frustrating for teachers (my mom and aunt are teachers) and families with kids, but the holidays from school are a more popular time for travel everywhere, and the price hikes act as a form of crowd control. It's supply and demand 101.

Of course, implementing this dining plan hike during an economic recession was a stupid move. I totally agree there, and Pete's rant was right on.

I agree with you also and don't feel bad for the teachers at all(both my parents are retired educators) -I have children and can't visit when we would prefer just like the teachers...but it IS ridiculous to increases prices on food during busier times. I think pricing should be LESS. Food quality and service decrease during these busier times -it doesn't improve to warrant a higher price. I just don't understand why this is a Teacher issue -a good many of us are impacted by this decision as well.

 

[Tissa]

Educators, parents, anyone who can only travel during the summer, it affects us all. We can rant all we want but it's not going to change unless they see a drop in the number of dining plans sold.

Next summer is my 40th birthday and I had planned to stay at a deluxe and get the dining plan for the 4 of us. We normally can't afford that but it's a special b-day for me. After hearing this our plans have changed. We are renting a house and eating offsite for the most part. I already have the TIW card to use for the few ts dinners we will have. Now you can say that is drastic for just a few dollars more but it's principle. I do not agree with the changes and I'm showing that even though I'm just a drop in the bucket.

 

[mommyceratops]

I have not listened yet but I will today.

Just saying that in case i am out of line... I realize the DDP isn't as good of a deal as it used to be, but it is a nice convenience not having to budget your food money.

Again I do not know what they raised them too as I have not listened yet.

 

[elaine and the boys]

I have to agree here.

I think it's rotten, but it's a travel industry norm. Flights for Christmas or Thanksgiving or July 4th are always more expensive than flights during other times. Same thing with weekends. I have not seen a single hotel that does not follow the same pricing model. I very much understand how it can be frustrating for teachers (my mom and aunt are teachers) and families with kids, but the holidays from school are a more popular time for travel everywhere, and the price hikes act as a form of crowd control. It's supply and demand 101.

Of course, implementing this dining plan hike during an economic recession was a stupid move. I totally agree there, and Pete's rant was right on.

But like I mentioned previously, I paid extra for dining (without the dining plan) 4 years ago when I visited during Christmas week. This is nothing new...the dining plan is just "catching up". This is not a surprise.

Hey, my husband and I look at it this way. We're certainly a middle class family, scrimping where we can to be able to travel to Disney for a fun vacation. We think we are extracting more fun from our Disney vacation during our peak/holiday trips than people going during other seasons when parks close much earlier, Fantasmic! is only on certain nights, no Spectromagic, etc. When we go at Christmas and during President's week in February, the parks are always open earlier and stay open very late, there are multiple showings of Fantasmic every night, etc. The opportunity to get our "money's worth" is ripe for the pickin'! But longer operating hours, extra fireworks, etc. costs Disney more money. Busier parks/restaurants/busses require more staff. And if Disney compensates their employees for overtime or holiday pay.....well, I think you get where I'm going with this.

Personally, I'm a rather frugal person. But I happen to also be someone who enjoys the magic of Disney enough that I'm willing to be frugal in other parts of my life so I can enjoy the magic with my family when it's convenient for us to travel.

 

[doconeill]

Just wanted to point out something that came up during Pete's tirade...

Yes, as a matter of fact, it does cost more to produce the meals during peak times. More customers means more wait staff, more meals mean more cook staff, etc. That is assuming that the places are 100% booked during non-peak times.

However - it is assumed that the increased costs are offset by the increase income of all those meals. And, the increase in costs are non-linear - efficiencies of scale take place. It actually would make more sense to apply an increase during NON-peak times, where the cost-per-meal is higher and they need to maintain at least a minimal staffing level.

This means that the seasonal increase of the dining plan is nothing more than a tithe.

 

[elaine and the boys]

It actually would make more sense to apply an increase during NON-peak times, where the cost-per-meal is higher and they need to maintain at least a minimal staffing level.

This means that the seasonal increase of the dining plan is nothing more than a tithe.

However, Non-Peak times require Disney to offer lower cost vacations to attract more guests. We, who travel during the peak seasons (higher cost) are compensating for the value season travelers who pay less to Disney. As my husband always reminds me "Life isn't fair"...but it sure is pretty darn good when you consider we all have enjoyed trips to Disney World!

 

[jpeka65844]

Teacher here!

I definitely think that the DDP increase stinks. If they increased it AND added BACK IN the appetizer that they took away, I wouldn't complain. I think it's stoopid that they took AWAY from the DDP, lowered the price (by $1, big whoop!) and then JACKED the price up and didn't add in what they took away. THAT'S the Kohl's mentality right there.

I think that people will REALLY begin to push back about the DDP when the cost of it doesn't make eating at, say, Le Cellier or Chefs de France, that good of a deal anymore. The DDP still makes the "higher end" restaurants attractive to people who'd never usually eat there. Maybe when that happens, the DDP will lose its steam.

However, I don't believe they're "punishing" educators or children with families in school. I concur that it's the travel industry norm to charge by day of week and time of year. It's not malicious. If you follow that logic, than the DIS staff is "punishing" educators or children with families in school by offering their podcast cruises during the school year. I don't, for a second, think Pete is "punishing" anybody and don't fault him for offering the cruises when they're most affordable. Both cruises have fallen too close to the end of the semester for me to be gone from school so I've had to miss out. Families just have to make (sometimes heartbreaking!!!!!) decisions about what they can/can't attend.

As for going in "offpeak" times, I'm a teacher and we manage it once a school year! Yes, it's not a 10 day vacation like we'd like but it's 5 days/4 nights, usually with friends. We've typically done the first weekend in December, will be doing the 2nd weekend in January, and eventually be doing F&W in November. Maybe we just have more liberal leave policies but if I manipulate my days just right, I can do it. Maybe look in to getting creative with your leave!

 

[doconeill]

However, Non-Peak times require Disney to offer lower cost vacations to attract more guests. We, who travel during the peak seasons (higher cost) are compensating for the value season travelers who pay less to Disney. As my husband always reminds me "Life isn't fair"...but it sure is pretty darn good when you consider we all have enjoyed trips to Disney World!

Yes, increasing demand works - if the guests will still spend money. But increasing demand by offering Free Dining is questionable, and according to the reports, the decreased spending per guest overall isn't helping either.

So it really seems like those traveling at peak times are actually now paying to offset all that Free Dining.

 

[timmac]

I have to agree here.

I think it's rotten, but it's a travel industry norm. Flights for Christmas or Thanksgiving or July 4th are always more expensive than flights during other times. Same thing with weekends. I have not seen a single hotel that does not follow the same pricing model. I very much understand how it can be frustrating for teachers (my mom and aunt are teachers) and families with kids, but the holidays from school are a more popular time for travel everywhere, and the price hikes act as a form of crowd control. It's supply and demand 101.

Of course, implementing this dining plan hike during an economic recession was a stupid move. I totally agree there, and Pete's rant was right on.

I'm going to have to agree here also. The argument about the seasonal dining plan pricing holds a lot of water, because for many restaurants (save for the buffets that increase prices due to guest demand) are priced identically year-round, for the most part, and the seasonal dates of the DDP don't seem to match up to the buffet surcharge dates quite 1-for-1 anyhow. I don't see that as being much more than trying to squeeze a few bucks from customers, or perhaps encourage the upgrade to DxDP, and it rubs me as pretty lame.

Hotel pricing, on the other hand, is nothing more than supply and demand. While I don't like having to pay higher prices any more than the next person, this is definitely a norm. I would almost go as far as to say that a place like Disney would be foolish not to charge more for hotels around holidays, etc, when people are lined up out the door trying to go there.

While I mean absolutely no personal offense to OP or any PP, most of the arguments I hear the seasonal pricing, at least as far as the hotels go, sounds more like sour grapes on the part of the person making the argument. It's not just limited to the travel industry either... consider how many movie theaters offer cheap tickets during the day when many people are at work and can't go. It's only good business to offer better pricing during times when there's less audience to whom you can effectively sell your product.

I know for my upcoming trip in Jan, I will likely still use the DDP, since it's still a decent value, but if it were during one of the surcharge times, I almost certainly wouldn't.

 

[SamIAm21]

The increased cost of food at WDW and the increased price of accomodations have forced me to look offsite, which is something I would never have done a few years ago. The only offsets to that is the necessity of a rental car and parking costs. However, having a rental car greatly enhances your sense of freedom to come and go as you please. No crowded buses, etc. No one has to stand after a long day. Parking costs can be offset by simply not buying a few bottles of water in the park for one day and eating offsite.

I find vacation homes in the nearby area to be a great value and far more comfortable than a hotel room for a week. That way, we can bring water that was frozen in our full size refrigerator, bring snacks, and eat breakfast at "home". Many vacation homes also feature swimming pools and while they are not themed, its very nice to have that amenity all to yourself.

There are still ways to do Disney and still "stick it to the man". I am glad to finally hear people willing to boycott this dining plan. It's become quite the monster.

 

[elaine and the boys]

Well, sometimes I think it boils down to this:

Disney is a wonderful, magical place that we all love. But sometimes we forget that it is a business and we are the customers. We take is personally when we feel "taken advantage of" by price increases. Disney is not our friend or relative with whom we can enjoy a "personal" relationship (even though many of us get the "warm fuzzies" everytime we walk down Main Street and feel like we're at HOME). If our relationship were a personal one, then the price of admission would be a covered casserole and we'd all meet at 6pm for a "free" potluck dinner.

Peace!