Free Dining a thing of the past?

[vicki_c]

I agree. I wonder if renting points has gotten harder, being that you can only offer the room and nothing else

Well that is not true - you can still add the DDP to a reservation you are renting to someone.

 

[Sammie]

Especially since free dining isn't really free anyway (paying higher rate for the room).

how do you pay a higher rate, you pay rack rate

 

[Sammie]

I wonder where they make more $? Filling the rooms or filling the restaurants with non free dining patrons?

We used to eat TS all the time, but now, due to the crowds, difficulty booking and the much lower quality, we rarely go.

Just curious if they are losing too much from families like us, or filling rooms is more profitable.

Rooms

 

[DebbieB]

I think it depends on how many rooms are reserved. If they have alot empty, they will offer free dining or another discount. If occupancy is high, maybe not. I think the problem is people are so conditioned to getting a discount or free dining, they hold out waiting for it and may not go if nothing comes out. But they are chipping away at it little by little. First, no appetizer, then no tip. Then the values only get quick service included, so you have to pay a surcharge to get the regular. Plus they have been increasing rack rates and adding additional categories, adjusting the seasons. So it's not the same free dining you got 5 years ago.

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . Our list of places we want is dwindling though with the reduced menu offerings and the reduced quality of food.

Isn't that the truth! Same for DW and I. What used to be our favorite places just a few years ago have changed into free dining heaven with unrestained children running around your chair (and crawling under it - no kidding!) and poor kitchen performance.

How disappointing! It sure takes the luster off of the magic at times.

 

[photobob]

Well that is not true - you can still add the DDP to a reservation you are renting to someone.

True, but not free dining, which I think was the point. I hope that the free dining thing is going away. I understand the business side of it though, filling the rooms and keeping people on property for their entire stay.

 

[Fatalbie]

I think we all know that if it benefits Disney profit center will be the deciding factor. I would hazard a guess that DVC membership and perceived value had very little to do with the decision.


Jim

 

[sajetto]

I wonder the same thing, and we definitely don't dine with Disney as much as we used to. For us, it isn't worth the hassle to book 180 days out and not get what we want. The last two trips we have taken our chances, and we have had no problem getting in to most places we wanted.

Our list of places we want is dwindling though with the reduced menu offerings and the reduced quality of food.

We've also been disappointed with the quality of the food in our most recent trips. And life is far too hectic to call ahead so far in advance to receive quality that is just "so-so." There are still a few places that are pretty good, but our old favorites have really changed over the years.

 

[rhax07]

I know we waited until the summer months to book because we were waiting for the free dining incentive to come out last year. We were told that they weren't going to have it and then they did, so we got lucky I guess. I think they will continue to offer it so long as they are not getting the bookings they are hoping for. They make so much more on the rooms than they do on the food.

 

[rhax07]

Duplicate post, sorry.