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

[frayedend]

Not to debate taxes, but just a thought here...

If you are getting a refund and going to Disney then you should have your accountant tell you what you are doing wrong. You should be able to find out what your withholding should be and have it set that way. Then take the amount you usually get as a refund, divide it by 12 and put that much in the bank every month. This way you make the interest instead of letting the government hold your money. Ideally you would break even at the end of the year. Also people are right about the increased witholding but it only adds up to like $100 over the year so if you usually owe or get back thousands you wouldn't really notice it.

And back on topic. I really hope it isn't a ticket discount, kids or otherwise. We were given park passes from a friend so that won't save us money (except the 1 day we bought so we could get dining plan).

 

[stepdisney]

Last year US had a free dining offer as well as a buy one get one ticket offer. We did both last year.

 

[southcarolinagirl]

I hope there are some Disney bigwigs who read this board & realize that a lot of people will be going offsite or to see the Wizard if we don't get some FD!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I agree. They need to get on the ball. Although I have to ask the Disney fans...how do you manage in the summer at Disney? It is so hot and the lines are so long. Don't you just fry from the heat there? We went to Universal a couple of years ago in July. We wouldn't have been able to handle the heat without the unlimited Front of the Line passes. We like going to Disney in October since our kids are in year round school and the crowds are reduced and it isn't so hot.

Summers at WDW really aren't that bad. We went last year at the very end of June and we were only there 5 days/4 nights. We used FP's a lot and we also went to AM EMH everyday (at MK, we were able to do all of Fantasyland in that first hour except for Dumbo. Our DD didn't want to go on it). We would only stay at a park until about lunch time and then we would go back to Pop to swim/nap. We would head back out to a different park around 3 or 4pm. Once the sun goes down, it's quite comfortable heat wise. I've heard that Sept can be even hotter than the summer months.

 

[CanadianGuy]

A couple of notes..

- Under either of the two scenarios in post # 1 -- there is STILL a fall discount. I see a number of posts commenting that dropping the fall discounts doesn't make any sense. Nothing is being dropped promotionally speaking ... but potentially changed. *(maybe)* I havent' heard one rumor or presented with one piece of data that indicates there will be 'no' fall promotion. I have however been presented with *many* conflicting datapoints regarding exactly what that promo will be. Hence my post.

- Let's drop the political discussion please. DIS has a rule about it and this is definitely NOT the place for it.

Changing things up would be an interesting wrinkle in their promotional plans. While certainly everybody has their hopes pinned on F/D -- it's clear there are a couple of potential discounts that *could* end up being as good or better for many guests.

I am so anxious on this. Literally I can't wait to see what comes down...

 

[DISNEY1975]

In my opinion........

Universal is a, at most, 2 day park. Nobody is going to spend a week or two long vacation at Universal.

Disney will lose some business from FL residents to them, as they may go for a quick weekend, day trips etc.. Anyone who will fly into FL, would spend the bulk of their trip at Disney and a couple of days at most at Universal.

With so many wanting to see the new Universal attraction, Disney could gain extra attendance into their parks. Though, personally, if I were planning a trip for both parks, I would seriously consider staying on Intl. Dr over staying in Disney, but if I were to spend the bulk of my trip at Disney with only a day at Universal, I would choose inside Disney as I could use their transportation, I guess with scenerio 1, Disney is doing just that. They will wait to see if Universal will help or hurt their business before offering big deals.

OR...it could be scenerio 2 and FD will be announced tomorrow!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

A couple of notes..

- Under either of the two scenarios in post # 1 -- there is STILL a fall discount. I see a number of posts commenting that dropping the fall discounts doesn't make any sense. Nothing is being dropped promotionally speaking ... but potentially changed. *(maybe)*

I know, but I am a worst case scenerio type of person, so I need to see what other options are out there, just in case.

 

[jlk806]

I am sitting here pricing off site options for us as we speak, if there is not a good deal offered we may go that route instead. In fact, as I think about it our last 3 trips have been onsite so maybe it would be fun to stay offsite and do some other things in addition to one or two Disney parks. If there is a good deal, we will stay at Disney but setting a backup into place. We're not too interested in Universal, I've been before and our son is probably too young for a lot of it. But we do love Sea World. Hmmm.

 

[pigletto]

A couple of notes..

- Under either of the two scenarios in post # 1 -- there is STILL a fall discount. I see a number of posts commenting that dropping the fall discounts doesn't make any sense. Nothing is being dropped promotionally speaking ... but potentially changed. *(maybe)* I havent' heard one rumor or presented with one piece of data that indicates there will be 'no' fall promotion. I have however been presented with *many* conflicting datapoints regarding exactly what that promo will be. Hence my post.

- Let's drop the political discussion please. DIS has a rule about it and this is definitely NOT the place for it.

Changing things up would be an interesting wrinkle in their promotional plans. While certainly everybody has their hopes pinned on F/D -- it's clear there are a couple of potential discounts that *could* end up being as good or better for many guests.

I am so anxious on this. Literally I can't wait to see what comes down...

I'm anxious too. I hate that tomorrow is April Fools. Even if they do annoucne something tommorow I'm not going to believe it

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well I can certainly understand that.

Do remember that no matter which way it goes.. we should have some indication very soon, probably no later than April 8th...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Devils advocate here, since I've only ever stayed on-site, but aren't most offsite (decent) hotels the same price as on-site in the value season? I really don't think $82/night is that unreasonable.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

Hey Knox, I don't think you've told us what kind of deal(s) you believe could replace free dining at WDW.

Come on, spit it out.

 

[doccoc2002]

Disney may be looking to fill summer rooms as the attendance in September is definatly up in the last few years. The first year we went in September was 2006 and we had no need for fast passes and rides were a walk-on. Half an hour before Spectromagic we got a prime space on main street no problem.

Fast forward to September 2009 - we needed to use fast pass and at Spectromagic we arrived an hour in advance and struggled to get a space.

I think they will play the waiting game and see how bookings go before releasing free dining and if they do FD I think it will be QS to the values as they must be losing money on some of those bookings. They might go for less numbers better profit tactic.

This is exactly what Disney hoped to accomplish...wanting people in the park during a SLOW September. We didn't go last year...I had a baby...but we have gone the years before and we still walked on. I didn't notice any change in crowds except we didn't have to wait for a table as long as we did in 2006...We waited 40mins after our ressie time @ Tony's in 2006...what a MAD HOUSE that was!

I think there is probably a better place than here for the tax/Obama debate. We still got a big refund. I know people who did and I know people who didn't, but no matter what a thread about free dining or other discounts really isn't a place to debate it.

I agree!!

 

[mom2aba]

Devils advocate here, since I've only ever stayed on-site, but aren't most offsite (decent) hotels the same price as on-site in the value season? I really don't think $82/night is that unreasonable.

It depends on the size of your party. If you have more than four it pushes you up to more expensive options within Disney - 2 rooms or much pricier rooms. We got a very nice Suite with two rooms on International Drive - to get a comperable place at Disney would cost at least twice as much as we paid there. We looked into two rooms at a value but they would not guarantee we'd end up in adjoining rooms.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Actually we and many people we know who got big refunds last year owe big this year because Obama decreased payroll withholding on weekly paychecks to stimulate the economy. The matching cut in taxes never came, so we all owe big come April. Yep, that extra money in our paycheck now goes back to Uncle Sam. This is very often a family's "vacation fund" and could prevent many from booking.
Ask around--I don't know of big refunds this year. Rather people are scrambling to pay the tax man.
I could see a sizable drop in bookings because of this, not an increase.

Check out line 63 of a 1040 on page 2, that is the offset for the withholding decreases. A person that was working will see $400 on this line, and a married couple with at least 1 working will see $800 on this line. Retired persons receiving Social Security got a check for $250 last spring, each. And government retirees who were exempt from Social Security, and didn't receive an additional $250 in their non-taxable portion of their pensions will see $250 on line 63 or $500 if married and both fall under this exemption.

If the couple you spoke to or yourself didn't get the $400/$800 on line 63, it would be because your AGI was nearly $200,000

Now in the next few years when some credits are due to expire, then you'll hear some serious noise.

Expiring deductions and credits are a politicians best friend. No, no, we didn't raise your taxes (we just allowed your deductions or credit expire), that's all (former politician) X's fault.


All in all, I would say for 2009, very very very few people either saw large amounts due or large refunds due to anything done by the current administration, it was due to changes in their tax situations from the prior year.

 

[sdmom]

Hoping for FD for most of y'all, and a nice hunky room discount or a 4/3 for moi!!

ditto

 

[mom2aba]

I didn't read through all the posts, but I hope for those who need the discount, that it's now something lame, like a free upgrade to hopper and water parks on your tickets.

Well, for us that would be better than the 4/3 or kids play and eat free ...

 

[CanadianGuy]

Hey Knox, I don't think you've told us what kind of deal(s) you believe could replace free dining at WDW.

Come on, spit it out.

Ok, I'll bite.

First off - a warning..

NONE of what I'm about to describe has been 'pitched' to me as a maybe, as a possibility or at all.. this is all out of my own head..

I think that a buy 4 get 3 (or similar deal) that DOES include the dining plan could be a real viable possibility.

Certainly some combination where you ease people BACK into paying for part of the dining plan during their stay .. and getting other discounts (on the room or tickets) to make the whole thing palatable to the consumer makes a great deal of sense.

Why?

Well.. someone pays for four days of the dining plan for example.. they're going to stop and do the math on those four days and say "Despite the free part... did I save money even on those four days?" because, often, that's the way the human brain works.

Odds are many of the consumers who experience that may say at the end, "Wow, even on the days I had to pay for it.. I came out ahead."

But hey - all that said - WHO KNOWS what it will be - I sure don't.

 

[ShhhQ]

I will be sad if there is no FD... but not devistated!

Our first trip in 2007... we chose late Aug simply for my Birthday. We booked in Feb. not even knowing there was such a thing as FD... a month later I found the DIS and heard the rumors... I was right in there hoping for it and got it... we almost didn't make it even with the FD due to finances... but a settlement we were waiting on finally came thru and we were able to purchase the vehicle needed to make the trip.

The following year... 2008.. I couldn't wait to book to know if FD was available or not.. we were going either way, but knew FD would save us money... we booked again in Feb. For some reason, I wasn't as anxious over it as the previous year (or this year to be frank). My BFF and her family were joining us for their 1st ever trip... maybe that was the distraction... mind you I was on the boards hoping, just not frantically. BTW we got it.. But since we knew we weren't returning for 2009, we didn't even think twice about the bounceback offer we got in our room.

2009... off year.. went to King's Island and then Branson.. had fun but missed my Disney fix. So started to save up as soon as we got back from this Vac.

2010... after 2 stays at Pop, we decide to try a different resort... after waiting 5 months I couldn't wait any longer and had to book in Feb. again... notice the trend here? I am a Disneyholic... and proud of it! Our party is just me and my Mother.. she isn't big on the rides, but loves the chance to dine in restaurants we normally couldn't afford. So regardless we need the DDP the pre-paid meals are a must.. so having it free is a plus.

That said... anything that gives us a good discount will be welcome!! We would save $500 if the regular DDP is free.... about $400 if we have to upgrade QSDP.... so if something came out that would save us more.. I would willingly jump on that bandwagon!!!!!

 

[doccoc2002]

If a 4/3 deal does come out I will have to see if it is cheaper staying 2 weeks w/split stay or the 11nights already booked Now...off to crunch some numbers...