Free dining?

[PrincessTiffany]

You are missing the point. About 1 year ago... in May of 2010, they announced future bookings were down, as they had less discounts than in 2009. Bookings were down by 10%. They openly told investors they might need to roll out more discounts to make up for the gap in bookings. Then, just as they told investors... three months later, in August of 2010.. they rolled out a huge amount of free dining dates, to cover much of late 2010 and much of 2011.
All those bookings had to be made by December. And that discount was still far less generous than many 2008-2009 discounts. Free dining is a much smaller discount than the buy 4, get 3.. that they used to run. It is smaller than a 40% room discount.
So yes... just as they told investors... in 2010, future bookings were down, and they rolled out a discount to push up bookings.
Once bookings have been at a good clip, they stopped rolling out many new discounts in 2011. In mid June 2010, you could still get a room discount for July 2010. No such offers around now. Now they are telling investors that the higher price points are sticking, and they are telling investors they will not use discounts as much as in the past.

Might they still roll out some pretty significant free dining dates? Yes, they might. In fact, I do expect some sort of discount to be rolled out for fall/winter. But just as the FD discount for September 2011 is smaller than the FD discount for September 2010... future discounts will mostly be smaller than past discounts.

You keep saying "free dining" as if it is the biggest discount, and unchanged from the past. In fact, free dining is really a lesser Disney discount... and it has been reduced from prior offers. (Reduced by $100 with the mandatory photo book purchase). For a family lf 4, staying 5 nights... that's nearly a 20% reduction in the value of the discount.

I haven't missed any point. You stated that there are less discounts this year than in 2010. That is, in fact, wrong. There are more discounts out for 2011 than 2010. You can rationalize that all you want, but that's the fact and the bottom line. And I know it's speculation, but I'll wager that there will still be a lot of free dining dates in 2012, including the photobooks or other little deals, maybe, but still many discounts.

As for me saying that free dining is the biggest discount for WDW patrons, I didn't say that exactly. I said that it is the biggest discount for a family/group of 3 or more people who are staying at a value or a moderate resort. The 4/3 deal is good, but it is NOT a better deal than free dining for a family of 4 or more - 3 or less, it's a wash. And even staying Deluxe, FD can, sometimes, be better than a room discount. If you are staying Deluxe, and depending on your room category, free dining is going to be a better discount if the majority of your family/group are adults or are considered Disney Adults - especially under the new 2012 rates - free dining should come out better on all standard deluxe rooms.

So, for the majority, certainly not everyone going to WDW, but for a majority, free dining is going to be the best discount you can get. For example, a 40% off room discount saves us about $630.00, A 4/3 deal saves us about $750.00 and a free dining offer saves us close to $1,500.00. We are a family of 6, so our FD savings is higher than some, but even for a smaller family, FD almost always comes out ahead.

 

[havoc315]

I haven't missed any point. You stated that there are less discounts this year than in 2010. That is, in fact, wrong. There are more discount out for 2011 than 2011. You can rationalize that all you want, but that's the fact and the bottom line. And I know it's speculation, but I'll wager that there will still be a lot of free dining dates in 2012, including the photobooks or other little deals, maybe, but still many discounts.

As for me saying that free dining is the biggest discount for WDW patrons, I didn't say that exactly. I said that it is the biggest discount for a family/group of 3 or more people who are staying at a value or a moderate resort. The 4/3 deal is good, but it is NOT a better deal than free dining for a family of 4 or more - 3 or less, it's a wash. And even staying Deluxe, FD can, sometimes, be better than a room discount. If you are staying Deluxe, and depending on your room category, free dining is going to be a better discount if the majority of your family/group are adults or are considered Disney Adults - especially under the new 2012 rates - free dining should come out better on all standard deluxe rooms.

So, for the majority, certainly not everyone going to WDW, but for a majority, free dining is going to be the best discount you can get. For example, a 40% off room discount saves us about $630.00, A 4/3 deal saves us about $750.00 and a free dining offer saves us close to $1,500.00. We are a family of 6, so our FD savings is higher than some, but even for a smaller family, FD almost always comes out ahead.

Your math is simply wrong. There have been far less discounts for 2011 than 2010. Unless you think Disney committed a Federal felony in their earnings reports.
You have a large family of Disney adults, so your personal perception of a discount is quite different than facts as to the general public, and Disney accountants.
For 2010 travel dates, there were 4/3 offers. For 2011, mostly free dining.

Let's see how a family of 4 does under both offers:
2 adults, 2 children. For a 7 day stay, with the ddp and base tickets.
Let's start with a deluxe hotel, for about 400 per night. Under the 4/3 offer, their total cost would be about $3,000.
Under the free dining offer, their total cost would be about $3,800.

Not even close-- the 4/3 saves about $800 more.

It's closer for the same guests staying in moderate: assuming $200 per night moderate: about $2,300 under the 4/3. Under free dining, it's about 2,400. So the 4/3 is still the slightly better offer.

Let's say you have 4 Disney adults? Then the Deluxe, under 4/3, would cost about $3,400. Under free dining, it would still cost $3800.

Of course, don't take my word for it. Go read Disney's annual financial disclosures.... Very boring accounting statements. But they show less value in discounts for the current year, than past year.

 

[havoc315]

So, for the majority, certainly not everyone going to WDW, but for a majority, free dining is going to be the best discount you can get. For example, a 40% off room discount saves us about $630.00, A 4/3 deal saves us about $750.00 and a free dining offer saves us close to $1,500.00. We are a family of 6, so our FD savings is higher than some, but even for a smaller family, FD almost always comes out ahead.

By the way.. By my math... 4/3 saves your family well over $1,000.

As a family of 6.. You need 2 value rooms. That is $100-$150 per night, each room.
And your family, with 4 Disney adults and 2 Disney kids... The QSDP is about $160 per night.
Factoring in the savings on tickets, meal plan, and hotel.. If you stayed off season when the rooms are $100 per night.. Your 4/3 savings for your family, would be about $1300.
7 days of free QSDP dining, would save you 1100. If you have to buy the photo book, then the free dining would save your family only about $1,000. Compared to $1300 with the 4/3.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Your math is simply wrong. There have been far less discounts for 2011 than 2010. Unless you think Disney committed a Federal felony in their earnings reports.
You have a large family of Disney adults, so your personal perception of a discount is quite different than facts as to the general public, and Disney accountants.
For 2010 travel dates, there were 4/3 offers. For 2011, mostly free dining.

Let's see how a family of 4 does under both offers:
2 adults, 2 children. For a 7 day stay, with the ddp and base tickets.
Let's start with a deluxe hotel, for about 400 per night. Under the 4/3 offer, their total cost would be about $3,000.
Under the free dining offer, their total cost would be about $3,800.

Not even close-- the 4/3 saves about $800 more.

It's closer for the same guests staying in moderate: assuming $200 per night moderate: about $2,300 under the 4/3. Under free dining, it's about 2,400. So the 4/3 is still the slightly better offer.

Let's say you have 4 Disney adults? Then the Deluxe, under 4/3, would cost about $3,400. Under free dining, it would still cost $3800.

Of course, don't take my word for it. Go read Disney's annual financial disclosures.... Very boring accounting statements. But they show less value in discounts for the current year, than past year.

I'm sorry, but I don't know where you are getting YOUR numbers. Have you ever booked a trip for you, your spouse and kids?

The total for a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids at The Polynesian, during Value Season for 7 nights with the free dining discount applied is $4,130.90. That same package with the 4/3 discount applied would be $3,967.52. So the 4/3 discount would save you $173.38 more than free dining, not $800.00.

If you price out that package with 4 adults the total with a free dining discount would be $4,505.12 and with the 4/3 discount applied it would be $4,513.60. So, in that scenario, the Free Dining discount would actually save you about $8.00 more than the 4/3 discount.

In the case of the moderate resort with a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids, for 7 nights at the Caribbean Beach Resort the total would be $2,282.48. The total for that package with a 4/3 discount would be $2,486.70. So, in this scenario the Free Dining discount would save you $204.22 more than the 4/3 deal.

I didn't price out the Value Resort Option, but, needless to say, the free dining says a family of 4 significantly more money than a 4/3 offer.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

By the way.. By my math... 4/3 saves your family well over $1,000.

As a family of 6.. You need 2 value rooms. That is $100-$150 per night, each room.
And your family, with 4 Disney adults and 2 Disney kids... The QSDP is about $160 per night.
Factoring in the savings on tickets, meal plan, and hotel.. If you stayed off season when the rooms are $100 per night.. Your 4/3 savings for your family, would be about $1300.
7 days of free QSDP dining, would save you 1100. If you have to buy the photo book, then the free dining would save your family only about $1,000. Compared to $1300 with the 4/3.

We only have 3 Disney Adults in our family, he actually turns 10 during our next trip in a few weeks and is currently booked as 9. Free Dining saves us much more money than a 4/3 offer. In fact, as the kids age into Disney Adults, the Free Dining will save us more and more money.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

By the way.. By my math... 4/3 saves your family well over $1,000.

As a family of 6.. You need 2 value rooms. That is $100-$150 per night, each room.
And your family, with 4 Disney adults and 2 Disney kids... The QSDP is about $160 per night.
Factoring in the savings on tickets, meal plan, and hotel.. If you stayed off season when the rooms are $100 per night.. Your 4/3 savings for your family, would be about $1300.
7 days of free QSDP dining, would save you 1100. If you have to buy the photo book, then the free dining would save your family only about $1,000. Compared to $1300 with the 4/3.

By the way, you do realize that the Disney Dining Plan is NOT included in the 4/3 deal - that is only for room and tickets, that's probably why your numbers are askew. If you are booked for 7 actual nights under the 4/3 deal you are paying for 7 nights of the dining plan. You are only getting 3 nights free at the resort and 3 days worth of ticket upgrade which is about only a $21.00 savings for a family of 4. The only real savings you are getting with the 4/3 deal is the 3 night free resort stay.

Also, in value season when we typically travel, the Value Resorts are actually about $83.00 per night, not $100 to $150.00 per night.

 

[havoc315]

By the way, you do realize that the Disney Dining Plan is NOT included in the 4/3 deal - that is only for room and tickets, that's probably why your numbers are askew. If you are booked for 7 actual nights under the 4/3 deal you are paying for 7 nights of the dining plan. You are only getting 3 nights free at the resort and 3 days worth of ticket upgrade which is about only a $21.00 savings for a family of 4. The only real savings you are getting with the 4/3 deal is the 3 night free resort stay.

Also, in value season when we typically travel, the Value Resorts are actually about $83.00 per night, not $100 to $150.00 per night.

You are correct about my miscalculation of the dining plan within the 4/3. But the 4/3 is still a much more expensive discount for Disney to offer. It is broken down in their quarterly reports. Remember, you don't have to get the dining plan, and most people can spend less money by skipping the plan.

Thus, let's just take. $300 room, with 2 adults and 2 children. Under the 4/3, the family saves about $1,000... And Disney gets about $2200 in advance revenue. (I am using approximation for the price of tickets ). If the family adds the meal plan, Disney could get more revenue.. But just $2200 in guaranteed advance revenue.

Under 7 days with free dining -- Disney gets approximately $3100 in advance revenue.

Even if the 4/3 family adds the ddp, that's still under $3,000 in revenue for Disney. If the 4/3 family opts to eat more cheaply, than even less revenue for Disney.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

You can't compare the two scenarios if you don't factor the DDP into the equation. It's got to be apples to apples, not oranges to apples. Why on earth would I pick the 4/3 deal over a free dining deal if I'm not adding the DDP to the 4/3 reseravtion? And, I'm not sure why you keep talking about Disney's revenue. This is about my savings, your savings and every other Disney patron's savings. And again, for a majority (not everyone) free dining is going to come out as the better deal.

 

[havoc315]

You can't compare the two scenarios if you don't factor the DDP into the equation. It's got to be apples to apples, not oranges to apples. Why on earth would I pick the 4/3 deal over a free dining deal if I'm not adding the DDP to the 4/3 reseravtion? And, I'm not sure why you keep talking about Disney's revenue. This is about my savings, your savings and every other Disney patron's savings. And again, for a majority (not everyone) free dining is going to come out as the better deal.

Not true.. Not even under your revised math. And why would you pick the 4/3 deal without adding dining?? Because the dining plan is a pretty bad deal, as analyzed elsewhere on this board. I won't get into details here, but the vast majority of families would save money by skipping the ddp.

Why am I talking about Disney revenue?? Because that is how Disney makes its decisions. In a perfect world for Disney corporate, they can use some smoke and mirrors to make you think you are getting a discount, while you are actually paying a far more enhanced price.
Though not a 0 discount, free dining is an example of the type of promotion where people falsely perceive savings bigger than they are actually obtaining.
Disney is taking a line from Marie Antoinette, "let them eat cake."
Disney gives away a few slices of cheap cake and a mug of sugar water, and they convince people they have gotten sone great discount.
My family of 4 can eat perfectly well at Disney for about $80 per day. So that's what free dining really saves me.. But Disney smoke and mirrors... Claim it to be more like a $120 discount.

Again, the facts are.. Over the last year, Disney has taken concrete steps to reduce their reliance on discounts. You might not like those facts, but they are true. Even this September's fd offer, is less generous than last years offer.

Nobody is saying they are eliminating discounts altogether. Nobody is saying you will never see free dining again. Only saying, one should expect narrower and narrower discounts... As well as more smoke and mirror discounts, instead of legitimate discounts.

 

[DaParkers]

Not true.. Not even under your revised math. And why would you pick the 4/3 deal without adding dining?? Because the dining plan is a pretty bad deal, as analyzed elsewhere on this board. I won't get into details here, but the vast majority of families would save money by skipping the ddp.

Why am I talking about Disney revenue?? Because that is how Disney makes its decisions. In a perfect world for Disney corporate, they can use some smoke and mirrors to make you think you are getting a discount, while you are actually paying a far more enhanced price.
Though not a 0 discount, free dining is an example of the type of promotion where people falsely perceive savings bigger than they are actually obtaining.
Disney is taking a line from Marie Antoinette, "let them eat cake."
Disney gives away a few slices of cheap cake and a mug of sugar water, and they convince people they have gotten sone great discount.
My family of 4 can eat perfectly well at Disney for about $80 per day. So that's what free dining really saves me.. But Disney smoke and mirrors... Claim it to be more like a $120 discount.

Again, the facts are.. Over the last year, Disney has taken concrete steps to reduce their reliance on discounts. You might not like those facts, but they are true. Even this September's fd offer, is less generous than last years offer.

Nobody is saying they are eliminating discounts altogether. Nobody is saying you will never see free dining again. Only saying, one should expect narrower and narrower discounts... As well as more smoke and mirror discounts, instead of legitimate discounts.

Great debate y'all have going on here, but I have one question. Why exclude the biggest percentage of visitors.........Value resort guests? WDW has more than 8000 value resort rooms and is currently building another. Even though they make more money per day on a deluxe room, there are less people renting the rooms and usually less days per stay. Also, tickets shouldn't be part of the equation because they are the same no matter what.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Not true.. Not even under your revised math. And why would you pick the 4/3 deal without adding dining?? Because the dining plan is a pretty bad deal, as analyzed elsewhere on this board. I won't get into details here, but the vast majority of families would save money by skipping the ddp.

Why am I talking about Disney revenue?? Because that is how Disney makes its decisions. In a perfect world for Disney corporate, they can use some smoke and mirrors to make you think you are getting a discount, while you are actually paying a far more enhanced price.
Though not a 0 discount, free dining is an example of the type of promotion where people falsely perceive savings bigger than they are actually obtaining.
Disney is taking a line from Marie Antoinette, "let them eat cake."
Disney gives away a few slices of cheap cake and a mug of sugar water, and they convince people they have gotten sone great discount.
My family of 4 can eat perfectly well at Disney for about $80 per day. So that's what free dining really saves me.. But Disney smoke and mirrors... Claim it to be more like a $120 discount.

Again, the facts are.. Over the last year, Disney has taken concrete steps to reduce their reliance on discounts. You might not like those facts, but they are true. Even this September's fd offer, is less generous than last years offer.

Nobody is saying they are eliminating discounts altogether. Nobody is saying you will never see free dining again. Only saying, one should expect narrower and narrower discounts... As well as more smoke and mirror discounts, instead of legitimate discounts.

Again, do you have a family? A family of 4 can eat perfectly well at Disney for $80.00 per day? Are you kidding me? What do you consider perfectly well? I have read all those ridiculous threads about the DDP and the people who don't like it, but in reality, the DDP has been an enormous hit with the public and one of the best things Disney has come up with in years - and it actually can save many families money vs. paying out-of-pocket.

You seemed to have turned this personal and I'm getting the impression here that you are implying that I'm some, apparently, some naive and/or ignorant woman who's been duped into thinking I'm getting a good discount, when I am not. I take a large family to Disney every year, I do the math. I'm not stupid. I have my own Disney Trip Planning Service and help many families, of all sizes, plan their vacations and my number one priority is to save them the most money and to get them the most for the money they are spending - free dining is sometimes the best option, sometimes not. Personally, the Basic Disney Dining Plan saves us about $250.00 vs. paying out-of-pocket for the same meals. Yes, we are going to do at least 1 sit down/table service meal per day with or without the plan, so it saves us money. If you are some family that's going to bring your crock pot and eat in your room or bring your PB&Js to the park, then no the DDP isn't going to save you any money. At the very least, people are going to break even with the DDP and if a family eats at least 1 sit down/table service/character meal per day they are going to save money.

You keep quoting verbage from Disney Corporate reports, but I get the impression that you don't actually know a lot about the familes in those reports or what goes into booking those vacations for those reports - actual cost of MYW packages, actual details of the promos like 4/3, the fact that you can apply a discount inside the 45 day window, etc. It really comes down to the fact that the free dining promo does save my family, and many other families, a lot of money. It's not smoke and mirrors, it's simple math. I can't even figure out why you would agrue that?

Anyway, as far as if Disney has or will reduce discounts, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on that matter. I was enjoying our little debate until it seemed to turn personal, so I will bow out now. Have a magical day!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Great debate y'all have going on here, but I have one question. Why exclude the biggest percentage of visitors.........Value resort guests? WDW has more than 8000 value resort rooms and is currently building another. Even though they make more money per day on a deluxe room, there are less people renting the rooms and usually less days per stay. Also, tickets shouldn't be part of the equation because they are the same no matter what.

Would love to continue the debate with ya'll, but I've neglected my laundry and dinner preparations long enough and the kids keep asking what the heck I keep going to the computer for? lol!

Have a great night!

 

[havoc315]

Again, do you have a family? A family of 4 can eat perfectly well at Disney for $80.00 per day? Are you kidding me? What do you consider perfectly well? I have read all those ridiculous threads about the DDP and the people who don't like it, but in reality, the DDP has been an enormous hit with the public and one of the best things Disney has come up with in years - and it actually can save many families money vs. paying out-of-pocket.

Yes, I have a family of 4. Yes, I have taken them to Disney. And yes, we can eat our fill for $80 per day. We don't waste, we don't fill up on fattening desserts, we drink water with our meals because it is healthier, more refreshing, and cheaper than soda. We occasionally split entrees, as portions tend to be double sized. My kids often share a meal.

For example, a typical day:
Breakfast, coffee, milk and cereal in the room. About $5 total.
Lunch -- Plaza Restaurant:
Me-- grilled chicken sandwich --$12.49
DW-- tuna salad sandwich -- 11.99
DS and DD -- if they each get their own meal, then 8.59 each

Snack time -- split the large ice cream cookie sandwich from Msb -- about $5 total

Dinner at Contempo Cafe-
Burger for me-- 5.59
Caesar Salad for DW - 5.19
Kids share a flat bread--6.99

No crock pot.. But total for the day--
$69. Throw in sales tax, total for the day is about $74.
2012 ddp, for the same desired food, would have cost nearly double that.

Day 2-- same breakfast, $5
Epcot -- Via Napoli for lunch. Large pizza-- $28
Dinner, back at the hotel.. Let's splurge and do a second TS meal in the same day -- The wave.
Linguini for me --$21.99
Roast chicken for DW - $17.99
Kids meals -- 6.49 each

Total for the day --$86. With tax, $92. Above my $80 statement, but it includes 2 TS meals, not just 1.

Day 3-- all day at DHS.
$5 breakfast again.
Lunch -- Sci Fi diner.
Me and DW split the ribs--$22. And split a bowl of chili, $7
Kids each get their own --$9 each.

Dinner at Starring Rolls--
Me and DW share the Turkey focacio. (it is HUGE)--$9.19
Kids each get their own pbj- $5 each.
Share 2 cup cakes for a special dessert $4 each.

Total for the day:
$79. With tax, $84.

So there you go, eating perfectly well.. For 3 days.. No crock pots required.. For right around $80 per day. And that even included 4 TS meals in 3 days, and the kids hardly ever had to share.

For your personal preferences, the Disney dining plan works for you. That's great, so I hope you are able to get free dining in the future.

But the simple fact --- the only thing I have been saying --- is that Disney is in the process of narrowing the discounts they offer. Unless you believe that the Disney board is committing multiple felonies by misrepresenting their quarterly reports, those are the facts.
It does not mean they are going to eliminate free dining. (though they might). It does not mean you have to stop loving the dining plan. It's a simple statement -- from the overall $$$ perspective, for the millions of visitors to Disney World, they are actively reducing reliance on discounts. Just as the photo book requirement, is a $90 reduction in the dining discount.

 

[smidgy]

well, you can call it "little", you can call it "measly" but a $95 photopass book you con't want still adds $95 to the price of the package, making the discount $95 less (which is not little or measly to some people.)

the dining plan is only a savings if you were going to eat that way anyway. and no, you don't have to "bring a Crock pot" to watch what you spend on eating at WDW.

there is absolutely nothing wrong with those of us who enjoy coffe cake in the room. sometimes we have a sandwich and some macaroni salad and chips. again, nothing to be embarrassed about. proud, maybe, of being smart. and we, as havoc, split meals sometimes. like the huge funnel cake at sleepy hollow, or we;ll buy the tacon meal at La Pirita and each eat one. we don't want to walk around with our bellies so full. or split a 4 piece chicken dinner with a huge shake at prime time.

but we DO have TS meals where we don't split. (buffets and teppan edo, obviously, and no way is hubby getting any of my filet at Le cellier!) we just don't feel the need to have to arrange our schedule around a TS dinner every day. too much food anyways. at CS places, no way can we drink that huge soda they give you and we end up giving our dessert away anyway.

we can eat very well at disney without the DDP. do I like the "free" dining? yes, I do enjoy those nice dinners from time to time. I still think the room only offers are a better deal, and the buy4/get 3 free was the best you will ever see! with the money we saved, we ate very nicely (and yes I included money paid OOP for food in my figuring of our savings)

Havoc is correct. we all have our favorite discounts. those those who enjoy a big sit down dinner every day, and have a drink and sessert with every CS, will save more on the "free"ining discount. others will save more on the room only discounts.

but everyone will see less dicounts, and of less value.

 

[havoc315]

To be upfront.. We don't typically eat for $80 per day... But our style of eating doesn't fit in the ddp. We will very rarely eat cs meals.
Our last Disney trip... Free dining was the only available discount.
So we had a choice -- simply let the cs go to waste, and pay oop for extra ts. Or upgrade to deluxe for about $30 per adult.

Since we really like fine dining, the extra $30 gave us a signature meal every night.

Our mugs were a total waste. Used them once basically. Used less than half our snack credits. And wasted a ton of desserts.
But we got lobster at Narcoose's, sushi at California Grill, an appetizer with each meal.

So as that's how we like to eat on vacation --- the ddp doesn't work. And it would be very questionable whether paying full price for DXDP at 2012 prices makes any sense.

To eat exactly as we want to eat... Costs about $150-200 per day, but the ddp doesn't save us any money, as most of the cs meals would be wasted. I'd basically be paying $50 for 1 ts credit, and then going oop for another 1-2 ts credits per day.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

OT, but I have to set this straight. Marie Antoinette never said "Let them eat cake". She was accused of that, but this statement was made before she was born by another royal.

 

[aubriee]

well, you can call it "little", you can call it "measly" but a $95 photopass book you con't want still adds $95 to the price of the package, making the discount $95 less (which is not little or measly to some people.)
Havoc is correct. we all have our favorite discounts. those those who enjoy a big sit down dinner every day, and have a drink and sessert with every CS, will save more on the "free"ining discount. others will save more on the room only discounts. but everyone will see less dicounts, and of less value.

I agree. As an AP holder who makes several trips a year down there, I can see where the discounts are alot less than they have been in previous years. When only one day tickets were required, we did free dining every Sept. Then last year they started requiring two day park tickets, and now this year it's two day tickets, plus a stupid $99.00 photo book. We haven't done free dining since they've started requiring two day tickets. Since we stay mainly at moderate resorts or maybe do a split stay at a moderate/deluxe, free dining is just not worth it anymore for pass holders or smaller families. If you have a bunch of kids and stay in a value or moderate then yes it can be a pretty good deal. With my AP room discounts and a TIW card which gives 20% off meals, free dining is pretty useless for us. However, the last few years the percentage off for AP discounts has been getting less and less too. I remember a few years ago getting WL for 49% off. I had a courtyard view room for $149.00/night. I was also getting the moderates for $79.00/night most trips. You don't see those percentages anymore. In fact, last month the AP discount for POFQ was only 25% off. AP holders have always gotten at least 35% off at the moderates. We've also always gotten our room discounts before the GP, but for some reason since January, our discounts aren't coming out until well after the GP ones and very close to the 45 day mark. I know for our May trip, I gave up waiting for an AP discount and booked with the GP discount. About a week before my 45 day mark, AP discounts finally came out and I was able to switch without paying a fee. If they had come out just a week later, I would have had to pay a change fee, because my total would have went down. Disney used to appreciate their AP holders and offered us better discounts and offered them before all the other GP discounts, but now we are treated like the proverbial red headed step child. As a middle aged couple the kids stay and play free deal is also a useless discount. A large percentage of people that make regular, frequent (more than 2-3 times a year) trips are in this age bracket. Every trip we meet other couples or solo's down there that go about the same times we do every year. Our discounts have gotten progressively worse each year. Discounts are still there, but nothing like they were three or four years ago. Most families that have alot of kids go maybe once a year or even every 2 or 3 years. Those are the ones Disney seems to be aiming their discounts at. Those of us that go several times a year without kids are not getting anywhere near the discounts we used to.

 

[ParrishFamily]

Reduced discounts is a very vague in terms of reporting to investors. Discounts can include a wide variety of everything from discos to GP, individuals, international, other parks, cruises, etc.

In regards to reporting future numbers to investors, there are so many disclaimers in the reports that they can easily increase discounts and not be breaking any rules. Disney can increase discos for 4th quarter and still report they reduced them in the prev 3 quarters. "Increasing discos in 4th quarter caused a 10% increase in revenue over 3rd quarter". -- what investor would complain about that? Seriously!

Discussions and debates such as this should be done over on a financial forum...not a Disney one! Talk about sucking the Magic out of the room!

 

[smidgy]

Discussions and debates such as this should be done over on a financial forum...not a Disney one! Talk about sucking the Magic out of the room!

since you're pretty new to these boards, I guess you don't realize. but we are allowed to discuss the good AND the bad. it's a discussion board.

whether or not discounts are declining is a valid topic on the Dis.

(ps I remember when that buy 4 get 3 free included a $250 gift card!!! won't be seeing THAT discount again. that was great!!!)

 

[PrincessTiffany]

No, it is true. This is actually the SECOND free dining offer for the curret FD time frame. The FD offer they put out last fall covered many dates for 2011 that had never been offered before and then gave people a second chance at the end of August -September dates. They have released more free dining dates in 2011 than they have ever released before - since the introduction of of FD in 2005.

Plus, I would bet good money that come July/August there will be additional free dining dates for October - December.

THIS HAS BEEN POSTED TO THE DIS HOMEPAGE AND FACEBOOK PAGE, and pretty much seems like the same amount of free dining discounts as they offered for this time frame last year:

Rumor - free Dining Plan to be released August 3rd
by Scott Smith
Jul 29, 2011

A rumor has begun circulating that Disney will offer a free Dining Plan for select dates. According to the rumor, bookings beginning August 3rd, 2011 will be eligible for the free Dining Plan for the following travel dates:



October 2, 2011 - October 8, 2011

October 23, 2011 - November 5, 2011

November 13, 2011 - November 19, 2011

November 27, 2011 - December 3, 2011

December 11, 2011 - December 17


Quick Service dining would be available to Value resort guests and Regular Dining for Moderate, Deluxe and Villa resort guests. To read more about this rumor, visit this thread on DISBoards.com.