Does anyone else hate free dining?

[tinkerbell of winter]

It always makes the parks super crowded, ADRs almost impossible to get on short notice and it's unfair to DVC members. So that's my vent of the day, the reasons I dislike free dining.........

 

[TiaMaria]

It always makes the parks super crowded, ADRs almost impossible to get on short notice and it's unfair to DVC members. So that's my vent of the day, the reasons I dislike free dining.........

Don't get me started....

It's unfair to anyone who is paying for their dining, DVC or not. DDP or not. I don't mind not getting it as it is not "free", but I resent the heck out of not getting my ADR's (or not being able to change them as our plans change).

I also resent the frazzled service I have been receiving this year as a result of the "screaming masses" wearing out the staff. I also dislike the menu changes that may or may not be a result of the "free" dining.

It can't end soon enough.

JMHO

 

[spiceycat]

not really - my allergies cause me problems eating in the restuarant - pepper can be a problem for chefs. So mostly better off going back to my villa and fixing my own food. It takes less time and no waiting for a table.

that say really missed not getting Boma for breakfast - always eat there at least once when staying at AKV - so going anyway. they can tell me no availability - or maybe if lucky seat me. Won't know until I am there.

 

[DenLo]

No I do not hate free dining. Disney needs "Free Dining" to attract customers due to the dip in the economy. I would rather have free dining attracting more customers, than Disney having to do more cutbacks on service or closing the parks earlier or heaven forbid, closing one day a week.

You can see in the news all the time how Orlando's room vacancy is very high. Disney has stated they are down 30%. That's a big hit in company's profit. I know we would like uncrowded parks and ADR availability when we want it, but Disney is in business for profit. Sometimes we get so wrapped in the magic we forgot that little quirk.

 

[SnowWhite2]

There are other ways to fill a park besides free dining. I have taken to eating meals outside the park any chance I get.

 

[Inkmahm]

don't get me started....

It's unfair to anyone who is paying for their dining, dvc or not. Ddp or not. I don't mind not getting it as it is not "free", but i resent the heck out of not getting my adr's (or not being able to change them as our plans change).

I also resent the frazzled service i have been receiving this year as a result of the "screaming masses" wearing out the staff. I also dislike the menu changes that may or may not be a result of the "free" dining.

It can't end soon enough.

Jmho

amen!!!

 

[5forDiz]

and it's unfair to DVC members. So that's my vent of the day, the reasons I dislike free dining.........

Unfair to DVC members ? How ?

our DVC purchase = deluxe villa vacation accommodations which I'd choose in a hearbeat over paying rack rate for room, etc. in order to take advantage of "free" dining.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

nope, I like free dining because it was included with my package. and helped me decide to come back this year.

If I remember the DVC pitch right, it only includes rooms. but once you buy in, Disney knows you are coming back, so they don't have to offer you any incentive to come back, because you have a vested amount of money in the vacation already.

So if they get in your wallet for some dining, they are coming out ahead.

but you do get to pool hop, and some other things, so it evens out.

Disney, like a pp pointed out, is a business, and they need some serious money coming in.

With a 30% reduction in attendence, like a PP said, if true, is a major hit in their income.

I kept track of the free dining they "gave" me last year. and approximate prices I would have paid for meals. I spent twice that amount on other stuff above and beyond my room, so Disney came out ahead on the "free" dining.

heck, when we left last year, we still had unused meals on our keys.

(burp!)

RUM?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

It always makes the parks super crowded, ADRs almost impossible to get on short notice and it's unfair to DVC members.

So-called "free dining" is just a discount program to fill rooms that would otherwise go empty during the low-demand season. Customers pay the full undiscounted rate and then get a discount in the form of "free" meals.

It doesn't make the parks "super crowded" -- at least not as "super crowded" as at peak times -- because most off-site hotels have low occupancy at that time.

We DVC members get a different kind of discount. The DVC point charts are designed to spread demand across the whole year, so we get DVC nights for fewer points when demand is traditionally lower. We can make our own decisions about where to dine -- whether on-site, off-site, or in our DVC villas. That seems like a much better deal to me.

Dining reservations are "almost impossible to get on short notice" for the most popular restaurants all year long, especially during the busiest seasons. The solution is to pick restaurants other than the most popular ones and not to wait too long. I don't care if I can't get into Le Cellier; my most recent dinner there was so disappointing that I'm in no hurry to go back.

 

[Micca]

My only objection to free dining is the negative effect it has had on menu choices and quality. :

 

[vellamint]

While I loved the idea of eating in all of those restaurants with my family of six....I did not love my schedule being dictated by those same dining reservations....

We have had free dining for 3 trips now and the decision I made about NOT having a sit down meal every night helped contribute to my decision the buy into DVC.

 

[Corinne]

Don't get me started....

It's unfair to anyone who is paying for their dining, DVC or not. DDP or not. I don't mind not getting it as it is not "free", but I resent the heck out of not getting my ADR's (or not being able to change them as our plans change).

I also resent the frazzled service I have been receiving this year as a result of the "screaming masses" wearing out the staff. I also dislike the menu changes that may or may not be a result of the "free" dining.

It can't end soon enough. JMHO

Not to mention the park crowds! We just returned on August 28 after a week long stay~ normally it is a VERY quiet time of year. This is no longer the case. In addition to the crowds, the overall quality (and offerings) of food has suffered. The fact is, their marketing is working. All the people who believe they are getting "free" dining booked trips!

 

[Corinne]

So-called "free dining" is just a discount program to fill rooms that would otherwise go empty during the low-demand season. Customers pay the full undiscounted rate and then get a discount in the form of "free" meals.

I totally agree

It doesn't make the parks "super crowded" -- at least not as "super crowded" as at peak times -- because most off-site hotels have low occupancy at that time..

I respectfully disagree...the parks were "super crowded" when we were there Aug 21-28. We visit every summer in either July or Aug), and iven the par attendance, it could have easily been July or early August.

Dining reservations are "almost impossible to get on short notice" for the most popular restaurants all year long, especially during the busiest seasons. The solution is to pick restaurants other than the most popular ones and not to wait too long. I don't care if I can't get into Le Cellier; my most recent dinner there was so disappointing that I'm in no hurry to go back.

I have to agree somewhat but also I have to respectfully disagree here. You are quite correct this is now the case. However, there was a time, in the not-so distant past, when one could call on any given day and secure a ressie for a restaurant of their choice. Thanks to the DDP and "FREE" Dining, this is simply no longer possible.

 

[maddmike]

Yes I hate free dining. In my opinion Disney should offer better resort/ticket packages to get more people in the parks.

 

[TiaMaria]

However, there was a time, in the not-so distant past, when one could call on any given day and secure a ressie for a restaurant of their choice. Thanks to the DDP and "FREE" Dining, this is simply no longer possible.[/B]

I also have to wonder how many reservations made end up as "no shows"? That possibility really gets to me as we (on our 3 trips so far this year) have tried from 90 days out up to the day of to get specific restaurants and times to no avail. Podium CM's have told us many times that they are loaded down with "no shows" during "free dining".

Perhaps "free dining" should also be accompanied with a credit/debit card hold requirement in case of a "no show" at ALL restaurants with an ADR. Heck, WDW has the room number, put a "no show" charge on the room account if needed. Say $10.00 per seat if there is no cancellation call up to 15 minutes prior. Possibly that would cut down on "no shows". Might also make those people think twice about making a reservation if they aren't keeping them. Disney could look at that as another money maker, lol!

 

[Tara]

I also have to wonder how many reservations made end up as "no shows"? That possibility really gets to me as we (on our 3 trips so far this year) have tried from 90 days out up to the day of to get specific restaurants and times to no avail. Podium CM's have told us many times that they are loaded down with "no shows" during "free dining".

Perhaps "free dining" should also be accompanied with a credit/debit card hold requirement in case of a "no show" at ALL restaurants with an ADR. Heck, WDW has the room number, put a "no show" charge on the room account if needed. Say $10.00 per seat if there is no cancellation call up to 15 minutes prior. Possibly that would cut down on "no shows". Might also make those people think twice about making a reservation if they aren't keeping them. Disney could look at that as another money maker, lol!

I can't see them penalizing no-show resort guests when there would be no way to penalize off-site diners who don't show up.

 

[Disneyjamie]

My only objection to free dining is the negative effect it has had on menu choices and quality. :

I agree, and also, less flexibility on where to eat without ADRs.

 

[PADisFam2]

In the future we will try to avoid free dinning. This year was our first experience with the free dinning and hopefully our last. We were there in late August 2009 and have already changed our dates for next years trip to late July. I agree with many of the PP points and would give you list of my own, however I don't know that I can say them as PC as they did.

 

[disneybride96]

In my opinion Disney should offer better resort/ticket packages to get more people in the parks.

True...but the average person would take something 'free' verses something of a greater value just becuse of the 'free'. I work in retail, and we can sell something for 99 cents and it sets on the shelves. Make it 10/$10 (aka $1)and if flies! Go figure!

 

[kato0627]

I prefer not to visit WDW during "free" dining, just because it is very diffiuclt to secure ressies. We went into a few places this year (during free dining) and tried to get a ress for anytime within a week span. All the places told me they were booked through Sept. We always make our ressies 90 days out but this was a last minute trip. We did not starve, but by no means had any meal at our favorite places.