FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[trickiwoo]

I am just worried that it'll only be QS for values- need to book mod or higher for regular dining plan! That'd be hard to justify, as there are only 2 of us going, and the difference in room cost is about $60 per night.

Or you could stay in a value and get the free QS plan, then just upgrade to the regular dining plan. You'd only have to pay the difference which is around $10 a day for an adult.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

I am optimistic that there will be free dining in the fall. If you look at the current offers, everything expires on 8/14, which is the time FD usually starts. I think they are offering room discounts, "kids dine/play for free," and free QS meal plan (just got a pin today) to fill as many rooms as possible throughout the spring and summer. I am guessing Disney will hold off on announcing free fall dining for as long as possible, but I do think they will offer it.

I agree. I can't see Disney offering discounts during their busy times, but not their slow times. That doesn't make much sense.

When it comes to the fall discounts it's matter of "when", not "if".

 

[Happy99]

So I am wondering If Disney is so worried about the summer season why do they not have summer deals out already? (yeah I know they have the %off rooms but that is not much of a promo)

I will respectfully disagree - the % off were a great deal. The one that ended in March was definitely better than the current one but we received 40% off the deluxe resort. I have been going to WDW a long time and 40% is as good as it gets with room discounts based on past discounts. We aren't going during the dates that free dining is usually offered so that wouldn't have been an option for us

 

[Bridge203618]

I was looking to DVR some Disney World shows and did notice in about a week or 2 there is 3 shows coming up about Disney World on the travel channel.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I was looking to DVR some Disney World shows and did notice in about a week or 2 there is 3 shows coming up about Disney World on the travel channel.

Oo, when?

 

[verlee]

I will respectfully disagree - the % off were a great deal. The one that ended in March was definitely better than the current one but we received 40% off the deluxe resort. I have been going to WDW a long time and 40% is as good as it gets with room discounts based on past discounts. We aren't going during the dates that free dining is usually offered so that wouldn't have been an option for us

no worries!! I like disagreement. It helps us all to see all sides of a situation. I am glad you got a good deal.

I guess I am just comparing it to recent promos. It seems somewhat less spectacular. Disney is not really making a big deal of it on their website either.... Small font, not much media promotion??

I have not made a big study of their marketing history. Just my observations. I like talking disney while I wait.

 

[BebopBaloo]

I really enjoy the variety of views on this thread. I think in a few weeks we'll all be posting at rapid rates with little smilies like this or this.

 

[Bridge203618]

Oo, when?

I think around the 14th? It was the travel channel. One was a budget show, one was behind the scenes and the other was with that blond girl that does the travel shows...I forget her name. There was a cruise one too but that didn't interest me

I have directv and you can search shows by key word, I just put in Disney and saved it, every now and then i search to see if any disney shows are coming up, I get a few things that don't apply but it is the easiest way to find WDW shows!

OK found it..

14th 4 pm
Disney: On a Dime
Disney: On a Dime
Disney: On A Dime shreds any misconceptions that a Disney World vacation is too expensive for the average family to afford! The show follows the experience of three different families on how to make a Disney World dream vacation fit within their budget. TV-G, CC

5pm
Samantha Brown's Disney Favorites

6pm
Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes

 

[mickeystoontown]

So Canadian Guy, any updated news from your sources? Inquiring minds wanna know.


I just spoke with Disney Reservations to see if I had a pin code attached to my name. Of course, given my luck, there wasn't. While she was searching, I casually asked if she expected any better discount for my travel dates (5/27 to 6/5) than what I already have. She looked at my reservation and said "Probably not but you never know with Disney. Keep watching online." I know! I know! Take what the Disney castmembers say with a grain of salt.

 

[Leeanne]

I think around the 14th? It was the travel channel. One was a budget show, one was behind the scenes and the other was with that blond girl that does the travel shows...I forget her name. There was a cruise one too but that didn't interest me

I have directv and you can search shows by key word, I just put in Disney and saved it, every now and then i search to see if any disney shows are coming up, I get a few things that don't apply but it is the easiest way to find WDW shows!

OK found it..

14th 4 pm
Disney: On a Dime
Disney: On a Dime
Disney: On A Dime shreds any misconceptions that a Disney World vacation is too expensive for the average family to afford! The show follows the experience of three different families on how to make a Disney World dream vacation fit within their budget. TV-G, CC

5pm
Samantha Brown's Disney Favorites

6pm
Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes

I agree that they haven't flooded the market with ads right now about promos. But I will tell you they have teamed up with Verizon on their Mobile Magic app, but thats another story. However, do they really have any control over when Travel Channel airs a show? I would have thought that would have been Travel Channel decision not Disney.....on the other side of that however, doesn't the Visa Kids Free offer end around the 14? Hmmmmm makes me wonder. If you think that Disney has some control that could be considered advertising. And that might be a pretty good time to air some commercials with smiling families and laughing kids. I know that I have been keeping up with the TV shows and they really don't have alot of them out. I use this website though (I hope this is okay as far as I know its just a Disney addict like ourselves!) http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/tv/agenda.php3?modeagenda=soon to see what I need to DVR. I would think that the perfect time to air promos would be when people are watching shows like Disney on a Dime and Behind the Scene. I know that is one reason we planned our first trip last year. We were watching some of the shows on Travel Channel and had been talking about taking a trip and then they started showing the promo for Buy 4 Get 3 Free. We did the pricing and booked. And now here I am....still addicted but not wanting to go again at the beginning of June! Makes 'cents' to me!

 

[Port Orleans fan]

So Canadian Guy, any updated news from your sources? Inquiring minds wanna know.


I just spoke with Disney Reservations to see if I had a pin code attached to my name. Of course, given my luck, there wasn't. While she was searching, I casually asked if she expected any better discount for my travel dates (5/27 to 6/5) than what I already have. She looked at my reservation and said "Probably not but you never know with Disney. Keep watching online." I know! I know! Take what the Disney castmembers say with a grain of salt.

I wonder if they are trained to confuse or mislead customers on purpose? Disney cast members are using Jedi mind tricks on us.

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

I am so hoping for FD to come.. I called yesterday to see if we had a pin..We did and it was for Quickservice.. But it expired on May 1st . I need to go August 22nd-30th. It is supposed to be a last minute trip before my oldest starts kindergarten. Grandpa and Grandma are coming too.. We'll probably go anyway if there is a good hotel discount otherwise, maybe we'll try Disneyland..

I'm just waiting patiently. Goood things come to those who wait right??

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm still going regardless. Would FD be nice? Yes, yes it would. We intended on upgrading our resort if the promo comes (to CBR, but I guarantee DH won't be crying if we can only get in to CSR! ), but either way, we'll be satisfied where we are booked (Pop) right now.

We'll be at Disney, how could we not be happy about it.

For us, we can't go that often, so it's a wonderful experience each time we can go (it's not about money, more or less lack of time off...) Plus with the Fantasyland Expansion, we want to get 1 more good go at the parks before the bulk of the remodel goes on. We're not going back until 2014 at the earliest. I've already started planning. Once we're back from this trip, I'm going to start saving for that trip so we can go deluxe!

 

[Port Orleans fan]

I'm still going regardless. Would FD be nice? Yes, yes it would. We intended on upgrading our resort if the promo comes (to CBR, but I guarantee DH won't be crying if we can only get in to CSR! ), but either way, we'll be satisfied where we are booked (Pop) right now.

We'll be at Disney, how could we not be happy about it.

For us, we can't go that often, so it's a wonderful experience each time we can go (it's not about money, more or less lack of time off...) Plus with the Fantasyland Expansion, we want to get 1 more good go at the parks before the bulk of the remodel goes on. We're not going back until 2014 at the earliest. I've already started planning. Once we're back from this trip, I'm going to start saving for that trip so we can go deluxe!

I wouldn't worry too much because I'm sure free dining (or another discount) will be made available soon. However, it's so hard waiting for it that it's driving me crazy.

 

[CanadianGuy]

It allows people to book ADR's 180+10 so when and if FD or other deals come their ADR's are already done.

As of April 1st.. you could book all your ADRs thru the end of September anyway.. so.. this isn't that great of a benefit in my book. Especially for those who just booked in hopes of F/D over the weekend.. Fairly pointless in my book. And if you end up having to change your dates to get the F/D (as is often the case) .. even more pointless.

Ok it gets you the ADR's which are absolutely useless without a hotel to stay in and the free dining offer everybody is hoping for. And by booking ahead.. you've effectively reduced the number of rooms likely to be offered on whatever the fall promo is.. And as I said, the ADRs are no good without the F/D resort booknig for the exact same dates you already booked... UNLESS - you plan on going with or without F/D.

Sorry, I just don't see that as a big enough benefit for all the potential hassle. I read last year and the year before many many times of guests who said..

I had everything booked and the ADR's all set and now I have to cancel and try to get them for the new dates because I couldn't get F/D at my preferred resort for the dates I wanted.. Ugh Ugh Ugh!

So do you think there will be more summer deals or they are just hoping these TV commercials will do the trick?

I'm told the 30% offer is NOT the offer that will come out this week.. (probably Thursday)

What do you think the chance of an offer for end of aug? Like persay the 24th to the 30th?

Very good. Just not this week. (sorry)

So I am wondering If Disney is so worried about the summer season why do they not have summer deals out already? (yeah I know they have the %off rooms but that is not much of a promo) People are planning and saving for summer trips right now. They are getting their tax money back right now. Airfare is low right now. Also, usually you can tell where disney is trying to drum up business by the shows they air on the travel channel. I am only seeing cruise shows and a smattering of wedding shows ? No "hey look at what fun you can have in our parks" or "save money with us" shows

Well.. remember... Disney often layers different offers booking windows together so that if offer "A" doesn't get you excited, maybe offer "B" will.. we saw that with the 20/30/40 offer and the Gift Card both available to booked at the same time.

We are looking at a VERY small window of time (last week and this week) and because the offer WE get excited about didn't come out - we're not pleased.

It does make sence that they would be worried about summer so delay the fall promos. Don't undercut your own product and all that. Universal is a big threat and the economy is not doing well. People are being much more cautious with their money. But I don't see any aggressive attempt to get people into the parks? The deal out now is really nothing special. Spring break is almost over??

Here's another clue as to just how bad things are. Disney lifted special offer black out dates around Easter. And for the first time that I've been doing this - Disney had discounts at the resorts for Easter.

They did that about 2-3 weeks before Easter.. and a lot of people jumped at it.

Disney is doing what they are doing because frankly .. they are worried about the dates you see on each promo. Very worried in some cases.

So Canadian Guy, any updated news from your sources? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Just what I posted a few pages back in this thread. Nothing really "new" per se.

Ultimately.. we may not be pleased with WHATEVER promos Disney comes out with. We're allowed to not like them.

But just remember.. just cause you don't like them - that doesn't mean that enough other people didn't find them just 'jim dandy' and book immediately.

We're an odd bunch here and sometimes tend to be fairly demanding.

Why?

Because we've been pretty heavily spoiled with all these discounts the past few years. Believe you me - the minute the economy picks up and folks have more disposable income in hand.. you're going to see fewer discounts. Not all the way to 'none' but definitely a whole lot less.

We've become very spoiled with the offers and discounts... and I include myself in that we.

I tell my friends that I keep going back to Disney because ultimately -- I can't go anywhere else for the same money and get all the same "stuff" as part of my vacation. And that is at rack rates. Throw in the discounts and I REALLY can't go anywhere else 'good' for less.

Now, I don't stay at deluxe hotels very often.. I don't tend to get the DDP or eat at TS more than a couple of times in a weeks stay, I don't tend to eat a lot of food anyway so the DDP just doesn't work for me.. and I am not buying tickets for a family of four..

I recognize all of that makes a HUGE difference.

Everyone has to evaluate for their own situation.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

Here's another clue as to just how bad things are. Disney lifted special offer black out dates around Easter. And for the first time that I've been doing this - Disney had discounts at the resorts for Easter.

They did that about 2-3 weeks before Easter.. and a lot of people jumped at it.

Disney is doing what they are doing because frankly .. they are worried about the dates you see on each promo. Very worried in some cases.

Now you're getting me excited about the upcoming fall promo (when it's announced). I wonder if it will be the best fall promo we have ever seen, or am I jumping to conclusions too quickly?

I can't wait.

 

[Bridge203618]

I can't wait to see what the new "summer" offer is and if it is anything better than I have....

 

[CanadianGuy]

Now you're getting me excited about the upcoming fall promo (when it's announced). I wonder if it will be the best fall promo we have ever seen, or am I jumping to conclusions too quickly?

I can't wait.

Well with all those rooms booked at rack rates in anticipation for fall dining.. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 'less exciting.. '

And I'm serious about that.

One former resorts employee had told me one year that they had an almost 50% cancellation rate on September bookings who were switching to F/D .. and that was considered a 'poor promo success' because it didn't get NEW bookings.. it simply took existing bookings and switched them over. Now that is how the bean counters saw it...

We see it differently.. but you gotta understand how the actions of many acting for themselves affects the group as a whole. Game theory.. again. If everyone didn't rush to pre-book before the promo comes out - there would be more rooms at more resorts for EVERYONE to book when the promo comes out... AND the promo would be evaluated for its success rate accurately and positively.

There are a LOT of reasons to think long and hard about pre-booking before a promo comes out. And this is one of them.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Now you're getting me excited about the upcoming fall promo (when it's announced). I wonder if it will be the best fall promo we have ever seen, or am I jumping to conclusions too quickly?

I can't wait.

See, that's my take too. We keep hearing "not necessarily Free Dining" and I think "Yes! It's gonna be even better than FD as we know it!!" I'm so hoping that my optimistic side is right!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Just by way of math..

Two parents. One child 13 and one child 8.

Free dining represents a 'discount' of $127 per day for this family.. And a 'comes straight out of the profits' for Disney of the same amount.

For a 7 day trip -- that's $889 ..

Now that kind of discount sorta works for the Deluxe hotels.

But for the values and the mods - they are losing money unless y'all go nuts on souvenirs, trinkets and treats not on the DDP. And losing it in a place with poor profit margins for the most part anyway - restaurants.

Just something to noodle on.