Disney Doing Survey on Dining Plan Changes

[bama_ed]

Hey!

I usually check out the "Camping at DisneyWorld" board but had to check over here on something. I searched on the word "survey" but didn't see anything so here goes!

I got an email with a link to a Disney Survey regarding the Disney Dining Plan, what I thought about it currently, and my opinion about proposed changes they were considering (and at what price points). It was very similar to other e-mail surveys I've received from Disney (no personal info) but they did know the details of my next visit so it seemed legit.

As I said, they asked opinions about the current DD plan (which I choose not to use). What was interesting was that they asked many questions about ideas to go "upscale" such as "Would you be willing to attend a 'behind the scenes tour' which was followed by a dinner?". Or they asked me to rate items as to how attractive they might be like "prime dinner seating for fireworks shows" or a DD package which included 4 hours of babysitting/child care. Or did I go to WDW for premium dining experiences? Or would I want 2 table meals per day (no counter) plus snack.

Some of the questions were repetitive; for a given mix of features they asked if I would be willing to pay $79.99 per adult/day or $89.99 per adult/day, etc... They seemed hung up that it would still be for every day of your stay. They even priced out for my mix of kids/adults for the full number of days what this "new" DD Plans total cost would be. Ouch!

Anyway, I would think we'll see changes soon in the DDP where they try to move it (and the costs) upscale. The DDP as-is doesn't make sense for me and my family and these coming changes would make it even less so.

We shall see!
Bama ED

 

[JimMIA]

Interesting numbers. I personally can't imagine any package of benefits which would cause me to pay $80 or $90 per adult per day. Two TS's per day would work out to that, but we would never do two TS's per day...either as two seperate meals or as a 2 TS meal. Maybe an occasional 2 TS meal, but certainly not every day.

 

[Princessbaby]

I got the same email. I believe the highest price they quoted was 109.99 per adult/day. OUCH! I think the kids went as high as 59.99/day. As far as the TS meals, there was one question about making the currrent 2TS into 1TS and would this change my view on doing more "upscale" dining. I think these changes are neat, but the prices are too steep. They gave 4 different scenarios and with each one they offered a price with the new "proposed" DP and the current DP and then they asked which would you purchase? Of course I picked current each time because the prices were too much! We'll see what happens!

 

[jodifla]

I got the same email. I believe the highest price they quoted was 109.99 per adult/day. OUCH! I think the kids went as high as 59.99/day. As far as the TS meals, there was one question about making the currrent 2TS into 1TS and would this change my view on doing more "upscale" dining. I think these changes are neat, but the prices are too steep. They gave 4 different scenarios and with each one they offered a price with the new "proposed" DP and the current DP and then they asked which would you purchase? Of course I picked current each time because the prices were too much! We'll see what happens!

I think this shows that they are losing a lot of money on the DDP, and they are making plans to rachet up the costs.

 

[bicker]

I don't think they're losing money on the Dining Plan. They just see that there are possibly more opportunities to make more money by making the Dining Plan even more attractive, so that some guests will purchase it who perhaps wouldn't have purchased it otherwise. (Maybe a number of guests are purchasing it once, but not purchasing it again because they've "already done that".)

One thing I think is interesting is the note about "prime dinner seating for fireworks shows" -- With the news this week that there may be an impending rehab of Rose and Crown in the Spring of next year, I'm wondering if they're perhaps considering doing something to structure the restaurant as an even better and more focused viewing location for the show -- perhaps making those tables hard-ticket tables instead of "luck of the draw" -- for a hefty premium, of course. I know that I'd pay at least an extra $10-$15 per person for a guaranteed patio table at Rose and Crown, and I bet they could fill twice as many tables as they have now at that price.

 

[BCV23]

I very much doubt that WDW is losing money with the DDP. Instead, I bet they're making quite a bit and achieving a goal of keeping guests at WDW. Why else did the plan go up just $1/adult from 05 to 06?

We would be interested in a DDP that included 2 TS/day as long as it included signature restaurants as a single TS. TS at WDW has been our habit for many long years and all those CS credits is the biggest drawback to DDP for my family. Those quiet and good meals as a family were an important part of making our memories.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I love a DDP with 2 TS credits per day. We'd use one for breakfast and one for dinner.

Now if they can offer that for between $40-$60 per person, per night I'd jump on it. Anything more than that and we're back to counter service and maybe 1-3 TS meals.

 

[Lewisc]

A poster in another thread posted the complete survey.

It looks like Disney is considering lowering the price of the premium package and/or raising the price of the basic dining plan. Basically give a guest something to upgrade to. I think it shows Disney is making a lot of $$$ on the dining plan and is looking for a way to make even more money.

Most of the costs of running the restaurants are fixed. Think of the buffet restaurants. We're paying to occupy a seat we're not paying based on how much food we consume. I don't see Disney offering a plan that costs less but provides less food, rather a plan that costs more and gives you more food.

The premium package gives you 3 meals a day (TS or CS) and doesn't charge 2 credits for a signature meal. The premium plan gives you a special fireworks viewing location.

edited to include a link to the thread that has the complete survey.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1291985

 

[helenk]

I don't think they're losing money on the Dining Plan. They just see that there are possibly more opportunities to make more money by making the Dining Plan even more attractive, so that some guests will purchase it who perhaps wouldn't have purchased it otherwise. (Maybe a number of guests are purchasing it once, but not purchasing it again because they've "already done that".)

One thing I think is interesting is the note about "prime dinner seating for fireworks shows" -- With the news this week that there may be an impending rehab of Rose and Crown in the Spring of next year, I'm wondering if they're perhaps considering doing something to structure the restaurant as an even better and more focused viewing location for the show -- perhaps making those tables hard-ticket tables instead of "luck of the draw" -- for a hefty premium, of course. I know that I'd pay at least an extra $10-$15 per person for a guaranteed patio table at Rose and Crown, and I bet they could fill twice as many tables as they have now at that price.

I would love to see seating for Illuminations viewing areas with your dinner, something similar to the Fantasmic Dinner Package. I would pay extra for a good viewing spot without have to scope it out 2 hours before the show.

 

[gssmks]

By chance, did this survey mention anything about letting people pay the adult price for a child and let them order from the adult menu without paying for adult tickets?

 

[Luv2Roam]

I had the same survey sent to me a few days ago!
I have a Room Only 1 night booking at the Contemp for Feb.
It was a very interesting survey. I can see them offering guests options to take it up a notch to a Premium or Platinum status. (Offering the standard DDP and a premium, with more high end perks. Which is pretty much what a premium or platinum package is anyway.)
I found it interesting as to options they are considering.
I believe I was sent this e-mail due to having a Room Only booked, and they also wondering why I did not book the DDP.
Some of the questions did revolve around what kind of park tickets we have, or planned on buying. (Don't need any -- PAPholder)

 

[NMW]

I have been saying for about a year that I would love and plan that gives two TS meals per day...and yes, I would pay more for it! I really, really hope they change the plan up a little to give people more options.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

I think the current appeal of the Dining Plan would certainly lessen if there was any substantial price increase for the basic plan. I know we wouldn't get it. I also can't imagine doing more than one TS a day, there is no way we would be willing to loose so much park time.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I think the current appeal of the Dining Plan would certainly lessen if there was any substantial price increase for the basic plan. I know we wouldn't get it. I also can't imagine doing more than one TS a day, there is no way we would be willing to loose so much park time.

I agree with you. I wouldn't pay that high price. I prefer the 1 CS and 1 TS per day. There was so much food as it was that way I couldn't imagine trying to do 2 TS everyday.

 

[BCV23]

I agree with you. I wouldn't pay that high price. I prefer the 1 CS and 1 TS per day. There was so much food as it was that way I couldn't imagine trying to do 2 TS everyday.

A table service meal is not necessarily more food than a counter service meal and can be much healthier than some of the QS options. In general, the TS meals offer many more healthy options in our experience although QS has been improving in that department. A meal which consists of a vegetable appetizer, piece of fish and rice has fewer calories, fat and carbs than a doublecheeseburger/fries meal for instance.

But I would doubt they would remove the lower price option as so many people do enjoy the mix of QS and TS.

 

[Lewisc]

The higher cost plan doesn't charge 2 credits for signature meals. I don't think guests have to eat 3 TS meals a day in order to "get their monies worth".

Some guests might go for a TS breakfast, maybe character, and have dinner in a signature restaurant.

 

[ehagerty]

... I think the "2 TS per person per day" is not so much that they expect you to be able to eat two single credit TS meals per day, but that you could manage your bank of points over the length of your stay to include more premium dinners.

I've used the dining plan twice (although I am also a veteran of the old vouchers for quite a few years) - and I don't think about eating one CS and one TS per day. I think about eating a premium meal one day and a couple of CS on another day - or using 3 CS's for 4 people in one sitting, etc. In other words, I pre-plan (with a spreadsheet and ADR's) to OPTIMIZE my dining options, with focus on the TS credits.

While we enjoy many of the restaurants - we're getting hooked on California Grill, Narcoosies, Citricos, Artist Point, etc. I don't know that we would spend more tha $38/person/day, but I can see where people with smaller travel parties and higher travel budget might very well like the OPTION to accrue and manage 2TS/person/day.

 

[Lewisc]

The premium dining plan that's being surveyed doesn't have TS/CS credits. You get 3 meals per day. There isn't any distinction between CS, TS or Signature.

Most of us won't be eating 3 TS meals per day.

... I think the "2 TS per person per day" is not so much that they expect you to be able to eat two single credit TS meals per day, but that you could manage your bank of points over the length of your stay to include more premium dinners.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I would love to see a plan with two counter serve options and for a lower price. It works better with the way we eat and would provide more than enough food and not take up as much time in the restaurants.

We often stay for extended periods and it would be nice to be able to use 2 CS for those rare times when we might actually enjoy a TS meal.

JMO, Slightly Goofy

 

[thunderbird1]

Interesting--thanks for the summary of the survey and the link. Disney, like every other business, is constantly changing, and it's nice to see where they might be heading.

We've only done the DDP once (when it was free), and love it just the way it is. Personally, I don't enjoy doing 2 full TS meals a day (once the kids are grown, who knows?). I know a lot of people would prefer 2 CS or 2 TS meals per day, and/or the option to "upgrade" CS's to TS's. If there is a way to do all these different dining plans without making it completely confusing for everyone involved, that, I suppose, would be the best of all worlds.

I guess my biggest concern (not that I'm losing any sleep over it) would be the added load on the already overcrowded TS restaurants if they instituted a 2 TS meal per day plan. Perhaps if they included the signature restaurants at 1 credit on that plan (and priced it out of many guests' budgets, which it sounds like they're already considering), and also instituted a 2 CS meal a day plan (for the other end of the budget spectrum), it would lessen the impact.

Just my $.02.