Disney Dining Plan: How can Disney DO THIS?!?!

[deide71]

Win WIn. You get a better vacation, they get more guests to their park.

 

[jgates]

I'm know I would be one of the people upgrading to a nicer resort since I was able to eliminate food from the budget expense. Rather than staying at a value resort I would definitely be moving to a mod or possibly evening looking at Y/B or GF as it would be the only way I would be able to stay at those facilities (unless I ate a weeks worth of PBJ sandwiches from the room and that's NOT vacation!!!)

 

[!@#$%]

As far as the DDP goes, consider this... there are lots of discrepencies in the plan, like what drinks you are allowed. (See my other post about smoothies) and how to "juice" the plan. Theres talk, and talk is good, whether good or bad. A man that used to come into a store I worked at once made a very strange statement. He always said {quote} "Talk is good. As long as they are talking about me I know I'm still alive. It dont matter if its bad or good, as long as they dont stop talking." The statement makes sence. As long as its making people (like us) talk, thats advertising. I knew the answer to this question before I typed it, just wanted to see peoples responces and other points of view. I too studied advertising and marketing at college before I started my own plumbing business. Anything that causes a stir is usually good. (Like movie star scandles)

I am the king of creative advertising (cant afford the usual). If you see my plumbing van with its HUGE graphics (outlined in reflective graphics) and you see the neon lights glowing under it you notice it because its something you dont see everyday. How many plumbing vans out there have a $2500 sound system with huge subs and neon lights??? The next time you need a plumber you see my huge ads in the phone book and you think "that one looks familiar for some reason; I'll call him." You just took the bait. The neon and audio was left over from my old car audio business that I shut down years ago to go into plumbing. I didnt have much in it. Advertising is good, but creative advertising is better, and often cheaper. Have you ever noticed Disney's buses? OF COURSE! They have to advertise in different ways, and this was one of their plans. I wonder how many times the DDP made small newspapers or tour guides?
Yes, we studied the meal plan before the trip, and even looked at the menus to many of the restaurants. We wanted to see how good we could do. Human nature. Yes, their idea worked. We hardly EVER bought ANY food in the park, but since we did this last trip it will be much harder to talk my children out of the ice cream bars on the NEXT trip. The parents may reason it out, but the children will ALWAYS remember eating in the park. Thats their trap as well. That trap I fell for, because I have now let them experience the other way to do Disney, and that was something I didnt consider at the time. I fell for that one hook lead and sinker! Fortunately, it will be a few years till we return. 7 trips in 2 years has me a bit pixie dusted out. Gonna let the APs expire & do some beach trips now.

 

[Bete]

I think in the future, if Disney offers a deal like this it will be more restrictive. They didn't link the number of days at their resort with park ticket days being the same; this is why the AP holder was able to get a really good deal, especially if you stayed at a value resort. Disney wanted to draw the guest that would be buying park tickets, etc., not the AP holder on this promo. You got lucky as an AP holder and I'm happy for you. Also, if you noticed the promo is being offered at the height of the hurricane season. I think Disney was hedging against last year's weather problems. If you noticed Disney hasn't released November hours. I think it's because attendance is way down with hurricane Katrina. People are scared now and thinking of going to other destinations for vacation or going at a differennt time to Disney World. It's a risk going at this time, but if you do go, you get a very big perk.

I did an unplanned trip for this this promo. We will be there from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8. I love catching the Food and Wine Festival and MNSSHP and the free dining all at the same time. We normally stay at a cheaper Disney resort and we dine at all the finer restaurants. So this plan is just perfect for us. I made and got all my ADRs including CRT. I'm very pleased at this point. I have over 20 trips to DW under my belt and we lived in the Midwest the whole time. This is the best promo I have ever seen Disney offer, especially if, you plan your meals and get the most out of them.