Disney begins leadership shuffle

[manning]

I'm not disagreeing with you on that, I'm just saying that you pay for it one trip, and you don't on another. The cost for your room or your tickets don't go up when you get free dining, nor does the quality food on free dining. You still get the same options you had when you paid for it.

This is Disney's way of charging a "seasonal rate".

A hotel at Myrtle Beach can't charge the same thing in December as it does in July, it's the same concept.

On top of the seasonal rate adjustments on rack rates. They do vary throughout the year.

 

[Castle2Castle]

I'm not disagreeing with you on that, I'm just saying that you pay for it one trip, and you don't on another. The cost for your room or your tickets don't go up when you get free dining, nor does the quality food on free dining. You still get the same options you had when you paid for it.

This is Disney's way of charging a "seasonal rate".

I think there may be a technicality with respect to the price of room and tickets. From what I can remember when we last looked at a free dining offer, you could only receive it as part of a package that involved getting room and tickets at rack rates -- along with the additional restrictions/fees associated with changes or cancellations that are part of packages versus room-only reservations. Not electing the free dining plan allows guests to apply room-only discounts and purchase discounted tickets; mileage will vary based on each guests needs and wants, but if this is still the case then there are foregone savings on rooms and tickets by opting to go with the free dining.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I think there may be a technicality with respect to the price of room and tickets. From what I can remember when we last looked at a free dining offer, you could only receive it as part of a package that involved getting room and tickets at rack rates -- along with the additional restrictions/fees associated with changes or cancellations that are part of packages versus room-only reservations. Not electing the free dining plan allows guests to apply room-only discounts and purchase discounted tickets; mileage will vary based on each guests needs and wants, but if this is still the case then there are foregone savings on rooms and tickets by opting to go with the free dining.

Compare rack rate to rack rate, when you start comparing this discount vs that discount then you aren't comparing apples to apples.

If you buy a vacation at $3500 with dining, and a vacation at $2500 with free dining with room rates and ticket prices staying the same, then it's truly free dining. It's a promotion that Disney runs to try to get guest to the parks.

If they jack the rate of the room, or the ticket, or add some surcharge to your account, then its not really "free dining".

 

[Castle2Castle]

Peak Season rack rate to Off Season rack rate is not apples-to-apples.

If I'm traveling in October, I want to know what the cheapest option for a basket of services is in October. My choices then are "free dining" with full priced room and tickets or discounted room and tickets with pay-as-I-go dining. Weighing the pricing for the same set of services at the same time would be apples-to-apples.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Peak Season rack rate to Off Season rack rate is not apples-to-apples. If I'm traveling in October, I want to know what the cheapest option for a basket of services is in October. My choices then are "free dining" with full priced room and tickets or discounted room and tickets with pay-as-I-go dining. Weighing the pricing for the same set of services at the same time would be apples-to-apples.

It's really this simple, you pay for dining or you don't.

 

[lilychris]

It truly depends on your dates of travel. I went last year in November. When I booked in February there was no free dining so I paid for the quick serve dining plan. When the free dining was released I had to change hotels and was told I had to change my dates of travel, which I couldn't do. They gave me free dining but for the first two days they made it a room only reservation. Which meant I would have to purchase park hoppers for the two days before the package started. It ended up being the same price as the first package. If you can be flexible then it's great.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Rooms aren't being raised $120+ per night to cover free dining (and that is just with 2 adults, no kids). Rack rates for Caribbean Beach Resort in fall (start of free dining typically) start at $170 weekday/$190 weekend. If you book that during free dining... well worth it.

I unerstand they aren't doing this out of the kindness of their heart, but they are doing it to drive occupancy rates during traditionally slower periods, and banking on selling extra shirts/mugs/plush/etc.

Lol...I'm sorry...did you just say Caribbean is worth like $215 a night with tax?

That can't be

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I personally think they will make an announcement about a new Star Wars land project at some point during SW weekends... Pure speculation on my part.

Boy, I wish...
Just don't see it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree it can save you a lot of money in many cases. I think it's not completely free but it does save money and if it saves me money I'm in.

It would be a better savings...however it is somewhat marginalized by the lack of a rack discount in the package...and the dining plan isn't nearly the deal it was due to the reduction in food (appetizers are frankly still far more interesting Than the bland entrees and redundant desserts) and the gratuity.

There are ways to do more with free dining as well...those tickets we "had to buy" on the free dining package (the one time we did it to save DVC points)...might have just been applied to new DVC annuals on the best deal you can realistically find...

Perhaps by somebody's wife at magic kingdom today...perhaps while he watches the kids at home and trolls for any new news from the kingdom...

Maybe

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Factor in overall quality.

I'll take shula's steak house over the the one at the yatch club anytime. I pay more but the quality of food and service is far superior. That's the example of giving up quality for lower price.

No question...they systematically reduced selection with that blasted dining plan (predictably...as many cries at the time)...and also halved up the prices heavily.

I could take one or the other...not both concurrently

My expenditures on Disney food is drastically reduced from 10 years ago....and the list of places I'll even go is cut by 2/3

Anybody else want to talk with their wallets?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's really this simple, you pay for dining or you don't.

No...it's not...

It's still a better deal...don't get me wrong.

But if there is a standard discount on rooms in packages without the free dining hook that is eliminated when they promo...you pay a "hidden" cost for free dining.

That IS the case. Some of us have experience with the old Walt Disney travel company...

It still is a better deal...as the food cost outweighs an adjustment of the rack rate that is somewhere in the 25% range..but still.

 

[smithcor]

Would love to see EPCOT return to Walt's original vision. Not a huge Star Wars fan, but that would be a huge competitor for Harry Potter for sure, so very smart move. And Hollywood Studios definitely needs to be reinvigorated.

This sounds like really good news, should be an interesting few years to come...

 

[ChipnDale79]

I'm not talking free dining vs other discounts, i know sometimes free dining isn't the best option and when you choose free dining, then your room rate goes "up" because you don't get a discount on the room.

I'm talking rack room vs free dining.

 

[hedberg1661]

Would love to see EPCOT return to Walt's original vision. Not a huge Star Wars fan, but that would be a huge competitor for Harry Potter for sure, so very smart move. And Hollywood Studios definitely needs to be reinvigorated.

This sounds like really good news, should be an interesting few years to come...

I agree that both of those parks need some help. I do however, think it would be hard to go back to what Walt wanted since that never happened in the first place. His vision of this city that is basically self supporting never really came to be. I do think it is a tremendous idea...far ahead of his time even by today's standards.

As far as Star Wars being introduced into the parks...it will happen. Disney spent far too much money to only push out movies. I wouldn't be surprised to see them transform these new purchases (Star Wars and Marvel) into their 5th gate. However, they could use these new purchases to revamp both DHS and EC. It shall be interesting to see where they go in the coming years.

 

[mvk]

Lol...I'm sorry...did you just say Caribbean is worth like $215 a night with tax?

That can't be

If you're not paying for meals the entire trip, yes. If you have a family of four eating for free, versus paying $180 per night or whatever it would be for the dining package, then spending $170-$190 per night to stay at the Caribbean in September is well worth it.

 

[mvk]

I agree that both of those parks need some help. I do however, think it would be hard to go back to what Walt wanted since that never happened in the first place. His vision of this city that is basically self supporting never really came to be. I do think it is a tremendous idea...far ahead of his time even by today's standards.

As far as Star Wars being introduced into the parks...it will happen. Disney spent far too much money to only push out movies. I wouldn't be surprised to see them transform these new purchases (Star Wars and Marvel) into their 5th gate. However, they could use these new purchases to revamp both DHS and EC. It shall be interesting to see where they go in the coming years.

They can't use Marvel in Orlando. Even if they could, instead of building a 5th gate, they'd do better to just overhaul the one gate they have that needs help, and should be set to the movies theme anyway.

 

[rteetz]

They can't use Marvel in Orlando. Even if they could, instead of building a 5th gate, they'd do better to just overhaul the one gate they have that needs help, and should be set to the movies theme anyway.

They could use marvel but it would have to be like guardians of the galaxy character or new characters that aren't under the universal contract.

 

[mvk]

They could use marvel but it would have to be like guardians of the galaxy character or new characters that aren't under the universal contract.

Right, but I don't think those characters will ever be as popular as The Avengers and SpiderMan, and it would just lead to disappointment and calls of bait-and-switch.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

....and the list of places I'll even go is cut by 2/3

lockedoutlogic...which are the remaining 1/3 WDW restaurants that you will still go to?

 

[rteetz]

Right, but I don't think those characters will ever be as popular as The Avengers and SpiderMan, and it would just lead to disappointment and calls of bait-and-switch.

I agree I was just pointing out they could if they wanted