Dining Plan Increases Punish Educators?

[deide71]

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!

I do not consider my relationship with Disney to be a personal one...and I realize that they are indeed a corporation with shareholders...blah blah blah...

My point is that I am voting with my dollars by staying offsite, eating offsite, bying souveniers offsite etc. This is a direct consequence of the decreasing value of the dining plan (3 years ago it was cheaper and included appetizer and tip), increasing the price of annual passes over 20% in 3 years, reallocating DVC points, shorter park hours, decreasing the number of shows (fantasmic) etc.

I'm glad some of you find value in the dining plan. However, I think you are justifying it by saying, " it's convenient because it is prepaid"
or " I added up my receipts and we saved X dollars". If you like the convenience of prepaid buy yourself a visa giftcard and use that. Is that less convenient? and as for your supposed savings, that is because Disney has raised the prices in their restaurants to unreasonable levels ($12 Cannoli anyone?) to make paying $47/day seem like a savings. I know others just don't want to venture offsite for fear of leaving the Disney bubble. I begrudge you nothing, but you are missing out on some great restaurants and fantastic lodging values.

We are facing the worst economy in many, many years. With unemployment approaching 10% even those of us with fairly secure jobs are a bit afraid to part with money. Most business realize this this and are pricing their product accordingly. Disney is charging more for less, and then having to discount very deeply in order to keep attendance numbers up. Take a look at the decrease in last quarters theme park profit numbers and tell me how well this business model is working for them?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

All I have to say is you can't keep taking more and more away without giving something back!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Curious....Can anyone think of any place else that raises their food prices during peak times? Hotel rooms yes, but food/restaurant prices? I can't think of one place I've ever been where the dining prices go up during busy times. I went to Vegas over Labor Day weekend once, it was packed. I paid more for my airfare and hotel room, but restaurant menu prices were the same, even the buffets.
Seriously....who else does this? Any place?

And how would you feel if they also raised ticket prices during peak times? Everyone is saying it's the norm to raise prices during busy times, but what if they raised the ticket price too? Say $10 a day during July or Spring break. Would that be okay too? I mean if you give them a pass on the dining, who knows what they will come up with next.

 

[elaine and the boys]

I do not consider my relationship with Disney to be a personal one...and I realize that they are indeed a corporation with shareholders...blah blah blah...

My point is that I am voting with my dollars by staying offsite, eating offsite, bying souveniers offsite etc. This is a direct consequence of the decreasing value of the dining plan (3 years ago it was cheaper and included appetizer and tip), increasing the price of annual passes over 20% in 3 years, reallocating DVC points, shorter park hours, decreasing the number of shows (fantasmic) etc.


Yes! It is absolutely your free choice to do this. Personally, I buy my souveniers on sale before I go to Disney. I stay at the Dolphin using a teacher rate if it's cheaper than a Disney resort. This upcoming Christmas vacation has us at the Gaylord Palms for 2, low cost nights before we move over to the Dolphin. I have never used the dining plan, either, as it always comes out MORE expensive than without. It's our choice to make where we stay, where we eat, what we buy. We always have "adapted" our trips to our pocketbooks. Adaptability is a life skill that we obviously must exercise if we want to continue visiting Disney. I won't say, however, that I will "boycott" anything...but I may choose not to participate at this time.



I'm glad some of you find value in the dining plan. However, I think you are justifying it by saying, " it's convenient because it is prepaid"
or " I added up my receipts and we saved X dollars". If you like the convenience of prepaid buy yourself a visa giftcard and use that. Is that less convenient? and as for your supposed savings, that is because Disney has raised the prices in their restaurants to unreasonable levels ($12 Cannoli anyone?) to make paying $47/day seem like a savings. I know others just don't want to venture offsite for fear of leaving the Disney bubble. I begrudge you nothing, but you are missing out on some great restaurants and fantastic lodging values.


I have never used the dining plan and can't quite figure out why I would want to pay for this "convenience". In my opinion, I would feel like I had to eat more (like dessert) in order to recoup my expense. Or maybe order the most expensive entree on the menu in order to get "the best value"....but then I would have to pay the tip based on the higher priced items I ordered. Never made good sense for me to participate in this plan anyway. I get more bang for my buck when I pay out of pocket, using my Amex card, which gets me points toward future hotel stays (at the Dolphin, if it's a Disney vacation)!


We are facing the worst economy in many, many years. With unemployment approaching 10% even those of us with fairly secure jobs are a bit afraid to part with money. Most business realize this this and are pricing their product accordingly. Disney is charging more for less, and then having to discount very deeply in order to keep attendance numbers up. Take a look at the decrease in last quarters theme park profit numbers and tell me how well this business model is working for them?[/QUOTE]

It's unfortunate that Disney doesn't seem to be able to make ends meet unless they drop prices to attract people during the slow season, just to have to raise them when demand is high to make up the difference. I'm sure there are probably many people who have benefited from the special deals lately....aren't they the lucky ones! I'm happy for them and I wish it was me, but I'm willing to make a trade off so I can vacation when it's better timing for my family and me. Life is Good....Life is not necessarily fair.

 

[elaine and the boys]

Curious....Can anyone think of any place else that raises their food prices during peak times? Hotel rooms yes, but food/restaurant prices? I can't think of one place I've ever been where the dining prices go up during busy times. I went to Vegas over Labor Day weekend once, it was packed. I paid more for my airfare and hotel room, but restaurant menu prices were the same, even the buffets.
Seriously....who else does this? Any place?

And how would you feel if they also raised ticket prices during peak times? Everyone is saying it's the norm to raise prices during busy times, but what if they raised the ticket price too? Say $10 a day during July or Spring break. Would that be okay too? I mean if you give them a pass on the dining, who knows what they will come up with next.

I do know that some restaurants will only offer a special menu on holidays...at a fixed price. You must pay the price for the limited/special menu or you can choose to eat elsewhere.

I think it would be very difficult for Disney to raise ticket prices for certain times of the year, as you can currently purchase your tickets far in advance and use them at a much later date. They would have to change their entire ticketing system. Let's hope they don't see this post....wouldn't want to give them any new ideas!!

 

[cathie1327]

First of all, this is just my opinion, so no disrespect meant to anyone else.

Whatever the reason is for raising DDP prices or ticket prices....and whatever the justification is....

The fact remains that they are pricing themselves out of people's markets. Each person has a level of budget that they can spend on a vacation and once the prices get too high, Disney will no longer be an option for them. It's that break, that line that we all keep talking about.

Like a previous poster pointed out, there are some places that people may not bother going to were it not for the dining plan. Myself included. We like to go to some of the more expensive restaraunts on our dining plan, because the out of pocket cost would be more than what we are spending on the dining plan. The rate increase is pushing some of the restaraunts out of that category.

DBF and I have talked about it, and believe that next year our vacation will be to Universal because it is much cheaper, and our honeymoon trip, while originally planned for WDW, may be somewhere else. We love our vacations at WDW, but it gets to the point that when you are spending that large of an amount on a trip there, you have to wonder if part of that money could be used better elsewhere.

Just my .02

 

[BriarRosie]

Nikki, would you rather buy the Tables in Wonderland card? You're a passholder, and I bet you'll find that the card would be more beneficial to your specific needs.

But if you're upset in general, I have to say that I think it's silly that Disney has timed that decision now. In a different economy, I didn't see that they'd be doing anything different than the rest of the travel industry by placing higher value on high seasons. It's a bummer that high seasons are all during school breaks, but it's the sad reality.

 

[darrengs]

Dining Plan Increases Punish Educators?

No I don't think so. In the years that my kids have been going to school teachers have always taken time off while school has been in session.

On another note my wife and I have already decided that after this months trip we most likely will be going on some Non Disney cruises for the next couple of vacations.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I do know that some restaurants will only offer a special menu on holidays...at a fixed price. You must pay the price for the limited/special menu or you can choose to eat elsewhere.

I think it would be very difficult for Disney to raise ticket prices for certain times of the year, as you can currently purchase your tickets far in advance and use them at a much later date. They would have to change their entire ticketing system. Let's hope they don't see this post....wouldn't want to give them any new ideas!!

Sorry, the example of restaurants that offer a special menu, (Disney raises the price for the same menu) on a holiday, for one day, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, is entirely different than Disney raising dining prices for a whole block of time just because it's busier and for the same menu that is offered any other time. So again I will ask...is there anyplace else that does this?

 

[Colleen27]

It doesn't even effect me and I find it ridiculous. I can understand seasonal pricing for rooms & airfare, but just can't swallow it when it comes to dining. And the timing of this sort of policy is nothing less than absurd.

On the dining board, a couple of us speculated that maybe Disney is deliberately looking to reduce the popularity of the basic dining plan, perhaps with an eye towards eliminating it altogether. That would explain the price hike and the strange omission of a refillable mug from the basic plan when both the quick service and deluxe plans include it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if, in another year or two, the basic DDP is gone, the quick service plan is priced at what we used to pay for the basic plan (and probably used for the free dining promo across all resort levels), and the deluxe plan is more expensive (of course) but more-or-less unchanged to continue to appeal to the less budget minded who like the "all inclusive" feel.

 

[TSWJan78]

I think what Pete was saying that Nikki agrees with is if I go to O'hana's on Dec 31st or January 5th I am getting the same salad, the same Skewers, the same potatoes and the same bread pudding. I may have to get up earlier to make my reservation or wait longer for a table but neither of these things coast Disney any more. Do I think the Disney Executives sat around a table and said who do we want to target this year.. lets pick on teachers and people who choose not to take their kids out of school.. No I do not think they did that.. but I do agree they are acting like Kohls.. Jack the price up to put it on sale cause we know there will be people who will not care nor will they even notice the price difference

 

[stitchlover]

Someone made the comment about getting more for their dollar during Peak times. Elaine or someone? I couldn't agree with you less.

We go every year to Disney during what they consider Peak season - March Spring Break - so we pay more for our rooms and now we are expected to pay more for the dining plan. Your thoughts on this were more Spectromagic, more Fantasmic, later hours, etc. Well I have news for you this past March we were there for 10 days. We went days with no Spectromagic, two Fantasmic shows the entire time we were there and the parks were closed by 9pm most evenings. Why exactly am I expected to pay a premium for my room, and now my DDP, during this?

We are going to go this March 2010 and we will be staying at AKL because that is what we have promised our daughter. We are seriously considering dropping the DDP and getting Tables in Wonderland as John suggested. We also will probably plan to go to Disney in March 2011 but will seriously consider a stay at the Swan hotel instead. If I'm not participating in DDP why am I staying at a Disney property?

I don't wear blinders about Disney being a business and not my family but at some point they have pushed you too far. Our daughter has spent Springbreak at Disney every year since 4th grade and it is time together that we cherish as my husband comes of his busy time at work. If I could talk her into going somewhere else I would because I am at a breaking point. I think we will start considering offsite more in the future. Hopefully someone will realize how screwed up this all is and fix it and we can go back to our regularly scheduled vacations!

 

[lugnut33]

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.

 

[clombardi]

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.

I know this is OT but be sure to try Sweet Tomatoes at Crossroads. It was terrific! Sign up for their veggie club online and you'll get great coupons!

ITA about eating off site these days.

 

[FireDancer]

I think it comes down to supply and demand economics. When demand increases during the peak travel times you can increase the price and stay at equilibrium, it is pretty basic.

Disney isn't the only ones who do this, in fact it would be fiscally irresponsible to not charge more from a profitability point of view. If your demand increases and you don't increase price along with it you are selling below the equilibrium price which is just poor pricing. This is why gas, airfare, hotel accommodations, etc is usually more during peak vacation time.

Remember that we the consumer are ultimately in control of this. If no one travels when the prices increase this will lessen the demand and bring the price back down. If the crowds still turn out at the holidays Disney will continue charging the increased price.

Now, whether or not they should be doing across the board price increases is another story but the peak/holiday increases are relative to the baseline price. I would like the baseline to be lower but don't fault Disney for taking advantage of the increased demand.

 

[lugnut33]

Doesn't mean people have to be happy about it Firedancer.

 

[schoen]

I just feel bad about this whole thing. Disney is just not a terribly affordable place anymore. At all. I really feel like these insane price hikes is almost a way to weed out guests with lower incomes. Perhaps they want the feel of a luxury theme park, and so they are working towards pricing it in a way that excludes the middle class. Sad sad stuff.

Also, it isn't just educators that are feeling the brunt of this. My husband works in the legislature and he can only leave when they aren't in session, which is similar to a school schedule. There are a lot of professions that disallow people to leave at certain times. I am a teacher too, and my husbands schedule is no less restrictive than mine.

 

[Madi100]

The dining plan for us is a convenience. My DH and I enjoy eating table service when it's just the two of us. HE is a much happier man if he gets his credit card out at the beginning of the trip and pays for those meals than if he does at each meal. By the time the trip is done, he wants to eat mac n cheese in the room. So, for us, it's convenient and sometimes you pay for convenience. With our chidlren, we have found that we just don't want to sit and eat that much. The quicker a meal, the less painful it is for us.

But the dining plan is a choice, one you don't have to make. Disney has never once told anyone that they MUST do the dining plan or they can't come and visit.

Times are tough not only for the consumer, but for businesses also. They have to get creative on how they make money. Some things will work and some things won't. I for one would much rather pay more money to go to Disney than to settle for less of a product. DH works for a grocery store chain. The cost of things have gone up. He was talking about a Hershey's candy bar the other day (the big ones) and how much they have decreased in size AND increased in price. This came up because of the price of a regular price candy bar that 15 years ago cost 2/.75 and now are .75 for one. You do what you can do to make money. The world is not run by pixie dust.

And, as far as Disney punishing teachers?? While this increase affects the time that you go, I'm sure that there was no one at the big table who said, "How can we punish teachers?"

 

[lugnut33]

Times are tough not only for the consumer, but for businesses also. They have to get creative on how they make money. Some things will work and some things won't. I for one would much rather pay more money to go to Disney than to settle for less of a product. DH works for a grocery store chain. The cost of things have gone up. He was talking about a Hershey's candy bar the other day (the big ones) and how much they have decreased in size AND increased in price. This came up because of the price of a regular price candy bar that 15 years ago cost 2/.75 and now are .75 for one. You do what you can do to make money. The world is not run by pixie dust.

It's not like Disney is losing money. How much of a profit is enough? Last quarter, right in the heart of this recession, they still posted an almost ONE BILLION dollar profit, of which almost half came from the theme parks. Is one billion not enough? How is making almost one billion tough? What's tough is those poor castmembers they laid off.

That's what gets me. Apparently a billion in one quarter is not enough to satisfy the investors and high paid execs, so they look to the guest pump up the revenues. Are you just chalking that up to living in a capitalist society? Does Iger really deserve a $28 million salary while he raises the cost of the dining plan to help pay for it?

Of course a company needs to make money, and nobody says Disney should be a charity. However, there comes a point when money grubbing for profits is perceived as just being greedy. And it's the price rises over that last year that make many people feel Disney is being greedy, especially when you see they still made almost a billion in one quarter.

 

[Colleen27]

It's not like Disney is losing money. How much of a profit is enough? Last quarter, right in the heart of this recession, they still posted an almost ONE BILLION dollar profit, of which almost half came from the theme parks. Is one billion not enough? How is making almost one billion tough? What's tough is those poor castmembers they laid off.

That's what gets me. Apparently a billion in one quarter is not enough to satisfy the investors and high paid execs, so they look to the guest pump up the revenues. Are you just chalking that up to living in a capitalist society? Does Iger really deserve a $28 million salary while he raises the cost of the dining plan to help pay for it?

Of course a company needs to make money, and nobody says Disney should be a charity. However, there comes a point when money grubbing for profits is perceived as just being greedy. And it's the price rises over that last year that make many people feel Disney is being greedy, especially when you see they still made almost a billion in one quarter.

And that's where I think Disney is making a mistake.

For the most part, people forget Disney is a profit-seeking enterprise, a forgetfulness that Disney has fostered over the years by acting in ways uncharacteristic of modern corporations. They maintain high standards and don't (or didn't) cut corners in the name of squeezing a couple extra dimes into the bottom line.

If they start behaving like just any other company, they risk losing the "guest" goodwill that keeps people willing to pay inflated prices for "Disney magic". More and more reports of the parks being little cleaner than your average 6 Flags and the value resorts being as poorly cleaned as the local no-tell motel and people will begin to see Disney as just another big business, rather than as a company that provides a superior experience that justifies the price. Like a lot of companies these days, they're looking at the right now of the bottom line and not, it seems, thinking about how all these changes will effect the company in the long run.