Free Dining plan Again????

[Manon]

Could we expect to have the free dining plan again in January???

If so, when can we expect the announcement???

 

[cobbler]

Ah one of life's great mysteries. Honestly there is no rhyme or reason to when they put out codes and such. Last year AP rates were out Aug 25th. Well we are way past that deadline and nothing for the old call in rates.

Also I highly doubt they would put out free dining but you never know. The major reason they put it out is because it is during peak hurricane season and after getting nailed last year they needed to entice visitors.

Just keep your eyes peeled, you never know what they may or may not offer.

 

[Manon]

I have my reservation with AAA, and we saved 300$ for our package, but having free dining plan would mean 700$ saving and that would be awsome!!! Still hoping!
Keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks!

 

[ElizabethB]

I was just at WDW last week -- not on the dining plan. We went with an AP discount and DDE instead.

Restaurants were absolute zoos at dinner. When Disney sees the numbers come in, I doubt they will offer free dining again.

I'm sure those So. Cal execs who eat little (and have trophy wives who eat nothing) will be shocked when they learn how much food the average American can put away when it's free. Moreover, waiters told us there is less table turnover now because every person is ordering and consuming an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.

Disney execs made a calculated bet that the bottom line would look better if they have people pay rack rate, but give them free food (instead of code rate discounts). After all, how much can any one person consume in a day?
Well, I predict they'll be unpleasantly surprised when 3rd quarter numbers come in -- based on what we saw last week.

Waiters were running like mad at dinner. The staffs already seemed exhausted and it was only the first week of free dining. Anyone who didn't make PS's for dinner ahead of time was turned away. The maitre d's looked ready to collapse. Restaurants were empty at lunch because everyone saved their TS meal for dinner. I expect that restaurants will complain that they don't have big enough kitchens and staff to handle the demand. World Showcase restaurants were packed at 9:30 p.m. -- completely different from when we went last year and every restaurant cleared out at 8:30 p.m. for Illuminations. This year people didn't even care that Illuminations was going on -- they just kept eating.

I think there will be plenty of unanticipated fall-out from this. Enough that I will be very surprised if Disney offers it again.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I was just at WDW last week -- not on the dining plan. We went with an AP discount and DDE instead.

Restaurants were absolute zoos at dinner. When Disney sees the numbers come in, I doubt they will offer free dining again.

I'm sure those So. Cal execs who eat little (and have trophy wives who eat nothing) will be shocked when they learn how much food the average American can put away when it's free. Moreover, waiters told us there is less table turnover now because every person is ordering and consuming an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.

Disney execs made a calculated bet that the bottom line would look better if they have people pay rack rate, but give them free food (instead of code rate discounts). After all, how much can any one person consume in a day?
Well, I predict they'll be unpleasantly surprised when 3rd quarter numbers come in -- based on what we saw last week.

Waiters were running like mad at dinner. The staffs already seemed exhausted and it was only the first week of free dining. Anyone who didn't make PS's for dinner ahead of time was turned away. The maitre d's looked ready to collapse. Restaurants were empty at lunch because everyone saved their TS meal for dinner. I expect that restaurants will complain that they don't have big enough kitchens and staff to handle the demand. World Showcase restaurants were packed at 9:30 p.m. -- completely different from when we went last year and every restaurant cleared out at 8:30 p.m. for Illuminations. This year people didn't even care that Illuminations was going on -- they just kept eating.

I think there will be plenty of unanticipated fall-out from this. Enough that I will be very surprised if Disney offers it again.

I hope this does stop the free dining and they go back to giving room discounts. I would never be able to take advantage of a free dining plan as my kids and myself are not big eaters

 

[Manon]

Thanks for all your answers!!!

I know that we always hope to save some money in a trip like Disney's but, even if we don't have the free dining, the season we are going as a great rate with the AAA discounts it awsome!

Because going in Jamaica or Cuba or an other sunny destination with 3 kids it's almost 8000$, and Disney is 3500$ for us, so that's a good deal!!

 

[pugdog]

I was just at WDW last week -- not on the dining plan. We went with an AP discount and DDE instead.

Restaurants were absolute zoos at dinner. When Disney sees the numbers come in, I doubt they will offer free dining again.

I'm sure those So. Cal execs who eat little (and have trophy wives who eat nothing) will be shocked when they learn how much food the average American can put away when it's free. Moreover, waiters told us there is less table turnover now because every person is ordering and consuming an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.

Disney execs made a calculated bet that the bottom line would look better if they have people pay rack rate, but give them free food (instead of code rate discounts). After all, how much can any one person consume in a day?
Well, I predict they'll be unpleasantly surprised when 3rd quarter numbers come in -- based on what we saw last week.

Waiters were running like mad at dinner. The staffs already seemed exhausted and it was only the first week of free dining. Anyone who didn't make PS's for dinner ahead of time was turned away. The maitre d's looked ready to collapse. Restaurants were empty at lunch because everyone saved their TS meal for dinner. I expect that restaurants will complain that they don't have big enough kitchens and staff to handle the demand. World Showcase restaurants were packed at 9:30 p.m. -- completely different from when we went last year and every restaurant cleared out at 8:30 p.m. for Illuminations. This year people didn't even care that Illuminations was going on -- they just kept eating.

I think there will be plenty of unanticipated fall-out from this. Enough that I will be very surprised if Disney offers it again.

If you think WDW is losing money with free dining, you are sadly mistaken.
WDW buys so much food as such a bulk rate that even with free dining they are making plenty of money.
The profit from rack rates alone is most likely very high. Also by giving free dining they are keeping people on property ,instead of losing them to resturants off property, who are then buying more gifts.
So any slight profit lose on the food is more then made up with selling other things.

 

[tone.def]

I was just at WDW last week -- not on the dining plan. We went with an AP discount and DDE instead.

Restaurants were absolute zoos at dinner. When Disney sees the numbers come in, I doubt they will offer free dining again.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM interesting observation... I'm guesing you were there after the 21st which is the start date of the special?

I'd love to see the special in December, but I doubt it, I'm not banking on it and I'm paying to be at the Polynesian and I will have a fabulous time regardless if I'm paying to eat or not.

 

[magsmom]

Food places were BUSY, everything else normal for late August. In Italy last Thursday, the most expensive items were sold out by 8:30. From what I saw, most of the people eating there were on the dining plan. The restaruants were very crowded this weekend.

What we also observed is that the value resorts appeared to be packed.

 

[NUHuskies#1]

I was there last week as well and I totally agree that the place was a zoo! I have gone to WDW during the last two weeks in August for the past few years and the crowds were very manageable. I have also gone during NYE there and I can say that the crowds last week were very similar to that! I was very diappointed and I will not be going again during a time free dining is offered.

 

[Marthasor]

Restaurants were absolute zoos at dinner.

I'm sure those So. Cal execs who eat little (and have trophy wives who eat nothing) will be shocked when they learn how much food the average American can put away when it's free. Moreover, waiters told us there is less table turnover now because every person is ordering and consuming an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.


Waiters were running like mad at dinner. The staffs already seemed exhausted and it was only the first week of free dining. Anyone who didn't make PS's for dinner ahead of time was turned away. The maitre d's looked ready to collapse. Restaurants were empty at lunch because everyone saved their TS meal for dinner. I expect that restaurants will complain that they don't have big enough kitchens and staff to handle the demand. World Showcase restaurants were packed at 9:30 p.m. -- completely different from when we went last year and every restaurant cleared out at 8:30 p.m. for Illuminations. This year people didn't even care that Illuminations was going on -- they just kept eating.

This just all sounds so gross! I just have this image of people completely overstuffing themselves to try to get as much as they possibly could for free. And probably making themselves sick, wasting a ton of food and driving the Disney CM's nuts in the process.

I am going with my family in mid-December and I am PRAYING they do not offer the free dining plan. We actually considered paying for it at one point because on the surface it looks so cost effective, but, psychologically, I know we would probably end up doing the same thing - ordering all of this food that we wouldn't normally eat and probably making ourselves sick in the process. AND scheduling our entire trip around eating to make sure we used up all of our points. No thanks. I am almost positive we will end up ordering less food than offered on the plan and probably end up paying the equivalent of the plan if not more $$. But I don't care! We will make our ADR's at the places we want to eat, not based on best-bang-for-the-buck and have a much more enjoyable trip, I think.

Hey, if the dining plan works for your family, go for it!! And I understand why Disney offered it when they did. But I really hope it hurt their bottom line so they won't offer it for free again!!!!! It sounds like a complete nightmare.

 

[hellow]

Marthasor:

I completely agree with you. I was thinking I was the only one who was going to WDW soon, and hoping they DIDN'T offer the free dining! I love to save a buck, but I value lower crowds and quiet sit-down meals much more.

Now, if they offered a great deal on the hotel rates, I will be the first to jump on it.

 

[packy]

We just got back yesterday and had the free Disney Dining Plan (had to pay rack rate and buy tickets to get it). Yes, you do eat more because it is a treat to be able to order appetizers and expensive deserts. The reason for free dining in August and September is that it is hurricane season and no one wants to go to Disney in late August and September after what happened last year (i.e. four hurricanes, we were lucky and went between one and two last year). We arrived last Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday they were predicting that Katrina, which was heading across Southern Florida, would head North along the Floriday Gulf Coast for a total Orlando washout. As it happened, it veered South late Wednesday and went into the Gulf and up to LA and MS. Don't expect free Disney Dining until at least next August, if ever again.

 

[Tjaleks]

Let's not forget the increasing cost of gas. This is going to impact a lot of people. I still have my fingers crossed hoping for something extra.

 

[honeymo78]

I'm not sure that "free" dining is the culprit, at least not 100% - just the greater marketing of the dining plan in general. Several posters on the restaurant boards ran into many guests who were on the dining plan, yet had paid for it - had no idea that it was offered for free during that time period.