Here's An Idea!!

[whacked]

The whole point of the dining plan to Disney has nothing to do with discounts or no discounts.

The whole point of the dining plan is to get those who would not ordinarily do so to eat EVERY meal at Disney, rather than go outside the parks, eat in their room, etc.

The reason they added the QSDP is they know there are those of us (me) who will sneak off property for a quiet sit down dinner knowing it will cost about the same as counter service, and may also not buy nearly as much food or snack stuff.

There are also those of us (me) that are going in August for 10 days because of "free" dining. I went last Christmas, so I would not be taking my family back so soon if it were not for "free" dining.

Most non Disney heads would probably not book a table service (or three) every day without the dining plan. Most would also spend less overall out of pocket than they do by buying the dining plan. A dessert with every meal and two snack? Every Day? Really? I know some would, but most of us not.

By pre-paying, even with a discount, most people will spend more overall. If they were not, the dining plan would end tomorrow.

I'm not saying there a problem with the plan, I'm just saying Disney as a corporation and theme park manager is anything but stupid.

The Mouse knows what's in your wallet, and the best way to get it out.

 

[awoogala]

I'd rather have a "points" system. Buy a dining plan, but make it 500 pts. a cs meal is, say 5 pts., ts is 10, signature dining is 20. snacks are 1-3 pt, depending. That way, you can use the points the way you want, without having to worry that you haven't used enough table service credits, or that you have to have cs or snacks.

 

[havoc315]

TIW cards are different. You pay a fee to get one. Then you have to show up at Disney enough and spend enough to make that back. THEN you start getting discounted. I cannot see why Disney would want to offer an across the board dining discount to EVERYONE.

For much the same reason any retailer ever puts items on sale. To encourage more buying.

One can ask, why offer a discount to anyone? Of course, it's pretty easy to argue that the current DDP doesn't really provide a discount to anybody.

But just exploring this "idea" a bit further... Why not expand the TiW card? Let anybody buy it, not just annual pass and Florida residents.
If they offered the TiW card to call guests.. At a $100 cost...
A family that goes for 1 week wouldn't get any huge savings, for example..
My family of 4, may spend $1,000 OOP on food during a 1 week stay. Thus, at the end of the week, I'd still get a 10% savings. (Which I would prefer to the DDP).
So why not offer the TiW to everyone, or at least to all resort guests? (The obvious answer is because the DDP is more profitable for Disney).

 

[kdawg8762]

They could still offer it exclusively to resort guests. They wouldn't have to offer it to off-site guests.

That said -- They may want to offer it to off-site guests, as a way to encourage them to eat more onsite.

I actually think we are going in that direction with the regular DDP. A few years ago, when they introduced the DDP, it may have been a loss-leader -- Disney may have been taking a small loss on the dining plan, as a way to get people to stay onsite.
With the most recent pricing, I doubt Disney ever takes a loss on the dining plan. Thus, they may actually want to start selling the regular DDP to offsite guests. I wouldn't be shocked to see this start happening.

Obviously you haven't seen me eat Crab Legs at Cape May.

 

[tinka-belle]

Disney DID have a plan like this several years ago. I remember the "Silver and Gold Dining Plans". Silver was the most popular, you'd pay $50 per adult per night and get $55 to spend on food. Don't remember the child's price.

I was a TA back then too. Most people didn't opt for those plans. Not that it wasn't simple, but the unknown factor of "how much will I spend on food for this trip and will I run out of funds too soon" made them hesitate. People didn't like the uncertainty of not knowing. Several clients who did book it complained when they could not add additional discount funds even though this was expalined ahead of time, since the plans were promoted as discounted dining for your trip and they spent more than the "average" $55 per day.

With the current dining plans the perception is that 1 credit = 1 meal (OK, there are Signatures) and that all/most meals are covered regardless of what you order. Yes, I realize planners like us know differently, but it's that perception and easy tracking that makes the current plans appealing. Lots more clients book the new plans than ever booked the old discounted funds plans. Add the prospect of "free" dining and it gets people's attention a lot more than a 10% discount did.

 

[havoc315]

Disney DID have a plan like this several years ago. I remember the "Silver and Gold Dining Plans". Silver was the most popular, you'd pay $50 per adult per night and get $55 to spend on food. Don't remember the child's price.

I was a TA back then too. Most people didn't opt for those plans. Not that it wasn't simple, but the unknown factor of "how much will I spend on food for this trip and will I run out of funds too soon" made them hesitate. People didn't like the uncertainty of not knowing. Several clients who did book it complained when they could not add additional discount funds even though this was expalined ahead of time, since the plans were promoted as discounted dining for your trip and they spent more than the "average" $55 per day.

With the current dining plans the perception is that 1 credit = 1 meal (OK, there are Signatures) and that all/most meals are covered regardless of what you order. Yes, I realize planners like us know differently, but it's that perception and easy tracking that makes the current plans appealing. Lots more clients book the new plans than ever booked the old discounted funds plans. Add the prospect of "free" dining and it gets people's attention a lot more than a 10% discount did.

I wonder if it was just the price that was the turn off to the old plan. $50 per night... When the ddp started, it was under $40 per night- much cheaper.
Now that the ddp is over $50, they try to hide the price.
I wonder how much less popular the ddp would be, if Disney was upfront about the price.
I also wonder which plan would be more popular if you put them side by side. $53 for a ddp, or $50 to get $55 credit.

 

[jsgrand0]

Wow...ok so I agree with many people not knowing how to use all credits to get best value, or some that end up letting unused credits expire! Also, I agree that not everyone will save 15%...that is the highest you will save. But the number one thing (that no one has said) that appeals to me about the way the DDP is now...is PEACE OF MIND!! I would NOT want an added 15% disney dining gift card....I would still have to watch my budget and worry about how much money I've spent and if I will run out too soon. The biggest draw for me of the dining plan is not worrying about all of that...any savings is just a bonus. I would take the dining plan even if it DIDN'T save me any money (as long as I knew I wouldn't be LOSING any money) just to know that all my meals were covered while I was there and I could order what I wanted. Surprised no one brought that up. And...with the points system, sure Disney wouldn't like that, as they control pretty much exactly what you get with the DDP (no apps, big mark-up items, like the drinks and desserts)....JMO

 

[havoc315]

I would take the dining plan even if it DIDN'T save me any money (as long as I knew I wouldn't be LOSING any money) just to know that all my meals were covered while I was there and I could order what I wanted. Surprised no one brought that up. And...with the points system, sure Disney wouldn't like that, as they control pretty much exactly what you get with the DDP (no apps, big mark-up items, like the drinks and desserts)....JMO

The things is, many people are LOSING money on the DDP, especially as the price increases.. and depending on how you define "losing."
For example -- If using 2012 pricing --
I could pay OOP and for $50, get my TS steak, my TS beverage, my TS dessert, my CS entree, my CS beverage, and my snack.... Which is everything I actually want... OR....
I can get the DDP, and pay $$53.50... Get the exact same TS meal, get the same CS entree, get the same CS beverage, get the exact same snack... but also get a refillable mug (which I don't use), and get a CS dessert (which I don't really desire to eat)...
Have I basically lost $3.50?

Just to show you that my example isn't absurd:
TS Dinner at The Wave:
Chili-marinated Flat Iron Steak - with warm fingerling potato salad and avocado mouse $21.99
Creamy Indulgence - Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis, Coconut Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Drizzle, Chocolate-Passion Fruit Mousse with Pecan-Olive Brittle $7.99
Whole Leaf Silk Sachet Hot Tea $2.39

TS total -- 32.37 (will add tax later)
CS at Columbia Harbor House:
Fried Fish Basket - Served with choice of either French Fries or Apple Slices $7.49
Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange Soda, Light Lemonade, Iced Tea and Apple Juice $2.49

CS total = $10

For snack -- Warm Cinammon Roll $3.49 from Main Street Bakery:

Total -- $48.84, with tax.
Let's factor in a possible 3% price increase for 2012: $50.30.

I didn't exactly pick the cheapest items at Disney -- Heck, I got steak. The only items I skipped were a CS dessert, and use of the refillable mug.

But I would lose any peace of mind by knowing that I was losing a few dollars per day on the DDP.
Of course, it would be about break even if I did actually want that CS dessert. And if I actually use the refillable mug, I could look at the mug as "bonus."

The 2012 ddp will still work for some people, certainly. But if just looking for pre-payment convenience and peace of mind, you really could be losing money on the plan. (If I had desired an entree cheaper than a steak, I would have lost even more money on the plan!)

 

[jsgrand0]

I understand all that...and I DO my research to make sure I am not losing money, but for me I LOVE knowing it is all taken care of, and I can order whatever I want from the menu and not worry about the price. Certainly, I could eat cheaper WITHOUT the dining plan, but would also not order what I really wanted, so for us, it is a splurge to not worry about any of that...next time (if we go again, and certainly with the price increase, we will probaby NOT do the DDP).

 

[havoc315]

I understand all that...and I DO my research to make sure I am not losing money, but for me I LOVE knowing it is all taken care of, and I can order whatever I want from the menu and not worry about the price. Certainly, I could eat cheaper WITHOUT the dining plan, but would also not order what I really wanted, so for us, it is a splurge to not worry about any of that...next time (if we go again, and certainly with the price increase, we will probaby NOT do the DDP).

Even with the price increases, the DDP may still work for you, considering what you hope to get out of it.

That peace of mind works both says. For many people, as with yourself, it is the peace of mind of being able to order the most expensive items, without having to pay extra at the end of the meal.
For many others, there is the anxiety of knowing that if you order the cheaper or more moderately priced items, you will be wasting money on the plan. ...... The thought process of, I really just want the pasta... but if I order it, I'll have wasted money, so maybe I should get the steak instead.

 

[kdawg8762]

How come people talk like this about the DDP but don't go into what is the largest rip-off in all of disney....lodging. Don't get me wrong, i do the lodging for the same reason i do the DxDP, i like it, but if you ever want to see where you are getting gouged...its there.

 

[havoc315]

How come people talk like this about the DDP but don't go into what is the largest rip-off in all of disney....lodging. Don't get me wrong, i do the lodging for the same reason i do the DxDP, i like it, but if you ever want to see where you are getting gouged...its there.

Lodging is expensive. But the price is very clearly listed. You know the price, you can pay it, or you can go offsite.

The lodging doesn't promise anything that it doesn't deliver.

Yes, it's very expensive. And lots of people do complain that it is over-priced. Plenty of people on this board swear they would never stay onsite, since they can stay in a nicer hotel offsite, for dramatically less money.

But there is absolutely nothing deceptive or misleading about the lodging. It is what it is. The price is clearly listed. The benefits are basically honestly listed.
If you don't think the price is worth the benefits, you pass on it.
In contrast -- the price of the DDP is *not* clearly listed. I saw in another post, that you found the price in 30 seconds on wdw.com -- Even if you are the fastest reader/web surfer in the world.... you wouldn't find the price on wdw.com if you searched for 100 years.
Furthermore, the "benefits" of the DDP are not clear. That's obvious based on how often even simple questions get repeated on the board. And the main benefit listed --- "savings" --- is highly questionable.

Now... if Disney's website claimed that their hotels are "save 20% compared to offsite" -- And then they refused to actually tell you the price... And then later learned you had to pay extra for a key to actually get inside the room, and later learned that the rooms were actually more expensive than offsite.... Then it would be comparable to complaints about the DDP.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Ahhh. So from Disney's perspective, they want guests to lose money on the plans. Hmmmm. Doesn't that say just about all we need to know about the plans?

Not really. I think it says more about the people who pay that much for the plan, but then don't learn anything about it, and end up wasting credits.

I have a friend there now who has the deluxe plan, because he wanted to do all sit down meals. I don't know what he ate today or yesterday, but Monday he didn't do any meals, and ended up ordering room service, which he paid for, because he didn't know it was included in the plan.

Whose fault is that, Disney's, or his?

 

[havoc315]

Not really. I think it says more about the people who pay that much for the plan, but then don't learn anything about it, and end up wasting credits.

I have a friend there now who has the deluxe plan, because he wanted to do all sit down meals. I don't know what he ate today or yesterday, but Monday he didn't do any meals, and ended up ordering room service, which he paid for, because he didn't know it was included in the plan.

Whose fault is that, Disney's, or his?

Honestly? A little of each.
Disney has designed a plan that can be rather confusing. (As seen by the number of questions asked on this board).
While a buyer certainly has an obligation to understand the product they are purchasing, the seller should also be presenting things in a straight forward manner. You shouldn't have to spend hours of research to understand a vacation dining addon.

Your friend absolutely should have at least asked whether room service was covered by the plan.
But Disney shouldn't be trying to make profit, by intentionally confusing people.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Honestly? A little of each.
Disney has designed a plan that can be rather confusing. (As seen by the number of questions asked on this board).
While a buyer certainly has an obligation to understand the product they are purchasing, the seller should also be presenting things in a straight forward manner. You shouldn't have to spend hours of research to understand a vacation dining addon.

Your friend absolutely should have at least asked whether room service was covered by the plan.
But Disney shouldn't be trying to make profit, by intentionally confusing people.

But he got an ad at check-in listing all the restaurants that he could use the plan at, as well as the fact that it could be used on room service.

I think Disney does a great job of advertising what's included..

 

[havoc315]

.

I think Disney does a great job of advertising what's included..

I think a great job would include advertising the price of the plan. But Disney refuses to officially announce the price. You need to take the entire bill and subtract room and tickets yourself, to then figure out the cost of ddp.

The Disney website is notorious for misinformation about which restaurants are included. For example, last I checked, Via Napoli was listed (incorrectly) as accepting the basic ddp, but not the deluxe dp.

There are many snacks where you get a different answer about whether you can use a snack credit for it, depending on the day and the cm.


There is no consistent policy on trading a CS for snacks. There is no consistent policy on whether you can use a TS credit to get a CS meal.
If you want to have an appetizer as your entree, no consistent answer on whether it is allowed. Some restaurants allow substitutions, some don't.

There are indeed some things that are clear about the ddp, but many other things that are quite confusing.

 

[Cafeen]

I think a great job would include advertising the price of the plan. But Disney refuses to officially announce the price. You need to take the entire bill and subtract room and tickets yourself, to then figure out the cost of ddp.

The Disney website is notorious for misinformation about which restaurants are included. For example, last I checked, Via Napoli was listed (incorrectly) as accepting the basic ddp, but not the deluxe dp.

There are many snacks where you get a different answer about whether you can use a snack credit for it, depending on the day and the cm.


There is no consistent policy on trading a CS for snacks. There is no consistent policy on whether you can use a TS credit to get a CS meal.
If you want to have an appetizer as your entree, no consistent answer on whether it is allowed. Some restaurants allow substitutions, some don't.

There are indeed some things that are clear about the ddp, but many other things that are quite confusing.

To be fair, some of that is not up to Disney though. Many of the restaurants are not owned, nor operated by Disney itself. As such, the individual owners decide their own policy within Disney's guidelines.

Snacks follow the same general theme, only there are markings about what is a snack credit, it's going above and beyond those where it's possible, but not guaranteed.

Now, of course, I do agree the information (mostly the web-based content) is weak at best and the CM training (ESPECIALLY the call center ones) is very poor in many cases, but not quite to the depths that others do .

One thing to keep in mind though, regarding the price thing, it has never been fully disclosed at least since I joined the fray (2009). Just to keep some perspective that this is not a new thing .

 

[JimmyV]

Whose fault is that, Disney's, or his?

I agree that it is a little of both. I don't know your friend but I am going to go out on a limb and assume that he is not an idiot, and does not make a habit of throwing money out the window. And yet he ended up paying for a meal that he should not have paid for. Did anyone on the phone ask him if he was on the DDP when he phoned in his order the way servers ask guests at restaurants if they are on a plan? There is clearly blame on both sides.

But the bottom line is that Disney does not publish the price of the plans. You have to come here, or allears, or other places to find it. You have to ask yourself why that is. What possible motivation could there be for disguising the price? There really is only one answer. They want to make it as hard as possible for customers to do an even-up analysis. It can't be any other reason. And why would they want to discourage even-up comparisons? The question answers itself.

 

[DisneyFive]

Isn't the OP's idea basically the same as what Disney already does with its TiW plan (Tables in Wonderland)? TiW is only open to Florida residents and Annual passholders from what I understand, but at a cost of around $75, it give you a 20% off food and drinks card. I think I have the info correct.

Great idea. I wish I could make use of it, but I am not a Florida resident, nor an AP. Open it up to ALL, Disney!

Dan

 

[rachel09985]

That defeats the whole purpose of the dining plan- convenience. With the gift card every single night you would have to figure out how much you have left and how much you can use at each meal to break even at the end of the week. With the disney dining plan credits you can break even at the end of th week. You plan your meals with the credits so you can make it 0 at the end of the week.

With that gift card idea you would constanly need to be aware of your daily limits whereas the dining plan you know your daily limits and you can plan your needs to suit that exactly!

While it might be nice to order either an appetizer or dessert that gift card is not practical in the Disney world.