Dining Plan Reduction

[gskywalker]

If you are not on quick service, its good, on quick service the new dining plan it stinks(ie my family). We usually traded out desserts for sides. Now we will probably need to trade out drinks for sides and possibly desserts.

 

[pittsburghmom]

Yeah, this stinks. While we are not big dessert eaters, we were looking forward to being able to swap out a dessert for a side or grab a pastry for our "dessert" while dining at our resort and save it for breakfast the next day. Definitely a decline in value for sure.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it is a great change. Most of the desserts you can get with a quick service meal are prepackaged garbage anyway. I'd much rather have the snack credit.

 

[gskywalker]

yes I get that people don't want as many desserts, but they took away two desserts, only added one snack. We often used the desserts for side dishes and now we lose one. It would have been great if they gave the quick serve plan two additional snacks, but they didn't.

 

[StuckInKS]

I don't understand why so many people were forgoing "dessert" or getting prepackaged cakes when they really didn't want them. You can get anything with a DDP snack credit logo instead of the dessert (and drink). That change had already made the QSDP pretty flexible. Since we use the "dessert" to get an extra side to help us split meals and save more credits for future meals, this has definitely made the plan more inflexible for us. Also, you'll probably only get 2 snacks for a QS credit now, since I always assumed snack 1 = drink, snack 2 = entree and snack 3 = dessert. Three funnel cakes at Sleepy Hollow or 3 large bags of Carmel popcorn in Epcot (both $18 + tax) cost more than some QS meals. Then there's the good desserts at the DTD QS spots and the cupcakes at BOG that will also now cost extra.

 

[Lisa F]

this would only be a great change with the addition of 2 snack credits. losing the value of what could have been used as a snack credit (just not separately from your meal) is a loss any way you look at it.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

I read on here all the time that people don't eat desserts with every meal so I don't think there is anything wrong with them taking the dessert included out of the meal but adding an extra snack credit on the plan. If you want dessert use that snack credit.
I don't see it as a reduction, I see it giving you more flexibility.

But you lose 2 desserts, and get only 1 extra snack credit. It's a decrease.

 

[Hikergirl]

But you lose 2 desserts, and get only 1 extra snack credit. It's a decrease.

For you maybe but not for me the way I would use the plan. I have no problem paying more for getting food that I will eat instead of paying less for food I won't. But to each their own, everyone has to decide if this plan works for them.

 

[sharonabe]

For you maybe but not for me the way I would use the plan. I have no problem paying more for getting food that I will eat instead of paying less for food I won't. But to each their own, everyone has to decide if this plan works for them.

Hope it works out for you. With the price increase, you're now paying more for less and with the QSDP, it's going to be very hard to even break even. Saving money is almost out of the question for adults.

 

[Hikergirl]

Hope it works out for you. With the price increase, you're now paying more for less and with the QSDP, it's going to be very hard to even break even. Saving money is almost out of the question for adults.

I don't have any plans for a 2017 trip, I'm just speaking hypothetically. Also, the dining plan has never been about saving money for us, we can always do better OOP financially. There are other reasons other than money that I like the DDP which I will be using for my upcoming trip.

If I were to do the QSDP, I would use the extra snack credit for my breakfast, which I would have paid OOP for anyway, so it is actually saving me that, not necessarily saving me money overall though.The desserts that come with the QS meals are a waste for me because I do not eat them. Not getting them is the same, so for me that extra snack credit is a much better option. It doesn't work for everyone, but I'm not claiming it does, we all have our reasons for doing, or not doing the dining plans. There is no right or wrong.

 

[gskywalker]

Absolutely understandable because you aren't on the quick service plan, so you aren't losing you are receiving the same value/amount with increased flexibility, big difference than for those of us on the quick service plan. If I was going with another dining plan, I would love the change. It might just encourage me to go to a moderate next year in order to not lose out during Free Dining. Only problem with that is that it costs our family 3k more to go to a moderate. Really not prepared to up disney to 12-13k for our family to go. We'll probably book the BB when we are there for a value and hope it works out like it did this year even though we are getting less.

 

[Lisa F]

I don't have any plans for a 2017 trip, I'm just speaking hypothetically. Also, the dining plan has never been about saving money for us, we can always do better OOP financially. There are other reasons other than money that I like the DDP which I will be using for my upcoming trip.

If I were to do the QSDP, I would use the extra snack credit for my breakfast, which I would have paid OOP for anyway, so it is actually saving me that, not necessarily saving me money overall though.The desserts that come with the QS meals are a waste for me because I do not eat them. Not getting them is the same, so for me that extra snack credit is a much better option. It doesn't work for everyone, but I'm not claiming it does, we all have our reasons for doing, or not doing the dining plans. There is no right or wrong.

it's not about right or wrong, but the simple mathematical reality is now you are paying more for less. whether you personally utilized it is not the question... with the previous ability to trade the dessert for a snack or another beverage, value was added to the plan for many people who didn't like or eat the desserts. The increased flexibility of an additional snack credit to be used any time and not just at the same time as your QS meal is definitely a benefit to people, but for the value to be the same, it would have to be two additional snack credits because that is the value you are losing by losing dessert (and the ability to swap it for a snack credit item). The way you use it is neither right nor wrong, and if it works out for you great, but it only does because you already were not utilizing the full value of the plan. the full value of the plan has gone down.

 

[Hikergirl]

it's not about right or wrong, but the simple mathematical reality is now you are paying more for less. whether you personally utilized it is not the question... with the previous ability to trade the dessert for a snack or another beverage, value was added to the plan for many people who didn't like or eat the desserts. The increased flexibility of an additional snack credit to be used any time and not just at the same time as your QS meal is definitely a benefit to people, but for the value to be the same, it would have to be two additional snack credits because that is the value you are losing by losing dessert (and the ability to swap it for a snack credit item). The way you use it is neither right nor wrong, and if it works out for you great, but it only does because you already were not utilizing the full value of the plan. the full value of the plan has gone down.

My "right or wrong" was about people's opinions, and how they define value, but you are right, you are paying more and getting less items. I don't measure my value in how many items I get. If value is the money for you, then I guess you could find out the cost of the individual items and see if they are more, less or equal to the most expensive snack item you can now get.
I would also think anyone concerned about the $ value of the QDSP wouldn't purchase it in the first place because, it isn't a good value.

I value the flexibility. I value the fact that I'm not lugging around desserts that I didn't eat. I value that at the end of the week I'm not throwing out those desserts I lugged around that I didn't eat. I value that now I wouldn't have to spend additional cash on breakfast items so the math for me does work out so the full value hasn't gone down, for me.
Doesn't mean you are wrong because you think it has gone down for you based on how you define value.

 

[pittsburghmom]

it's not about right or wrong, but the simple mathematical reality is now you are paying more for less. whether you personally utilized it is not the question... with the previous ability to trade the dessert for a snack or another beverage, value was added to the plan for many people who didn't like or eat the desserts. The increased flexibility of an additional snack credit to be used any time and not just at the same time as your QS meal is definitely a benefit to people, but for the value to be the same, it would have to be two additional snack credits because that is the value you are losing by losing dessert (and the ability to swap it for a snack credit item). The way you use it is neither right nor wrong, and if it works out for you great, but it only does because you already were not utilizing the full value of the plan. the full value of the plan has gone down.

Exactly.

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

As someone who only uses the regular DDP not the QS one, I love this change. This might be the first time I'm happy with a DDP change, we were blown away with the value the first time we used the plan (way back when tip and appetizer were included and it was basically half the price it is now) but have been less than impressed with it since. Not a fan of most of the desserts at QS places and would much rather have the option to use the snack elsewhere. We're a family that loves to do lots of buffets and character meals, so we eat at Disney in a way that already maximizes the plan, our biggest gripe has always been the desserts and this fixes that.

We may still go OOP next time and just forego the restaurants we usually do in order to save money, but the extra snack does help push us back into DDP territory.

 

[Lisa F]

My "right or wrong" was about people's opinions, and how they define value, but you are right, you are paying more and getting less items. I don't measure my value in how many items I get. If value is the money for you, then I guess you could find out the cost of the individual items and see if they are more, less or equal to the most expensive snack item you can now get.
I would also think anyone concerned about the $ value of the QDSP wouldn't purchase it in the first place because, it isn't a good value.

I value the flexibility. I value the fact that I'm not lugging around desserts that I didn't eat. I value that at the end of the week I'm not throwing out those desserts I lugged around that I didn't eat. I value that now I wouldn't have to spend additional cash on breakfast items so the math for me does work out so the full value hasn't gone down, for me.
Doesn't mean you are wrong because you think it has gone down for you based on how you define value.

If you value flexibility and not feeling obligated to lug around desserts you don't eat that end up in the trash then why are you using the DDP at all? Flexibility is not one of the selling points of the DDP - they have tried to add additional flexibility but it still does not make it as flexible as just eating OOP, especially if you are not even utilizing everything that comes with the plan. Why not just order exactly what you want, when you want, and not worry about the plan at all?

 

[serenitynow]

If you value flexibility and not feeling obligated to lug around desserts you don't eat that end up in the trash then why are you using the DDP at all? Flexibility is not one of the selling points of the DDP - they have tried to add additional flexibility but it still does not make it as flexible as just eating OOP, especially if you are not even utilizing everything that comes with the plan. Why not just order exactly what you want, when you want, and not worry about the plan at all?

Last time we used the dining plan we wound up with 12 of those little dessert cakes left in our room fridge. They tasted disgusting, but we felt guilty throwing them out, so we thought we'll lug them back to the room and surely someone will break down and eat them. But no one got that desperate for food that they were willing to eat one of those desserts! It reminds me of those fruit cakes people gift and regift at Christmas that just won't go away.

 

[Disfan1968]

I don't have any plans for a 2017 trip, I'm just speaking hypothetically. Also, the dining plan has never been about saving money for us, we can always do better OOP financially. There are other reasons other than money that I like the DDP which I will be using for my upcoming trip.

If I were to do the QSDP, I would use the extra snack credit for my breakfast, which I would have paid OOP for anyway, so it is actually saving me that, not necessarily saving me money overall though.The desserts that come with the QS meals are a waste for me because I do not eat them. Not getting them is the same, so for me that extra snack credit is a much better option. It doesn't work for everyone, but I'm not claiming it does, we all have our reasons for doing, or not doing the dining plans. There is no right or wrong.

I have not chimed back in since my original post, but I have seen your numerous defenses of this change. I ABSOLUTELY get that you like the flexibility of snack credits, and I 100% AGREE that it would be GREAT if they offered all dessert credits as snack credits instead, thereby allowing us the freedom to choose how we spend our money. But flat out, there is no defense for them in terms of their decision to take two desserts out and add only ONE snack back in. It is simply a reduction in the CASH value for the plan. Plain and simple. As far as to whether they have reduced the value of the plan there is a "right" vs. "wrong" as you put it, as, in the vast majority of cases, when the cash value of what is acquired through the plan each day will be lower than it used to be. I am not sure how people in the thread can't see that.

I understand that "value" is a subjective term, but I was clearly talking about "cash" value in my OP, and not "perceived" value. If one still perceives a good value for the plan, then they should go for it. As I said in my OP, I love having food paid for up front on vacations. Just, for me, the cost of the plan vs. cash value of items returned probably turned a corner with this change, at least in terms of the QS plan. And yes, I know pretty much all the plans are money losers unless you do nothing but high value targets, like character buffets, etc. But I am willing to overpay a tad for the peace of mind of having food pre-paid. I am not willing though, to WAY over-pay for the same "peace of mind." Peace of mind become obsolete when you feel taken advantage of.

 

[Hikergirl]

If you value flexibility and not feeling obligated to lug around desserts you don't eat that end up in the trash then why are you using the DDP at all? Flexibility is not one of the selling points of the DDP - they have tried to add additional flexibility but it still does not make it as flexible as just eating OOP, especially if you are not even utilizing everything that comes with the plan. Why not just order exactly what you want, when you want, and not worry about the plan at all?

I'm using the DDP for my upcoming trip because its just convenient. We will be using the DDP credits at F&W, so all our meals for the day will be covered using it that way. Its not about trying to make the most of my money.
I probably wouldn't use the DDP if we were just going to do the parks, or if it was the kids with us. If I was going to use any plan then it would be the QDSP for the flexibility of it (as far as not having to make ADRs). However I prefer the new change over the old way in terms of food choices, but its just my opinion, its only "right" for me.

 

[sharonabe]

FYI the new change may not be a change at all. Take a look at this:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/vacation-packages/2017/dining/

That isn't the same as the brochure PDF. So which one is correct??