I Did A Disney Dining Survey - Some Things They're Considering (Long)

[Bill From PA]

I just completed a Dining Survey during which the questions revealed some of the things Disney is considering for the future. Here's some of them, separated by ***************. The tabular format was lost when I copied the info over to this post.


The second dining plan option for Walt Disney World® Resort hotel Guests, the Premium Dining Plan, is under consideration and NOT available for purchase today. Please review the following description, then answer the question at the bottom of the page.

For each night of your stay, the Premium Disney Dining Plan includes the following meals for each Guest :

Three (3) Meals at Table-Service or Counter-Service Restaurants
Table-Service Meal includes appetizer, entrée, dessert or full buffet, non-alcoholic beverage, tax, and gratuity. Counter-Service Meal includes entrée, dessert or one complete combo meal, non-alcoholic beverage, and tax.
Children ages 3-9 must choose from the children’s menu, if available.
Signature Dining Experiences at our finest restaurants, Disney Dinner Shows, Character Dining, and Room Service Dining are all included as one meal.
Two (2) Snacks or Drinks
Includes items such as frozen ice cream or fruit bar, popcorn scoop, single piece of whole fruit, bag of chips, or a non-alcoholic drink.
Unlimited fountain drinks at Walt Disney World® Resort hotels.

Guests on this plan may choose two (2) of the following special experiences during their stay, regardless of how many nights they are staying.

Special Fireworks Experience – Enjoy special viewing of the world-famous fireworks spectaculars that light up the sky while you sample specialty treats, making it the most memorable night imaginable.
Attraction Tour and Specialty Dinner – Experience some of our most famous attractions with a special guide providing all the inside scoop. Following this unique tour, enjoy a specially themed dinner.
Children’s Specialty Programs – Take advantage of one of our special children’s experiences (ages 4-10 years) allowing your child to participate in a Pirate Adventure or Wonderland Tea Party.
Children's Activity Center – Enjoy an evening out while the children enjoy one of the Children’s Clubs at selected Disney resorts. You'll receive four (4) hours of care for each child. Dinner and special activities are provided.

***********************

Scenario 1



TODAY'S
Plan
PREMIUM
Plan


Guests 10 & older (per night of stay)

37.99

109.99

Guests 3-9 (per night of stay)

11.99

59.99


Your entire party (per night of stay)
(2 guests 10 or older)

75.98

219.98


Total dining plan cost for your party's 2 night vacation


151.96

439.96




Based on the prices above, which dining plan, if any, would you most likely purchase for your upcoming trip?

Click here to review dining plan entitlements



I wouldn't purchase any dining plan
I would purchase Today's Plan
I would purchase the Premium Plan


*******************************

Scenario 2



TODAY'S
Plan
PREMIUM
Plan


Guests 10 & older (per night of stay)

34.99

79.99

Guests 3-9 (per night of stay)

10.99

39.99


Your entire party (per night of stay)
(2 guests 10 or older)

69.98

159.98


Total dining plan cost for your party's 2 night vacation


139.96

319.96




Based on the prices above, which dining plan, if any, would you most likely purchase for your upcoming trip?

Click here to review dining plan entitlements



I wouldn't purchase any dining plan
I would purchase Today's Plan
I would purchase the Premium Plan


******************************************

Scenario 3



TODAY'S
Plan
PREMIUM
Plan


Guests 10 & older (per night of stay)

37.99

79.99

Guests 3-9 (per night of stay)

11.99

39.99


Your entire party (per night of stay)
(2 guests 10 or older)

75.98

159.98


Total dining plan cost for your party's 2 night vacation


151.96

319.96




Based on the prices above, which dining plan, if any, would you most likely purchase for your upcoming trip?

Click here to review dining plan entitlements



I wouldn't purchase any dining plan
I would purchase Today's Plan
I would purchase the Premium Plan


*************************************

Scenario 4



TODAY'S
Plan
PREMIUM
Plan


Guests 10 & older (per night of stay)

42.99

79.99

Guests 3-9 (per night of stay)

14.99

39.99


Your entire party (per night of stay)
(2 guests 10 or older)

85.98

159.98


Total dining plan cost for your party's 2 night vacation


171.96

319.96




Based on the prices above, which dining plan, if any, would you most likely purchase for your upcoming trip?

Click here to review dining plan entitlements



I wouldn't purchase any dining plan
I would purchase Today's Plan
I would purchase the Premium Plan


*******************************************

Below is a list of offerings that are being considered for the Premium Disney Dining Plan. Some were included in the Premium Plan you reviewed earlier and some you have not seen.

Please rank these offerings from 1 to 6, with 1 being the offering that you would want most and 6 being the offering that you would want least.



(Each number from 1 to 6 must be used, and used only once.)




Rank




Two snacks per day



Evening dessert reception during Extra Magic Hours in the theme parks each day



Wine pairing with your meal at dinner each night



$20 merchandise card per person per vacation



Unlimited fountain drinks at Walt Disney World® Resort hotels



Two alcoholic beverages per day

*********************************************

Now, here is a list of special experiences that are being considered for the Premium Disney Dining Plan.

Please rank these experiences from 1 to 4, with 1 being the experience that you would want to do most and 4 being the experience that you would want to do least.



(Each number from 1 to 4 must be used, and used only once.)




Rank







Special Fireworks Experience
Enjoy special viewing of the world-famous fireworks spectaculars that light up the sky while you sample specialty treats, making it the most memorable night imaginable.






Children's Activity Center
Enjoy an evening out while the children enjoy one of the Children's Clubs at selected Disney resorts. You'll receive four (4) hours of care for each child. Dinner and special activities are provided.






Children’s Specialty Programs
Take advantage of one of our special children's experiences (ages 4-10 years) allowing your child to participate in a Pirate Adventure or Wonderland Tea Party.






Attraction Tour and Specialty Dinner
Experience some of our most famous attractions with a special guide providing all the inside scoop. Following this unique tour, enjoy a specially themed dinner.


***************************************



Bill From PA

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

WOW! That sounds really interesting. I would pay more to have more options for dining and the extra non-dining experiences available also. I think it would be good, though, to keep the existing plan also for those who are budget conscious.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[maroney495]

I just did the same survey. The dining plan just does not seem for us in any form available. I listed why in the final comment section. When touring the parks we like to eat very light. We usually only eat one meal per day, a very light in room breakfast and a couple of snacks. Maybe they will even consider a "smaller" plan for those light eating park goers?

 

[Bill From PA]

We get by on 'Pub Grub' and snacks with maybe 2 - 4 table service meals per 7 to 10 day trip. The survey had a text box to answer why I turned thumbs down on any plan and I essentially told them that dining is not a big issue for us on WDW vacations. We've got at least one ADR for each day on our March trip but will probably not use more than 4, cancelling the remainders in advance.

Bill From PA

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I would like more Table service meals and I would like to see them offer the dining plan with table service meals, without the non dining items at all. I don't need babysitting or tours,or watersport rentals etc. those items could be offered in a separate add on package. Nor do I want to see wine included as we don't drink and I don't wish to subsidize those that do. If they offered a wine option that would be ok.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I love the dining plan. I would pay a little more if we got 2 snacks per day and the thought of 3 table service per day sounds wonderful. Of course, our weight would go up and you would have to make ADR's way in advance. We struggled at times on the dining plan with only 1 snack per day. We used our snack for breakfast each morning, but in the park, we'd get thirsty or Dh would want a late night snack so it might actually work out better.

 

[xyzabc33]

I like the current dining plan with the exception of maybe adding another snack on to it per day or maybe allowing unlimited beverages(non alcoholic) at the parks instead of the resorts. That is where ppl need the liquids.

All those extras sound cool, but geez louis! there is no way you can actually get your moneys worth for a 2 day stay. I'm sorry but paying 400+$ for 2 days of food is not worth it for a vacation. That is more then the resort room cost for the same amount of days. Heck that's more then we spend on food at home for a 2 month period. Not a really good option for ppl on a budget. More of a convience for those who have money to burn(no offense rich ppl ...LOL)

I think there should be more then one option, like one poster said a lighter option-maybe a snack only package. A CS option for those who want a meal but dont like sit down meals. A TS package for those who just go to WDW to eat. A combo package like the current one. And maybe add ons like the little party for EMH guests.

The extras like the kid care and pirate and tea party just dont seem to fit within a dining plan. And I even have a kid and would not pay extra for a dining plan just to get those.

 

[bytheblood]

I don't mind the DP the way it is, but one thing I would like changed is having to pay adult cost for my kid that eats like a bird. (No, she does not eat worms )

I feel like they should offer the option for kids under 13 (or even 15) to be on a children's DP or an adult DP.


Bill, thanks for sharing this.

 

[mousehouselover]

What is listed here is quite similiar to the premium DDP that DH purchased for our upcoming trip. I love the idea of having all our meals taken care of, no worries about how many and what type of credits we have. I understand that most of the meals are pretty big and if we do TS at all the meals we'll be eating a ton of food but I'm going to enjoy myself. DH and I don't splurge very often so this trip is several years in the making and I'm not wasting a single minute (or dollar) of it. Besides that, our trip was a gift to me and he wanted me to be as stress free as possible which means dining where ever we wanted and not having to worry about spending too much.

Here's the link I (finally) found regarding the premium DDP that we are on: http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...gespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/07Premium.pdf

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm sorry but paying 400+$ for 2 days of food is not worth it for a vacation. That is more then the resort room cost for the same amount of days. Heck that's more then we spend on food at home for a 2 month period. Not a really good option for ppl on a budget. More of a convience for those who have money to burn(no offense rich ppl ...LOL)

Wow, hopefully you don't take offense to this but where do you live and how many people are you feeding on $200 per month budget? Is that per person?

I'm lucky if I leave the store spending less than $150 for a family of 4 including meat. However, we do tend to eat all our meals in instead of out. I know some families eat a lot of fast food which we don't. So it is for 7 days, 3 meals a day plus snacks. That doesn't even include our monthly costco run for other things.

On a side note I noticed that the food is much cheaper in Florida than CA. When I was there last at the grocery the boxed juice was half the price here. Even with that the above plans seem pricey.

 

[xyzabc33]

Wow, hopefully you don't take offense to this but where do you live and how many people are you feeding on $200 per month budget? Is that per person?

I'm lucky if I leave the store spending less than $150 for a family of 4 including meat. However, we do tend to eat all our meals in instead of out. I know some families eat a lot of fast food which we don't. So it is for 7 days, 3 meals a day plus snacks. That doesn't even include our monthly costco run for other things.

On a side note I noticed that the food is much cheaper in Florida than CA. When I was there last at the grocery the boxed juice was half the price here. Even with that the above plans seem pricey.

No offense. I am just very good at pulling money out of my butt when necessary. We live in a kinda rural area of PA. That is for 2 adults and a preschooler per month. I hit the supermarket when they mark down the meat(which is still good btw. I take it home and pack it to freeze) I just paid 37 dollars for meat eggs and milk which will last us`for about 3 weeks. We dont eat out a lot and dont eat set meals pretty much whenever we are hungry. I know CA is very expensive to grocery shop, my older DD lives in L.A. and makes a more then we do a month and still needs me to send her money for food. LOL

 

[honeymo78]

Mousehouse - we love the premium package as it currently is, with recreation. However, we would also love the suggestion from the survey for just the premium dining aspect - no recreation. Some trips we just don't have time to throw in the recreation so we end up either paying extra and barely using the recreation, or like our March trip, just booking DDP and paying extra for more meals.

 

[MainStMandy]

Wow...that is really great. It's nice to see them reevaluating the plan. I think the wine pairing or 2 alcoholic drinks per day is a great idea. When I was explaining the dining plan to friends, they were surprised that no alcohol was included. Would really let them compete with all inclusive resorts and/or cruises.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I'd possibly consider a meal deal plan if (a) WDW didn't require you to stay on site and purchase daily tix and (b) brought the menus back up to par with what they were, say, five years ago. I don't want to go back to what they were serving in the '70s, but I can eat chain restaurant food here at home.

We like to splurge on vacation, and we'll eat where the good food is, whether it's on WDW property or not.

 

[jennypenny]

Wow, I would like more than one option on the dining plan. Some trips we would only use the standard dining plan. But for some trips--especially when we were travelling with extended family--this might be great. When you add up the cost of room/tickets/premium dining per person, it does seem in line with the cost of DCL per day.

I'm all for options. They just better include some recreation options with all of that food!!
Jenny

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

Sounds like more Slop

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

duplicate

 

[PaulaSB12]

Sounds like more Slop

I have been trying to figure this comment out more slop?????????

 

[swillis]

I haven't used the dining plan yet, but plan to for the first time in June.

My kids are both over 10 and are big adventourous eaters, so I think the plan will work just fine for us. But if my kids were still little, I don't think I would use it. Especially since they would be limited to the pathetic childrens menu. I'm sure it's fine for the kids who won't eat anything but pizza and hotdogs, but for others, that's got to be such an aggravating issue. There should be an option for these parents. Maybe pay a little more, and get more choices for the little ones.

 

[swillis]

I haven't used the dining plan yet, but plan to for the first time in June.

My kids are both over 10 and are big adventourous eaters, so I think the plan will work just fine for us. But if my kids were still little, I don't think I would use it. Especially since they would be limited to the pathetic childrens menu. I'm sure it's fine for the kids who won't eat anything but pizza and hotdogs, but for others, that's got to be such an aggravating issue. There should be an option for these parents. Maybe pay a little more, and get more choices for the little ones.