Had an interesting chat with Disney yesterday

[es45]

One thing I wish Disney would consider is if a child over the age of 10 wants to be on the childrens dining plan than let them be charged for the childrens dining plan. We are going next yr and my my 2 sons ages 10 and 12 both still order off childrens menu but we have to pay the adult price. I wish they would let you choose that option.

This is why we don't purchase the dining plan any longer. Only when we are planning for character dining does the plan make $ sense for our family now.

I must admit, I've found the lack of a dining plan freeing and I don't stress about the ADRs or managing the credits for the family.

 

[maxiesmom]

No matter how Disney could think to configure the Dining Plan, there would always be a family for which it didn't work. There is no perfect plan.

Not to mention, being able to buy however many credits you like would put an end to any type of Free Dining promotion. Unless it turned into an all you care to eat thing, and I don't see that every happening.

I also have to wonder, if Disney did sell credits, how much they would figure each credit was worth. They would have to price them high enough to make money on them, which it would seem would in turn make it not at all appealing to buy credits separately.

 

[Marionnette]

I understand that technically you can use the Deluxe plan for CS, but given the cost, that would would be silly. A more common sense approach would be to have 2 Cs and 1 TS meal per day, or allow the guest to decide how much they want to eat per day.

The whole point was to let Disney know what my thoughts about the plan were, WRT my family's needs, and to make some suggestions to make it better. And they were very interested in what I had to say.

No matter how Disney could think to configure the Dining Plan, there would always be a family for which it didn't work. There is no perfect plan.

Not to mention, being able to buy however many credits you like would put an end to any type of Free Dining promotion. Unless it turned into an all you care to eat thing, and I don't see that every happening.

I also have to wonder, if Disney did sell credits, how much they would figure each credit was worth. They would have to price them high enough to make money on them, which it would seem would in turn make it not at all appealing to buy credits separately.

I agree with maxiesmom. What the OP considers to be a "common sense approach" would be overkill for my family. And with the number of people who come back and say that the DDP is too much food for them, I imagine that there are a lot who would agree with me.

Disney is not going to stop you from buying as much food as your family wants. But they are not going to create a dining plan that the majority of visitors will find no need for. Aren't the MYW tickets confusing enough without adding a laundry list of dining plan options as well? You always have the ability to use your KTTW card to make purchases in the parks. If I found that the DDP didn't provide us with enough food, I would just use my KTTW card to supplement it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yeah but you can't carry a cup of ice water in your backpack or onto rides like you can a bottle of water.

so bring a portable bottle, and pour the water in. Cuts down on trash, too.

 

[LilyWDW]

I just don't buy the dining plan. Then, I can order what I want, where I want it, and when I want it. It is the best plan out there!

 

[delilah]

Not sure why anyone would use a snack credit on bottled water when you can go to ANY stand that sells fountain soda and ask for and get, ice water for free! It's filtered and isn't nasty like the water fountains

This is really good to know. Thanks for sharing. I am philosophically opposed to using bottled water for ecological reasons, but, I bring empty bottles from home that we refill in the parks. It is nice to know that we could get colder water that might taste better for our bottles any time (I have been filling the bottles in our room and keeping them in the refrigerator over night, but, even so, of course, the water gets warm and the bottles are heavy to care). Thanks again!

 

[TDC Nala]

If you go to a quick service restaurant with a beverage station, you can also fill up with water there.

There aren't any at MK, but you can get cold water at the drink stations at Electric Umbrella and Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, Restaurantosaurus at AK and Backlot Express at DHS.

 

[jojomoore]

I wish they would allow tweens (ages 10 to 13)to purchase the kids dining plan and order from the kids menu. WDW could still charge adult prices for buffets that could be paid for at the end of the meal.

 

[sukhakuli]

I agree with maxiesmom. What the OP considers to be a "common sense approach" would be overkill for my family. And with the number of people who come back and say that the DDP is too much food for them, I imagine that there are a lot who would agree with me.

Disney is not going to stop you from buying as much food as your family wants. But they are not going to create a dining plan that the majority of visitors will find no need for. Aren't the MYW tickets confusing enough without adding a laundry list of dining plan options as well? You always have the ability to use your KTTW card to make purchases in the parks. If I found that the DDP didn't provide us with enough food, I would just use my KTTW card to supplement it.

That's the point of being able to buy what you need, though. Our kids eat constantly, like most kids small kids do. The recommendation is that kids under the age of 5 eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. My kids don't eat much at one sitting, but their tummies are the size of their fist, so they can't eat much. But they graze all the time. And no, my kids are not overweight. They are all a little too thin, actually. I don't need to eat that much, I'm good with a large meal and a snack during the day. That's why it makes sense to offer a plan where people can purchase the credits they need. As children age and families change, their dining needs change, too. I'm already about what it will look like when they are all teenagers.

I don't see how it would end free dining at all. You would get the basic plan for free, and if you wanted more credits, you could purchase those. Just like you can upgrade your free dining plan if you wish.

But really, I don't see what there is to argue about? This was my feedback to Disney, you are welcome, and I really encourage everyone, to send their own. I was not complaining, quite the opposite, actually. I was very complimentary about the plan and our trip, but I wanted to offer some suggestions that would make it better for our family. You are welcome to not share my opinion, and to have different needs than my family does. Please let Disney know what would make your park experience better.

 

[Allison]

I don't understand why there would be a reason to have the ability to purchase whatever credits you want-that is the same thing of paying out of pocket and then you do not need any kind of plan at all.

If it is the concept of being prepaid that appeals to people, I would buy some gift cards prior to the trip.

 

[Marionnette]

That's the point of being able to buy what you need, though. Our kids eat constantly, like most kids small kids do. The recommendation is that kids under the age of 5 eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. My kids don't eat much at one sitting, but their tummies are the size of their fist, so they can't eat much. But they graze all the time. And no, my kids are not overweight. They are all a little too thin, actually. I don't need to eat that much, I'm good with a large meal and a snack during the day. That's why it makes sense to offer a plan where people can purchase the credits they need. As children age and families change, their dining needs change, too. I'm already about what it will look like when they are all teenagers.

I don't see how it would end free dining at all. You would get the basic plan for free, and if you wanted more credits, you could purchase those. Just like you can upgrade your free dining plan if you wish.

But really, I don't see what there is to argue about? This was my feedback to Disney, you are welcome, and I really encourage everyone, to send their own. I was not complaining, quite the opposite, actually. I was very complimentary about the plan and our trip, but I wanted to offer some suggestions that would make it better for our family. You are welcome to not share my opinion, and to have different needs than my family does. Please let Disney know what would make your park experience better.

I guess we can agree to disagree on this point. To me, it makes absolutely no sense to pay ahead for extra, nonrefundable credits that you may find that you have left unused at the end of your vacation. Why give Disney the extra money upfront? Just reach in your pocket and pull out your KTTW card to pay for that extra Mickey Bar or CS meal. It's just as convenient and cost-effective.

And since Disney people read these boards daily to get a feel for guest opinions, I see no reason to not voice mine here as well as when I visit the parks. They are always tweaking the dining plans based on guest feedback and perhaps they may even float a trial balloon version of the pay-per-credit dining plan that you've proposed. It sounds like something that day guests might be interested in purchasing. I just don't see the advantage to onsite guests who can purchase any of the 3 current dining plans and use their KTTW for everything else.

 

[jlr9882]

I like the idea of a Pixar or Star Wars character meal. We would definitely book a reservation if that ever happened.

My nephews and their Dad would love the Star Wars meal and my son would be thrilled with a Pixar one. We have gone to Chef Mickey and it was great, but you can see all those characters all over the parks.

 

[gonzalj1]

One thing I wish Disney would consider is if a child over the age of 10 wants to be on the childrens dining plan than let them be charged for the childrens dining plan. We are going next yr and my my 2 sons ages 10 and 12 both still order off childrens menu but we have to pay the adult price. I wish they would let you choose that option.

I think this would be a great option. But Disney would have to cap the age at something reasonable like 11 or 12. I can only imagine some adults buying the children's plan and then spending it all at buffet meals. And, we'd still have folks complaining that it doesn't work for their kids.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think this would be a great option. But Disney would have to cap the age at something reasonable like 11 or 12. I can only imagine some adults buying the children's plan and then spending it all at buffet meals. And, we'd still have folks complaining that it doesn't work for their kids.

Or they would have to set it up so you couldn't use it for buffet meals.

My nephew has been able to eat a lot more than me for many, many years. When I go to the buffet I rarely get more than one plate of food. Is it fair that I pay the same as my brother in law who gets three plates of food? There really is no way to make this fair for everyone.

 

[WillAustin]

I think a lot of people miss that Disney doesn't want most people coming out ahead or breaking even on the dining plans. They aren't going to make it easier to "get your money's worth". They don't want to offer plans that exactly fit most people's style and amount of food. They'd rather people leave credits on the table. As long as they can claim a possible 20%+ savings without explaining how you'd actually get that, they will have plenty of people buying the plans and feeling good about it.

There is a reason they don't let you add or subtract individual credits.

 

[chinarider]

I would be happy if we still had the appetizer or dessert choice on the reg dining plan

 

[MolonLabe]

so bring a portable bottle, and pour the water in. Cuts down on trash, too.

+1

We get the free ice water but also have a Bourke in the back pack. Fill it up throughout the day and get fresh ones back at the room at night.

+1 to the kttw card. Down side is you can only charge $500 on it, so you still need an extra cc with you just in case.

my only real complaint is the 10 y//o limit on kids meals for the plan. I think age 10,12 should be able to buy whichever one they want, obviously if you opt for the adult plan it would cost more.

IMO most ten year old can't eat that much.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I would be happy if we still had the appetizer or dessert choice on the reg dining plan

I thought you still get dessert with reg DP?

 

[mom2of2]

You do get dessert with the DP, you dont get an app or a choice between the two

 

[mommyof3princess27]

You do get dessert with the DP, you dont get an app or a choice between the two

oh ok gotcha I thought I missed something