FP--- Disney has become too regimented

[mom2rtk]

Some people just aren't water park people, so to them it's a required hopper. And if I was planning a December trip, I'd consider it a required hopper.

 

[asc]

well, normally, a FD offer would have me out looking for flights etc. but the fact is, our trip in Oct. was disappointing. the whole FP+ was a let down and we did not like it (and you know what, i don't plan to bother giving the details other.... frankly, it is going to take a lot to get back to WDW). we had been a lot in the past and will take a good break from disney.

 

[cakebaker]

Some people just aren't water park people, so to them it's a required hopper. And if I was planning a December trip, I'd consider it a required hopper.

You might consider it that way, but it isn't. You must purchase one or the other. It's not a required hopper purchase.

Some people aren't hopper people either. Perhaps Disney is trying to offer people more choices.

Regardless, what it says to me is Disney's free dining offer is not as generous as it has been, which leads me to believe they don't need it to be as generous.

 

[mom2rtk]

well, normally, a FD offer would have me out looking for flights etc. but the fact is, our trip in Oct. was disappointing. the whole FP+ was a let down and we did not like it (and you know what, i don't plan to bother giving the details other.... frankly, it is going to take a lot to get back to WDW). we had been a lot in the past and will take a good break from disney.

I'm sorry you were disappointed in your last trip. You're not the first to report the same feeling.

 

[Asellus]

Again, it's not a required hopper purchase- it's hopper or water parks n more.

You're just arguing semantics. Either way it's a required separate purchase. I know that while hoppers are essential to my family....getting the water park in September (excessive rain) or in December (possibly too cold) are not usually our choices. attendance at the water parks are probably down for those months just like attendance is down for HS and DAK.

 

[cakebaker]

You're just arguing semantics. Either way it's a required separate purchase. I know that while hoppers are essential to my family....getting the water park in September (excessive rain) or in December (possibly too cold) are not usually our choices. attendance at the water parks are probably down for those months just like attendance is down for HS and DAK.

It's not semantics. You have an option to choose one or the other. The fact that you have a preference for whatever your reasons are doesn't change that.

What is clear is Disney has added a requirement to the free dining that makes it less of a value. Not something a company that is having trouble getting bookings would do.

 

[Asellus]

The point I was making, is that it's obvious Disney is doing this isn't just to make a quick buck (although obviously that's part of it) is that it's to bring attendance up in areas that lack. Just because I personally used my family as an example, doesn't mean that I was referring solely to my family.

 

[Shaden]

Some people just aren't water park people, so to them it's a required hopper. And if I was planning a December trip, I'd consider it a required hopper.

We considered it a required hopper, and while others have been asked what to book our CM didn't even ask me what I wanted, she just booked me a hopper. That being said we were going to book hoppers anyway

I don't know what we can read into this: This is the earliest the deal has been released, Last year was May and that was the earliest. They do include POR of Aug and Sept, but I thought they had before, or was that for us Canadians only, know my sister got FD at POR a couple years ago in Sept.

I also know there is a strong Canadian Contingent that go down late Aug and early Sept, because so many American schools are back in session but Canadian haven't started (or people don't mind missing the first week or so), and with the Canadian Dollar the way it is, I know a lot of people have been rethinking those trips.

As usual there is a lot in play here, without any inside knowledge its hard to know the reasoning behind this. Though, we have been told year after year of late "Discounts are ending" this clearly isn't the case either, though maybe next year ... who knows.

 

[Shaden]

It's not semantics. You have an option to choose one or the other. The fact that you have a preference for whatever your reasons are doesn't change that.

What is clear is Disney has added a requirement to the free dining that makes it less of a value. Not something a company that is having trouble getting bookings would do.

I think Cake is right here, its an option, and the "option" clearly decreases the value of the discount. Though again we don't know how many of these rooms they are discounting etc etc, so we don't know what the total revenue impact is and what it implies, still though, she/he is right.

Of course, I wish Cake would come and defend the definition of "spontaneous" and "clean slate" with such fervor

 

[cakebaker]

If it helps, I did break out into spontaneous applause when I discovered that this next trip will NOT be during a free dining promotion.

 

[Astridia]

Even if you can choose between the hopper or the waterparks, Disney is requiring an additional purchase if you want free dining. I wonder if this will reduce the free dining bookings

 

[WillAustin]

Well, unless you work for Disney in marketing, chances are you don't have the full information to say for sure how much attendance increased over say the last year. Meaning it is impossible to accurately say for sure how much increased attendance has caused the problems or if FP+ is the issue. Sure, it might be a factor, but Disney isn't releasing numbers on attendance, riders per hour and other info one would need to make a conclusive statement. Most people are going on what they see. I have been to the parks on what I would say is a slower day, comparatively to old FP times, and have seen lines longer than pre-FP+ for attractions. So to me, the only change would be FP+.

Using the old FP system we never waited in a line over 20 minutes in several years of WDW trips while easily riding everything we wanted, even during the busiest weeks. We can't do that in one day anymore. It's not increased crowds that have caused that change, it's being limited to 3 tiered FPs.

 

[ServerisBusy]

It's not semantics. You have an option to choose one or the other. The fact that you have a preference for whatever your reasons are doesn't change that.

What is clear is Disney has added a requirement to the free dining that makes it less of a value. Not something a company that is having trouble getting bookings would do.

I agree with you, but why offer a discount at all if they aren't having trouble getting bookings?

Or is it that they are having trouble getting bookings AT FULL RACK RATE, and covered even more of their food costs by requiring an additional $64 option?

Wow, when you think about it, they may actually be making more money with this "discount". A room at full price plus $64 more per person in return for what I'm thinking is probably less than $10 per person per day in raw food costs.

Smart move, Mickey.

 

[ServerisBusy]

Using the old FP system we never waited in a line over 20 minutes in several years of WDW trips while easily riding everything we wanted, even during the busiest weeks. We can't do that in one day anymore. It's not increased crowds that have caused that change, it's being limited to 3 tiered FPs.

Some like to point out that a lot of people never used the old system. If we assume that is true and they are the ones who benefit now, then there are also a lot more people who never got FP's who are now using at least 3 per day. So yes, the standby lines would be substantially impacted because of FP+ even if there weren't a single-digit percentage increase in crowds because there are now more people in the FP+ lines that the SB lines have to let pass.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's hard to say what the motive is, because we don't know how many rooms were offered at any resort per week. The promo does make for some nice banner ads to spread all over the internet! Who knows what the end result is in terms of the business or profit.

Adding the Hopper/WP requirement is definitely a way to increase the price (by a significant percentage let's say for a value room with four people in it). My bet is that they aren't as desperate to fill those rooms compared to years past, but still wanted to run the promotion.

 

[mom2rtk]

This actually is not the first time they have required an additional purchase to get FD. A couple years ago, didn't they require purchase of a memory book?

 

[cakebaker]

I agree with you, but why offer a discount at all if they aren't having trouble getting bookings?

Or is it that they are having trouble getting bookings AT FULL RACK RATE, and covered even more of their food costs by requiring an additional $64 option?

Wow, when you think about it, they may actually be making more money with this "discount". A room at full price plus $64 more per person in return for what I'm thinking is probably less than $10 per person per day in raw food costs.

Smart move, Mickey.

Ummm....because people like discounts- even when they aren't really there. No discount and those occupancy rates might fall. They stand to lose a lot more than the hotel rate if the room is empty. I honestly believe they'd love to do away with marketing ploys and charge what the market will bear. Guests don't want it, so they play the game. They have inflated rates that they mark down to a somewhat reasonable level.

I'm sure the dining plan is a huge money maker for them. Back in the day when it was actually a decent plan for values, it made some sense. They cut back on it and they still sold it. Now they require more outlay of cash and they're still selling it. I'm reading several resorts that are already booked. People love free dining- why is beyond me.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This actually is not the first time they have required an additional purchase to get FD. A couple years ago, didn't they require purchase of a memory book?

I seem to remember that too.

This is even better for Disney because the added cost goes up proportionately with the size of your group.

 

[Jennytoon]

I don't know what we can read into this: This is the earliest the deal has been released, Last year was May and that was the earliest. They do include POR of Aug and Sept, but I thought they had before, or was that for us Canadians only, know my sister got FD at POR a couple years ago in Sept.

I also know there is a strong Canadian Contingent that go down late Aug and early Sept, because so many American schools are back in session but Canadian haven't started (or people don't mind missing the first week or so), and with the Canadian Dollar the way it is, I know a lot of people have been rethinking those trips.

I can't say what the reason is behind the earliest ever release, but personally I'm happy about it. I'll be there in Aug. leaving on the 29th, and though I got everything I wanted when I booked at 180 I suspect I'll have an easier time tinkering with the schedule now as some people will be dropping reservations they were holding over the time we'll be there that were made "just in case".

 

[waldozer]

I seem to remember that too.

This is even better for Disney because the added cost goes up proportionately with the size of your group.

Yup lots of money. Same for the limited edition MB's