Free dining coming back soon????

[amylou22]

Has anyone heard that the free dining magic your way plus dining will be offered in 2011? I didnt book my trip by dec. 20 and im so upset!!!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I really, really, hope not. I think the basic Disney Dining Plan has done a lot to ruin the quality of Disney Dining, and Free Dining has made it worse!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I really, really, hope not. I think the basic Disney Dining Plan has done a lot to ruin the quality of Disney Dining, and Free Dining has made it worse!

Amen !

 

[DC7800]

I really, really, hope not. I think the basic Disney Dining Plan has done a lot to ruin the quality of Disney Dining, and Free Dining has made it worse!

Amen, indeed.

Cheshire Figment is a wise, wise individual.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Has anyone heard that the free dining magic your way plus dining will be offered in 2011? I didnt book my trip by dec. 20 and im so upset!!!!!

For your sake I hope it will.

 

[TravelMama]

Geez sorry most people kind of gave you a rude answer. I had the same question. The Free dining plan was a big reason why we decided to go to WDW this year and another reason we wanted to go back next year. It made WDW so affordable for a lower middle income family like ours. If the free dining doesn't come back I doubt we'll go back. Just kind of hard to pay so much more for the exact vacation but just a year apart. Well I really hope it comes back. The specials they are running now aren't that great at all.

 

[canopynut66]

Geez sorry most people kind of gave you a rude answer. I had the same question. The Free dining plan was a big reason why we decided to go to WDW this year and another reason we wanted to go back next year. It made WDW so affordable for a lower middle income family like ours. If the free dining doesn't come back I doubt we'll go back. Just kind of hard to pay so much more for the exact vacation but just a year apart. Well I really hope it comes back. The specials they are running now aren't that great at all.

Quality of the food has nothing to do with DDP it is what vendor food ordered from and then cooked by each Chef. To us and many others Disney offering the MYWDP is a great perk as the resort discounts are not good when consider what food will cost on top of that. Our family prefers not to eat in room nor cook nor do any dishes when we are on vacation so it works for us and many others. We are all given a choice to eat on WDW property or off. For the thousands WDW serves it does a great job and is like anywhere else in trying to keep food costs lower

 

[Oglet]

I'm kind of with the people who suggest its ruined the quality of food at WDW, after all when you hear free dining the quality of food doesn't really factor in you decision all you hear is "i'm going to eat for free and if its free I can't really complain too much"

The restaurants are pretty much full because of free dining so whats quality got to do with things if the seats are filled every night regardless?

But for those people who have to fork out cash at the end of a meal its a lot harder to swallow paying for something over having it given to you for free

Now with all that said I hope you find something affordable and that fits your budget so you can come and enjoy WDW just remember lots of people prepare food and bring it in to the parks each day so even if free dining isn't available you can still come and enjoy yourself without spending a fortune on food.

 

[doconeill]

Before you say you won't come back if there is no free DDP, make sure to compare the costs of other offers. Depending on the number of people in your party and what resorts you like to stay at, it is sometimes cheaper to NOT get the free dining offer.

Anyways, I firmly believe that the DDP, free and otherwise, did what it intended to do - get more people in the seats at TS meals who otherwise would "brown bag" it or only eat CS, and thus justify maintain the staff at lesser utilized locations. However, it definitely has had an effect on quality and selection as the same locations get credited a fixed amount for a meal purchased via the DDP, regardless of what the cost of the meal actually was. And because people might be "forced" into patronizing restaurants they otherwise wouldn't, they have also been forced into offering some generic foods so that they have something to offer everyone, especially at the kids end of the scale.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It's hard to justify eating on property without the DDP, because the food is just so run-of-the-mill average to below average. It's unfortunate that is what 95% of Disney Dining has become.

There are many reasons, from the DDP, to homogenous food selections to build benefits of scale in ordering, increased profit margins, over-filled restaurants, etc.

I know I look forward to eating off-site more and more each year because the food is so much better and at the same price of what you get on property.

...However, it definitely has had an effect on quality and selection as the same locations get credited a fixed amount for a meal purchased via the DDP, regardless of what the cost of the meal actually was. And because people might be "forced" into patronizing restaurants they otherwise wouldn't, they have also been forced into offering some generic foods so that they have something to offer everyone, especially at the kids end of the scale.

Don't forget that there is a large group of people that look to "maximize" their DDP (free or otherwise) and focus on the most expensive CS and TS options.

 

[rodkenrich]

,

 

[puntagordabob]

I hope not...when that offer is in play it is even more difficult to get rezzies anywhere

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Quality of the food has nothing to do with DDP

1) Actually, it does.
2) DDP only reimburses the eatery a fixed amount.
3) The restaurant manager is still responsible for making budget & profit.
4) His bonus and his job depends upon it.
5) When DDP reduces the allowance, he has to buy cheaper food.
6) So,
. . . the variation of menu items is less
. . . the uniqueness of menu items is less
. . . the quality is less
. . . the amount of manpower in the kitchen is less
. . . the food value is less
7) Thus, DDP is a HUGE determinate upon the quality of WDW food.
8) Whether DDP is free or not.

EDIT - The "free" DDP is actually paid by the resort hotel, not the eatery or WDW headquarters. So, now, the resort has to find ways of cutting costs to pay back the cost of FREE DDP and still make their profit projections. Also, it is the hotel General Manager that sets the amount of rooms they will give up for specials like Free DDP (with agreement with management).

 

[KYMickey]

I really, really, hope not. I think the basic Disney Dining Plan has done a lot to ruin the quality of Disney Dining, and Free Dining has made it worse!

Certainly have to agree with your sentiments on this! The people that don't never experienced how nice it was prior to the dining plans!

 

[manning]

I know I look forward to eating off-site more and more each year because the food is so much better and at the same price of what you get on property.



.

You would Disney brass would get it. Their "brilliant" promotin has run it's course.

 

[manning]

Certainly have to agree with your sentiments on this! The people that don't never experienced how nice it was prior to the dining plans!

If you want to find out what a Disney buffet was like years ago go eat at The Gaylord Palms in the Villa de Flor.

http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylor...ing-activities/assets/PA_VillaDeFloraMenu.pdf

If you note it has six serving stations

 

[doconeill]

You would Disney brass would get it. Their "brilliant" promotin has run it's course.

Except if they were to abruptly end it, they'd likely find a sharp decline in bookings for a while as people who think of it as the only way they can afford Disney don't look at the other comparable discounts.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

1) Actually, it does.
2) DDP only reimburses the eatery a fixed amount.
3) The restaurant manager is still responsible for making budget & profit.
4) His bonus and his job depends upon it.
5) When DDP reduces the allowance, he has to buy cheaper food.
6) So,
. . . the variation of menu items is less
. . . the uniqueness of menu items is less
. . . the quality is less
. . . the amount of manpower in the kitchen is less
. . . the food value is less
7) Thus, DDP is a HUGE determinate upon the quality of WDW food.
8) Whether DDP is free or not.

EDIT - The "free" DDP is actually paid by the resort hotel, not the eatery or WDW headquarters. So, now, the resort has to find ways of cutting costs to pay back the cost of FREE DDP and still make their profit projections. Also, it is the hotel General Manager that sets the amount of rooms they will give up for specials like Free DDP (with agreement with management).

I have to respectfully disagree. There is no accountabilty for the DDP discounts on the individual Resort or restaurant, as it is managed centrally to drive occupancy and park visits. Management is held to margins and other metrics excluding the DDP discounts. The GM does not control the rooms set aside either (for anything), all marketing promotions are managed by a group called Revenue Management, who control the blocks offered for each promotion/segment for all of WDW with a view of the entire Resort (ie: what to offere for each segment, etc.)

Again, DDP discounts are deemed a "non-controllable" expense at the local level.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Since i am there a week in mid january (slow time...but the mlk holiday that they sold out not more than a few years ago) and i just looked today and there are 5:00 dinner reservations at 90% of the restaurants available and all the breakfast locations (including chef mickeys) except the obvious one (the worst one) from 8:00-9:00 on ALL days we'll be on property...

...if this has anything to do with "free" dining expiring...then send "free" dining to the island where the Dodo birds live

On our last trip...(october) we had probably 6-10 sitdown meals (can't remember exactly)

Of the 8 or so...we had two what i would call "disney quality" meals. At the Wave (unexpected since our first experience was horrible) and Kona (expected because it always has delivered and has seemed to be less ravaged by the cuts than most locations). Failing were Citricos (badly based on the prices...but always had been good in the past), Liberty Tree (was spotty...but this time was horrible), Artist's Point (still haven't gotten over that), and Le Cellier (i know..."the best"...yeah, not really)

And by "disney quality"...i mean the lower end of average compared to the experiences of the 80's 90's and early 00's.


Yeah...it's the stupid dining plan...and that's not a stretch. Not only has it jacked up prices and reduced portion sizes (which they needed to do for health...but went way overboard..completely predictably) for ridiculous psychological tricks they're playing on the lemmings...but the "free" dining has just gutted what types and preparations of food they'll spring for...


I know travel is down and they have to survive. But honestly, it's enough. at somepoint the freebie has to be sacrificed at an attempt to restore quality. (damn the operating revenue...full speed ahead!)
I would be willing to pay MORE than the ridiculous prices i'm already paying to get somekinda quality back...and that says tons.
And there seems to be a growing number of dissidents that share that attitude - based on some of the survey questions they've thrown at me - these days.

i know it's 99.9% likely that my disney stomach memories are gone and no new ones are coming...but i kinda compare it to holding a puppy or your child - you just hold on as tight as you can for as long as you can...because you will miss it when its gone more than you know at the time.

the prices are bad...the food quality has gotten inexcusable. but i keep trying to throw more money at it and hope it comes back to life.

free dining needs to be destroyed...so does the dining plan for that matter.
If you don't want to pay the price...stay home. That's harsh but deep down the truth of it. Travel is not...nor ever will be...a right, necessity, or requirement

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I have to respectfully disagree. There is no accountabilty for the DDP discounts on the individual Resort or restaurant, as it is managed centrally to drive occupancy and park visits. Management is held to margins and other metrics excluding the DDP discounts. The GM does not control the rooms set aside either (for anything), all marketing promotions are managed by a group called Revenue Management, who control the blocks offered for each promotion/segment for all of WDW with a view of the entire Resort (ie: what to offere for each segment, etc.)

Again, DDP discounts are deemed a "non-controllable" expense at the local level.

Okay, putting the who pays what aside...
You seem to be "in the know", so what is your take on the affect of the DDP on food quality and menu selection? Is there any affect? If so, why?

MG