Disney Dining Plan 2012 has been published

[2Pirates2Princesses]

With only one snack on the QSDP, you could end up losing money....definitely not worth it in my opinion, UNLESS the price goes down.

I agree with this and with the other poster who said that the snacks go a long way, especially if you use one snack credit for breakfast and save the other snack for later. The two snacks with the quick service plan is especially nice when you have children that would rather graze than eat a full meal all the time. With the removal of the second snack, I think the regular dining plan (1TS, 1 CS, 1 snack) will probably be considered by many to be a better deal; but that depends on if you want to have a scheduled ADR everyday and how much they raise the price of the plan to now include that free refillable mug

 

[Cupmom]

oops!!

 

[havoc315]

1. Very interesting they are releasing the brochures so early -- especially since packages can't be booked until August. Will they release packages early this year?

2. Considering it is so early, possibly these plans are not final?

3. Removal of a snack from qsdp -- unless there is a price reduction, it is very hard to see value to the plan.

4. For people who don't use the mug much (including myself) -- if the mug is used as an excuse for a real increase to the ddp price, it can really destroy the true value of the ddp. Filling up on desserts, snacks and soda... But not offering any real value when it comes to real food.

 

[whacked]

maybe they are wanting people to upgrade to the regular DP from the QSDP.

I would agree that the QSDP does not look like much of a value now unless it's during a free dining period.

Of course, I haven't seen what the new menu prices will be for 2012 either.

Sometimes I wonder if the main purpose of the dining plans are for the free dining promotions, and they don't really care about the value the rest of the year.

 

[DebbieB]

1. Very interesting they are releasing the brochures so early -- especially since packages can't be booked until August. Will they release packages early this year?

2. Considering it is so early, possibly these plans are not final?

3. Removal of a snack from qsdp -- unless there is a price reduction, it is very hard to see value to the plan.

4. For people who don't use the mug much (including myself) -- if the mug is used as an excuse for a real increase to the ddp price, it can really destroy the true value of the ddp. Filling up on desserts, snacks and soda... But not offering any real value when it comes to real food.

I saw a post that they have already released 2012 packages for overseas.

 

[lesabrowning]

I have also wondered if Disney tweaks these dining plans for the free dining promos. We have been using the dining plans for years and have never done free dining. (we are DVC) We still save money with the regular or deluxe plans, depending on what type of trip we have planned, but I know it is certainly not a savings for many families.... Unless of course you get it for "free" and especially if your kids are Disney adults and it is "free."

 

[2Tiggies]

seems like this is very early for them to be publishing these...now we'll have a couple of extra months of the weekly threads about "OMG all the restaurants missing in Epcot, AK and DTD lists...they will not take the dining plan" since as usual, the early brochure does not list the non-Disney owned restaurants. And there will be all the explanations that final list won't be out until the December 2010 brochure, once all the 2012 contracts are signed with non-Disney restaurants...

You've voiced my sentiments on this perfectly. I clearly recall a similar, rather emotive discussion on the same thing last year - which amounted to nil when the official announcement was made on the 2011 plans. I am not going to lose any sleep over it until the word is final. However I do love a good discussion, which places me in the category of hypocrite

 

[WrenNCuckoos]

I saw a post that they have already released 2012 packages for overseas.

They have. We're booked for Feb 2012 and the free DDP includes a mug.

 

[havoc315]

maybe they are wanting people to upgrade to the regular DP from the QSDP.

I would agree that the QSDP does not look like much of a value now unless it's during a free dining period.

Of course, I haven't seen what the new menu prices will be for 2012 either.

Sometimes I wonder if the main purpose of the dining plans are for the free dining promotions, and they don't really care about the value the rest of the year.

Good points. It does suggest a change in strategies.
There was a time, when the DDP was a great value (included tips and appetizers) -- That was before the era of free dining, but being permitted to buy the plan was a value in itself! Thus a reason to stay on site.

Now, it does seem like they want to basically make money off it when they charge for it. And they will give it for free at other times.

So this change to the QSDP -- It makes it seem like they really don't expect people to purchase the QSDP. But by taking away the snack, and adding the mug to the DDP --- They are really trying to give people the incentive to upgrade from the QSDP to the DDP.

So perhaps... part of the thinking is... now when they give away the QSDP for "free," people will have an even greater incentive to pay to upgrade to the DDP. Thus more revenue for Disney.

And for non-free dining periods, they may hope that the new design encourages people to purchase the more expensive dining plan.

 

[emlutz23]

I'd rather they add back the appetizer...sigh

 

[whacked]

There was a time, when the DDP was a great value (included tips and appetizers) -- That was before the era of free dining, but being permitted to buy the plan was a value in itself! Thus a reason to stay on site.

Actually the first time we went with "free" dining, it was under the original plan staying at a mod. That was a REALLY good deal. It was either a 2005 or 2006 trip I think.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I don't like that they are removing a snack on QSDP. We like to use one CS meal and one snack on arrival day, then another CS meal and snack the following day for lunch. I'm really curious to see the cost for 2012.

 

[StuckInKS]

After doing the QSDP this year, we have decided that we liked it, but probably not so much without the extra snack. We liked having all those snacks! I wouldn't be surprised to see an increase in the QSDP even with the missing snack. I think maybe most people opt for QSDP during free dining and they are trying to reduce their "losses" on that promo. Also, it will make the DDP much more appealing to those who are on the fence about upgrading. I'm thinking there will be a $15 to $20 difference between QSDP and DDP next year.

I know we haven't seen a price yet, but when I tried to add QSDP before our recent trip, the CM tried to charge me $39/adult and $15/child. I told him I thought it was $35/adult and $12/child and maybe he was charging peak pricing. He said no and repeated the prices. I told him I would have to call back. 5 minutes later HE called ME back and said he had made a mistake and I was correct on the price. Maybe the CMs already know the prices and he got confused thinking they were in effect already?

 

[sunshineNJ]

I noticed on the list of restaurants in the 2012 plan at the very beginning of this thread that Yacht and Beach Club restaurants are not listed.

 

[LindyN]

I noticed on the list of restaurants in the 2012 plan at the very beginning of this thread that Yacht and Beach Club restaurants are not listed.

Folks, these are not be the final brochures as they have not officially released their 2012 packages. Disney will continue to add locations. Usually the final brochures are done in December/January.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I noticed on the list of restaurants in the 2012 plan at the very beginning of this thread that Yacht and Beach Club restaurants are not listed.

yes they are. Page 5 on the link in the first post.

 

[RachaelA]

Guess we are never getting the QSDP again (we had it for free for the first time in December and really liked it). The 2 snacks help take care of breakfast AND an afternoon snack.

 

[KatieCollette]

Yay for the mug addition! Our first family trip we did not do the DDP, but bought the mugs anyway and we loved them! Our last trip we did the basic dining plan and we missed the mugs.

It does seem like they are trying to push people to upgrade to the regular dining plan instead of the quick service with the addition of the mug and the removal of one snack from the quick dining. They have no problem filling the values up, the moderates need a little more work to get people in the rooms. I have a feeling that part of the reason for the changes is for people to upgrade to the moderates to get the regular dining plan which is more appealing.

 

[Dizneydaz]

The addition of the free mug is nice but curious as to what the price increase will be?

Removing one snack credit from QSDP definitely makes it not worth it IMHO. Unless it's free, of course. I recently did some price checking on the current plan and decided that if we had to pay for it it wouldn't be that good of a deal. Especially since we always have extra credits to scramble to use on the last few days. Last year we had 14 snack credits to use last day (maybe this is why they are eliminating one?)

 

[Disneymadhouse]

We are renting points to stay at OKW next Dec, so no free dining!
I have been busy working out the numbers for the last few days and will probably pay for the DDP, partly as we had planned to do 5 character meals anyway. I checked with the WDW travel co here in the UK and they told me the prices should be out aroound August.
From 2010 to 2011 the adult prices went up around $4, so I guess the DDP will be $49 or $50 . If its any more then I will have to look at the numbers again!!, although I guess the price of meals OOP will go up next year too.

Claire