Free Dining - Will Disney Ever do away with it?

[dvcdisney]

Good attitude!

My tip? They sell AP's called Power Passes. There are limited black out dates and cost $114 for almost all of the 12 months (I would not go during black out dates anyway-too crowded). Can't beat it. And great coasters. WooHoo!!

Wow! Are they really that cheap for an AP for Universal? Thanks. I will definitely look into it. (hopefully, I won't be going during the black out dates either so we can get these Power Passes.

Thanks.

 

[CarolA]

Wow! Are they really that cheap for an AP for Universal? Thanks. I will definitely look into it. (hopefully, I won't be going during the black out dates either so we can get these Power Passes.

Thanks.

Right now...

When Harry Potter opens.... All bets are off. If Universal can't charge you more to come.... BANKRUPTCY LOL! SO the prices have to go up.

(check those dates. Several of the ticket deals do expire used or not just before the anticipated opening of Harry!)

 

[Muushka]

Wow! Are they really that cheap for an AP for Universal? Thanks. I will definitely look into it. (hopefully, I won't be going during the black out dates either so we can get these Power Passes.

Thanks.

Yup, pretty good deal, me thinks.

Check this http://www.universalorlando.com/annualpass/ap_pwr.php.html

oops, it is $114.95. I hear you can get them at Publix for $99 (even better deal!)

 

[DisFlan]

I am curious though, I know Disney is offering free dining to attract folks during slow season but could not they do the same with offering 40% off resort coupons or something?

About 4 or 5 years ago, Disney offered "pay for 4 nights and get 3 nights free" packages. Even that didn't draw the crowds that free dining brings in. Disney would rather give food away and put butts in beds at rack rate - and people gobble it up. "Free food" - good or bad, limited or not - trumps just about any other discount.

DisFlan

 

[dvcdisney]

So if I am reading your post correctly, you seem to feel that the people both working at Disney and attending Disney were rude and during times of free dining you are instead going to go to Universal.

Did I miss anything?

Sorry for the dig but wow this board has a strong negative tone quite often and the negative posts seem to go on and on.

I apologize if it sounds negative, but it was an experience that I am still quite in awe. I had a few friends who warned me about it, but certainly, as a I now know, one doesn't understand the gravity of some people's selfish and rude behaviour until one is in the middle of it. I just called my friend and explained that I now know what she was speaking of. It's really difficult to explain. It's not one thing, but many things. It's not just one CM being rude to a guest, but several times I saw this happen. Two of these were at the Guest Relations desk at the DTD. I couldn't believe it. I was just about to go in line and saw that the signs for the lines was not facing out, and realized it was on the other side. I was just walking over when a saw a woman walk up and wait behind someone at the exit (I guess, as I did, she thought that that was the beginning of the line). A CM was on the line giving a button to the first lady and then she left. The woman went up to the desk and before she could ask, the VERY rude CM looked at here rudely and said rather snarly, "the line is over there". She was confused because she thought that she was at the beginning of the line. I was just about to ask her if she wants to go in my place because I was not about to talk to this rude man, but she quickly left. I understand that some people try to go ahead of people in line even if they know they are cutting the line. But this woman wasn't. She was essentially the first in line, she was there before I decided to go in line and no one else was there. He had no right to speak to her that way. Especially since the only thing she said was "Excuse me...". The people behind me said something as well about how rude that CM was since they saw what happpened. I left. I really had it by this time.

Anyways, my decision to go to Universal was based on the fact that I didn't want to be anywhere near Disney during Free Dining and Universal looks like a great alternative. Why? Does Universal offer free dining at that time too?

 

[CraftyMouse]

I am curious though, I know Disney is offering free dining to attract folks during slow season but could not they do the same with offering 40% off resort coupons or something?

Free dining keeps guests on site. A discounted room would have guests staying on site but they just might head to Universal/IOA, Sea World or Busch Gardens during their stay.

Plus, as others have said, "Free" is always appealing...even if it really isn't free. Disney is still making their money on the rack room rates so "free" is just a name...but it works.

 

[Chuck S]

Until the "free dining" promotion began Fall was our favorite time to visit Disney. Now however...we had the same experience as you last Sept and as a result we will never schedule another vacation with Disney during "free dining". I agree, not everyone was rude but enough folks were that it affected our enjoyment.

I am curious though, I know Disney is offering free dining to attract folks during slow season but could not they do the same with offering 40% off resort coupons or something?

Sure, but any marketing person worth their salt will tell you that you will attract more customers with the word "FREE!!!!" than you do with the word "Discount"