Dining Plan Speculation

[ENJDisneyFan]

Am I right in reading somewhere that you actually don't have to wear a mask in Florida (Disney choose enforce it) and capacity is entirely up to Disney? While I think if that is true, I think Disney will keep masks around for a while, but considering they are now putting up plexi on some other rides on every other row, I have a feeling they will be upping capacity in the near future.

They have started selling ap's to the UK so they are expecting foreign travel again this year.

I think you posted this in the wrong thread

 

[Aprilshack]

I think you posted this in the wrong thread

Probably!

 

[Missingmypooh]

Probably!

But to make it short and sweet... yes. You are correct.

 

[Tattylou]

I totally get that Dsiney make money on the dining plan, but then there isnt anything Disney does do that doesnt make them money..... that doesnt stop people from those activities though. You COULD go walmart at the end of a day and buy all your Disney Merch, but you dont, you spend it at the parks because you want that particular something.

Its the same with the dining plan, you COULD just buy meals as you go but Disney know that the ease of a dining plan (and seperate tiers of dining plan to try and capture as many people as they can!) will easily get the appeal of lots of guests.

im of the same opinion as many others here. If i went to Disney without a dining plan, any place we chose to eat at i would look be looking at price, rather than looking at what i want. Its strange in a way because im sure i could have just the same stuff without it costing me anymore without the dining plan, BUT, with me its a mental thing.

Having paid for it all as part of the booking price it just tends to swallow itself up with the monthly payments and you kind of forget your paying for the food, your just paying for the holiday.

I know if i paid for the exact same holiday minus a dining plan, i would end up somehow not saving as much towards the food and just end up looking at the cheaper options rather than the meals i really want

Dining plan all the way for me! Heres hoping for a return soon

This is exactly how I feel...and I hope the dining plan is back for my Feb 2022 trip.

 

[Missingmypooh]

I think you have it backwards.
Disney still made a fortune on people maximizing the dining plan.

Like a casino, the dining plan was designed so the house ALWAYS wins.

The savings were all illusory.
instead, they actually got people who might typically just spend $50-60... but now Disney got them to spend $80!

So Disney for an extra $20-30 from the guest. In return, Disney gave them a few more sodas, few desserts and snacks, maybe a glass of wine. The dessert might be priced $8 on the menu... but only costs Disney $1.

Basically.. no matter how much you “maximize” the dining plan, Disney wins. Without the dining plans, guests would mostly spend less on dining, not more. (Without a dining plan, how many people would get dessert and alcohol at every meal??). Without the dining plans, Disney would make less revenue and less profit.

If there is a problem with the dining plan from Disney’s perspective — more people have realized it’s a bad value, so fewer people are buying it.

I don’t disagree that it’s beneficial to Disney ... but some circumstances do make out better with the dining plan.

for example, we do the dining plan on split stays (so half our trip) and do a TON of character meals for lunch and dinner (not the two credit ones, the one credit ones!).

For snacks we *only* get the allergy friendly options, which are priced much higher both in the shops and the stores (and in grocery stores).

so just looking at cash vs DDP (not what Disney pays for the food, but what we’d pay because we’re doing this either way), we are able to take advantage of the pricing structure. Because we know what things cost cash vs price we paid for dining plan. Most people don’t fall into (or pay attention) to this category though. It can be really stressful to manage this on vacation and I see why most guests just wing it to Disney’s advantage.

 

[havoc315]

I don’t disagree that it’s beneficial to Disney ... but some circumstances do make out better with the dining plan.

for example, we do the dining plan on split stays (so half our trip) and do a TON of character meals for lunch and dinner (not the two credit ones, the one credit ones!).

so just looking at cash vs DDP (not what Disney pays for the food, but what we’d pay because we’re doing this either way), we are able to take advantage of the pricing structure. Because we know what things cost cash vs price we paid for dining plan. Most people don’t fall into (or pay attention) to this category though. It can be really stressful to manage this on vacation and I see why most guests just wing it to Disney’s advantage.

I never denied that it can, in some circumstances, be mutually beneficial to both Disney and the guest. In fact, I dare say that if you go back 10-15 years, the pricing structure made it beneficial to most guests.
Over time, I think it became beneficial to fewer and fewer guests.
The big key is: It's only beneficial if you would honestly eat the exact same way without the dining plan.
And because you do split stays, that actually is giving you and advantage. Seems you wouldn't really benefit from the dining plan if you had it the whole trip, but by doing a split stay, you squeeze your character meals into the part where you're on the dining plan.

Basically, there are some restaurants and meals where it's almost impossible to even break even on the dining plan (especially if you don't drink alcohol). While there are some meals where the dining plan potentially saves you a lot. So yes, if you are truly only doing the "maximizer meals" -- which is easier with a short/split stay, that is a circumstance where the DDP can benefit the guest along with Disney.

But the key for Disney is that overall, the dining plans get people to spend more money. Most people are not ordering the exact same way without the dining plan. Just using my family as a classic example -- Over a week long trip, might do 1 character meal without a dining plan. But with the dining plan, may do more. Without the dining plan, might occasionally get a dessert to be shared after a meal. So over the course of 7 days, 4 people, might get 10-15 desserts... not 28. Would likely average 1 snack per person per day, wouldn't average 2. My family would average 1 TS per day, but many other families would not without the dining plan. And without the dining plan, over the course of a week, I might get 2-4 alcohol beverages for myself, 1-2 for my wife.... none for my "Disney adult kids" with or without the dining plan... so the dining plan would provide up to 28 alcoholic beverages, but without the plan would only buy 3-6.

 

[pigletgirl]

I never denied that it can, in some circumstances, be mutually beneficial to both Disney and the guest. In fact, I dare say that if you go back 10-15 years, the pricing structure made it beneficial to most guests.
Over time, I think it became beneficial to fewer and fewer guests.
The big key is: It's only beneficial if you would honestly eat the exact same way without the dining plan.
And because you do split stays, that actually is giving you and advantage. Seems you wouldn't really benefit from the dining plan if you had it the whole trip, but by doing a split stay, you squeeze your character meals into the part where you're on the dining plan.

Basically, there are some restaurants and meals where it's almost impossible to even break even on the dining plan (especially if you don't drink alcohol). While there are some meals where the dining plan potentially saves you a lot. So yes, if you are truly only doing the "maximizer meals" -- which is easier with a short/split stay, that is a circumstance where the DDP can benefit the guest along with Disney.

But the key for Disney is that overall, the dining plans get people to spend more money. Most people are not ordering the exact same way without the dining plan. Just using my family as a classic example -- Over a week long trip, might do 1 character meal without a dining plan. But with the dining plan, may do more. Without the dining plan, might occasionally get a dessert to be shared after a meal. So over the course of 7 days, 4 people, might get 10-15 desserts... not 28. Would likely average 1 snack per person per day, wouldn't average 2. My family would average 1 TS per day, but many other families would not without the dining plan. And without the dining plan, over the course of a week, I might get 2-4 alcohol beverages for myself, 1-2 for my wife.... none for my "Disney adult kids" with or without the dining plan... so the dining plan would provide up to 28 alcoholic beverages, but without the plan would only buy 3-6.

It's vacation. One should never assume but for my family, eating is a part of that. In our daily lives, a) we don't eat out much, and if we do we never get dessert and my husband and I might each have one alcoholic beverage b) we love the all inclusive feel, c), we never feel pressured to "eat it all". We almost always have some QS credits left and we are at peace with that when we leave Disney. Again, everyone can eat and pay for what they want. It always feels like people are berated for purchasing the plan. It isn't your money or issue. You do you.

 

[chasgeese]

I never denied that it can, in some circumstances, be mutually beneficial to both Disney and the guest. In fact, I dare say that if you go back 10-15 years, the pricing structure made it beneficial to most guests.
Over time, I think it became beneficial to fewer and fewer guests.
The big key is: It's only beneficial if you would honestly eat the exact same way without the dining plan.
And because you do split stays, that actually is giving you and advantage. Seems you wouldn't really benefit from the dining plan if you had it the whole trip, but by doing a split stay, you squeeze your character meals into the part where you're on the dining plan.

Basically, there are some restaurants and meals where it's almost impossible to even break even on the dining plan (especially if you don't drink alcohol). While there are some meals where the dining plan potentially saves you a lot. So yes, if you are truly only doing the "maximizer meals" -- which is easier with a short/split stay, that is a circumstance where the DDP can benefit the guest along with Disney.

But the key for Disney is that overall, the dining plans get people to spend more money. Most people are not ordering the exact same way without the dining plan. Just using my family as a classic example -- Over a week long trip, might do 1 character meal without a dining plan. But with the dining plan, may do more. Without the dining plan, might occasionally get a dessert to be shared after a meal. So over the course of 7 days, 4 people, might get 10-15 desserts... not 28. Would likely average 1 snack per person per day, wouldn't average 2. My family would average 1 TS per day, but many other families would not without the dining plan. And without the dining plan, over the course of a week, I might get 2-4 alcohol beverages for myself, 1-2 for my wife.... none for my "Disney adult kids" with or without the dining plan... so the dining plan would provide up to 28 alcoholic beverages, but without the plan would only buy 3-6.

I fully agree with you on your analysis of the value of the DDP, but the more I read here the more I realize that I also get why people get it despite the fact that it’s rarely a good deal (even sometimes on a FD deal compared to the room-only discount that usually is also offered simultaneously). It does make the vacation feel more like a vacation and also helps people budget in advance. I think of it in the same way I think about staying on-site. Even before the cuts of FP and other perks due to covid, there’s no way to make a purely financial justification to stay on-site vs. off-site (unless you plan on visiting WDW at least once a year or maybe every other year and you buy DVC), but I and others still pay what Disney charges because staying on-site is part of the experience for us.

I still think it’s useful on here to make sure that newbies or people who are trying to save money know that the DDP is not likely to save them money without a lot of planning/circumstances being right, but that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of people are willing to pay the premium for DDP and it works for them. My main problem with the DDP is the flattening of a lot of the dining options at Disney restaurants that Disney has used to make their dining options more efficient.

 

[Missingmypooh]

I never denied that it can, in some circumstances, be mutually beneficial to both Disney and the guest. In fact, I dare say that if you go back 10-15 years, the pricing structure made it beneficial to most guests.
Over time, I think it became beneficial to fewer and fewer guests.
The big key is: It's only beneficial if you would honestly eat the exact same way without the dining plan.
And because you do split stays, that actually is giving you and advantage. Seems you wouldn't really benefit from the dining plan if you had it the whole trip, but by doing a split stay, you squeeze your character meals into the part where you're on the dining plan.

Basically, there are some restaurants and meals where it's almost impossible to even break even on the dining plan (especially if you don't drink alcohol). While there are some meals where the dining plan potentially saves you a lot. So yes, if you are truly only doing the "maximizer meals" -- which is easier with a short/split stay, that is a circumstance where the DDP can benefit the guest along with Disney.

But the key for Disney is that overall, the dining plans get people to spend more money. Most people are not ordering the exact same way without the dining plan. Just using my family as a classic example -- Over a week long trip, might do 1 character meal without a dining plan. But with the dining plan, may do more. Without the dining plan, might occasionally get a dessert to be shared after a meal. So over the course of 7 days, 4 people, might get 10-15 desserts... not 28. Would likely average 1 snack per person per day, wouldn't average 2. My family would average 1 TS per day, but many other families would not without the dining plan. And without the dining plan, over the course of a week, I might get 2-4 alcohol beverages for myself, 1-2 for my wife.... none for my "Disney adult kids" with or without the dining plan... so the dining plan would provide up to 28 alcoholic beverages, but without the plan would only buy 3-6.

One of the greatest marketing tools is “bundling” items to seem like you’ve got a great deal. In reality, you just paid more for a bunch of stuff you can’t/won’t/don’t need !

a percentage benefit, and a large percentage won’t.

hopefully those confused about the dining plan read your breakdown-and then compare it to their family.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

A very nice gesture that I had happened to me and then in turn did the same to someone else was, I was at the food court at AoA, in line to purchase my daughters Nesquik and maybe a fruit bowl (cant honestly remember) and a man in front of me asked if me if he could pay for my order because he had a ton of snack credits to use before he left that day, even after he had purchased snacks for his family's journey home. That was a very sweet gesture. Don't you know, end of our trip we had a snack and one QS credit left even after buying our treats for the journey home. I in turn did the same and used my credit to pay for someone's QS breakfast and a snack and they weren't on the DDP so it was extra special for them. Love when we can spread some pixie dust.

 

[ford91exploder]

A very nice gesture that I had happened to me and then in turn did the same to someone else was, I was at the food court at AoA, in line to purchase my daughters Nesquik and maybe a fruit bowl (cant honestly remember) and a man in front of me asked if me if he could pay for my order because he had a ton of snack credits to use before he left that day, even after he had purchased snacks for his family's journey home. That was a very sweet gesture. Don't you know, end of our trip we had a snack and one QS credit left even after buying our treats for the journey home. I in turn did the same and used my credit to pay for someone's QS breakfast and a snack and they weren't on the DDP so it was extra special for them. Love when we can spread some pixie dust.

THIS - This is so much of the spirit of Disney you don't see behavior like this outside of a small town where some beloved schoolteacher or other local personality never pays for a meal or groceries because the town realizes what this person meant to the town and by doing this it's the town is collectively 'paying it forward'

When on the DP we did similar things the last day of our stay, spreading a little pixie dust around.

 

[ford91exploder]

I fully agree with you on your analysis of the value of the DDP, but the more I read here the more I realize that I also get why people get it despite the fact that it’s rarely a good deal (even sometimes on a FD deal compared to the room-only discount that usually is also offered simultaneously). It does make the vacation feel more like a vacation and also helps people budget in advance. I think of it in the same way I think about staying on-site. Even before the cuts of FP and other perks due to covid, there’s no way to make a purely financial justification to stay on-site vs. off-site (unless you plan on visiting WDW at least once a year or maybe every other year and you buy DVC), but I and others still pay what Disney charges because staying on-site is part of the experience for us.

I still think it’s useful on here to make sure that newbies or people who are trying to save money know that the DDP is not likely to save them money without a lot of planning/circumstances being right, but that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of people are willing to pay the premium for DDP and it works for them. My main problem with the DDP is the flattening of a lot of the dining options at Disney restaurants that Disney has used to make their dining options more efficient.

For many the DP soothes their anxiety about paying for meals and by easing their mind and helping them enjoy their vacation that creates value for the program right there not everything has a cash equivalent.

 

[Aprilshack]

For many the DP soothes their anxiety about paying for meals and by easing their mind and helping them enjoy their vacation that creates value for the program right there not everything has a cash equivalent.

I don't want to count the pennies when I'm on holiday and check I'm on budget every day. I like knowing my food is paid for and my cash is for souvenirs and tipping.

 

[AdamsMum]

Definitely agree with that. Disney always wins. If they didn’t, it wouldn’t be an option. The pricing structure for the food guarantees it, but if you’re buying what they’re selling you can maximize your money with the DP in some cases.

I also find the dining plan to be a good value for me, but I think Disney still wins or they wouldn't be offering it. Keep in mind that they don't pay the restaurants the full menu price of each meal. It's a great secret what they do pay, so if anyone struggles to make it work I think it's the restaurant owners.

 

[Wakey]

When I would do dining plan is if I had two rooms, and just get deluxe in one room and split all the credits. That’s then just about worth it.

 

[crazycatstacy]

My husband and I always get deluxe and we love it. I use all the leftover meal credits and snack credits to stock up on treats to bring to my friends and coworkers when I return. I know it isn't the best value money wise to do that, but my husband is fine with it and I feel like he would not be as generous if we were paying actual cash when I bought the snacks.

 

[preemiemama]

Is this new? I was looking at update menus on MDE and this showed up:


It leads to this page, which looks like a more updated version of the page I have seen in the past:


When I click the blue link that says "modify your reservation..." it returns me to the "My Plans" page on MDE. Am I being overly optimistic?

 

[Lewisc]

There are similar threads regarding the "imminent" return of FP. Disney IT at work. A glitch gets you to a page being held as a place holder.
DDP was designed to help fill restaurants. Some type of DDP will return when Disney has that need.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Is this new? I was looking at update menus on MDE and this showed up:
View attachment 571830

It leads to this page, which looks like a more updated version of the page I have seen in the past:
View attachment 571838

When I click the blue link that says "modify your reservation..." it returns me to the "My Plans" page on MDE. Am I being overly optimistic?

WDW did not want to remove/rebuild/reprogram the website. It has been there along. When/if the DDP comes back, it will be well announced .

 

[AdamsMum]

When I would do dining plan is if I had two rooms, and just get deluxe in one room and split all the credits. That’s then just about worth it.

I did this on my last trip, not the deluxe plan. I was there with my son, but in separate studios during Festival of the Arts. Paid for the QS dining plan for my room. We had a few OOP table service meals during the week, and some of the food booth snacks were quite substantial. The QS plan lasted us until the last day, and we still had to use up snack credits at the bakery in France on our last night. Now THAT made me feel like I got a deal. I've also used it for my solo split stays so I have a full day to use it on the change over day.

I actually like the QS dining plan as I don't eat table service every day. We'll see on my next trip (if that happens in Dec 21) how it works out without it.